Ehrman Crest Primary School in Pittsburgh celebrated its opening in August. Three months later, the school, was put on the annual list of best inventions by a local newspaper.
The honor focused on Ehrman Orest’s creative design. There are large maps on the walls. Some classrooms connect to the outdoors. There’s also a rooftop garden. “We didn’t set out to be a best invention,” said Tracy Vitale, a teacher in the school. “We set out simply to replace an 84-year-old building.”
Kids played a key role in creating Ehrman Crest. After adults made decisions about basics, the builders met with students. “We really push hard on, ‘What do you expect a new school to be?’ and ‘What kind of environment would you love to learn in?’” explained Michael Corb, who is with the builder CannonDesign. “We want students’ ideas on how the school should look and feel.”
CannonDesign worked with the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh on the project Anne Fullenkamp, a director at the museum, said the design process started with kids expressing their views. “We try to pool the students’ ideas,” she said. “The kids were given plenty of materials, such as photos and different colored cards. They picked these things and created their own storyboards. Wood was important to them, because it felt natural and was comforting. And they preferred calming colors, such as blues and greens.”
The result is a school with all the excitement of a children’s museum. There are traditional classrooms, but there are also places for exploration. “It’s such a proud feeling to walk into our school,” teacher Ryan Bonicky said. “The kids are just excited about learning.”
Ehrman Crest hopes that the physical space will have a positive influence on student achievement. “We built our dream school,” said Tracy Vitale. “I think the lessons learned here are ‘Be creative as adults’ and ‘Listen to children’”
1. Why was the school reported by the local newspaper| A．It saw a fast change recently. | B．It was built by the parents. |
| C．It had trained best students. | D．It was designed creatively. |
| A．Influence. | B．Collect. | C．Review. | D．Correct. |
| A．Satisfying. | B．Outdated. | C．Costly. | D．Lifeless. |
| A．Students should be praised at times. | B．Children can play a very creative role. |
| C．Teachers’ work is to develop students’ mind. | D．A classroom is where we realize our dreams |
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【推荐1】At first look, the playground at the Children’s Guild-Transformation Academy in Baltimore, Maryland, looks like any other. It has swings, slides, and places for children to climb and crawl. But the playground is not just a place for fun. It is also a place where students can learn, grow and gain independence. Everything — from the kind of surface it sits on, to the color of its sitting areas, to the placement of the surrounding fence — is specifically designed for kids with autism (自闭症).
Mark Rapaport is the managing director of autism services at the Transformation Academy. He said the school accepts students aged 5 to 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are lower-functioning.
Rapaport said the goal of Transformation Academy is to make the students as independent as possible in an effort to help them prepare for adult life. The school aims to provide help with developing communication and social skills, as well as practical abilities like cleaning or cooking.
The playground designed by Maryland company Sparks@Play, using structures manufactured by Landscape Structures, Inc. took a month to develop, said Dan Hack. He works for Sparks@Play and helped lead the playground’s design. Hack said he and others spent weeks getting to know the students and understanding their needs before any building was started. The design process involved physical therapists, occupational therapists, and other specialists. The huge $500,000 project was funded with support from the state of Maryland and the nonprofit Orokawa Foundation.
Parts of the playground that seem small are very important for children with autism and other disabilities. The surrounding fence extends into a wooded area to make it seem more open. And the ground under the play areas is made of soft, but solid materials to support students using wheelchairs or crutches. The benches on the outside of the playground look simple from far away, but are “one of our most inclusive sensory” elements, Hack said. They have many different colors that bring about feelings of calm and curiosity. They are also made with smooth material that can be felt and moved. The academy’s Rapaport said if a child starts to feel uneasy, they can sit down and feel the bench, which can help them relax.
1. Why is the playground in Baltimore designed with special materials?| A．To make it superior to other playgrounds. | B．To better serve children with autism. |
| C．To improve the quality of the playground. | D．To make it easier for kids to climb and crawl. |
| A．It took a month to complete the project. | B．The design process is simple and easy. |
| C．The result of the project is uncertain. | D．It’s a money-consuming project. |
| A．The scale and the structure of the playground. |
| B．Ways for kids to free from the stress and relax themselves. |
| C．The underlying logic and reasonable factors of the playground. |
| D．The advantages of the playground for autism and disabled kids. |
| A．Advanced. | B．Environmental-friendly. | C．Functional. | D．Convenient. |
【推荐2】While most high school students spend most of their time worrying about who likes who, and different relationships between their classmates, I choose to focus on my school lessons and sports.
When I was young, my mother encouraged me to develop and keep friendship with boys in order to build strong relationships. But she told me not to risk a good friendship with a boy with the title of boyfriend. It's indeed a wise choice to stay friends with those of the opposite gender（性别）.In my opinion, even though some high school relationships might continue after graduation, the probability of them lasting much longer is so slim（微小的）that there really is not a point to it.
Firstly you have to think about such a question whether it is possible to hurt both of you, or even hurt both of your future husbands or wives. My second point is that you still can date if you hope marriage could possibly follow. Except this, there really is not any other reason for dating. Some students desire relationships for a chance to be romantic. While these are nice to have, there are many more important things at this point in our lives.
The titles of boyfriend and girlfriend put too much stress on a relationship between high school students. Just staying as common friends may be the best choice for us. I do advise we should deal with it in a proper way and follow our teachers' advice if necessary.
1. Between boys and girls, the relationship of being good friends might be than that of being boy/girl friends.| A．shorter | B．weaker |
| C．stronger | D．slimmer |
| A．Dating is a nice chance for students to be romantic. |
| B．Studying is far more important than dating in school. |
| C．In high school dating can surely lead to future marriage. |
| D．Dating in high school is sure to hurt your future family. |
| A．advice given by both teachers and parents. |
| B．the title of boyfriend or girlfriend at school. |
| C．the pressure from school lessons and sports. |
| D．the relationship between students of opposite genders. |
【推荐3】Going to a new school can feel like starting all over again. You may feel like sad or angry about leaving your old school or friend. You may feel excited about a new beginning or a “fresh start”. You may feel nervous about having to meet new people. All of these feelings are normal when you start at a new school.
Most kids worry about fitting in at their new school. It’s common for a new kid to feel like an outsider for the first few weeks. Although you can be lonely, you can help yourself fit in by being friendly. Even if you are nervous, try to smile, say hello and ask questions.
Here are two places where you might meet friends in a new school:
● The classroom: Look around you, is there anyone who you can talk to? Do you take part in group activities in class? If so, try to join a new group every time.
● Playground: Most schools offer many team sports. Try to join these sports.
Some kids worry about their teachers when they start a new school. Even if the teachers are supportive, it can take some time to adjust to new rules or ways of teaching. Try talking to them about your problem. Besides, with a familiar face in the front of your classroom you may feel more comfortable during the first few weeks of school.
1. The best title for the passage is _______.| A．How to find a new school | B．The first few weeks in a new school |
| C．Tips for your “fresh start” | D．Normal feelings in a new school |
| A．Change. | B．Adapt to. | C．Oppose. | D．Support. |
| A．Not all the kids worry about their teachers when they start a new school. |
| B．It is normal for a newcomer to feel lonely on a new campus. |
| C．The teachers in a new school won’t help the new students. |
| D．It is easy to find new friends in the classroom or playground. |
| A．Joining in group activities in class. | B．Taking part in physical exercises. |
| C．Going to the lab or library. | D．Talking with the teachers. |
【推荐1】Too much salt—and not enough whole grains, fruits and vegetables—may be shaving years off our lives, a new study suggests.
In a study published Wednesday in the Lancet, researchers looked at people’s eating habits across 195 countries to estimate how much poor diets contribute to mortality. What are their findings? One of them is that 11 million people die each other around the world because of certain foods or at least the lack of certain foods, according to the study.
Lead author Ashkan Afshin, an epidemiologist at the University of Washington, said the researchers estimated that overall, poor diets are responsible for more deaths around the world than any other risk factor, including cigarette smoking, known to be one of the greatest threats to public health.
The problem, he said, is not only what people are eating; but it’s also what they’re not eating. The study estimated that globally, 3 million deaths were caused by too much sodium—but another 3 million deaths were attributed to too little whole grains and another 2 million deaths to too little fruit.
Experts say it confirms what health professionals have been teaching for years—a balanced diet is important for a long, healthy life.
But is a poor diet really responsible for more deaths than even cigarette smoking? Nestle, a professor at New York University, suggested that it makes sense that dietary risks are higher because everyone eats—but not everyone smokes. So, she said that “diet is a risk factor for everybody.”
1. What’s the possible meaning of the underlined part in the first paragraph?| A．Increase our lifespan. | B．Shorten our lifespan. |
| C．Cut our beard. | D．Make us less energetic |
| A．Taking in small amount of salt. | B．Having a balanced diet. |
| C．Having enough whole grains, fruits and vegetables. | D．Smoking too many cigarettes. |
| A．People can choose whatever they like to eat. |
| B．Dietary risks are lower than smoking. |
| C．It’s necessary for people to have a healthy diet. |
| D．Smoking is responsible for more deaths than a poor diet. |
| A．Both what people eat and what people don’t eat count. |
| B．Smoking is not a serious problem. |
| C．Poor diets are responsible for all kinds of diseases. |
| D．Health professionals enjoy teaching people how to stay fit. |
There are so many sights to see here. It is a pity to drive in a car and you’ll miss a great part of it. Australia is home to many animals and birds that can only be seen when moving slowly and going into the areas that they live.
When you are on a bicycle, you have the advantage of being able to stop whenever you want to see an interesting animal or bird that you have never seen before. It is a quieter mode (方式) of transportation as well, so you might even be able to take a picture. When you are on the beach, you can breathe that clean air and view the beauty of the water and sand. It is a totally different experience from either simply sunbathing or passing it in a car.
There are many choices of hiring a bicycle to experience the Gold Coast attractions. There are stores that will fit a bike perfectly to your size. These bikes for both adults and children are in many styles and colors to please any taste. If you have ever wanted to try a tandem bike (双人单车), now is your chance, because they have those too.
A bicycle hire on Gold Coast is something that everyone should try at least once. This is a wonderful chance for anyone who likes to cycle and it is also a cheap way to travel with your family.
1. Driving in a car on Gold Coast is not suggested because ______.
| A．you will break the traffic rules |
| B．you can’t drive into some parks |
| C．you will cause much noise |
| D．you can’t enjoy the beautiful scenery well |
| A．you can get a clearer sight of animals |
| B．it is a cheap way of traveling |
| C．it is a good way to do sunbathing |
| D．you can take photos of animals |
| A．He doesn’t like this way of traveling. |
| B．He thinks it is a personal choice. |
| C．He supports it very much. |
| D．He thinks it is only good for adults. |
| A．How to hire bikes on Gold Coast. |
| B．Who can hire bikes on Gold Coast |
| C．What bikes are the most popular. |
| D．What kinds of bikes there are in stores. |
【推荐3】Without doubt, Africa includes some of the most diverse and powerful wildlife in the world. It’s what keeps tourists coming back and environmentalists impassioned (充满激情的). Unfortunately, much of the wildlife that Africa is famous for has come under threat in recent years, as more and more African animals are at risk of dying out.
Rhinos (犀牛), the large yet gentle animals is currently considered greatly endangered in Africa. This is mostly due to poaching (偷猎) at large scale and habitat destruction according to Study.com, although there are many contributing factors. Shockingly, The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) states that there were 500,000 rhinos in Africa at the start of the 20th century. However, only 29,000 remain in the wild today.
The African mountain gorilla (大猩猩) has faced wars, civil unrest (内乱) and habitat destruction over the years. Today, there may be as few as 700 mountain gorillas left in the wild. In fact, according to WWF, the future for mountain gorillas was once thought to be so hopeless that many people thought the species would be entirely extinct by the end of the 20th century. Luckily, things have been looking up in recent years thanks to conservation efforts, as the population has shown a slow but steady increase.
Leopards (豹子) are a powerful creature. They have seen major population decrease in recent years, and can be found in many continents across the globe including Africa, Asia and Russia. Despite this, the leopard is currently considered rather endangered. According to the International Society for Endangered Cats (ISEC) Canada, nearly 37 percent of leopards have been wiped out of their African range.
Unfortunately, the list of endangered wildlife in Africa goes on. It seems that there is no animal free from the threat of extinction in Africa. With that said, there is so much you can do to help. For a full list of tips and tricks on how you can help endangered wildlife in your area and the world, head to WorldWildlife.org.
1. What do the mentioned animals have in common?| A．They are all at the risk of extinction. | B．They are well protected by the locals. |
| C．They all suffered from wars and killing. | D．They can’t find enough food to eat. |
| A．They are widely spread over the world. | B．Half of them have been killed so far. |
| C．They are now driven out of Africa. | D．37% of the animals live in Russia. |
| A．Doubtful. | B．Indifferent. | C．Hopeful. | D．Worried. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A newspaper. | C．A report. | D．A website. |
