1 . What better way to experience the history of a site than to have a hand in actually preserving it? This was the thought behind the founding of Adventures in Preservation(AIP) in 2001. The nonprofit's founders.Judith Broeker and Jamie Donahoe, were both long time preservationists and world travelers. They had seen a great many buildings in poor condition, as well as buildings that had been“restored" without the benefit of conservation expertise.
Twelve years on, they are still involved in the day-to-day management of the organization, supported by a volunteer staff located around the world, Judith' s favorite projects have long been the ones in Eastern Europe, and she enjoys opportunity to travel there each year. She, along with anyone else who's joined an adventure, always quotes their fellow jammers, as they' re called, as the highlight of each project. The groups are made up of people from all different ages, occupations, and cultures.Yet each time, they form a strong bond and work so well together that the work becomes fun. Which,after all, is the point of a working vacation, no?
Raising understanding of people's own heritage(遗迹) is another part of AIP projects. In many places, there is so much focus on the news that not only are heritage buildings being lost but so are the traditional building skills needed to keep them. By providing training and raising awareness of the importance of their heritage, AIP is helping keep both alive.
Next year, AIP has projects in Europe and the US. There will be even more projects the following year as projects currently under development in Ghana, Armenia, Ukraine and the US come on line. Each project is also an opportunity for travel, adventure, and personal growth, and AIP welcomes people from around the world to join a project and“"jam" with them.
1. For what major purpose was AIP set up?| A．To gain wonderful benefits. | B．To protect old buildings. |
| C．To hunt for experts. | D．To train fresh hands. |
| A．Machines. | B．Projects. | C．Colleagues. | D．Organizations. |
| A．Ambition. | B．Education. | C．Wealth. | D．Effort. |
| A．AIP' s boom(繁荣). | B．AIP' s eagerness. |
| C．AIP' goal. | D．AIP' function. |
2 . According to a survey, in Washington, DC, only 69 percent of public school students graduate from high school on time. Many factors influence that low rate. One of the most important ones is whether the people around the students expect them to succeed.
So, for the past 40 years, a DC organization has stepped in to give around 10, 000 students the support and positive environment they need to thrive. This organization, called Higher Achievement, provides students with a welcoming space, help with class work, and caring teachers. More than 95 percent of students who complete Higher Achievement graduate from high school on time.
Katherine Roboff is the group's executive director in the DC area. She gives several reasons for the group's success. One is timing. Higher Achievement does not work with students who are already in high school. It works with students in middle school. They start High Achievement at fifth or sixth grade-in the US, that is usually age 11 or 12.
Roboff says research shows that if students are doing well academically in eighth grade — around age 13-they will have a greater chance of graduating from high school and going to college. In other words, what happens in middle school has a huge effect. The years between ages 10 and 13 may affect a student's future more than anything that happens academically in high school.
Roboff explains that students participate in Higher Achievement after school and during the summer, when public schools take a break of about two months. High Achievement students do homework, have community meetings, and work one-on-one with a mentor.
The purpose of the program is to help them use those after school and summer hours to become better prepared academically and to develop their leadership skills and confidence so that by the time they get into eighth grade they are ready to get into some of the top high schools.
1. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?| A．Higher Achievement works with college students. |
| B．Many students have doubts about the organization. |
| C．Higher Achievement has spread throughout the US. |
| D．Higher Achievement has helped many high school students. |
| A．they are certain to go to college | B．they are to succeed when they grow up |
| C．they are more likely to finish high school on time | D．they don't need any help in their studies |
| A．Those students in higher school. | B．Those students in middle school. |
| C．Those students who don't work well. | D．Those students whose family can't afford. |
| A．how Higher Achievement helps those students |
| B．public schools never offer positive environment |
| C．Higher Achievement only helps those who have good skills |
| D．Higher Achievement only helps the students in the eighth grade |
3 . 4 Best Basketball Camps in the USA
PGC Basketball Camps
For the last few decades, PGC (point guard college) basketball camps have helped thousands of players improve a variety of skills. While the name may have you believe it's for point guards only, that's not the case.PGC basketball camps operate in a number of different states and they have over 100 camps all over the country.While many of the PGC basketball camps are aimed at youth in high school and college athletes,there are also the Skills Academy camps for those as young as the 4th grade.
Nike Basketball Camps
Nike offers introductory camps, shooting camps, overnight camps, day camps and many more. There are even camps that let you work with former or current NBA and WNBA players. One of the best things about Nike camps are the quality of coaching and instruction you will get. They also operate in nearly every state,so no matter where you are, there is likely a Nike basketball camp close. These Nike camps are also great for all ages.
NBC Basketball Camps
Since the early 1970s, NBC(Northwest Basketball Camp) has been among the world leaders in the space.Whether you are in elementary school, junior high or high school, there is an NBC basketball camp for you. These camps are offered across the USA,as well as in Canada and even the UK. The camps they offer include clinics.team camps, overnight camps, and college prep camps, just to name a few. They aim to provide you all of the tools you need to succeed in basketball and in life.
The National Basketball Academy
The National Basketball Academy (also known as TNBA) partners with NBA teams like the Bucks and Pacers to provide camps, clinics, and training for basketball players of all ages. TNBA operates in Milwaukee,Orlando. Houston. Indiana, and Cleveland. It also operates in many other nations around the world such as Brazil, France, Argentina, and Spain. These camps and clinics range from a single day to multiple weeks. They also host various tournaments(锦标赛) so you can show off the skills you have learned.
1. What do we know about PGC basketball camps?| A．They have the most camps | B．They are mainly aimed at little kids. |
| C．They hire some former NBA coaches. | D．Not only students of PGC can join them. |
| A．They focus on teamwork. | B．They hold various tournaments. |
| C．They only offer long-term camps. | D．They operate both at home and abroad. |
| A．A PGC basketball camp. | B．A Nike basketball camp. |
| C．A NBC basketball camp. | D．A TNBA basketball camp. |
4 . From helping rescued animals find permanent homes to providing care for chimpanzees(黑猩猩)that have found shelter, there’s always a volunteering site for every animal lover. Here are some amazing opportunities.
Seattle Humane Society
Seattle Humane Society has been helping animals since 1897. In 2013, it adopted out a record of 6, 297 pets. It provides a wide range of programs, including dog training, a pet food bank and volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. A six-month commitment is required, and all volunteers must be at least 18 years old.
Chimpanzee Shelter Northwest
Chimpanzee Shelter Northwest was founded in 2003 as a shelter for chimpanzees. It lies in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, 90 miles east of Seattle. Volunteers have a unique opportunity to see what it takes to run a shelter. It has three levels of volunteers; Level I volunteers help with meal preparation; Level II volunteers help the staff clean the shelter; level III volunteers are trained to interact directly with the chimpanzees.
Hope For Horses
Hope For Horses has an all-volunteer team that has helped hundreds of severely abused horses since 2001. It's also rescued a variety of other animals over the years, including donkeys, chickens, geese and a goat. Volunteers provide hands-on care for horses and other animals, including medical research, site visits and assistance with adoption. All volunteers must be 18 years old.
Purrfect Pals
Purrfect Pals, which was founded in 1988, is the Pacific Northwest's largest cat-only adoption shelter and organization. And it's one of the largest cat-only shelters in North America us well. It finds home for over 2, 000 cats each year. It asks for a five-month commitment and volunteers must he 18 or older.
1. What’s the text intended to introduce?| A．Benefits of being animal lovers. |
| B．Permanent homes for rescued animals. |
| C．Volunteer opportunities for animal lovers. |
| D．Commitments of volunteers at animal shelters. |
| A．Seattle Humane Society. | B．Chimpanzee Shelter Northwest. |
| C．Hope For Horses. | D．Purrfect Pals. |
| A．It lies within the city of Seattle. | B．It sets no age limit for volunteers. |
| C．It is completely run by volunteers. | D．It is a shelter for only one kind of animals. |
5 . Four days of fun, sun and celebrities, as well as networking, career workshops and mentoring (指导), were in store for two Long Island teens chosen to take part in the 12th annual Disney Dreamers Academy (DDA) at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Chosen from thousands of applicants, Tianna Gonzales of Lake Grove and Kaiya Simmons of Miller Place were part of a group of 100 young people who marched in the Magic Kingdom parade and made conversation with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth Carter and actor Miles Brown.
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Kaiya Simmons, 14, moved to Miller Place at the age of 3. A ninth grader at Miss Porter School in Farmington, Connecticut, Kaiya says she enjoys acting, art and science and is currently studying environmental science. “It is fun learning about the environment and different ways to help protect it,” Kaiya says, adding, “I am also learning different techniques to improve my acting on stage and in film.” After high school, Kaiya hopes to attend Yale University and undertake a career as a doctor.
Tianna Gonzales, a 10th grader at Sachem North High School, is interested in psychology and music and plays saxophone (an instrument) for the school’s marching band, orchestra and band. Other school activities include track, Model United Nations, foreign language and art club honor societies. “Once I graduate, I plan to undertake a career in the film world, hopefully attending New York University or New York Film Academy,” she says. “Through storytelling, we can shape this century to be an even stronger attraction for societal change.”
The Disney Dreamers Academy is aimed at helping to inspire young people during a critical time of their development, “Our goal is to help them see the unlimited possibilities and to inspire them to achieve their full purpose—to become the heroes of their own stories,” says Tracey D. Powell, vice president of Walt Disney World Resort.
1. What can we know about the two Long Island teens?| A．They experienced four days of fun in a store. |
| B．They communicated closely with two celebrities. |
| C．They took part in a costume design competition. |
| D．They’re recognized as celebrities by the 12th annual DDA. |
| A．To become a movie actress. | B．To study environmental science further. |
| C．To take up a profession as a doctor. | D．To return to her hometown Miller Place. |
| A．Creative and serious. | B．Ambitious and responsible. |
| C．Straightforward but friendly. | D．Determined but conservative. |
| A．To introduce the aim of the DDA. |
| B．To summarize the previous paragraphs. |
| C．To encourage more teens to take part in the DDA. |
| D．To provide information about the participants of the DDA. |
Jack Ma,founder and CEO of Alibaba Group has been nominated (提名) by the editors of Time magazine as one of eight people for the Person of the Year.
Since 1927, the magazine
Alibaba reported more than $9 billion in sales on China’s Singles’ Day shopping festival. In
7 . BOXTEL, Netherlands — chickens roam the orchards, cows chew the cud and pigs roll in the mud on a warm day on a Dutch farm ——but the pastoral (乡村)scene is not as traditional as it seems.
The farm is owned and run by a cooperative of hundreds of local consumers and aims to change habits in a low-lying country engaged in an existential fight against climate change. Nearly 200 families decide what the farm will produce — and they will eventually eat — and employ a farmer to tend to the animals for meat and eggs and grow the dozen kinds of fruits and vegetables.
“The main aim of the members is to eat natural products, produced near to where they live, in a more sustainable (可持续的)way,” said Douwe Korting, co-leader of the Boxtel Cooperative, in the southern Netherlands. People are really starting to see that a change toward a different way of eating is essential," he added.
It costs 2,000 euros ($2,200) to join the collective (集体的)farm, which is 10 minutes by bicycle from the town, and then a weekly fee of around 10 euros per person.
In return, members receive the food they want and stress the importance of knowing what they eat is local and seasonal.
Known as Herenboderderij, or People's Farming, the guiding principle is that everything centers on the needs and riches of nature, even while using new technologies, ” said its founder Geert van der Veer. Soon the poultry (家禽) will be joined by a robot that can sense when the fruit is ripe, as well as a drone that will survey the fields to support and reduce the needs for manpower.
1. Why did the families start the farm?| A．To reduce the cost of food. | B．To improve their eating habits. |
| C．To replace the old tradition. | D．To provide more chances for exercise. |
| A．Decide what to produce and eat what they grow. |
| B．Work on the farm close to where they live. |
| C．Own and operate the farm in a more effective way. |
| D．Feed the animals and grow fruits and vegetables. |
| A．It'll provide natural products. | B．It'll be charged by new technology. |
| C．It'll cost everyone less than 10 euros. | D．It'll encourage people to love nature. |
| A．A diary. | B．A guidebook. |
| C．A novel. | D．A newspaper. |
8 . Many people don’t have a home because of an illness or because they lost their jobs. They have bad health and can’t start working, and because of that, they can’t pay for a doctor, so it’s a never-ending circle. Homeless people don’t have anywhere to go, so they have to sleep on the streets, covering themselves with newspapers and looking through the rubbish cans to find some food or warmer clothes.
Seeing these horrible living conditions, the Australian charity Beddown decided to help these people in need. They came up with an amazing idea to make shelters in places that are vacant at night-like parking lots! The organization asked one of the largest car park-opera tors, Secure Parking, and they agreed upon it.
“It was great to start with a group of our volunteers to help us and set up some beds. Although as expected we had a few challenges to overcome, it was good to start bringing Bed down to life. Beddown will provide an immediate response for those who can not sleep well to access safe, find shelter-and access to a real bed and a great night’s sleep. We will work with our other partners to provide long-term solutions to providing our guests with accommoda-tion, education and employment opportunities.” The founders of Beddown said in one of their Instagram posts.
The charity also provided other services to the guests, like doctors, nurses, dentists, hairdressers. They gave them new clothing, a place to clean themselves and helped provide social services. “After spending the week here, having a good sleep at night, it reminded me of life and I want to begin my life again,” one homeless man said.
1. What can we learn about the homeless in Australia？| A．They live a hard life. | B．They lost their families. |
| C．They don’t want to work. | D．They like to live on the street. |
| A．Making beds for the homeless. | B．Using the parking lot to get money. |
| C．Using the parking lot to help the homeless. | D．Inviting the car park operators to organize the activity. |
| A．It is only a part of their help. | B．It helps the volunteers greatly. |
| C．It makes the Beddown get more reputation. | D．It gives the homeless a chance to return to real life. |
| A．The Homeless Get Good Diet Now. |
| B．Beddown Shelters the Homeless in Car Parks. |
| C．Beddown Helps the Homeless Find Jobs in Car Parks. |
| D．Australian Charity Beddown and the Homeless in Australian. |
9 . The Little Baby Face Foundation（LBFF）is an NYC-based nonprofit organization with a great deal of controversy. Founded in 2002, it provides free plastic surgery for children born with facial deformities（畸形）. Many teenagers who have been teased for their looks are now applying to have their problem areas “fixed” by LBFF.
Nadia, one 14-year-old teenager, had her face greatly changed in June when she went under the knife. Her classmates had been constantly making fun of her appearance. “They said I have the biggest ears that they’ve ever seen. They called me elephant ears,” Nadia said. Those comments hurt her a lot. She even considered how to end her own life.
But Nadia tried to keep the bullying a secret from her mother, Lynda. Her mother was already dealing with mounting medical bills for her 9-year-old son, Josh, who had a serious brain disease. When her mother did finally find out about the bullying, she was heartbroken.
Nadia decided to end her bullying problems with plastic surgery. Then her mother turned to the LBFF, which accepted Nadia’s application. The surgeries were very painful and it took months for her face to heal, but she did manage to return to school with a new face, a face she was finally proud of.
Nadia’s surgery may have helped her overcome her emotional pain, but should teenagers go to those extremes just because they are being bullied?
Experts warn if the deformities are not really a problem to the child, plastic surgery is not the answer! In fact, when a teen decides to get plastic surgery because he or she is being bullied, it can send the wrong message. By surgically changing the victim of a bully, it is as if you support the bullying and agree the victim is in fact worthy of all those names he or she has been called. It is like saying to teenagers: “Yes, there is something wrong with you, and you should get it fixed!”
1. What did Nadia think of her school life in the past?| A．Busy. | B．Exciting. |
| C．Miserable. | D．Ordinary. |
| A．Her mother had heart disease. | B．She didn’t want to burden her. |
| C．Her mother was afraid of being bullied. | D．She didn’t know how to share it with her. |
| A．It may let bullies feel they are right. | B．It may become popular among teens. |
| C．It may damage the name of the LBFF. | D．It may change victims into bullies. |
| A．Why many teenagers are being teased? |
| B．Is plastic surgery the answer to bullying? |
| C．Why surgery helps overcome emotional pain? |
| D．Should we pay more attention to appearance? |
10 . Charities
These days there are thousands of charities around the world and it is possible to donate money to help people, animals and places.
Mencap is a charity which is intended to fight against prejudice against those people who suffer from any kind of learning disability. Most of Mencap's work is campaigning. People with learning disabilities are disadvantaged because of prejudice and lack of funding for community care. Mencap raised awareness by working at local, national and European levels to deal with those issues that affect people with learning disabilities. It also provides services of education, housing and employment as well as support and advice for families and carers of sufferers.
EveryChild is a relatively new charity which was created in 1983. Every Child identifies the needs of a particular community and then sets up projects to make sure that children in these communities have basic rights such as healthcare. education, social services and community development. Every Child sets up the projects so that they are self running. The organization then moves on to new projects, leaving things in the hands of locals.
The RSPCA( Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is the first organization meant for the well-being of animals anywhere in the world. The SPCA was set up in London in 1824 .At that time it was considered strange that people should care about cruelty to animals. In 1840 Queen Victoria gave the organization permission to be called a royal society The RSPCA. These days there are almost two hundred branches in the UK.
The TBG(Tidy Britain Group) is an independent national charity fighting to improve the quality of the local environment. They aim to get everyone involved in doing their bit to keep Britain clean. The work of the TBG is done mainly hrough campaigning. Volunteers work closely with governments and businesses to organize educational programs designed to raise awareness of the problems. The TBG's sister organization, Going for Green,concentrates on pollution issues. The two groups have the same chief executive.
1. What's the main purpose of Mencap?| A．To improve community care. | B．To provide educational services. |
| C．To fight against any kind of prejudice. | D．To help people with learning disabilities. |
| A．Approving. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Tolerant. | D．Casual. |
| A．Mencap. | B．Every Child |
| C．the RSPCA | D．the TBG |
