James Warren, a frequent public bus rider in Denver, noticed a significant problem: many bus stops lacked seating. Particularly on a cold morning in January, Warren observed a woman waiting for a bus, with no seating available at the stop and no sidewalk, forcing her to sit in the dirt. Motivated by this sight, Warren took scrap (废料；废品) wood from construction waste bins and set out to construct a bench.
This singular act of kindness evolved into a larger mission when he realized that one bench was far from enough. In the Denver metro area alone, there are more than 9, 000 bus stops, many of which lack seating or shelter. To add a personal touch and spread a message of compassion, he carved “Be kind” into each bench, symbolizing the spirit of the project.
Warren’s initiative resonated with the community, especially among those who benefited daily from the benches. “I met some ladies the other day who talked about how they used the benches every day. It fills me up. It’s air in my tires.” Warren recalled. His enthusiasm increased as more people joined his bench-making efforts. “I’ve had a lot of people reach out to me on Twitter,” he mentioned. “Some people have wanted to come and help me.” Inspired by Warren’s work, others in the local news audience decided to contribute as well, with many donating supplies. “That puts me over the moon,” Warren expressed.
Nica Cave, a 26-year-old mobility advocate (改善交通运输系统的倡导者) from Denver, emphasized the wider impact of the initiative. “The absence of proper infrastructure, shelter, and seating at transit stops, such as bus stops and train stations, disadvantages those who rely on public transportation. People like Warren are encouraging, showing how individuals are willing to use their own time and resources to provide these much-needed services.”
Warren envisions extending his project beyond simply providing benches. He plans to create a bench-building workshop to foster community engagement and support. His ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of life in his community and inspire similar actions elsewhere, emphasizing that small acts of kindness and effort can load to significant improvements in daily experiences.
1. What are Warren’s benches at the bus stops made from? (no more than 6 words)2. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
3. Why did Warren feel happy? (no more than 15 words)
4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about? (no more than 10 words)
5. What can you learn from the story? Please explain in your own words. (no more than 20 words)
I always wanted to be like explorers Marco Polo or Ibn Battuta. They traveled the world with curiosity and a desire to share with others the marvels they discovered. They had no Internet, guidebooks, social media, blogs, vlogs, reviews, or slideshows. And with so much information available, how can one possibly be like these travel writing pioneers?
The answer may shock you as it did my travel journalism students. I plan nothing in advance except for a place to stay and let the place reveal itself to me on its own terms. And how does that work out? I have contributed to 130 international publications with articles about what I discovered.
I do not recommend this approach to everyone. But what I do suggest is that you give up your desire to have everything planned in advance, and that you stop obsessing about all the trip details and trying to make it a perfect trip. Whether you are traveling with a tour group, friends, family, or solo, leave unstructured time, so magic can happen.
Many people I know approach travel like a job, and a stressful one at that. They want to make sure they cover all the bases and don’t miss anything. But in my opinion, they copy what others have done before them and check each site off on a list.
So how do you make your trip unique? I call it slow travel. It’s not just about slowing down. Instead of running from place to place, you look around you, you take your environment in, you notice things that perhaps no one has ever noticed before. You can start talking to people. Random people you meet and talk to are a key element you cannot plan for. They may tell you about places and events that will enrich your trip. They give you local insider tips. They may even accompany you or invite you to join them for an experience. They have enriched every trip I have taken. And the more you talk to people — even if you are shy — the more you develop the self - confidence to do more of it. And then you are really in the present, having an experience that is uniquely yours.
1. Why does the author’s way of travelling shock her students?2. What does the author think of most people’s way of travelling?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
You can make your trip unique by making a detailed plan, noticing new things in the place and meeting local people to experience local life.
4. Besides slow travel, in what other aspect （s） in our life do you think we should slow down? Why? （In about 40 words）
At 16 years old, Sam had always been a relatively good student. He put in an effort to get good grades and keep his parents happy. Neither of his parents had had the opportunity to attend university and for them, Sam becoming a lawyer was their biggest ambition. He knew that achieving this goal would make them happy, but the truth was that he wasn’t sure whether he would feel the same.
Since he was only a child, Sam had been passionate about computer programming. He taught himself how to use a computer, and by the age of 12 he had known three different programming languages. He did all of this in his spare time. He was quite an introvert (内向的人) , so he preferred staying in with his computer, rather than going out socialising or playing sports. His parents were fine with this, as long as he continued to focus on his studies.
One day, while reading an article online about a young technology billionaire called Thomas O’Connor, everything changed for Sam. In the article, the CEO said that his company was trying to create a new and improved way of paying for goods online but that they were having a problem with the security system. He said if they could overcome this, they could launch the biggest and best online payment system in the world. Sam realised he had an idea on how to solve this problem. Thinking that it wouldn’t come to anything, he emailed the CEO, introducing himself and explaining his idea.
He forgot all about it and got on with his life and studies, but then a month later, the most amazing thing happened. He got a response directly from the CEO. He told him he loved his idea and would like him to fly to America to meet with him. He said he knew Sam still needed to finish school, but that when he had, he would be happy to offer Sam a job in the company. Sam was overjoyed, but soon began to worry. What about his parents’ ambition for him? Should he tell them or turn down the offer? It was a difficult decision to make.
1. What was Sam’s parents’ biggest hope for him? (no more than 10 words)2. How did Sam learn to use a computer? (no more than 5 words)
3. Why did Sam email the CEO? (no more than 15 words)
4. What did the CEO promise Sam? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you think Sam should tell his parents about the offer? And give your reasons. (no more than 20 words)
Milan-based company Krill Design is changing the way we think about waste by creating furniture products from a plastic-like biomaterial named Rekrill. The special material is biodegradable, and can be used repeatedly.
Founded in 2018, Krill uses fruit skin, orange seeds and coffee grounds collected from businesses in Italy to create their unique designs, including bookends, clocks, bowls, and lamps. Each product is made through a four-step process. “There are a lot of companies that create designs, and we want to be different,” says MarcoDi Maio, director of operations at Krill.
Krill has worked together with some well-known brands and has also joined in a Co. ffee Era project with the government of Milan to reduce coffee waste produced in three of the city's neighborhoods. Krill has made products that match the color of food waste. For example, bright orange products are from orange skin and rich dark brown products are from coffee grounds.
Rekrill is as strong as wood and breaks down safely unless it's touched by water or acidity. It is also safe for fish to eat. But despite its eco-friendly benefits, Rekrill is more expensive than common plastic due to its complex production process. However, Krill hopes that as awareness of the environmental impact of plastics grows, Rekrill will be more widely used. Krill is exploring the use of other food waste, such as eggshells and leftover tomatoes and grapes, aiming to make its production process more efficient and cost-effective.
The company believes Rekrill is the material of the future. Every small step they take toward a sustainable world contributes to a more recyclable economy and inspires others to follow suit.
1. How does the company Krill Design change the way people think about waste? (no more than 10 words)2. How many steps does each product need before it is made? (no more than 2 words)
3. What is the disadvantage of Rekrill compared with common plastic? (no more than 5 words)
4. What does the underlined word in paragraph 1 mean? (no more than 1 word)
5. What do you think of Rekrill and explain? (no more than 20 words)
When I think about running a timed mile in elementary school PE class, I can still feel the full-body sensation of stress. The mile run was part of the National Physical Fitness Test, a bi annual assessment given to elementary through high school students, which included five events: the mile run, sit-ups, pull-ups or push-ups, a sit-and-reach and a shuttle run.
Twice a year, the top 15 percent of participants nationwide were honored with a Physical Fitness Award. At my school, the winners’names were painted on one of the gym’s walls. For years I stared admiringly at those names, wondering if I would ever make the cut. But no matter how hard I tried, I could never pull my chin above the bar.
I believe deeply in the value of physical activity for both the mind and the body. However, it wasn’t until I was in my 30s and had run a half-dozen half-marathons, at a comfortable pace, that I even began to believe I was a sportswoman. I’ve heard similar stories from many people. My friend Natalia, a group fitness instructor, said that for years she saw herself as lacking athleticism thanks to her experience in PE class. It was only when she took a fitness class that she began to see herself as physically capable.
Their experiences, and my own, made me believe even if PE class and fitness assessment fail to make you develop a positive relationship with sports, there is definitely a positive opportunity to make it a source of joy in your life.
It’s taken years to meet myself where I am. When I run a mile these days, I feel so good by the end that I want to run another. I still can’t do a traditional pull-up, but a trainer at my gym recently introduced me to assisted pull-ups with resistance bands; I delight in finally feeling up to the task.
Fitness shouldn’t be for the few. We all benefit from sports, whether we earn our names on the wall or not.
1. What is the National Physical Fitness Test?2. What was in her mind when the author stared at the names on the wall?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
According to the author, many people fail in PE class or fitness assessment and then they will find it difficult to make sports a source of joy in their life.
4. What do you think of the idea “fitness shouldn’t be for the few” in the last paragraph? （In about 40 words）
Four Colombian children survived a plane crash only to be lost deep in the Amazon rainforest for well over a month. This is how they survived this horrifying situation.
It’s most people’s nightmare: surviving a plane crash only to be trapped in a jungle with no way of contacting the outside world. But they survived. The children, aged 13, nine and four, as well as an 11-month-old baby, were flying with their mother from their village in the Amazon to visit their father in San José del Guaviare. The single-engine Cessna on which they were flying experienced engine problems and disappeared on May 1, 2023.
Bad weather prevented the army from finding the crash site for two weeks, where they then found the dead bodies of three adults, including the children’s mother. How did these children survive conditions that would be an unimaginable struggle for most adults? They are members of the Huitoto Indigenous group and were raised in the jungle. As such, they have an intimate understanding of the rainforest. They know which fruits are safe to eat and which plants should be avoided.
Working with, rather than against, the Amazon, they survived on fruits and seeds, while feeding the baby water mixed with yucca flour that they found on the plane. While the children got on with the business of surviving, the Colombian army worked with Indigenous volunteers to find them. After 40 days of searching, the children were found and taken to recover at a military hospital in Bogota.
While many around the world have taken this survival story to be a miracle, others point out that it is the result of an ancient and intimate knowledge of the rainforest that has been passed down through Indigenous communities over the generations. Indigenous tribes have a close relationship to the Amazon, marked by a deep respect for the forest that provides them with shelter and nutritious ingredients. It is their close connection to and understanding of the rainforest that undoubtedly helped the children to survive.
1. What made the plane on which they were flying crash?2. Why did it take the army so long to find the children after the accident?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The children survived the horrifying situation by fighting against the Amazon rainforest.
4. What lesson can you learn from the story? (In about 40 words)
You might not have heard of the “fresh start effect”, but if you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution (决心), you’re familiar with it. It refers to the human tendency to take action towards achieving a goal after a special occasion or key date has passed.
The fresh start effect is simple. Most people want to improve themselves in some way. When we hit important milestones (里程碑), we’re often likely to reflect: was this year a successful year, or did we waste it? Annual landmarks like birthdays, or the start of a new year, signify a new time period and an opportunity to leave mistakes behind and to set new goals for better behavior.
Research shows that expectation of a new beginning is a key motivator for the fresh start effect. For example, people aged 29,39,49 etc. were 48% more likely to run a marathon for the first time. When they were approaching a new decade, they were more likely to search for meaning in their lives and try to improve themselves. The reason is simple. When we see our past self as separate from our current self, we feel it easier to introduce new goals and take action.
What’s interesting about the fresh start effect is that we don’t need to wait for big milestones to take advantage of this sudden motivation (动力). Studies show that the first day of each month and even each week can also inspire us. These days, known as “temporal landmarks”, encourage us to step back and think about our current situation. And when we do this, we gain the motivation to be better: we become more driven and more productive. That is why people are more likely to start diets or exercise plans on Monday, rather than the next day.
Fresh starts are exciting opportunities to learn from your mistakes and move forward. So, if you’re currently experiencing loss of motivation, questioning the meaning of your work, or just feel like you’re stuck in a rut (一成不变的生活), why don’t you use the fresh start effect in your own life?
1. According to the passage, what is “fresh start effect”?2. Why is expectation of a new beginning a key motivator for the fresh start effect?
3. Besides the fresh start effect, in what other way(s) do you motivate yourself in your life? (In about 40 words)
I work with Volunteers for Wildlife, a rescue and education organization at Bailey Arboretum in Locust Valley. Trying to help injured, displaced or sick creatures can be heartbreaking; survival is never certain. The effort made in vain is unavoidable in some rescue work. However, when it works, it is simply beautiful.
I got a rescue call from a woman in Muttontown. She had found a young owl (猫头鹰) on the ground. When I arrived, I saw a 2-to 3-week-old owl. It had already been placed in a carrier for safety.
I examined the chick (雏鸟) and it seemed fine. If I could locate the nest, I might have been able to put it back, but no luck. My next work was to construct a nest and anchor it in a tree. The homeowner was very helpful. A wire basket was found. I put some pine branches into the basket to make this nest safe and comfortable. I placed the chick in the nest, and it quickly calmed down.
Now all that was needed were the parents, but they were absent. I gave the homeowner a recording of the hunger screams of owl chicks. These advertise the presence of chicks to adults; they might also encourage our chick to start calling as well. I gave the owner as much information as possible and headed home to see what news the night might bring.
A nervous night to be sure, but sometimes the spirits of nature smile on us all! The homeowner called to say that the parents had responded to the recordings. I drove over and saw the chick in the nest looking healthy and active. And it was accompanied in the nest by the greatest sight of all—LUNCH! The parents had done their duty and would probably continue to do so.
1. Why does the author think that the effort is in vain in some rescue work?2. What did the author do to make the chick calm down?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The young owl in the nest looked healthy and active, and the homeowner’s parents prepared some lunch for the chick.
4. What can you do to help animals in need?（in about 40 words）
Rembrandt Harmenszoon was born in the Netherlands in the city of Leiden. There were six children in his family. His parents wanted him to get a good education and provided opportunities for him to study with successful painters. Among them was the famous painter, Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam.
Rembrandt was very talented and studied with Lastman for six months and then moved back to Leiden and began to teach other artists even though he was only 22 years old.
Sometimes he used members of his family as models. His father was the subject of Bearded Man in Furred Oriental Cape and Robe. His son Titus is seen in Titus at His Desk, and Prodigal Son in the Tavern features Rembrandt and his wife Saskia.
One of his most famous paintings is Nightwatch which shows a group of men in their military uniforms. A war had recently ended in the country and the men were dressed up for a military practice. Nightwatch was a controversial(有争议的) piece. Some of the people in the painting were not pleased with the results because they did not have a prominent(突出的) place in the picture. When Rembrandt painted it, the colors were bright, but it became clouded with smoke and dirt and eventually became known as Nightwatch. In this painting we see Rembrandt’s use of light and shadow which makes his work so distinctive.
This great Dutch artist was very productive and popular with people. He enjoyed painting pictures of Bible characters and scenes of Bible stories. During his lifetime he produced over 600 paintings. You can see his paintings in museums and galleries all over the world today.
1. When did Rembrandt begin to teach other artists? (no more than 8 words)2. Who in Rembrandt’s family appeared in his paintings according to Paragraph 3? (no more than 10 words)
3. What makes Rembrandt’s work Nightwatch very distinctive? (no more than 10 words)
4. What does the author want to tell us about Rembrandt in the last paragraph? (no more than 7 words)
5. What are you interested in? And why? (no more than 20 words)
If you love eating and drinking for free and are looking to make some money, there’s a job that suits you. A new type of service allows people to hire(雇佣) others to enjoy their favorite foods.
Chinese media recently reported on an increasingly popular service that people can go online and hire others to enjoy certain foods and drinks, and ask them to provide video evidence of them eating or drinking the said treats. People should pay from two to nine yuan for the service besides the cost of the food.
Pearl milk tea(珍珠奶茶) is a particularly popular service, as the chewy (耐嚼的) balls and tea drink is so popular these days. There are also some people who want to pay the one who wants to eat fried chicken or hot pot for them. The trend(趋势) has spread to other areas such as selling videos of pet owners feeding their animals and people watching TV series for others. One person in Harbin even offered to sell photos of buyers’ names written in the heavy snow.
So why would anyone pay a total stranger a treat rather than enjoy it themselves? Well, clearly, the online service is so cheap that some people simply do it because of boredom. Some sellers explained that most customers buy their service because they’re hungry at night while they’re on a diet. Eating and drinking by others may help customers reduce the desire(欲望) and avoid high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and other health problems, sellers said. While others get satisfaction in watching others enjoy their favorite treats.
This service has garnered a lot of attention on social media. Although it’s not exactly a get-rich-quickly job, there are quite a lot of people willing to do it for the free treats alone. Some people describing it as their dream job.
1. How much money does it cost to consume certain foods and drinks besides the cost of the food?(no more than 5 words)2. Why would some people pay someone to eat or drink for them? (no more than 15 words)
3. How do you understand the underlined part in Paragraph 5? (1 word)
4. Why do some people describe the job as their dream job? (no more than 10 words)
5. What’s your attitude towards hiring others to consume tasty food? Please explain. (no more than 25 words)
