Working Out (锻炼) through Online Videos
Physical exercise is good for our mind, body and spirit. Today, working out through online videos is becoming very popular. Since the Internet is widely used, it’s very easy for us to do so. That means we can work out anytime anywhere.
One of my friends, Lin Fei, followed short workout videos to do daily exercise. “With live programs, I feel like working out with my friends, which encourages (鼓励) me to hold on to the last minute.” she said. Another friend of mine, Michael, told me that workout videos let him feel so comfortable. “I have a fear of working out at the gym (健身房) because I don’t like being watched by others. Working out at home is much more enjoyable.” he said.
With their examples, I decided to give it a try. When I told my plan to my elder sister, a P.E. teacher, she reminded (提醒) me that workout videos could be helpful but might still carry some problems.
“Without being with someone in person, you will be less willing (愿意的) to work out to your best. Working out at the gym allows you to have advice in real time and get pushed harder,” my sister said to me. “Well, if you really want to have a try. First, choose proper programs or videos. That’s very important. And then ask your friends for advice. Their experiences can give you a good sight into what you can expect. Anyway, don’t be addicted (沉迷的) to it.You should try different ways to work out to be healthy.”
At her advice, I finally followed an online workout program with personalized (个性化的) help that is held for three months. After the first period of training, I felt it very practical and helpful when I put in the right amount (量) of work along with a strong will. Compared (对比) with going to the gym, using online videos to work out is a much cheaper and time-saving choice. But it can be difficult sometimes when I’m too lazy or too busy to stick to it.
1. Why is working out through online videos popular according to the passage?2. Does Lin Fei like working out with his friends? Why?
3. What are the problems of workout videos according to the writer’s sister?
4. Which do you like better, working out through online videos or going to the gym? Why?
Mark is a thirteen-year-old boy. He does a lot of things at home to help his mom.
In the morning, he makes his lunch and puts it in his lunchbox. After school he takes Max, his dog for a walk first. Max is Mark’s pet. It’s also his good friend. Mark often tells Max stories about his school and Max likes them. Mark also cleans his room every day—usually in the evening and sometimes in the morning. Mark does his homework after dinner. After that he helps his mom wash the dishes.
Mark’s parents are very proud (自豪的) of him. Every week they give Mark five dollars. Mark usually buys school things with it, and he also saves some every week. Now Mark has about 50 dollars. He has a big plan (计划)—his friend Jeff wears very old shoes. Jeff and his mother have a very difficult life. His mom can’t buy him a pair of new shoes. Mark knows that Jeff’s birthday is coming, and Mark wants to give him a surprise (惊喜).
1. What does Mark do first after school?（回答不少于7个单词）2. When does Mark usually clean his room?（回答不少于3个单词）
3. How much money do Mark’s parents give him every week?（回答不少于2个单词）
4. Are Mark and Jeff brothers?（回答不少于3个单词）
5. What may (可能) be Mark’s surprise for Jeff?（回答不少于5个单词）
You may know well what you are supposed to do or not to do in your own country. But do you know the customs in other countries? Here are some manners you should pay attention to.
Taking off your shoes or not
It's bad manners to take off your shoes at the door of a London dinner party. But in Asia if you don't take off your shoes before entering a home, you are not polite enough.
What you should do instead: If you see shoes at the door, take off your shoes. If not, keep the shoes on.
Talking over dinner
In some countries, like Japan, don't start talking while everyone else is having dinner. You'll meet with silence—not because your group is unfriendly, but because mealtime is for eating, not talking. Also don't talk in places like churches (教堂) in Europe.
What you should do instead: Keep quiet!
Knowing your right from your left
Some cultures in Africa and the Middle East still like to eat in traditional ways—using their hands. When people eat in this way, food is often offered for several people to share at the same time. That is why it's important to wash your hands before eating. While eating, you have to follow the rule: Eat using your right hand, and use your left hand to do other things.
What you should do instead: Follow the others and use your right hand. Even left-handed children in these cultures are taught to eat with their right hands. If you really can't, explain yourself to others before you eat.
1. How many manners are mentioned in the passage?2. What are you supposed to do if you see shoes at the door?
3. How can you behave well when having dinner in Japan?
4. There are some table manners in Chinese culture. Please give an example.
4 . Money makes the world go around, yet the best things in life are free. A penny saved is a penny earned, but you get what you pay for. You probably have your own ideas about spending money. Now is a great time to learn how to spend money wisely.
When you are considering buying something you want, run through this checklist first.
How much do you really want it?
Seeing a $25 gum ball (口香糖球) machine, Ben wanted it. But after thinking about it, he decided that it would be exciting only for a day or two. “Besides, it’s not possible for me to chew that much gum,” he said wisely.
Do you still want it a week later?
If the thing passes the “really wanting-it” test, try to wait for some time to see how strong the desire (欲望) is. This strategy works for grown-ups, too!
How will you pay for it?
After the first two steps, Ben found he really wanted a toy pirate ship (海盗船), but it cost $50. He had $22 in his pocket and gets $1.50 a week to spend. His mother helped him work out how many weeks he would need to save to get the ship: 19.
Are there ways to earn the money?
Ben agreed to wash the downstairs windows at a dollar each. So he got $10 for himself and sparkling (闪亮的) sunlight for the rest of the family.
Can you get it cheaper?
After deciding to buy it, it is necessary for you to look for less expensive ways to buy it: search for what you want on the internet or in shops and flea markets (跳蚤市场). Sometimes you can find the same thing at a much lower price. If these suggestions work well, they can save you a lot of money. You will be a really smart shopper.
Answer the following questions according to the passage above. (根据上面的短文内容，回答下列问题。)
1. Did Ben finally buy the gum ball machine? Why or why not?2. Why did Ben agree to wash the downstairs windows?
3. Where can you search for what you want if you want to buy something?
4. What is the passage mainly talk about?
The name of my best friend is Joyce. She cares about me a lot. She is my true friend because she understands me very well and cares about my every need.
She is similar to me in many ways. She is an open-minded girl and never feels bad about my misbehaviour. She always encourages me to do better in class and exams. We are good at sports and academic activities.
1. Why does the writer (作者) think Joyce is a true friend?2. What’s Joyce like?
3. What are they good at?
6 . Hi, my name is Jiang Meimei. I am a 14-year-old girl. I am a middle school student in Beijing. I often have an egg, an apple and some bread for breakfast. For lunch, I have some rice, chicken and vegetables. When I am busy (忙的), I only have a hamburger for lunch. And for dinner, I often have tomatoes and salad.
My friend Linda is 13 years old. She likes unhealthy food. She often has some hamburgers and French fries. She likes dessert very much. And she eats ice-cream every day.
1. Is Linda Jiang Meimei’s friend?2. Does Jiang Meimei often have rice for breakfast?
3. How old is Linda?
4. What does Jiang Meimei often have for dinner?
Cynthia and her friends were walking in the mall (商场). They went there twice a month. “Look, Cynthia! Your favorite singer is in Forever 21,” said Martha. When Cynthia was turning around, she knocked (碰撞) an ice-cream out of a woman’s hand and it dropped onto the woman’s shirt. The woman was upset.
Cynthia said sorry and started taking the ice-cream off the woman’s shirt. The woman was even more upset. “Don’t touch me!” she said. Cynthia said sorry again. “You have to pay for this shirt and the ice-cream!” the woman said. Cynthia’s friends started laughing. They thought it was funny that she was making a big deal out of the situation. “Can’t you just put the shirt in the washing machine? Why does she have to pay for your shirt?” asked Martha. “The stain (污迹) is not going off,” the woman said. “It’s all right, Martha. I’ll just pay for it,” Cynthia said.
Cynthia asked the woman how much the shirt was. “It is $147,” she said. Cynthia reached into her wallet. “Cynthia, this woman is clearly lying (撒谎) to you,” Martha said. Cynthia thought Martha was probably right! She asked for proof (证据). The woman could not give it to her and then walked away. Cynthia was thankful for Martha’s help.
1. What happened when Cynthia was turning around to see her favorite singer?2. Why did Cynthia’s friends laugh when hearing the woman’s words?
3. Do you need a friend like Martha? Why or why not?
Cold air swept across the north part of China in the first week of November. At the same time, a global (全球的) meeting on climate (气候) change was held in Scotland. There, leaders around the world tried to control global warming.
Why are we experiencing such a cold winter on a warming planet? The cold winter and global warming, two opposite facts, are not contradictory (对立的).
Global warming has changed Earth’s air condition and the weather. For example, in October, Li Nina affected China. It was caused by strong winds from the Pacific Ocean.
Another reason for the cold weather is the warming Arctic. It’s warming almost three times as fast as any other places on Earth.
Will the earth be much colder? It’s reported that a cold winter is likely. Northern China will probably see more snow, and southern China will see less rain.
1. Why did leaders hold a global meeting on climate change in Scotland?2. What caused Li Nina according to Paragraph 3?
3. What can you do to stop the global warming?
British people don’t like to say “no”, because they think it is rude. But this can be a problem for people from other countries. When you learn English, you learn to say things like “Yes, please.” and “No, thank you.” when somebody asks you if you want something. But real life is not always so easy.
When you give something to British people, they often say, “I’m all right, thanks.” When they say this, they mean that they already have everything they need, so it is a way to say no. Unluckily, saying “all right” is also a way to say yes. The same phrase (短语) can be used in different ways to mean both yes and no!
Manjit works in a tourist shop. “British people are difficult customers (顾客),” he said. “If you give something to them, they say, ‘Maybe later’ even when they plan never to buy it.”
Saying yes is not much better, said Manjit. “When they want to buy something, they sometimes don’t say yes. They say, ‘Sure!’ or ‘Why not?’ It’s so confusing (令人困惑的)!”
1. Do British people like to say “no”? Why or why not?2. What do British people usually say when they don’t want something?
3. What might a British man mean by saying “Maybe later” to a seller?
In July, 2021, China introduced the “Double Reduction” policy (双减政策). It hopes to reduce students’ learning burden(负担). How do students feel about this new policy? Does the policy really influence (影响) their life and study?
“Our homework is clearly less than before”, said 13-year-old Shen Yuzhe from Beijing. “The exercises are mainly from the textbook(课本).” According to Shen, teachers now teach at a much slower speed (速度). “Our teachers are also giving us more chances to try out and learn from real life.” said Shen.
For a 13-year-old boy, Zhang Hangming from Tianjin, the best thing about “double reduction” is the increased(增长的) time in after-school activities. “We can now spend more time taking part in clubs and activities, such as dancing, volleyball and instruments. I can learn all kinds of skills more than schoolwork.” Said Zhang.
Zhang also pointed out that self-discipline (自律) becomes more important now. “Some students now spend more time having fun when homework is finished early. But if you use all the free time to relax, you might fall behind other students.” He said.
1. What good things does the “Double Reduction” policy bring to Shen Yuzhe?List (列举) at least 2 of them.
2. What does Zhang Hangming think of the policy? Why?
3. What does Zhang Hangming mainly want to tell us in the last paragraph?
4. Do you like the “Double Reduction” policy? What changes（变化）does it bring to your study or life?
