Guardian Angels are people who travel on the New York subways and protect other passengers from criminals (罪犯). They are volunteers: they don’t get paid anything to do this job. The Guardian Angels would never have appeared without a young man named Curtis Sliwa.
Forty-three years ago, if you’d wanted to travel home late at night on the New York subway, you wouldn’t have felt very safe. Luckily, on February 13, 1979, at 3:00 a. m. , the first safety patrol (巡逻)—called The Team—went into action. Curtis Sliwa and his friend Don Chin began to cleanup crime on one of New York’s toughest subway lines, the Number 4 train. However, this was not a job for two, but a job for 13, so thirteen brave people walked into the last car of the Number 4 subway line in New York City—the “Mugger’s Express”. If they saw a danger of violence (暴力), they stopped it, using non-violent means. The group became known as the “Magnificent 13”.
The Magnificent 13 soon went from thirteen members to hundreds and they changed their name to the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol (GASP). At first, GASP faced opposition from the police, but they had the strong support of the public. Today, the Guardian Angels can be found all over the US. If you travel by subway, you will see them wearing red hats and white T-shirts. Although Guardian Angels are not armed, if they’re present, a criminal will think twice before committing a crime.
The Guardian Angels also train young people to join them in their fight against crime. They believe that if they train groups of volunteers to patrol dangerous areas in New York, the city will be safer for everybody. “If we had more volunteers, we would be able to reduce the problems many cities face: violence, crime, and drugs. ”
They have also started after-school training programs inside high schools and community centers. If young people visit the Guardian Angels Headquarters (总部), volunteers will talk to them about their work and will then guide them through the Times Square area. It’s fun. It’s safe and meaningful!
1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?A.The changes brought by the Magnificent 13. |
B.The birth of the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol. |
C.The subway lines that the Guardian Angels patrolled. |
D.The reason why Curtis Sliwa wanted to stop subway crime. |
A.The police influenced the public’s opinions about GASP. |
B.Volunteers play an active role in reducing crime in New York. |
C.The Magnificent 13 put an end to crime on the Mugger’s Express. |
D.The Guardian Angels sometimes turn to violence to keep passengers safe. |
A.Talk to the leader of GASP. | B.Take part in training programs. |
C.Carry out safety patrols with guides. | D.Get educated about the Guardian Angels’work. |
A.To publicize a social service group. | B.To call attention to public safety concerns. |
C.To introduce Curtis Sliwa’s great contributions. | D.To present new ways to reduce crime in society. |
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【推荐1】The Mustard Seed Project is getting closer to one of its initiatives-building affordable senior housing on the Key Peninsula, Washington.
The Nonprofit carries out the project so that people don’t have to leave the Key Peninsula as they age and have home care needs. “We hope to build in Key Center, a good, central location for our community. Our vision is to have a campus with a cafe and meeting spaces, 10 independent living cottages that have one or two bedrooms with laundry, housekeeping and one meal a day provided, and then assisted living for 30 residents,” said board president Sara Thompson. “We want this to be a place that draws the entire community in, rather than a setting that sets elders aside in an isolated environment.”
More than a year ago, a longtime supporter of the organization made a major gift to undertake a long-desired study to understand both the needs of the community and the financial feasibility (可行性) for senior housing. As a result, The Mustard Seed Project had a meeting in November at the Key Peninsula Civic Center to explain the results of the study and to plan for the next steps.
“We’ll be applying for a predevelopment loan to do all the necessary planning,”The Mustard Seed Project Executive Director Edie Morgan said. “We’re aware of affordable loans for the assisted living section of the project, and can get standard financing for the other buildings. But there will be a funding gap, and we expect to need to raise nearly $3 million to make this happen. I believe we can do it.”
The entire project, once the project manager is identified, is expected to take about two years.
1. Why is the organization building affordable senior housing?A.To offer free assistance to seniors. |
B.To create job opportunities for residents. |
C.To provide access to aging in place. |
D.To improve facilities for the community. |
A.It holds meetings regularly. |
B.It prepares holiday gifts for elders. |
C.It adapts to sponsors’ needs. |
D.It takes the housing project seriously. |
A.Sources of funds. |
B.Application for loans. |
C.Costs for construction. |
D.Distribution of donations. |
A.To attract more visitors. |
B.To introduce an organization. |
C.To report on a project. |
D.To entertain the seniors. |
【推荐2】TEENSGIVING is an exciting yearly event where hundreds of New York City teens gather together annually for a remarkable day of community service. This year, TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019 participants will once again better New York City and influence thousands of lives!
When is TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019?
Sunday, April 20, 2019
Who participates in TEENSGIVING?
Hundreds of teenagers from around the city. Teens come from the 92nd Street Y, various city schools, youth groups, and organizations in the area. In addition, many adult volunteers (aged 21 and older) will donate their time to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019.
What projects do participants do at the agencies?
Sample projects include painting park benches, planting gardens, visiting and playing with poor and disabled children, assisting at animal shelters, working at soup kitchens, delivering meals and celebrating with families at homeless shelters.
Do I get anything for participating in TEENSGIVING?
Yes! Everybody benefits! Teen volunteers will receive "6 hours" of community service credit, good towards honor society, high school graduation and college application requirements. Adult volunteers will be thanked with a light breakfast, a gift certificate for their troubles, and the satisfaction of helping our city's youth contribute to their community. In addition, all teen and adult volunteers will receive a cool TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019 T-shirt.
This sounds awesome! How do I register for TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019?
Interested teens and/or adults should e-mail the TEENSGIVING Coordinator Josh Hyman at jhyman@92Y. org <mailto:jhyman@92Y. org> (subject: TEENSGIVING) to receive more information and to register for this fantastic event!
Teens can also contact their school's Community Service Advisor.
1. What can the teenagers do in this event?A.Give thanks to the adults. | B.Take care of animals. |
C.Clean the streets of New York. | D.Work for high schools and colleges. |
A.a T-shirt and a gift certificate |
B.community service credit and a T-shirt |
C.a high school certificate and a light breakfast |
D.a gift certificate and community service credit |
A.ask readers to donate their advice to TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019 |
B.encourage readers to ask more questions about TEENSGIVING |
C.introduce TEENSGIVING in SPRING 2019 to readers |
D.inform readers of some frequently asked questions |
【推荐3】Traci Ruble, a psychotherapist (心理治疗师), felt worried that people today were experiencing loneliness and a shortage of personal connections. She understood that with busy lives and challenging jobs, people were unable to make these connections.
So on a spring day in 2015, Ruble and a small number of volunteers set up chairs on sidewalks in 12 locations around San Francisco, California and invited people passing by to sit for a few minutes and chat. This was the beginning of Sidewalk Talk, an organization whose mission is to create public spaces of connections where the people are.
Today, the organization has more than 4,000 volunteers in 40 cities. Around 25 percent of the volunteers are licensed therapists (持证治疗师). They come from different backgrounds and are a mixed group. Volunteers receive training from the organization.
Listening activities are held several times a month along with other organizations. In San Francisco, Sidewalk Talk partners with Lava Mae, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that brings mobile showers to homeless people.
Sidewalk Talk gives people a chance to speak and be listened to but it is not therapy, according to Ruble. “I’m not interacting as a therapist out there. I’m not there to solve someone’s problems,” she said. “I’m there to practice being human.”
Ruble stressed that therapy is one-sided and that therapists are taught to avoid self-disclosure(自我表露) but by “being human” she could carry out interactions by sharing her own life and showing empathy (同感) with the people she talks with.
According to a report, 31 percent of all Americans experience serious loneliness including 61 percent of young adults. To fix that, rebuilding community relationships is very important. While listening activities will not solve the loneliness problem, these chats could help someone have a brighter day. Knowing that there are empathetic people who are willing to fully listen and share your feelings could make all the difference to a lonely person.
1. What can we learn about Sidewalk Talk?A.It is largely made up of licensed therapists. |
B.It encourages people to share and reconnect. |
C.It was set up with the help of other organizations. |
D.It aims to improve people’s language expression ability. |
A.It leads to a healthier life. |
B.It helps people solve problems. |
C.It makes chats go more smoothly. |
D.It allows people to receive support. |
A.The power of good community relationships. |
B.The seriousness of the loneliness problem. |
C.The results of being an empathetic person. |
D.The need for Sidewalk Talk’s activities. |
A.Taking listening to the streets |
B.Dealing with loneliness by volunteering |
C.Building powerful connections between people |
D.Enjoying having deep conversations with strangers |
【推荐1】The victims were carried in one by one, their paws burned and fur burnt, suffering from dehydration (脱水) and fear. Their caretakers bandaged (用绷带包扎) their wounds and laid them in baskets with the only thing that was familiar — the leaves of a eucalyptus (桉树) tree. As fires have burned more than two million acres in Australia, dozens of koalas have been rescued from burned trees and pale ground. The animals are being treated in rescue centers, and at least one private home, along the country’s east coast.
The difficult situation of the koala — a national symbol of Australia — has raised questions among environmentalists and scientists about what it will take to protect biodiversity (生物多样性) in a country with intense fire, extreme heat and lack of water. Australia has already been among the highest rates of species extinction in the world.
The bad situation goes beyond koalas. Recently, tens of thousands of bats fell from the sky in temperatures over 107 degrees Fahrenheit in northern Australia. Kangaroos destroyed the grapes in Canberra because of drought.
“Climate change and other human impacts have so changed the situation that the government needs to rethink its way to protect at once,” Dr. Bowman said, suggesting interventions (干预) like irrigating, feeding and moving animals to new places.
Koalas, unlike kangaroos, birds or snakes, do not escape from fires. Therefore, though the fires are still burning, a rescue team began to search the area carefully. Walking in a human chain, they looked up to the tree top, searching for survivors.
1. What do the victims in the first paragraph refer to?A.Animals injured in fires. |
B.Kangaroos driven by drought. |
C.Bats that fell from the sky. |
D.Koalas rescued from the fire. |
A.Wildfires that seldom happened. |
B.Extreme hot weather in Australia. |
C.The never-changing climate in Australia. |
D.Not having enough money to take measures in Australia. |
A.Human activities have little influence on animals. |
B.The government should take immediate action. |
C.The government does not care about the wild animals. |
D.Scientists are concerned about the bad situation of wildlife. |
A.Saving the Fire Victims Who Cannot Escape: Australia’s Koalas |
B.Saving the Endangered Wild Animals in Australia |
C.Actions Needed to Protect Habitat for Koalas |
D.National Symbol of Australia Needs Rescue |
【推荐2】Sea life near Turkey is being threatened by a layer of brown foam on the ocean s surface.
The actual name for the foam is mucilage (黏液). Scientists first noticed and described mucilage in 2007, when it was found near Turkey. Then, it was also found in other parts of the Aegean Sea, near Greece.
This year’s outbreak of mucilage is the worst ever recorded. It’s been developing for seven months and is now covering large parts of the Sea of Marmara. The Sea of Marmara is an “inland sea”, surrounded by land belonging to Turkey, and connected to the Aegean Sea and the Black Sea.
There are many different kinds of algae (海藻), and it’s natural and normal for algae to grow in the ocean or in other bodies of water. But when there is lots of food for the algae, and other conditions are just right, there can be “an algae bloom” which results in algae growing quickly and in huge numbers And in very bad situations, mucilage is the result.
There are two main causes for the present outbreak of mucilage. One is the heavy pollution sewage, fertilizers, and other chemicals- flowing into the Sea of Marmara. The second cause is higher water temperatures because of climate change.
The mucilage causes problems in lots of different ways. For one thing, by covering the ocean’s surface, it stops sunlight from reaching all the sea life below. “This mucilage is now covering the sea surface like a tent canvas,” says Muharrem Balci, who teaches biology at Istanbul University. Because there is so much algae, it takes up lots of oxygen from the seawater. That means that there’s very little oxygen left for the other sea creatures that depend on it. The BBC reports that divers in the area are seeing large numbers of dying fish. After a while, the mucilage falls to the bottom of the ocean, where it covers the sea floor threatening to poison creatures that live there, like crabs and mussels. This year, the mucilage has been found as deep as 30 meters below the surface.
1. What do we know about mucilage?A.It generally doesn’t last long. |
B.It had never existed before 2007. |
C.It is mainly formed in inland seas. |
D.It was first noticed near Turkey. |
A.A good harvest of algae. | B.The increasing use of algae. |
C.The explosive growth of algae. | D.A continuing popularity of algae. |
A.It can greatly threaten sea life. |
B.It has drawn attention worldwide. |
C.It will lead to food shortages for humans. |
D.It benefits some sea creatures but harms others. |
A.New kinds of algae are found in Turkey |
B.Turkey’s coastal waters are covered with mucilage |
C.Marmara has seen an increase in water temperatures |
D.Endangered sea creatures in Marmara have been protected |
【推荐3】In the journey of life, there’s an often ignored hero — labor. Yes, that’s right, good old-fashioned hard work. Whether it’s mowing lawns, babysitting, or washing dishes, the act of laboring not only fills pockets but also shapes characters and molds futures.
Let’s face it, we live in a world where instant satisfaction is the norm (标准). But what if we told you that delaying that satisfaction and putting in some good, honest sweat can actually be beneficial? It’s true!
Moreover, labor breeds (培养) perseverance.
But perhaps the most profound impact of labor is its ability to foster empathy and appreciation.
In conclusion, labor isn’t just about earning a paycheck but it’s also about shaping character and building a foundation for success. So, the next time you see a teenager sweating it out on a hot summer day, remember —
A.Labour is significantly beneficial to health. |
B.Take, for instance, volunteering at a local soup kitchen. |
C.labor isn’t just about earning money and training skills. |
D.First, labor gradually acquires a sense of responsibility. |
E.Imagine a young adult facing rejection after rejection while job hunting. |
F.they’re not just mowing lawns, they’re paving their path to a brighter future. |
G.The process of laboring teaches invaluable lessons that textbooks simply can’t convey. |