【推荐1】The English Gardening School

Gardening for Beginners

Wednesday & Thursday 22/23 April and 57 May 2020

One of our most popular courses. led by Master Ben Pope? which aims to take each student through all the practical elements of caring for a garden from soil, tools, maintenance, seed sowing and propagating. weed control and pests and diseases. Participants will be given a chance to prune, plant. sow seeds and regular maintenance tasks will be discussed. A light lunch and refreshments will be provided daily.

The Essential Garden Design Diploma

January—March 2020

Based at the Chelsea Physic Garden and led by Rosemary Alexander and Architect Catriona Rowbotham, the course is an overview of Garden Design, covering all the elements needed to rethink an average garden. Tutors are well respected in the industry and will guide students on how to succeed in this profession.

2 days a week (Wed. &Thur.) 10:30 a.m.—3:15 p.m., plus 2 days homework.

One Year Good Gardening Diploma

September 2020—end June 2021

Covers the best in planting design while training in the more serious aspects of gardening techniques. Practical sessions held at Arundel Castle under the guidance of head gardener Martin Duncan and at Sandhill Farm House. Rogate. Lectures by many leading gardening masters and regular visits to outstanding private gardens. Students also learn to draw up planting plans.

1 day a week (Tues.), 10：30 a. m.-3：15 p. m., over three terms.

Garden Design & Caring for Your Garden

Distance Learning Courses (study anytime, anywhere in the world)

These two courses are a step by step guide to either designing your own garden or learning how to plant and maintain an existing garden: drawing up plans, hard landscaping, site analysis etc. Taught through a comprehensive course book with projects submitted by post.

1-3 years to complete and individual assessment.

1. What can participants do at Arundel Castle?

A．Enjoy a light lunch.	B．Learn from head gardener Martin Duncan.
C．Draw up plans.	D．Visit the Chelsea Physic Garden.

2. Which school best suits people who travel a lot?

A．One Year Good Gardening Diploma.	B．The Essential Garden Design Diploma.
C．Garden Design & Caring for Your Garden.	D．Gardening for Beginners.

3. What is the author's main purpose of writing this passage?

A．To share experience.	B．To explain reasons.
C．To introduce basic knowledge.	D．To advertise for courses.

【推荐1】Bristol University will offer students lessons in happiness. The university is offering the 12-week course to students from all university disciplines next year, which will count towards 20 of their 120 credit points for their first year on campus. The course, to be taught by Professor Bruce Hood, an expert who studies how the brain works and how humans think, will explore what happiness is and how to achieve it.

Last year, 400 students signed up for a pilot happiness course at the university, which did not result in academic credits, as part of the university’s efforts to improve well-being. Professor Hood said, “We’re really excited that the university has got behind the course. This course will be built and established on what we’ve already learnt in the first year but of course we’re going to monitor the students much more closely because it’s for academic credits. They can’t take an easy option—they’ve really got to put in a lot of effort.”

The voluntary course was originally introduced amid(在……当中)growing concerns about student mental health. Last year, students called for more support and services for young people with mental health issues at the university. Under the new course, students will attend a one-hour lecture each week as well as attending a “happiness hub”. Lectures will address a series of issues, including whether happiness is in the genes and if it can really be changed, how our minds influence happiness and the role of culture in happiness.

Students will be asked to select one of seven happiness exercises to practise for a week, and then evaluate(评估) the effect it has on them. This will be discussed at the weekly happiness hub meetings. The exercises include sleeping more, meditating(冥想), expressing gratitude for people and things, and practising random acts of kindness.

1. Who will get credit points on the lessons in happiness?

A．The twelfth graders.	B．Graders of all periods.
C．Senior students.	D．The freshmen.

2. How will the students find the happiness course?

A．Encouraging.	B．Exciting.
C．Difficult.	D．Simple.

3. What can students do by taking the happiness course?

A．They can give speeches on different issues.

B．They can learn how minds affect happiness.

C．They can evaluate the effect on each other.

D．They can influence the part of culture in happiness.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．Bristol University offers lessons in happiness.

B．The first AI courses result in academic credits.

C．Various courses are offered by Bristol University.

D．Lessons will be introduced on students’ mental health.

【推荐3】The California sea otter (海獭), once hunted to the edge of extinction, has staged a thrilling comeback in the last century. Now, scientists have discovered that the otters’ success story has led to something just as remarkable: the restoration of their declining coastal marsh (沼泽) habitat.

Elkhorn Slough, a coastal marsh within Monterey Bay, had been experiencing severe damage. The root cause was a growing population of shore crabs, which fed heavily on the marsh plants, weakening the structural integrity of the habitat. Coastal marshes like these are not only natural defenses against storm waves but also serve as important carbon storage areas and water-cleaning systems.

The conservation-driven comeback of the sea otter has been crucial. California’s coastlines were once alive with sea otters. Sadly, they were nearly wiped out at the hands of fur traders. In the 1980s, conservation efforts aided these otters in re-occupying large areas of their former range. Now, Elkhorn Slough has the highest concentration of sea otters in California, with a population of about 100. By naturally feasting on crabs, the otters have helped a significant regrowth of plant life. Brent Hughes, a scientist working alongside Angelini, led a three-year study. Their findings were clear: in areas with sea otters, crab numbers fell markedly. This led to a resurgence in plant growth, which in turn stabilized the soil and lowered the rate of soil washing away.

As the sea otter population continues to restore, their positive impact on coastal ecosystems is likely to increase. It not only showcases the sea otter as a central species—a species that has a significant effect on its natural environment—but also highlights the essential nature of top predators (捕食者) in preserving ecological harmony. “My honest reaction was—this could become a classic in the literature,” says scientist Lekelia Jenkins. She reveals marsh restoration also helps people by reducing flooding. “Suddenly, sea otters go from just cute things we like to something that can protect our livelihoods and our properties.”

1. What change did the disappearance of sea otters bring about?

A．Fewer predatory crabs.	B．More coastal plant life.
C．Better water-cleaning effect.	D．Worse coastal ecological balance.

2. What does the underlined word “resurgence” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Barrier.

B．Advancement.

C．Expansion.

D．Revival.

3. What is the author’s purpose in quoting Lekelia Jenkins?

A．To highlight the importance of coastal marshes.

B．To introduce a new research study on sea otters.

C．To demonstrate the practical benefits of sea otters.

D．To emphasize the need for increased conservation efforts.

4. What message is conveyed from sea otters’ impact?

A．The necessity for controlled hunting.

B．The interconnectedness of the ecosystem.

C．The drawbacks of wildlife reintroduction.

D．The need for human intervention in nature.

【推荐1】When Gayle Macdonald reached the summit (顶峰) in Spain’s Sierra Nevada mountain range earlier this year, she didn’t just stop and take in the moment. Instead, she did what a great many people would do—she looked for the best spot to take a selfie (自拍) for her social media accounts. Gayle even admitted that she moved dangerously close to the edge while doing so. It was after that moment that she decided to quit social media.

“I was like ‘this has got to stop,’ ” recalls Gayle. “Taking a photo used to be the first thing I thought about when I got out of the car. Thinking all the time about creating content and worrying about what to say, were taking up too much head space and getting me down.”

Social media can be addictive for many reasons, the main one being that it is a form of escapism, especially for the younger generation. It’s simply a way of connecting without connection, and it’s a 24/7 comfort blanket of company for many. For many of us, most of our time is spent on social media. One global study found that the average person spends 2 hours and 29 minutes per day on such apps and websites. While some people might think that this is a bad habit that they should cut down on, for others it’s an actual addiction that they need help to overcome.

Hilda Burke, a psychotherapist (心理治疗师), says there’s now more widespread awareness about how much time people are spending on social media. “This is now easily to figure up, as most phones show you the breakdown of how you’re spending your time online,” she says. “Seeing how it all adds up can serve as a powerful wake-up call.” She advises that people quitting social media should let all their friends know, so they don’t continue to try to contact you via the sites.

Burke welcomes the fact that more people are quitting social media. It’s likely that we’re eventually starting to realize the damage it can cause to our relationships, mental health and our experience of real-world moments.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By providing research results.	B．By describing a process.
C．By making a comparison.	D．By giving an example.

2. What may Gayle think of her frequently updating posts on social media?

A．Energy-consuming.

B．Fashionable.

C．Inspiring.

D．Eye-catching.

3. Where can you find the reasons for teenagers’ addiction to social media?

A．In paragraph 2.

B．In paragraph 3.

C．In paragraph 4.

D．In paragraph 5.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Teenagers Are Addicted To Social Media

B．People Quit Using Social Media To Post Selfies

C．There Is Really More To Life Than Posting Selfies

D．Social Media Affects Physical And Mental Health

【推荐2】Most of you may want your kids to stay away from social media because it can bring harm. But social media can have a positive effect on them, like helping them learn how to communicate with others, improve relationships and deal with somebody who isn’t being kind to them.     1    . If you decide to let your kids use social media, follow a few tips to help them better explore the social media world.

Talk to your kids. From the beginning, it’s important to have an open and honest conversation with your kids about what social media is and what it can be used for. Ask why they’re interested in having an account on a particular platform and what they want to use it for.     2    .

Limit screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics (儿科) recommends limiting screen time to two hours a day for kids.     3    , but parents should also focus on a bigger picture—making sure your kids are getting enough physical activity and face-to-face interactions.

Monitor their usage.     4    , whether that’s scrolling through (滚动浏览) their tablet or phone or using a social media monitoring tool. “See what apps are there and familiarize yourself with those,” psychologist Kate Eshleman says. “Ask yourself if this tool is going to fit your goal.”

    5    . Easier said than done, right? But practicing safe and healthy social media behaviors in front of your kids really matters. “It’s much harder for kids to understand the potential dangers or risks of social media when parents engage in the same behaviors themselves,” Eshleman says.

A．Be a role model

B．That’s a good guideline

C．Check on what your kids are consuming

D．Put a ban on improper social media behaviors

E．As they start venturing into the world of social media, keep talking

F．Parents should know how to interact with their kids on social media

G．Therefore, no social media at all might not be the best solution for your kids

【推荐3】The social media platform Instagram once made headlines for limiting likes in an effort to reduce the comparisons and hurt feelings resulting from attaching popularity to sharing content. A small step in the right direction, says Jacqueline Sperling, a psychologist who works with youths that experience anxiety disorders.

Social media has a reinforcing nature. The platforms are designed to be addictive and are related to anxiety, depression, and even physical illnesses. But what makes users come back for more even when it can literally make them feel sick?

“The unknown outcome and the possibility of a desired outcome can keep users engaged with the sites,” Sperling says. “When the outcome is unpredictable, the behavior is more likely to repeat.” To boost self-esteem and feel a sense of belonging in their social circles, people post content with the hope of receiving positive feedback. FOMO--fear of missing out--f also plays a role. Teenagers hope to keep track of friends’ activities. Missing experiences can create anxiety and depression.

The earlier teens start using social media, the greater impact they have on mental health. This is especially true for females. While teen males tend to express aggression physically, females do so by excluding others and sharing hurtful comments. Social media increases the opportunity for such harmful interactions.

In addition, social media puts a lens filter (滤镜) on appearances and reality. When there’s a filter applied to the digital world, it can be hard for teens to tell what’s real and what isn’t, which comes at a tough time for them physically and emotionally.

We can benefit from social platforms to some extent, as they allow people to stay in touch with family and friends around the world. Still, the platforms have opened a “Pandora’s box” as they continue to evolve more quickly than we can research their impact.

In addition to limiting likes, Sperling suggests social platforms consider decreasing mass sharing. Regardless of how likely social media giants, are to change their ways, though, individuals can take control of their own behavior.

1. Why does Instagram limit likes?

A．To share more contents.	B．To increase its popularity.
C．To ensure teens’ well-being.	D．To reduce teens’ online time.

2. What does “Pandora’s box” in Paragraph 6 imply?

A．Social media can be double-edged.	B．People benefit from social platforms.
C．People get boxes of gifts from social platforms.	D．Social media opens a door for people to. see the world.

3. Which of the following does Sperling agree with?

A．Its lens. help teens to tell the real world.

B．Its unpredictable outcome attracts frequent visits.

C．It is helpful to teens with anxiety and depression.

D．It has a greater impact on female teens than male, teens.

4. What will the author most probably talk about next?

A．Advice on users’ controlling mass sharing.	B．Reasons for teens’ posting addictions.
C．Negative effects of harmful interactions.	D．Ways of social media giants’ management.