1 . I was at a new school in a new state and needed something solid to stand on: a place to feel grounded. I also needed to do laundry, so I walked to a nearby self-service laundry and stuffed a machine with my clothes. As I struggled to close the washer door, the woman working behind the counter told me to give it a good hit with my hand. The washer did its job, yet even after an hour, the dryer seemed to have barely warmed my clothes. I left, having decided to air-dry them on my car in the August heat.
A month later, I learned her name was Sandy, which she told me after I’d helped her stop a washing machine from moving across the floor. I was grading poems at a table when one of the washers broke loose and skipped an inch into the air. I jumped to the machine and held on while she unplugged it. The next week, Sandy told me dryer No. 8 was the fastest.
It went on like this. I’d do laundry once a week, usually Thursday or Friday. Sandy worked Tuesday through Saturday and we’d talk small while I folded clothes. She told me about her son and his grades, as well as the new dog they’d just adopted. She was fascinated that I was studying poetry. She teased (开玩笑) that it was harder making a living as a poet than as a laundry attendant. Even then I knew she was probably right.
I began to recognize others there: workers taking breaks by the door, a mother and her baby, and even some delivery drivers. But Sandy was the center of my community. For nearly three years and almost every week, I’d do laundry and talk with her. We checked on each other, expecting the other to be there. We asked where the other had gone when we missed a week. There was a note of concern for the other’s absence, a note of joy at their return.
I’d found a place to stand on solid ground.
1. Why did the author leave with his wet clothes?| A．He liked the August heat better. | B．He had to go back to the meeting. |
| C．He wanted to show off his new car. | D．He didn’t think the dryer worked well. |
| A．She was warm-hearted. | B．She needed a volunteer. |
| C．She wanted to thank him. | D．She was sorry for the mess. |
| A．It was harder to fulfill. | B．It was really fascinating. |
| C．It was badly-paid work. | D．It needed a lot of effort. |
| A．He formed a close friendship with Sandy. |
| B．He made a lot of friends in college. |
| C．He expected Sandy to do laundry for him. |
| D．He often wrote to Sandy after graduation. |
2 . A third of Britons are overweight, states a report published in January by the Royal College of Physicians, the result of an 18-month study. About five percent of children weigh too much, and are likely to stay that way for life; in the mid-twenties-age-long group the proportion (比例) of the middle-aged population half are overweight.
Fat people risk severe health problems, says the report, including high blood pressure, breathlessness and various forms of heart disease. Smoking is particularly risky for overweight people.
The safest way to lose weight is to eat cereals, bread, fruit and vegetables, and cut down on fatty meals, butter and sweet foods. Fad (目前流行的) diets so far more than good; slimming machines that vibrate muscles have not been proved useful; saunas merely remove a little body water, and health farms, says the report ,serve as expensive holidays.
Exercise is most important to health, the report emphasizes; though it doesn’t necessarily reduce weight; it keeps the correct proportion of body muscle. And it isn’t only for the young ; from middle age a minimum of 20 minutes of gentle physical jerks should be practiced three times a week.
The report advocates several public health measures to fight the common existence of overweight in this country. They include an increase of tax on alcohol to reduce its increasing, and dangerously fattening, consumption; and the provision of more sports facilities by local authorities. Britain’s doctors, the report concludes, must learn to be more sympathetic and specific in their advice to the overweight, encouraging a change in eating habits on a long-term basis and taking into account the many-often-complex-reasons why fat people are fat.
1. The passage mainly talks about _____.| A．the cause of Britons’ overweight. |
| B．how to avoid getting overweight |
| C．Britons’ overweight problem. |
| D．the relations between overweight and health problems. |
| A．gets fat in the twenties | B．gets fat in his middle age |
| C．is born fat | D．gets fat when he is a child. |
| A．is a way to reduce weight. | B．sometimes increases weight |
| C．is a sure way to keep one healthy | D．can convert (转化) fat to muscle |
| A．will also cause one to get fat | B．will cause one to do less sports |
| C．will make one forget the fact that he is fat. | D．will lead one to bad eating habits |
3 . Lilly and Audrey are younger than most cookbook authors. But they have been developing their kitchen skills for more than half their lives. When they had just learned to walk, they loved to hang out in the kitchen while their parents cooked dinner. At age 5, they made their first dish without help: pumpkin muffins.
Audrey can still remember the way the muffins rose in the oven (烤箱), the painful wait for them to cool and the sweetness of the fresh-made treats. “It was super exciting to make something so delicious almost all on our own,” she says.
Their parents are not very skilled at cooking, so Lilly and Audrey turned to other people for cooking advice. Auspiciously, they live in Sonoma, California, an area that is known for its farms and restaurants. One local cook gave the twins (双胞胎) lessons on cooking techniques, such as how to use knives; those classes taught Lilly and Audrey how to use kitchen tools safely.
In 2009, they started a blog (博客), on which they share photos and recipes (菜谱) they have created. Though the twins love creating sweet foods such as muffins, they also think about healthy food. They hope their cookbook will encourage kids to make better food choices by making them more knowledgeable.
“Knowing more about your food and where it comes from certainly causes you to know more about what you eat and to put the best food in your body,” Lilly says. That has been true for her. Lilly used to avoid eggplant at all costs, until one day she tried cooking it for herself. Now it’s one of her favorite vegetables. “If you make something yourself and give it a try, you’ll probably like it,” she says.
1. Lilly and Audrey’s first dish________.| A．was a great success |
| B．was made when they were ten |
| C．was an unpleasant experience |
| D．was made with their parents’ help |
| A．Finally | B．Luckily | C．Strangely | D．Suddenly |
| A．we should try new things |
| B．eggplant is good for our health |
| C．she didn’t like eggplant in the past |
| D．learning more about food does us good |
| A．Healthy eating | B．The twin cooks |
| C．Pumpkin muffins | D．A popular cookbook |
I can well remember that I was once asked to deliver a speech
5 . Father’s Day isn’t just a day for Dads to get more ties. It’s celebrated on the third Sunday of June to honor Dads, Grandfathers, stepfathers and all men who act as a father figure. Like most holidays, the origin of Father’s Day is hard to trace (追溯) but most people will agree that Sonora Dodd played a big part in starting the holiday.
Sonora Luise Smart Dodd brought up the idea of a father’s day in 1909. she wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart. When Sonora’s mother died in childbirth with her sixth child, William was left to raise the newborn and five other children by himself on a farm in Washington State. As an adult, Sonora realized how strong and unselfish her dad was, who had been raising his kids as a single parent.
Sonora wanted Fater’s Day to be celebrated on the first Sunday in June, because it was close to her dad’s birthday. Instead, the first Father’s Day celebration took place on June 19, 1910 in Spokane, Washing. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made the third Sunday of June Father’s Day. It wasn’t until 1972 that President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday-about 60 years after Mother’s Day had been made a national holiday.
Looking for the perfect gift, Dads say some of the best Father’s Day gifts have been tools, electronics and home-made gifts. Don’t forget about gadgets(小器具)! Check out those handy gadgets and gifted ideas that will show your dad just how much you care about him. Try to stay away from ties, socks, and just not getting him anything at all!
1. Why did Sonora want a day to honor her father?| A．She thought her father was strong and unselfish as a single parent |
| B．She wanted to comfort her father after her mother died |
| C．There was a day to honor mothers but there was not a day for fathers |
| D．Her father raised his six children on a farm in Washington State |
| A．In 1909 | B．In 1910 | C．In 1912 | D．In 1972 |
| A．Father’s Day is not just celebrated for Dads but for men adults |
| B．Sonora was the first person to put forward the idea to honor fathers |
| C．At first Father’s Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of June |
| D．President Richard Nixon made Father’s Day a national holiday |
| A．Suggestions for picking up gifts for Dads | B．Reasons for not buying anything for Dads |
| C．Benefits for buying Dads gifts | D．Ways to make gifts for Dads |
6 . How to prepare for an exam is a big question that you always ask yourself. Here are some tips that may help you.
Never fear or hate exam and be confident.
Some students study well but still may be much afraid of exams and due to this reason they get upset and won’t be able to get marks.
Prepare a good timetable.
Prepare a timetable before starting the study.
Select a proper atmosphere for studying.
Studying atmosphere plays a very important role.
Make notes while studying.
This is a very important point. While studying, make small notes. The note should be short and clear to make the review easier.
On the night before exam you have to sleep well, at least 6 hours and not more than 8 hours. Remember this will have a great effect on your exam. And have your food as in your daily diet.
| A．Sleep well and eat well. |
| B．So try to present answers in points. |
| C．This should include all the subjects. |
| D．Can anyone study well while others around are watching TV? |
| E．A good note shall include the most important points. |
| F．This will be of great use to your coming exams. |
| G．So leave all your fears and free your mind before starting the study. |
8 . New research has found caring for grandchildren can make a difference to seniors. Publishing their findings in the journal Aging & Mental Health, a team of experts from Germany and the U.K. reviewed data from 28 studies which included 191, 652 adults from 21 countries.
People aged 60 or above who cared for their grandchildren for an average of 12 hours a week were 60% less likely to experience loneliness than non-caregivers, one of the reviewed studies found. Five other studies, out of a total of seven, also produced data showing a negative connection between loneliness and care-giving for grandchildren. What’s more, five out of six reviewed studies found seniors who volunteered in their communities felt less lonely than those who didn’t.
“This is the first review of its kind to look into the relationship between care-giving, volunteering, and loneliness in old people,” co-author Dr. Matthew Prina said. “Further research could help find the best dose (剂量) of caring for grandchildren. But valuing their unpaid activities will likely play an important role in their well-being. We also looked at studies that focused on care-giving for partners with serious health conditions. In those cases, seniors reported having higher levels of loneliness. This kind of care-giving may bed a lonely experience when there is lack of support from others.”
Experts further explained that when caring for children, older adults tend to be more drawn into society, through things like school, play dates and other social events. For example, seniors can actively join in different activities and continuously learn things from a younger generation.
While not everyone has young children in their life, volunteering opportunities also work. Now one group called Eldera is bringing the two concepts together. It focuses on connecting generations by pairing experienced adults aged 60 or above with children across the world. The wisdom of the elders, with years of experience, knowledge and common sense, is the most valuable resource for the younger generation. It can help them imagine a better future.
1. What did the new research find out about the elderly?| A．60% seniors are less likely to suffer loneliness. |
| B．Many of them are willing to be volunteers. |
| C．Their mental health is related to their personality. |
| D．Caregiving and volunteering can reduce loneliness. |
| A．The needs of the elderly are always placed second. |
| B．The elderly hardly get support from their family members. |
| C．Respecting the old’s contributions is beneficial to their health. |
| D．It is a tough job for the elderly to care for their grandchildren. |
| A．It inspires them to understand the society. |
| B．It helps them get more social opportunities. |
| C．It enables them to improve common sense. |
| D．It enhances their working ability. |
| A．Providing volunteer opportunities for the young. |
| B．Calling on people to care more about the elderly. |
| C．Spreading the wisdom of the old to the young. |
| D．Teaching old people skills of caring for children. |
9 . Bike Rental & Guided Tours
Welcome to Amsterdam, welcome to MacBike. You see much more from the seat of a bike! Cycling is the most economical, sustainable and fun way to explore the city, with its beautiful canals, parks, squares and countless lights. You can also bike along lovely landscapes outside of Amsterdam.
Why MacBike
MacBike has been around for almost 30 years and is the biggest bicycle rental company in Amsterdam. With over 2,500 bikes stored in our five rental shops at strategic locations, we make sure there is always a bike available for you. We offer the newest bicycles in a wide variety, including basic bikes with foot brake (刹车), bikes with hand brake and gears (排挡), bikes with child seats, and children’s bikes.
Prices
Hand Brake, Three Gears | Foot Brake, No Gears | |
1 hour | €7.50 | €5.00 |
3 hours | €11.00 | €7.50 |
1 day (24 hours) | €14.75 | €9.75 |
Each additional day | €8.00 | €6.00 |
Guided City Tours
The 2.5-hour tour covers the Gooyer Windmill, the Skinny Bridge, the Rijksmuseum, Heineken Brewery and much more. The tour departs from Dam Square every hour on the hour, starting at 1:00 pm every day. You can buy your ticket in a MacBike shop or book online.
1. What is an advantage of MacBike?| A．It gives children a discount. | B．It offers many types of bikes. |
| C．It organizes free cycle tours. | D．It has over 2,500 rental shops. |
| A．€15.75. | B．€19.50. | C．€22.75. | D．€29.50. |
| A．The Gooyer, Windmill. | B．The Skinny Bridge. |
| C．Heineken Brewery. | D．Dam Square. |
