【推荐1】Vaccine

“Vaccine”(疫苗) is Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year. The word was selected based on lookup data, notable spikes, and year-over-year increases in searches. On the site, lookups for “vaccine” increased by 601% over 2020, especially in the second half of the year. This August, lookups of “vaccine” jumped by 535% due to widespread use in parts of the world and major stories about policy, permission and vaccination rates. This selection comes after “pandemic” was chosen in 2020.

NFT

“NFT” is 2021’s “Word of the Year”, Collins Dictionary announced. According to the dictionary, NFT is a unique digital certificate, registered in a blockchain, which is used to record ownership of an asset(资产) such as an artwork or a collectible.” “Whether the NFT will have a lasting influence is yet to be determined, but its sudden appearance in conversations around the world makes it very clearly our Word of the Year.” The dictionary said.

Perseverance

Cambridge Dictionary’s word of the year for 2021 has been known as “perseverance”. The word was inspired by NASA’s mission to Mars, as data showed that users across the globe searched for the word online more than 243,000 times throughout the year. The dictionary found there was a sudden large increase in searches for the meaning of “perseverance” between 18 and 24 February, after NASA’s Perseverance Rover(探测器) landed on Mars. Last year, Cambridge Dictionary named “quarantine” as the word of the year, after it became one of the most highly searched for words online.

1. Which was Merriam-Webster’s word of the year for 2020?

A．Perseverance.

B．Vaccine.

C．NFT.

D．Pandemic.

2. The increasing number of searches for the word “perseverance” resulted from ______.

A．a NASA’s mission.	B．a rover’s landing on Venus.
C．a new complex meaning of it.	D．a growing number of Internet users.

3. Where does this passage probably come from?

A．A dictionary.

B．A guidebook.

C．A news report.

D．A science book.

【推荐3】Reading on the go

*FReader

A standard reading app for eBooks and audiobooks, FReader supports a variety of formats.The program is very pleasant to the eye and is adjustable to various spectrums (光谱). Apart from being a reading app, FReader has an integrated translator for five languages (English, Russian, German, French, and Ukrainian), making the app attractive to people across the world. You can also select a section of the page you are reading and share it via social networks, Bluetooth, SMS and other methods.

Cool features: Four themes, supports five languages, advanced 3D animations, scans the device for all existing formats, Text-to-Speech.

Business model: Free app. Only a standard free plan is available.

*AlReader

Although it can read every type of book, AlReader is specially designed for Sci-Fi lovers. The app doesn’t support iOS but you can open many book formats on your Android phone. This app has enhanced graphical (图解的) features and a wide range of customization options that focus on providing the best quality for fictional book reading.

Cool features: Text-To-Speech, external dictionaries, advanced adjustment of the visual supports E-Ink devices.

Business model: Free app. ASIReader doesn’t sell books, but you can simply purchase digital products elsewhere and upload them to the reading app.

*Nook

Nook is strongly integrated with the online store Banes & Noble. You can buy you eBooks anywhere and they will automatically appear in the Nook library. The app supports most eBook formats.

Cool features: Wishlist, Article View, Parental Mode for children, customization of all the visual features.

Business model: Free app. With the partnership with Banes&Noble, you can find over a million free books on their website or purchase new titles for the price of as low as $0.99.

*Scribd

Scribd has come a long way from the document-reading app it was initially. Today, it is one of the most famous programs with over a million titles in its library. Upon registration, you get a 30-day demoaccount that lets you read all the books you want for free! Apart from books, Scribd provides comic books, audiobooks articles, scientific studies, court cases and uncommon genres that no other app offers. You can even publish your own book on this platform.

Cool features: Book sync across different devices, audiobooks.

Business model: 30-day free trial. The monthly subscription for unlimited access to Scribd’s available material is £8.99.

1. Why is FReader attractive to international readers?

A．It doesn’t harm your eyes.	B．It has many customization options.
C．It has a powerful integrated translator.	D．Users can share what they read via social networks.

2. What can you do with AlReader?

A．Buy Sci-Fi books.

B．Enjoy great graphics.

C．Read on an iOS device.

D．Publish your own writing.

3. You can read books from Banes & Noble for free on________.

A．FRcader.

B．AIReadcr.

C．Nook.

D．Scribd.

【推荐3】Wanting to spend some time camping this summer? But you’ re afraid it’s going to be a disaster? You needn’t worry.     1     . With a little preparation and a little help from a camp planner, you can have the camping experience of your dreams.

Discuss Camping with Your Children

A little preparation goes a long way. If your children have never camped, they may be scared or resistant to the idea. Talk with them about what camping will be like and what they will experience. Highlight the fun things but don’t avoid things that they may be afraid of or unsure about.     2     .

Pack in-Case-of-Rain Activities

No one likes rain when they are trying to enjoy the outdoors, but sometimes even if you check your local forecast, rain happens.     3     , like playing cards and a chess set to wait out the rain. Rainy afternoons are also a perfect time for naps and storytelling. Some favorite family memories can be made waiting for the rain to pass.

Pack Special Snacks

    4     . Cookies and roasted marshmallows are some good foods and you can find some more fun treats to share on your camping adventure like walking tacos and campfire chili. Camp food can become long-lasting traditions in your family.

Use a Camping Planner

Let’s face it — planning a camping trip can be a lot.     5     . You can use a camping planner to help you get organized and make sure you have a truly memorable camping experience. The Camping Planner includes a comprehensive packing checklist, a camp meal planner and grocery shopping lists, along with lists of your favorite camping spots and places to try in the future and so much more.

A．But you don’t have to do it all alone

B．Make sure you pack necessary things

C．Here are some of our favorite natural games

D．Camping without special snacks is not perfect

E．Open the conversations and answer them honestly

F．An interesting trip unnecessarily means an easy one

G．Camping can be a wonderful experience for your family

【推荐1】One of the main things to explore in every place is its food! With these perfect food festivals around the world, you can have a big chance to taste delicious food and enjoy a lot of funny activities and events.

Pizzafest

Join a number of people on this fine night of September when the village of Naples gets ready to make and eat more than 100,000 pizzas of every kind, including 50-unusual historic versions, such as classics Napo-letana and Margherita!

Where: Naples, Italy

Herring (鲱鱼) Festival

The Herring Festival is one of the unique cultural food festivals around the world. Each April, schools of herring swim into the Ringkobing Fjord in Denmark to lay eggs. And when they do, it’s party time for fishermen, and for scores of people coming into the town to enjoy plenty of pickled (腌制的), sliced, caked, fried, and baked herring! So, make sure you don’t miss this one!

Where: Hvide Sande, Denmark

Dumpling Festival

Does your mouth start to water when you think of steamy and juicy dumplings? If yes, then this festival is just for you. Taste zongzi dumplings —glutinous rice with different fillings wrapped in bamboo, lotus or banana leaves—on the fifth day of the fifth Chinese lunar month. You will feel the friendliness of the Chinese people.

Where: Hong Kong, China.

Salon du Chocolat

Are you a fan of chocolates and fashions alike? Then you must head to taste some high-quality chocolates produced in Ecuador and attend the Salon du Chocolat festivain Quito. The festival lets you enjoy the taste of the finest chocolates, and watch a fashion show with models wearing dresses made of... Can you guess?

Where: Quito, Ecuador (厄瓜多尔)

1. What can you do during the Herring Festival?

A．Taste various Asian foods.	B．Visit many fishermen.
C．Learn some cooking methods.	D．Explore different tasty herring.

2. What can be a highlight of Salon du Chocolat?

A．Chocolate fans.	B．Funny models.
C．The fashion show.	D．The traditional dresses.

3. In which section of a magazine can we read the text?

A．Culture

B．Nature.

C．Fashion.

D．Entertainment.

【推荐2】In a new finding that goes against current conservation patterns, re-introducing wolves and other predators (捕食者) to our landscapes does not amazingly reduce deer populations, restore worsening ecosystems or significantly threaten livestock (家禽), according to a new study.

“The hopes and fears that we have on both sides of the debate—neither are realized,” said conservation biologist Bernd Blossey, professor of natural resources and the environment at Cornell University. On the one hand, there is little evidence for claims that re-introducing large predators such as wolves, bears and mountain lions is a major threat to livestock and wild animals such as white-tailed deer and mule deer. When the wolf was taken off the endangered species list, hunters and livestock producers, and some state governments, called for action to safeguard the wildlife they wanted to hunt and the livestock that was their livelihood. But it is nearly impossible to independently evaluate those claims, Blossey said. Other factors also kill livestock, from lightning strikes to extreme weather and diseases.

On the other hand, the claim that wolves and other predators can control deer populations and restore worsening ecosystems lacks evidence as well. “Meaningfully reducing deer populations in Wisconsin alone would require tens of thousands of wolves, which is ecologically and socially impossible,” said Blossey. And wolves alone can’t repair the ecological damage humans have done, he said. A popular video “How wolves change rivers,” which has been viewed more than 43 million times, suggests that the re-introduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park benefited the entire ecosystem. “I was as fooled like everybody else by the lovely stories that came out of Yellowstone saying, you bring wolves back, and you restore the rivers, and everything’s satisfactory,” said Blossey.

We should see large predators like wolves as a valuable part ecological communities in their own right, Blossey said, and not just for their function. “As long as people learn to live with and tolerate the new (old) neighbors, a careful but not fully conflict-free existence appears possible,” said Blossey.

1. Which of the following does Blossey probably agree with?

A．The loss of livestock may not necessarily be due to wolves.

B．People should not take wolves off the endangered species list

C．People should take action to protect livestock and wild animals.

D．The threat to predators comes from climate change and diseases.

2. Which word best describes Blossey’s attitude to the video “How wolves change rivers”?

A．Tolerant.	B．Unclear.
C．Doubtful.	D．Favorable.

3. What does Bernd Blossey say about large predators in the last paragraph?

A．They upset the balance of the ecosystem.

B．They should rightfully stay in their habitats.

C．They are key to restoring the environment.

D．They change people’s view about rewilding.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The value of humans’ living together with animals

B．The importance of restoring worsening ecosystems.

C．A debate over the threat to livestock and wild animals.

D．A clarification of the effects of bringing back the wolves.

【推荐3】Increased involvement from grandparents can be crucial in a child’s development. From helping children navigate stressful situations to giving kids that little extra bit of love and care, grandparents play an important role in the well-being of a child. Now, there’s scientific data to back this up.

According to a study of over 1,500 children, conducted by Professor Ann Buchanan from the Department of Social Policy and Intervention at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, children who have tight-knit relationships with their grandparents tend to have fewer problems, both emotionally and when it comes to their behavior. Besides, children also have less difficulty when interacting and maintaining relationships with others.

Kimberly Agresta, the co-founder of Englewood’s Agresta Psychotherapy Group, has also noticed in a study the significant benefits of allowing grandparents to be more involved in children’s lives. “If parents regularly involve grandparents in their child’s life early on, a child can develop real emotional closeness to their grandparents and begin to see them as a source of strong social support,” she stated in an interview. “So a child will feel they have other adults, aside from their parents, who care about them in the same way, and this adds to their sense of stability and security.”

She continued, “Stressful situations are less impactful to such children because they have other people in their lives who they have these attachments to and support from.” This is because grandparents are generally not responsible for disciplining or raising the child, and they’re able to love the child a little more freely and unconditionally than a parent, Agresta explained.

“Grandparents are a wealth of knowledge and information, and not only can they pass on valuable skills from real-life experience, but they can also share the past with their grandchildren,” added Agresta. “They can serve as historians, sharing various traditions and stories about when their own children were growing up, which create s a sense of continuity for a child.” So it looks like it may be time to set up a play date for your kids with their grandparents!

1. What is the impact of children spending time with grandparents according to Buchanan’s study?

A．Improved social skills.	B．Lower intelligence level.
C．Better academic performance.	D．Increased behavioral problems.

2. How does Agresta probably describe grandparents’ treating their children?

A．More critical.	B．More positive.
C．Less supportive.	D．Less judgmental.

3. What does Agresta talk about in the last paragraph?

A．The features of grandparents’ love.

B．Various roles grandparents take on.

C．The typical qualities of grandparents.

D．Grandparents’ advantages over parents.

4. How does the author mainly organize the text?

A．By quoting a few people’ opinions.

B．By analyzing two scientific surveys.

C．By giving the findings of two studies.

D．By making comparisons between studies.