1 . 24 Solar Terms: 5 things about Major Snow
Major Snow, the 21st solar term of the year, which falls on Dec 7 this year. During Major Snow, the snow becomes heavy and begins to accumulate on the ground. The temperature drops significantly. Here are 5 things you should know about Major Snow.
Snowy winter
The snow in North China may last a whole day, breaking tree branches and blocking the road. In the south, snowflakes fall and the world turns white. A proverb about the snow says, "A timely snow promises a good harvest".
The red plum blossoms (梅花) in contrast with the white snowy world is a feast for the eyes and have inspired many great poems. The plum blossom, which originated in China, is respected in Chinese culture for its bravery against severe winters.
Eating lamb
Lamb is a favorite food for Chinese people during Major Snow.
Making sausages
During Major Snow, people in southern China make sausages, an important part of preparation for the Spring Festival.
Preventing respiratory (呼吸道的) illness
During this period, Chinese people watch for outbreaks of respiratory illness, which can be prevented by wearing a warm scarf to protect the neck and properly drinking water.
| A．Writing poems about snow |
| B．Appreciating plum blossoms |
| C．But you should not drink too much water at a time |
| D．Drink as much water as you can whenever possible |
| E．The best meat for this delicacy comes from the bottom of the pig |
| F．As the snow covers the ground, the low winter temperature kills pests |
| G．It promotes blood circulation and provides protection against the cold |
2 . It was one of those moments every new parent dreads (恐惧). My baby son was screaming as if I’d just dipped him in a bucket (桶) of battery acid. It felt as if he’d been screaming like that for years, though he was only two months old. Even worse, this was happening in public— I was sitting with my howling baby in the food court of a Los Angeles mall, despairing (绝望) as other diners silently judged me while watching us over plates of food.
Until, that is, one woman— a complete stranger— did something and taught me a lesson about kindness that lingers to this day. She walked over to me and put her hand on my shoulder. “This won’t last forever,” she said. “I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but things will get better. He’ll stop crying. You’ll get some sleep.”
It was such a small thing, a tiny kindness, really, but it made all the difference. It was 2001 and I was living in a foreign city with a newborn, without friends or family, and I was terribly lonely. This woman had seen me, if only for a moment, and taken the time to make a human connection. It was just a minute out of her day, but it has stayed with me for nearly two decades.
We all want to be better in the world and more giving to others. But we can easily get hung up on the sheer (完全的) importance of that challenge— making time to regularly volunteer or finding money to donate to a cause. Doing good doesn’t have to be an important task, though; it can be incremental (递增的). It can be as quick as a smile, a word, a phone call, an email. It can be the note you send to a friend who is feeling blue or the baby carriage you help carry down the subway stairs for a parent on their own, even though you’re late for work.
I’m reminded of a line from Brian Goldman’s bestseller, The Power of Kindness: “The opposite meaning of empathy is apathy (冷漠).” That is, the opposite of doing good isn’t doing harm; it’s doing nothing. Every tiny act of generosity— every door held open, every coffee bought for a stranger— builds a bridge to another person. It says, “I see you.” Today, when we spend most of our time looking at our phones, and not at people’s faces, that’s invaluable.
So, while I’m not particularly good at regularly volunteering or running marathons to raise money for charity, I’m committed to small gestures. I try to send a note of praise every day to someone whose work I admire. I’ve become phone friends with a lonely 87-year-old woman who contacted me about something I wrote, and who lives in a city far from her own children and grandchildren. On airplanes, I find the new parents with panicked eyes and offer to hold their babies. I remember what it felt like when the screaming baby was mine. I remember when a tiny kindness felt monumental, enough to change the world.
1. Why did the author mention her baby son’s crying in Paragraph 1?| A．To create a disappointing atmosphere. | B．To prove her opinion. |
| C．To show her helplessness. | D．To introduce the topic. |
| A．Always trying to do important deeds. | B．Being short of time. |
| C．Being lacking in money. | D．Keeping looking at their phones. |
| A．doing harm to others is better than doing nothing |
| B．people are supposed to pay more attention to others’ faces |
| C．every small gesture counts in connecting people |
| D．spending most of our time looking at our phones is invaluable |
| A．The Kind Strangers | B．The Small Mercies |
| C．The Power of Words | D．The Power of Kindness |
3 . For most people, life has become a burden on their shoulders, and its weight is growing heavier and heavier, until one day they can’t carry it anymore. So how can we design a life that is less complex and more meaningful? With minimalism (极简主义).
Appreciate all the amazing things you already have. We constantly compare ourselves to others who seem happier, more beautiful and more important than us. We try our best to imitate those we envy.
Do one thing at a time. Minimalist living actually means making the most out of each and every moment. We’re usually carrying out different tasks at the same time. So whatever we are doing, our mind is partly wondering somewhere else.
Develop mindfulness.
| A．It is about enjoying life more with less. |
| B．Stop consuming products you don’t need. |
| C．Yet no matter how much we try, we always fail. |
| D．Get rid of things that don’t serve your happiness. |
| E．minimalist living requires a calm and undisturbed mind. |
| F．Stop multitasking and concentrate on a single thing at a time. |
| G．Unfortunately, our minds are filled with worries in our busy lives. |
Sometimes, we all need that one person to believe in us if we ever want to change our lives. Thankfully, one homeless man’s note was about to get found by someone willing to help turn his life around.
Anthony Johnson is a 36-year-old who had been living without a home in England. Sadly, his time on the streets meant that Anthony struggled to find work. He soon decided to leave a note at a bus shelter asking anyone to give him a chance so he could make his life worth living.
It turned out that Anthony had once got caught up with the wrong crowd. Although he has turned his life around, Anthony had no way of making money and couldn’t afford a home. To top it off, Anthony had also been battling his mental health in the last few years and just needed a chance to make it for himself.
It wasn’t until 16-year-old Charlotte Howard saw the note that everything started to change. Charlotte wanted to help Anthony in his quest to turn things around and decided to start a GoFundMe page. Here, the teen hoped to raise almost $400-$130 to buy a trailer and the rest to cover the cost of the repairs.
It didn’t take long for Charlotte’s post to take the nation by storm, and the page soon had more donations than the teen ever imagined. In just six days, Charlotte had blown her initial goal out of the water as the page had received more than $2,300 in donations. It was way more than either of the pair ever expected.
注意：1. 续写词数应为 150 左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Unbelievably, the generosity didn’t end there.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Charlotte Howard came up with a new idea about how to use the rest of the money.
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5 . How to Teach Your Kids to Enjoy Hiking
Hiking is one of my family's favorite things to do. Ever since my kids were babies, we've been getting out of the house on most weekends to explore and get exercise.
In fact, there is no secret.
I've made a list of the things I think about whenever we head out on a multi-hour hike. This list has expanded over the years, as I've learned what works and what doesn't.
Eat before you leave and carry food and water.
Show them a route map. Kids like knowing where they are in the world, and maps are perfect for helping them understand that. I always take some time before we leave to show them where we are and where we're headed. Point out landmarks they will see. Talk about how long it will take.
Invite another family to join you, especially one whose kids know how to hike, too. Having company will motivate all of the children to push forward.
| A．How do we benefit from hiking? |
| B．But how can we manage to do it? |
| C．And I'd like to share my list with you. |
| D．So they don't ask me, " Are we there yet?" |
| E．Not every family's list will look the same. |
| F．It's just years of training that gets them to this point. |
| G．We usually have a quick bite before we set off. |
1. 上下文 n.
2. 日记；日志 n.
3. 慢跑 n.
4. 奖牌 n.
5. 摄影 n.
6. 想家的 adj.
7. 百万 num.
8. 叹气 n.
9. 一套住房；公寓 n.
10. 取消……资格 v.
1. facility:
2. hint:
3. committee:
4. capitalized
5. subway :
6. downtown:
7. ham:
8. slim:
9. extra:
10. elevator:
9 . Many people think of guys as being carefree when it comes to their appearance. But in fact, a lot of guys spend plenty of time in front of the mirror. They care just as much as girls do about their body image.
Body image is a person's opinions and feelings about his or her own body and physical appearance.
Recognize your strengths.
Different body types are good for different things. What does your body do well? Maybe your speed, strength, or coordination makes you better than others at a certain sport. That may be basketball, table tennis, mountain biking, dancing, or even running. Or perhaps you have non－sports skills, like drawing, painting, singing, playing a musical instrument, writing, or acting.
Exercise regularly.
Exercise can help you look well and feel good about yourself. Good physiques(体形) don't just happen.
Respect your body.
Practising good habits－regular showering; taking care of your teeth, hair, and skin; wearing clean clothes, and so on－can help you build a positive body image.
Your body is just one part of who you are. Your talent for comedy, a quick wit(智慧), and all the other things make you unique. So try not to let small imperfections take over.
| A．Be yourself. |
| B．Just explore talents that you feel good about. |
| C．So, what can you do to develop a positive body image? |
| D．Use this as an opportunity to discover what you're good at. |
| E．The good news is that self－image and body image can be changed. |
| F．They take hard work, regular workouts, and a healthy diet. |
| G．Having a positive body image means feeling satisfied with the way you look. |
10 . Natural Ways to Improve Your Memory
Everyone has moments of forgetfulness from time to time, especially when life gets busy. Genetics plays a role in memory loss.
Try a fish oil supplement
Fish and fish oil supplements are rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
Maintain a healthy weight
Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for well-being and is one of the best ways to keep your body and mind in top condition.
Several studies have established overweight as a risk factor for cognitive decline.
Exercising your cognitive skills by playing brain games is a fun and effective way to improve your memory.
Crosswords, word-recall games and even mobile apps dedicated to memory training are excellent ways to strengthen memory. Games that may help you strengthen your memory may even reduce the risk of dementia (痴呆).
Get your vitamin D levels tested
Vitamin D is an important nutrient that plays many vital roles in the body. Low levels of vitamin D have been linked to a host of health issues, including a reduction in cognitive function.
Vitamin-D deficiency (缺乏) is very common, especially in colder climates and has been associated with age-related cognitive decline and dementia. If you think you might have low levels of vitamin D, ask your doctor for a blood test.
Exercise more
Exercise is important for overall physical and mental health. Research has established that it’s beneficial for the brain and may help improve memory in people of all ages, from children to older adults.
There are many fun and simple ways to improve your memory.
| A．Train your brain |
| B．Challenge your brain |
| C．They could be impacting your memory |
| D．Obesity is also associated with a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease |
| E．However, research has shown that diet and lifestyle have a major impact on memory too |
| F．Try adding a few of these tips to your daily routine to keep your memory in top condition |
| G．Consuming them may help improve short-term, working and episodic memory, especially in older people |
