1 . Things to do this weekend in NYC: April 12-14 2024

Here are some noteworthy events to check out this week in New York City

Josh Wolf

Gramercy Theatre — 127 E. 23rd St., New York, N.Y. 10010

Sat. April 13 at 7:00 p.m.

Josh Wolf of “Chelsea Lately” will bring his brand of humor to Gramercy’s historic music venue. Josh Wolf’s comedy material is heavily inspired by his family. Wolf, 54, is also known to incorporate (融合) music into his performance, as he does when hosting his own comedy show “The Fantastical Jamboree” at Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club in Las Vegas.

Tickets start at $27.50

“Selena Brunch”

Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island — 2636 Hylan Blvd., Suite 230, Staten Island, N.Y. 10306

Sat. April 13 and Sun. April 14 at 11:30 a.m.

The 1997 Gregory Nava film that made Jennifer Lopez a Hollywood star is getting a nice revisit at Alamo Drafthouse with a “Selena Brunch” this weekend. While enjoying a special menu created for the occasion, see Jenny from the Block in her breakthrough role as the late Tejano star who was tragically murdered at 23. Dishes include a breakfast club sandwich, blueberry donut French toast bake and breakfast tacos, in addition to the regular refreshments on offer.

Though the downtown Brooklyn showings are already sold out, there are still tickets at the Staten Island location.

$12 admission. Prices range from $11.95 to $15.95 for food item

I’m Possible

New Victory Theater — 209 W 42nd St., New York, N.Y. 10036

The Brooklyn-based Omnium Circus company, which prides itself in inclusivity and accessibility for both audience and performers, kicks off a two-week run of its latest show this weekend in Times Square.

“I’m Possible” lives up to its goal to make the Big Top experience accessible to audiences of all abilities with a 90-minute show featuring a gymnast who uses a wheelchair, an tennis player born without legs, and a deaf storyteller.

All performances will incorporate audio description, captioning (字幕), sensory-friendly lighting and sound, and a calm environment where movement and vocalization from audience members are welcome.

Tickets start at $28

1. Where does Josh Wolf get his inspiration for his comedy show?

A．From his favourite music.

B．From his own working experience.

C．From Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club.

D．From his experience with family members.

2. How much will you have to pay if you require top service in Alamo Drafthouse?

A．$ 15.95.

B．$ 23.95.

C．$ 27.95.

D．$ 39.9.

3. Which of the following words may be the most suitable to describe the performance in New Victory Theater ?

A．Entertaining.

B．Encouraging.

C．Terrifying.

D．Puzzling.

2 . In 2009, when Qatar (卡塔尔) bid to host the 2022 Football World Cup, it promised a carbon-neutral (碳中和) event. Even back then, the prospect of neutralizing the carbon-dioxide emissions (排放) generated by hosting hundreds of thousands of fans in newly constructed stadiums, in a desert state, seemed fanciful. So it is proving. In their greenhouse-gas accounting report, published last year, FIFA (国际足联) and the Qatari organizers estimated that the World Cup would generate 3.6 million tons of CO2 emissions. Estimating emissions for big sporting events is a relatively new practice and methods can vary, but that figure is higher than any recent World Cup or Olympics.

It is also likely to be a significant underestimate. A report in May 2022 by Carbon Market Watch (CMW), a climate watchdog (监督者), found that the official forecast failed to account accurately for the emissions generated from stadiums. FIFA, which insists its method is “best in practice”, reckons that the majority of the emissions (52%) will come from fans and players travelling to Qatar, while less than 25% are from stadium construction. That is because organizers expect these stadiums to be used for years after the World Cup, spreading their carbon footprint way into the future.

CMW believes such an excuse is far from reasonable. Before the World Cup, Qataris were able to get by with only one stadium, it points out. Consequently, it estimates that the emissions from stadium construction for the World Cup are undercounted by a factor of eight. It puts the real figure at 5 million tons. Though it amounts to less than 0.02% of the world’s annual emissions, sports teams and organizations should have set a positive example in this.

To remove the doubt from outside, Qatar has established the Global Carbon Council (GCC), a dedicated environmental agency. Beyond adjusting for World Cup emissions, the GCC will promote a path to “a low-carbon future”, a great step for a country with the world’s highest emissions per person. Yet the agency is still at its early stage. Only six projects, saving less than 600,000 tons, have been approved so far.

1. What is the main problem Qatar and FIFA are faced with at present?

A．The 2022 World Cup isn’t as successful as it should be.

B．They may fail to keep the promise to hold a green event.

C．The figure they published is higher than that of other events

D．They are unfamiliar with the new practice of the World Cup.

2. How does Qatar and FIFA cut down the carbon footprint of the World Cup?

A．By insisting on its way of environmental protection.

B．By promising to use the new stadiums for more years.

C．By blaming the greenhouse-gas emissions on travelers.

D．By cooperating with Carbon Market Watch for instructions.

3. Why does the CMW refuse to accept the explanation given by Qatar and FIFA?

A．5 million tons accounts for a little of the annual emissions.

B．The stadium construction for the World Cup sets a bad example.

C．The method they employed in estimating the emissions is unscientific.

D．There will be more stadiums than Qatar actually needs after the World Cup.

4. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．The GCC is an agency specially established for the World Cup

B．The Qataris attach great importance to environmental protection.

C．The Qataris need to make more efforts to hold a carbon-neutral event.

D．The GCC has achieved a lot in cutting down greenhouse-gas emissions.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入 1 个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

TikTok will soon be banned in the United States if its parent company ByteDance     1     (refuse) to sell the platform, according to a bill     2     (pass) by the White House on Saturday (April 13).

An earlier version of the new bill, which was attempting     3    （give）the China-based company a six-month deadline to sell the app, was passed in the Senate (众议院) last month, even after both Democrats (民主党人) and Republicans (共和党人) voiced concerns over national security.

The revised bill has now been combined     4     a larger package of international policies, including support for Israel and Ukraine, and is being presented to the Senate where it again waits for     5     (approve).

Over the past month, ByteDance     6     (push) back against the bill, and encouraged its 170 million U.S. users to contact the government and express     7     protest to the ban.

“We will not stop fighting and advocating for you, with     8     we together build this amazing platform,” TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a video uploaded in March. “We will continue to do all we can, including using our legal rights, to protect this platform.”

Once the bill passes successfully, it will extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell to nine months, with an     9     (addition) three months available if a sale is     10     progress.

4 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What did Spanish merchant take to the Americans?

A．Corn.

B．Wheat.

C．Potatoes.

2. Why did Balboa feel surprised?

A．He saw the Pacific Ocean.

B．There were many jungles.

C．Panama was so narrow.

3. When did Francisco Pizarro leave for the Inca Empire?

A．In 1513.

B．In 1524.

C．In 1533.

4. What was the Inca Empire rich in?

A．Wildlife.

B．Rocks.

C．Gold and silver.

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What mainly made the man hesitate to visit the White House?

A．Lack of interest.

B．The tight security.

C．The historical atmosphere.

2. How did the woman get the tour information?

A．From the website.

B．From the local paper.

C．From the travel guide.

3. Where are the speakers probably now?

A．In the White House.

B．In a dining hall.

C．At an airport.

4. What is the man like?

A．Serious.

B．Humorous.

C．Careful.

6 . Although they failed to sell all the popcorn, Bernard and John tried to come up with another way to sell popcorn from door to door. (用in spite of改写) (句型转换)
__________________________________ , Bernard and John tried to come up with another way to sell popcorn from door to door.

7 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What does informative advertising focus on?

A．Telling the details of the product.

B．Giving information about related industries.

C．Introducing special functions of the product.

2. What products is informative advertising often used for?

A．Clothing.

B．Household products.

C．Office supplies.

3. What does the second type of advertising highlight?

A．The benefits of the products.

B．The good name of the company.

C．The key functions of the products.

4. What is said about the third type of advertising?

A．It is banned in some countries.

B．It is not allowed to be used for some products.

C．It can’t refer to competitors’ names in some countries.

8 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the salary of a saleswoman in Mark’s Group?

A．$6,000.

B．$3,000.

C．$2,000.

2. What do we know about the employees of Mark’s Group?

A．They are focused on getting more customers.

B．They will receive extra pay when they sell more.

C．Salesmen have the same salaries as saleswomen.

3. How do employees of Mark’s Group feel about their jobs?

A．Pressured.

B．Satisfied.

C．Puzzled.

4. What is the goal of Mark’s Group?

A．To earn more profits.

B．To improve gender equality.

C．To provide customer-centered products.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. When did the speaker’s family start their traveling?

A．On May 1st.

B．On May 5th.

C．On May 6th.

2. How did the speaker’s family go to Shillong from Guwahati?

A．By car.

B．By taxi.

C．By train.

3. What do we know about Shillong?

A．The climate wasn’t good.

B．The transport wasn’t convenient.

C．There weren’t many tourist attractions.

4. What did the speaker’s family do at the end of their vacation?

A．They admired the sunrise.

B．They visited tea gardens.

C．They explored thick forests.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is the woman?

A．A salesperson.

B．A student.

C．A shopkeeper.

2. What does the man think of Lana’s dog?

A．Frightening.

B．Lovely.

C．Tiny.

3. Who is Rover?

A．The woman’s friend.

B．The man’s boss.

C．Lana’s pet.

4. Why will the man go to the shopping center?

A．To meet Lana.

B．To have a wander.

C．To buy a pair of shoes.