1 . Who says inventions are only made by grown-ups and professionals? Over the years, children have also succeeded in making their useful contributions to the world. Here are a few inventions that came to life from the minds of young children.
Hero Helmet
Seven-year-old Samuel Meyer's invention is aimed at stopping people from riding their bikes or skateboards without using a helmet. The Hero Helmet features an inbuilt remote that controls a lock on the wheels which unlocks when the Helmet is being worn by the rider. Samuel says: no helmet, no bike.
Robotic Earthworm
The first thought that comes to mind is, why a robotic earthworm? Well, ten-year-old David Cohen had some useful applications in mind. He believed it could be used to find victims after a flood, earthquake or fire. The robot could get into small and dangerous places where search dogs and humans could not go.
B. E. A. C. O. N.
Fifteen-year-old Hannah Herbst's invention, which stands for Bringing Electricity Access to Countries through Ocean Energy, was inspired by her pen pal who lives in Ethiopia and did not have access to lights. So she came up with B. E. A. C. O. N, which absorbs energy directly from ocean waves. Her invention won the “Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge” in 2015 and other numerous awards.
Portable Wheelchair Controller
At only eight years old, Amelia Fox created the invention to help lift people in and out of their wheelchair. This invention was not just born out of the desire to create something. Amelia developed this controller for her brother, who had just got hip surgery and needed the wheelchair to move around.
1. Who is the youngest inventor?| A．Samuel Meyer. |
| B．David Cohen. |
| C．Amelia Fox. |
| D．Hannah Herbst. |
| A．Hero Helmet |
| B．B. E. A. C. O. N. |
| C．Robotic Earthworm. |
| D．Portable Wheelchair Controller. |
| A．To give her brother assistance. |
| B．To benefit the earthquake victims. |
| C．To generate electricity effectively. |
| D．To protect bike riders from injuries. |
2 . The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.
Wales：land of love spoons
In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.
Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck； keys represent the key to a lover's heart； and wheels are a sign of support.
Argentina：a week of sweets
Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.
Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss”. The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!
Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.
South Korea: three is a charm
For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts： February 14, March 14 and April 14.
On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day” comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.
Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.
1. What does a key-shaped spoon mean?| A．Strong support. | B．Good luck. |
| C．Deep love. | D．Real thanks. |
| A．In July . | B．In June. |
| C．In March. | D．In February . |
| A．White chocolates. | B．Silver spoons. |
| C．Black candies. | D．Black beans. |
3 . A painting stamped with more than 4.8 million fingerprints and cost over 80, 000 yuan in paper has set the Guinness World Record for the largest fingerprint painting.
The fingerprint painting, named Descendants of the Dragon, was created by Kuang Xianpeng, a 35-year-old painter from Zhuzhou, Hunan Province. It describes a mix of nine Chinese dragons and six arts in ancient Chinese culture.
With a surface area of 1195. 14 square meters, 51. 526 meters long and 23. 195 meters wide, the whole painting used 685 pieces of xuan paper and took Kuang over two years to complete. It also took 40 volunteers two whole days to lay out the painting for Guinness certification officer to measure.
Kuang said it was a very arduous journey, and he had used up all his spare time to finish the work. “It was very hard to master the amount of strength you put in your fingers, ” he said. “You can’t press too hard or too light. Otherwise, your prints will blur. I have wasted over 300 pieces of paper due to blurred fingerprints. ”
The Guinness certification officer Luo Qiong said this world record wasn’t easy to earn. She said each fingerprint must be clear, the painting must have more than four different colors, and the distance between each fingerprint mustn’t be more than 1 centimeter.
The world record for this category had been broken 15 times since 2014, with the previous one set by an Indian with a work measuring 1, 188 square meters.
Before this painting, Kuang had spent 14 years in drawing a pen-and-ink painting of 247 meters long and 1. 6 meters wide, telling stories of historical myths. He also said he would never stop exploring more creative works.
1. What can we know about the painting created by Kuang Xianpeng?| A．It’s worth at least 80, 000 yuan. |
| B．It measures 1, 188 square meters. |
| C．It took him 14 years to complete it. |
| D．It consists of over 4.8 million fingerprints. |
| A．Difficult. | B．Satisfying. |
| C．Thrilling. | D．Frightening. |
| A．The colors of paints. |
| B．The amount of strength. |
| C．The quality of xuan paper. |
| D．The distance of fingerprints. |
| A．He is full of creativity. |
| B．He is full of imagination. |
| C．He is very courageous. |
| D．He is rich in experience. |
4 . Things to Do in London This Weekend
Now, some of the most cherished London venues have opened their doors again. Take a look at our lists of exactly what is opening up in London.
Columbia Road Flower Market
The Columbia Road Flower Market is reopening this weekend, but it will be quite different. Stands will be spread out. Nearby roads will be closed and there will be a limit on the number of people who can enter the market. The statement is also calling on locals to support the market but advises people not to visit frequently in order to avoid overcrowding.
Lambeth Country Show
The festival of countryside won' t be held in its usual home of Brock well Park this year. However, it is being taken online instead. All your favourite aspects of the fair will be part of the virtual edition this weekend, including the highly popular Vegetable Sculpture Competition and other usual lower show competitions, local-themed talks, craft market and virtual music performances.
Walthamstow Garden Party
The free two-day festival in E17 is going online this year. Over the weekend you can tune in to music and take part in online workshops from crafting to Tai Chi. Don't miss the highlight of the weekend: East London Radio' s first-ever live show taking place across the weekend with behind-the-scenes chats with local artists, live music from St Mary's Church and much more.
Brixton Courtyard
A new beer garden is opening in Brixton with D sets, wine tastings and more in a safe environment. South London music venue Brixton Jamm has improved its outdoor space with spaced-out booths and picnic benches.
1. What measure will be taken in Columbia Road Flower Market?| A．Canceling the stands |
| B．Forbidding travelers to visit. |
| C．Limiting the customer number. |
| D．Checking the temperature of travelers. |
| A．Both are held online. | B．Both last for two days. |
| C．Both include competitions. | D．Both present virtual music. |
| A．Columbia Road Flower Market. | B．Lambeth Country Show. |
| C．Walthamstow Garden Party | D．Brixton Courtyard. |
5 . No human has set foot on the Moon since 1972. Now, after more than four decades of inactivity, interest in putting humans back on the Moon is finally heating up again. But who will get there first?
CHINA
On 14 December 2013, China successfully landed its Jade Rabbit rover(探测车)on the Moon. It is now working on its next exploration mission. Named Chang’e 4, the mission is scheduled to touch down in the Aitken Basin near the end of 2018. If successful, it will be the first landing on the Moon’s far side.
RUSSIA
Russia plans a manned Moon landing in 2030. It is currently working on a project whose idea is that the landers will explore the south pole of the Moon, exploring for resources such as minerals and water ice to be used to provide for a human outpost(前哨站).
INDIA
Following the success of its Chandrayaan-1 in 2008, India announced a follow-on mission. Chandrayaan-2 was meant to cooperate with Russia. But when the Russians failed to deliver the promised lander in 2013, India decided to go it alone. Chandrayaan-2 is about to be sent up in 2018.
U. S. A.
In December 2018, NASA plans to send up the Exploration Mission 1, an uncrewed test of their Orion astronaut capsule in which the craft will circle around the Moon before returning to Earth. All being well, a crewed capsule will follow in 2023. Should the mission prove a success, the astronauts will be the first humans to see the far side of the Moon with their own eyes since Apollo 17 in 1972.
1. What will China do in its next space mission?| A．Improve its Jade Rabbit rover. |
| B．Work with other countries. |
| C．Land Chang’e 4 on the Moon. |
| D．Explore the south pole of the Moon. |
| A．It couldn’t find a partner. |
| B．It didn’t get the lander as planned. |
| C．The Russians refused to work with India. |
| D．It planned to launch Chandrayaan-2 in advance. |
| A．Russia. | B．China. | C．India. | D．U. S. A. |
6 . What is the secret of happiness? A new study finds that happiness comes from exercise. People who exercise actively bring themselves happiness equal to earning an extra $ 25,000 a year.
Instead of recording extra hours at work in hopes of getting a raise, maybe you should hit the gym instead, as it could make you just as happy as that extra money. An interesting new study, published in the Lancet, found that people who are physically active have a greater sense of well—being than those who are inactive-and that active individuals feel as good as inactive people who earn $ 25,000 more per year.
Researchers from Oxford and Yale Universities used data gathered from more than 1.2milion Americans. They were asked, “How many times have you felt mentally unwell in the past30 days. for example, due to stress, depression, or emotional problems?” Participants were also asked about their exercise habits and were able to choose from 75 diverse physical activities, including doing housework and childcare, running, weightlifting, and cycling. The researchers found that people who exercise regularly feel bad for an average of 35 days per year, while inactive people feel bad for an additional 18 days.
All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden. Social physical activities （that is to say, team sports such as football, basketball, etc） had an even more positive effect, which can best help people relax mind.
It is possible for some to get too much exercise. From Business Insider's report on the study. “The mental health of those participants who exercised for longer than three hours a day suffered more than that of those who weren't particularly physically active.” The ideal amount seems to be three to five training sessions per week. lasting 30 to 60 minutes each.
But the conclusion should be that any amount helps, so don't stress about hitting that perfect balance: “All exercise types were associated with a lower mental health burden than not exercising.”
1. The question asked in Paragraph one is meant to ______.| A．introduce the researchers | B．tell the secret |
| C．draw a conclusion | D．lead to the topic |
| A．Running | B．Walking alone. | C．Playing football | D．Keeping fit in the gym. |
| A．people who exercise actively may feel bad for about 35 days per year. |
| B．The more exercise you take, the higher mental health burden you will get. |
| C．overdoing exercising will do harm to people's mental health. |
| D．doing exercise is better than not doing it. |
| A．Exercise can bring as much pleasure as an income rise. |
| B．The secret of happiness has nothing to do with wealth. |
| C．Choosing the right form of exercise is of vital importance. |
| D．The key to keep young is to exercise regularly. |
7 . What do you want to be when you grow up? My answer has always been a vet.
We didn’t have pets growing up because my mother was scared of animals. She transferred(转移) some of this fear to me. It’s not common you find someone who’s scared of animals but wants to be a vet. Still, I knew this is what I wanted.
Vet school was nothing like I had imagined. Within the first few weeks, any fears I had about being a vet vanished. In the fourth year, we were introduced to surgery. I loved it. Stitching(缝) wounds was like a satisfying game of Tetris(俄罗斯方块), where all the pieces fit beautifully together to make something broken whole again. It solidified(使坚固) my belief that this was the right fit for me.
These were the most challenging and rewarding two years of my life, and before I knew it, they were over. I was officially a veterinary surgeon(兽医). Surprisingly, I felt empty after I finished. Why wasn’t I excited to move on? I had completely forgotten to think about what comes next. I felt as if I had spent the last decade of my life writing exams and working crazy hours only to come out on the other side, completely clueless.
There were so many options to choose from. I could start a clinic, work at another practice or even pursue further studies. It was my father who suggested I travel to gain some perspective. I hesitantly decided to spend some time in New Zealand with my aunt who also happens to be a vet.
New Zealand was beautiful! I finally had a chance to think about what I wanted. One of the vets there allowed me to observe their practice. Working with vet nurses really stood out for me. We don’t have vet nurses in India! It is a blessing to have such experienced and dedicated individuals as a part of your support system. After a whole year of what felt like aimless wandering, this experience helped me decide I wanted to work overseas.
So, to all the other confused vets out there who haven't figured things out: It’s completely okay to feel confused! Most people feel the same way at some point in their careers. Don’t be afraid to try new things even if you feel difficult or impossible.
1. Why didn’t the author consider raising a pet of her own before?| A．Because she had been wounded by a pet. |
| B．Because she was not interested in animals. |
| C．Because her family couldn’t afford to buy her one. |
| D．Because her mother passed on her fear of animals to her. |
| A．Erupted. | B．Disappeared | C．Increased. | D．Realized. |
| A．Lost. | B．Ashamed. | C．Confident. | D．Excited. |
| A．Different people have different dream jobs. |
| B．How the author became a vet with the help of her aunt. |
| C．By traveling abroad, people can broaden their knowledge circles. |
| D．People will find what they really want if they are brave enough to try. |
8 . Museums for Summer Fun and Learning
Children's Museum of Oak Ridge
Located in a historic Manhattan Project-era building, this museum is the place for visitors to earn about art, science, history, culture, and healthy living. With over 20 child-friendly exhibits to explore, it provides something of interest for everyone.
Address: 461 W. Outer Dr. Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Admission: Adults: $ 8.00; Seniors: $ 7.00; Children 3 & Up: $ 6.00; Children under 3: Free
Children's Museum of Science and Technology
Founded in 1954, CMOST is the region's only science center. CMOST provides an engaging, child-directed learning environment which enables children to learn and grow through play. Designed for children aged 18 months through the tween years, the museum enables children to observe, think, and learn in a pressure-free environment by pairing creative educational tools and techniques with engaging exhibits to support active learning.
Address: 250 Jordan Road Troy, NY 12180
Admission: $ 8.00 per person aged 2 and up
African American Museum of Iowa
The AAMI is a statewide museum aimed at keeping and teaching Iowa's African American history. As Iowa's leading educational resource on the topic, it educates more than 30,000 people each year through museum tours, travelling exhibits, research services, youth and adult education programs, and community and fundraising events.
Address: 5512th Avenue SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401
Admission: Adults: $ 6.00; Seniors: $ 5.00; Students / Youth: $ 3.50; Children under 5: Free
Kingman Museum
Kingman Museum is a hidden treasure in Southwest Michigan housing an extensive （大量的） natural history collection. As a local landmark in Battle Creek for over 80 years, Kingman Museum works to provide a universal place of hands-on learning for the community.
Address: 175 Limit St. Battle Creek, MI 49037
Admission: Free
1. Which museum charges a child aged 5 $ 6.00?| A．Kingman Museum. |
| B．Children's Museum of Oak Ridge. |
| C．African American Museum of Iowa. |
| D．Children's Museum of Science and Technology. |
| A．It is a statewide museum. |
| B．It used to be a science lab. |
| C．It uses creative educational tools. |
| D．It is designed for children to play. |
| A．Exhibiting artworks. |
| B．Raising funds for programs. |
| C．Providing learning sites for communities. |
| D．Protecting the African American history. |
9 . While I was growing up, I often heard my teachers say, “Oh, Tina is gifted in algebra.” While watching the Olympics, my parents would say, “These gymnasts are born with such ability.” Statements like these made me believe people were born with certain talents and if they didn't have a particular one at birth, then they never would. Therefore, I rarely focused on algebra. Nobody told me that if you keep trying and trying, one day a difficult task will seem easy.
Actually, I learnt this from my young daughter, Samaya. One day, I was finishing some paperwork and I said, “Oh no, how could I have made that mistake!” Samaya instantly said, “Mum, don't worry. Mistakes make your brain grow bigger.”
Actually, we all need to be reminded that mistakes or failures are just fine and that they are a huge part of growth and success. However, the regular belief is the opposite. We must correct this with our children. We must encourage them to make mistakes because that means they are trying out new ideas.
Billionaire Sara Blakely, founder of the shapewear business Spanx, has seen many failures. She made a living by selling fax machines for seven years. Knocking on many doors and making a lot of mistakes was a journey she calls educational. Sara Blakely owes her risk-taking skills to the weekend talk she had with her father.
As a child, her father would ask her the same question every weekend. "What did you fail at this week, Sara?" He did not care how high her scores were. He wanted to know what she had tried but failed at. When she told him about her failures and mistakes, he would give her a high five. He was reprogramming her mind to believe that mistakes and failures are fine.
So go ahead and ask yourself and your children, “What did we fail at this week?”
1. What discouraged the author from efforts in algebra?| A．She wasn't interested in it. | B．She thought she was not gifted. |
| C．She thought it was useless. | D．She was not allowed to learn it. |
| A．Keep trying is necessary. | B．Failure is a path to success. |
| C．Mistakes are not acceptable. | D．Encouragement is significant. |
| A．To rebuild her mindset. | B．To keep her from failures. |
| C．To know what she hadn't tried. | D．To prevent her getting high scores. |
| A．A Secret to Success | B．A Method of Education |
| C．The Magic of Mistakes | D．The Power of a Fixed Mindset |
10 . The world's largest iceberg is floating toward South Georgia in the southern Atlantic Ocean. Scientists fear the iceberg could crash into the island and block major feeding areas for a large population of penguins and seals. If the iceberg hits the island, it could prevent the penguins and seals from reaching food supplies.
The huge iceberg is named A68a. It broke away from Antarctica's Larsen C Ice Shelf in 2017. Satellite images show the iceberg has remained in one piece. It is estimated to be about 150 kilometers long and 48 kilometers wide. It is traveling at one kilometer per hour and is on a path to hit South Georgia in around 30 days.
This is the time of year when seals and penguins spend a lot of time caring for their young. The distance that parents have to travel to find food is crucial. That means they have to go a lot further or go around the iceberg to find sources of food.
Ecologists say an iceberg crash would also disturb materials settled on the seabed, possibly polluting the surrounding seas. As the iceberg melts, it would also release large amounts of fresh water into the ocean. This could affect krill （磷虾）populations that are a major source of food for the island's wildlife. The iceberg could remain for up to 10 years and change the area's whole ecosystem. These are globally significant populations of these species. If these species fail in this particular area, then the numbers globally are going to go down quite dramatically.
Professor Geraint Tarling, an ecologist at the British Antarctic Survey, said, "The breaking off of icebergs from Antarctica is a natural process. But the process is changing with climate change. What we're seeing with models and some observations now is that this is happening at an increasing rate. And so, this might become more of a usual thing in the future."
1. Why are the scientists worried about the coming iceberg crash?| A．It will bring extremely cold weather. |
| B．It will destroy the feeding areas of the animals. |
| C．It will put wildlife on the island at risk of starving. |
| D．It will prevent animals from moving to other places. |
| A．The characteristic of the iceberg. |
| B．The importance of the iceberg. |
| C．The traveling speed of the iceberg. |
| D．The forming process of the iceberg. |
| A．Using up much fresh water. |
| B．Polluting the surrounding farms. |
| C．Changing the world's ecosystem. |
| D．Affecting the number of certain species. |
| A．It may slow down in the near future. |
| B．It may become common in the future. |
| C．It has a great influence on the climate. |
| D．It helps scientists conduct a sea study. |
