1 . Most teenagers are still trying to find their passion and purposes in life. However, not Gitanjali Rao. The 15-year-old girl has been coming up with innovative solutions to worldwide problems since she was ten. It is, therefore, not surprising that the teenager has won the honor of “America's Top Young Scientist”.
In the third grade, Rao was inspired to build a device after witnessing the shocking story unfold in Flint, Michigan, where cost-cutting measures led to the use of a polluted river as the city's primary water supply and incredibly high levels of lead made their way into people's drinking water.
After two months' research, Rao designed a small and portable device that used sensors to instantly detect lead in water. Called Tethys, after the Greek Goddess(女神) of freshwater, it attaches to a cellphone and informs the residents via an app if their drinking water contains lead. The design earned her the 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2017. She is currently working with scientists and medical professionals to test Tethys' potential and hopes the device will be ready for commercial use by 2022.
Later, Rao took on another social issue-drug addiction. Her app, called Epione, which won the Health Pillar Prize at the TCS Ignite Innovation Student Challenge in May 2019, is designed to catch drug addiction in young adults before it's too late.
More recently, the teenager has developed an app named Kindly, which uses artificial intelligence technology to detect possible signs of cyberbullying(网上欺凌). When users type in a word or phrase, Kindly is able to pick it up if it's bullying, and then it gives the option to edit it or send it the way it is. It gives them the chance to rethink what they are saying so that they know what to do next time.
All kinds of awesome, Gitanjali Rao has been selected from 5,000 equally impressive nominees(被提名人) for TIME Magazine's first-ever “Kid of the Year”.
1. What gave Rao the idea of inventing the device Tethys?| A．The incident of lead pollution. |
| B．The issue with drug addiction. |
| C．The shortage of water supplies. |
| D．The high cost of purifying water. |
| A．It'll remove metal from water. |
| B．It'll make it to market soon. |
| C．It'll win her a higher prize. |
| D．It'll be fitted to cellphones. |
| A．Receive pre-warning signals of threat. |
| B．Input words into a computer automatically. |
| C．Choose from secure social networking sites. |
| D．Weigh their words before posting them online. |
| A．Ambitious and humble. | B．Optimistic and adventurous. |
| C．Talkative and outstanding. | D．Creative and productive. |
2 . Despite the lack of new releases due to the outbreak of COVID-19, there was no shortage of good films in 2020. We've rounded out the top 4 films. Check them out!
Soul
In the first Pixar cartoon to have an African-American lead character. Jamie Foxx provides the voice of a music teacher who dreams of making it as a jazz pianist. But just after a successful interview, he falls down a manhole and finds himself in a soul world where human spirits are assigned their personalities. And things get even stranger from there.
Nomadland
When Fern loses her husband and can't afford to live in a house, she packs her few belongings into a camper and drives off into the Nevada desert. She encounters a large community of senior citizens who have also been forced to live on the road, supporting themselves with short-term- jobs along the way. What makes Nomadland unique is that while Fern is played by an Oscar-winning actress, nearly all she meets are real people who relate their own experiences. Written and directed by Chloe Zhao, the film is a combination of documentary and fiction.
The Croods: A New Age
The prehistoric family from 2013's hugely enjoyable cartoon, The Croods, directed by Joel Crawford, makes a welcome return, so we can expect more crazy adventures and unusual animals. In the much-delayed- sequel, they meet another family, the Bettermans, whose advanced lifestyle and technology make the Croods look even more primitive than they did already. There's conflict but they learn to appreciate each other's differences.
Wolfwalkers
The year's finest cartoon film comes from Cartoon Saloon, an Irish studio specialising in stylised hand-drawn 2D art. Its latest production is set in the mid-17th Century, when English soldiers are trying to occupy the wild woods. One hunter's daughter meets with a girl wolfwalker and they make joint efforts to rescue the forest. It's a heartwarming story of friendship and an inspiring adventure about two girls finding themselves Wolfwalkers stands proud as new classic.
1. What is the film Soul about?| A．pianist's dream coming true. | B．A musician's romantic journeys. |
| C．A music teacher's unusual experiences. | D．An African-American actor's success story. |
| A．Soul. | B．Nomnadland. | C．The Croods: A New Age. | D．Wolfwalkers. |
| A．Science. | B．History. | C．Entertainment. | D．Medicine. |
3 . Face masks and protective suits can save lives. But what happens after people are done using them? Binish Desai, the founder of Eco-Eclectic Technologies from Western India, saw the impact brought by the rising use and demand for single-use masks and kits due to the coronations pandemic (冠状病毒流行病), so he created Brick 2. 0 to prevent tons of single-use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) from being waste and ending up in landfills or water streams.
Although PPE is essential for medical use, it is extremely necessary to assess new alternatives and to raise awareness regarding its proper use and disposal (处理). A study published by the American Chemical Society suggests that 129 billion face masks are used monthly during the coronations pandemic, which causes great environmental pollution. In India alone, over 18, 000 British tons of coronations-related biomedical waste was generated in just four months between June and September. The waste would take hundreds of years break down, according to the magazine Waste Advantage.
Brick 2. 0 is a new version of the brick made from industrial waste, now also including used face masks and protective suits. The process starts with the collection of PPE waste through garbage cans placed in small shops and apartment buildings, with easy access for people to throw away their used items. Once in the factory, the collections are kept for 72 hours for safety reasons. Then they are cleaned and torn into pieces before being mixed with other waste. Finally, the material is shaped, and once dry, each brick is ready to use. It is three times stronger than conventional bricks at twice the size and half the price.
In a complex circumstance like the one we are living in these days, this solution is not only relatively easy to operate, but also very achievable in the short term, which can really help overcome today's global environmental challenges.
1. Why did Desai create Brick 2.0?| A．To recycle the PPE waste. |
| B．To reduce production cost. |
| C．To protect water recourse. |
| D．To prevent serious disease. |
| A．The study lacks sufficient evidence. |
| B．The pandemic is difficult to control. |
| C．The demand for face masks is in decline. |
| D．The environment is facing severe challenges. |
| A．Its function. |
| B．Its advantage. |
| C．Its main characteristic. |
| D．Its production process. |
| A．Innovation never ends |
| B．Environmental issues count |
| C．Transform waste into treasure |
| D．Defend your life with face masks |
4 . The only thing better than receiving a book is getting one delivered by a horse. Caitlin Gooch，the founder of Saddle Up and Read(SUAR)，literally saddles(跨上马鞍)up onto one of her family's horses and visits primary schools, libraries and youth groups to encourage students to read. The nonprofit in Wendell，North Carolina，also organizes book drives and school-wide reading competitions.
Along-with her five brothers and sisters, Gooch grew up on a family farm owned by her father. Although he worked as a used car salesman，he built a race track on their 87-acrefarm, where he hosted races. Gooch said she grew up around 80 horses and felt blessed to have grown up with them.
In 2017, Gooch，who had been working at daycare centers and youth groups，noticed that some of the younger children struggled to read. She decided to work with a local library. Any student who checked out more than three books would be entered into a prize draw. Five names would be selected out of the draw and each received a trip to visit the horses on the Gooch family farm.
It was a hit. Gooch expanded her services by creating her nonprofit，SUAR. When Gooch shared her organization's story on Twitter, it reached over 70,000 likes in a week. She even got a shout out from Oprah Winfrey，a famous talk show hostess. She's raised over $ 20,000 from supporters across the world. “Now that it's sort of, all eyes on me，there's definitely an opportunity to do something more,” Gooch said.
Gooch isn't just encouraging children to read more. She's also showing them that horseback riders can look like her. Online，she's often referred to as the “Black Cowgirl”. “It feels amazing to be that kind of representation,” Gooch said.
1. Why does Gooch deliver books on horseback?| A．To deliver books quickly. |
| B．To promote family business. |
| C．To get students into reading. |
| D．To advertise her organization. |
| A．Hold reading competitions. |
| B．Work with the youth groups. |
| C．Donate books to a local library. |
| D．Organize visits to the family farm. |
| A．It is well received. |
| B．It has made a big profit. |
| C．It needs further expansion. |
| D．It was criticized by Oprah. |
| A．Honest. | B．Inspiring. | C．Brave. | D．Patient |
5 . A large conch(海螺)shell brought little attention in a French museum for many years, but it is now quickly gaining attention. The shell is thought to be the oldest known seashell instrument. And it still works, producing a deep sound, like a foghorn from the distant past.
The shell was found during the exploration of a cave with prehistoric wall paintings in the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France. It was believed to be a ceremonial drinking cup. Scientists from the University of Toulouse in France recently took a fresh look at the conch shell. They now believe it was changed thousands of years ago to serve as a wind instrument. They also invited a French horn, player to play it.
The researchers estimate it to be about 18,000 years old. Conch shells have been used widely in musical and ceremonial traditions, including in ancient Peru, Greece, Japan and India. The shell instrument found in the Marsoulas cave is now the oldest known example. Earlier, Gilles Tosello, another archaeologist in Toulouse, said a conch shell instrument found in Syria was estimated to be about 6,000 years old.
The latest discovery was made after a recent inventory at the Natural History Museum of Toulouse. The researchers noticed some unusual holes in the shell. Especially important is that the end of the shell was broken off. That created a hole large enough to blow through. Inspections with a microscope showed that the opening was made by humans. "It was not accidental breakage or wear,“ Tosello said.
This discovery reminds us that ancient people's lives were more complex than making stone tools and hunting large animals. "Marsoulas cave is not near an ocean. So the prehistoric people must have either moved around or traded to get the shell," the researchers said.
1. What's the conch shell found in France, actually?| A．A tool. | B．A decoration. |
| C．A drinking cup. | D．A musical instrument. |
| A．Researchers explored the cave in order to find the horn. |
| B．Scientists got wrong with the estimation of the shell at first. |
| C．Conch shells have been widely used all over Europe. |
| D．According to archaeologists, the shell found in Syria is the oldest one. |
| A．A large hole at the end. | B．A telescope. |
| C．Some accidental breakage. | D．A natural opening. |
| A．Ancient people lived a more complex life. |
| B．Musical instrument changed a lot over time. |
| C．An ancient musical conch shell was discovered. |
| D．Scientists disagreed on the use of conch shells. |
6 . When British musician Paul Barton performs in central Thailand lately, his energetic listeners react wildly. Some pull his hair or jump on his piano. Others steal his music. The behavior is normal, however, because these crowds are truly barbaric-monkeys to be exact.
Barton plays often to the animals in Lopburi, an area known for its populations of macaque monkeys. The pianist hopes the music shows bring calm to the animals during the coronavirus crisis. The disease has caused problems for the monkeys, too. They are hungry. The "restrictions on tourism mean fewer people come to see the monkeys and feed them.
“We need to make an effort to make sure that they eat properly. And when they eat properly they will be calmer and will not be aggressive, ”said Barton.
Barton has played at four sites in Lopburi, including at an ancient Hindu temple, a store and an old movie theater. The macaques quickly surround Barton when he plays Greensleeves, Beethoven's Fur Elise and Michael Nyman's Diary of Love. Some of the creatures sit on his chair, while others climb up his body and touch his head.
“A wonderful opportunity to see the wild animals just being themselves," said Barton, from. Yorkshire in northern England. Barton keeps his attention on his performance, even as a small monkey runs over his hands on the instrument Other monkeys take control of his music papers. However, he added, “I wasn't going to let those things distract from the project which is to play the music for these wonderful macaques. In fact, I was surprised to find that they were actually eating the music as I was playing it.”
The monkeys are Barton's latest animal fans. Past wildlife audiences included elephants living in special protected areas.
Barton hopes to raise awareness of the monkeys' hunger. At the same time, he hopes to study their behavior as they react to- classical music. "It's possible that the music can play a part in the treatment process,“ he said.
1. What does the underlined word "barbaric" in paragraph 1 refer to?| A．Gentle. | B．Envious. | C．Aggressive. | D．Cruel. |
| A．Caring. | B．Ambitious | C．Romantic. | D．Generous. |
| A．To attract more tourists. | B．To promote classic music. |
| C．To bring peace to the animals. | D．To study the monkey's population. |
| A．A Musician Plays for Monkeys in Thailand. |
| B．Music can Play a Part in the Treatment Process. |
| C．The Wild Macaque Monkeys Like Listening to Music. |
| D．The Coronavirus has Caused Problems for the Monkeys. |
7 . 
We always enjoy pointing out some unusual holidays to add to your calendar. Now jot these down, learn something new and have fun!
Random Acts of Kindness Day （February 17）
If you have encountered a homeless person and given money, that's a random act of kindness. The idea of this day is to get lots of people doing something kind for someone they don't know with no expectation of getting anything in return. This concept is trickier with social distancing but even a big smile and a “hi!’’ from across the street qualifies.
I Forgot Day （July 2）
Did you forget to call Grandma on her birthday or return that soccer ball you borrowed from a friend three months ago? Today is a good day to clean the slate. Make a list of things you meant to do but forgot. Work through the list, and don't get discouraged if you don't accomplish everything in one day. Just remember to keep the list in a place where you'll see it. Otherwise, you know what will happen.
DOGust First （August 1）
If your family is one of the many that adopted dogs from animal shelters last year, you may not know, for example, Luna or Cooper's actual birthday. The North Shore Animal League thought of that problem in 2008 and picked today as the birthday of all shelter dogs. Give your pup extra love today, and consider what you can do to help other sheller dogs.
World Vegetarian Day （October 1）
It’s not hard to go without meat for one day, but how about one month? The North American Vegetarian Society asks people to help reduce greenhouse gases by pledging to cat no meat, fish or fowl （basically chicken or turkey） in October. The pledge is tricky for kids to make on their own because Mom and Dad are usually in charge of preparing meals. Ask them if you can participate or if the whole family could try it. You will probably be surprised about how many tasty meals are meatless.
1. Which can be described as a random act of kindness?| A．John accepted a new job for a better salary. |
| B．Mr. Robert told a story in the lecture today. |
| C．The Smiths drove their children to school. |
| D．Sally said “hello” to a stranger in the lift. |
| A．You may forget your to-do list. | B．You may finish all the tasks earlier. |
| C．You may miss the chance to celebrate. | D．You may make up with your friends. |
| A．February 17. | B．July 2. | C．August 1. | D．October l. |
8 . When British musician Paul Barton performs in central Thailand lately, his energetic listeners react wildly. Some pull his hair or jump on his piano. Others steal his music papers.The behavior is normal, however, because these crowds are truly wild — wild monkeys to be exact. Barton plays often to the animals in Lopburi, an area known for its populations of wild macaque monkeys. The pianist hopes the music shows bring calm to the animals during the coronavirus crisis.
The disease has caused problems for the monkeys, too. They are hungry. The restrictions on tourism mean fewer people come to see the monkeys and feed them. “We need to make an effort to make sure that they eat properly. And when they eat properly they will be calmer and will not be aggressive,” said Barton, 59, a long-time Thailand resident. Barton has played at four sites in Lopburi, including at an ancient Hindu temple, a store and an old movie theater.
The macaques quickly surround Barton when he plays Greensleeves, Beethoven’s Fur Elise and Michael Nyman’s Diary of Love. Some of the creatures sit on his chair, while others climb up his body and touch his head. “A wonderful opportunity to see the wild animals just being themselves.” said Barton, from Yorkshire in northern England.
But, Barton keeps his attention on his performance, even as a small monkey runs over his hands on the instrument. Other monkeys take control of his music papers. “I was surprised to play the piano and find that they were actually eating the music as I was playing it. But,” he added, “I wasn’t going to let those things distract from the project which is to play the music for these wonderful macaques.”
The monkeys are Barton’s latest animal fans. Past wildlife audiences included elephants living in special protected areas. Barton hopes to raise awareness of the monkeys’ hunger. At the same time, he hopes to study their behavior as they react to classical music.
1. Why is the author not surprised at Barton’s audience’s rude reaction?| A．Paul Barton performed badly. |
| B．The audience are monkeys in the zoo. |
| C．The audience are monkeys in the wild. |
| D．The monkeys are infected by the coronavirus. |
| A．It caused no trouble for the monkeys. |
| B．It affected Thailand’s tourism seriously. |
| C．It made wild monkeys live more happily. |
| D．It made wild monkeys eat more properly. |
| A．To be a good opportunity to save wild animals. |
| B．To be a good opportunity to restrict wild animals. |
| C．To be a good chance to tame wild animals. |
| D．To be a good chance to observe wild animals. |
| A．The past performances of Barton. |
| B．Barton’s efforts to protect classical music. |
| C．The purpose of Barton’s performance. |
| D．Barton's research on monkeys’ behavior. |
9 . Amanda Kofoeds had found a strange lump in her arm one day and visited a doctor at a friend's urging. During this time, she was enrolled in school for education and was currently uninsured due to the expense. She planned to save money so she could get on her husband' s insurance and then seek medical treatment for the cancer.
Her friends and family didn't want her to postpone her treatment due to the expense. They took matters into their own hands and started a GoFundMe campaign. The friend came up with the creative idea to spread the word and invite family, friends, and strangers who wanted to help to participate in a donation flash mob (快闪行动).The event started an outpouring of enormous generosity from the local community.
Amanda and her husband Clint teared up as the crowd passed by and the donations poured in. The generous act of kindness gave the family a comforting, and optimistic feeling during a time when all hope seemed lost. Clint said that Amanda struggled with the idea of asking for help. She felt guilty and undeserving compared to others who are also struggling.
In the time since, Amanda has enrolled in an insurance plan and has finished chemotherapy. Life for the family has started getting back to their normal routine.
Once Amanda got her strength back, she returned to school and completed her bachelor's degree in education. She is now a teacher. She said the experience motivated her to instill (灌输) the value of charity in her children. The family is now inspired to volunteer in their local neighborhood and contribute to crowdfunding (众筹) efforts. They are grateful for the opportunity to give back and help others as many have helped them.
The couple said they feel blessed by the strong support. PassItOn wants to celebrate those heroes during the family's darkest time. These individuals perfectly demonstrate the value of community. It is with the help of their generosity that the family is now happy, healthy and whole.
1. Why did Amanda Kofoeds postpone her treatment?| A．She was admitted to a school. |
| B．Her family couldn't afford the medical cost. |
| C．No good doctors could treat her cancer. |
| D．Her friends and family refused to assist her. |
| A．They started a donation flash mob. |
| B．They founded a community school. |
| C．They supported her through local hospitals. |
| D．They fought for assistance from the whole country. |
| A．Guilty. | B．Satisfied. | C．Anxious. | D．Grateful. |
| A．Hard work pays off. |
| B．The value of charity is great. |
| C．Education is the key to success. |
| D．A friend is never known till a man has need. |
10 . Volunteers in Policing （Vips） are based in police where they work to deal with customer service, community safety and crime prevention needs in the community. The range of tasks they undertake complements （补充）the roles and responsibilities of paid police officers and staff members.
Why to volunteer?
Volunteering your time as a Vip offers you the opportunity to:
• Help police officers reduce crime and improve community safety
• Gain personal satisfaction and a sense of pride that come from doing something worthwhile for your community
• Use your existing knowledge to help others and gain valuable new skills
• Meet new people, make new friends and get to know your local community
• Gain valuable work experience and improve your employment prospects
What are the requirements for the program?
Applicants must meet the following requirements for the program:
• Be 18 years old and over
•Willing to participate in a necessary training program
•Agree to the Queensland Police Service carrying out a criminal history check
•Prepared to participate in the program for at least 12 months
How do I join the program?
Volunteers interested in joining the program can contact the District Crime Prevention Coordinator for the area in which they live to get an application form and further information about the program. These contact details can be found on the “Contact Details”link.
Alternatively, applicants can complete the application form below and send it to the district office in person or by mail. Please note: Electronic forms will not be accepted and the form must be printed before signing.
1. Which of the following is the benefit of being a Vip?| A．Gaining more skills and work experience. |
| B．Becoming rich and famous soon. |
| C．Gaining satisfaction from family. |
| D．Getting a job offer from the local government. |
| A．possess related experience |
| B．carry out a criminal history check in advance |
| C．promise to work there for over two years |
| D．agree to receive training |
| A．Go to the district office in person. |
| B．Hand in a paper application form. |
| C．Fill in a form on the Contact Details' link. |
| D．Send an e-mail to introduce oneself briefly. |
