Brazil has become one of the developing world’s great successes in reducing population growth—but more by accident than design. While countries such as India have made joint efforts to reduce birth rates, Brazil has had better result without really trying, says George Martine at Harvard.
Brazil’s population growth rate has dropped from 2.99% a year between 1951 and 1960 to 1.93% a year between 1981 and 1990, and Brazilian women now have only 2.7 children on average. Martine says this figure may have fallen still further since 1990, an achievement that makes it the envy of many other Third World countries.
Martine puts it down to, among other things, soap operas and installment(分期付款) plans introduced in the 1970s. Both played an important, although indirect, role in lowering the birth rate. Brazil is one of the world’s biggest producers of soap operas. Globo, Brazil’s most popular television network, shows three hours of soaps six nights a week, while three others show at least one hour a night. Most soaps are based on wealthy characters living the high life in big cities.
“Although they have never really tried to work in a message towards the problems of reproduction(生育), they describe middle and upper class values—not many children, different attitudes towards sex, women working,” says Martine. “They sent this message to all parts of Brazil and made people realise other patterns of family life and other values, which were put into a very attractive package.”
Meanwhile, the installment plans tried to encourage the poor to become consumers. “This led to change in consumption(消费) patterns and consumption did not get along well with unlimited reproduction,” says Martine.
1. The underlined phrase “puts it down to” is closest in meaning to “________”.| A．considers the cause of it to be |
| B．finds it a reason for |
| C．looks it on as |
| D．compares it to |
| A．they keep people sitting long hours watching TV |
| B．they have gradually changed people’s way of life |
| C．people are drawn to their attractive package |
| D．they make birth control measures popular |
| A．The increase in birth rate will increase consumption. |
| B．The desire for consumption helps to reduce birth rate. |
| C．Consumption patterns and reproduction patterns are contradictory. |
| D．A country’s production is limited by its population growth. |
| A．Brazil:the developing world’s success |
| B．Soap operas and installment plans |
| C．Brazil: reducing birth rate by accident |
| D．Learn from Brazil,one of the Third World Countries |
| A．India have reduced birth rates by accident,too |
| B．many other Third World countries are suffering a population growth rate now |
| C．Brazil government’s achieved a success reducing the birth rate purposely |
| D．Brazil has successfully reduced population growth—but more by accident than design |
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【推荐1】World Environment Day is celebrated annually on June 5th and was created to inspire people around the globe to take an active part in environmental protection and learn more about ways we can help to guarantee the future of our planet is safe.
The very first World Environment Day took place in 1974, established by the United Nations General Assembly on the first day of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment that took place in 1972.
Each year the United Nations pick a theme and a host city where anyone who is concerned about the environment can talk about environmental topics with others, followed by different kinds of exhibits to promote environmental awareness. Environmentalists, academics and scientists come together to bring new ideas on the table concerning the environment.
The 2018 World Environment Day is hosted by India, and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. It urges people to explore and choose supportable alternatives like paper or cloth bags to reduce the production and use of disposable plastic, which makes up 10% of all of the waste. Even though the United Nations pick a specific host city every year, people around the world still celebrate World Environment Day in their hometowns with parades(游行), concerts, cleaning up and tree planting and all kinds of green actions to work towards having a beautiful planet and battling pollution.
World Environment Day is not a public holiday, so you won't be getting the day off work or school, but if you want to celebrate, why not bring it to the attention of your parents, friends, colleagues or classmates? World Environment Day is all about working together to take action for the planet, so try to get everyone you know interested in helping do something. Things as small as making sure people have a way to recycle can make a difference. You could also try beautifying your neighborhood by planting gardens, learn about green foods, raise money for a local wildlife conservation group of simply learn about the effects of different products on the earth.
1. Why is World Environment Day set up?| A．To make people know more about nature. | B．To ask people to help to protect the globe. |
| C．To warn people of the danger of air pollution. | D．To encourage people to plan the earth's future. |
| A．Decide a host city. | B．Hold a theme party. |
| C．Discuss environmental ideas. | D．Show some plastic products. |
| A．High cost. | B．Poor- quality. | C．Secondhand. | D．Single use. |
| A．Every bit of effort counts/ matters Count | B．Doing is better than saying. |
| C．Many hands make light work. | D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart. |
【推荐2】On the fourth Thursday of November every year, families in the US get together to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It falls on Nov. 26 this year.
Thanksgiving Day is a time for communal (群体的) thanksgiving and lavish feasts (丰盛的宴会). Like China’s Spring Festival, preparing a big meal and bringing the family together at home is a long-standing tradition of Thanksgiving.
Though I couldn’t have a reunion with my family when I was an exchange student at Newton South High School near Boston, I spent my Thanksgiving with my friend, Emily and her family.
Emily’s family also kept the tradition. Emily’s mother prepared turkey in the early afternoon. She filled up the turkey with bread cubes, onion slices and papers. A few hours later, we could eat delicious food. Many other foods also came with the main dish. Pumpkin pie is a popular dessert for the day.
Some of the traditional colors for Thanksgiving are orange, yellow and brown, as they stand for pumpkin, corn and turkey.
Even though I was thousands of kilometers away from my home in Beijing, I still found a home in the US with Emily and her family.
| A．This is why Thanksgiving is also called Turkey Day. |
| B．Preparing and eating turkey is a well-known thanksgiving tradition. |
| C．Turkey is the most delicious food in the world. |
| D．Distance doesn’t really matter as relatives return home to be with their family. |
| E．They brushed the turkey with a butter mixture and roasted it. |
| F．People usually use these colors to decorate (装饰)their homes and common areas. |
| G．As an saying goes that forever on Thanksgiving Day, the heart will find the pathway home. |
【推荐3】Music Festivals From Around the World
Music possesses a unique power to unit e people across cultures. One great way to feel this connection is by attending some of the world’s most incredible music festivals.
Sziget FestivalThe Sziget Festival in Budapest, Hungary, is a renowned six-day celebration of music and art on Obuda Island on the Danube River. Started in 1993, the festival is known for its diverse lineup, featuring top artists from genres like electronic, hip-hop, techno, and pop rock. Beyond music, the festival offers cultural experiences like art exhibitions, theater, circus performances, and film screenings.
GlastonburyGlastonbury Music Festival is a global music fest held annually at the Worthy Farm in Somerset, England. Since its inception（开始）in 1970, it has become a touchstone for music enthusiasts worldwide, drawing more than 200,000 visitors during its remarkable five-day run. Additionally, Glastonbury is among the few festivals striving towards being completely carbon-neutral.
Rock in RioThe beloved Rock in Rio festival was founded in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1985．The brand has since expanded to other locations, including Lisbon, Madrid, and Las Vegas. Rock in Rio spans multiple days. While its roots are in rock music, Rock in Rio has evolved to include more genres to appeal to a much broader audience. One of Rock in Rio’s standout features is its commitment to environmental initiatives.
Fuji RockFuji Rock is Japan’s biggest music festival, typically held in Naeba Ski Resort in Niiga ta Prefecture. Known for its stunning mountainous backdrop, this event has been running since 1997 and is celebrated for its diverse lineup that spans rock, electronic, hip-hop, and most other genres. It attracts international and local acts, creating a unique fusion of musical styles.
1. How is the Sziget Festival different from the other music festivals?| A．It is documented in films. |
| B．It is centered on classical arts. |
| C．It hosts various cultural events. |
| D．It features diverse music genres. |
| A．They highlight rock music. |
| B．They last more than a week. |
| C．They undergo global expansion. |
| D．They adopt eco-friendly practices. |
| A．Sziget Festival. | B．Glastonbury. |
| C．Rock in Rio. | D．Fuji Rock. |
【推荐1】School pupils in England will be grouped into “bubbles” when the new academic year starts in September, with mass activities such1 as assemblies (学校集会) discouraged under new regulations announced by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.
Schools were shut down in March, 2020. Currently around 1.6 million of the country’s 9 million school-age children are back in the classroom, but the government says a proper return in September is “critical to our national recovery” and attendance will be compulsory.
Social distancing will not be applied in schools, and masks will not be worn, but instead so-called bubbles, based on avoiding contact between individual classes or year groups, will be applied. This will mean separate start and finish times, and also different times for lunch and playtime.
Pupils will be discouraged from using public transport, which could bring many other challenges. Mobile testing units (检测装置) will be sent to schools which have an outbreak, and schools will have testing kits (检测工具) to give parents if required, but if there are two confirmed cases in 14 days, potentially the whole school could be shut down.
Geoff Barton, the general secretary of the Association of School and CollegeLeaders, says, “It will be immediately apparent to anyone reading this guidance that it is enormously challenging to carry out this proposal. The logistics of keeping apart many different ‘bubbles’ of children in a full school, including whole-year groups comprising hundreds of pupils, is incredible.”
Meanwhile, before the much-anticipated next stage of casing lockdown in England takes place this weekend, the number of COVID-19 cases has risen in 36 local authorities across England. Easing measures have already had to be delayed in the East Midlands city of Leicester, but now other spikes (激增) in infection rate are being reported all across England. The areas with the largest increases are Knowsley and Bolton, both in the North West of the country, and the London borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. In Knowsley, close to the city of Liverpool, the rate of infection rose from 6 people out of every 100, 000 to 20.
1. What does Gavin group the students into “bubbles” for?| A．Calling on students to take a bus for school. |
| B．Asking all students to wear masks in class. |
| C．Keeping social distance among all students. |
| D．Setting different time for school activities. |
| A．Tolerant. | B．Ambiguous. | C．Hopeful. | D．Doubtful. |
| A．England has already ended the lockdown. |
| B．More reports are about the spread of COVID-19. |
| C．The number of COVID-19 infections is increasing in England. |
| D．COVID-19 is more serious in England than in other countries. |
【推荐2】In most cases wars are initiated by governments，not by populations．And，most of the time，they are the result of disputes over resources and land，or of a government’s desire to increase its influence and power．However, looking back over the history of warfare，what is most striking is how willing most people have been to fight in wars，or at least to support them．
The early American psychologist William James once suggested that war is so popular because of its positive psychological effects．It creates a sense of unity in the face of a collective threat and inspires individual citizens (not just soldiers) to behave honorably and unselfishly, in the service of a greater good．It supplies meaning and purpose beyond the routine of everyday life．War also enables the expression of higher human qualities that often lie hidden in ordinary life，such as courage and self-sacrifice．
James’s argument is that human beings need to find activities that provide the same positive effects of warfare but which don’t involve the same destruction，or as he calls it．“the moral equivalent of war”．
In stable , peaceful and more economically developed countries，life is so rich and varied that there are many ways of satisfying these needs—through sport，our careers，entertainment and hobbies．However, in other parts of the world where life is especially hard—when people live in poverty and are oppressed，and where there is little hope for the future，it's harder to satisfy those impulses，and if there is an obvious enemy or oppressor to direct them towards，then war is almost unavoidable．
This isn’t to say that a waning party may not have a just cause，and this argument doesn’t explore other important social and psychological factors involved in war, such as social identity and moral exclusion．However, it does show that any stable．1asting peace depends on creating societies with a richness of opportunity and variety that can meet human needs．The fact that so many societies throughout the world fail to do this makes our future prospects of peace look very gloomy．
1. The most likely purpose of a war is to __________．
| A．become more influential and powerful |
| B．fairly distribute resources like oil and land |
| C．bring freedom to people leading an ordinary life |
| D．bring out human virtues not usually seen in daily life |
| A．war adds nobleness to their insignificant life |
| B．1ife is hard and people struggle to make a living |
| C．it can cure them of their psychological diseases |
| D．they have trouble doing sports or developing hobbies |
| A．pessimistic | B．optimistic |
| C．objective | D．uncertain |
| A．war is a form of entertainment |
| B．people go to war for wrong reasons |
| C．war can’t be avoided because of human greed |
| D．war is tempting despite the damage it can cause |
【推荐3】Churchill, Manitoba is a small town. The northern winds roll through it from Canada's Hudson Bay. It might be just another point on the map if not for its seasonal settlers.
It happens like clockwork every fall that hundreds of polar bears make their way through the town to the freezing bay where they hunt for seals after the ice packs enough to support their weight. The animals have been connected with Churchill since at least 1619. That's when Norwegian explorer Jens Munk and his sailors recorded making a meal of one bear while they wintered in the area. “It was of good taste and did not disagree with us. ”That's what Munk wrote in his journal.
Over the years, the animals' coming has earned the town the name of“Polar Bear Capital of the World. ”Today, Churchill's bear population goes beyond its human population. There used to be about 7, 000 residents but now only 813 living there. There was no such thing as an organized tour group to see the bears until 1980. The town might have been in terrible financial hardships. But the growing bear tourism industry helped.
Today, some 10, 000 tourists come to the town to see polar bears for six weeks in autumn every year. But the reasons why they come are different from before. Everyone was happier and they had such a good time seeing polar bears. Now things have changed because the word is out that this Western Hudson Bay population of bears, Churchill Bears, are going to be the first population of polar bears to die out. So when the tourists come up, they all have a little bit of a lump in their throats（如鲠在喉）because they're looking at a beautiful bear, but they're also looking at a dying-out bear, which makes the whole attitude toward the bears different. Unfortunately, that's becoming the major part of the whole attraction of the tours as well. Come and see the bears before it's too late.
1. What can we learn about Churchill polar bears from the text？| A．They have eaten up the seals in the Hudson Bay. |
| B．They come to Churchill at the same time every year. |
| C．They move to Churchill to escape the northern winds. |
| D．They are so dangerous that most natives left their home. |
| A．They fed many polar bears. | B．Polar bears were dangerous. |
| C．They hunted a bear for food. | D．They found some seals in the bay. |
| A．They make many people settle down. | B．They attract many hunters to come here. |
| C．They bring much tourist income. | D．They supply food to locals. |
| A．To say good-bye to Churchill Bears. | B．To help polar bears become happier. |
| C．To take photos with Churchill Bears. | D．To stop polar bears going to the town. |
【推荐1】Polar bears rely on glacial ice to hunt, travel, rest, and mate. With the increased loss of their habitats due to climate change, scientists have become more concerned with understanding how polar bears might adapt their behaviors when their habitats and hunting patterns are threatened.
In southeastern Greenland, scientists have started to understand the adapting habits of these “sea bears” by studying a newly discovered subgroup of polar bears that hunt and live differently. This group of a few hundred bears is the most genetically distinct population that has been scientifically documented. Within the southeastern region, heavy snowfall and troubled weather patterns make studies like these difficult but ecology teams were able to use heavy-duty helicopters to study the bears on and off-site.
Researchers believe that this group of polar bears are so genetically distinctive because of the isolation they face within their habitat. Tucked away in the mountainous regions of the Greenland Ice Sheet, their habitat forced polar bears to remain within similarly isolated areas. Without the approach to sea ice for around 70% of the year, these mammals adapt by using floating blocks of broken-off glacial ice to hunt their favorite food, seals. With the area’s sea ice decreasing, this research team believes that the muddy glacial areas are used as a new hunting ground in the ever-warming Arctic ice.
While these polar bears can give us a clue to the future of the species, researchers note that environments like these are rare outside of Greenland and that this hopeful study does not change the severity of the declining sea ice. The researchers hope to use their findings as a starting point to spark preservation efforts and conservation.
1. What challenge are the polar bears facing?| A．The loss of their food sources. |
| B．The increase of their living places. |
| C．The decrease in their populations. |
| D．The effect of people’s hunting patterns. |
| A．By capturing polar bears directly. | B．By studying their subgroups. |
| C．By taking pictures with helicopters. | D．By scientifically documenting gene distinction. |
| A．Hidden. | B．Locked. | C．Farmed. | D．Blocked. |
| A．They live in the sea water for most of the year. |
| B．They moved to muddy glacial areas for food. |
| C．They could live on glacial ice. |
| D．They suggests the future situation of mankind. |
【推荐2】Livestreaming (直播带货) is a kind of e-commerce and marketing and sales method. It combines live product demonstrations, time-limited pricing promotions, live negotiations, and instant ordering through online streaming services hosted either by an influencer’s (网红) studio, or an online store.
Livestreaming removes barriers between brands and consumers. While it is focused on driving short term sales, livestreaming can enable firms to improve marketing efficiency by combining brand marketing and performance marketing. There are certain factors that will increase the chance of success.
Brands should not use livestreaming as a short-term sales booster but as a long-term way to remove barriers between brands and consumers. Specifically, brands could better show their products in this way, tell fuller brand stories, introduce emotional and cultural elements to their products, obtain instant feedback, conduct product trials, improve marketing efficiency by combining brand marketing and performance marketing, use different livestream hosts to build a bridge for the consumers and cultivate brand loyalty.
Of course, Livestreaming is not without drawbacks. For ads on TV, government has clear rules to forbid brands parading the before-and-after effects of health products. The restrictions are not clear yet for Internet-based livestreaming, and health products are frequently promoted by livestreamers. We need to continue to monitor regulatory updates carefully.
As promoting products through live-streaming has been compared to “turning clicks into cash”, some people have made illegal profits by creating false prosperity (繁荣). Through the purchase of fake followers to increase shares and comments, some live streamers can make up their rate of engagement to cheat brands and companies in an effort to win more trust and make more money. Meanwhile, live-streams have also faced issues like the refund and exchange of products.
1. What does the author advise the brands to do with Livestreaming?| A．To achieve as much sales as possible. |
| B．To focus more on brand marketing. |
| C．To remove barriers between brands and consumers. |
| D．To build a bridge between consumers and government |
| A．Overstating. | B．Comparing. |
| C．Displaying. | D．Describing. |
| A．By promoting the products as hard as possible. |
| B．By creating fake comments and shares. |
| C．By speaking highly of the brands and firms. |
| D．By refusing the exchange and the refund of products. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Objective. |
| C．Critical. | D．Doubtful. |
【推荐3】The Johnny Cash Museum is a famous attraction in downtown Nashville. Bill Miller, one of Cash’s closest friends, has gathered and cataloged the country singer superstar’s memorials for decades. But what makes the Johnny Cash Museum truly unique are the personal effects only a close friend could collect — childhood report cards, military uniforms, and handwritten love letters to Cash’s wives.
In Johnny Cash Museum fans can explore the legendary (传奇的) entertainer’s career as a musician, author and actor. A wall of records, hand written lyrics, 25 different stage clothes, and various awards tell an exciting story of fame and success. In 1980, at age 48, Johnny Cash became the youngest living to join the Country Music Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame then awarded its honor to him in 1995, adding him to the small handful of country artists in both organizations. One corner highlights the singer, concern for those in prison — displaying photos, handwritten lyrics and more. The back part of the museum contains a theater that shows clips (剪辑) from Cash’s film career.
You’ll even glance at his personal life, beginning with picking cotton on his family’s farm, his first toys, and authentic grade school items, leading up to his years in the U.S. Air Force and life at home with his beloved wife, June Carter Cash. The most particular part of the museum of all is sure to be a unique stone wall that was saved from Johnny and June’s lake house that burned down several years back.
You probably won’t leave this experience empty handed though. The Johnny Cash Museum Store offers the largest selection of Cash souvenirs, stage wear, and rare collectables that will make sure the memories of your visit here last a lifetime. You can recharge with a hot or cold drink and delicious bite to eat at Bongo Java Cafe just inside the museum.
1. Why is Johnny Cash Museum truly unique?| A．It lies in downtown district. |
| B．Its exhibits are put in time order. |
| C．Its antiques are increasingly rare. |
| D．It contains Cash’s personal belongings. |
| A．His gifts for acting in films. | B．His concern for the prisoners. |
| C．The aspects of his personal life. | D．The exhibits about his achievement. |
| A．It once caught fire. | B．It was decorated well. |
| C．It was built of little stone. | D．It consisted of unique stones. |
| A．Johnny Cash Museum | B．A Biography of Johnny Cash |
| C．Bill Miller’s Work on Museum | D．A Visit to Johnny Cash Museum |
