1 . Conservation organization Plantlife is urging people to put away their lawnmowers (除草机) for a month and let wild flowers grow instead, as part of its No Mow May project.
Leaving the grass uncut will create a habitat that will benefit bees and other insects, the organization says. Plantlife says lawns could be biodiversity hot-spots if left alone. It says those who participated in its campaign last year reported the growth of more than 250 plant species on their lawns. Among these were wild strawberry and wild garlic. There were also sightings of declining species like green-winged orchids.
One gardener who has been enjoying a more relaxed approach is Tom Jennings, 45, from Buckinghamshire. He says it’s a chance to reconnect with the natural world. “Those fascinated by neat gardens use not only lawnmowers but chemicals.” says Tom.
After letting his back garden grow out, Tom witnessed an explosion of wild flowers—important for pollinators (授粉者) such as bees. Tom says he’s been shocked at how quickly insects have returned to his back garden: an encouraging signal given the global decline of insect populations.
According to Colette Webb, 42, who lives in West Sussex, there are added benefits to letting nature gradually take its course in the garden. “It saves you a bit of time and arguments with the husband about getting the lawnmower out—something my husband hates doing,” she says. “There’s a part of me that thinks the garden is really messy, but when you sit there for some time a day and look at what’s it’s supporting, you realize it’s for the benefit of nature.”
But not everyone is on board with the idea, says David. One of his neighbours is pursuing their own re-wilding project in their own garden—but the other is yet to be convinced. “And my mother, who’s 81, still says it looks untidy,” he laughs.
1. What is the major goal of Plantlife’s No Mow May project?| A．Helping promote biodiversity. | B．Attracting more garden visitors. |
| C．Making their gardens look more natural. | D．Saving people’s trouble of mowing their gardens. |
| A．He is crazy about neat gardens. |
| B．He hates having to cut the grass regularly. |
| C．He believes the project is increasing the number of insects. |
| D．He benefited a lot from the decline of insects in his garden. |
| A．She gets on better with her husband. | B．Her husband has come to enjoy gardening. |
| C．Her garden is no longer as messy as it used to be. | D．She has formed the habit of sitting in the garden. |
| A．Shows concern about. | B．Makes response to. | C．Agrees with. | D．Comes up with. |
2 . While most people are doing their best to work multiple jobs in a day to earn honest money, some people still settle on scamming (诈骗) others just to have instant cash. However, one scammer called the wrong person when he dialed Jean Ebbert’s number. The 73-year-old woman from New York may be in her senior years, but she is surely one tough lady who used to be a 911 call operator.
Her previous line of work has trained her to be a fast thinker and quick on her toes. When she received that call from someone claiming to be her grandson, she knew instantly that she was talking to a scammer.
According to the caller who was even crying at the time, he was Jean’s grandson who had gotten arrested due to drunk driving and now needed money to get out of prison. Ridiculously, Jean had no grandson who drives. However, knowing that the man could easily find another person to trick if she dropped the call, Jean decided to play along so the person on the other end of the line could get what he deserves.
“So I played the game. And then I said to him, ‘Listen! Don’t call your mother, or she’s going to be mad. Let me handle this,’” Jean recalled.
Eventually, the scammer passed the phone to his “lawyer” who then told her that her grandson needed $8,000 to be set free. Jean knew better of the situation and continued with her act, instructing the caller to visit her home address to get the money he needed.
Moments later, the doorbell rang and Jean rose to her feet and opened the door. In front of her stood a tall young man, who claimed himself to be her grandson’s lawyer and asked for the cash that had been promised to him. Jean had already laid a trap for him. The instant the scammer came, he was greeted by the two policemen waiting inside Jean’s home.
1. Who called Jean Ebbert?| A．Her lawyer. | B．Her grandson. | C．A complete stranger. | D．A 911 call operator. |
| A．She wanted to get back her $8,000. | B．She hated seeing others being tricked. |
| C．She enjoyed playing along with scammers. | D．She was concerned about her grandson’s safety. |
| A．She went outside, ready to greet the man. |
| B．She contacted her lawyer, consulting him for advice. |
| C．She got the money the man needed ready, waiting inside for him. |
| D．She contacted the police, informing them of the man’s potential visit. |
| A．One is never too old to learn. | B．You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. |
| C．Every dog has its day, and every man his hour. | D．Old horses know the way; old men know the world. |
3 . Teachers Used an Unusual Method to Motivate Students
—Sitting with Them at Lunch
How do brilliant teachers get that way? The question of how they developed has as many answers as there are inspired instructors. One example is an original and magnetic woman, Jackson, who has become one of the best ever at taking disadvantaged students to a new level.
Jackson was born in Altoona. Her father was a construction worker. When she was in the eighth grade, her father died just before Christmas. Her principal, Mrs. Brown, said not to worry about schoolwork for a while. That upset her. Her father would not have wanted her to do anything but her best. He always said, “Don’t let your first failure be the reason for your next.”
Jackson was an accomplished shooting guard in basketball and a star sprinter on the track team, running a quarter mile in 57 seconds. She thought she might become a sports broadcaster. She gave no thought to teaching until a friend took her to an orientation (迎新会) for a program called Teach for America, which placed novice instructors in schools full of low-income children. Jackson liked the idea of giving back, as well as the chance to have some of her student loans forgiven.
She is a big sports person, and that is how she connects with lots of kids. She couldn’t motivate children until she knew what was bothering or pleasing them. “Students learn from people who love them,” she said. “They will be motivated and inspired to learn if they know deep down that you care about them.” In class she gave basketball tickets to students who were doing their work. At weekly drawings they could win sticky notes, pencils or other small prizes.
She helped create after-school clubs. A tall student said to her, “ I’m a baller. I heard you playing ball.” There was a basketball league in Paterson but the school didn’t have a team. Jackson started one with support from local business executives. The student, Essence Carson, went to Rutgers University, was a first-round draft (运动员选拔制) selection for the WNBA’s New York Liberty and now plays for the Connecticut Sun.
1. Why did Mrs. Brown’s words upset Jackson?| A．Her father just passed away. | B．She was taught to do her best. |
| C．Her first failure led to another one. | D．She was concerned about her grades. |
| A．The process in which Jackson turned teacher. |
| B．The dream job Jackson desired. |
| C．The student loans Jackson owed. |
| D．The athletics Jackson did well in. |
| A．To connect with them. | B．To please or bother them. |
| C．To encourage them to learn. | D．To show her anxiety to them. |
| A．Jackson founded a school team in Paterson alone. |
| B．Jackson played in the basketball league in Paterson. |
| C．Jackson selected Essence to play for WNBA’s New York Liberty. |
| D．Jackson should take some credit for Essence’s professional career. |
4 . Sam Gregory is a data scientist. He and his colleagues analyze data on soccer, ice hockey and other team sports. Coaches have come to realize that such statistics are valuable. They can guide strategies for beating the next opponent (对手). They might also suggest which practice drills or recovery routines will help players perform best at the next match. And technology for tracking all those numbers isn’t just useful for professional athletes. It also lets the rest of us record and improve our workouts.
Sports analytics started with baseball. Here, batting averages and similar measures have been tracked for more than a century. Around 2000, some people went well beyond those simple statistics. They analyzed data to identify and hire talented players who other teams had largely ignored. This let a baseball team with a small budget create a team that could beat wealthier teams.
Other ball sports soon followed the sports-analytics fashion. Wealthy clubs in the English Premier League were the first to build analytics teams for soccer, which the league and most of the world call football. Other European and North American leagues followed. Soccer coach Jill Ellis led the U. S. Women’s National Team in back-to-back World Cup championships. She credits analytics with some of that success in 2015 and 2019.
Today, companies like Gregory’s Sportlogiq help many soccer clubs prepare for the coming games. That means analyzing the opponent’s previous performance. Analysts use computer software to watch lots of videos. The software can summarize data faster than people can, and from any number of games. Those summaries help clubs identify the key players they need to guard. They point to sets of players who work well together. And they spot field sections where the opponent tends to attack or press.
1. What can we learn about the sports data analysis from the text?| A．It is a new science in the world. |
| B．It benefits almost everyone’s exercise. |
| C．It serves professional athletes specially. |
| D．It can stop athletes being hurt in games. |
| A．Setting up competitive teams at a low cost. |
| B．Judging what sports that players can perform best. |
| C．Reporting batting averages and similar measures. |
| D．Guiding the teams to make as much money as possible. |
| A．Look into the future of certain team sports. |
| B．Work out the proper strategies for their games. |
| C．Promote the use of computer in the sports fields. |
| D．Help them know both themselves and opponents. |
| A．Soccer Game Strategies | B．Today’s Team Sports |
| C．Sports Data Analytics | D．Data and Information |
5 . Ethan Reynolds of Columbus, Indiana, has always been a helper.
The 11-year-old loves to
When COVID-19 began, he
When the neighbors
But Ethan’s mower kept
What a great kid! We know he’s going to put that mower to good use.
1.| A．play | B．volunteer | C．stay | D．exercise |
| A．Regardless of | B．Instead of | C．In connection with | D．In harmony with |
| A．research | B．adventure | C．business | D．schedule |
| A．noticed | B．accepted | C．believed | D．avoided |
| A．secretly | B．normally | C．nervously | D．immediately |
| A．stressed | B．began | C．expected | D．saved |
| A．Then | B．Even | C．Still | D．Also |
| A．Convenient | B．Regular | C．Free | D．Delicious |
| A．donated | B．repaired | C．set | D．spotted |
| A．evaluating | B．calculating | C．adding | D．keeping |
| A．task | B．story | C．dream | D．lesson |
| A．neighbors | B．relatives | C．colleagues | D．strangers |
| A．modest | B．calm | C．smart | D．selfish |
| A．money | B．attention | C．curiosity | D．experience |
| A．advise | B．persuade | C．train | D．hire |
| A．going ahead | B．turning up | C．moving around | D．breaking down |
| A．delight | B．relax | C．advertise | D．comfort |
| A．courage | B．excitement | C．confusion | D．anxiety |
| A．brave | B．busy | C．young | D．rich |
| A．cause | B．difference | C．consequence | D．promise |
6 . A shocking 53.6 million metric tons of electronic waste was discarded last year, a new UN-backed report has revealed. The report shows that e-waste is up by 21% from five years ago. This isn’t surprising, considering how many more people are adopting new technology and updating devices regularly to have the latest versions, but the report also shows that national collection and recycling strategies are nowhere close to matching consumption rates.
E-waste contains materials including copper (铜), iron, gold and silver, which the report gives a conservative value of $ 57 billion. But most are thrown away or burned rather than being collected for recycling. Precious metals in waste are estimated to be worth $ 14 billion, but only $ 4 billion-worth is recovered at the moment.
While the number of countries with national e-waste policies has grown from 61 to 78 since 2014, there is little encouragement to obey and a mere 17% of collected items are recycled. If recycling does occur, it’s often under dangerous conditions, such as burning circuit boards to recover copper, which “releases highly poisonous metals” and harms the health of workers.
The report found that Asia has the highest amounts of waste overall, producing 24.9 million metric tons (MMT), followed by Europe at 12 MMT, Africa at 2.9 MMT, and Oceania at 0.7 MMT.
But whose responsibility is it? Are governments in charge of setting up collection and recycling points, or should companies be responsible for recycling the goods they produce? It goes both ways. Companies do need to be held accountable by government regulations and have incentives to design products that are easily repaired. At the same time, governments need to make it easy for citizens to access collection points and deal with their broken electronics in a convenient way. Otherwise, they may turn to the easiest option — the landfill.
1. What does the underlined word “discarded” most probably mean?| A．increased | B．distributed | C．thrown away | D．consumed |
| A．The functions of policies. | B．The great damage to environment. |
| C．The change of consumption rates. | D．The urgency of recovering e-waste. |
| A．It does harm to the workers’ health. | B．It lacks national policy support. |
| C．It hardly makes profits. | D．It takes too much time. |
| A．New technology should be used to update old devices. |
| B．Governments and companies should take responsibilities. |
| C．Non-poisonous metals had better be used in e-device. |
| D．Citizens must play a key role in recycling e-waste. |
This sport began in South Australia in a fishing community called Port Lincoln. It was inspired by the local fishermen who used to toss fish onto their trucks. Competitors will throw a 10kg fish and the winner is the person who throws the farthest.
Hot Dog Eating ContestCompetitive eating has become popular in the past years and its participants try to eat as many hot dogs as they can in ten minutes. This sport began in the U. S. city fairs and has gained recognition due to Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest, held annually on the 4th of July. The sport has turned into a huge industry and is now popular in the U. S., Canada, and Japan.
Wife CarryingIt’s a sport in which male competitors race while carrying a female teammate through a special track in the shortest time. This game has its origins in Finland. It developed into a worldwide game later and had the first foreign champion from Australia.The North American Wife Carrying Champion began in 1999. Now the World Wife Carrying Championship has teams competing from Australia, Germany, Britain, Estonia, Ireland, and the United States.
Palm Tree Climbing (爬棕榈树)Independence Day in Indonesia is on August, 17th. This day is celebrated by various competitions. Climbing the palm trunk is the most difficult one. To climb on absolutely smooth, oiled trunk is a problem. At the top of the trunk there are prizes—from towels, clothes and something to mountain bicycles and cash certificates. Many countries have similar tree climbing events now.
1. Which event promotes the business development greatly?| A．Tuna Tossing. | B．Hot Dog Eating Contest. |
| C．Wife Carrying. | D．Palm Tree Climbing. |
| A．In Indonesia | B．In Australia | C．In America | D．In Finland |
| A．It is the hardest among the four events. |
| B．Its competitors’ strength means everything. |
| C．Its winners get prizes of different value. |
| D．It has become popular in many other countries. |
8 . Summer Camp Instructors
Posted on: April 23,2022, Apply Now
Join the Thorne crew leading fun outdoor camps that connect the kids in our community with nature. We have instructors’ positions available.
To apply, simply email Paul at https://thornenature.org/camp-jobs/ with your interest and resume.
Start Date: May 31,2022 (training is weekend of May 20 & 21)
End Date: August 5,2022
Thorne’s Summer Camp Instructors take their love of nature to the next level! With over 60 years of professional leading outdoor programs, we combine the best activities of summer into one camp. Thorne’s instructors are fun, passionate and love being outside in nature with youth!
Thorne offers two-week-long camps in Boulder and Lafayette for children ages 5 — 15. Themes include crafting, nature art, wild nature play, survival skills, and scientific discovery. 25% of our campers receive full scholarships to help ensure access for all.
What makes an excellent Thorn e Summer Camp Instructor? You...
·Enjoy engaging with children through outdoor exploration
·Are curious about nature and can be outdoors in various weather conditions
·Are highly relational and an effective communicator
·Enjoy working in a progressive, intentional, and collaborative team of talented individuals
·Are inspired to provide youth with joyful, hands-on, place-based environmental education experiences
Summer Camp Employment Qualifications:
·Must be 18 or older
·Passion for outdoor adventures and connecting youth to nature
·Experience or interest in teaching in an outdoor setting
·Strong communication skills with adults and children
·Good organizational skills and ability to handle problems patiently and professionally
·People of color encouraged to apply
·Fluency in Spanish and English with higher wages
IF YOU ARE APPLYING FOR AN INSTRUCTOR SUMMER CAMP POSITION, you must have a minimum of 460 hours of experience with school-age children.
Job Types: Full-time, Temporary
Pay: $16.42 — $18.21 per hour
1. Who is the advertisement mainly intended for?| A．Kids aged 5 — 15. |
| B．Parents of kids aged 5 — 15. |
| C．People wishing to become instructors. |
| D．Instructors working for Thorne’s Summer Camp. |
| A．They work for Thorn e for free. |
| B．They work outdoors most of the time. |
| C．They are Thorne’s permanent employees. |
| D．They are people of color aged 18 or over. |
| A．Apply before August 5,2022. |
| B．Having received full scholarships. |
| C．Having previous experience with kids. |
| D．Having a good knowledge of Spanish or English. |
9 . The earth is struck daily by 60 tons of rocks from outer space. However, finding these ancient rocks is no easy task. Most meteorites (陨石) fall directly into water. And those that hit land can be difficult to spot among other rocks.
Fortunately for researchers there is one place on Earth where meteorites find it difficult to hide: Antarctica. “There are probably fewer meteorites falling per acre of land in Antarctica than in other parts of the world,” said Ralph Harvey, a professor at Case Western Reserve University. “But if you want to find things that fell from the sky, lay out a big white sheet. And Antarctica is a 5,000-kilometer-wide sheet.”
Finding meteorites in Antarctica is so relatively “easy” compared to the rest of the world that an estimated two-thirds (around 45,000) of those ever discovered have come from the icy continent. The challenge, however, comes not only from the terrible conditions, but also from knowing where to look to make any expedition worthwhile.
In an effort to greatly improve the collection rate of Antarctic meteorites, a Belgian—Dutch team of scientists has unveiled (展示) what they’re calling a “treasure map” for the region. “We expect the treasure map to be 80% accurate,” said Veronica Tollenaar, who led the study.
After landing in the snow in Antarctica, a meteorite will either be directed into the ocean or brought back to the surface of what’s known as a “blue ice” area. As meteorites come out in these special “blue ice” areas, their color contrasts (对比) against the deep blue ice, making them easy to spot. The treasure map marks more than 600 special “blue ice” areas. They estimate that these sites may contain anywhere from 340,000 to 900,000 surface meteorites.
The researchers add that these locations also likely contain rare meteorites, such as angrites, brachinites or even Martian meteorites.
“Collecting these ancient rocks will further improve the understanding of our Solar System,” they write.
1. What makes it relatively easy to spot meteorites on Antarctica?| A．Few people visit the Antarctica. |
| B．Antarctica is covered with snow. |
| C．More meteorites fall in Antarctica. |
| D．Meteorites stay still in Antarctica. |
| A．Antarctic is too far to arrive. |
| B．Meteorites’ location is hard to track. |
| C．The expedition to Antarctic is too expensive. |
| D．The snow in Antarctic covers most of the meteorites. |
| A．More and more meteorites found in Antarctica |
| B．Challenges of spotting meteorites in Antarctica |
| C．Improving our understanding of the Solar System |
| D．Treasure map helping spot meteorites in Antarctica |
| A．Science. | B．Business. | C．Environment. | D．Education. |
10 . Kelsie’s grandmother always encouraged her to step out of her comfort zone and try new things. The two of them were especially
One
“I once tried to sing in church,” she said. “The music started playing and I just
Luckily, Kelsie didn’t
Taking this leap was no small courage for this
Kelsie chose to sing “Piece by Piece” by Kelly. All three judges were
At first, Kelsie’s
We can’t wait to see where Kelsie’s singing career takes her!
1.| A．friendly | B．similar | C．close | D．helpful |
| A．ability | B．way | C．choice | D．attempt |
| A．encouraging | B．forbidding | C．aiding | D．forcing |
| A．admitted | B．appreciated | C．hoped | D．demanded |
| A．clapped | B．approved | C．survived | D．froze |
| A．give up | B．turn around | C．settle down | D．get through |
| A．promise | B．task | C．gift | D．suggestion |
| A．singing | B．skating | C．painting | D．dancing |
| A．shy | B．ambitious | C．creative | D．straightforward |
| A．pains | B．firsts | C．problems | D．interviews |
| A．respond | B．experience | C．perform | D．exercise |
| A．engineers | B．champions | C．employers | D．judges |
| A．influenced | B．promoted | C．impressed | D．represented |
| A．curiosity | B．nervousness | C．desperation | D．annoyance |
| A．recorded | B．adapted | C．prepared | D．composed |
| A．talent | B．determination | C．desire | D．confidence |
| A．magical | B．significant | C．amusing | D．mysterious |
| A．hometown | B．shell | C．apartment | D．plane |
| A．motivated | B．pushed | C．embarrassed | D．attracted |
| A．peacefully | B．definitely | C．fortunately | D．comfortably |
