1 . Germany’s top court (法院) has ruled that parts of the country’s 2019 climate action law must be changed because they don’t do a good job of protecting young people. Nine young people aged 15 to 24 took the government to court over the law. They said that the government’s failure to plan carefully was putting their future lives in danger.
The judges (法官) of Germany’s highest court said climate change will influence young people far more than adults. That’s because climate change will become more serious over time. As young people become adults, they’ll be left to deal with any problems that today’s adults don’t deal with.
In 2019, Germany passed a new law, promising that the country would be producing no more CO2 than the forest can take in by 2050. The law made a plan of action until 2030. But the law didn’t have any plans for climate actions that would be taken between 2031 and 2050.
The court has asked the German government to fix the law by the end of 2022. The climate law will now need to have a plan for the actions that will be taken after 2030.
The German government has said that it will quickly begin working to make the needed changes. One important part of high court decisions like this is that they act as guides or examples for future decisions. This means that in the future, Germany’s lawmakers will be more likely to think about the climate future of young people as they create their laws.
1. Why did the judges make such a decision?A.They decided the new law made no sense. |
B.They wanted to give the young more rights. |
C.They focused more on the future of the young. |
D.They thought it’s hard to solve climate change. |
A.It failed to take action before 2030. |
B.It was producing more and more CO2. |
C.It refused to consider the young’s rights. |
D.It didn’t plan the climate actions after 2030. |
A.It will make more decisions on climate change. |
B.It will ask the young to help make climate laws. |
C.It will consider the young when making climate laws. |
D.It will encourage the young to protect the environment. |
A.They were brave and forward-looking enough. |
B.They couldn’t bear the present climate change. |
C.They wanted to take part in law-making. |
D.They planned to work in the government. |
2 . In July 2021, kids from around the world watched the first appearance of skateboarding at the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The four medal events for men and women in park and street boarding showed the gifts of 80 athletes from all over the world.
Bryce Wettstein is one of the top competitors from the United States in park skateboarding, which requires athletes to show skills that combine (使结合) art and athleticism in a bowl that looks like an empty swimming pool. At 17, Bryce shows her skills in a way that celebrates the skateboarding community.
Skateboarding began in the late 1940s and early 1950s in small Southern California beach towns. Born into this community, Bryce has won a place at the center of the sport. “Skateboarding just seems like it can be everything and anything all washed together in some washing machine of color,” she said.
Bryce shares her California hometown with international skateboard pioneer Tony Hawk. He was chosen by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an ambassador (大使) in its “Stronger Together” competitive sport, which celebrates this year’s athletes. In an IOC video, Hawk summarized the unlikely rise of skateboarding. “We used to see ourselves as a family of misfits (不合群),” he said. “But now the world calls us Olympians.”
Skateboarders celebrate each other’s natural abilities and achievements, while working to help the sport develop. This is shown in the friendship between Bryce and top Australian competitor Poppy Starr Olsen. Both athletes have dreamed of acting for their own countries at the Olympic Games since they skateboarded together as kids.
“I think skateboarding is going to be really different from all the other sports,” Poppy said. “We’re all kind of like a family.” Bryce agreed. “That’s what makes skateboarding such a great sport,” she said.
1. Which of the following best describes Bryce Wettstein?A.A skateboarder who likes everything colourful. |
B.An excellent skateboarder easy to get on with. |
C.An excellent skateboarder from the birthplace of skateboarding. |
D.A skateboarder having a special understanding of skateboarding. |
A.He does much to celebrate the athletes. | B.He made skateboarding rise in the world. |
C.He is a skateboard pioneer all over the world. | D.He made an important speech in an IOC video. |
A.It gets family members together. | B.It is the dream of many children. |
C.It is a means to celebrate success. | D.It can bring people close together. |
A.Top athletes at the Olympics. | B.A new Olympic sports event. |
C.Some skateboarders’ success. | D.Opinions on an Olympic sports event. |
3 . Summer volunteer chances for students
Finding a summer volunteer chance is easier than you think. There are national programs all over the US that you can take part in. Check out these volunteer chances for students.
UN Volunteer ProgramIf you are an 18-year-old high school student, you might choose to volunteer in a UN organisation. The UN Volunteer Program (paid) is looking for excellent adults aged 18 to 55. Volunteer projects explore peace-building, climate change and disaster management (气候变化和灾害管理). Those looking for a summer program will also receive training before and after a short-term task.
National Park ServiceTeens aged 15-18 can take part in National Park Service and get paid. The volunteers work outdoors on several different projects including cleaning up campgrounds, improving wildlife habitat (栖息地), environmental education planning and teaching, and more! You’ll also take part in educational field trips where you’ll be able to see wildlife before your eyes.
Habitat for HumanityYou can find a lot of summer volunteer fun through Habitat for Humanity. Not only can you help build houses, but you can join in improving your community and helping out at the donation (捐赠) center. Youths aged 16 or older may take part in this program, and must have turned 16 by the first day of the project.
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross is always looking for youth volunteers. Its Red Cross youth programs offer students and young adults meaningful chances of leadership training and community service. The chances are given to all junior and senior high school students.
1. What is special about the National Park Service?A.It allows its volunteers to camp. | B.It offers chances to see wild animals. |
C.It offers job-related training to volunteers. | D.It allows volunteers to explore new interests. |
A.Clean up houses. | B.Enjoy some fun games. |
C.Make money to help people in need. | D.Make their community better. |
A.UN Volunteer Program. | B.National Park Service. |
C.Habitat for Humanity. | D.American Red Cross. |
4 . “If that little girl is causing that much trouble within your group of friends, I would simply stop her,” I said as Abby was about to set off to school. Abby listened carefully, as I continued. “If she causes any more
By this time, Allyson, my then eight-year-old daughter, had joined us, listening to every word too. Neither of my daughters cut in as I finished my
Hmmm, I had become a
“Yes, that’s a good point,” I said, forcing a
A.uncertainty | B.trouble | C.danger | D.harm |
A.warn | B.order | C.ask | D.encourage |
A.speech | B.job | C.class | D.discussion |
A.honest | B.right | C.brave | D.impressive |
A.friend | B.sister | C.adviser | D.teacher |
A.partner | B.designer | C.teenager | D.student |
A.imagined | B.remembered | C.realized | D.heard |
A.sit | B.hide | C.stop | D.talk |
A.smile | B.sale | C.conversation | D.question |
A.take in | B.depend on | C.learn about | D.deal with |
A.school | B.home | C.work | D.practice |
A.watching | B.following | C.calling | D.pushing |
A.asleep | B.alone | C.afraid | D.awake |
A.curious | B.confused | C.nervous | D.proud |
A.sign | B.need | C.listen | D.help |
5 . There was an old couple who had been married for 40 years. They loved each other deeply and went on dates together. Every time they went out for supper, the husband would order pie for dessert, which became their
But then the husband began to
He moved out of the house and into a nursing home. She was
One of the doctors
Everything had come back. His wife’s
A.power | B.belief | C.culture | D.tradition |
A.decided | B.refused | C.waited | D.hoped |
A.catch | B.judge | C.steal | D.try |
A.develop | B.spread | C.study | D.discover |
A.wonder | B.forget | C.doubt | D.admit |
A.secretly | B.entirely | C.naturally | D.finally |
A.upset | B.concerned | C.nervous | D.surprised |
A.excuses | B.rewards | C.examples | D.ideas |
A.frightened | B.amazed | C.puzzled | D.moved |
A.allowed | B.advised | C.asked | D.forced |
A.accepted | B.praised | C.questioned | D.noted |
A.gallery | B.park | C.cinema | D.restaurant |
A.clearly | B.suddenly | C.actually | D.simply |
A.action | B.response | C.attention | D.attitude |
A.managed | B.shared | C.enjoyed | D.followed |
1. What is the man in the band?
A.A guitar player. | B.A singer. | C.A drummer. |
A.Whether they should make fame quickly. |
B.Whether they should go on tour. |
C.Whether they should start a band. |
A.Play music out of love. | B.Sell lots of records. | C.Attract more fans. |
A.It is swift. | B.It is cheap. | C.It is convenient. |
A.At 6:00 pm. | B.At 7:00 pm. | C.At 8:00 pm. |
A.At two. | B.At three. | C.At four. |
10 . Are you happy with your appearance?
“Almost all the girls with single-fold eyelids (单眼皮) in our class have had double eyelid operations,” Zeng, a Senior 2 student from Chengdu, told Xinhua. Zeng had the same surgery done this summer.
From popular photo-editing apps to plastic surgery (整形手术), it seems that large eyes, pale skin and a skinny body are the only standard for beauty these days. But can following this standard really make us feel good about ourselves?
“Many teenagers are upset about their appearance because they believe in unrealistic standards of beauty,” experts say.
However, trying to live up to strict standards can make us feel anxious. What troubles us is not just our “imperfect” looks, but the fact that we criticize ourselves too much.
A.Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. |
B.Body image anxiety is common among teenagers. |
C.Guys care just as much as girls do about their body image. |
D.Some teenagers might feel negative about their appearance. |
E.It’s common for teenagers to feel confident about their appearance. |
F.She and many of her classmates believe bigger eyes look more beautiful. |
G.Perfect faces and bodies are everywhere in advertising, TV shows and social media. |