1 . Meet the man who isn’t running to the supermarket to stock goods -- thanks to his tiny urban garden which has kept him in fruits and vegetables for nine months. This green-thumbed Italian who moved to London six years ago has grown so many vegetables during lockdown that he hasn’t been to the grocery store for any in nine months.
29-year-old artist Alessandro Vitale has grown chilli (辣椒) on his windowsill for years, so he was delighted when he moved into an apartment with a shared garden last year. He set to work transforming half the 8×5m garden area into a growing place, created a wall for vegetables out of recycled water bottles, and made planters and a greenhouse.
In his first harvest this year, Alessandro managed to produce an impressive 30 different kinds of vegetables, including cabbage, carrots, garlic, fennel, leeks, cauliflower, and broccoli. Alessandro got in an impressive 35kg of tomatoes from just six plants, and he’s picked 10kg of 17 different types of chilli. Eager to be environmental, Alessandro’s crops are 100% organic: He uses wild nettle (荨麻) from a park for pest control, and the fallen leaves to make fertilizer.
Alessandro said: “When I was a kid I used to help my grandpa out in the garden. I remember he would import chilli seeds from all over the world and he would have tones of plants.”
Though Alessandro works full-time 45 hours a week, as soon as he’s home he spends a couple of hours tending to the garden. “My favorite thing to make with is jam and sauces from the chillis,” he says. He now runs his own YouTube channel SpicyMoustache, sharing urban gardening tips and encouraging others to create urban green spaces.
1. What can be inferred about Alessandro from the first paragraph?| A．He had some green fingers. |
| B．He never went to the supermarket. |
| C．He was locked in London six years ago. |
| D．He was good at planting vegetables and fruits. |
| A．To show what he grows. |
| B．To show the natural beauty. |
| C．To show his gardening talent. |
| D．To show that the harvest is healthy. |
| A．Encouraged. | B．Unsure. | C．Upset. | D．Ashamed. |
2 . Have you ever had the feeling that you can't think when there is too much noise around? Did you ever think a fish could experience that feeling too? A recent paper published in Science titled “Soundscape(声景)of the Anthropocene Oceans”, combined over 10,000 scientific papers, confirming that undersea life knows that exact same feeling, more often than not. Anthropogenic(人为的)ocean noise, also known as underwater noise pollution, has created a dramatic impact on marine life due to “human-caused” activity within and neighboring our oceans.
Disney Pixar's animated film Finding Nemo educated us about the ocean, and specifically within the ordinary world of a clown fish. A fact many may not know is that clown fish spend the first part of their lives as larvae(幼体), drifting with the current(洋流)of the ocean until they become strong enough to swim against it. Once they are powerful and strong, they head home in sheltered coral reefs. There is only one disadvantage-the fish can't physically see the reef, but they can hear it. The only problem is, if they can't hear it, will they ever make it home?
Our anthropogenic ocean noise, such as cargo ships, ship and boat propellers, surfing, deep sea mining. etc. are causing destruction of marine life. According to Time, sound is the sensory signal that travels the farthest through the ocean. Anthropogenic noise drowns out the natural soundscapes, putting marine life under immense stress. Altogether, this stress then affects their general health, disturbs their behavior, physiology. reproduction and, in extreme cases, causes death. Marine life can adapt to noise pollution, however, only if they can escape it. This only renders further complications(困难, 问题)of straying(使偏离)species from their traditional breeding regions or separating them from their families.
Now, what if we told you there is already a solution? Multiple remedies, ideas and designs are currently in the works or already exist to get rid of and change the damage of anthropogenic ocean noise. As Time explains, from wind-powered ships to noise-reducing propellers(螺旋桨)，floating wind turbines(风力发电机)and “bubble curtains” that muffle construction noise, the solutions are already available and in some cases, cost-effective(划算的). The authors of the paper hope it will catch the attention of policymakers, who historically speaking, have ignored the mater still to this day.
Of all the challenges ocean creatures are battling, luckily sound pollution is the easiest compromise humans can make. Once the noise has decreased, marine life will be able to better manage everything else it is up against.
1. What do we know about “Soundscape of the Anthropocene Oceans”?| A．It analyses how sound travels in the ocean. |
| B．It discusses different types of ocean pollution. |
| C．It explores the effects of noise pollution on sea life. |
| D．It studies how sea animals communicate with each other. |
| A．To present their life cycles. |
| B．To show how terrible their living conditions are. |
| C．To introduce a famous animation about the ocean world. |
| D．To stress the importance of natural soundscapes to sea life. |
| A．Causes. | B．Reduces. |
| C．Reveals. | D．Prevents. |
| A．The management of ship traffic. |
| B．The restriction of human activities. |
| C．The adoption of noise control techniques. |
| D．The application of relevant laws. |
3 . Each generation -- from Baby Boomers to Generation X to Millennials -- has its own set of values and characteristics. But one thing common to all generations is that they are suffering from stress. In a recent poll by the American Psychological Association (APA), all age groups now report higher levels of stress than in the past. Baby Boomers (those born roughly between 1946 and 1964, and who are now moving into their retirement years) said that they are stressed about earnings and health issues. Gen Xers (born roughly between 1965 and 1980) are concerned about work, income, and job stability. However, Millennials (born roughly between 1981 and 2004) are turning out to be the most stressed-out of all the generations. Poll results indicate that stress levels for these younger respondents are significantly above average. So what’s worrying the Millennials?
Millennials are the first generation to grow up with computers in the home and the classroom. Due to the rise of modern technology and social media, they are constantly showered with information. Over time, this information overload can become too much to handle and can result in stress, which in turn can cause serious physical, psychological, and emotional problems. Another contributing factor, according to author Michael D. Hais, is that many Millennials have lived sheltered lives due to overprotective parents. These young adults lack problem-solving skills and may struggle with fear of failure once they leave home. Making matters worse, the 2008 economic depression occurred when many Millennials were graduating from high school or college. The resulting economic slowdown reduced the number of available jobs for graduates. Sure enough, in the APA poll, Millennials said that work, money, relationships, family responsibilities, and the economy are the main stressors in their lives.
However, the poll results may be a bit misleading as they don’t take into account public attitudes toward stress and mental illness. Ronald Kessler of Harvard Medical School, who has studied the prevalence (流行) of mental disorders in the U.S., points out that changes in social attitudes have helped reduce the stigma attached to mental illness over the years. For example, the creation of health-related television programming and specialty magazines such as Psychology Today have contributed to greater public awareness of mental health issues. According to psychologists, younger people now are more willing to admit to them that they are under stress than in the past. “There is not a lot of evidence of true prevalence having gone up,” Kessler says. “It looks like younger people are in worse shape, but unfortunately, we just don’t know.”
1. It can be learned from the results of the APA poll that ______.| A．All age groups are experiencing more stress than before. |
| B．Millennials have more stress than before, but other age groups aren’t. |
| C．Compared with other age groups, Millennials have more overprotective parents. |
| D．Stress levels are down for all age groups, but they’re down the most for Millennials. |
| A．Health. | B．Occupation. | C．Money. | D．Weak economy. |
| A．Behavior. | B．Shame. | C．Symptom. | D．Complexity. |
| A．They fail to keep good body shape. |
| B．They are more interested in health-related media. |
| C．They are more willing and courageous to face up to their fault. |
| D．They are more willing to seek professional help to deal with stress. |
4 . Here are some interesting online classes that you can take to learn something interesting.
Premiere Pro CC
Whether you want to become the next big YouTube star or the most popular TikTok creator, you'll need to learn how to edit(编辑)videos. Premiere Pro CC will bring all your ideas to life. You can master how to use all it offers with this course for $29. 99. It'll cover various topics including adding videos, adding titles, correcting and grading the color, and more.
Udemy's Mindfulness Practitioner Course
Udemy's Mindfulness Practitioner Course lasts 6-8 weeks but can end up changing your life forever. For just $15. 99, you will receive the tools and techniques that are necessary in order to apply mindful principles to your everyday life. With the help of videos, articles, and more, you’ll be taught how to be more self-aware, make better decisions, and take control of your emotions.
Master Class
If you can't practice your jump shot in the park, why not practice it with Golden State Warrior star Stephen Curry? That's the kind of mind-blowing experience Master Class offers. Within 12 video lessons, Curry will show you all he knows about ball handling, screens, and more. Individual (单独的)classes cost $90, but now you can get two year-long subscriptions for $180.
Skillshare
You don't necessarily need a professional camera to take professional-looking pictures. Skillshare is a platform made for creative people. Their photo-taking course will teach you the ins and outs of exposure control, shot composition, and more. You can make the cardboard of orange juice in your fridge look like the next cover of Vogue. Sign up now for $19 per month. Get started now!
1. What can we do with Premiere Pro CC?| A．We can store more videos. | B．We can use it to upload videos. |
| C．We can edit videos by using it. | D．We can learn something about ball handling. |
| A．It can better our living conditions. | B．It can improve our way of thinking. |
| C．It can increase our physical activity. | D．It can teach us creative artistic skills. |
| A．Skillshare. | B．Master Class. |
| C．Premiere Pro CC. | D．Udemy's Mindfulness Practitioner Course. |
5 . Granada is Spain’s most visited city, drawing tourists from all over the world, most of whom are eager to see the famous world heritage sites. Also, some people can enjoy the wonderful music and dance festivals there. Located in Spain’s most southern region, you are guaranteed lovely hot weather during the summer. However, as it is set at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, there is skiing during the winter, making it a popular destination all year round.
Centuries ago, Granada was once a city filled with hundreds of public baths. One of the few that remains undamaged dates back to(始于) the 11th century. However, Granada’s most popular attraction is the Alhambra. The name Alhambra means “red castle” because of the color of the stone, which is particularly beautiful at sunset. As you walk through its narrow streets and beautiful gardens, you will be able to experience the charm of this particular region.
Within the Alhambra is the Parador(旅馆) Granada, which is one of Spain’s most popular hotels. It was originally part of a palace and later turned into a convent(女修道院), it’s a place where you can calm your mind. Its tranquil courtyard and lovely views are some of the reasons why so many guests enjoy their stay.
Located on the hill not far from the Alhambra is Albaicin. This used to be an Arab silk market, but today the small streets are filled with shops selling local handicrafts. From Albaicin, there is a steep walk up to a church, but it’s well worth the effort. With the mountains in the background, you will be able to get a beautiful view.
Granada has its own airport with flights from London and Stansted, so flying out for a long weekend couldn’t be easier. Why not discover for yourself why so many people around the world love coming to this charming city ?
1. Why do so many tourists travel to Granada ?| A．To enjoy the famous festivals. | B．To visit the world heritage sites. |
| C．To learn about its old culture. | D．To experience the exciting skiing. |
| A．Because of the stones’ color. | B．Because of its heavy pollution. |
| C．Because of its government. | D．Because of its special position. |
| A．Broad. | B．splendid. | C．amazing. | D．Quiet. |
| A．To entertain readers. | B．To share experiences. |
| C．To advertise Granada. | D．To offer tour service. |
6 . Two words can sum up the life of Dr. Catana Starks—determination and achievement. Now the story of one of her many accomplishments—she’s the first African-American woman in history to coach a male college sports team—is a movie!
The story is about Starks, who was the golf coach at her alma mater(母校) Tennessee State University, a traditionally Black College in Nashville. Starks’ distinctive coaching style and her achievements in the face of many challenges in her position and in life is what will leave audiences inspired. She had to drive the team bus, wash her players’ golf clothes, and had to constantly find places for her team to practice. Starks credits her strength to one woman in her life—her mother.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Starks was diagnosed with severe asthma(哮喘). Doctors told her mother she could never participate in sports. “My mother, she had an almost mystical belief of not being limited by circumstances”, says Starks, “so I grew up with a basketball goal in the backyard.” Asthma wasn’t the only challenge; she grew up in the segregated(被隔离的) South of the 1940s, “I learned to swim. I had to walk four miles in Mobile to get to a Black pool”.
After getting the men’s golf coach job, Starks couldn’t find golfers. None of the males on campus would play. “Initially that didn’t work out because I was female,” said Starks. She had to innovate by recruiting internationally, via telephone. The calls attracted players from Sweden to South Africa. During nearly twenty years in her charge her former players have distinguished themselves throughout the world including: Sam Puryear, the former Michigan State University golf coach-the first African American in its history, and Robert Dinwiddie, an All-American golfer at TSU and a current member of the European Tour having achieved three consecutive Top-10 finishes in South Africa. Starks’ determination really paid off when the T-State Tigers won the National Minority Golf Championship in 2005. And another distinction for her career, ninety percent of the players graduated!
1. Which of the following is NOT a challenge Starks faced in her career?| A．Being the team bus driver. |
| B．Doing the laundry for her players. |
| C．Walking to the Black swimming pool. |
| D．Finding venues for team practice. |
| A．An optimistic attitude towards life. |
| B．A strong will to overcome tough situations. |
| C．A willingness to push the limits of her body. |
| D．Her distinctive coaching style. |
| A．racial discrimination | B．her gender |
| C．her physical condition | D．her lack of experience |
| A．like teacher like student | B．education is the key to success |
| C．practice makes perfect | D．equality is greater than division |
7 . 
TRAVEL ADVISORY
Here are a few things you should know before you take off on your next trip.
Frontier Airlines Face Covering Requirement
As required by federal law, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Order and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Security Directive, all passengers and employees must wear a face covering over nose and mouth throughout the Frontier travel experience including at ticket counters, gate areas, baggage claim and onboard all flights. Face coverings are not required for children under the age of 2. Face coverings must fit snugly(紧密地) over your nose and mouth and be secured under the chin. Not wearing an approved face covering is a violation of federal law and you may lose future travel privileges on Frontier.
* Persons with a disability who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of that disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act can apply for a face mask exemption(豁免). To learn about pre-travel exemption requirements, click here.
Temperature Screening Requirement
Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher will not be able to board the plane. If time allows, we will give customers the opportunity to rest before receiving a second check. If the second temperature screening is 100.4 degrees or higher, our team will help the customer to rebook travel on a later date when they are feeling better.
Know Your Travel Policy
CDC issued an Order on January 12, 2021(effective since January, 26, 2021) requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the US.
1. Who can legally board a Frontier Airlines flight without wearing a face covering?| A．A senior manager of Frontier Airlines. | B．A blind man in a wheelchair. |
| C．A one-year-old baby. | D．A high school student. |
| A．Passengers without proper face coverings may be banned from flying with Frontier Airlines in the future. |
| B．Passengers can take off their face coverings when they pick up their checked baggage. |
| C．Passengers with a high fever will have their flights rescheduled. |
| D．Passengers without proof of a negative COVID-19 test can’t enter the US on January 20, 2021. |
| A．A website. | B．A brochure. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A newspaper. |
8 . British shoppers buy 2.15 million tonnes of clothing and shoes annually, yet UK citizens have an estimated £30 billion worth of unused clothing gathering dust at the back of the wardrobe（衣柜）. But new technology could see the end of that, with the garments themselves giving owners a gentle reminder of their existence.
“Smart clothes” could help us clear out our drawers by sending messages or tweeting us if they haven't been worn for a good while. If these alerts are ignored, the garments will get in touch with a clothing charity and ask to be reused, with an organization automatically sending out donation information. They could also be programmed to put themselves up for auction（拍卖） on eBay.
Academics at Birmingham City University are developing the “connected wardrobe” to encourage more suitable clothes consumption. The concept sees garments tagged（给……加标签） using washable contactless technology, known as radio-frequency identification.
Mark Brill, senior lecturer at Birmingham City, said: “Think of the surprise when an owner suddenly receives bids for items they didn't know were in their wardrobe”.
“The connected wardrobe is a practical, pleasant concept to encourage people to think about their clothing consumption. Finally, I hope it will encourage more appropriate fashion consumption,” He added, “Perhaps we can even move away from the idea of ‘ownership’ of clothing. When we’ve worn them enough, the items will pass themselves on to their next keeper to wear.”
It follows in the footsteps of the “Internet of Things” — a concept that sees ordinary household items connecting to the internet in order to share information. From adjusting your alarm clock to monitoring the temperature of your home, the Internet is changing the way we live.
Now, the “Internet of Clothes” will see that neglected garments will tweet and text the owners “asking” to be worn depending on the weather and frequency of wear. Clothes will keep track of other information such as who owned it previously, as well as how much it originally cost, who made it and how much the worker was paid for it.
1. What does the author say about “smart clothes”?| A．They have gained in popularity. | B．They may be donated on eBay. |
| C．They may be recycled if long forgotten. | D．They give warnings if worn out. |
| A．It changes people’s shopping habits. |
| B．It helps people buy cheaper clothes. |
| C．It improves people’s consumer confidence. |
| D．It contributes to right consumption attitudes. |
| A．Clothes are sold online at a low price. |
| B．Internet is a platform to share items. |
| C．Clothes can be a source of information. |
| D．Weather affects the connected wardrobe. |
| A．Approving. | B．Skeptical. | C．Critical. | D．Uninterested. |
9 . A robot with a sense of touch may one day feel “pain”, both its own physical pain and sympathy for the pain of its human companions. Such touchy-feely robots are still far off, but advances in robotic touch-sensing are bringing that possibility closer to reality.
Sensors set in soft, artificial skin that can detect both a gentle touch and a painful strike have been hooked up to a robot that can then signal emotions, Asada reported February 15 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. This artificial “pain nervous system,” as Asada calls it, may be a small building block for a machine that could ultimately experience pain. Such a feeling might also allow a robot to “sympathize” with a human companion’s suffering.
Asada, an engineer at Osaka University, and his colleagues have designed touch sensors that reliably pick up a range of touches. In a robot system named Affetto, a realistic looking child’s head, these touch and pain signals can be converted to emotional facial expressions.
A touch-sensitive, soft material, as opposed to a rigid metal surface, allows richer interactions between a machine and the world, says neuroscientist Kingson Man of the University of Southern California. Artificial skin “allows the possibility of engagement in truly intelligent ways”.
Such a system, Asada says, might ultimately lead to robots that can recognize the pain of others, a valuable skill for robots designed to help care for people in need, the elderly, for instance.
But there is an important distinction between a robot that responds in a predictable way to a painful strike and a robot that’s able to compute an internal feeling accurately, says Damasio, a neuroscientist also at the University of Southern California. A robot with sensors that can detect touch and pain is “along the lines of having a robot, for example, that smiles when you talk to it,” Damasio says. ‘It’s a device for communication of the machine to a human.” While that’s an interesting development, “it’s not the same thing” as a robot designed to compute some sort of internal experience, he says.
1. What do we know about the “pain nervous system”?| A．It is named Affetto by scientists. | B．It is a set of complicated sensors. |
| C．It is able to signal different emotions. | D．It combines sensors and artificial skin. |
| A．Delivered. | B．Translated. | C．Attached. | D．Adapted. |
| A．Robots can smile when talked to. |
| B．Robots can talk to human beings. |
| C．Robots can compute internal feelings |
| D．Robots can detect pains and respond accordingly. |
| A．Machines Become Emotional | B．Robots Inch to Feeling Pain |
| C．Human Feelings Can Be Felt | D．New Devices Touch Your Heart |
