1 . It may seem as if Mother's Day was invented by a company named Hallmark, but people have been taking time on the calendar to give a shout-out to Mom for a long time. The Greeks and Romans had mother goddess festivals — although their celebrations didn't involve the menfolk taking their underappreciated mothers out to dinner. A more recent tradition was Mothering Sunday, which developed in the British Isles during the 16th century. On the fourth Sunday in April, young men and women who were living and working apart from their families were advised to return to their mothers’ houses.
Mother's Day as it is observed in the United States started in the 1850s with Ann Jarvis, a West Virginia woman who held “Mothers' Work Days” to promote health and hygiene(卫生 ) at home and in the workplace. During the Civil War, Jarvis organized women to improve sanitary conditions for soldiers on both sides, and after the war she became a peacemaker, furthering the cause by bringing together mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers and promoting a Mother's Day holiday.
Jarvis's work inspired another 19th-century woman, Julia Ward Howe. In 1870 Howe published her “Mother's Day Proclamation”, which envisioned(设想) the day not as appreciation of mothers by their children but as an opportunity for women to exercise their collective power for peace. Howe started holding annual Mother's Day celebrations in Boston, her hometown, but after about a decade she stopped footing the bill and the tradition faded away.
It was Jarvis's daughter Anna who succeeded in getting Mother’s Day recognized as a national holiday. After her mother died, in May 1905, Anna started holding yearly ceremony on the anniversary and conducting a tireless PR campaign to have the day made a holiday. In 1908 she succeeded in enlisting the support of John Wanamaker, the Philadelphia department store magnate and advertising pioneer, and by 1912 West Virginia and a few other states had adopted Mother's Day. Two years later, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution declaring the second Sunday in May a national holiday.
It wasn't long, though, before whatever ideals the day was supposed to celebrate were buried under an amount of greeting cards and candy. By the 1920s Anna Jarvis was campaigning against the holiday she had been instrumental in creating. “I wanted it to be a day of emotionalism, not profit,” she said.
1. It can be inferred from the first paragraph that .A.mothers didn't get enough appreciation in the past |
B.Mother's Day was invented by Hallmark |
C.young people all returned to their mothers' houses |
D.Greeks and Romans were the first to celebrate Mother's Day |
A.Ann Jarvis. | B.Julia Ward Howe. |
C.Woodrow Wilson. | D.Anna Jarvis. |
A.Because it was extremely emotional. |
B.Because the festival was not profitable. |
C.Because the celebrations went against the original spirit. |
D.Because the day was celebrated in the form of exchanging greeting cards and candy. |
A.The Definition of Mother’s Day |
B.The Argument on Celebrating Mother's Day |
C.The Story Behind the Creation of Mother's Day |
D.Different Forms of Celebration on Mother's Day |
2 . The Impossible Burger is entirely free of meat. But it looks, smells, feels and-most importantly-tastes so much like real hamburger beef. In fact, plant-based burger alternatives have set off a strong resistance from the beef industry. The Center for Consumer Freedom, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of the fast food and meat industries has launched an "informational" campaign targeting plant-based meats. The campaign has included TV and online ads, as well as print ads in newspapers. The ads seem to imply that not only is an artificial burger too processed, but that it might be even less healthy than the average beef burger.
While it's true that a plant-based meat alternative is processed and it's true that eating one is not as healthy as a pile of raw vegetables, it's best to take the ads with a generous pinch of salt.
For instance, the additives and preservatives in plant-based meat highlighted in one ad sure sound scary. Who wants something called titanium dioxide(二氧化钛)in their meal? But the truth is that additives such as those listed in the ads are regularly used in all sorts of packaged foods. And if methylcellulose, a food thickener, sounds unpleasant, it's really nothing compared with salmonella(沙门菌)poisoning you can get from regular meat.
Also, the ad campaign misses the bigger point. Choosing an Impossible or Beyond burger isn't just about healthy eating Burgers, whether they are made from processed pea protein or processed meat, will never be as healthy as organic raw vegetables.
What's appealing is the prospect or enjoying a juicy burger without the bitter aftertaste of guilt.
Let's face it, there are huge environmental costs to eating cows. Cattle raising is contributing to climate. change, and not just because methane(甲烷)from cows and cattle is responsible for about 14.5% of greenhouse gas. More broadly, our global food production system releases more than a third of the world's greenhouse gases. Yet we can't seem to control our meat appetite even knowing that large areas of the Amazon forest have been ruined, and continue to be cut down to make room for more cattle to feed the growing demand for beef. Humans also know full well that many animals live short, cruel lives in awful conditions for the purpose of becoming foods for humans to enjoy at dinner.
A plant-based meat that satisfies meat desires and delivers protein but with a smaller climate footprint is a potential environmental game changer and the reason Impossible Foods was one of those receiving the UN, Global Climate Action Award in 2019. No wonder the meat industry is on guard.
1. What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 most probably mean?A.These ads deserve little consideration. |
B.We should spread the message of these ads. |
C.These ads tell people a lot about plant-based burgers. |
D.We'd better be cautious when reading these ads |
A.Their use is within the normal range. |
B.They are likely to cause poisoning. |
C.They are used to ensure burgers taste good |
D.Some have not been used in hamburgers. |
A.Doubtful | B.Supportive | C.Disapproving. | D.Neutral |
I: Introduction P: Point Sp: Sub-point(次要点) C: Conclusion
A.![]() | B.![]() |
C.![]() | D.![]() |
3 . As online technology advanced, web sites, podcasts, and blogs became powerful sources of information that allowed everyone to stay updated on any subject imaginable. Although all of these information sources remain popular, there's a new king of media and it's online video.
There are many reasons why online video has increased suddenly over the past few years. The first is increasing data speeds. It wasn't until recently that people everywhere had fast enough online connections to enjoy high-definition (高清)videos. However, once faster Internet speeds were provided, people quickly fell in love with online videos. The second reason why online videos have become so popular is convenience. Watching videos requires less effort and energy than reading through paragraphs of text after a day of hard work. Videos also seem to provide more satisfaction, as people prefer to connect with people they can hear and see, as against the words of some author whom they know little about.
Advancing digital technology has also helped, as it has made sharing videos easier and more convenient than ever. High-powered smartphones and more affordable video cameras allow anyone to easily record an event or give a few comments about a scorching topic that is on their mind. Meanwhile, sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and Ustream allow users to quickly upload their videos and share them with friends, family, and the general public if they wish.
Last but not least, advertising. Companies have made it easy for people to get rewarded for creating popular videos. Some people with large enough fan bases can even make a very wealthy living by uploading a few videos every week.
The future also looks bright for companies who post online video ads. In fact, new software allows them to watch viewers' emotional reactions to their content through the users' webcams (网络摄像机).They'll be able to see whether users laugh, cry, or feel bored during videos, so they can adjust their ads. This should prove extremely helpful, as there will be millions of videos competing for viewers' attention.
1. Why do some people prefer watching videos to reading after work?A.It helps them review the news. |
B.It helps them get information with relative ease. |
C.It provides them more information. |
D.It helps them save time. |
A.Unusual. | B.Future. | C.Hot. | D.Social. |
A.It will enable them to better understand what customers enjoy. |
B.It will let more viewers see the advertisements they make. |
C.It will cause viewers to create more popular videos. |
D.It will make people like their videos. |
A.Online Video: The New King of Media |
B.Online Technology is Developing Fast |
C.Online Video: A New Advertising Trend |
D.Online Technology is Closely Related to People |
4 . Some teens are disapproving of compulsory BMI (body mass index) (身体质量指数) checks in PE classes. Do BMI checks at school do more harm than good? Two teens take sides.
Maya Meade, a high school freshman in Ohio, says yes. “I understand that schools want to weigh students because they are concerned about their physical health. That’s not a bad thing! But what about their mental health? For many students, appearance and self-image are huge sources of stress. Forcing teens to be weighed at school will only increase the pressure they feel to fit a certain mold (模子)”, says Maya.
In Maya’s opinion, weight is a personal matter that should stay between a doctor and a patient. She says, “Just imagine someone who struggles with body image being told that his or her BMI is too high as classmates look on! Even if other kids can’t hear, no student wants to feel judged by his or her teacher. That’s not why we go to school.”
Maya thinks if a school wants to have an impact on a student’s physical health, there are better ways to do it, such as providing healthy but filling meals, encouraging physical activity and teaching students about nutrition.
Ben Bagbek, a second-year student in a high school in New York, holds a different opinion. “There is no reason why a school should not be allowed to weigh its students and teach them how to calculate BMI! Obesity (肥胖症) is a huge public health concern in our country. And schools are in a position to help students understand what their weight means to their health -- before they’re at risk of life-threatening conditions.”
“A school’s job is to help students reach their full potential, and your health undoubtedly plays a role in your academic performance. BMI is not a perfect measurement, but it can help you identify the need for healthier eating habits or more physical activity.” says Ben.
The bottom line is: When you feel good, you learn better. As long as the actual number on the scale stays private, it should be viewed as an important part of your health education.
1. What are the two teens debating?A.Whether students are enjoying PE classes. |
B.Whether schools are body-shaming students. |
C.Whether students should pay attention to weight. |
D.Whether schools should help students lose weight. |
A.Healthy diets. | B.Emotional stress. |
C.Fierce competition. | D.Positive self-awareness. |
A.It’s private. | B.It’s important. |
C.It’s hard to lose. | D.It’s not a big deal. |
A.Most school students are overweight. |
B.BMI checks are of little help to students. |
C.Schools have the right to weigh students. |
D.It’s not schools’ duty to help students keep fit. |
5 . Average age is rising around the world——a demographic (人口统计)change that may pose a significant challenge to efforts to slow down climate change.
Hossein Estiri at Harvard University and Emilio Zagheni of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany, have found that energy use increases as we get older, and not just because we tend to get wealthier. An ageing population could mean a greater proportion of society with higher energy use, their study suggests.
They combined two decades, worth of data from thousands of US households and used this to build a model to reveal how energy use varied across 17 age groups between 1987 and 2009. They found that, on average, children's energy consumption (消耗)climbs as they grow up, before dipping slightly when they leave home. Consumption then rises again when people hit their 30s, before briefly dropping after 55, and then beginning to climb again. The study involved factors such as income, local climate and the age, type and size of a person's home. The increase in energy use at various points in our lifespan (寿命)seems to be the result of life style and how our needs change as we age.
Why does demand grow so much in our 30s? “We need more of everything. More space, a bigger TV two fridges," says Estiri. The study found that, in warmer parts of the US, energy use increases in people over the age of 65—probably as a result of increased use of air conditioning, This suggests that there is a feedback effect between climate change and an ageing population that will only make matters worse.
Heat waves have become more common in the US in recent years and are expected to become more frequent due to global warming. More older people using more electrical energy to keep cool as temperatures rise could add to emissions (排放),and thus drive more warming until our energy supply becomes entirely fossil fuel-free.
“This confluence (汇集)of population, ageing and climate change on energy demand is really important to start thinking about," says Estiri. Benjamin Sovacool at the University of Sussex, UK, says the work shows the importance of demographics when it comes to cutting carbon emissions. Most modelling of climate change mitigation (减缓气候变化的模型) assumes people's energy consumption either stays the same or only changes by a small amount over time.
"This study directly challenges that entire body of research by forcing it to fight with the temporality and complexity of the consumption of energy, says Sovacool.
Catherine Mitchell at the University of Exeter, UK, says the research could have an important influence on policy makers. "What the paper says is that there is a lot of work about how buildings use energy, but probably not enough about how the people in them use energy," she says.
1. By saying “not just because we tend to get wealthier" in Paragraph 2, the writer probably means that ______.A.poor people can't bring down the high demand for energy |
B.a comfortable life is not the main cause of in creased energy use |
C.there are some other reasons leading to the increase in energy consumption |
D.people being wealthy or not has nothing to do with the rise of energy consumption |
A.Energy will stop increasing when people get older. |
B.His research could inspire policymakers to change current polices. |
C.Various factors influencing energy consumption should be considered. |
D.Old people should use fossil fuel-free rather than electrical energy to keep cool. |
A.It is expensive and difficult to promote. |
B.It overestimates the household energy consumption. |
C.It did not take climate change adaptation into account. |
D.It regards energy consumption as stable or as only slightly changing. |
A.More emphasis should be put on people's energy use. |
B.The government can't do much without the support of the study. |
C.It is the buildings, not the people in side, that consume the majority of the energy. |
D.Policymakers have been working on how to cut down people's energy use. |
6 . Recently whenever I turned on my computer or my mobile phone, news about the great effect of Hurricane Harvey(哈维飓风)on thousands of people caught my eye. I saw many unfortunate events. However, there was also lots of bright news that showed the goodness of mankind. As a reporter, I reported many human-interest stories when doing my job, That’s why the story about the guys in the bakery(面包店)caught my eye.
When the workers at a Mexican bakery chain in Houston were trapped inside the building for two days, they didn't sit there feeling sorry for themselves. They used their time wisely after flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. While waiting for the eventual rescue that came on Monday morning, the four workers decided to make as many loaves of bread as possible for people around the neighborhood. They talked to their manager about their plan over the phone and the manager agreed.
The flood water rose in the street outside. They took advantage of their emergency power supply to bake bread. They used more than 4,200 pounds of flour(面粉)to create hundreds of loaves and sheets of sweet bread. Although the water kept rising, they continued baking to help more people. By the time the manager managed to get to them, they had made so much bread that they took the loaves to lots of emergency centers across the city for people affected by the floods.
The store manager, Brian Alvarado, told The Independent, “They've done more than they should have done. And what they had done has lit a light for people. I feel lucky to have them work in the bakery.”
Whenever a disaster occurs, nobody should feelforlorn. Instead, we should stay hopeful and take positive action to save ourselves and help others. Our acts of kindness will make a big difference to the people in the world as well as the world itself.
1. Why did the story in the bakery draw the author’s attention?A.It was helpful in choosing a good job. |
B.It made him/her interested in baking. |
C.It could bring him/her much money. |
D.It showed the goodness of mankind. |
A.They tried to get people out of water. |
B.They set up emergency centers to help. |
C.They offered to make bread for people. |
D.They let homeless people live in the bakery. |
A.He found them lucky. | B.He was proud of them. |
C.They were experienced. | D.They were shy but brave. |
A.Hopeless. | B.Confident. | C.Serious. | D.Angry. |
7 . Beautiful Islands in the World
Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Waiheke is just a 35-minute ferry ride from Auckland. Join a wine test and relax over a delicious vineyard (葡萄园)lunch. Visiting Waiheke is a great journey, where you can either take a relaxing walk explore the beaches or fly smoothly in the forest with a zip-line(飞索).
If you want to stay on the island overnight, we advise you to stay at the “Delamore lodge”, where you will enjoy relaxing spa treatments, delicious food and wine and a wonderful swimming pool with a good view.
Madagascar. Africa
Madagascar is the fourth largest island on our planet and a dream destination for outdoors lovers where you can see rare animals, rain-forests and great white sandy beaches. The Avenue of the Baobabs is a must- see if you are traveling to Madagascar. You must also visit one of Madagascar’s natural parks to see its wild animals. From July to October, pass by “Nosy Be” to see one of the rarest animals on the planet, Omura’s whales(鲸).
Kauai. Hawaii
Kauai is part of the Hawaiian Islands and is also named “the Garden Island”. It is indeed an island made up of sharp mountains and waterfalls. On the south shore, you'll find sites of cultural, historical and geological importance alongside beautiful beaches. The island of Kauai has been well-known for more than seventy Hollywood movies and television shows, such as Indiana Jones , Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.
Jamaica
In Jamaica, you will fall in love with the warm Caribbean weather, beautiful beaches, amazing sunsets and great waterfalls.
Our favorite spots: the romantic “Reach Falls” in Portland and “Negril town” for its great concerts and beautiful sunsets. Walk into Floyd’s Pelican Bar, named after the birds that like to sit on its roof. It’s one of the world’s coolest bars and is lying in the middle of the sea!
1. When can you see Omura’s whales in Madagascar?A.In January. | B.In June. | C.In September. | D.In November. |
A.Kauai. | B.Madagascar. | C.Jamaica. | D.Waiheke Island. |
A.Talking with film stars. | B.Attending great concerts. |
C.Having a vineyard lunch. | D.Playing with wild birds. |
8 .
For Children Museum: Children’s Museum, Sundays, 89 North Street, 67641235 Story time: Children’s Library, 106 Green Street, Wednesdays during 9:30 am-5:00 pm, 66599624 Sports: Soccer Club, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 16 Yangtze Road, 96725643 Basketball Club, Wednesdays and Fridays, 79071632 Cinema: New films for children, 99 Brick Road, 69001354 Useful Phone Numbers Fast Food Restaurant: 66387901 Hospital: 68787451 Visitor Information Center: 800-120-9847 Taxi: 79210583 Visitor Hotel Information: 800-739-7302 |
1. It’s Friday afternoon, you can go to ______.
A.read children’s stories | B.play basketball |
C.play soccer | D.visit the museum |
A.order fast food in a restaurant | B.do some shopping |
C.have a good story time | D.ask for some hotel information |
A.looking for a hotel | B.taking a taxi |
C.eating fast food | D.doing eye exercises |
9 . Arbeia Roman Fort (城堡) and Museum
Location and History
Arbeia Roman Fort is situated on Hadrian’s Wall. It was the most important structure built by the Romans in Britain, and now it has been a World Heritage (遗产) Site. Built around AD 160, Arbeia Roman Fort was the military supply base for the soldiers who were stationed along Hadrian’s Wall. The fort has been gradually uncovered and some original parts have been revealed. There are reconstructions that show how Arbeia Roman Fort would have looked.
The Reconstructions
The reconstructions of the Commanding Officer’s house and soldiers’ quarters are strikingly different. The accommodation for soldiers is dark and uncomfortable, while the Commanding Officer’s house is spacious and luxurious, with courtyards with fountains for him and his family to enjoy.
The Museum
Visit the museum and see many objects that were found at Arbeia. They are historically important and show what daily life was really like at that time. You will see weapons, tools, jewellery, and so on. You can also discover how the Romans buried their dead and see tombstones (墓碑) which survive to this day. There is a “hands-on” area allowing visitors to dig on a certain site and study their findings with the help of museum staff. You can piece together pottery (陶器), or try writing just as the Romans would have done. For children, they can build this ancient Roman fort with building blocks by themselves.
Opening Times and Getting There April 1-October 31: Monday to Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm-5:00pm. November 1-March 31: Monday to Saturday 11:00am-4:00pm, closed Sunday. (Closed December 25-26 and January 1) Entry is free. Arbeia is only a ten-minute walk from the bus station at South Shields. Free car park nearby. Website: www.twmuseums.org.uk/arbeia |
A.was related to the military | B.got reconstructions around AD 160 |
C.was built in a small area in Rome | D.provided a comfortable life for soldiers |
A.Try using weapons. | B.See historical objects. |
C.Write to ancient Romans. | D.Build tombstones for the dead. |
A.On April 1. | B.On October 31. |
C.On November 1. | D.On December 26. |
10 . When my children were teenagers, I
Although my children are
For example, a number of years ago, I was on my way to a farewell function with several colleagues. As we were leaving the office, we
A week later, I learned that when we came across Wendy, she was returning to the office from a medical appointment
Whether it’s a family member who let me down, a friend who
A.missed | B.lost | C.purchased | D.sold |
A.spotted | B.carried | C.dropped | D.placed |
A.meaningful | B.interesting | C.familiar | D.unexpected |
A.aware | B.forgiving | C.ashamed | D.confident |
A.workers | B.parents | C.seniors | D.adults |
A.kitchen | B.fridge | C.bedroom | D.bathroom |
A.dream | B.message | C.target | D.relief |
A.bumped into | B.saw off | C.knocked down | D.dealt with |
A.demanding | B.accepting | C.declining | D.delaying |
A.curious | B.amazed | C.anxious | D.annoyed |
A.convince | B.promise | C.ignore | D.invite |
A.Reflecting | B.Counting | C.Looking | D.Concentrating |
A.break | B.party | C.dance | D.lesson |
A.suddenly | B.obviously | C.passively | D.naturally |
A.discovered | B.avoided | C.caused | D.created |
A.where | B.that | C.which | D.what |
A.confusing | B.shocking | C.unusual | D.casual |
A.built | B.lost | C.betrayed | D.possessed |
A.doubted | B.evaluated | C.guided | D.ordered |
A.take down | B.break through | C.come about | D.get rid of |