Tamworth Short Story Competition
Across the Tamworth area of Staffordshire, children who enjoy writing short stories are being encouraged to put their creative imagination to the test. They are being given the chance to enter a competition during these times of self isolation (隔离）.
Tamworth Borough Council's Arts and Events and Assembly Rooms teams have joined forces to look at ways of helping people entertain their families at home. They have now set a challenge for children living in Tamworth, which is to write a maximum 500-word story using a topic of their choice. However, it must include the name of Tamworth somewhere in the story. Prizes are given to all age groups. The winning stories are to be recorded by a celebrity and then shared with the local media! Other prizes will include tickets to future shows at Tamworth Assembly Rooms.
Adey Ramsel, Theatre, Artistic and Events Manager for the Assembly Rooms, said,＂We've been really pleased by the response so far; it seems we have quite a lot of gifted young authors out there. The competition will run till July 31st, giving everyone plenty of time to prepare their best work. So get writing and discover the hidden author in you today.”
Cost:Free
Phone:01827709618
Website:www.Tamworthassemblyrooms.co.uk
1. What is the requirement for the story entries?| A．They must include at least 500 words. |
| B．They must be submitted before mid-July. |
| C．They must focus on lives of local people. |
| D．They must mention the word Tamworth. |
| A．their stories collected into a set of books |
| B．their stories read by a well-known person |
| C．chances to deliver a speech on local media |
| D．tickets to visit Tamworth Assembly Rooms |
| A．Few children signed up for the competition. |
| B．The hidden author would be given a free gift. |
| C．He was content with the high-quality entries. |
| D．He was forced to entertain people at home. |
2 . Walking is good for you.It’s good for your heart, for your lungs, for the muscle and bone growth of your children.Strong scientific evidence now supports the many benefits to health of regular walking.
Walking is connected with reduced death rates for both older and younger adults.In other words, walkers live longer!
In particular, walking has a great effect on cardiovascular disease(心血管病).Fit and active people have around half the risk of cardiovascular disease compared to unfit inactive people.
Even 10-minute walks can increase fitness.One study at Loughbrough University found that women walking continuously for 30 minutes 5 days a week had almost the same increases in fitness as women who divide their 30 minutes into three 10-minute walks.
The majority of studies of young people indicate falling participation in physical activity.Only half of 11-36-year-olds currently walk for ten minutes a day.Children in Britain walk 50 miles a year less than they did a decade ago.Around 20% of children can be classed as overweight.TV, computers, cultural changes and fears for children’s safety out of doors play a large part.
Walking offers a great way to help kids get the active habit.If parents express excitement about the prospect (前景) of a walk in the countryside, they are more likely to pass this feeling to their children.It’s important to treat the walk as an exploration or adventure and to go at the child’s pace, no matter how often they want to stop and look at things, take treats to eat and plenty to drink, and head for some landmarks that will attract them such as a castle, a playground, an ice cream car or a boating pond.If children experience walking as part of a fun activity, they are more likely to want to go again.
1. We know from the passage that regular walking __________.| A．can make people live longer and healthier |
| B．has nothing to do with cardiovascular disease |
| C．increases fitness only if you walk as fast as you can |
| D．will help you put on much weight in a short time |
| A．They have more homework to do. |
| B．They have fitness equipment at home. |
| C．Their parents worry about their safety. |
| D．They want to learn more knowledge on TV. |
| A．children should be led by parents when they play outdoors |
| B．parents should help their children form a habit of walking |
| C．parents should not care about their children too much |
| D．children should do more explorative and adventure activities |
3 . Women facing breast cancer (乳腺癌) report that their cats rank among the most important supporters, alongside parents and siblings (兄弟姐妹) they rely on to help them through their treatment.
Fish, a breast cancer survivor, relied on the companionship of her two cats, Phoebe and Jack, during her treatments. “They were the perfect companions when I needed them most,” Fish says. “They gave silent strength.” Fish is far from the only breast cancer survivor to show the power of her cat. A recent Purina Cat Chow national survey of breast cancer survivors with cats points out this important relationship.
Dr. Karen Sueda, at the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, says, “Whether pet owners are fighting diseases such as breast cancer or going through a rough period in life such as job loss or some stress, their cats often display intuitive (直觉的) behavior of knowing when they need extra support.”
Hearing countless stories from breast cancer patients and survivors of how they have been emotionally supported by their cats, Purina Cat Chow honors this exceptional relationship and is doing its part to help the fight against breast cancer. This year, in a partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Purina Cat Chow will donate more than $200,000 to the cause and invites consumers to help us raise awareness of breast cancer.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to find the cures. The organization has invested (投资) $1.3 billion in ending breast cancer, becoming the world’s largest source of non-profit funds (资金) devoted to the fight against breast cancer.
1. To many women with breast cancer, cats can _______.| A．bring strength and support to them. |
| B．teach them how to relax |
| C．know about what they think about. |
| D．help the patients to be optimistic |
| A．often collects cancer patients’ information |
| B．hopes to find more breast cancer patients |
| C．will help spread the knowledge about breast cancer |
| D．aims to find the best treatment for breast cancer |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Supportive. | C．Doubtful. | D．Surprised. |
4 . Bees are essential for the pollination of flowers, fruits and vegetables. Sadly, over the past 15 years, the global population of the hardworking insects has been dropping worldwide at alarming rates due to loss of food and habitat. Now, Dutch cities are coming up with creative ideas to help stem the population decrease of these all-important insects.
In Amsterdam, bees can live for free in specially built “hotels” — tall wooden structures — across the city. While they may not look like much to the untrained eye, they provide perfect homes for members of the over 200 known species of solitary bees. As the name indicates, the insects spend their lives alone. The smart insects nest inside holes like the ones provided by the insect hotels, marking their occupancy by covering the entrance with a mud “door”. Though unable to produce honey, solitary bees are excellent pollinators and perform an essential role in many ecosystems.
Additionally, city officials are also educating people on the use of harmful chemicals and are providing prize money to encourage developers to build green roofs and populate them with local plants. In 2015, they set a goal to change some plants in public green spaces to native plants. Geert, one of eight ecologists working for the city, says, “Our idea is when we design a park, we use native species but also the species that give a lot of flowering and fruit for bees.” Many people, with help from the government, are replacing the sidewalks outside their homes with small gardens featuring flowers.
In Utrecht, bus stop roofs are gradually being turned into beautiful, living gardens designed to attract varieties of bee species. The green roofs, which naturally collect both rainwater and dust, are also beneficial for the environment.
These cities’ collective efforts seem to be working. A recent study found that the variety of bee species there has increased by an astonishing 45 percent since 2000.
1. What does the underlined word “stem” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Review . | B．Stop. | C．Monitor. | D．Improve. |
| A．They’re not social insects. |
| B．They make high-quality honey. |
| C．They like to nest together in woods. |
| D．They’re scared of other species of bees. |
| A．Collect rainwater for future use. |
| B．Plant flowers for enjoyment. |
| C．Draw bees to them. |
| D．Clear dust away. |
| A．Protecting the environment. |
| B．Importance of bees in ecosystems. |
| C．Design ideas of insect hotels and bee stops. |
| D．Dutch cities’ attempts to restore bee population. |
5 . FIRE-FIGHTING
How to fight a fire
Anyone who uses fire-extinguishers should know a few basic facts about how to make them work. This leaflet will tell you the most important things to remember if you have to put a fire out.
Water extinguishers
You can put most fires out with water extinguishers. However, you should not use water extinguishers if the fire involves electrical equipment or if it has been started by flammable (易燃的) liquids such as petrol.
As in all fires, make sure that the wind is behind you — if you do this, the smoke will blow away from you. Point the jet of water at the bottom of the fire and move it slowly higher.
Remember that you should only use extinguishers for small fires. If there is any danger of the fire spreading to anything that can explode, you should not try to put the fire out yourself. Instead, leave the building immediately, and call the fire brigade.
Foam (泡沫) extinguishers
You can use a foam extinguisher for fire caused by burning liquids such as petrol. Never point the jet directly into the liquid itself, as this may make it splash and spread the fire. Instead, try and point the extinguisher up into the air so that the foam goes up and falls on top of the burning liquid.
Whatever the kind of fire, do not stand up straight — if you can stay down, this will help you to avoid the smoke, and you may be able to get closer to the fire. Get out of the building at once if you think your escape route might be cut off by smoke or fire.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers
Some fire extinguishers are filled with a gas called carbon dioxide. You can use these to put out fires which have been caused either by electrical equipment or flammable liquids. If the fire has been caused by electrical equipment, switch the equipment off and point the extinguisher straight at the fire. If the fire has been caused by a liquid like petrol, point the extinguisher at the nearest edge of the fire, and move it from side to side.
Remember, never stay in a building if it is dangerous to do so, or if the fire grows beyond your control. Make sure you are standing near an exit in case this happens.
1. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE according to the passage?| A．You cannot put all fires out with water extinguishers. |
| B．In case of fire, stay down to protect yourself from the smoke. |
| C．If the fire might cause any further explosion, ask for professional help. |
| D．Foam extinguishers are for fires caused by electrical equipment. |
| A．Inappropriate use of fire extinguishers might make things worse. |
| B．You should stay in the building if your escape route is cut off. |
| C．Standing close to an exit will absolutely guarantee your safety in a fire. |
| D．Firefighting is a complicated job that can only be done by fire brigades. |
| A．Fire fighters. | B．The general public. | C．College professors. | D．Young children. |
6 . If humans ever hope to live on the Mars, the settlers will need to produce a series of organic compounds (有机化合物), from fuels to drugs, which are too expensive to ship from Earth.
Chemists from University of California, Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have a plan for that.
For the past eight years, the researchers have been working on a system combining bacteria and nanowires (细菌和纳米线) that can catch the energy of sunlight to change carbon dioxide (CO,) and water into building blocks for organic things. Nanowires are thin wires about one-hundredth the width of a human hair, used as electronic parts, and also as solar cells.
“On Mars, about 96% of the atmosphere is CO2. Basically, all you need is these nanowires to take in the solar energy and pass it on to these bacteria to do the chemistry for you,” said project leader Peidong Yang, professor of chemistry and the S.K. and Angela Chan Distinguished Chair in Energy at UC Berkeley. “For a deep space task, you care about the weight, and biological systems have the advantage that they self-reproduce: You don’t need to send a lot. That’s why this version is highly attractive.”
The only other requirement, besides sunlight, is water, which on Mars is relatively more than enough in the polar ice caps and likely lies frozen underground over most of the planet, said Yang.
It works like photosynthesis (光合作用), which plants naturally employ to change CO2 and water into carbon compounds, mostly sugar and carbohydrates. Plants, however, have a quite low efficiency (效率), usually changing less than one-half percent of solar energy into carbon compounds. Yang’s system is comparable to the plant that best changes CO2 to sugar, which is 4～5% efficient.
1. What is the function of the new biological system?| A．Reducing air pollution on Mars. |
| B．Carrying many organic things to Mars. |
| C．Helping to produce organic compounds on Mars. |
| D．Making building blocks without sunlight. |
| A．There’s plenty of CO2, water and sunlight on Mars. |
| B．Mars is much easier to land than other planets. |
| C．Spaceship technology has developed a lot. |
| D．Lots of oxygen was found on Mars. |
| A．It doesn’t need carbon dioxide and water. |
| B．It can be replaced by plants in space. |
| C．Its efficiency is higher than natural photosynthesis’s. |
| D．It functions based on rules different from photosynthesis. |
| A．Life. | B．Science. | C．Health. | D．Education. |
7 . After finishing my teaching for a school year, I thought that I should go back to Montreal, Quebec, my hometown for a visit. My main goal was to relax in preparation for the challenges of my retirement in the coming year.
Through my stay in Montreal, I met lots of Chinese who were struggling to succeed and then led a better life in Canada.
Some travelled thousands of miles to get knowledge. When I spoke with some of them about the major barrier they had to face after they arrived in Canada, they all talked about the two official languages of Canada. But I was impressed by their ability to express their ideas while they switched between English and French.
Almost all of those people said they often felt homesick. They missed their families and friends. Though Montreal had lots of Chinese restaurants, they longed for a home-cooked meal.
I met some tourists who were trying to realize their childhood dreams of experiencing the life in a developed country. When I asked them if Montreal had lived up to their expectations, they hesitated. They said that reality never agrees with fantasies. However, they were glad to have the opportunity to visit Montreal and didn’t regret taking the trip.
Not all the Chinese people I met were happy. I once met a young lady who met a gentleman through the Internet. However, to her disappointment, he disappeared after he promised to marry her in Montreal.
I was served by another Chinese person who could not handle the challenges of studying in an English environment and ended up working in a restaurant with minimum pay.
Exploring different parts of the world, without any doubt, is an amazing experience. However, one should be realistic when it comes to leaving his hometown to set up a new life in a foreign country. One should take the time to examine the advantages and the shortcomings of the venture before they decide to chase an uncertain dream of achieving success or leading a better life.
1. The writer went to his hometown to .| A．meet his old friends | B．prepare for his retirement life |
| C．go on with his teaching | D．study a new language |
| A．food | B．homesickness |
| C．income | D．language |
| A．worried | B．cautious |
| C．neutral | D．positive |
| A．Struggling for a Better Life in Canada. |
| B．Exploring Different Parts of Canada. |
| C．Improving Life Skills in Canada. |
| D．Going to Canada—Your Ideal Destination. |
8 . A Student Profile
Name: Kristin Lacey
Hometown: Merced, California, USA
School & College: Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GRS) at MIT
Major(专业): English literature
Class year: 2021
Favorite book: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Favorite class: British Literature with Professor Anna Henchman
Favorite place to study on campus : Athan’s in Washington Square or Cafenation in Brighton Center
Favorite restaurant in Boston: Sweet Cheeks
Extra-curricular activities: President of the Graduate Student Association; leading the Graduate Student Fiction (小说) Group; Volunteering at Gifford Homeless Cat Center in Brighton
Study experience: I studied for four years and earned my undergraduate degree in English in 2015 at California State University, Fresno. I was the first in my family to attend graduate school and college.
When I graduate, I hope to teach literature at a local college and help the other first-generation college students to get higher education. It’s important to give a helping hand to those who need it.
Advice to other first-generation college students:
I know that being first-generation graduate means always pushing against your background and stepping out of your comfort zone. And it is important to take as many lectures as possible and be open-minded to good advice from your teachers, while know the line between helpful and bad recommendations. Be outgoing with your friends and build your support network by asking for help when you need it and giving help in return.
1. When did Kristin Lacey graduate from senior high school?| A．In 2011. | B．In 2015. | C．In 2019. | D．In 2020. |
| A．The Gifford Homeless Cat Center. | B．The British Literature Club. |
| C．The Graduate Student Association. | D．The Graduate Student Fiction Group. |
| A．Teach literature at a local college. |
| B．Work at a homeless animal center. |
| C．Build a support network for those in need. |
| D．Study British literature at a graduate school. |
9 . 18-year-old Kayla Perkins explains what is in her bedroom, “I throw something on the floor and I know right where it is.” However, her parents, Steve and Deborah Perkins, of McKinney,Texas, haven’t caught on. Even Kayla admits that, at the worst, her room is a mess.
Most families at some point have at least one child whose room looks like a landfill (垃圾堆) .The mess can disturb the whole household. Dirty clothes pile up; dirty dishes get lost in the mess and smell bad; homework is lost; and valuable things are ruined.
Some parents let it go, believing that a bedroom is private space for children to manage as they wish. Others lecture their children, offer rewards for cleaning, or punish them when they don’t. What doesn’t work, parenting experts say, is constant lectures, verbal (口头的，言语的) threats or getting very angry. Mrs. Perking says they picked up all the clothes on Kayla’s floor and hid them. They cleaned everything up. When Kayla came back to a bare bedroom, there was screaming and shouting, “How can I live without my clothes?” Mrs. Perkins asked Kayla to earn her clothes back by doing housework. These days, she keeps her room clean.
Humour can help, too. For example, since Jessica, the 14-year-old daughter wasn’t bothered by the dirty clothes all over her floor, the whole family started using her room as a place to store dirty clothes. Her attitude changed after her family did that. By the time she gave in and cleaned up her room a few days later, even she was laughing.
Parenting expert, Jim Fay, also recommends that parents first ask children in a nice way to clean up and agree on a reasonable time limit. Children often behave better if you treat them in the way you would want to be treated by your boss at work - with respect and high expectation.
1. What is the best title of the passage?| A．How to Make Children Clean up Their Bedrooms |
| B．Ways to Correct Children’s Bad Habits. |
| C．Encourage Children to Share More Housework. |
| D．Tips on Cleaning up the Room. |
| A．let children have their own private space. |
| B．lecture their children and give verbal threats. |
| C．set an example and offer rewards for cleaning. |
| D．ask them in a nice way and set a reasonable time limit. |
| A．Playing hide-and-seek can help children change their attitude. |
| B．Parents differ over their children’s bedroom cleaning. |
| C．Children often behave better if parents treat them like bosses. |
| D．Most children feel uncomfortable when their rooms are too clean. |
10 . One North Carolina business owner is helping the homeless by opening up his parking lot to people who may be living out of their cars.
James Charles is the owner of Kiplin’s Automotive Group in Charlotte, North Carolina. For about two months, he has been encouraging people sleeping in their cars to use the company’s parking lot as a safe place to sleep at night.
Charles was first encouraged to do something helpful after his team tried to take back a woman’s car back in January.
“The gentleman who was taking back the car said, ‘We can’t take the car; there’s somebody living in the car,’” Charles told WBTV.
Then he tried to get the woman into a homeless shelter (收容所). But he was shocked to find that every shelter in the city was full. Although he paid for her to stay in a hotel for a few nights, he knew that there were other people suffering from the same thing.
Charles made a Facebook post: “We would like to provide a safe place for those going through this tough time. We can’t put everyone in a hotel, but we can get you a safe place for the night.
Since more and more people have shared his post, people have donated (捐赠) hats, scarves, food, and even an easy-to-move toilet for the parking lot. Not only that, but about 20 different people have helped Charles with his offer by parking their cars overnight at the lot.
These kind acts also made it possible for Charles to start his non-profit (非盈利的) organization, HALO Now. The organization was set up to raise money for the homeless people of Charlotte — and he has raised more than US$30,000.
1. From the passage, we know Kiplin’s Automotive Group __________.| A．may be a company that rents cars to people |
| B．is a company that rents a parking place |
| C．is a non-profit organization in North Carolina |
| D．may be an organization that offers homeless shelters |
| A．Because his parking lot was rented as a living place. |
| B．Because Charles wanted to show his kindness. |
| C．Because people had no place to park their cars. |
| D．Because many people had no place to go during a tough time. |
| A．He asked people to donate online. |
| B．He shared the story through the Internet. |
| C．He gave out food to people living in their cars. |
| D．He built an easy-to-move toilet for the parking lot. |
| A．Parking lots can be safe places for people to live in the future. |
| B．Homeless people seek help through the Internet. |
| C．A company owner provides a safe place for the homeless to park and sleep. |
| D．The government uses parking lots to help the homeless settle down. |
