【推荐1】At the age of 50, Nina Schoen expects to have a long life ahead of her, but has thought a lot about death—and why people are so reluctant to talk about it: “It’s going to happen to all of us,” she says, “but it should be a more positive experience than the fear we put into it.”

When she first heard about a new end-of-life process that turns the body into compost (堆肥), “I was really moved by the idea,” says Schoen, who became one of the first to reserve a spot with a Seattle-based company called Recompose, the county’s first funeral home to offer human composting.

Last year Recompose began transforming bodies to soil, more formally known as natural organic reduction. Before that, end-of-life options in the U.S. were limited to burial or cremation (火化), both of which come with environmental costs—U.S. cremations alone dump 1.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.

Katrina Spade pioneering the composting movement has spent a decade developing the process in hopes of offering people a greener option for death care. “I wondered, ‘What if we had a choice that helps the planet rather than harms it?’” Spade tells PEOPLE. “To know that the last gesture you’ll make will be gentle and beneficial and it just feels like the right thing to do.”

After she had her own two sons, she began to wonder what she might do with her body after death. A friend who knew her interest in the topic reminded her that farmers sometimes compost the body of cows, and that sparked an idea for her theory: “If you can compost a cow, you can probably compost a human,” she thought, and she set about designing a facility to do just that.

“This is about giving people another choice,” Spade says. “At first, people react with shock—‘You really can do that?’ But so many people today are looking at their impact on the Earth. This is a popular thing because when you die, you can give back to the planet.”

1. How do people react when it comes to death according to paragraph 1?

A．They are unwilling to comment.

B．They can face it without fear.

C．They feel it a positive experience.

D．They would like to compost their bodies.

2. What can we know about the company Recompose?

A．Its CEO is Katrina Spade.

B．It is located in Seattle.

C．It was founded to resist cremation.

D．It has spent 10 years composting bodies.

3. What does the underlined word “sparked” probably mean?

A．Changed.	B．Compromised.
C．Quitted.	D．Inspired.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the text?

A．A little things in our life can bring in big outcomes.

B．We human beings should do all we can to help the earth.

C．Composting is so popular that we should reserve a spot soon.

D．We should reject burial because of its harm to environment.

【推荐2】Kiribati is a South Pacific nation of 33 islands along the equator(赤道). It gained its independence from the UK on July 12, 1979. The International Date Line runs through this country. People here are always the first to see a new day. However, this Pacific Island nation may be the first country to disappear under the rising sea levels of climate change.

As our boat nears the shore, the dark shadows beneath the sea sharpen into focus. Coral stones, organized neatly into rows, glisten from the reef of this shallow bay. We are drifting over the foundations of the neighborhoods of Tebunginako. The village was once home to more than 200 households, but today, it lies beneath several meters of water.

“We used to swim out there to see the ships when we were boys. They’d tie them up to the coconut trees just over here,” explains the Mayor, pointing enthusiastically as we coast over the remains of his town. Locals say Tebunginako was once the island’s main harbor—before the rising sea swallowed its coast.

Many of Kiribati’s citizens have escaped to the capital island, South Tarawa, due to climate related disasters. Objectively, developed countries should be responsible for global warming. Like any other developing island state, the fresh water supply here is being strained. The Mayor adds.“ “Climate change and the rising sea worsen a problem we already have concerning our water resources.” A teacher approaches and complains. “We are very simple people with very simple needs, but we do not want to be faced with something that is not entirely of our own doing.”

As the sun sets in Tebunginako, the Mayor guides us to the shore of the town’s two remaining structures, a Church and a traditional community center. The Mayor states, “These places are important to our people because of their religion and because it was the last place they were all together.”

1. What do you know about Kiribati according to paragraph 1?

A．It belongs to one island of South Pacific.	B．It has been independent for about 40 years.
C．Climate change has led to its disappearance.	D．People there are among the first to see the sunset

2. Which statement applies to Tebunginako?

A．It is home to 200 households.	B．It is still above the sea level.
C．It is a victim of global warming.	D．It was once the island’s only harbor.

3. What can be inferred according to the teacher in the fourth paragraph?

A．Locals expect more from others.	B．The fresh water supply is cut off.
C．More people should be responsible.	D．Locals are ready to leave their community.

4. How do people in Kiribati feel about the present situation?

A．Favorable.

B．Careful.

C．Careless.

D．Worried.

【推荐3】Margaret is a famous climate activist (气候活动家). When she was thirty- two years old, she created an Egyptian charity organization called the Green Generation Initiative (倡议), which has been planting trees and countering the acts of cutting down the forests at will and climate change in the North African nation since 2013.

GGI’s primary focus is on developing young climate activists through environmental education in schools and addressing food unsafety in the area through planting fruit trees.

Over 120, 000 trees have been planted in Egypt since GGI’s start and they have recorded a survival rate of over 90 percent, while thousands of schoolchildren have chosen to plant trees to make sure that they learn the importance of acting as a guardian over the health of the environment.

Speaking to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Margaret issued a warning on the harm of climate change, “Over 1 million of my fellow Egyptians are facing climate related hunger. In 2024, half of the world’s population will be short of water. By 2030, the climate problem will make about 50 million people in Sub- Saharan Africa homeless.”

Margaret added, “I have been doing what I can. I was inspired by the great Maathai, who called on thousands of women and men to plant tens of millions of trees throughout Kenya. Her approach was practical and deeply ecological (生态的). She was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. I started a tree growing initiative that raised the awareness of food safety for young Egyptians. So far, we have grown 30, 000 fruit trees, providing badly needed food for thousands of children. We are the adults on the Earth right now, and it is our responsibility to ensure that the children have food and water.”

1. What does the underlined word “countering” in paragraph l mean?

A．Trying out.	B．Worrying about.
C．Passing on.	D．Fighting against.

2. What is a purpose of the Green Generation Initiative?

A．To plant useful fruit trees at school.	B．To increase the survival rate of trees.
C．To deal with food unsafety in Egypt.	D．To raise enough money for a charity.

3. What do the numbers in paragraph 4 illustrate?

A．The great waste of water resources.

B．The serious impact of climate change.

C．The bad results of people’s going hungry.

D．The rapid growth of the world population.

4. What does Margaret suggest in the last paragraph?

A．Working for the Nobel Prize.	B．Expressing thanks to Maathai.
C．Being responsible for the future.	D．Making more children educated.

【推荐1】The pandemic has been particularly hard on people working for tips. Some haven’t been able to do their jobs at all while others don’t interact with customers the same way. Just as many services have changed, so should tipping. Some old standards no longer seem fair, and several newer ones will apply long after the pandemic is over. As for specific situations, here’s what the experts recommend:

FOOD AND DRINKS

Restaurant workers

OLD RULE:Leave a tip only when you dine in.

NEW RULE:Always tip, even for takeout.

TIP: 15 to 20 percent when you dine in, and 10 to 15 percent on takeout or delivery orders.

HOME DELIVERIES

Package delivery drivers

OLD RULE:Don’t tip.

NEW RULE: Show appreciation if you get deliveries more than once a week.

TIP:   Drinks, snacks, or $5 to $20 if a package is particularly heavy or large. Postal workers cannot accept cash or gifts worth more than $50 per year. UPS tells drivers to decline tips unless a customer insists. And FedEx bans employees from accepting cash or cash equivalents (such as gift cards).

PERSONAL SERVICES

Ride-share drivers

OLD RULE:Tip in cash.

NEW RULE:Ask your driver. The Lyft and Uber apps let you add gratuities, but some drivers prefer cash.

TIP:15 to 20 percent.

Hotel housekeepers

OLD RULE: Tip at the end of your stay.

NEW RULE:   Many hotels now do housekeeping by request only, so tip every time you ask them to come.

TIP:A few dollars per night, plus $5 for any extra requests, such as asking for additional toiletries.

Next time, you’re unsure whether a tip is in order, follow this simple rule: When in doubt, tip. “Tipping well is one way to make things easier for someone else.”

1. According to new rules, which of the following cannot get tips in cash or similar things?

A．A restaurant waiter.

B．A FedEx deliverer.

C．A Lyft driver.

D．A hotel housekeeper.

2. If the shared ride booked through the Uber App costs you 20 dollars, which tipping is appropriate?

A．Paying 22 dollars through the app.

B．Leaving a gift card.

C．Tipping 3 dollars in cash.

D．Offering a bag of snacks.

3. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A research report.

B．A fashion magazine.

C．A short story.

D．An advice brochure.

【推荐2】Four Family Resorts (度假酒店) in Miami, Florida

Faena Hotel Miami Beach

Located right on the beautiful beaches of Miami, Faena Hotel Miami Beach provides endless entertainment and comfort for those looking to escape and explore the unique culture of South Florida. Its rooms come with breathtaking ocean views, while its impressive facilities include several spacious pools, on-site fine-dining options, and even a private movie theater.

The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami

Check into The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, if you’re looking for a vacation to remember with all of the family in mind. This stunning spot is the perfect Miami resort for family vacationers with facilities designed for parents and children alike. Parents can enjoy a wide variety of leisure activities like fishing and water sports while children can take advantage of the youth inspiration program, which features fun games and cooking classes.

JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

The first thing you’ll likely want to check out in JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa—regardless of your age—is the expansive pool with a waterslide. Adults will likely also want to spend some time hitting a hole-in-one at the lush (茂盛的) golf courses. And, as an added bonus, the central location of this spot ensures you’ve got easy access to all of Miami’s coolest attractions and destinations.

Mandarin Oriental, Miami

The Mandarin Oriental in Miami is the one that goes all out to impress you and your family. From its scheduled resort activities designed to bring families together to its luxury accommodation options and family-friendly facilities, the Mandarin Oriental is a place you’ll never want to leave. It’s also a top choice for families with fussy (挑剔的) children, thanks to its kid-friendly restaurants that provide made-to-order meals for children.

1. What does Faena Hotel Miami Beach offer its guests?

A．Luxury accommodation options.

B．A private movie theater and fine dining.

C．An inspiration program for young children.

D．Easy access to Miami’s coolest attractions.

2. What is a special feature of JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa?

A．Its cooking classes for kids.

B．Its expansive pool with a waterslide.

C．Its central location near Miami attractions.

D．Its rooms with breathtaking ocean views.

3. Which resort will you choose if you want special diets?

A．Faena Hotel Miami Beach.

B．The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami.

C．JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort Spa.

D．Mandarin Oriental, Miami.

【推荐3】Dear colleague,

Greetings from the Office of Admission at Harley University! We hope that you and your students are doing well in these challenging times. In light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Harley has suspended all campus visitations. However, we write to you today to affirm our commitment to working with you and your students as they navigate the college search and application process.

To that end, we are pleased to announce that beginning on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, our office will be offering online information sessions for prospective students. Much like our on-campus information sessions, these will consist of a one-hour discussion hosted by a Harley admission dean and a current student. They will provide an inside look at the Harley community both academically and socially, as well as an overview of the admission and financial aid processes. Attendees will be able to see the presenters and submit questions throughout the sessions. While designed for prospective students, counselors are welcome to join.

Our online information sessions will be offered on the days/times below.

Tuesdays at 3:00 pm EDT

Thursdays at 9:00 am EDT and 6:00 pm EDT

Students/Counselors can register here.

We are hopeful the times we offered will allow anyone, regardless of time zone, to be able to join us for a session. While we are disappointed that campus visits are not currently possible, we are confident that these online sessions will provide the same accessibility, information, and enthusiasm as we introduce your students to the Harley community.

In the same spirit, we remain committed to answering any questions you, your students, or their families may have about these sessions, or any other changes to our programming. You can contact us at admission@harley.edu.

We wish you all a safe and healthy spring.

Sincerely,

Jason Harley

Director of Undergraduate Admission

1. What is the purpose of this letter?

A．To answer questions from teachers and students.

B．To arrange for school visits and online interviews.

C．To say hello to colleagues during the Covid-19 pandemic.

D．To inform alternative methods of getting application information.

2. The online information sessions are most probably for ________.

A．students in Grade 11-12

B．parents of senior high school students

C．current students in Harley University

D．teaching staff in Harley University

3. What can be learnt from the letter?

A．Harley University does not enroll new students this year.

B．Prospective students should attend the sessions with counselors.

C．The online sessions will function almost the same with on-campus visits.

D．Students can contact admission@harley.edc to arrange on-campus visits.