1 . I played on the high school basketball team. I played the ball before the game started, and then sat on the bench (长凳) cheering for guys who were actually going to play in the game. When we won, I hugged (拥抱) my teammates.
I enjoyed that. But I didn’t know how my dad felt about my role. I imagined it was hard for him. Dad was a gifted athlete. And my older brothers were sports stars at college. I was not sure how he felt about going to games to watch his son SIT. Still, Dad was always there in his suit and tie. After the game, he’d come up to me, smile, shake my hand and say “Good game!”, even though I did nothing to make the game good. It changed until the last game of the season.
It was a great day for our team — we were up by about 20 with two minutes left. The coach suddenly looked towards me and said, “Walker! You’re in!” The next two minutes seemed not real to me. I remember running up and down the field a few times. When someone started counting down the last seconds, my teammate passed the ball to me. I heard guys on the bench shouting “Shoot (投篮)!” as I faced the basket and shot. We won. But then I didn’t know what to do. I was unprepared for a time when I had hit a last second shot. Naturally, I looked for Dad. He was there, smiling at me as he always did.
Whether good times or bad, Dad was always there to smile, to support and to love. Now I’m in my 50s with a teenage basketball player in my family. I keep trying to be there, no matter what, because I know what it can mean.
1. What was the author’s role?A.He was a green hand. | B.He gave players suggestions. |
C.He was a fan of the basketball team. | D.He replaced those who couldn’t play. |
A.Lost. | B.Tired. | C.Calm. | D.Encouraged. |
A.A Sports-Loving Family | B.A Successful Basketball Match |
C.Dad Always Being There | D.Dad Helping Me Succeed |
2 . Germany’s top court (法院) has ruled that parts of the country’s 2019 climate action law must be changed because they don’t do a good job of protecting young people. Nine young people aged 15 to 24 took the government to court over the law. They said that the government’s failure to plan carefully was putting their future lives in danger.
The judges (法官) of Germany’s highest court said climate change will influence young people far more than adults. That’s because climate change will become more serious over time. As young people become adults, they’ll be left to deal with any problems that today’s adults don’t deal with.
In 2019, Germany passed a new law, promising that the country would be producing no more CO2 than the forest can take in by 2050. The law made a plan of action until 2030. But the law didn’t have any plans for climate actions that would be taken between 2031 and 2050.
The court has asked the German government to fix the law by the end of 2022. The climate law will now need to have a plan for the actions that will be taken after 2030.
The German government has said that it will quickly begin working to make the needed changes. One important part of high court decisions like this is that they act as guides or examples for future decisions. This means that in the future, Germany’s lawmakers will be more likely to think about the climate future of young people as they create their laws.
1. Why did the judges make such a decision?A.They decided the new law made no sense. |
B.They wanted to give the young more rights. |
C.They focused more on the future of the young. |
D.They thought it’s hard to solve climate change. |
A.It failed to take action before 2030. |
B.It was producing more and more CO2. |
C.It refused to consider the young’s rights. |
D.It didn’t plan the climate actions after 2030. |
A.It will make more decisions on climate change. |
B.It will ask the young to help make climate laws. |
C.It will consider the young when making climate laws. |
D.It will encourage the young to protect the environment. |
A.They were brave and forward-looking enough. |
B.They couldn’t bear the present climate change. |
C.They wanted to take part in law-making. |
D.They planned to work in the government. |
3 . In July 2021, kids from around the world watched the first appearance of skateboarding at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The four medal events for men and women in park and street boarding showed the gifts of 80 athletes from all over the world.
Bryce Wettstein is one of the top competitors from the United States in park skateboarding, which requires athletes to show skills that combine (使结合) art and athleticism in a bowl that looks like an empty swimming pool. At 17, Bryce shows her skills in a way that celebrates the skateboarding community.
Skateboarding began in the late 1940s and early 1950s in small Southern California beach towns. Born into this community, Bryce has won a place at the center of the sport. “Skateboarding just seems like it can be everything and anything all washed together in some washing machine of color,” she said.
Bryce shares her California hometown with international skateboard pioneer Tony Hawk. He was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an ambassador (大使) in its “Stronger Together” competitive sport, which celebrates this year’s athletes. In an IOC video, Hawk summarized the unlikely rise of skateboarding. “We used to see ourselves as a family of misfits (不合群),” he said. “But now the world calls us Olympians.”
Skateboarders celebrate each other’s natural abilities and achievements, while working to help the sport develop. This is shown in the friendship between Bryce and top Australian competitor Poppy Starr Olsen. Both athletes have dreamed of acting for their own countries at the Olympic Games since they skateboarded together as kids.
“I think skateboarding is going to be really different from all the other sports,” Poppy said. “We’re all kind of like a family.” Bryce agreed. “That’s what makes skateboarding such a great sport,” she said.
1. Which of the following best describes Bryce Wettstein?A.A skateboarder who likes everything colourful. |
B.An excellent skateboarder easy to get on with. |
C.An excellent skateboarder from the birthplace of skateboarding. |
D.A skateboarder having a special understanding of skateboarding. |
A.He does much to celebrate the athletes. | B.He made skateboarding rise in the world. |
C.He is a skateboard pioneer all over the world. | D.He made an important speech in an IOC video. |
A.It gets family members together. | B.It is the dream of many children. |
C.It is a means to celebrate success. | D.It can bring people close together. |
A.Top athletes at the Olympics. | B.A new Olympic sports event. |
C.Some skateboarders’ success. | D.Opinions on an Olympic sports event. |
4 . Summer volunteer chances for students
Finding a summer volunteer chance is easier than you think. There are national programs all over the US that you can take part in. Check out these volunteer chances for students.
UN Volunteer ProgramIf you are an 18-year-old high school student, you might choose to volunteer in a UN organisation. The UN Volunteer Program (paid) is looking for excellent adults aged 18 to 55. Volunteer projects explore peace-building, climate change and disaster management (气候变化和灾害管理). Those looking for a summer program will also receive training before and after a short-term task.
National Park ServiceTeens aged 15-18 can take part in National Park Service and get paid. The volunteers work outdoors on several different projects including cleaning up campgrounds, improving wildlife habitat (栖息地), environmental education planning and teaching, and more! You’ll also take part in educational field trips where you’ll be able to see wildlife before your eyes.
Habitat for HumanityYou can find a lot of summer volunteer fun through Habitat for Humanity. Not only can you help build houses, but you can join in improving your community and helping out at the donation (捐赠) center. Youths aged 16 or older may take part in this program, and must have turned 16 by the first day of the project.
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is always looking for youth volunteers. Its Red Cross youth programs offer students and young adults meaningful chances of leadership training and community service. The chances are given to all junior and senior high school students.
1. What is special about the National Park Service?A.It allows its volunteers to camp. | B.It offers chances to see wild animals. |
C.It offers job-related training to volunteers. | D.It allows volunteers to explore new interests. |
A.Clean up houses. | B.Enjoy some fun games. |
C.Make money to help people in need. | D.Make their community better. |
A.UN Volunteer Program. | B.National Park Service. |
C.Habitat for Humanity. | D.American Red Cross. |
5 . “If that little girl is causing that much trouble within your group of friends, I would simply stop her,” I said as Abby was about to set off to school. Abby listened carefully, as I continued. “If she causes any more
By this time, Allyson, my then eight-year-old daughter, had joined us, listening to every word too. Neither of my daughters cut in as I finished my
Hmmm, I had become a
“Yes, that’s a good point,” I said, forcing a
A.uncertainty | B.trouble | C.danger | D.harm |
A.warn | B.order | C.ask | D.encourage |
A.speech | B.job | C.class | D.discussion |
A.honest | B.right | C.brave | D.impressive |
A.friend | B.sister | C.adviser | D.teacher |
A.partner | B.designer | C.teenager | D.student |
A.imagined | B.remembered | C.realized | D.heard |
A.sit | B.hide | C.stop | D.talk |
A.smile | B.sale | C.conversation | D.question |
A.take in | B.depend on | C.learn about | D.deal with |
A.school | B.home | C.work | D.practice |
A.watching | B.following | C.calling | D.pushing |
A.asleep | B.alone | C.afraid | D.awake |
A.curious | B.confused | C.nervous | D.proud |
A.sign | B.need | C.listen | D.help |
6 . When you throw cats and dogs in a scene where they are falling from the sky, it might be hard for an English learner to know exactly what it means. So English learners should know the meaning of English idioms (习语).
It’s important to not only teach the meaning of idioms, but also teach how to use them correctly and effectively (有效地). When a non-native speaker uses an idiom correctly, he or she will sound very fluent. But on the other hand, if they use the phrase wrongly, they will sound the exact opposite.
Learning idioms is appropriate for intermediate to advanced (中到高级的) students. If you teach an idiom lesson to beginners or low-intermediate learners, they are very likely to use it wrongly. So how should teachers teach English idioms correctly?
Provide idioms in context, so students can fully understand the meaning. Be sure to provide a conversation around it as an example.
Watching videos of native speakers talking is a great way to show your students how idioms are used in the real world. FluentU is a great resource that can help you highlight the usage and context of various idioms used. FluentU takes real-world videos — like music videos, news and inspiring (鼓舞人心的) talks — and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.
Teach idioms in spoken form, not written, and explain to students how they are conversational, rather than formal. Have students practice the idioms in dialogue to help them understand how they’re used in spoken English.
Don’t just hand out a long list of idioms. Be sure to provide a small selection of 5-10 idioms and explain each one. If you provide too many examples, it’ll simply turn into an introduction of what an idiom is, rather than how to actually remember the meaning and use one effectively in dialogue.
1. Why does the author give the example in Paragraph 1?A.To explain why English is difficult to learn. |
B.To show English idioms are quite interesting. |
C.To show idioms can be difficult to understand. |
D.To tell us the meaning of an English idiom. |
A.Using English idioms correctly in conversation. |
B.Finding the meaning of idioms themselves. |
C.Sounding fluent by avoiding English idioms. |
D.Learning English idioms as low-intermediate learners. |
A.It has the latest music videos and movies. |
B.It is appropriate for low-intermediate learners. |
C.It provides various resource books for teachers. |
D.It provides real-world videos on the usage of idioms. |
A.How to teach English in a fun way. |
B.How to learn English idioms by yourself. |
C.How to teach English idioms correctly. |
D.How to use English idioms in dialogue. |
7 . There was an old couple who had been married for 40 years. They loved each other deeply and went on dates together. Every time they went out for supper, the husband would order pie for dessert, which became their
But then the husband began to
He moved out of the house and into a nursing home. She was
One of the doctors
Everything had come back. His wife’s
A.power | B.belief | C.culture | D.tradition |
A.decided | B.refused | C.waited | D.hoped |
A.catch | B.judge | C.steal | D.try |
A.develop | B.spread | C.study | D.discover |
A.wonder | B.forget | C.doubt | D.admit |
A.secretly | B.entirely | C.naturally | D.finally |
A.upset | B.concerned | C.nervous | D.surprised |
A.excuses | B.rewards | C.examples | D.ideas |
A.frightened | B.amazed | C.puzzled | D.moved |
A.allowed | B.advised | C.asked | D.forced |
A.accepted | B.praised | C.questioned | D.noted |
A.gallery | B.park | C.cinema | D.restaurant |
A.clearly | B.suddenly | C.actually | D.simply |
A.action | B.response | C.attention | D.attitude |
A.managed | B.shared | C.enjoyed | D.followed |
8 . I went to South Africa for the first time as a lone travelling female with a love for wildlife when I just graduated from high school.
During my six-month stay there, I spent the last 4 weeks at GVI Karongwe. The GVI members were so helpful and were so kind and lovely too when I was there. It was one of the easiest and best-organised programs I spent my time on.
Every day we collected information on a variety of animals for research. I have to say it changed my life in so many ways and actually guided me on my path to the job I am doing now.
The first week was pretty busy with training to prepare us for our job in the bush (灌木) and teach us about mammals (哺乳动物), birds and other animals, tracks and signs as well as how to use the equipment (设备), take care of the cars and clean and cook for a house of more than 20 people. The training made a world of difference to anyone who was nervous about being new to the South African wilderness and wanted to do the job well. I also made friends with people from all over the world and they were of all ages and backgrounds, united by the common goal to contribute to wildlife protection in South Africa, which was so amazing!
GVI programs provide a fantastic way to learn and contribute to the community and wildlife in a hands-on way. It has put me on the path of wildlife research for the rest of my life!
1. Why did the author go to South Africa at first?A.To do a voluntary job there. | B.To visit the wild animals there. |
C.To join in the GVI program there. | D.To carry out research there. |
A.It was necessary and important. | B.It was relaxing and creative. |
C.It was difficult. | D.It was too long. |
A.It offers free training and accommodation. | B.It helped the author choose her career. |
C.Its members all have rich knowledge of wildlife. | D.Its purpose is to encourage visits to South Africa. |
A.To give a positive review of the GVI program. | B.To tell us the importance of animal protection. |
C.To tell us what she learned in South Africa. | D.To share her experiences in South Africa. |
9 . In the thick jungle of New Guinea is nature’s most amazing theater, a Carola’s parotia (天堂鸟) is showing off his red and yellow feathers in a display called a “butterfly dance.”
This brilliantly colored birds of paradise have developed over millions of years from ancient birds whose feathers were dark and boring in comparison. It seems to be a contradiction (矛盾) that such extreme feathers and colors could have been favored by the process of evolution. After all, these same brightly colored feathers that attract mates also make the birds much more noticeable to predators (捕食者). The answer lies in the safe environment in which the birds live, and a process of evolution known as sexual selection. Except for other pressures, birds of paradise begin to specialize in attracting mates. Over millions of years they have slowly undergone changes in their colors, feathers and other talents. Characteristics that made one bird more attractive than another were passed on and impove over time.
In the past, demand for the bird’s feathers resulted in a huge amount of hunting. At the peak of the trade in the early 1900s, 80,000 skins a year were exported from New Guinea to Europe ladies’ hats. Nowadays, few birds die for fashion or for traditional costumes: Ceremonial feathers are passed down from generation to generation. Although local people are still permitted to hunt the birds for traditional uses, they usually target older male birds, leaving younger males to continue breeding.
David Mitchell, a conservationist, is relying on the help of local villagers to record where the birds display and what they eat. He hopes to not only gather data, but also encourage protection of the birds’ habitat. The strategy seems to be working. For millions of years, these impressive birds have danced to find their mates. They will keep dancing for as long as the forest offers them stage.
1. Why do the birds of paradise evlove the bright cholors?A.To frighten away predators. | B.To execise and clean bodies. |
C.To show the possession of an area. | D.To attract a mate’s attention. |
A.Industrial development destroyed their habitat. | B.A high demand for feathers to use in hats. |
C.They were eaten by the predators. | D.They got sick after inteactions with human. |
A.To eat them. | B.To protect smaller birds. |
C.To make traditional costumes. | D.To keep their numbers down. |
A.Feathers of Love | B.Trouble in Paradise |
C.An Amazing performance | D.The Protection of Birds of Paradise |
10 . Childhood days on the beach or messing around in rivers can have significant lasting benefits for our wellbeing (幸福) in adulthood, according to a study. It found that exposure to blue spaces-such as coasts, rivers and lakes-as a child made revisiting blue spaces in adulthood more likely, as these adults showed greater familiarity with and placed greater value on natural settings.
More than 15,000 participants in 18 different countries were surveyed for the study, published in the Journal of Envirommental Psychology. “Water settings can be dangerous for children, and parents are right to be watchful,” said Dr Leanne Martin, co-author of the study. “The research, though, suggests that encouraging children to feel comfortable in these settings and developing skills such as swimming at an early age can have previously unrecognized life-long benefits."
There has been a growing body of research over the last ten years about the specific beneficial effects of blue spaces on mental health. A review published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health suggested visits to blue spaces could increase people’s physical activity levels and lower stress, while improving their mood and psychological wellbeing. Another review published by the Environment Agency, found that blue spaces were linked to the improvement of mood and feelings of restoration to a greater degree than green spaces.
The study’s lead author Valeria Vitale said, “We recognise that both green and blue spaces have a positive impact on people’s mental and physical health. Also, previous studies examining childhood nature exposure and adulthood outcomes have largely focused on green spaces, or natural spaces in general. However, as we highlighted in our paper, blue spaces have unique sensory qualities (感官特质)(light reflection,wave motion,sounds,etc)and encourage a distinct range of leisure activities (swimming, fishing, water sports).”
Another co-author Dr Mathew White added: “If our findings are supported by long-term research that tracks people’s exposure over the entire life course, it would suggest that further work, strategies and plans encouraging more blue space experiences during childhood may be a viable way to support the mental health of future generations.”
1. What is a finding of the new study?A.Adults place a high value on natural environments. |
B.Children show great familiarity with water settings. |
C.Time spent in blue spaces benefits children in later life. |
D.Blue spaces and green spaces have equal effects on mental health. |
A.Water settings are more dangerous for children than for adults. |
B.Children should start water activities early. |
C.Swimming is a necessary skill for children. |
D.Parents protection makes children feel more comfortable. |
A.By giving examples. | B.By analysing causes. |
C.By making comparisons. | D.By following time order. |
A.Fun and relaxing. | B.Quick and unique. |
C.Sound and workable. | D.Easy and cheap. |