1 . Have you ever heard about Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Surely, they are all about finding the best deals on holiday gifts for yourself and family members. And have you heard about GivingTuesday? Here is something about it!
GivingTuesday is observed annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, which encourages people to help those in need by making financial donations or doing good in their local community. The “Global Day of Giving” was started in 2012 by New York City nonprofit 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation.
Unlike Black Friday, GivingTuesday serves a more altruistic purpose. In its first year, the movement brought in almost $10 million for charities, and things have only improved since. In 2019, many GivingTuesday social media campaigns worldwide helped raise an amazing $ 1.9 billion from 27 million donors! Over the past five years, many higher education institutions have also been using the Tuesday after Thanksgiving to ask alumni for donations. In 2019, the University of Michigan, which calls it Blueday, received 5887 gifts totaling over $4 million, while Pennsylvania State University raised $710 000 to benefit over 85 University programs.
Though donating money certainly helps, there are many other ways to support the great cause, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can video tutor kids struggling with online learning, or team up with an adult to get groceries or medications for an elderly neighbor. Alternatively, call on your peers to help you with a service project that addresses an issue close to your heart, or pick one from the several ideas suggested on the GivingTuesday website. You can also donate your gently-used clothes and toys to local shelters, or mail a handwritten note to a grandparent or a friend you miss seeing.
What are you going to do to make a positive difference in your community on GivingTuesday? Let us know by adding your comments below!
1. Why does the author mention Black Friday and Cyber Monday in Paragraph 1?A.To make a comparison. | B.To lead to the topic. |
C.To arouse readers’ interest. | D.To express his doubt. |
A.To promote the development of economy. | B.To attract people to buy more holiday gifts. |
C.To call on more universities to donate money. | D.To encourage people to help those in need. |
A.Selfless. | B.General. | C.Specific. | D.Complex. |
A.Where people can offer their kind help. | B.What people can do on GivingTuesday. |
C.How people can stay safe during COVID-19. | D.Why people need to support the great cause. |
2 . A small bowl bought at a yard sale in Connecticut for just $ 35 has been identified as a rare 15th-century Chinese antique.
The blue-and-white bowl was made by China's royal court during the Ming dynasty. It is now expected to sell for up to $500,000, according to Sotheby's auction(拍卖)house in New York, where the auction will take place next month.
The purchase was made last year near New Haven, Connecticut. “I was just hanging around there aimlessly. But when I saw this bowl, I didn't even bargain over the $35 asking price,” the owner said. Shortly after the purchase, he sent photos of the bowl to auction specialists, who identified it as an item of historical significance.
Upon closer inspection, the artifact was found to have originated from the period of Yongle Emperor, who ruled from 1403 to 1424 - a period noted for its distinctive porcelain (瓷器)techniques. It's now valued between $300,000 and $500,000, with the top estimate nearly 14,300 times the amount it was purchased for.
“I was deeply attracted by the techniques. You can see why this bowl is so highly-valued from the very smooth porcelain body, silky glaze(上釉)and special blue coloring, which were never reproduced in later dynasties,” McAteer, an auction specialist, said.
“The Yongle Emperor improved the porcelain techniques and elevated the importance of porcelain from being an ordinary bowl into a true work of art. This small bowl has both practical and artistic value, ”McAteer said.
1. What can we infer about the bowl's owner?A.He found the bowl by accident. |
B.He hesitated during the purchase. |
C.He doubted whether the bowl was real. |
D.He bought the bowl because it was cheap. |
A.The blue color on it. | B.The long history it has. |
C.The people who made it. | D.The unique techniques used. |
A.Forsaw. | B.Promoted. |
C.Assessed. | D.Acknowledged. |
A.An Amazing Bowl | B.A Special Yard Sale |
C.The Return of Porcelains | D.A Man Making Fortune |
3 . One of the most traditional British holidays is the “seaside holiday”. Typically, families get on a train or into a car and travel to British seaside towns. They sunbathe on the beach, buy ice creams, eat fish and chips, build sandcastles and so on.
In the early 1970s, air travel became affordable for the average family in the UK, and more and more British people started travelling abroad for their summer holidays. After all, the British weather isn't very good, even in summer, so a lot leave the UK for a vacation. Particularly popular with families on a budget is the “package holiday", where the cost of flights and accommodation are offered at a discounted price by travel agents.
In the 1980s and 1990s, young people in the UK became more wealthy, or at least had more disposable income. As a result, young people started to go abroad in groups, to places such as Spain and Greece. Once at their destination, they socialized with other groups of young people and had one long party.
British holidaying habits have begun to change, however. Climate change means that the UK now has a warmer climate than before, so people don't always feel they need to go overseas to find good weather. Also, the world seems a less certain place as interconnected economics rise and fall, which means that the cost of foreign holidays is less predictable than it used to be. As a result, more and more Britons are choosing to spend their summer holidays in the UK.
In the UK, the domestic (国内的) tourism industry---when people go on holiday in their own country---is healthier than it has been in decades. There is now an increased appreciation among Britons for the diversity of the UK. It is not just the geography and the diversity of climate-based activities on offer. It is also the diversity of the cultures in the UK that is beginning to be of interest to domestic tourists
The UK has always been famous for its international explorers, but now it is starting to discover itself.
1. What mainly caused Britons to travel abroad for holidays in the early 1970s?A.The lower cost of flights. |
B.The bad weather in the UK. |
C.The trend of going overseas. |
D.The rise of tourism industry. |
A.Easy to handle. |
B.Steady in amount. |
C.Flexible to change. |
D.Available for use. |
A.Steady interconnected economics encourage more Britons to holiday in the UK. |
B.Climate change has an impact on the change of British holidaying habits. |
C.Package holiday was particularly popular with rich families in the early 1970s. |
D.Both domestic and international tourists are interested in the diversity of the UK. |
A.Uncertain. |
B.Optimistic. |
C.Pessimistic |
D.Critical. |
4 . Indonesian university student Tyas Sisianindita spends about eight hours a day on her phone. That time includes watching videos, chatting with friends and using social media. "At night, when I can't sleep, I can use my phone for up to five hours," she said, noting she checks her phone countless times from morning until night. She even checks it while in class.
Tyas goes to the University of Indonesia, where a team of students recently developed a device meant to fight phone addiction. The students spent three months creating the device, which can help internet users like Tyas diminish time they spend looking at their phones.
Inventor Irfan Budi Satria led the development team. The device is called “Nettox", which combines the words “internet" and "detox (排毒)". Users wear it on their arm. The device has a sensor that measures hemoglobin (红蛋白) oxygen levels and changes to the heart rate called HRV. Studies have found that using a mobile phone for long hours can lower HRV levels. The Nettox device makes a sound when HRV and blood oxygen levels fall, which reminds wearers to stop using their phones.
For people between the ages of 18 and 25, the HRV should stay above 60. At a recent trial, Tyas' HRV reading was 44.
Internet addiction is a growing social issue in Indonesia. In October, two teenagers were treated for their addiction to internet gaming, media reported.
Irfan Budi Satria's team is working to improve Nettox's accuracy. HRV readings can change depending on whether the user is a man or woman, and what their body shape and health conditions are.
The team aims to get a patent for their invention with the university by next year. Irfan says Nettox is for people already trying to change their behavior. "Our goal is to help people who want to free themselves from internet addiction," he said.
1. What can we learn about Tyas from Paragraph1?A.She often sleeps late. | B.She often skips classes. |
C.She is addicted to phones. | D.She is skilled in the media. |
A.Kill. | B.Treasure. | C.Record. | D.Reduce. |
A.How the device works. | B.Where Nettox is from. |
C.When users wear the device. | D.Why hemoglobin changes with HRV. |
A.Applying for a patent. | B.Setting free phone addicts. |
C.Bettering the device's accuracy. | D.Studying internet addiction. |
5 . A shocking news report has revealed that more than one in five species of maple trees faces extinction, warning that 75% of the threatened species are “geographically restricted” in their native regions.
The trees are experiencing a vast decline in habitat, due to urban development, wood harvesting and agricultural expansion. Time is running out for the world's biodiversity. Every recent survey of plants and animals in the wild points to this. This is happening nearly everywhere rarer maples exist. And because of climate change, the narrow habitats that support species at the edges of dry places and at the tops of mountains are quickly disappearing.
The trees can be found in subtropical and tropical regions, as far south as Indonesia. The only species found in the UK, the field maple is not under threat. Not only are the trees a popular attractive feature in parks and public spaces, but they are a key part of the natural ecosystem in woodlands, as well as being an important wood crop in several countries. Although the sugar maple in North America, which produces maple juice, is not endangered, two of the closest relatives to the species are endangered.
The report notes that conserving at-risk species in their natural habitat is the best conservation tactic. But collections in botanical gardens and seed banks-called "ex situ collections" can act as insurance policies against extinction. There are currently 14 species of maple, including four that are critically endangered, which are absent from these types of collections.
One species in Mexico, the Acer binzayedii, is in “desperate need of conservation"”despite only being discovered in 2017. “It is at risk from climate change in its cloud forest habitat and threatened by logging and forest fires while it is also absent from 'ex situ collections',” the report adds. The report recommends developing conservation plans, monitoring species currently not at risk to ensure populations are maintained, and adding those missing maple species to seed banks.
1. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?A.Action to protect maple trees. | B.The dangerous situation of maple trees. |
C.Various maple trees' habitats in the world. | D.The conditions for diversity in maple trees. |
A.They cannot produce juice. | B.They are found in America. |
C.They are not at risk of extinction. | D.They have two endangered relatives. |
A.Topic. | B.Approach. | C.Result. | D.Conclusion. |
A.To offer a proposal. | B.To recommend a product. |
C.To introduce maple species. | D.To warn people of disasters. |
6 . As she removes the fish from the oven, smells of garlic, pepper, and lemon fill the community kitchen. For Glenda Andrew, the smells bring back memories of family meals, community events and religious get-togethers.
She brings the hot meals for free to people in an area called Preston, as well as surrounding communities in northwestern England. The area has recorded some of the highest numbers of coronavirus cases in Britain.
She uses the best food she can find. "They're worth it," she said. "They’ve taught us so many things when we firstly moved here." In addition to food, the volunteers offer a bit of human contact.
The loneliness of the past year has been painful for many of the seniors. When the hot meals arrive, they get to talk with the volunteers and share stories. Sylius Toussaint is 81 and came from the island nation of Dominica in 1960, who said talking with the volunteers helps him as much as the food does."They say 'hello' and give you a meal, and maybe for just a few seconds at least you see someone new; someone you haven't seen all week," Toussaint says, smiling at his wife. "If you are on your own, it is so nice to see a fresh face — especially bringing gifts."
Britain's COVID-19 vaccination program may soon mean the quarantine will be eased. But Andrew wants to keep making and sharing her island meals. In the future, she said, she hopes to find a place where the community can meet and spend time together. But for now, the volunteers plan to continue to connect with the community through food.
1. Why does Glenda Andrew provide free meals for people in that area?A.To comfort those virus-attacked seniors. |
B.To promote her business in lockdown areas. |
C.To help them live a normal life. |
D.To show her gratitude to them. |
A.The loneliness of the seniors. |
B.The benefits from the volunteer activity. |
C.The tough situation of immigrants. |
D.The relationship between volunteers and the seniors. |
A.Loneliness. | B.Disease. | C.Suffering. | D.Isolation. |
A.Andrew will continue her good deeds. |
B.Andrew will build a new community. |
C.Andrew will stop providing meals. |
D.Andrew will help the community out. |
7 . Coffee is an essential part of Italian culture and since arriving here over six months ago, I have definitely drunk a lot of it!
Of course, coffee is also very popular in the UK but coffee culture in Italy is a completely different story. In Italy, when you order a coffee in a cafe or bar, you are presented with a tiny, bitter espresso. This is' normal coffee for Italians and they are not so interested in the huge coffees that we drink in the UK. In addition, while take-away coffee is extremely popular among the British, it is not very common at all in Italy, especially in non-touristy areas. Generally, Italians prefer to drink their tiny coffees while standing at the bar and,for many, this short break is an important part of their day.
Typically, breakfast in a bar in Italy involves a coffee and a pastry. I have been attracted by the lovely cafes in the Italian town I'm living in. These cafes sell all sorts of mouth-watering pastries, either plain or filled with cream, chocolate, jam or Nutella, as well as delicious coffee. Cappuccinos are very popular at breakfast time and, for me, a creamy cappuccino and a pastry full of Nutella is the perfect way to start the day. I think it's nice to head to a bar to grab a coffee and pastries for breakfast before work and it's luxury to take more time to enjoy such a breakfast at the weekend.
Finally, I have found that coffee in Italy is so much cheaper than coffee in the UK. Normally, an espresso or a macchiato(an espresso with a small amount of milk added)costs around a euro and a cappuccino about 1.50! They are small, of course, but this means that in Italy it is possible to go out for coffee regularly without breaking the bank.
1. What does the author intend to tell us in Paragraph 2?A.Espresso is very popular in Italy. |
B.Italians prefer small coffees to large ones. |
C.Coffee culture in Italy is very different from that in the UK. |
D.Italians have more time spent in cafes than the British people. |
A.a container to provide cream | B.some attractive fruit |
C.a powder to be mixed with coffee | D.a dessert served for breakfast |
A.Drinking coffee in cafes is expensive. |
B.Coffee is not allowed to be taken out. |
C.Italian coffee is mainly imported from the UK. |
D.Coffee often comes along with other food as breakfast. |
A.Positive. | B.Disapproving. | C.Doubtful. | D.Uncertain. |
8 . If you're feeling hungry, what’s the easiest way to satisfy your Hunger? Many of Us will reach for a takeaway menu and order some delicious-but possibly unhealthy -food. And our increasingly hectic lives add to our need to buy ready-made food because we always have no time or energy to cook on our own.
Eating options are endless, and new technology means we can feed our desire at the push of a button. Takeaway delivery apps make ordering food quick and convenient. It's estimated that in the UK alone, people eat three million takeaway meals a day, and the three biggest delivery apps together offer a choice of 100 foods from 60,000 restaurants. Amelia Brophy, head of UK Data Products at YouGov, told the BBC that its research suggests that the frequency of takeaways ordered is expected to increase in the future.
It’s no wonder we are tempted to skip the grocery shopping, bypass the kitchen, and tuck into something that someone else has prepared. But ordering a pizza, a spicy curry or a box of noodles, can come at a price both financially and to our health. Eating too much processed and unhealthy fast food has some effect on obesity and the risk of developing certain diseases. A few years ago, the BBC Good Food Nation Survey found most people eating fast food on average two days per week gradually putting on weight.
Of course, reducing salt, sugar and fat is one way to make takeaway food healthier, as well as offering smaller portion sizes. But the best advice for you is to find a recipe book and try making your own nutritious meals. And if you haven't got time, try ordering a healthier alternative from the menu.
1. What does the underlined word “hectic” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Abnormal. | B.Busy. | C.Irregular. | D.Social. |
A.The various food. |
B.Their delicious taste. |
C.Their relatively low price. |
D.The advanced technology. |
A.Takeaway foods may do harm to health. |
B.Takeaway foods make people light-hearted. |
C.Pizza and noodles are the most popular takeaway foods. |
D.The UK has the largest number of people ordering takeaway foods. |
A.To give readers some suggestions. |
B.To offer readers an alternative menu. |
C.To find the reason for ordering takeaway foods. |
D.To choose the best way of making nutritious meals. |
9 . As a boy, I wanted to go to the South Pole. As a teenager, I decided I'd like to go to the North Pole too. And yet, I haven't done either. It had taken me 31 years to just make it to the Arctic.
I was traveling with a film crew from Northern Ireland, following the footsteps of Lord Dufferin who, in the 1850s, sailed from Scotland to the Arctic. As an early adventure tourist, he was driven by the desire to see what lay at the ends of the world.
As we sailed north, icebergs of the size of buses floated past our small boat. Finally, we reached our destination—English Bay, where Dufferin landed- and stepped off onto the horseshoe-shaped beach.
This was what I'd dreamt of: standing somewhere so pure and primitive. However, for many early polar explorers, the results were far less pleasant. The south, in particular, was source of extreme danger.
My childhood interest in the South Pole was fueled by the unsuccessful yet heroic adventures of Emest Shackleton. He died in 1922 while preparing for his fourth adventure. The stories of Robert Falcon Scott are also well-known: he and four companions died on their way back from the South Pole.
So why do explorers put themselves at such risk?
Much of it seems to lie in the purity of the challenge. Scott talked of the appeal of a place that had been “unreached and unseen by humans.” “With a view over shining lands covered by ice-sheets of inconceivable extent, you have the feeling of living over the control of death,” said Fridtjof Nansen, a Norwegian explorer.
On the homeward journey the weather turned and we were left for a few days at the mercy of a storm. We experienced a small taste of helplessness when faced with the raw power of nature. We should be grateful for the great explorers’ spirit and stories. I know I am.
1. Why did the author begin his adventure tour?A.To assist a film crew | B.To realize a childhood dream |
C.To memorize Lord Dufferin | D.To challenge a world record |
A.Hard to control | B.Too far to reach |
C.Hard to imagine | D.Too bright to view |
A.They were trapped in icebergs | B.They were kept off the destination |
C.They were attacked by a storm | D.They were rescued by explorers |
A.The Appeal of the Ends of the World | B.The Dream of Traveling to the Arctic |
C.The Victory over the Control of Death | D.The Gratitude to Great Explorers Spirit |
10 . It would be easy to believe that Mother’s Day was created by a greeting card company. After all, the day is celebrated with special sales and brunches, lots of presents and massive advertising campaigns. But the day was actually conceived more than a century ago by Anna Jarvis of West Virginia as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made for their children.
Jarvis’s mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, helped start “Mothers’ Day Work Clubs,” teaching women how to care for their children. During the Civil War, she organized “Mothers’ Friendship Day,” where mothers of Union and Confederate soldiers met to try to promote harmony. The younger Jarvis Was inspired by all the things her mother had accomplished with her social work.
When Jarvis was young, she overheard her mother praying, “I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will find a memorial mother’s day honoring her for the matchless service she offers to humanity in every field of life.” When her mom died in 1905, Jarvis looked through all the sympathy cards she received. She underlined all the kind words that praised her mother, reading them over and over. The outpouring of kindness for her mother inspired her to create a day to honor all mothers.
The white carnation was her mother’s favorite flower, so it became the symbol for the day. She said it symbolized the truth, purity and charity of a mother’s love. Her idea of celebrating Mother’s Day was wearing a carnation while visiting your mother or maybe going to church together. Children were also encouraged to write letters to their mothers, sharing the depths of their appreciation.
The first official Mother’s Day events were held on May 10. 1908, at the church where her mother taught Sunday School in Grafton, West Virginia, and at the Wanamaker’s department store auditorium(礼堂)in Philadelphia. Jarvis didn’t attend the event in Grafton, but she sent 500 white carnations.
1. What is the probable meaning of the underlined word “conceived” in paragraph 1?A.Thought up | B.Figured out. |
C.Found out. | D.Believed in. |
A.She created Mother’s Day. | B.She was active in social work. |
C.She joined in the American Civil War. | D.She taught Jarvis how to care for children. |
A.Pray for their mother’s happiness. | B.Send some flowers to their mothers. |
C.Write a letter to thank their mothers. | D.Accompany their mothers to the celebration. |
A.A Memorable Mother | B.Carnation and Mother’s Day |
C.The Greatness of a Mother | D.The Founding of Mother’s Day |