1 . Answering the Community Needs of Our City
The Siver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2020. The followings shows how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport
☆Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.
☆20 new buses for the southern line were purchased in January.
☆50 per cent of city bus-stops have been upgraded.
Communication
☆Broadband cableis now available to ll parts of the city.
☆All of the new Government buildings are smart-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities
☆The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June.
☆To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.
☆Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2020!
☆Rental for private schools has been reduced.
Protection and Security
☆Extra police now patrol(巡逻)the tourist areas.
☆50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment/Recreation
☆The new Central Community Building opened in May.
☆5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.
1. What’s the notice mainly about?A.The work carried out by the people of Silver City. |
B.The facilities available in Silver City. |
C.Some improvements in Silver City. |
D.Information for interested tourists. |
A.Travel books are provided in the new library. |
B.More bus lines and stops are bought in Silver City. |
C.Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital. |
D.There are more police officers on duty now. |
A.the community | B.the local government |
C.the Silver City Library | D.a travel agency |
2 . Teens Aren’t Getting Enough Sleep And Schools Are Partly to Blame
Most kids are severely sleep deprived, and early school starting times aren’t helping.
Across the country, only 17.7 percent of middle and high schools start classes after 8:30 a.m.. The average school start time for middle and high schools around the country is 8:03 a.m., according to a new analysis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The AAP advises that schools start after 8:30 to help teenagers get 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep a night — the amount the AAP says is ideal. Currently, less than a third of high school students sleep 8 hours a night, says the CDC analysis.
The analysis uses 2011–2012 information from the Department of Education to gather the start times of about 39,700 schools. Alaska has the latest average school start time at 8:33 a.m., while Louisiana has the earliest at 7:40 a.m.
Sleep-deprived teenagers are more likely to suffer from depression, use drugs, get low grades and be overweight. Even though schools often face obstacles when trying to delay school start times due to traffic and scheduling concerns, some have made progress recently.
After Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts delayed school start times in 2008 from 7:55 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the private school saw a number of benefits. As the Huffington Post previously reported, the school’s 2014 viewbook noted that students earned higher grades; ate more breakfasts, visited the health center far less frequently; and performed better in athletics. Teachers reported that first-period discussion classes were uncharacteristically lively from the beginning bell.
Half of parents whose teens attend schools that start before 8:30 would support a later start time, according to a 2014 survey from the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.
1. The benefits of enough sleep for students don’t include ________.A.earning higher grades | B.eating more breakfast |
C.visiting the health center more frequently | D.performing better in athletics |
A.making a comparison | B.using examples |
C.presenting research findings | D.quoting diagrams |
A.The earlier schools start, the higher grades students can get. |
B.All schools should start after 8:30 across the world. |
C.Nine hours of sleep a night is the most ideal choice. |
D.The lack of sleep may lead to various terrible problems. |
A.A research report. | B.A health guide. |
C.A class presentation. | D.An official document. |
3 . Optimism (乐观) doesn’t mean paying no attention to things that cause stress. But when bad things happen, optimistic people are less likely to be unhappy about themselves and more likely to see the bad things as something that lasts a short time.
A new research has found a direct connection between optimism and healthier diet and exercise behaviors, as well as better heart health, a stronger immune system (免疫系统), better lung function, and lower death risk. “Optimistic people, regardless of sex, often have goals and the confidence to reach them,” Lee said. “Those goals could include healthy habits that contribute to a longer life.”
Studies find only about 25% of our optimism is controlled by our genes (基因), and the rest is up to us. It turns out we can actually train our brain to be more positive. Researchers studied the brains of monks (僧侣) and found surprising results: Tens of thousands of hours of meditation(冥思) had changed the function (机能) of their brains, which support positive qualities. And that may be key in producing the effect on the body.
There are simple mental exercises to develop an optimistic attitude. One of the most effective ways to increase optimism is called the “Best Possible Self” method. That is to imagine ourselves in a future in which we have achieved all our life goals. And keeping a diary in which we list the positive experiences we had can also help shape our attitude. Taking a few minutes each day to write down what makes us thankful can improve our view on life, too.
1. What is the meaning of Lee’s words?A.Goals can lead to confidence. |
B.Better lung function lowers death risk. |
C.Optimism is connected with length of life. |
D.Sex should be taken into consideration when studying optimism. |
A.To lengthen their life. |
B.To improve their brains’ function. |
C.To prove optimism can be learned. |
D.To show genes’ connection with optimism. |
A.How to be a positive person. | B.How to make people thankful. |
C.What to write about in a diary. | D.What to do to achieve the goals. |
A.A science magazine. | B.A guidebook. |
C.A novel. | D.A diary. |
4 . How many coins have you got in your pocket right now?Three?Two?Or one? With a phone card you can make up to 200 calls without any change at all.
What do you do with it?
Go to a telephone box marked “Card Phone”.Put in your card,make your call and when you’ve finished,a screen tells you how much is left on your card.
It costs no extra for the cards,and the calls cost 10p per unit,the same as any other payphone call.
You can buy them in units of 10,20,40,100 or 200.
Now appearing in a shop near you
Near each Card Phone place you’ll find a shop where you can buy one. They’re at bus,train and city tube(地铁) stations.
At many universities,hospitals and clubs,restaurants and gas stations on the highway and shopping centers.
At airports and seaports.
No more broken payphones
Most broken payphones are like that because they’ve been vandalized(破坏了的).There are no coins in Card Phone to excite thieves’interest in it. So you’re not probably to find a vandalized one.
Get a phone card yourself and try it out.Or get a bigger wallet.
1. There are three parts in the passage.Which section do you think is about why card phones are good?A.Part 1. | B.Part 2. | C.Part 3. | D.None. |
A.4 pounds. | B.40 pounds. |
C.400 pounds. | D.100 pounds. |
a.Put in your phone card.
b.Look at the screen to find out how many calls you can still make.
c.Go to the telephone box marked “Card Phone”.
d.Make your call.
A.a,b,c,d | B.c,a,d,b | C.a,d,c,b | D.c,d,a,b |
A.Phone cards are cheap | B.You cannot use all payphones |
C.Thieves will not break card phones | D.Or people have to carry much money |
A.a warning | B.a note |
C.an advertisement | D.an announcement |
5 . Market traders and street vendors (摊贩)are making a comeback across China, and this time they find themselves equipped with a new set of digital skills essential to navigating the vast consumer market. To revitalize (复兴)retail stands, in a move aimed at stimulating domestic spending and stabilizing employment, the country's leading e-commerce platforms are lending a helping hand, offering services like accessible financing backed by technologies.
Domestic wholesale site 1688. com is among the first group of tech players with such offerings. At the heart of the action plan is an effort to link street vendors directly with factories, effectively avoiding middlemen and saving time and costs.
According to general manager Wang Hai, numerous small-scale merchants on the site have managed to gain the upper hand in price negotiations, while manufacturers are more willing to mass-produce as the economy of scale serves to reduce costs, thus creating a win-win situation.
“Data analytics also kicks in, giving traders some insight into current consumer trends so that they no longer need to operate their business purely based on intuition (直觉),and they can avoid stockpiling,“ Wang said. For instance, the most sought-after categories in markets are daily necessities ? underwear , digital gadgets and beauty products, according to the company, whereas the most passionate buyers come from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.
Meanwhile, to stabilize employment , e-commerce major JD. com vowed to add a number of job positions that either require flexible working hours, allow working from home or are designed to promote startup businesses. For posts related to delivery, warehouse management and packaging, priority is given to people from poverty-stricken areas.
“The COVID-19 outbreak will accelerate the digital transformation of the real economy, and individual traders and smaller stores are no exception,” said Xu Lei, CEO of JD's retail unit. "We have the capability and, more importantly, the responsibility to inject vitality (活力)into these entities, thus contributing to the economic rebound (回弹)and stabilizing employment.
1. What can we learn about e-commerce platforms like 1688. com?A.They have an advantage in price negotiation. |
B.Their efforts help street vendors cut the cost. |
C.They increase production through technology. |
D.Their services are financed by the government. |
A.By improving traders' business intuition. |
B.By helping traders find out market trends. |
C.By telling traders when to stockpile goods. |
D.By aiding traders in controlling the market. |
A.A person experienced in driving a truck. | B.A person willing to start a new business. |
C.A person from an underdeveloped village. | D.A person preferring flexible working hours. |
A.Culture. | B.World. |
C.Lifestyle. | D.Business. |
6 . Let’ s explore the nature!
Are you interested in animals and nature? Want to enjoy your summer holiday and learn something fun and useful?
Here comes your chance! Youth Explorer has prepared you with a three-day summer programme full of hands-on activities and live animal encounters (相遇)-----giraffes, snakes, tigers, you name it! You will be spending time at the Fun Zoo exploring topics like animal care, animal handling and a lot more! The details of the programme are as follows:
Age group: Students aged 8--16
Sections: There are 2 programmes for you to choose from. Each programme is limited to 15 participants.
Programme A
Dates: 8---10 July
Days: Monday to Wednesday
Times:10:00a.m.----4:00p.m
Programme B
Dates: 11-13 August
Days: Tuesday to Thursday
Times:10:00a.m.----4:00p.m
Programme fees: $230 for members, $ 250 for non-members
How to apply: Simply come to our centre to get an application form. Submit your completed form on or before 10 June.
Notice:
1) No lunches are provided due to individual food preferences and allergies. Participants may either bring a lunchbox or buy lunch at our restaurants
2) Both programmes will be put off for one day if the following happens: Typhoon signal number 8 or above.
Come and join us now! Don’t miss this chance!
1. What can be learnt about Youth Explorer’ s summer programme?A.It is suitable for animal lovers | B.It is held at its centre |
C.It is full of sports activities | D.It is family-friendly. |
A.It sets a fixed fee | B.It provides free lunches |
C.It favours middle school students | D.It may be affected by the weather |
A.A news report | B.An art show review |
C.An advertisement | D.A lesson plan |
7 . Even though one out of three American children live within a mile of their school, almost not half of those students often bike or walk to class, scientists report.
Children who live in the South, in country areas, or who have college-educated parents, are among those least likely to bike or walk to school, notes the report, which is published in July.
Sarah Martin and her workmates at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) studied materials from more than 7,000 children between 9 and 15 years of age.
They found that almost 35 percent of the children lived within one mile of their schools. Children between 11 and 13 years old were more likely to walk or bike than 9-year-olds. Children whose parents had a high school education were more likely to bike or walk than children with college-educated parents.
“The majority of children are missing an opportunity to increase daily physical activity,” Martin said in a prepared statement.
According to the CDC, nearly one in five (18.8 percent) children between 6 and 11 years old are overweight. Increased daily physical activity is one of the methods the CDC gives to help deal with obesity (肥胖)in children.
Martin said that there are all kinds of reasons why children in city areas might be more likely to bike or walk. They said the fact is that schools may be in mixed-use neighborhoods where it is more possible to bike or walk, compared with other places where there may be fewer safe sidewalks.
1. Sarah Martin and her workmates found that .A.younger children would like to bike or walk to school |
B.older children are much stronger than the younger children |
C.kids whose parents received less education walk more |
D.some children are becoming much lazier than others |
A.eat too much every day | B.have unhealthy meals |
C.are too busy to travel | D.take less physical activity |
A.children should receive a better education |
B.some children don’t bike or walk because there are fewer safe sidewalks |
C.it is unnecessary for children to walk to school |
D.children in country areas have more chance to bike or walk than those in cities |
A.Education. | B.Culture. | C.Sports. | D.Health. |
8 . It is called a mobility(移动性)system or wheelchair — and it can be seen at Tokyo Airport moving on its own.
The mobility system seats one person and is able to find its way on its own without hitting anything. It has a pre-programmed path of about 600 meters at Tokyo’s Haneda International Airport. The ride lasts several minutes. It travels from the security area to the boarding gate at a speed of 3.5 kilometers per hour. But many people hope this type of technology can help in other places, such as hospitals or parks. The technology uses sensors and cameras to see a clear path and avoid hitting those walking toward it. The person on the machine can start or stop it through a simple controller. It runs on batteries and is programmed to return to where it started from when its passenger gets off. It was demonstrated on Monday by WHILL, the company behind the technology.
WHILL Chief Executive Satoshi Sugie said robotics and self-driving technology reduce the need for a human at the wheel. They are especially useful in these difficult times when we are living with the coronavirus(冠状病毒). “We are… developing our business in order to help restore a world where people can enjoy moving around with peace of mind,” Sugie said.
The system is helping with social distancing while fighting the spread of the coronavirus. It also helps older passengers and those who need help walking the last few steps to the boarding gate. What’s more, it could help Japan free up labor. Japan, like many other nations, suffers from a labor shortage. The technology could free a worker to do another job.
Tests have been carried out at several airports since last year, including John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The company hopes to put it in airports around the world.
1. What is special about the mobility system?A.It produces no pollution. | B.It works by solar energy. |
C.It needs no help at the airport. | D.It adjusts the speed to the path. |
A.It is useless to some people. | B.It is well worth using widely. |
C.It needs to be further tested. | D.It may not work well in other places. |
A.Various difficulties of boarding. |
B.New treatment for the coronavirus. |
C.The reasons for a labor shortage. |
D.The advantages of the mobility system. |
A.Science and technology.. | B.Business and culture. |
C.Sports and music | D.Geography and history. |
9 . “Getting even” is becoming increasingly popular as life gets more stressful. Here are some of the stories.
Story A After a long-running conflict between neighbors, one of the families went on vacation for two weeks in the summer. The other neighbor took advantage of their absence to put two pints of maggots, the young form of flies, through the neighbor’s letter slot on the front door. The family returned to a house full of flies. | Story D An 80-year-old woman was in court, charged with shoplifting. The judge asked her what she had stolen. “A can of peaches,” replied the woman. “How many peaches were in the can?” asked the judge. She replied that there were six. “Then I’II give you six days in jail,” said the judge. Before he had time to continue, the woman's husband added. “She also stole a can of peas.” |
Story B Rude customers tend to drive staff in restaurants crazy. One chef confessed that after a customer had demanded that the sauce be removed from his burger, she licked the sauce off it and then sent it back to the customer. | |
Story C A computer technician was angered when his temporary position was terminated so he deliberately brought down five of eight network servers. All the data in the servers was deleted and none was recoverable. As a result the company was forced to shut its New York office for two days and suffered losses of more than S100,000. | Story E A doctor was called out at 2 a.m. to visit a patient who lived on the outskirts of town. When he arrived, he discovered that it was not, in fact, an emergency, and the patient could easily have waited until the next day to visit him in his office. Imagine the patient's surprise when the doctor dropped by in the early hours of the following morning to check if he was OK! |
1. Where can you most probably read this?
A.In News Daily. |
B.In our English textbook. |
C.In a booklet distributed by a travel agency. |
D.In a magazine intended to provide entertainment. |
A. | B. |
C. | D. |
A.Story B. | B.Story C. | C.C. Story D. | D.Story E. |
10 . A heart-stopping video shows that a group of hikers were able to keep their cool as a curious black bear approached them—and one even stayed composed enough to snap a selfie (自拍).
The black bear pulls one of the women by the leg with its paws(爪子),moving towards her across the path as she tries to remain completely still. When the frightening animal stands up on its legs to smell her, the fearless walker can be seen taking a photo with the wild animal as it breathes down her neck.
The incident is reported to have happened on a path in Chipinque Ecological Park, Mexico, and the clip (剪辑片段)has had millions of views since being shared on social media. With the bear particularly interested in one member of the group, another walker remains frozen with her back to the animal as she stares still into the trees.
A third can be seen nervously fearing as the bear begins to approach her and shakes her hand in fear, but it circles back around to check out the first hiker for a second time. It pushes her off balance with its head before twice pawing at her legs as onlookers shout to try and warn the bear off.
The woman remains fearless as the animal isn't into her and continues walking up the path, giving the group an opportunity to make a swift exit.
It was shared on Twitter by former basketball player Rex Chapman, getting 2.7 million views, with the caption: "Oh, my goodness. She's a rock."
1. What does the underlined word "composed” mean in the first paragraph?A.Calm | B.Confused | C.Amazed | D.Afraid |
A.On seeing the black bear. | B.On the bear's pulling her leg. |
C.On the bear's smelling her | D.On the bear's seeing her. |
A.It was frightened. | B.It lost interest. |
C.It got injured. | D.It was hungry. |
A.A brochure. | B.A health magazine. |
C.A research report. | D.A newspaper. |