Reading with Rover is a reading program where children read to dogs. In addition to Reading with Rover, which is based on Washington state, there are many such reading programs around the country. The goal of all these programs is to improve the reading skills of children with reading problems by having children read to dogs.
When reading aloud in the classroom, many children with reading problems and poor reading skills feel frightened. They have little confidence in themselves and are afraid of being laughed at. They may also feel that reading is difficult, boring and stressful. However, when children read to dogs, reading becomes a fun and non-stressful experience for both the children and the dogs. Dogs don’t criticize, judge or laugh at the children’s reading ability.
Reading with Rover and other programs like it have been a huge success, resulting in improved reading skills for a significant number of participating children with reading problems. In addition to making learning enjoyable, when children read to dogs, it increases their sense of worth and self-confidence.
As part of the Reading with Rover program, the children read to dogs that are registered therapy dogs. These are dogs that have been trained and tested. Along with their owners, these dogs have become registered therapy teams.
A recent research study was conducted by the University of California, which concluded that when children read to dogs, it can increase their reading skills by thirty percent.
Children who took part in this study remarked, “I feel relaxed when I am reading to a dog because I am having fun.” “The dogs don’t care if you read really badly so you just keep going.”
When children read to dogs and improve their reading skills, it becomes just another example of how wonderful dogs are and how important they are to our society.
1. What’s the aim of Reading with Rover?(no more than 10 words)2. Why does reading become a fun and non-stressful experience when children read to dogs?(no more than 12 words)
3. What’s Paragraph 3 mainly about?(no more than 12 words)
4. What does the underlined word “conducted” mean in the fifth paragraph?(no more than 2 words)
5. What do you think of Reading with Rover and other programs like it? Please explain.(no more than 25 words)
2 . Internet firms should help deal with the threat of terrorism or face terror tax , the security minister has said. Ben Wallace said such profiteers as Facebook and Google were failing to play their part, forcing the government to spend hundreds of millions to police internet extremism. The minister added, “If they continue to be less than co-operative, we should look at things like tax as a way compensating for their inaction. Because content is not taken down as quickly as they could do, we have to spend millions. WhatsApp, owned by Facebook, was turning the internet into a violent space.”
Mr Wallace did not give more details about a possible terror tax, but it would probably take the form of a windfall tax. The minister also accused internet companies of putting profit before public safety.
Simon Milner, Facebook’s UK policy director, said: “Mr Wallace is wrong to say that we put profit before safety, especially in the fight against terrorism. We’ve invested millions of pounds in people and technology to identify and remove terrorist content.” YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet, Google’s parent company, said: “Violent extremism is a complex problem and addressing it is a critical challenge for us all. We are committed to being part of the solution and we are doing more every day to deal with these issues. “Over the course of 2017 we have made significant progress through investing in machine learning technology, recruiting more reviewers, building partnerships with experts and collaboration with other companies”.
Anthony Glees, an intelligence expert at Buckingham University, told The Times: “What the government is proposing makes excellent theoretical sense when it comes to making us more secure from the appalling things that are broadcast by the service providers.” He added: “But in practice it may not be enough, because we are dealing with Goliaths here and the United Kingdom is increasingly becoming a lone David.”
1. What do we know from Ben Wallace’s words?| A．The internet firms have been put on a terror tax. |
| B．The internet companies only concentrate on profit. |
| C．The profit of the Internet firms should be cut down. |
| D．The internet companies are not cooperative enough. |
| A．internet firms | B．internet extremism |
| C．violent spaces | D．terror taxes |
| A．unpractical | B．positive |
| C．unexpected | D．disapproving |
| A．Profit or Safety? |
| B．Policing Internet Extremism. |
| C．Internet Giants Threatened with Tax. |
| D．Demonstrating the Government’ Determination. |
3 . Six years ago, Sam Shapiro’s family adopted a 15-year-old boy from Cite Soleil, Haiti. A few years later, in June 2015, Shapiro wanted to learn more about where his brother grew up, so he visited his brother’s hometown.
What Shapiro saw was a small city where 100 percent of the population lived in poverty. He saw homeless children with no access to education, activities or safe spaces to play. He also saw a run-down, abandoned basketball court.
Shapiro couldn’t fix everything. But he could do something.
“I thought athletics could be used to give kids opportunities for organized activities that could keep them off the streets,” said Shapiro.
A year after his first visit, Shapiro returned to Cite Soleil with his friend Jack Moe. The next month, Shapiro and Moe- then 16-year-old sophomores (大二学生) at the Blake School – formed a nonprofit, called “Sprint to Cite Soleil”, to benefit the city’s youth.
The core program of Sprint to Cite Soleil is basketball, but it also consists of nutrition and community-building to benefit children aged 5 to 18.
“Our mission originally was to provide a new basketball court,” said Moe. “But we soon realized that a lot of kids wanted to play basketball, and more than just a court was needed. We sent jerseys, basketballs, basketball pumps and shoes. Hundreds of kids showed up for a clinic.”
They soon hired 10 coaches and four cooks to prepare nutritious meals for the 160 boys and girls who train every Saturday and Sunday.
And they hired director Joseph Sadrack, a local native, whom Shapiro calls “trustworthy and right for the leadership position ...”
From the start, Shapiro, Moe and Sadrack agreed on how the program should develop.
“We are very much a partnership,” said Shapiro. “Personally, I’ve seen a lot of organizations trying to help in foreign countries. They have their own mindset and want to do things their way.”
“I’m not living there,” he continued. “I don’t know what they need. Before any decision is made, we ask Joseph, ‘What can we do?’ and, ‘What do they need?’”
Now sophomores in college - Shapiro at Wake Forest University in North Carolina and Moe at Stanford in California - they continue their work as co-presidents of the nonprofit.
Shapiro said it’s been a rewarding experience.
“I’m proud that, despite the somewhat of a language and cultural barrier, we’re able to communicate,” said Shapiro. “I’m proud that others believe in us and trust us. That’s what we’re most proud of. Being able to create it and maintain it.”
1. Why did Shapiro go to Haiti?| A．To visit his brother. |
| B．To do a part-time job. |
| C．To help his family adopt a kid. |
| D．To learn about his brother’s hometown. |
| A．It is only run by two American boys. |
| B．It makes profits from the local government. |
| C．It stopped after Shapiro became a sophomore. |
| D．It provides resources for children and teens. |
| A．The language barrier is a big problem. |
| B．It will be great for his future career. |
| C．It is difficult but gives him a good feeling. |
| D．It is too expensive but he will continue. |
4 . A 54-year-old dentist, Goodman purchased his first
HAL which has about 120 members
Astronomy in general is sort of like ham radio. It was
Members offer several reasons for the
But they say there’s nothing like being outdoors, looking at the sky and considering Earth’s tiny place in the
HAL members are doing what they can to make an impression on a new generation of
Alpha Ridge Park was chosen as the site because it is
“It might be a few years before the observatory is actually in place” Goodman said, “but once it is
| A．radio | B．telescope | C．machine | D．computer |
| A．schools | B．clubs | C．companies | D．centers |
| A．takes | B．holds | C．builds | D．opens |
| A．opinion | B．suggestion | C．goal | D．agreement |
| A．watchers | B．astronauts | C．visitors | D．astronomers |
| A．successful | B．popular | C．important | D．secure |
| A．and | B．so | C．but | D．though |
| A．shortcomings | B．disadvantages | C．failure | D．decline |
| A．watch out | B．go away | C．go out | D．give away |
| A．operate | B．purchase | C．adjust | D．calculate |
| A．sky | B．universe | C．earth | D．world |
| A．skillful | B．excellent | C．potential | D．patient |
| A．pick | B．insert | C．fit | D．place |
| A．totally | B．conveniently | C．partly | D．conventionally |
| A．chosen | B．designed | C．completed | D．found |
| A. physical B. brick C. revenue D. ready-made E. generate F. related G. capacity H. diversifying I. innovation J. venturing K. abandoning |
It is getting hard to go anywhere without stepping on a piece of Lego-related hype (大肆宣传). “The Lego Movie” is number two at the American box office, after three weeks at number one. Model kits
This is remarkable for many reasons. Lego’s home town, Billund in rural Denmark, is so small that the company had to provide it with a hotel-an elegant one, unsurprisingly. The toy business is one of the world’s trickiest: perennially faddish (反复出现地一时流行的事物) (remember Beanie Babies?) and, at the moment, energized by technological innovation. Children are growing up ever faster, and abandoning the
Lego’s decade of success began when it appointed Jorgen Vig Knudstorp as chief executive. This was a risky move: Mr. Knudstorp was a mere 35 years old and had cut his teeth as a management consultant with McKinsey rather than running a business. But it proved to be inspired. Mr. Knudstorp decided that the company must go “back to the
Under Mr. Knudstorp Lego has struck a successful balance between
Lego has got better at managing its relationships. “The Lego Movie” demonstrates how it can focus on the brick while
Lego is now at an inflection point (转折点), building its organizational
6 . About the Scottish Portrait Gallery
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of Edinburgh’s most extraordinary buildings—a great red sandstone neo-gothic palace which sits proudly on the city’s skyline. Following a dramatic three-year redecoration, completed in December 2011, the Gallery now offers 17 new displays. Each of these explores different aspects of the story of Scotland and her people.
The Building
The Scottish National Portrait Gallery was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson as a holy palace for Scotland’s heroes and heroines. A detailed Arts and Crafts decorative scheme, both inside and outside, with its glittering friezes, evocative murals and extensive sculptural embellishment, makes it a very special visitor experience.
The Collection
The Portrait Gallery’s collection is an exceptional national resource of over 30,000 fascinating images containing a rich variety of media and including many internationally outstanding works of art. The portraits depict(刻画) the men and women whose lives and achievements helped shape Scotland and the wider world. The Gallery is also home to the NGS’s outstanding collection of photographs which includes around 6,000 works by the early Scottish pioneers of the medium, Robert Adamson and David Octavius Hill as well as new works by leading-edge contemporary photographers.
Visitor Facilities
The new Portrait Gallery cafe serves a delicious menu of fresh dishes and classic recipes, using the very best local ingredients and seasonal produce. Our new shop offers a fresh twist on design-led gifts and souvenirs. The gallery now has all the facilities which today’s visitors expect, including a fantastic new lift, an Education suite and disabled access throughout the building.
1. What do we learn about the Scottish National Portrait Gallery?| A．It is well-known for its building. | B．Every display reflects Scotland. |
| C．There are about 6,000 works in it | D．It has a comparatively short history. |
| A．rare and user-friendly | B．modern and all-round |
| C．characteristic and attractive | D．beneficial and conventional |
7 . The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation[BMGF] said this week it will provide up to $100 million to support action against the 2019 novel coronavirus. It says the money will help strengthen efforts to test people for the virus, separate healthy individuals from the sick and find treatment for them.
Controlling the epidemic: The donation will help speed development of the “tools to bring this epidemic under control,”the chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation; Mark Suzman said.
Worldwide emergency:The Gates Foundation is giving money and working with other donors to help the World Health Organization (WHO), Chinese medical workers and others worldwide.It noted the need for an organized international effort to fight the virus.
Increased efforts to find and treat the coronavirus:The foundation promised $20 million right away to hurry the process of identifying those who are sick, keeping them separate, and helping them get better. The goal is to stop the disease from spreading to more people and places. Money is also going to public health officials in China and other countries with coronavirus patients to help them pay the start-up cost of medical workers and supplies.
Protecting at-risk groups in Africa and South Asia:Recent epidemics, such as the H1N1 influenza pandemic of 2009, have had a big effect on people living in extreme poverty. Most of those people live in African countries south of the Sahara Desert or parts of South Asia. Another $20 million is going to public health officials in these areas to improve their emergency operations and to treat confirmed cases. One partner is the African Field Epidemiology Network, a non-profit service that currently operates in more than 30 African countries.
Developing Vaccines:Of the total donation, $60 million will go to speed the process of making vaccines to protect against the novel coronavirus. One organization working on developing the anti-coronavirus vaccines is the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations with Chinese public- and private-sector researchers; trying to find ways to stop the spread of the virus.
1. The money donated by the BMGF will be used in the following aspects except| A．to test people for the virus | B．to separate the healthy from the sick |
| C．to build a new hospital in China | D．to find treatment for the virus -infected |
| A．One | B．Five | C．Two | D．Countless |
| A．The money is specially donated to China’s public health department. |
| B．Another $20 million will be used to help African people suffering from starvation. |
| C．The African Field Epidemiology Network is a non- profit medical service organization only in western Africa. |
| D．Most of the donated money will be put into the developing and innovating vaccines. |
| A．a news report | B．a magazine | C．a text book | D．a poster |
8 . When you leave retirement planning too late, it may be difficult to start putting aside adequate funds in the years when you have other financial commitments.
The Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board conducted a Facebook contest (apps.facebook.com/areyoureadysg) last year, collecting stories and anecdotes others have to share on their difficulties in managing their finances, relating to cash flow, housing, healthcare and retirement.
Thankfully, there is now an easy way to start with the latest CPF Board initiative, Are You Ready(AYR). Launched in 2011, AYR is designed to encourage Singaporeans to kick-start their financial and retirement planning.
Through tools, talks and games, AYR provides an informative and interactive way for Singaporeans to understand the importance of retirement planning; and take an active role in working towards it.
AYR revolves around 4 checklists built upon 4 key messages:
Managing your cash flow
A basic step in financial planning, this puts you in a better position to consider other aspects of retirement planning and adequacy.
Buying a house within your means.
This theme focuses on helping Singaporeans understand the principles of prudence and affordability in making their most expensive financial commitment.
Taking charge of healthcare costs
Singaporeans need to plan ahead to be financially and physically prepared for health uncertainties.
Securing your retirement
Increasing life expectancy means putting a financial plan in place as early as possible; to be financially independent in old age.
1. The purpose of Are You Ready initiative is to ___________.| A．stimulate the interaction among Singaporeans. |
| B．provide an incentive to contribute more in work |
| C．inspire Singaporeans to jump off in retirement planning. |
| D．familiarize Singaporeans with the financial system |
| A．The effort to buy a house made people hold off on buying other items. |
| B．With people living longer, people have to save more money for retirement. |
| C．Health issue turns out to be the biggest consideration in retirement. |
| D．Retirement requires people withdraw excessive income to maintain flexibility. |
| A．Are You Ready-Hand-on Approaches |
| B．Real-life Stories -Pressing Financial Burdens |
| C．A Light for Singaporeans-Early Retirement |
| D．Let It Go-Retirement Planning |
Bathroom Reveals Your Repayment Ability
Banks and other lenders typically look at borrowers’ credit histories, tax forms and other financial information to determine whether they will get paid back. In China,
As the economy slows, the government wants to nurture a credit culture to get Chinese families spending instead of saving. While the country’s wealth has
To fill the gaps, one upstart lender, China Rapid Finance,
A growing number of companies are trying to crack the credit code in China. The internet giants Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu are developing credit
The World Bank estimated that 79 percent of China’s population above the age of 15 have bank accounts, while only 10 percent have ever borrowed from the formal financial system. China’s banks have a(n)
Peer- to-peer platforms have proved hugely popular in China, but the industry’s reputation has been
After that, regulators have stepped up their oversight of online lenders, including setting
10 . Tired of his staff always keeping checking emails and the sound of their smart phones, Paul Devoy decided to ban all phones, tablets and laptops from meetings. He says meetings have become much more productive.
It is true that the sound of the phones has a harmful effect on our ability to concentrate. One Standford University study shows that people who regularly deal with electronic alerts and messages do not pay attention or control their memory as well as those who concentrate on doing one thing at a time.
Mr Devoy introduced his ban on technology in meetings, but he says exceptions are made if important personal calls are expected.
''These things need to be reasonable, '' he says, adding he was surprised to find that his staff all accepted the ban and some were even enthusiastic about the ban.
Mr Devoy has gone a step further in his purge(清除)of technology. He has banned PowerPoint presentations from meetings, and finds that discussion now flows more freely.
Nena Chaletzos, leader and founder of online travel start-up Luxtripper, is also a supporter of tech-free meetings. She runs her company’s weekly meeting without phones or laptops. Instead, for the one-hour meeting, her team of eight are asked to bring along the A3 whiteboard they have each been given, on which they write meeting notes and action points. At the end of the meeting, everyone's actions for the week are agreed. The whiteboards are kept on show and tasks are erased as they are completed.
''I tell them to bring their ideas and brains to the meeting, not their technology, '' Ms Chaletzos says. Once the meeting went on for three hours, discussion is now so much more focused and productive that it can be kept to a strict 60 minutes, she says. At first, the staff worried about customers being unable to reach them, but Ms Chaletzos told them that all they needed was a warning. An unexpected result, she says, is that meetings are much more friendly and open.
Technology is still very much used at the start-up but only at the right time. For example, Ms Chaletzos' team use Slack, which has helped end the need for other meetings.
1. Why did Paul Devoy ban phones from meetings?| A．Because his staff wasted too much time on emails. |
| B．Because phones weakened his staff's ability to focus. |
| C．Because he doesn't like the sound of smart phones. |
| D．Because his staff are buried in their personal affairs. |
| A．introduce Nena Chaletzo's decision |
| B．prove the harm the sound of smart phones causes |
| C．show Paul Devoy's decision is right |
| D．give a similar story to the one mentioned above |
| A．the person must be Paul Devoy himself | B．other staff will ask for the same right |
| C．something important must happen | D．Paul Devoy will punish the person |
| A．disagreed and stopped working | B．were happy to observe the ban |
| C．thought that he would fail | D．disappointed him a lot |
