1 . Separation, money troubles, and transitional (过渡的) adjustments are all stressful events to the members of a family. Learning effective skills is key to solving the disagreements.
Schedule a time to talk as a group. When working together, you are more likely to solve family differences.
Focus on the issue at hand. When disagreements occur, people tend to bring up any and every unresolved issue they have ever faced with the other parties. This blurs the point of the discussion. Try to uncover what is important about the current problem.
Have everyone state what they truly mean. Direct communication is essential to effective conflict resolution.
Decide on a solution together. Once everyone has shared their needs, wants, and concerns, consider all the suggestions that each party has provided and look for a middle ground.
| A．Seek professional advice. |
| B．Show respect for each person’s point of view. |
| C．Raising old misdeeds will not help resolve this issue. |
| D．Conflict in the family can affect everyone’s functioning. |
| E．The first step is calming down and agreeing there is a problem. |
| F．Everyone present should feel good about the proposed solution. |
| G．Each party should use “I” statements to clearly state your needs and concerns. |
2 . A six-year-old longing to keep a unicorn in her backyard figured she’d get the hard part out of the way first.
Last November, Madeline wrote a letter to the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control with a straightforward request. “Dear LA County, I would like your approval if I can have a unicorn in my backyard if I can find one. Please send me a letter in response.”
Director Mayeda replied two weeks later. The department does in fact license unicorns, she said, under certain conditions. Those include polishing the unicorn’s horn at least once a month with a soft cloth, feeding it watermelon at least once a week, covering it with only nontoxic and biodegradable sparkles and giving it regular access to sunlight, moonbeams and rainbows. And, because unicorns are indeed very rare to find, the department is also giving Madeline a toy unicorn to keep her company during her search, as a token of appreciation.
“It is always rewarding to hear from young people who thoughtfully consider the requirements of providing a loving home for animals,” Mayeda wrote in the letter. “I like your sense of responsible pet ownership to seek permission in advance to keep a unicorn in Los Angeles County.”
Mayeda told the Washington Post that this is the first time the department has received a request for a license for a unicorn or any mythical creature. They were impressed with the first-grader for wanting to ask permission in the first place, and doing her research to work out how to go about that. She and her colleagues deal with a lot of “life-and-death” issues on the job, whether that’s seeing cases of animal abuse or animals hurting people or making decisions about having to put down dangerous or sick animals. So Madeline’s letter has considerably brightened their spirits, and she is due to visit the department this week to discuss her unicorn license application. Safe to say, she’s in for a magical surprise.
1. Why did Madeline write the letter?| A．To apply to visit a unicorn. | B．To learn to provide animal care. |
| C．To ask permission to keep a pet. | D．To figure out how to find a unicorn. |
| A．Her application was disapproved. | B．Requirements should be met for the license. |
| C．She was presented with a live unicorn. | D．Guidance was given for her search. |
| A．Imaginative. | B．Sensitive. | C．Flexible. | D．Convincing. |
| A．Because it is the first application letter for a pet. |
| B．Because animal protection is a life-and-death issue. |
| C．Because they are worn out with their daily work. |
| D．Because they are touched with the girl’s deeds. |
3 . For thousands of years， buildings have been used to show off power and wealth, to honor leaders or religions, and to stretch the limits of architecture.Since the 19th century,high- rise buildings have sprung up all over the world, showing the modern architecture wonders.
The Empire State Building
The Empire State Building, a 102-story building, was completed in New York in 1931 and was the tallest in the world until 1971.While the Empire State Building was built to be an office building, it still draws millions of tourists each year for overlooking New York.It is currently admired for its green architecture initiatives, in an effort to be a more energy-efficient and eco-friendly green building.
The Jin Mao Building
Completed in 1999 and standing 420.6 meters high，the Jin Mao Building is China's tallest high rise building.Located in Pudong District of Shanghai, the Jin Mao Tower is the 8th super tall 88- floor building, which represents the belief in Chinese culture that the number 8 brings fortune.With both modern and traditional characteristics, the Jin Mao Building is a symbol and landmark of Shanghai and a must-sce for any tourist wishing for a taste of modern Shanghai.
Taipei 101
With a height of 508 meters, Taipei 101 or formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center became the world's tallest building when it was completed in 2003. Designed by C.Y.Lee &.Partners, the multi-use steel and- glass high rise was intended to prevent typhoons and earthquakes.Taipei 101 has developed into the outstanding landmark of the area, and the ideal shopping and relaxing place for locals.
1. What is the Empire State Building recently recognized for?| A．Its multi-functions. |
| B．Its numerous visitors. |
| C．Its wealth and power. |
| D．Its going- green ideas. |
| A．They are landmark buildings. |
| B．They feature traditional cultures. |
| C．They were built in the 20th century. |
| D．They were designed for natural disasters. |
| A．To promote green buildings. |
| B．To recommend tourist attractions. |
| C．To introduce famous tall buildings. |
| D．To advertise the high- rise buildings. |
4 . It’s called the Bank of Happiness, but it has nothing to do with money. Founded a year ago in Estonia’s capital Tallinn, it’s a forum in which more than 2,000 members from Estonia and other countries connect to offer or receive services free of charge.
The site carries more than 500 ads in English, German and Estonian from people offering or seeking all kinds of things, including teaching and tips on cooking. The website is also translated into French and Spanish.
Founder Airi Kivi says the goal is to make people think and act with their hearts. “After the worldwide outbreak of the pandemic, I thought, ‘Wow, our bank is perfect for the crisis and a lot of people are unemployed and they can use it to harvest what they need.’”
So how does it work? It’s simple: You sign up using your real name and post what you are offering or what your need is, as long as it doesn’t involve money or products.
Masseuse Terge Reintem says she signed up when she was unemployed because she needed to improve her skills by learning from others. But she stayed on even after finding a new job because she says it feels good to volunteer. “If I discover a new technique, I want my bank customers to first experience it,” Reintem says, adding they are often nicer than the paying ones.
Member Veronika Davel says she infringed the rules with her first request when she asked for a product: a computer. But she did it unknowingly. Later, she began offering services of her own on the bank’s website. “The main thing I really could offer was English,” Davel explains. “There was a young girl who needed to have better English for her job and I gave her a hand.”
The site has many more offers of help than requests for it. That’s as it should be, Kivi says, adding that the bigger reward comes from giving.
1. How can the Bank of Happiness benefit its members?| A．They can help each other at no cost. | B．They can place ads for their products. |
| C．They can travel to many countries for free. | D．They can read much news about happiness. |
| A．Obeyed. | B．Broke. | C．Made. | D．Bent. |
| A．To improve her skills. | B．To win more customers. |
| C．To enjoy the helpfulness. | D．To learn new techniques. |
| A．By using specific data. | B．By giving examples. |
| C．By referring to common knowledge. | D．By using comparison and contrast. |
5 . Imagine a world without insects. It might sound good at first without creepy-crawly bugs and annoying flies in your apartment. However, the consequences would be disastrous.
The number of insects has dropped by more than half in the past decades, according to British biologist Dave Goulson, author of Silent Earth: Averting the Insect Apocalypse. As insects make up most of the known species on this planet, this data is not good news, The Guardian reported on July 25.
Insects are indeed on the path to extinction, according to the first global scientific review of insect population decline, which was published in the journal Biological Conservation in January 2019. The researchers say intensive agriculture has been the main cause of the decline. Pesticides, in particular, destroy insect habitats. Urbanization and climate change are also significant factors.
“Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades,” the researchers wrote in the review. “The repercussions (影响) this will have for the planet’s ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least.”
What would happen to Earth without insects? It’s almost impossible to predict, but the consequences would be far-reaching. We need insects to pollinate (授粉) crops, recycle plant and animal material, keep the soil healthy and much more. Without insects, many animals would have nothing to eat, and the predators of those animals would go hungry as well. The ecosystem would be thrown off balance.
“If insect species losses cannot be halted, this will have catastrophic consequences for both the planet’s ecosystems and for the survival of mankind,” said Francisco Sanchez-Bayo at the University of Sydney, Australia, one of the authors of the review.
The first step to halting this process is “to engender a society that values the natural world, both for what it does for us and for its own sake”, Goulson suggests. “The obvious place to start is with our children, encouraging environmental awareness from an early age.”
1. What does the underlined word “disastrous” in paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Highly helpful. | B．Very interesting. |
| C．Extremely terrible. | D．Impossible to predict. |
| A．Problems with intensive agriculture. |
| B．Causes of the decline in the insect population. |
| C．Factors causing insect habitat loss. |
| D．Influence of urbanization on insects. |
| A．They help slow down climate change. |
| B．They reduce the number of predators. |
| C．They have a great impact on the ecosystem. |
| D．They keep the soil dry and healthy. |
| A．Exploring the natural world often. |
| B．Providing insects with enough food. |
| C．Taking children to watch insects closely. |
| D．Raising public awareness of natural protection. |
6 . Ways to Improve Your Health
Sometimes it may seem difficult to improve our health. If so, the following health habits may help you.
●
Research shows that eating a meal in the morning results in less body fat and less chance of overeating. Eating breakfast can help people feel better physically and mentally through the day.
●Get enough sleep.
Poor sleep can influence our memory and learning.
●Take a walk every day.
●Make social connections.
Social groups can provide support. They might include sport teams, art or music groups. The people in the group can offer advice and can help each other in difficult times. Also, being in a group keeps your mind busy.
●Have a hobby.
A hobby could be running, reading or making something with your hands. Hobbies help people to relax and rest. Hobbies bring us joy.
| A．Get much exercise. |
| B．Eat breakfast every morning. |
| C．It can also cause traffic accidents! |
| D．An active mind is a healthy mind! |
| E．Spending time with others is very helpful. |
| F．Everyone could get a little more joy in their lives! |
| G．Walking is an easy way to add exercise to our lives. |
7 . SHARK CONSERVATION IN SOUTH AFRICA
Take a two-week trip that you will never forget as a volunteer with sharks on a beautiful stretch of South Africa’s coastline. Head out to sea to witness one of the world’s most powerful (and most misunderstood) creatures on this inspiring project, enjoying watching them from both above and below water.
The DAY-BY-DAY schedule
Day 1: Arrive in Cape Town on a Sunday. You will be collected from the airport and spend your first night in a guest house in the city centre.
Day 2: You will be collected bright and early from the guest house and taken down to the project. The drive takes about 90 minutes. You will receive a welcome and head out to sea to witness your first sharks!
Day 3+: Most days you will be out on the boat with the sharks, depending on weather. Help out with the full range of tasks on the boats, and in conservation initiatives on land too.
Last day: On the final day of your project you will be taken back to Cape Town for your onward travel.
The price is £829,including the voluntary work programme with accommodations, airport transfers, one night in a guest house in Cape Town, breakfasts daily and lunches when on the boats. Your trip can be extended at a cost of £ 375 per week.
It is an amazing experience! Some volunteers planned to stay for 4 weeks, extended to 6 weeks and still didn’t want to come home. If you’d like to chat about this holiday or need help, we’re very happy to help.
Call us at 01273 823 700.
Email us at rosy@responsibletravel.com.
1. When will you really begin your shark watching trip?| A．On a Friday. | B．On a Saturday. |
| C．On a Sunday. | D．On a Monday. |
| A．Sail on the ocean. |
| B．Return to Cape Town. |
| C．Buy some souvenirs. |
| D．Dive with sharks. |
| A．£ 375. | B．£ 750. | C．£ 829. | D．£ 1,204. |
8 . Great tips for learning a language
What is language for? Some people seem to think it is for practicing grammar rules and learning lists of words. That’s wrong. Language is for the exchange of ideas, for communication. Here are some simple yet instructive ways to learn a language.
◆ Practice speaking it as often as possible.
•
◆ Rome wasn’t built in a day.
◆ Keep an English diary. Try to write a few sentences about your day and then speak them out as many times as possible before you go to sleep. This habit will help you to “think” in English.
◆Don’t be afraid to ask for help. The more times you ask for help, the more powerful your English will become. Never be afraid to ask!
| A．Try to think in English whenever possible. |
| B．Use all your senses to learn English. |
| C．Learn as much as you can from as many different people as you can! |
| D．Everything is easier if you enjoy doing it! |
| E．A great man once said it is necessary to practice speaking as much as possible. |
| F．It will also help you live an organized and fruitful life. |
| G．Work harder and practice more. |
9 . Things you may not know about Grain Buds
Grain Buds(小满), the 8th solar term of a year in traditional Chinese lunar calendar, begins on May 21 this year and ends on June 4th.
Because of increasing rainfall during the Grain Buds, rivers are full of water, which gives rise to great tasting fish and shrimps. This is a good time to enjoy them. It is also a good season to eat mulberries as they are becoming black. People in Ningxia Hui autonomous region like to eat the blended herb of the common sow thistle(苦荬菜), which tastes savory and helps people feel refreshed.
Tips on health
High temperatures and humidity are common during the Grain Buds period. The increase in temperature over this season may also give rise to many kinds of skin diseases.
Key period for flower management
This time is a good period of the quick growth of flowers.
People in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces celebrate this season as the birthday of the silkworm deity(蚕神). Farmers also tend to the field by planting green Chinese onions in Shandong and harvesting vegetables in Zhangye, Gansu.
| A．A good time for eating fish |
| B．A good time for eating seasonable food |
| C．It is also important to exercise during the hot summer days |
| D．It is also a season when plant diseases and pests are at an all-time high |
| E．It means that the seeds from the grain are becoming full but are not ripe |
| F．People in different regions of China have some other different activities during this time. |
| G．Grain Buds leads people's lives through foods, cultural ceremonies, gardening and even healthy living tips. |
We are upon the first anniversary of a shocking killing. Last May, outside of a grocery store in Minnesota, George Floyd — a Black man — was slowly, casually murdered by a White police officer. Floyd's daughter, Gianna, is the same age as you. I know that Floyd certainly didn't choose to “sacrifice”, as one government officer said, his life to the cause of racial justice, leaving her daughter fatherless. Sometimes, when I look at your beautiful face, I think of that little girl and my heart breaks.
My son, you came into my heart almost seven years ago as a gift. You were lucky enough to be born in a country where dreams can come true, so they say, and I hope that this will be the case for you. But you were also born inside Black skin and sadly, that is still a burden to bear in today's America. Every day I pray for strength so that I may help you to carry that burden, make you proud of who you are, and teach you how to face the challenge of racism.
More than anything else, I pray that I will be able to keep you safe. No child should have to know this, but you will meet individuals who will not see you as human because of the color of your skin. Some of them will even be the very people who have promise to protect and serve you, and they can be police.
Since 400 years ago, Black and brown people have been fighting, first for our freedom and now for equality. Our ancestors did not live to see their efforts rewarded, but sometimes something shocking happens will bring change in its wake. Sadly, that something is often the murder of someone who looks like you.
Your father
1. What led to the death of George Floyd?| A．It was a natural death. | B．He had a heart attack. |
| C．He was killed by a white policeman. | D．He chose to sacrifice to the cause of racial justice. |
| A．The son is nearly 8 years old now. |
| B．The father feels heart-breaking for the girl’s ordinary appearance. |
| C．The father thinks it very safe to be a black person in America. |
| D．Americans still have a long way to go to remove racial prejudice. |
| A．Optimistic. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Neutral. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Orphans’ upbringing. | B．Sever racial discrimination. |
| C．Children’s education. | D．The dangerous living environment. |
