1 . Do you love outdoor challenges? And there are a bunch of really awesome hiking challenges out there now that will not only inspire you to get outside more and push yourself physically- but also provide you access to an awesome community of hikers and often-times hiking groups focusing on the same challenges.
1. THE 52 HIKE CHALLENGE
The goal of the 52 Hike Challenge is to get you outside moving every week for an entire year. The difficulty and length is entirely up to you. but the point is to get out and to get moving! Register online now and the resources on their website allow you to track your journey as you complete each weekly hike and earn completion badges as you go.
2. WE HIKE TO HEAL
We Hike to Heal is a month-long women's empowerment and wellness campaign that organizes group hikes all over the world on the last Saturday of March. The organization's mission is to encourage women all over the world to tap into the healing and empowering influences within themselves and the Great Outdoors. You can join the movement for free in the link above and find free group hikes that will be happening all over the world.
3. CURE-SEARCH ULTIMATE HIKE
This event is put on by CureSearch on February 4th every year, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure and a way to raise money for children s cancer. To join this event that supports an incredible cause, you attend an informational session, register and get your own online fund-raising page and raise money to support your trek for children's cancer research.
4. THE 365 MILE CHALLENGE
This challenge is great because it is so simple. The goal is to get outside every day and walk a mile. This challenge focuses on small efforts that, over time, have big results and focuses on, creating healthy habits to benefit your mind, body, and soul. To join all you have to do is register , join the Face book group, and start moving.
1. Which of the hiking challenges is specially intended for women?| A．We Hike to Heal | B．The 52 Hike Challenge. |
| C．Cure-search Ultimate Hike. | D．The 365 Mile Challenge. |
| A．Money-raising. | B．Badge-earning. |
| C．Internet-related. | D．Gender-based. |
| A．Only one. | B．Four. |
| C．Three. | D．Two. |
2 . As spring arrives, farmers around the world are making decisions about what crops to plant and how to manage them. In the U. S., farmers typically have big data to help make these decisions. These data have a clear upside. They make farms more productive. In the U.S., the past five years have seen a series of good harvests for both corn and soybean. A big part is generated by effectively using data to produce more food from the same amount of land, seed and fertilizer.
In the poorer parts of the world, however, the picture is much different. Many farmers are guided only by their history with the land and their community's traditions. Their skills and knowledge are impressive, but they suffer from a poverty of data. They rely on technical advisors for advice from governments and academic centers who often have very little knowledge of the local area. For seeds and fertilizers and other materials used in the field, they rely on companies that lack data on how their products will perform in the local conditions.
About 10 years ago, East African officials and their development partners started to explore why so few smallholder dairy farmers made profits from growing demand from urban consumers. Surveys of farmers in the region suggested poor access to veterinary(禽畜的) care and breeding assistance. An effort to provide these services has helped farmers get more milk.
Data would matter little if farming was easy and the paths to productivity were obvious. But in reality, agriculture is a complex mix of many factors, including climate, biology, chemistry, physics, economics and culture—all of which vary from region to region. In this situation, good data is necessary.
1. How has big data benefited American’s farmers?| A．By producing more seeds and fertilizer. |
| B．By helping the farmers to make decisions. |
| C．By informing the farmers to plant crops earlier. |
| D．By increasing the amount of land for farming. |
| A．Big data. | B．Farming skills. | C．Technical guidance. | D．Farming materials. |
| A．To show that East Africa relies heavily on diary farming. |
| B．To illustrate cooperation between countries was a great success. |
| C．To serve as an example of how data helps farmers in poor areas. |
| D．To prove that city people in East Africa didn't like drinking milk. |
| A．Many changeable factors have influence on farming. |
| B．The American farmers can't decide what they will plant. |
| C．East African dairy farmers were experienced in raising cows. |
| D．The technical advisors in poor areas know the local areas well. |
3 . The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie
By Chavonne D. Stewart, Jasmine Mills, published in 2014
Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.It is the first book in a surprising series of children’s books. That’s fun and exciting and teaches kids valuable lessons.
Chester and Gus
By Cammie McGoven, published in 2017
Chester has always wanted to become a service dog. When he fails his certification test, though, it seems that dream might never come true－until a family adopts him to be a companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus. But Gus acts so differently from anyone Chester has ever met. He never wants to pet Chester. Chester’s not sure how to help Gus, but he’s determined to figure it out and show he’s the right dog for the job.
Invisible Emmie
By Terri Libenson, published in 2017
The novel tells the story of two totally different little girls in a class — quiet, shy and artistic Emmie and popular, outgoing, athletic Katie — and how their lives unexpectedly connected one day, when an embarrassing note falls into the wrong hands. Emmie eventually learns to speak up for herself, realizing that being social isn’t as impossible as she thought.
Ocean Meets Sky
By Terry Fan, Eric Fan, published in 2018
“Young readers will be attracted.”— The Washington Post.
Finn lives by the sea and the sea lives by him. Every time he looks out of his window, it’s a constant reminder of the stories that his grandfather told him about the place where the ocean meets the sky. Finn’s grandfather has gone but Finn knows the perfect way to honor him. He’ll build his own ship and sail out to find this magical place himself! And when he arrives, maybe he’ll find something he didn’t know he was looking for.
1. What can we know about The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie?| A．It’s the first children’s book in 2015. |
| B．It’s only for children’s fun. |
| C．It may be gained for free. |
| D．It’s mainly about teachers’ lessons. |
| A．The Adventures of Amilya Rose: The Lie | B．Ocean Meets Sky |
| C．Invisible Emmie | D．Chester and Gus |
| A．Chavonne D. Stewart and Jasmine Mills | B．Cammie McGovern |
| C．Terry Fan and Eric Fan | D．Terri Libenon |
4 . If it really is what’s on the inside that counts, then a lot of thin people might be in trouble.
Some doctors now think that the internal fat surrounding important organs like the heart or liver could be as dangerous as the external fat which can be noticed more easily.
“Being thin doesn’t surely mean you are not fat”, said Dr. Jimmy Bell at Imperial College.
Since 1994, Bell and his team have scanned nearly 800 people with MRI machines to create “fat maps” showing where people store fat.
According to the result, people who keep their weight through diet rather than exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat, even if they are slim.
Even people with normal Body Mass Index scores can have surprising levels of fat deposits inside. Of the women, as many as 45 percent of those with normal BMI scores (20 to 25) actually had too high levels of internal fat. Among men, the percentage was nearly 60 percent.
According to Bell, people who are fat on the inside are actually on the edge of being fat. They eat too many fatty and sugary foods, but they are not eating enough to be fat. Scientists believe we naturally store fat around the belly first, but at some point, the body may start storing it elsewhere.
Doctors are unsure about the exact dangers of internal fat, but some think it has something to do with heart disease and diabetes (糖尿病). They want to prove that internal fat damages the body’s communication systems.
The good news is that internal fat can be easily burned off through exercise or even by improving your diet. “If you want to be healthy, there is no shortcut. Exercise has to be an important part of your lifestyle, ” Bell said.
1. What is this passage mainly about?| A．Thin people may be fat inside. |
| B．Internal fat is of no importance. |
| C．Internal fat leads to many diseases. |
| D．Thin people don’t have diabetes. |
| A．the exact dangers of internal fat |
| B．being slim is not dangerous at all |
| C．internal fat is the cause of heart disease |
| D．being slim doesn’t mean you are not fat inside |
| A．Internal fat leading to disease has been proved. |
| B．Thin people usually have internal fat even if they are slim. |
| C．It is easier to burn off internal fat than external fat. |
| D．Exercise plays an important role in people’s life for keeping healthy. |
| A．A long road. |
| B．A good diet. |
| C．A clear difference. |
| D．A short distance. |
5 . Books to Read in Your 20s
The Kite Runner
By Khaled Hosseini
As a Middle Eastern and North African Studies student, I have a great interest in books about what takes place in this area. I first read this book in high school and really enjoyed it because of its accurate language. If any of you is interested in reading this book and hasn’t yet, I highly recommend it.
Firefly Lane
By Kristin Hannah
This is my favorite book. It is a story about friendship, love and life lessons. The story covers the lives of two best friends, Tully and Kate, from childhood to adulthood. I learned so much about friendship and life. So, read Firefly Lane! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and then you’ll share this book to your best friend.
Half the Sky
By Nicholas D. Kristof
For any person of any age, Half the Sky is a must-read. It describes the struggle of women and the most pressing human rights problems of our time: the common oppression of women and girls.
The Little Prince
By Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This children’s book is simple. It might seem like a wrong book to recommend to someone in their twenties but perhaps that’s what makes it a good choice. It sings praises to exploration and shows the importance of making friends.
1. Who is the writer of the book The Kite Runner?| A．Khaled Hosseini. |
| B．Kristin Hannah. |
| C．Nicholas D. Kristof. |
| D．Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. |
| A．It’s written by Tully and Kate. |
| B．It’s about friendship, love and life lessons. |
| C．It’s a simple book for children. |
| D．It’s a book written for any person of any age. |
| A．The Kite Runner. | B．Firefly Lane. |
| C．Half the Sky. | D．The Little Prince. |
6 . Chinese box office hit Wolf Warriors Ⅱ has received a thank-you letter from the president of China Kweichow Moutai Distillery Co., Ltd, the country’s most famous brand of liquor, because of the scenes where the hero drank Moutai liquor in the movie.
The movie, which premiered (首映) on July 27, 2017, tells the story of a former Chinese People’s Liberation Army soldier protecting Chinese citizens and local factory workers in an African war zone.
The patriotic (爱国的) emotions have proven popular with audiences. By the end of September, Wolf Warriors Ⅱ had earned more than 5. 6 billion yuan, breaking China’s all-time box office record, set last year by Hong Kong comedy The Mermaid. Wu Jing, 43, both starred in and directed Wolf Warriors Ⅱ, whose prequel (前传) earned 525 million yuan in 2015.
On August 7, Yuan Renguo, president of Kweichow Moutai, congratulated Wu Jing on his success in an open letter on the company's website. “The movie has hit a new record and become a phenomenon,” Yuan wrote. “The movie is now synonymous (相同的) with patriotism. Your free advertising of Moutai in the movie has once more allowed this famous Chinese brand to impress the world.”
Yuan also added that the company had organized screenings of the film for its more than 30,000 employees, which improved their feelings of nationalism and “company cohesion (凝聚力)”.
Many movie goers also said they were impressed by the patriotic plot of Wolf Warriors Ⅱ. Tong Yemeng, a 32-year-old office worker from Beijing, told Sixth Tone that she watched the film because of positive reviews from her colleagues and on the social media. “I felt so moved and proud of my country when I saw Wu Jing waving the national flag in the war zone,” she said. “It showed our increasing national power.”
1. What was the hero of Wolf Warriors Ⅱ?| A．He was a worker. | B．He was a soldier. |
| C．He was a coach. | D．He was a president. |
| A．Because the movie is concerned with the love of our country. |
| B．Because Wu Jing played a key role and directed the film. |
| C．Because it is the first film concerning an African war zone. |
| D．Because the plot gives audiences a deep impression. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Astonished. |
| C．Relieved. | D．Uncaring. |
| A．Desiring to relax. | B．External influence. |
| C．Feeling lonely. | D．Friends’ urgency. |
Russian Concert The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra will put on some excellent Russian choral (合唱的) works at 7:15 p.m. on September 26 and 27 at the Shanghai Concert Hall. They will sing Russian folk songs with a mass under a Russian conductor who is very famous for conducting choirs and has given a successful choral concert in Beijing. Tickets: 6, 8, 10, 12 yuan RMB, available at the hall’s ticket office. Address: 532 Yan’an Road M., Shanghai Tel: 32275694 Korean Songs The Song and Dance Troupe of the Republic of Korea will give a song and dance show at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Shanghai Center Theatre. Tickets: 10, 12, 30 yuan RMB, available at the theatre’s ticket office Address: 1376 Nanjing Road W., Shanghai Tel: 29798663 Leon’s Show Hong Kong pop star Leon Lai will give a personal performance at 7:30 p.m. from tomorrow through to September 21 at the Shanghai Gymnasium. The show is to celebrate the opening of the Huangpu Tourism Festival (黄浦旅游节). Tickets: 60, 90, 120, 180 yuan RMB, available at 66 Jiangning Road. Address: Shanghai Gymnasium, 1111 Caoxi Road N. Tel: 29189188, 29171145, 49384952, 29197113 |
| A．Leon Lai, a Hong Kong pop star. |
| B．A Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. |
| C．The Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra. |
| D．The Song and Dance Troupe of the Republic of Korea. |
| A．1111 Caoxi Road N. |
| B．1376 Nanjing Road W. |
| C．523 Yan’an Road M. |
| D．66 Jiangning Road. |
| A．Russian Concert. |
| B．Korean Songs. |
| C．South Korean Films. |
| D．Leon’s Show. |
8 . The preventive measures for forest fires include some pre-emptive ( 抢先的 ) methods that can help reduce the risks of fires and control their severity and spread, and thus, maintain ecological balance and protect natural resources. Close monitoring of forest fires caused by natural factors can help prevent their spread to a large extent. To contain forest fires, fire departments usually use water and chemical fire retardants ( 抑制剂 ) that can be dropped from planes and helicopters. To control the spread of a wildfire, firefighters usually create a control line by removing all fuel from an area so that the fire cannot travel across it.
Controlled burns are often employed by government authorities to reduce fuel build-up, and clean up the fallen leaves, and thus, prevent the spread of forest fires to a vast area. Regular controlled burns can also help maintain biodiversity ( 生物多样性 ), as the smoke and heat produced in the process can facilitate ( 促进 ) the growth of seeds of certain plant species. Apart from these, responsible human behaviour can help reduce the number of forest fires to a great extent. In fact, we can reduce the number of wildfires dramatically by not leaving behind any source of fire in the forest.
Forest fires can affect climate and weather to a great extent, besides causing severe damage to valuable trees. Wildfires can increase the level of greenhouse gases (water vapour, carbon dioxide, etc), and therefore increase pollution and global warming. However, they are also an important part of the ecosystem, and many plants depend on the heat and smoke generated by wildfires for their growth and reproduction. But large wildfires can cause extensive damage to the ecosystem，which again highlights the importance of effective control and prevention of forest fires.
1. Firefighters get rid of all fuel in all area in order to________.| A．keep close monitoring of forest fires |
| B．prevent the forest fire from occurring |
| C．stop the wildfire from spreading |
| D．protect the animals there |
| A．burn the rubbish and keep the forest clean |
| B．help keep the ecological balance of nature |
| C．provide reasonable conditions for some animals’ growth |
| D．reduce fuel build-up and limit forest fires’ spreading area |
| A．it promotes the development of some seeds |
| B．a new forest will appear soon |
| C．nature keeps its balance only by wildfires |
| D．it makes the trees grow faster than before |
| A．the greenhouse gases are caused mainly by wildfires |
| B．wildfires have both positive and negative effects |
| C．people should be aware of the necessity of wildfires |
| D．all the valuable trees disappear owing to wildfires |
9 . “I had no intention to adopt a cat that day. I just liked being around animals.” Miranda says. But when she saw Nala in her metal cage, “We made eye contact and I couldn't resist（抗拒）her big blue eyes.” At that point, “Nala was so small. I asked the shelter if I could hold her. Once had Nala in my arms, Nala looked up at me and licked（舔）my face.” And that was when she knew she had to take this kitty home.
Still, Miranda never imagined Nala would become an Insta-star. “I started Nala’s Instagram account in 2012 as a way to share photos with my close friends and family in Thailand,” she explained. The possibility of Nala gaining attention beyond that small group of people hadn’t occurred to her until it happened.
Miranda says, “Each time Nala’s photo was featured on Instagram’s popular page, her account would gain 1,000 new followers.” From there, Nala’s popularity snowballed. Large nationwide brands messaged Miranda about hiring Nala to do ads. “This took us by surprise because we couldn’t believe that a big brand wanted to pay them to take photos with their products next to Nala.”
Nala started life out in a shelter, just waiting to be loved like many other animals that were abandoned. Today that dream has surely come true. Nala has over 4 million followers on Instagram, which earned her the title “Guinness World Records Most Popular Cat on Instagram.”
In addition to managing her Insta fame, Nala is being asked to test various cat food brands. More importantly, “Nala is our chance to share the love to help create a better life for other animals, so they can grow well and bring joy to the world like Nala has.”
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Visits to a shelter. | B．Love at first sight. |
| C．Power of blue eyes. | D．Duty to adopt cats. |
| A．To meet Nala’s needs. | B．To help Nala be a sta. |
| C．To share Nala’s pictures. | D．To attract public attention. |
| A．Satisfied | B．Amazed. | C．Upset. | D．Disappointed |
| A．Being well treated like many of her kind. | B．Starting life in the shelter. |
| C．Gaining chances to earn money. | D．Being raised by Instagram fans. |
10 . If you walked by James Fasulo’s bedroom, in Queens, New York, you might hear the 8-year-old talking. You might think he was speaking with a friend, or with his 4-year-old sister, Anna. More likely, James would be talking to his smart speaker, an Echo Dot. “I use it daily,” he says.
James often asks his Dot to tell jokes, report the time and temperature, and play music. And his sister? “She asks it to play songs from Frozen,” he says.
As of December 2017, there were about 67 million smart speakers in households in the United States, according to a study by National Public Radio and Edison Research. A year later, that number had jumped to nearly 119 million. That’s a 78% increase.
“Families are very interested in trying these products,” says Caroline Knorr of Common Sense Media. Kids like James and Anna also love that they are fun.
Smart speakers include devices (设备) such as Google Home and Amazon Echo. Common Sense Media made a survey of more than 1, 000 parents with kids ages 2 to 8. The survey asked about how kids use smart speakers. It also asked about privacy.
Nearly half of the parents said their kids use the speakers, and half of those kids use them daily. Of parents who have, at some point, turned off a smart speaker’s microphone (麦克风), about one-third of them did it because they didn’t trust the device.
“A smart speaker might behave like a human in some of the ways it answers us,” says Florian Schaub, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan School of Information. “But that’s really a company collecting data (数据) about you. Everything you say to a smart speaker is recorded by these companies.”
“Companies use the recordings in different ways,” Schaub says, “such as to personalize service or decide which ads to play.” If users don’t like this, he suggests they mute the speaker when it’s not in use and consider setting privacy controls.
James Fasulo says he doesn’t worry about privacy. But his mom, Nancy Ellwood, does. “Sometimes, the speaker flashes (闪现) its lights when we’re not talking directly to it, ” she says. “I wonder what it’s doing.”
1. What do we know about James Fasulo’s Echo Dot?| A．It can move around freely. |
| B．It can be controlled by voice. |
| C．It is mainly used to play music. |
| D．It is shaped like a human being. |
| A．Smart speakers are less helpful for kids. |
| B．Google Home is smarter than Amazon Echo. |
| C．Some users have less trust in smart speakers. |
| D．Smart speaker users have rapidly increased in number. |
| A．Fix up. | B．Talk to. |
| C．Turn off. | D．Research into. |
| A．Anna Fasulo. | B．James Fasulo. |
| C．Caroline Knorr. | D．Nancy Ellwood. |
