1 . Books That Celebrate Diverse Holidays and Traditions
It’s important to remember there are a diverse set of holidays available to explore. Below are a few books that help introduce children to different holiday cultures and traditions.
Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto, illustrated by Ed Martinez
While helping her mother with Christmas celebration, Maria is tempted to try on her mother’s diamond ring. After getting caught up in the joy of the holiday and playing with her cousins, Maria realizes the ring is missing! That’s when she and her cousins come up with a plan to eat all of the tamales, in hopes of finding the ring.
Together for Kwanzaa by Juwanda G. Ford, illustrated by Shelly Hehenberger
This is a story about a little girl named Kayla who wants to see her older brother Khari come home so they can celebrate Kwanzaa together as a family. Khari is stuck at college when a snowstorm hits and his car breaks down. Will he make it home in time for Kwanzaa?
A Child’s Christmas in Wales by Dylan Thomas, illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman
This book is a funny, nostalgic tale of Christmas Eve afternoon through Christmas night in Wales, and is full of unique imagery and poetic prose. It will arouse a sense of familiarity for some young readers while introducing them to different aspects of Christmas traditions.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
The word otsaliheliga is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. This is an amazing story that describes a journey through the seasons with a modern-day Cherokee family. Cherokee history and traditions are also woven into the story in a very kid-friendly way.
1. What makes it difficult for Khari to return home in time for Kwanzaa?A.A car crash. | B.Delayed flights. | C.Extreme weather. | D.Academic pressure. |
A.Traci Sorell. | B.Ed Martinez. | C.Dylan Thomas. | D.Trina Schart Hyman. |
A.how to find hidden treasures at home | B.how to strengthen bonds with friends |
C.the lifestyles of different ethnic groups | D.different holiday celebrations and customs |
A.has followed | B.have followed | C.was following | D.were following |
A.occupies | B.helps | C.attaches | D.devotes |
A.the; an | B./; the | C.the; the | D./; an |
A.satisfactions | B.concerns | C.complaints | D.opinions |
6 . It’s clear that following a plant-based diet is connected with a lower risk of heart disease. There are many types of plant-based diets, and they are all related to certain foods connected with heart benefits, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and healthy oils. The diets have been most studied for their impact on heart health. These diets are rich in vitamins and minerals that help lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of diabetes (糖尿病) and keep a healthy weight, all of which can lower your risk of heart disease.
Yet, the types of plant foods and their sources are also important. For example, white rice and white bread are plant-based foods, so you would think they’re good to eat. But they are highly processed, and so are depleted of many heart-healthy nutrients (营养) and have enough sugar, which means they can make blood sugar levels rise sharply and increase hunger, leading to overeating. Drinking 100% fruit juice is not the same as eating the whole fruit, since juices can be high in sugar.
Do you really have to cut out all meat for your heart’s health? Which animal foods could have an impact on heart health? Some research has shown that the type and amount matter most. A 2014 study showed that men aged 45 to 79 who ate 75 grams or more per day of processed red meat, like cold cuts, sausage, bacon and hot dogs, had a 28% higher risk of heart failure than those who ate less than 25 grams. However, a study in the January 2017 found that eating 85 grams of unprocessed red meat, three times per week, did not worsen blood pressure.
What is the right plant-based diet for you? “For many men, this may be a matter of bettering their current foods,” says Dr. Satija, a researcher from American College of Cardiology.
1. From the first two paragraphs, we know that plant-based diets ________.A.benefit heart health | B.increase hunger | C.lead to overweight | D.contain enough sugar |
A.Added to. | B.Short of. | C.Filled with. | D.Rooted in. |
A.To prove the result believable. | B.To attract readers’ attention. |
C.To show the process clearly. | D.To make the study popular. |
A.Risks of animal foods. | B.Disadvantages of plant-based diets. |
C.Changes of eating habits. | D.Effects of heart-healthy diets. |
7 . Hotels orbit Saturn’s pale orange moon, Titan. Cruise ships roam the docking stations like fish. Have you ever imagined making this future space travel in the fiction films a reality?
Large companies and entire governments have teamed up to make space travel and exploration easier and quicker. Several countries are planning space missions between now and 2025. Some aim to build stations orbiting the moon.
Yet no human has traveled beyond Earth’s orbit since 1972. Money is part of the problem. To put a pound of anything in space costs about $10,000. Consider that the old NASA space shuttles carried 2.2 million pounds (998,000kg) of fuel alone. Once in space, we face the problem of enormous space. Current technology and fuels can propel spacecraft at around 36,000 miles (58,000 km) per hour.
Accessing fresh food is another issue. Today, astronauts eat lots of freeze-dried meals.
A.Others intend to land humans on Mars. |
B.Freezing food reduces its vitamins and minerals. |
C.Even if a trip fit within a lifetime, it wouldn’t be easy. |
D.In some ways, we are on the edge of this imagined future. |
E.Frozen food cannot provide them with enough good nutrition. |
F.With that amazing speed, spacecrafts would carry astronauts to other worlds. |
G.Even at that speed, it would take 78,000 years to reach the nearest star system. |
1. What did the man study in college?
A.Art history. | B.Medicine. | C.Business. |
A.They’re neighbors. |
B.They’re salesman and customer. |
C.They’re teacher and student. |
A.Doing what her father suggests. |
B.Exploring all the possibilities. |
C.Making a decision as early as possible. |
9 . At twenty-three, I had no idea that a summer class I feared would change my life and help me achieve dreams.
The class focusing on literature centered on
Recently, I’d had
Even bigger
A.evil | B.kindness | C.despair | D.death |
A.instead of | B.due to | C.except for | D.less than |
A.discouraging | B.amusing | C.inspiring | D.disappointing |
A.goals | B.sites | C.class | D.adventure |
A.remembered | B.reviewed | C.recovered | D.reserved |
A.page | B.edge | C.back | D.cover |
A.relied on | B.reflected on | C.carried on | D.insisted on |
A.access | B.limit | C.clue | D.evidence |
A.ensured | B.attempted | C.confirmed | D.protested |
A.carefully | B.definitely | C.fully | D.independently |
A.explored | B.revised | C.preferred | D.chose |
A.rejected | B.unearthed | C.received | D.accepted |
A.upsetting | B.unbelievable | C.embarrassing | D.alarming |
A.dreams | B.legends | C.beliefs | D.memories |
A.worst | B.least | C.best | D.most |
10 . One day in Bronx, a first-grade teacher sat down in a barbershop for a trim (修剪) and one of his students walked in, sat down and started looking antsy. He thought to himself that it was a perfect opportunity to practice reading, a thought that changed Alvin Irby’s life, and he’s filling many barbershops around the US with free books to decrease childhood illiteracy (文盲). His non-profit, Barbershop Books, has delivered 50,000 free books to more than 200 barbershops in major black neighborhoods in 24 states, revealing the fact that in Black American communities, barbershops are like community centers where people get together naturally.
Irby’s program may seem straightforward, but there’s a lot of thought behind it. He puts a colorful, kid-sized bookshelf in each shop, making it inviting to children. The books displayed are all carefully chosen based on recommendations from his target audience. The bookshelves display the covers of the books, helping kids who may be interested in reading seize the opportunity for themselves, whether they’re in the barber’s chair or they’re waiting on their dad or friend. And, Irby involves the barbers in his mission—training them to engage kids about reading. “We want them to encourage kids to use the reading spaces,” he said. “Then they can talk to them about how they like reading, how funny a book was, or tell them about another book another kid was reading.”
Denny Moe was the first barber to work with Irby. Moe had previously offered video games at his Harlem shop, to bring in extra income, but he was willing to abandon that to help the community. “I decided to pay it forward by getting rid of the video games, putting books in here, just to get the kids’ minds going” he said. “I want to make an impact.”
“These books, I would say, have power,” 8-year-old boy Chance said. That’s what keeps Irby motivated. “I’m just excited that we get to create a safe space for boys to do something that’s really life changing, “he said. “That’s what I really believe reading is. It unlocks potential.”
1. Why is Irby’s program appealing to children?A.It stimulates children’s efforts. | B.It guarantees children’s security. |
C.It responds to children’s requests. | D.It caters to children’s preferences. |
A.His desire to make a big fortune. |
B.His ambition to make a difference. |
C.His hope of meeting business demands. |
D.His motive for attracting more customers. |
A.To prove Irby’s efforts successful. |
B.To stress great importance of books. |
C.To show human unlimited potential. |
D.To urge children to read more books. |
A.Reading can change children’s life. |
B.Hairdressers can earn more money. |
C.Children are completely independent. |
D.Barbershops are good gathering places. |