1 . You’re never too young to make an impact on your community.
Members of Gen Z are exceptionally creative, cause-oriented, and hyper-aware of the world around them, making them perfectly ready to help handle the world’s problems through volunteering.
If you want to make a difference in your community, be a part of something bigger than yourself, or just need to earn some required volunteer hours, then this is the place to start. Here are a few organizations of Gen Z with volunteer opportunities for teens!
Habitat for Humanity
Everyone deserves to have a place they call home. By volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, you can play a role in biding up your community. Their Habitat Youth Programs accept volunteers between the ages of 5 and 40 for everything from home construction to affordable housing advocacy.
Meals on Wheels
For those tens who just got their licenses and love any reason to get behind the wheel, here’s a volunteer opportunity that ‘ll make driving worthwhile. Meals on Wheels is on a mission to meet the nutritional and social needs of seniors. 225 million meals have been delivered so far-connect with your local provider to find out how you can get involved.
Key Club
As the oldest service program for high schoolers, the Key Club has quite a history of helping tens get involved in volunteering. Because clubs are student-led, you get a direct say in the kinds of service projects you want to do. Chances are, there’s already a chapter in your school, but if not, you can try taking the lead in one.
Best Buddies
Volunteer with Best Buddies to help end the social, physical, and economic isolation of 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and you’ll make some new pals in the process! Join a school chapter (or start your own) to use friendship as a tool for inclusivity in your community.
And don’t worry. Even if you can’t volunteer physically, there are also tons of online volunteer Opportunities available! Find out more about joining a worthwhile volunteer organizations at www. Gen Z.org.
1. If you want to help people with disabilities, you can join ____________| A．Habitat for Humanity | B．Meals on Wheels |
| C．Key Club | D．Best Buddies |
| A．send meals to the elderly | B．make nutritional meals |
| C．drive the seniors around | D．teach the seniors to drive |
| A．get more people to volunteer | B．teach teens to he more creative |
| C．promote awareness of world affairs | D．instruct teens to earn volunteer hours |
2 . Little Tom down the street calls our dog “The keep dog”. Zip is a sheep dog. But when Tom tries to say “sheep”, it comes out “keep”. And in a way Tom is right. Zip is always bringing things home for us to keep! I'll tell you about some of them.
Zip’s first present was a shoe. It was made of green silk.
We didn’t know how Zip found the shoe. But after a moment, Mary, my big sister, told me the shoe had a strange smell. I nodded(点头) and held my nose. “What do you think it is?”
“It smells like something for cleaning. I think someone tried to clean a spot(污点) off the shoe. Then he put it at the door to dry.”
“Along came Zip. And good-bye shoe!” I said. “We should take it back.”
“We can’t ”, said my sister.
“Maybe little Tom is right,” Mary said. “Maybe Zip is a keep dog!”
1. The writer and Mary didn’t know .| A．what Zip’s first present was | B．how Zip carried its first present home |
| C．who owned Zip’s first present | D．what Zip’s first present was made of |
| A．the dog likes keeping things | B．the dog likes playing with shoes |
| C．he doesn’t know the dog’s name | D．he can't pronounce the word “sheep” well |
| A．its color | B．its smell | C．its size | D．that it was a silk one |
| A．keeping things for itself | B．bringing things for other to keep |
| C．not letting it run about | D．taking care of a small child |
3 . I can’t remember a time when my bedroom didn’t have a bookshelf. From Dr. Suess to Mother Goose, I had all kinds of books that progressed in size as I got older.
My earliest memory of books was sitting on my bed at night with my mom reading to my older brother and me from C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Madeleine L’Engle. And my first beloved book that was all mine was a children’s book about being a chosen child. As an adopted (收养的) child, this book helped me learn that my family was my very own because they chose me. As I got older, the books got thicker and more difficult. The first set of books I ever bought with my own money was L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
When in elementary school, there was a book catalog ( 目录) that would come out. We could take it home and have our parents help us order new books. Then the books would be sent to the school. There was nothing better than getting my little bag of books.
My love for science fiction was deepened by my older brother’s love for it. Beyond being the person to introduce me to Star Trek and Doctor Who, it was his copy of The Sword of Shannaraby Terry Brooks that got me really interested in science fiction.
I read classics in high school. The first time I had the thought that I wanted to be a writer was after reading Edgar Allan Poe’s work. And his use of words floored me. I remember using his word “phantasmagorical” for a senior paper. Yeah, it’s no wonder I ended up an English major and English teacher passing on my love for the written word and the books students could hold in their hands.
1. What was the author’s earliest memory of books?| A．She read some classics by herself. |
| B．She was thirsty for children’s books. |
| C．She was often read to by her mother. |
| D．She borrowed books from her brother. |
| A．She loved her family much more. |
| B．She hoped to have her own home. |
| C．She planned to read more books. |
| D．She found that she was adopted. |
| A．lucky. | B．excited. | C．surprised. | D．disappointed. |
| A．By reading Star Trek with her brother. |
| B．By being introduced to Doctor Who. |
| C．By talking about it with her brother. |
| D．By reading The Sword of Shannara. |
4 . HEARST CASTL, CA
Hearst Castle is open for tours daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Tour A -- The Grand Rooms
View the ground floor rooms of La Casa Grande where Mr. Hearst’s guests met their host and were entertained during their stay. See the Assembly Room, where guests met for cocktails, the Refectory, where meals were served, the Morning Room, Billiard Theater. Your knowledgeable guide will bring this big house to life sharing stories about Mr. Hearst, his many guests, and the art collection it contains.
Prices: Adults: $25.00; Children: $12.00.
Tour B – The Upstairs Suites (套房)
This tour features rooms on the upper floors of Casa Grande. Travel through guest suites on your way to the Library where Mr. Hearst housed a collection of 2,000-year-old Greek pots.
Visit Mr. Hearst’s private third floor suite including his bedroom and private study where he held business meetings. Learn about the genius of architect Julia Morgan and the way she put Mr. Hearst’s art collection into the design.
Prices: Adults: $20.00; Children: $10.00.
Tour C – Evening Tour
This tour allows visitors to experience the Castle at night as a visitor to the Castle in the 1930s might have. It features highlights from the experience, Upper Floors of Casa Grande, and Garden tours.
Evening tours are offered on most Fridays and Saturdays during March – May & October – December.
Prices: Adults: $36.00; Children: $18.00.
Tour D – Accessible Holiday Twilight
This tour is wheelchair accessible. Visitors who have difficulty climbing stairs, or who cannot stand or walk for extended period, may also benefit from this tour. Accessible transportation is provided from the Visitor Center to all areas of the Holiday at Hearst Castle tour. Call 866-712-2286 for additional information.
Prices: Adults: $30.00; Children: $18.00.
1. Which place can you take your child to visit if you have not much available money?| A．The Morning Room. | B．The Upstairs Suites. |
| C．The Grand Rooms. | D．The Billiard Room. |
| A．A Saturday in July. | B．A Saturday in April. |
| C．A Friday in January. | D．A Friday in September. |
| A．Tour A. | B．Tour B. |
| C．Tour C. | D．Tour D. |
5 . One rainy afternoon, I was on a crosstown bus when a young woman jumped on. She had a child with her who was about three or four years old. The bus was full, bumpy(颠簸的), and it soon got noisy, as her kid began crying — he was upset that he couldn't sit next to his mother. She looked embarrassed.
Then another woman, a little older, stood up and moved so that the mother and child could sit together. The mum smiled as a thank-you. And then three words came out of the older woman's mouth that raised the entire energy of that bus ride: “I've been there.”
Simple, undramatic, and honest. In that moment, it seemed to unite the diverse people of the city. Why? Because almost all experiences are shared human experiences. They're universal. We forget that as we go through life, focused on our own troubles and needs — which are actually less unique than we think.
Sometimes painful past experiences prevent us from wanting to open up to others because we don't want to revisit our own history. But a wonderful way to honor your past hurt is to help comfort another's current pain.
When I was a little girl, we lived on donations from local families and clothing from the " lost and found" baskets. It was shameful for me at the time — I lived in fear of being caught in a friend' s cast-off item.
Even when it was warmer, I refused to take off a layer in the classroom for this reason. Now I don't meet people who are in this exact situation, but I do notice when someone is struggling with financial shame or feels less than other people they meet. And I'm quick to say some version of, "I've been there."
Can the essence of these three words help you make a small difference right now? It can be as simple as volunteering your seat, sharing some helpful advice, or even lightening the mood with a joke when you notice that someone's uncomfortable — because we're all in this together.
1. What influence did the older woman's words have on the people around?| A．Causing discomfort. | B．Breaking long silence. |
| C．Creating a heated debate. | D．Inspiring common feelings. |
| A．They are mostly shared experiences. | B．They don't really matter to anyone' |
| C．They will be forgotten with time. | D．They are unique to each individual. |
| A．Because she had the same sweater with others. |
| B．Because she stole the sweater from someone' |
| C．Because she liked wearing the coat in summer. |
| D．Because she felt embarrassed wearing others' clothes. |
| A．Painful Experiences Are No Big Deal | B．The Best Way to Honor Your Past Hurt |
| C．True Happiness Comes from Helping Others | D．Three Little Words That Bring Us Together |
6 . What do extreme marathoners, mountain hikers and professional bicycle racers all have in common? They push their bodies to unsustainable (不可持续的) extremes of physical stress.
We tend to think there’s no limit to human physical achievements. But a new study, published in Science Advances, says there is a definite limit to human endurance (耐力). Beyond that, our bodies begin to break down.
To find the limit, a US research team tracked marathon runners over a five-month period, measuring competitors’ initial basal metabolic rates (BMR, 基础新陈代谢率) – the amount of energy they expend when they rest. Then they looked at how many calories(卡路里) each runner burned per day.
The team found that the maximum amount of energy a human can expend is 2.5 times of BMR. It equals 4,000 calories of energy per day. These calories can help a trained athlete to run about 42 kilometers in a day.
But people can’t keep using this amount of calories all the time. “You can do really intense stuff for a couple of days, but if you want to last longer then you have to dial it back,” US evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer told the BBC.
Pontzer explained that the problem is our guts (消化道). “There’s … a limit to how many calories our guts can effectively absorb per day,” he said in the Daily Mail. At that point, the body is burning calories more quickly than it can absorb food and convert (转化) it into energy.
These new findings could help athletes to best work underneath this ceiling. For example, they could manage their daily exercise time based on their BMR, to get enough calories and keep going.
However, Pontzer’s team can’t rule out the possibility of someone breaking this limit. “So I guess it’s a challenge to elite endurance athletes,” said Pontzer. “Science works when you’re proven wrong. Maybe someone will break through that ceiling some day and show us what we’re missing.”
1. What did the US research team find in the new study?| A．One’s endurance can be improved through exercise. |
| B．A trained athlete can do intense activities for more than a week. |
| C．The average BMR for athletes is 4,000 calories of energy per day. |
| D．The energy one can expend is no more than 2.5 times of their BMR per day. |
| A．To tell us the problem with our guts. |
| B．To show how our bodies produce energy. |
| C．To explain why there is a limit to human endurance. |
| D．To prove the importance of our guts to physical activities. |
| A．keep a more balanced diet |
| B．save time and reduce stress |
| C．arrange their training properly |
| D．improve their performance quickly |
| A．It’s possible that someone could break the endurance limit. |
| B．It’s no good trying to work above the 2.5x endurance ceiling. |
| C．Further data is needed to make the study’s results more accurate. |
| D．The 2.5x endurance ceiling is not a problem for many elite athletes. |
7 . There are only 11 documented cases of congenital aglossia(先天性无舌）in the world.Despite being born without a tongue,I can speak and swallow and taste just like anyone else.I was born in 1969,in the days before ultrasound scans(超声波检查）。Everything was normal and there was nothing to suggest that I'd be different.But when I was born,Mum found that there was something wrong with my mouth.The doctor saw the base of my tongue and told her,"Oh,she just has a small tongue.She'll be fine."
Later,doctors told my parents I wouldn't be able to talk or that my speech would be very limited.I'm sure that was hard for them to hear.But they were only 22 and I'm not sure how seriously they took it.I was their first and only child,and the best thing they ever did was treat me as if there was nothing wrong.Mum told me when I was older that she came home from a doctor's appointment and cried,because she worried I wouldn't have a normal life or be happy.
I also have a small jaw(下巴）。It's related,because there is no tongue to fill out the space.People are able to see that,rather than the fact that I don't have a tongue.I went to see a plastic surgeon(整形医生）when l was 10,who suggested making a false tongue.But I was more interested in having my jaw filled out.But when I was 18 the surgeon said he advised me not to do that in case it affected my speech.I thought,"I don't care.I just want to be pretty,"but it was the right decision.
I'm able to taste the full range of flavors.I can eat everything.I've never had any anger a bout being born this way.Over the years,I've learned to get used to it,which hasn't always been easy.I'd love to think I offer hope to others in this situation,to parents or children born like me.
1. According to the passage,the author| A．was diagnosed to have no tongue as a newborn baby |
| B．has had no sense of taste since she was born |
| C．was found different before she was born |
| D．has lived a normal life even without a tongue |
| A．The author's parents love her very much. |
| B．The author couldn't accept the truth. |
| C．The author's parents planned to have another child. |
| D．The author lost the ability to speak. |
| A．She wanted to become beautiful. |
| B．She wanted to improve her speech. |
| C．She didn't want others to know she had no tongue. |
| D．She wanted to make it possible to have a false tongue. |
| A．To describe what a hard life she has had. |
| B．To provide some useful ways to deal with difficulties. |
| C．To show that she has a strong heart. |
| D．To encourage people like her to face life positively. |
8 . When the leaves begin to change colors,it means one thing for many travelers：Fall festival season is here.If you’re interested in visiting a fall festival in America,here are some of the country’s best fall festivals for you to choose from.
Wellfleet Oysterfest
Wellileet Oysterfest is a two-day event held in Wellfleet,Mass.The meeting on Cape Cod is one that the locals look forward to all year long.Feed on oysters(牡蛎）and other seafood，while you watch the fastest oyster-eaters in the world compete in the famous Oyster Shuck-Off,a competition for taking the outer covering of oysters.The competition is taken very seriously.
Harvest on the Harbor
It takes place in Portland,Maine.The festival celebrates all that is best about Maine’s food and wine.This celebration is held every October,and includes the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Competition and Savory Samplings at the Marketplace.The latter allows travelers to taste the best local food that Maine has to offer at Casco Bay.
Killington Hay Festival
If you’re looking for a fall festival that includes hay sculptures(干草雕塑)，take part in the yearly Killington Hay Festival.When you begin to see the giant hay sculptures,you’ll know you’ve arrived.Past sculptures have changed from a 20-foot-tall kangaroo to a family of penguins.
1. What can we learn about the meeting on Cape Cod?| A．It takes place twice a year. | B．It lasts three days in all. |
| C．It’s loved by the locals. | D．It’s not open to tourists. |
| A．People who want to go to a festival in November. |
| B．People who want to try Maine’s local food. |
| C．The fastest oyster-eaters worldwide, |
| D．The best cooks around the world. |
| A．They all serve seafood. | B．They are all liked by eaters. |
| C．They all last for two days. | D．They all take place in fall. |
9 . When you enter a supermarket, you see shelves full of food. You walk between the shelves. You carry a shopping basket and your food is in it.
You probably hear soft, slow music as you walk between the shelves. If you hear fast music, you walk quickly. The supermarket plays slow music. You walk slowly and have more time to buy things.
Maybe you go to the meat department first. There is some meat on sale, and you want to find it. The manager of the supermarket knows where customers enter the meat department. The cheaper meat is at the other end of the meat department, away from where the customers enter. You have to walk by all the expensive meat before you find the cheaper meat. Maybe you will buy some of the expensive meat instead of the meat on sale.
The department selling milk and milk products such as butter and milk powder is called the dairy department. Many customers like milk that has only a little butterfat in it. One store has three different jars of low fat milk. One says “1 percent fat” on the jar. The second says “99 percent fat free”. The third says “LOW FAT” in big letters and “1%” in small letters. As you can see, all the milk has the same amount of fat. The milk is all the same. However, in this store the three jars of milk cost three different amounts of money. Maybe the customers will buy the milk that costs the most.
Most of the food in supermarkets is very pleasing. It all says “Buy me!” to the customers. The expensive meat says “Buy me!” as you walk by. The expensive milk jar says “Buy me! I have less fat.”
1. The manager of the supermarket knows .| A．which customers like low fat milk |
| B．which customers like slow music |
| C．where customers come from |
| D．where customers enter the meat department |
| A．one has more fat than the other two |
| B．they all cost the same amount of money |
| C．one has less fat than the others |
| D．they all have the same amount of fat |
| A．buyers will be proud |
| B．there will be more buyers |
| C．it is good and expensive |
| D．they can raise the prices |
| A．Cheap Food | B．Supermarket Management |
| C．Low Fat Milk | D．Buy Me |
10 . Two years ago, our 14-year-old son, Ben, asked us for a set of drums for his birthday. At first, we were very much against the idea because of the noise. “It’s better than watching television or playing computer games in my free time, ”Ben argued, “and it’ll keep me out of trouble.” In the end we gave in. “All right,” we said, “but you must consider the rest of the family and the neighbors when you play.”
That was just the beginning. Because drums are not the easiest instruments to move, the other members of Ben’s band started appearing at our home with their guitars and other electrical equipment. And so, for several hours a week, the house shakes to the noise of their instruments and their teenage singing.
At least Ben’s hobby (爱好) has been good for our health: whenever the band start practising, my husband and I go out for a long walk. And I must admit that, although their music may sound a little strange, they are a friendly and polite group of young men. I cannot judge their musical skill—after all I didn’t expect my parents’ generation ( 一 代 人 ) to like the same music as I did when I was a teenager—but they do play in local clubs for young people at the same time each week.
Our main worry is that they won’t spend enough time on their schoolwork because of their musical activities, though this hasn’t happened yet. I am always stressing ( 强 调 ) to Ben how important his studies are. But one thing is certain—Ben was right: it has kept him out of trouble and he is never bored.
1. What is the author’s purpose in writing this text?| A．To introduce her son’s friends. |
| B．To give advice to teenagers. |
| C．To compare herself with her parents. |
| D．To describe her son’s hobby. |
| A．She wanted to reward him for studying hard. |
| B．He doesn’t like computer games. |
| C．She knew he would use it properly. |
| D．He persuaded her it would be a good idea. |
| A．It is difficult for Ben to move his drums. |
| B．The neighbors don’t mind the noise. |
| C．Ben’s parents enjoy listening to them. |
| D．They can leave their equipment there. |
| A．Their influence on her son worries her. |
| B．They play their instruments well. |
| C．They avoid any touch with her. |
| D．Their taste in music is different from hers. |
