1 . Ecofriendly replacement products for single-use plastics are appearing everywhere. But have you heard of edible (可食性的) straws? Now EQUO, a new eco-friendly company in Vietnam has come up with a natural edible solution to plastic or paper straws.

The edible straws are completely plastic free, nontoxic, chemical free, and 100 percent biodegradable according to a company press release.

“It’s well known that plastic straws are harmful to the environment. Most of the 500 million used every day in America end up in oceans where they pollute water and harm marine life. Currently over eight billion straws pollute the world’s beaches,” said Marina Tran-Vu in the press release. “Although there are some plastic and paper straw alternatives on the market, most are environmentally harmful, and we were also unsatisfied with the quality and lasting of paper straws.”

All of the materials are locally from regions that support sustainable farming according to the company’s website and they struggle to have zero-net influence by” using the power of mother nature”. The name of the company was created by combining “ECO” — meaning environmentally friendly — with “STATUS QUO” — meaning the existent state. EQU stands for creating products that have minimal influence on the environment. The company was first shown on Kickstarter on May 18 and hit their funding goal in only 30 days.

Many countries are banning single-use plastics. The EU banned 10 single-use plastic products including straws that will take effect in 2021. Other items that will no longer be made of plastic include cutlery (餐具), and balloon sticks. These 10 items make up a large percentage of ocean waste that harms marine life.

So do your part, use biodegradable cutlery — you can carry your own , edible straws, and reusable water or coffee cups. These small items can contribute to reducing plastic waste.

1. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．The popularity of plastic straws.

B．The harm of plastic straws.

C．The pollution of beaches.

D．The necessity of change.

2. What does ECO stand for?

A．It means the original aim.

B．It means the existent state.

C．It means how to create products.

D．It means being good for the environment.

3. What can we expect in Europe after 2021?

A．Plastic straws will be forbidden.

B．Edible straws will be sold cheaply.

C．Ocean waste can be rid completely.

D．Single-use plastic products will disappear.

4. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to biodegradable cutlery?

A．Skeptical.

B．Objective.

C．Tolerant.

D．Approving.

2 . Seymour Marine Discovery Center

Science Sunday is for everyone interested in the world around them, whose lectures are designed to make science interesting and “user-friendly” for everyone. Lectures are one hour long. Doors open to the lecture hall at 1:00 pm. Lecture passes are available at the admissions counter at 12:30 pm. Seating is limited and first-come, first-served. No late seating. Lectures include time for a few questions at the end.

Life on the Ranch

Celebrate the warmth of the holiday season with crafts, games, music, and enjoyment from the early 20th century. We’ll busy your hands with holiday wreath-making (花冠), invite you to join in an old-fashioned sing-along around the player piano, and provide you with materials to make Victorian and Mexican holiday crafts. Come play games, take a draft-horse carriage ride, decorate the tree, and create decorations to bring home to your own tree.

Open Studios Tour

Explore the hidden world of art! Visit artists in their studios, learn about their processes, purchase original works of art. Free mobile app and printed guide have artist information and maps. Open Studios is a free self-guided tour, produced by Arts Council Santa Cruz County, which invites the public into more than 300 artist studios across Santa Cruz County.

Roaring Camp

Step into the incredible world of steam power at the Steam & Harvest Festival. Welcome Fall with traditional children’s activities like candle making, and gold panning. See a variety of steam and belt-powered equipment on display. Admission is free for the whole family.

1. What can visitors do if they attend Science Sunday lectures?

A．Show up at 2:30 pm.	B．Explore the hidden world of art.
C．Be able to ask questions.	D．Change attitudes to oceans.

2. What can visitors do at Life on the Ranch?

A．Promote wreath-making.	B．Sing to the piano.
C．Make crafts alone.	D．Get close to Victoria.

3. Which of the following highlights art?

A．Roaring Camp	B．Open Studios Tour
C．Life on the Ranch	D．Seymour Marine Discovery Center

3 . Amboseli National Park, Kenya

Getting There

The easiest way to get to Amboseli is by air. Airkenya has daily flights from Wilson Airport in Nairobi and Mombasa Air Safari to Amboseli from Mombasa, Malindi and Diani on the Kenyan Coast. The drive from Nairobi is 4 hours. The road is paved to Namanga but the remaining 75km to Amboseli’s Meshanani Gate is over a rough dirt road. It takes roughly 2.5 hours to cover the 94km between the Chyulu Gate in Tsavo West and Amboseli. The passage on this road should be undertaken only in the presence of an armed convoy. A four-wheel drive vehicle is highly recommended.

When to Travel

The best time to visit Amboseli National Park is the dry season from January through April and June through October when vegetation is thin and animals congregate at the water holes making them easy to spot. The long rains are in April and May and short rains in November and December.

Health & Safety

Amboseli lies in a malaria risk area and travelers’ diarrhea is a common ailment affecting tourists in Kenya. When packing your suitcase don’t forget to include neutral colored, long-sleeved shirts and trousers, DEET insect repellent and high factor sunscreen. Sleep under a treated mosquito net or in a screened or air conditioned room.

Admission & Fees

An entrance fee is charged and, in general, is included in the rate of the safari lodge or camp.

Things to Keep in Mind

Road transfers should be undertaken during the day rather than at night. Be aware and be weary of both small and large tricks.

1. What may be the best choice if we go to Amboseli National Park by land?

A．Going in a group on foot.	B．Going alone with enough food.
C．Going by car with guards.	D．Going by car with a family.

2. When do we have to avoid going to Amboseli National Park?

A．In February.

B．In May.

C．In July.

D．In October.

3. Which kind of clothes are suitable for visitors when they are in the park?

A．Dark-colored coats.	B．Multicolored sweaters.
C．Light-colored T-shirts.	D．neutral colored, long-sleeved shirts.

4 . It would be difficult to think of a world without colorful clothes. Still, where do those colors come from? The processes that take place before each garment reaches the wearers’ hands are unknown to most consumers. In the fashion industry, it is behind the scenes that fibers and textiles (纺织品) acquire their final colors. But something is about to change drastically.

While the common garment dyeing (染色) processes require large amounts of water, energy and chemicals, now a lab in Australia has developed a cotton that could grow in a range of different colors that may allow them to entirely skip the dyeing process.

The World Bank estimates that 20 percent of industrial water pollution globally comes from the treatment and dyeing of textiles, including the emission of around 72 poisonous chemicals that reach the water supply. It has also estimated that the annual volume of water used worldwide for fabric dyeing alone is 5 trillion liters, enough to fill two million Olympic-sized swimming pools!

While this is still in the early stages, the scientists will be working during the next few months in growing naturally colored cotton plants that will be able to reproduce by developing flowers and seeds. The goal is that they can be used for fibers that will be woven into colorful garments without the need of any dyes.

“Having the cotton produce its own color is a game changer,” MacMillan told ABC News Australia. “This research can really have the potential to transform the global textile industry, because we’re making fibers that are still biodegradable, still renewable, but still have properties that they don’t currently have.”

This new solution is just one way to create a more conscious fashion. The challenge is big but not impossible. The fashion industry has to think outside the box to keep finding ways that reverse the current situation and inspire hope for a sustainable future.

1. What does the underlined word “drastically” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Thoroughly.

B．Partly.

C．Casually.

D．Urgently.

2. What does the third paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Global water pollution.

B．The seriousness of textiles’ pollution.

C．Water plays a key role in textile industry.

D．The percentage of poisonous chemicals.

3. What will the scientists do next?

A．Raise colored cotton plants.	B．Gather flowers and seeds.
C．Weave colorful garments.	D．Promote their new products.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Colorful Clothes Have a Bright Future

B．Growing Colored Cotton Becomes a Trend

C．New Research about Colored Cotton Shocks the World

D．New Research Discovers How to Grow Colored Cotton

5 . When Michelle Brenner left her retail job in March, she began grocery shopping for the people who are most at risk for contracting COVID-19.

The 45-year-old Gig Harbor, Washington resident was happy to offer her services free of charge. After a few days, Brenner noticed that she was getting a lot of requests for lasagna, a dish she grew up making in her Italian grandmother’s kitchen.

“If any of you wants some fresh homemade, no calorie counting lasagna, please let me know and I will gladly prepare it,” Brenner wrote on her community Facebook page. “Within a day or two, I had a few orders.”

The single mom used her entire $1,200 check to buy ingredients. But a week later, Brenner, who is now known in her town as the “Lasagna Lady,” could barely keep up with the demand. She prepared 60 lasagnas over Easter weekend in her 10-by-10-foot kitchen with no assistance.

Since March, Brenner has whipped up roughly 1,200 lasagnas. The majority of the people Brenner serves are elderly or low-income — but not all.

“It’s everybody and anybody,” she explained. “Some people just don’t want to cook. Some are afraid to leave their house. One man came by who had just lost his father and his young son.”

For the past five weeks, Brenner has been working out of a commercial kitchen at the Gig Harbor Sportsman’s Club. When the club’s president, Le Rodenberg, got word about what Brenner was doing, he offered her the space. Besides, Rodenberg has received over $22,000 in donations.

1. What did Brenner first do for free?

A．Her retail job.	B．Grocery shopping.
C．Buying lasagna.	D．Answering questions.

2. What do we know about the lasagna Brenner provided?

A．It tasted delicious.

B．It was nutritious and free.

C．It was delivered home.

D．It made her famous overnight.

3. What does the phrase “whipped up” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Made.

B．Posted.

C．Consumed.

D．Sold.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．A Lady Comforts Her Community with Free Food

B．Michelle Brenner Becomes Famous Overnight

C．A Dish Makes People Comfortable in Washington

D．People React Well to a Kind Lady’s Behaviour

6 . I was ten years old at that time. It was a hot, summer afternoon and I decided to _______ by swimming in the river where the water was cold. After a while I grabbed my _______ and headed back up to the house. I knew that _______ would be ready soon.

I _______ in slowly and saw my grandmother busy cooking. Two freshly baked loaves of Italian bread smelled wonderful. My grandmother was _______ her special sauce (调味汁) without noticing my arrival. It had been slowly _______ for hours. Potatoes, pieces of chicken, and meatballs had been quietly cooking in it. Grandma _______ a wooden spoon, stirred the sauce and brought up a bit for a _______. She made a face and shook her head. Something wasn’t quite _______. She added some salt. Then she shook in a little more garlic powder. She ________ stirred the sauce for a while longer. ________ she took another taste. This time her ________ widened and she nodded her approval of her ________. I smiled too. I knew it was going to be another ________ dinner.

Looking back I think grandmother was such a ________ cook because she not only seasoned (给……调味) her food with the right ________ but also seasoned it with her love. She was a true ________ when it came to cooking and truly wise when it came to living. I still ________ her every single day and I am so thankful for all the ________ she taught me. Life is so much tastier when you ________ it with joy. Be the chef of your own life then.

1.

A．set out

B．cool off

C．turn back

D．work out

2.

A．towel

B．guitar

C．camera

D．phone

3.

A．paperwork

B．soup

C．dinner

D．blame

4.

A．rode

B．debated

C．rushed

D．walked

5.

A．focusing on

B．speaking of

C．pulling off

D．searching for

6.

A．bending

B．growing

C．assisting

D．cooking

7.

A．bought

B．took

C．watered

D．received

8.

A．drive

B．drink

C．taste

D．moment

9.

A．right

B．ready

C．smooth

D．huge

10.

A．suddenly

B．slowly

C．sadly

D．coldly

11.

A．Obviously

B．Still

C．Then

D．Again

12.

A．wrinkles

B．shoulder

C．surface

D．smile

13.

A．idea

B．vehicle

C．creation

D．dream

14.

A．annual

B．delicious

C．simple

D．formal

15.

A．great

B．slim

C．fat

D．humorous

16.

A．vinegar

B．container

C．vegetable

D．sauce

17.

A．artist

B．housewife

C．waitress

D．chef

18.

A．recognize

B．miss

C．comfort

D．expect

19.

A．lessons

B．stories

C．activities

D．wises

20.

A．guide

B．copy

C．prepare

D．imagine

7 . What’s your baby doing right now? I hope he or she is not rolling on the floor. Such behaviour might seem natural and age-appropriate but this laid-back environment could come back to haunt you at a later date.

Eventually you may be forced to reflect upon those wasted opportunities. In allowing your baby to unproductively behave just like, well, a baby, you may be failing to foster his or her personal growth. Are you denying your child the chance to achieve his or her full potential as a well-rounded baby?

You see, some parents are hot-housing their infants as we speak. While your baby’s programme revolves around the traditional routines of sleeping, eating and playing, other people’s offspring are on the fast-track to certain giftedness. And Baby Einstein DVDs, which were all the rage when I was a new mother, are really the least of your problems.

Ever eager to exploit our perceived inadequacies, smart marketers have found something else for parents to feel guilty about. There’s a manufactured fear that we’re squandering those valuable moments when a baby’s brain is said to be like a sponge, ready and willing to soak up new information at an alarming rate.

I’ve never seen the point of deliberately setting up your little one to be more advanced than his or her peers. I like the idea of babies just being babies and children just being children. Anyway, if they can read at the age of three then what will they learn in their first year of school?

One thing’s for sure: for some people parenting has taken on the proportions of a competitive sport. Some children wrestle with after-school activities every day of the week. Others are enrolled in extra tuition — sometimes simply to reach an acceptable standard and other times in order to be top of the class. There are tennis camps, swim academies and dancing schools. Some households even speak English downstairs and French upstairs. What? That’s not how you run your home? Oh dear. I see bilingualism passing your child by, for sure.

1. What does the author imply in paragraph 2?

A．The author likes raising baby at home.

B．Many parents don’t realize their babies’ potentials.

C．We don’t have enough time or money to raise babies.

D．Many parents foster their children’s personal growth by any chance.

2. How did the author feel about Baby Einstein DVDs when she was a new mother?

A．They were good enough for mothers.

B．They were effective in teaching babies.

C．They were cheaper than other products.

D．They were popular with many mothers.

3. What does the author think of setting up little babies to be more advanced early?

A．It’s a good way to build up potentials.

B．It’s not helpful to baby’s development.

C．It’s vital to develop baby’s brain.

D．It’s not so cheap to be invested by all parents.

4. What does the author suggest parents do?

A．Give children more sports.

B．Develop children more.

C．Let babies grow as they are.

D．Develop children’s bilingualism.

8 . I was reading Natalie Goldberg’s writing guide Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, and as I worked my way through its sixty-four short chapters, I became less and less attracted by her thoughts and suggestions as a sort of tiredness set in.

Then I realized I had been doing it all wrong. Writing Down the Bones is not a book to be absorbed in one sitting, or even sequentially in a handful of reading sessions. Each of those dozens of distinct chapters should be experienced separately — this is a book for snacking on over a period of time, not gorging on in one or a few meals.

Goldberg shares in the introduction that she put out this book at an ideal time, in the mid-1980s, when many more people than before began to throw their interest in writing. Soon, the wide use of home computers would ease their effort considerably. Since then, the book has been used widely in schools and writing workshops as a source of inspiration, and when it’s read part by part, I think, it provides a steady diet of encouragement and exercises.

Why? Goldberg’s lively anybody-can-do-this essays are sometimes a little strange, but her comments about how daily life can get in the way of fighting to become a great writer are supportive, somehow. “This woman has had false starts and personal crises and self-doubt, just like me,” I tell myself, “but here I am, holding in my hands a book she wrote, a book that a number of people have read, and continue to read.”

Goldberg recommends writing in many of the various environments: not just at home or in a cafe or at a workshop; how about setting up a spontaneous (发自内心的) writing booth at an outdoor fair or festival? It’s just like those kissing booths in the past — except that instead of giving out kisses for a dollar (did people actually do that once upon a time?), you write a poem on a topic of the customer’s choosing. She says the booth was always a hit.

1. Why did the author become less and less attracted by the book at first?

A．Because he didn’t find the materials he liked in the book.

B．Because he read the book wholly in a short time.

C．Because he found the book was too old and complex to read.

D．Because he didn’t have enough time to enjoy the book himself.

2. What can we learn about Natalie Goldberg from paragraph 4?

A．She is a woman full of crazy and imagined.

B．She once had many personal problems of her own.

C．She had her book read by few people throughout years.

D．She is not fond of her daily life at home writing at all.

3. What does the author want to convey by mentioning “kissing booths”?

A．It is better to write from the bottom of heart.

B．Writing poems better than other forms of writing.

C．Kissing booths are always knocked down by others.

D．The kissing booth is a good topic for the poem writing.

4. What’s the author’s attitude toward the book Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within?

A．Negative.

B．Neutral.

C．Supportive.

D．Indifferent.

9 . Twenty years ago, I became involved in pet therapy (疗法) work with our dog J.J. After J.J. passed away, we ____ another young dog, whom we named Angel. As she ____ and went through training, we realized that she would be a good therapy dog.

Angel is ten now and ____ every week. She visits two hospitals, a day care center and a library. At the library, dogs lie on the floor, and kids ____ a book to read to a dog. After they_____, they get a trading card with the dog’s picture and history. Angel has also ____ at a children’s special needs camp. She is so _____ that everywhere we go people recognize her, _____ the kids she has worked with.

We have ____ some very special things through our pet therapy work. We used to pay a ____to a woman who was completely paralyzed (瘫痪) on her right side from a stroke. One day, my husband, Jack, asked the_____if she wanted to give Angel a treat.

She_______, and Jack carefully placed the treat in her right hand. Angel_____ took the treat. Then the woman_______her right hand and started ______Angel. Her friend in the room looked ______ and said, “ She hasn’t been able to move that_______since she had her stroke!” After that, every time she lifted her left hand to   ______us, we’d tell her she had to use her right hand, and she would.

When Angel visits the hospital, she also performs_______ for the patients, such as rolling over, shaking and balancing treats on her nose. Once she starts her performance, she won’t stop________Jack claps his hands.

1.

A．abandoned

B．adopted

C．examined

D．cured

2.

A．trembled

B．returned

C．matured

D．hesitated

3.

A．works

B．barks

C．wanders

D．plays

4.

A．buy

B．pack

C．pick

D．review

5.

A．fall

B．fail

C．forget

D．finish

6.

A．helped out

B．stood up

C．settled down

D．shown off

7.

A．calm

B．clever

C．proud

D．popular

8.

A．especially

B．rarely

C．equally

D．slightly

9.

A．advertised

B．witnessed

C．admitted

D．predicted

10.

A．rent

B．salary

C．reward

D．visit

11.

A．kid

B．nurse

C．woman

D．doctor

12.

A．continued

B．nodded

C．slept

D．apologized

13.

A．urgently

B．secretly

C．frequently

D．gently

14.

A．raised

B．touched

C．waved

D．covered

15.

A．walking

B．training

C．petting

D．striking

16.

A．worried

B．astonished

C．discouraged

D．determined

17.

A．foot

B．finger

C．leg

D．hand

18.

A．offend

B．treat

C．praise

D．greet

19.

A．experiments

B．functions

C．tricks

D．duties

20.

A．until

B．so

C．though

D．after

10 . Meet the 2019 Class of Young Global Leaders

The Forum of Young Global Leaders, the World Economic Forum’s foundation for remarkable leaders under 40, was founded to fuel new models of leadership. Every year, our organization seeks out change makers with the foresight and potential to improve the state of the world. Here we are proud to share some names from our 2019 class.

Victoria Alonsoperez

Victoria Alonsoperez founded Chipsafer, a platform that helps farmers track the behavior of their livestock (牲畜) to detect anomalies. Her technology provides important data to support effective and sustainable farming, and has been praised with a number of awards for its unique approach to addressing livestock management.

David Moinina Sengeh

A graduate of MIT and Harvard University, David focused his academic work on bio mechatronics and invented technology to improve the lives of people with physical disabilities. He is a youth advocate and innovator across industries.

Richard Walker

Richard Walker is the Managing Director of Iceland Food Warehouse. He has committed to removing plastic packaging from Iceland’s own-label range by 2023. His commitments have encouraged important conversations about the role of business and retailers in advancing sustainability practices.

Ahd Kamel

Ahd Kamel is an award-winning actress and filmmaker, who began her journey15 years ago when cinema was still banned in her native Saudi Arabia. Her personal journey, overcoming various barriers to become a pioneer in her field, is an inspiring lesson. She has written, directed and acted in her own two award-winning short films.

1. Who has been working hard to make life better for the disabled?

A．Victoria Alonsoperez.	B．David Moinina Sengeh.
C．Richard Walker.	D．Ahd Kamel.

2. What sort of person is Richard Walker?

A．An eco-fighter.	B．A tech-enthusiast.
C．A pioneer in film-making.	D．An expert on retail business.

3. What does Ahd Kamel’s story tell us?

A．Something is better than nothing.	B．Peace is a journey of a thousand miles.
C．Determination is the key to success.	D．Doing is more important than winning.