1 . St. Patrick’s Day, Ireland’s National Day, is celebrated on 17th March every year, marking the anniversary of the day on which he passed away. St. Patrick is the most famous saint of Ireland. Born in Roman Britain, he was enslaved in Ireland at the age of 16, but he successfully escaped. Later, he returned to Ireland and brought his religious beliefs to its people.
On St Patrick’s Day, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. People would dance, drink, and feast on traditional meals of Irish bacon and cabbage. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years.
Interestingly, however, the first parade held to celebrate St Patrick’s Day took place not in Ireland but in the United States. On 17th March 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English army marched through New York City. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Over 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades happen across the U.S., with New York City and Boston hosting the biggest. In 1848, New York Irish Aid societies joined to create the official New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the world’s oldest civilian (平民的) parade and the largest in the U.S. It draws over 150,000 participants and nearly 3 million spectators (观众), lasting over five hours. Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Savannah also celebrate the day with major parades.
Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St Patrick’s Day, especially throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. It is also celebrated in many other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.
1. Why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on 17th March?A.Saint Patrick died on 17 March. | B.Saint Patrick was born on 17 March. |
C.Saint Patrick became a slave on 17 March. | D.Saint Patrick escaped from Ireland on 17 March. |
A.Rode. | B.Sailed. | C.Advanced. | D.Wandered. |
A.By attending church with family members. | B.By attending outdoor musical performances. |
C.By organizing large St Patrick’s Day parades. | D.By setting off fireworks and enjoying Irish cuisine. |
A.It is no longer a religious festival for the Irish. | B.It has the largest parade in Ireland. |
C.It was first celebrated in the United States. | D.It has now become an international festival. |
WHAT TO WEAR *Hard hat *Goggles or eye protection N-95 respirator or one that provides even more protection *Long-sleeved shirt *Heavy work gloves *Long pants *Boots with steel toe and insole Refer to the picture (on the right)! CAUTION! *Protect wounds and cuts with waterproof bandage (防水绷带) . *Avoid heat stress by taking frequent breaks and drinking safe water. *Cleaning up sewage (污水) ? Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles. *Be aware of your surroundings; avoid electrical lines, insects, wild or stray (流浪的) animals, and long periods under the sun. *Wash your hands with soap and water before eating. If water is not available, use hand sanitizer(免水洗手液) (containing at least 60% alcohol) . |
1. Who is the text written for?
A.Salesmen of disaster prevention items. |
B.Researchers on disasters. |
C.Outdoor explorers to avoid disasters. |
D.Cleaners after a disaster. |
A.Hard hat. |
B.Waterproof bandage. |
C.Long-sleeved shirt. |
D.Heavy work gloves. |
A.The equipment is too heavy. |
B.To avoid heat stress. |
C.The water is heavily polluted. |
D.To prevent harm from surroundings. |
3 . International ShakeOut Day This Year
This year’s International ShakeOut Day is October 17, when millions of people worldwide will take part in earthquake drills (演习) at work, school, or home! It is a great way for your family or organization to become better prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.
At 10:17 am (local time) on 10/17, you can join millions of people across the world in practicing earthquake safety. While we encourage everyone to take part, you can sign up for your ShakeOut drill for any day of the year, and drill at a time of your choice, You can also include people in different locations through videos.
FIND YOUR REGIONMost participants (参与者) are in one of the official ShakeOut Regions listed below the page (with current sign-up totals). People and organizations in other countries can also sign up.
All regions take part in it on October 17,2024, unless specified.
(As of Today) | Global Totals | US totals |
oct.17,2024 Drills | Over 270,000 | Over 260,000 |
All 2024 Drills | Over 1.10million | Over 950,000 |
All 2023 Drills | Over 57.3million | Over 19.3million |
ShakeOut began in California and has also been organized in many other states and countries. Official ShakeOut Regions require special local or regional cooperation, typically by an emergency (紧急情况) management agency or a union of many organizations. If you are interested in establishing ShakeOut for your region, please contact us at https://www.shakeout.org. If your state, province, or country is not yet taking part, you can sign up for yourself or your organization as part of the global participation total.
1. What is the purpose of the activity?A.To raise people’s safety awareness. |
B.To stress the challenges of earthquakes. |
C.To help people get ready for an earthquake. |
D.To warn people of the danger of earthquakes. |
A.Over 270,000. | B.Over 950,000. | C.Over 57.3 million. | D.Over 19.3 million. |
A.A website. | B.A book review. | C.A guidebook. | D.A diary entry. |
4 . Nature & Outdoor Activities — World
Below are the 2024 Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Nature and Outdoor activities. Think fresh air, new heights, and even a wildlife sighting or two.
Grand Circle IslandHonolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
Duration: 9h
Ages 0 — 99, 10 at most per group
Ideal tor first-time visitors, or those with limited time, this full-day tour takes you all around Oahu, making sure that you don’t miss a thing. You’ll see top attractions including Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Halona. Blowhole, the Byodo-In Temple and the surfing beaches of the North.
Ziplining Forest AdventureRotorua, New Zealand
Duration: 3h
Ages 6 — 99, 10 at most per group
This tour takes you flying through a centuries-old forest as you. switch (切换) between the six zipline cables (电缆) 72 feet above the ground. Get a bird’s-eye view as two expert guides suit you up with safety equipment and teach you about the forest environment.
Fairbanks Snowmobile AdventureNorth Pole, Alaska
Duration: 1h
Ages 7 — 85, 4 at most per group
Speed through winter scenery on this snowmobile adventure in North Pole. Follow an expert guide into the Chena Lakes Recreation area on leading you across frozen lakes and rivers, and keep an eye out for wildlife. Then, park the snowmobile and relax yourself with a warm drink, and some snacks.
Epic Canyoning MadeiraMadeira Portugal
Duration: 4.5h
Ages 16 — 63, 12 at most per group
Reach Madeira, you can’t get to any other way than canyoning (峡谷漂流) with this small group canyoning tour. Journey into the mountain of the island for hours of going down waterfalls, natural water slides, and jumping into pools for a swim.
1. Which of the following best suits the new comers?A.Fairbanks Snowmobile Adventure. | B.Epic Canyoning Madeira. |
C.Grand Circle Island. | D.Zipline Forest Adventure. |
A.Meet some wild animals. | B.Take part in a dinner party. |
C.Journey in the mountain. | D.Have a snowmobile class. |
A.Alaska | B.Portugal | C.Hawaii | D.New Zealand |
5 . “How did you publish so much as an immigrant (移民) ?”
From early on I wanted to pursue an
Still, the paper was rejected (拒绝) from three journals and I was getting rejected by more Ph. D programs. But I didn’t give up.
Learning how my professor
As my Ph. D program neared its end, my publication record made me stand out and improved my confidence during job
A.Arguing | B.Realizing | C.Predicting | D.Declaring |
A.show | B.teach | C.land | D.ask |
A.secret | B.response | C.comment | D.truth |
A.original | B.unusual | C.academic | D.impossible |
A.turned down | B.sent in | C.given up | D.put off |
A.applicant | B.athlete | C.employer | D.editor |
A.offered | B.happened | C.expected | D.struggled |
A.pleased | B.annoyed | C.determined | D.worried |
A.Meanwhile | B.Instead | C.Besides | D.Therefore |
A.appeared | B.suffered | C.mattered | D.differed |
A.recorded | B.began | C.taught | D.approached |
A.confident | B.anxious | C.silent | D.honest |
A.scores | B.publications | C.measures | D.recommendations |
A.researches | B.titles | C.cuts | D.interviews |
A.supporter | B.overseer | C.outsider | D.professor |
Between exploring the lake in boats, hiking to the waterfalls, and camping in remote natural environments, you ll have a hard time picking a favorite!
2023 Camp Dates:Term 1: June 11 — 16 Term 2: June 18 — 23
Term 3: June 25 — 30 Term 4: July 9 — 14
Term 5 (L. I. T. Week): July 16—21
2023 Pricing Options:Full Price: $485 / week
Early Bird Discount (Until April 17th): $455 / week
L. I. T. Week: $0
Leaders In Training (L. I. T. Program) (Ages 14—15)Our L. I. T. program is a part of our Teen Adventure Camp program and is a transitional (过渡的) program for campers to become staff members. It is a program that is highly selective and competitive. This program allows campers ages 14 and 15 to see what being a part of the Pleasant Hill Outdoor Camp family is like.
How does my camper become involved?★ The camper must attend a previous week of Teen Adventure Camp within the same summer.
★ Have to be 14 or 15 years old during their week of camp to qualify.
★ The camper should express interest in the L. I. T. program during their Teen Adventure Week and receive a recommendation for the program from their counselor (辅导员)!
★ Good performance during Teen Adventure Week.
How to confirm availability (有空) & acceptance?
At the end of the camper’s Teen Adventure Camp session, the campers who are accepted into the program will receive an official invitation based on their counselor’s opinion. From there, the parent of the camper must confirm the camper’s availability as soon as possible. There are limited spots which are on a first-come-first-served basis only. Parents can confirm in person at Check Out, by phone (419-938-3715), or by email (info@phoc.org). We will make sure to add L. I. T. week to the camper’s online registration.
1. When will L. I. T. week take place?A.During June 11 — 16. | B.During June 25 — 30. |
C.During July 9 — 14. | D.During July 16 — 21. |
A.Paying for their camp before April 17th. |
B.Joining in more than two weeks of camp. |
C.Being 13 years old during their week of camp. |
D.Getting a recommendation from their camp counselor. |
A.Confirming their children’s availability soon. |
B.Printing official invitations to their children in person. |
C.Keeping in close touch with their children’s counselors. |
D.Adding L. I. T. week to their children’s online registration. |
Our animal rescue volunteers set up a shelter in a town in reaction to floods there. While out looking for animals left behind, we met a man who had a dog, which he had no intention (意图,打算) of taking with him when he finally left. When we offered to shelter his dog, he said, “Alright!”
Soon, he went into his tiny house’s backyard, returned with the dog and put it into our truck. Amy, one volunteer, asked what the dog’s name was. “He doesn’t have one,” the man said and left, without saying goodbye.
We returned to the shelter. After reaching there, the nameless dog sat still in the truck. When we put him on the ground, he just lay there, remaining still.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. Amy replied that maybe the dog was timid (胆怯的) because of his owner’s long-term neglect (疏于照管). She determined to help the dog and named him Albert.
After that day, Amy often carried the sixty-pound dog around the shelter, since he still refused to stand up or walk. At night, Albert lay next to Amy’s bed. Luckily, six days later, Albert never stopped moving, always keeping up with Amy. Wherever she went, Albert would be no more than two steps behind her.
I began to notice, though, that Albert still didn’t have the energy of an eighteen-month-old dog. Later, a doctor found he had heartworm disease (心丝虫病), a deadly disease.
I called Albert’s owner. When I told him that Albert had heartworm disease and that it would cost at least $300 to treat him, I expected he’d say, “I don’t have the money, so you keep the dog.” But I was wrong. He wanted Albert back.
“If he isn’t immediately treated, he’ll die,” I said. “Yeah. I understand. That’s what happened to all my dogs. Although I don’t have enough money to treat him, I can’t let you pay the fee. I’ll be out shortly to pick up (接) my dog,” the man replied coldly and hung up.
In the distance, I saw Amy and Albert playing games.
注意:1. 续写词数应为150词左右;
2. 请按如下格式作答。
“How am I going to tell Amy we have to give Albert back?” I whispered.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________While he walked to Albert, I shouted, “Wait! Could I buy that dog from you?”
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________8 . Being in nature is really good for you. Even just seeing nature on your way to school will brighten your day. This is the experience that is being recreated in Birmingham, England.
Once the area around Birmingham was filled with orchards (果园), resulting in its being called “a city surrounded by blossoms (花朵)”. However, by the 1900s, industrialization (工业化) had begun to take hold, and the orchards were destroyed to make room for buildings and factories. And according to the National Trust, Birmingham has lost 85% of its trees since the beginning of the 20th century.
But on January 17, 2023 that began to change. According to the website Secret Birmingham, a number 11 bus left its stations filled with trees instead of people. All along its 27-mile path, the bus dropped off those trees to citizens, schools, and community groups, who then planted them. All in all, about 600 trees have been handed out.
“Blossom is not only beautiful, but it’s also important for the wellbeing of the environment,” says Lucy Reid, who’s leading the Birmingham project. “It’s also great for pollinators (传粉者), such as bees, which help trees produce fruit, and the trees also help to clean the air.”
This isn’t the first time the National Trust has helped Birmingham blossom. The Trust created “blossoms pop-ups” as part of the Birmingham 2022 Festival. According to the project, blossoming tree installations (装置) were set up in various well-known Birmingham locations such as St. Philip’s Cathedral Square.
The National trust has also started blossoming tree projects in other UK cities. In 2021, it created the London Blossom Garden, and now the Trust is planting fruit trees in Plymouth, Newcastle, and Nottingham. Its work is important for the protection of the country’s wildlands and climate. However, their Blossoming Birmingham project shows that protecting a country’s nature not only helps the environment but brings joy and beauty to people as well.
1. What led to the loss of orchards in Birmingham?A.Extreme climate. | B.Poor management. |
C.City development. | D.Decreasing production. |
A.By filling the buses with blossoms. | B.By sending its people to plant trees. |
C.By providing trees for people to plant. | D.By surrounding bus stations with trees. |
A.The importance of farming. | B.The purposes of their project. |
C.The ways to protect the planet. | D.The benefits of flowering trees. |
A.Beautifying the Earth naturally. |
B.Bringing nature back to England. |
C.Improving the living conditions for people. |
D.Taking the lead in protecting the environment. |
9 . Lucy Flores’ father, Luciano Flores, grew up in Mexico and moved his family to the United States when Lucy was only three years old. Her father, who speaks Spanish, shared that his family had few resources, just like the school he attended. He stopped going to school after the first grade and started working to provide for his family.
In spite of this, Lucy did well in school and became the first person in her family to graduate from college. After that, she took up a job of teaching preschool students how to read letters and write their names. “I was thinking to myself, since I’m able to teach these children how to read and write, why am I not doing the same for my own father?” Then she started teaching her father to read and write.
After four months of working together, Lucy’s father can now write a lot of words and is reading some books on his own. As she taught her dad, Lucy shared their journey by posting videos on TikTok. “I don’t know if he understands how many people are watching him and following him,” said Lucy. “But I took it as a chance to encourage him.” Followers on TikTok share lesson plan ideas and have sent school supplies and books to the family.
Apart from watching her dad’s progress and inspiring others to never give up on their dreams, the most satisfying part for Lucy of teaching her dad has been the change in the family atmosphere (气氛). “In the past, we did not get along as my dad was quiet and not someone who liked to share his feelings or sit down and play with me when I was a kid,” said Lucy. Luciano said because of his daughter, he’s excited to continue to focus on learning letters and numbers and to spend time with his family.
1. What can we learn about Lucy’s father from paragraph 1?A.He began making a living when small. | B.He preferred working than studying. |
C.He had difficulty living in Mexico. | D.He wanted Lucy to attend a school in the US. |
A.Her father’s eagerness to learn. | B.Her students’ suggestions. |
C.Her teaching experiences. | D.Her family background. |
A.People’s surprise at her teaching skills. | B.Her father’s being greatly encouraged. |
C.An increase in the number of her students. | D.People’s warm support for her father’s studies. |
A.She has helped her father get a degree. | B.She can share her experiences on TikTok. |
C.Her father is able to adapt to life in America. | D.She manages to improve her family relationship. |
10 . Ever thought making a baby cry or even chasing after cheese would become a widely celebrated festival? Check out the most unusual, unique festivals from around the world.
Las Bolas de Fuego, El SalvadorEach year on 31st August, residents of Nejapa gather around to throw fireballs in memory of the 1658 El Playon volcanic eruption. Participants divide themselves into two teams to paint their faces like skulls and begin the festival by throwing fireballs at each other. Though dangerous, Las Bolas de Fuego has been running for more than 100 years now.
Viewing: Free Entry
Underwater Music Festival, FloridaFlorida Underwater Music Festival held in July has been running for more than 25years, welcoming divers all over the world with the aim to create awareness for coral preservation. The event houses ocean-themed songs streaming live from underwater speakers along with musician-divers playing odd instruments giving a visual treat for all.
Participation: Ticketed Event
Boryeong Mud Festival, South Korea200 kilometres from Seoul, Boryeong is widely popular for its mud. cosmetics (化妆品). What began as marketing event in 1998 later turned into a famous festival, drawing in millions of visitors every year. The annual festival held in July runs ten days straight housing a series of activities such as mud pools, mudslides and mud skiing.
Participation: Ticketed Event
Lopburi Monkey Banquet, ThailandWith the aim to bring good luck to the area and its people, the Lopburi Province prepares a grand feast made up of 4,000 kilograms of fruits and vegetables that feed 2,000-3,000 macaque monkeys every year. The festival first occurred in 1989, run by a local businessman who thought of this unique way to pay gratitude to monkeys and also bring in tourism — luckily for him and the monkeys, it worked!
Viewing: Free Entry
1. How do people in Nejapa celebrate Las Bolas de Fuego?A.By painting volcanoes. |
B.By throwing fireballs. |
C.By running races. |
D.By making faces. |
A.It has various themes of music. |
B.It treats visitors to sea food. |
C.It is held in the water. |
D.It is free of charge. |
A.They are held in autumn. |
B.They boost local tourism. |
C.They last for a whole week. |
D.They charge no entrance fees. |