1 . “The failure to play is now a serious issue and it calls for action for change,” says Sir Ken Robinson, a leading expert in education, creativity and human development. This is the driving force behind Outdoor Classroom Day - a global teacherled campaign, supported by Dirt is Good, a company producing daily chemical products.
Outdoor Classroom Day, taking place on 17th May and 1st November this year, will see schools around the world swap the inside for the outside and take learning into the playground and beyond to make playtime a key part of the school day. This might involve using natural objects like stones to do sums, or going on an insect hunt to encourage curiosity. By now, Outdoor Classroom Day has grown from a grassroots movement to a global campaign that is expected to benefit five million children and over 40,000 schools from all around the world in 2018.
This is helping to change the trend that sees many schools selling up or building on their playgrounds and cutting back on playtime to make more room for academic studies, while at home children’s lives are increasingly filled with organized activities intended to help them learn. Today globally 61% of parents surveyed in the Dirt is Good Qualitative Study said that children don’t know how to play without using technology.
Outdoor Classroom Day is making playing time happen, with 22% of participating schools having increased their playtime since joining the campaign. 93% of teachers surveyed saw improvements in children’s creativity after playing outside, and 97% believe that time outdoors is necessary for children to reach their full potential.
Scientific studies show that real play - the active, physical, selfdirected play - is essential for children to develop key life skills that are not taught elsewhere. Few would question the value of developing creativity, leadership, resourcefulness, and curiosity.
1. What do children do on Outdoor Classroom Day?| A．Have a day off and go playing anywhere. |
| B．Have P. E.classes on the playgrounds. |
| C．Learn and play by using natural things outside. |
| D．Play on their own without the teachers’ guidance. |
| A．Technology helps children learn better at home. |
| B．Parents prefer to home school their children. |
| C．Schools stop providing playgrounds. |
| D．Adults ignore the importance of playtime. |
| A．To introduce. | B．To persuade. |
| C．To entertain. | D．To advertise. |
2 . In 2018, Pakistan promised to plant ten billion trees in an effort to slow climate change and to save a land that has been destroyed.
That program, whose name is 10 Billion Trees Tsunami, has been taking effect slowly for the past two years, but it recently has received unexpected help from the coronavirus(新冠病毒). Many Pakistanis are suddenly unemployed, so the government has given them jobs as tree-planters. Unemployed day laborers have been turned into "jungle workers", planting trees for 500 rupees a day($3). It's not much, but it can help the unemployed get by.
As the coronavirus struck Pakistan, the 10 Billion Trees campaign was halted as part of social distancing orders put in place to slow the spread of the virus. But earlier this month, the government allowed the forestry agency to restart the program and create more than 63, 600 jobs.
The program is employing three times the number of planters as it normally does, and the planting season has been extended from May(its usual end)throughout June, in order to keep workers employed. All workers are being told to wear masks and keep two meters of distance from others.
Shahid Rashid Awan, project director for Punjab province, said the project hopes to reach 50 million trees this year. “We can absorb all the unemployed laborers and workers who have fled the cities and returned to their villages in the past few weeks.”
A study declared tree planting to be an effective way to store carbon, and if planted in large quantities around the globe, a powerful solution to climate change. While it won’t fix every climate-related problem we have, it can go a long way if done widely, which is exactly what Pakistan is trying to do with such impressive determination.
And the workers will benefit greatly, too. Not only are they able to earn money and support their families at a difficult time, but they’re outside in the fresh air, away from the potential health risks from more tightly-packed urban environments. It’s a brilliant idea that all country leaders should consider copying.
1. How does the coronavirus influence Pakistan?| A．A lot of animals are starving. |
| B．Many people are out of work. |
| C．Much land is left unmanaged. |
| D．The government has lost power. |
| A．Agreed. | B．Discussed. |
| C．Stopped. | D．Doubted. |
| A．Financial support has been gained because of it. |
| B．It has persuaded people to plant trees in big cities. |
| C．Many laborers produce much less carbon dioxide. |
| D．It can contribute to fighting against climate change. |
| A．It serves as a good example. |
| B．It is not fit for other countries. |
| C．It is a waste of time and money. |
| D．It brings many economic benefits. |
3 . For more than two decades, France is known as the world’s most popular tourist attraction, receiving 82 million foreign tourists every year. Here are some of the best places to visit in France.
Marseille
Marseille is one of Europe’s oldest cities and France’s second largest city. Having a nice climate, Roman ruins, medieval architecture and cultural scenes, Marseille is also a working city with several universities and industries. One of Marseille’s best natural attractions, the Calanques are a series of small rivers with astonishing blue water and splendid cliffs.
Luberon
During the summer months, many people like to experience charming villages in Luberon. This region in central Provence took off as a tourist attraction after Peter Mayle published his books about life in Provence. With its large quantities of forests, fields of lavender(薰衣草), farmers markets and colorfully painted houses, you'll soon see why the Luberon is such a tourist attraction.
Dordogne
There is just so much to see and do in Dordogne, beginning with picture-postcard villages and castles. The scenery is pretty amazing, too, with the Dordogne River running through it. The Dordogne also has some of the best ancient cave art in France. The walls of Lascaux feature mainly animals, which are a must-see.
Paris
Attracting more than 45 million visitors every year, Paris is the world's most popular tourist attraction. Paris, the capital city of France, is just like a little “France”. It is known for its romantic environment and commands in industries like business, entertainment, fashion, art and culture. In addition to the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris is also home to some of the world’s finest museums.
1. What can visitors do in Marseille?| A．Enjoy the romantic environment. |
| B．Appreciate the best ancient cave art. |
| C．Learn about the medieval architecture. |
| D．Experience the charming fields of lavender. |
| A．Its latest fashion. | B．Its natural scenery. |
| C．Its splendid history. | D．Its finest museums. |
| A．Marseille | B．Luberon | C．Paris | D．Dordogne. |
4 . If you’re looking to buy a gift for your children, why not keep up with the trend and get the best hoverboard?
What is a Hoverboard?
A hoverboard is a two-wheeled personal transportation device. It’s electrical, portable and became highly popular in 2015. Typically, this self-balancing device operates like a powered skateboard.
How Does a Hoverboard Work?
The device may have many designs, but the mechanism itself isn’t complicated. Basically, a standard hoverboard contains:
•Battery: stores the electrical power. Almost all hoverboards use a high-watt lithium-ion battery.
•Gyroscope (one for each wheel): allows riders to tilt (倾斜) the hoverboard while maintaining balance and adjusting their direction.
•Motor (one in each wheel): provides the power to the wheels to keep the rider balanced and upright.
•Logic board: functions as the hoverboard brain. It processes data—your speed, tilt, etc.—and sends information to the motors. This unit controls the power of the board so riders can adjust their speed.
All the above components work together to control the power and tilt of the hoverboards so the rider is balanced, upright and moving at a controlled speed.
Why Buy a Hoverboard?
Undoubtedly, hoverboards are cool. You’ve probably seen kids riding one around the house. They’re a phenomenon and everybody wants in. So, why deny your kids and prevent them from being part of this trend?
Where is a hoverboard legal?
Despite their wild popularity, hoverboards have yet to become “street-legal”. Currently, some places prohibit anyone under 16 from using these devices, and hoverboards are banned in academic institutions and public places, like campus buildings, parks, shopping malls and subway stations. Some places have also put speed limits on the devices and restricted their use to bike paths. However, open areas—including your yard—are free of these restrictions.
1. The logic board of a hoverboard can ______.| A．store electricity | B．power the wheels |
| C．send information to the riders | D．receive data and give command |
| A．on campus | B．in parks |
| C．on bike paths | D．in shopping malls |
| A．To evaluate a gift’s quality. |
| B．To suggest a gift option. |
| C．To compare new hoverboard models. |
| D．To explain functions of the latest hoverboards. |
5 . It has been four years since the Flashfood App was set to hit Canadian grocery stores and make it easier for shoppers to buy soon-to-expiry (保质期) food at a discount. Much to my delight, I heard it advertised recently on a radio station and figured it’s time for an update, especially since people became more aware of food waste’s role in the climate crisis.
The first thing I did was download the App. I hadn’t done it before because it was limited to a few locations, but now it’s all over Canada. I could see immediately that many brands of yogurt are all marked down 50 percent. Users pay for the food using the App, and then pick it up at a marked location in the store. There is no need for you to worry about them actually being bad.
It makes sense for retailers(零售商) to get behind this App because it offers a win-win situation for everyone involved. Flashfood sells 75% of the products made available through its App while saving consumers an average of 50% on those grocery items, and it has 300 000 active users right now. That number is expected to grow naturally as Flashfood partners with more grocers.
“As a food retailer, we are in the business of providing food, not wasting it. The Flashfood program allows us to provide our customers with a convenient and environmentally sustainable (可持续的) way to purchase food. Loblaw sells 77% of the items it puts on Flashfood, moving an average of ＄800 to ＄1000 worth of goods weekly at each of its largest stores,” said Gord Chem, senior VP with Loblaw’s Real Canadian Superstores.
I love looking for discount deals at the grocery store and always keep an eye out for the hot pink clearance stickers. But it’s always random, and I never know what I’m going to get from week to week. The appeal of Flashfood is that I can see what’s available, pre-purchase it, and leave it off my shopping list.
1. What can we know about the food on the Flashfood?| A．It’s delivered directly to the customers. | B．Users can pay for it in the marked store. |
| C．Much of it is charged at half the price. | D．It’ll be a month away before it goes bad. |
| A．impractical | B．doubtful |
| C．creative | D．beneficial |
| A．By making a comparison. | B．By listing some examples. |
| C．By explaining the cause. | D．By introducing the result. |
| A．Customers can buy much cheaper food on a recent app. |
| B．Canadians have a smart approach to reducing food waste. |
| C．A win-win situation has been set for Canadians involved. |
| D．Canadians adopt a new way of protecting the environment. |
6 . Cursive（手写体）is about to become extinct. Do we raise the red flag？To teach or not to teach cursive is the question that several state education departments are struggling with.
Before you read the following, do a simple exercise. Pick a pen and paper and start writing in cursive. Yes, that fancy handwriting that you learned in grade school. You may not have forgotten the good times you had while writing loopy Ps and Gs as well as curly Ms and Ns. However, the chances are that you won't be able to write it as excellently as you used to. Some people are good at making the perfect loops and curls, while some are bad. I am still terrible at it.
Cursive is hardly used by kids anymore as even adults don't write in this style, unless they are using it for their signature. Learning this handwriting was a usual practice in school for several decades. However, in 201l, the Indiana Department of Education made it optional for schools to teach cursive writing to the students. In fact, there were 46 more states who have done the same.
There are some who believe that it is high time for cursive to retire from school curriculum. After all, if we don't leave the past behind, we cannot make way for new things. If you walk into any classroom, you would find children using keyboards to communicate in written form. On the other hand, fans of this cursive insist on its usefulness. They remind us if we stop teaching and learning cursive in schools, very soon most of our historical documents will become hard to us.
Where do we stand on this subject？Is it the right time to erase an almost forgotten handwriting and live in the keyboarding world？Or can we do both without compromising on our school curriculum？Let me know your preference on this matter by leaving a comment in the section below.
1. People use cursive when they _________.| A．give their signature | B．are in Indiana |
| C．grow up as adults | D．are at school |
| A．must learn cursive | B．are interested in cursive |
| C．can choose to learn cursive | D．learn cursive every day |
| A．prefers to learn cursive |
| B．is a cursive teacher |
| C．is open to different views on cursive |
| D．is a very famous expert in education |
| A．Cursive Writing: Necessary or not？ | B．Is Keyboarding World Good？ |
| C．A Keyboarding World | D．Advantages of Cursive |
7 . Name-calling, teasing, pushing and fighting-whether you have gone through it or not, it is quite definite that these are the things that turn up in your mind when you hear the word "bullying". However, many of us know little about the serious, lasting harms bullying could cause.
If you've watched 13 Reasons Why, you'll understand the impacts that bullying can have. The second season of the popular US teenage drama was released on May 18. It tells the story of Hannah Baker, a high school student who takes her own life after she's picked on by fellow students, while others stand by and do nothing to help her.
One of the important messages audiences could get from the show is to treat people with kindness and respect. "It teaches us that every single thing we say and do has an impact on others, "news platform Odyssey concluded.
Some may think 13 Reasons Why exaggerates（夸大）the seriousness of school bullying, but according to the US National Center for Educational Statistics, more than 20 percent of US students were bullied in 2016, and only 36% of this group reported it.
NBA player Gerald Green opened up about being called "alien hands" during his teenage years due to his big hands. "Being bullied was embarrassing, " he said. "I still remember shying away from crowds and walking around with my hands in my pockets to evade the attention from my peers. "To get away with the teasing, he found his motivation by playing basketball and making a career out of it. But not everyone is so lucky to discover a release.
According to statistics released by the US government, if someone prevents a bully, there's a 57% chance that the bullying will stop within 10 seconds. So if you ever witness bullying, consider stepping up and supporting the victim. As US actor Brandon Flynn, who stars in 13 Reasons Why, said, "Just because you're not the one getting bullied, it doesn't mean it's not your problem. "
1. What is the purpose of the last paragraph？| A．To add more statistics. |
| B．To call on eyewitnesses to take action. |
| C．To introduce a new topic of the discussion. |
| D．To give people advice about dealing with bullying. |
| A．Bullying isn't a serious problem in many schools. |
| B．School bullying can't cause too much pain. |
| C．Only a few people are concerned about bullying. |
| D．Many people who're bullied choose not to seek help. |
| A．Attract. | B．Focus. | C．Avoid. | D．Keep. |
| A．It overstates school bullying. |
| B．It was first shown on May 18. |
| C．It is mainly about school bullying. |
| D．It shows few people can report bullying. |
8 . Researchers have found that men and women consumed 15% more calories when looking at their phones while eating. They also eat more fatty food. The groundbreaking（开创性的）study suggests that staring at a phone screen may distract（使分心）dinners from how much food they are actually eating. "It may prevent the correct understanding of the brain over the amount of food ingested（摄取）," said researchers who filmed 62 volunteers eating alone.
The men and women, aged 18 to 28, were invited to help themselves to a choice of food—ranging from healthy options to soft drinks and chocolate—until they were satisfied. In three trials, the volunteers were recorded eating no distractions, using a smart phone or reading a magazine.
On average the volunteers ate 535 calories without the distraction of a smart phone but 591 when using a mobile. Those in the sample who were classed as overweight ate 616 calories while using their phones. When using their mobiles, the volunteers also consumed 10 percent more. They also eat more when reading a magazine.
"Smart phone use during a meal increased calorie and fat intake," said Marcia Gilberto, a lead author of study carried out at the federal University of Lavras in Brazil and University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. He added: "Tablets and smart phones have become the main "distracters" during meals, even early in childhood, so it is important to pay attention to how this may impact food choices."
1. Why people would eat more when looking at the phone while eating?| A．Looking at the phone makes people at ease. |
| B．Staring at the phone may distract diners from the amount of food ingested. |
| C．Food becomes more delicious when the diners look at the phone. |
| D．Staring at the phone improves the eaters' appetite（食欲）for food. |
| A．About 560. | B．About 591. | C．About 616. | D．About 535. |
| A．Staring at a phone screen may distract people's attention. |
| B．To call on people to put their smart phone down while eating. |
| C．Using a smart phone at mealtimes can lead to consumed more calories. |
| D．Reducing calories is very important for people's health. |
| A．what should people do to keep fit. |
| B．why do people get overweight when eating with smart phones. |
| C．how should people keep weight when eating. |
| D．how does smart phones during dinner influence food choices in childhood. |
9 . A few years ago, a friend sent me a restaurant gift card for Christmas, and I picked a pretty, sunny Sunday afternoon to use it. It felt good taking my two grown sons and daughter to a nice sit-down restaurant instead of the fast food places we usually ate at. The meal was delicious, and we all had a good time just being together. The gift card covered almost all of the check. I reached into my wallet to get enough cash to cover the rest. I saw two bills in the front of it. The first would cover the rest of the check. The second would cover the check and give the waitress a nice tip. I reached down to pick out the first one.
At that moment, my mind flashed back to 30 years ago. I was working as a busboy (餐厅勤杂工) in a restaurant much like the one we were in. It was long hours of hard work for low pay. I went home just barely making enough to feed my young family. I also remembered how more than once I saw the waitresses counting their small tips while worrying about how they were going to pay the rent and buy their kids the things they needed. I remembered the pain in their eyes and saw the sadness in their faces at the end of the day.
I blinked (眨眼睛) and was back in the present again, with my fingers touching the smaller bill in my wallet. I smiled, pushed it back down and picked out the larger bill. I folded it around the gift card and covered both of them with the check. As we all got up from the table, I handed them to the hardworking waitress. “You keep the change,” I said with a smile and a happy heart.
We are all one family in this world. We live together and suffer together. Do your best to be kind. Do your best to be a good person and replace the suffering with joy.
1. What do we know from the first paragraph?| A．The author’s family had a hard life. |
| B．The gift card was enough to pay the check. |
| C．The author seldom ate together with his family. |
| D．The author values spending time with his children. |
| A．describe struggles he faced in the past | B．complain about his job at the restaurant |
| C．explain why he chose the larger bill | D．show how hard waiters work |
| A．Moved. | B．Pleased. | C．Puzzled. | D．Concerned. |
| A．To tell people to be kind. |
| B．To remind us not to forget our hard days. |
| C．To stress the importance of tipping servers. |
| D．To show that we should thank friends and family. |
| A．Tipping: a kind tradition |
| B．Helping hand for servers |
| C．Working as a busboy |
| D．Kindness makes the world go around |
10 . In September, a tragedy happened on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. As many as 380 pilot whales became stranded (搁浅) in shallow water there and later died. This might have been Australia’s largest stranding event on record, the BBC reported.
But mass whale stranding is not uncommon. For centuries, it has happened all over the world and has puzzled scientists. Scientists say the cause is often unknown. But they have offered many different explanations.
Some say the whales chase small fish for food and end up in shallow water because they are not paying attention to where they are going.
Others think the stranding has something to do with Earth’s geomagnetic field. They say that a geomagnetic compass in whales’ brains controls their position. Unusual changes in Earth’s magnetic field can affect the whales’ compasses and send them in the wrong direction.
Another explanation suggests that mass stranding is caused by the close relationships that whales have. Pilot whales travel in large groups. One lead whale might mistakenly lead the whole group to shallow water. “And if one gets into trouble, the others will not leave,” said Sheryl Gibney, a leading biologist from New Zealand. “Some will come in and try to help, they get trapped on the beach, then more will come.”
The whales are trapped by mistake or out of sympathy. Once they get stranded, they will likely die. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US, less than 10 percent of all stranded whales survive.
1. What do we know about the stranding?| A．It happened on the east coast of Australia. | B．It is commonly seen in September each year. |
| C．It caused the death of over 300 pilot whales. | D．It broke a world record. |
| A．run after | B．give up | C．help with | D．compete against |
| A．They will change their direction. | B．They will stay and try to help it. |
| C．They will push it near the beach. | D．They will travel with another group. |
| A．How human activity has affected whales. |
| B．What might cause whale strandings. |
| C．How whales find their direction while traveling. |
| D．What scientists are doing to save stranded whales. |
| A．Travel journal | B．Tourism magazine | C．News website | D．Science textbook |
