One cool April 22 morning, people started the day as usual. Yet it was not a normal day. What’s so special about April 22? The answer is simple. It is Earth Day. People all over the world celebrate this important day. The idea of having a special day to celebrate Earth began in the 1960s. Life was very different then. Few people talked or even thought about the environment. Most people had no idea how dirty our air and water were.
On April 22, 1970, twenty million Americans joined the first Earth Day activities. They showed that people really did want to do something about the environment. Since then laws have been passed to protect the air, water, land and animals.
The vehicles such as cars and buses you ride in must pass tests to make sure they don’t cause too much pollution. Thanks to this law, cars today release about half as many bad chemicals as cars did back in 1970. As a result, the air we breathe is cleaner than it once was.
Rivers and lakes are also cleaner today than they were in the 1970s. It’s a good thing because they needed a lot of help. The Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted that rubbish and oil on the river even caught fire! Today, the river is cleaner. It no longer burns. It’s healthy enough for birds, fish and other animals.
Now the celebration has spread to other countries. More than 175 countries take part each year.
In 2007, people in China paid much attention to a big problem. People were throwing away 27 million plastic bags a day! People had “Bye-Bye Throwaway Culture Week”. They wanted everyone to see how polluted it was to throw away so many plastic bags. In 2008, China passed new laws against them.
Every April 22, millions get together to clean and protect Earth. They also celebrate how far we have come. Our job is to put this knowledge to work. You can help keep our planet healthy too!
1. What is so special about April 22? (no more than 5 words)2. When did twenty million Americans join the first Earth Day activities? (no more than 5 words)
3. What caught fire on the Cuyahoga River? (no more than 5 words)
4. How many countries take part in the celebration each year now? (no more than 3 words)
5. What can you do to celebrate Earth Day? (no more than 20 words)
2 . The increase in the price of oil has brought the world to its senses. Scientists are searching for suitable alternative (替换) but so far in vain. They are considering how they can make better use of the two other major fuels, coal and natural gas, but they have found that neither can take the place of oil in their economics. In recent years there has been a growing concern for the environment and coal is not a popular fuel with environmentalists. Natural gas, the purest of the three fuels, is also the most limited in supply.
The answer would seem to lie in nuclear power stations. They need very little fuel to produce enormous amounts of power and they do not pollute the atmosphere. Their dangers, however, are so great and the cost of building them are also high. Not only could one accident in a nuclear power station spread as much radioactivity as a thousand Hiroshima atom bombs, but the radioactive waste from these station is extremely dangerous.
Scientists have recently turned their attention to natural sources of energy: the sun, the sea, the wind and hot spring，of which the sun seems the most promising source for the future. Houses have already been built which are heated entirely by solar energy. However, solar energy can only be collected during daylight hours, and in countries where the weather is unreliable, an alternative heating system has to be included.
However, many scientists are optimistic (乐观的) that new ways of generating large amounts of energy will be successfully developed, but at the same time they fear the consequences. If the world population goes on increasing at its present rate, we may, in fifty years’ time, be burning up so much energy that we would damage the earth’s atmosphere. By raising the temperature of the atmosphere, we could melt the Arctic and Antarctic ice-caps and change the pattern of vegetable and animal life throughout the world — a frightening possibility.
1. The natural gas cannot take the place of oil because ______.| A．its price is increasing |
| B．it may cause more pollution |
| C．the source of it is limited |
| D．it is too pure |
| A．Scientists have succeeded in finding a suitable alternative |
| B．Scientists are worried about the environment problem in the future. |
| C．Scientists have found none of the alternatives can take place of oil. |
| D．Scientists are confident that they will eventually find the new ways |
| A．natural gas |
| B．coal |
| C．wind energy |
| D．solar energy |
| A．it cannot generate large amounts of power |
| B．it may pollute the atmosphere |
| C．It may cause great danger to us if not properly handled |
| D．It may use up enormous amounts of fuel |
| A．all energy supply would be burnt up |
| B．earth’s atmosphere would be damaged |
| C．the Arctic and Antarctic ice-caps would melt |
| D．the pattern of vegetable and animal life throughout the world would be changed |
Yang Xiaomeng lives 11 km away from her company in Beijing. The 26-year-old has been cycling to work for three months. “I used to take the subway before the COVID-19 outbreak. But now riding a bike seems to be a safer choice.”
Finding it relaxing and healthy, Yang said she would keep cycling in the future. In fact, many people have turned from public transportation to riding bikes these days. On Beijing’s bike-only lane (自行车专用道), from Huilongguan to Shangdi, the number of cyclists has increased by 17.6 percent due to the outbreak, Xinhua reported.
In fact, biking has been booming globally since the COVID-19 outbreak. In Spain, bike sales increased 22-fold (倍) in May compared with last year. In London, large parts of the city are being closed off to cars so that people can walk and cycle safely. Cities like Berlin and Montreal have also added new, wider bike lanes.
How will this change influence life in the city? The environmental advantages are clear. According to studies, cycling can clearly reduce the pollution of the environment. Since most gyms are still not open, cycling can also give people a chance to exercise and enjoy fresh air.
Increased biking can also bring economic benefits (经济效益) to the society. Compared with drivers, cyclists tend to spend more money in stores, bars and restaurants, according to Huff post. “When you make an area become attractive to people on foot or on a bike—when you slow down the pace (节奏) of life in that neighborhood just a little—suddenly visitors are staying longer and stopping in more stores,” Rachel Quednau wrote for Strong Towns.
1. How did Yang go to work before the COVID-19 outbreak? (no more than 5 words)2. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 3 probably mean? (1 word)
3. Why are large parts of London being closed off to cars? (no more than 10 words)
4. What are the advantages of riding a bike? (no more than 10 words)
5. What’s your attitude towards cycling? Please explain. (no more than 20 words)
4 . Given that October is Mental Health Month, how can we manage our mental health and boost our mood as our second year with the COVID-19 pandemic draws to a close? According to Dr Andrew Thompson, a registered doctor at Instantscripts, even some small, 15-minute acts can play a huge role in improving your mental well-being at a time like this.
1. Reach out to a support network
This network can be made up of friends, family, mental health professionals — anyone you trust who can help support you during this time. Taking 15 minutes out of your day for a quick phone call to a friend can really boost your mood and help reduce those feelings of isolation for a while.
Try setting up a picnic with friends to enjoy some social time with the added bonus of getting outside.
2. Set up a daily schedule / routine
It’s easy to get glued to your work computer during the day, and stay up all hours of the night streaming movies and TV during lockdown (封控). But all of that leads to you getting less sleep and that can contribute to poor mental health. Instead of accidentally overscheduling, take 15 minutes to establish a clear routine each day that allows for plenty of downtime and rest. That means switching off your laptop whenever you finish work, and prioritizing your sleep every night.
Try setting up a Google Calendar to make keeping track of your day easier.
3. Take advantage of telehealth services
One of the big benefits of the pandemic is that many support services are now accessible remotely, meaning you can get help without having to leave home.
Spending just 15 minutes talking through your mental health concerns with a professional can do you a world of good and get you started on the path to better mental well-being.
Try reaching out to services such as BeyondBlue (1300 22 4436), which offer 24/7 counseling (咨询) and support.
4. Get active for 15 minutes
It can be so easy to give up on exercise when you’re struggling mentally, but studies have shown that moving your body really can improve your mood. Setting aside 15 minutes every day for exercise that you actually enjoy — whether it’s a walk, yoga, or a YouTube workout video — can give you a little hit of positive endorphins (安多芬).
Try investing in a smart watch, like a FitBit Inspire 2, which keeps you motivated, tracks your activity and reminds you to keep moving via its fitness applications.
1. What does Dr Thompson advise doing to reduce the feeling of isolation during the lockdown?| A．Watching TV and movies. |
| B．Exercising 15 minutes each day. |
| C．Staying in contact with your friends. |
| D．Keeping track of your day to stay motivated. |
| A．To avoid overscheduling. |
| B．To become more productive. |
| C．To make time to entertain yourself. |
| D．To ensure the amount of sleep and rest. |
| A．reach out to a support network |
| B．prioritize your sleep every night |
| C．talk through your concern with a professional |
| D．purchase a high-tech device with fitness apps |
| A．Ways to seek support in pandemic. |
| B．Four 15-minute acts to lift your mood. |
| C．How to celebrate Mental Health Month. |
| D．How to stay positive during the lockdown. |
5 . Audubon Summer Day Camp 2022
Campers at Bent of the River’s Audubon Summer Day Camp can explore nature in a fin and safe environment within the 700 acres of a nature sanctuary (保护区). Audubon Camp develops campers’ curiosity through outdoor exploration, which helps campers understand the natural world. These unique experiences and adventures can grow into a lifelong appreciation of the environmental situation.
Camp Activities:
Activities like hiking, stream-walking, river exploration, crafts, nature-themed games, live animal interactions, and birding are included.
Camp Staff:
The staff are selected based on their experience and skills in working with the youth in environmental education and their interest in local ecology and natural history. All staff must pass background checks and are required to hold current CPR and First Aid certifications to make the camp a safe place to experience nature.
Camp Age Groups:
Camp groups are sorted by grades. Naturalists are campers entering grades 1-4 in Fall 2022 and EcoDiscoverers are campers entering grades 5-8. Volunteer junior counselor opportunities are available for teens aged 14-18. For more information on junior counselor opportunities, please email bentoftheriver@audubon.org or call 203-405-9113.
Camp Hours & Length:
Most camps last one week from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Twilight Explorers week offered to EcoDiscoverers runs from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Camp Registration:
Registration opens on April, 2022. Camp spots will be reserved only after registration is completed and tuition is received.
Pricing:
Tuition is $300 per camper per week for registration made by May 1, 2022, and $325 per camper per week for registration made after May 1, 2022. Campers can get a 10% discount if they register as a group (at least 2).
1. What’s the purpose of Audubon Summer Day Camp?| A．To promote the local tourism. |
| B．To offer teenagers enough outdoor sports. |
| C．To keep the ecological balance of the area. |
| D．To raise campers’ interest in exploring nature. |
| A．Playing hide-and-seek. |
| B．Saving injured wild birds. |
| C．Uncovering the mystery of rivers. |
| D．Conducting a survey of the local people. |
| A．Mastering first aid knowledge. |
| B．Excelling in cultural education. |
| C．Having a strong interest in world history. |
| D．Being excellent student leaders at school. |
| A．Junior counselor opportunities are aimed at adults. |
| B．Naturalists should be teens fond of natural science. |
| C．Campers are arranged by their academic performance. |
| D．EcoDiscoverers can apply for the Twilight Explorers week. |
| A．$1,200 | B．$1,170 | C．$1,300 | D．$1,080 |
6 . Summer Events at the Institute of Continuing Education
The ICE Summer Festival displays the best of the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education (ICE) and Madingley Hall with a series of cultural and educational events.
Cambridge Short Story Festival
We are delighted to announce the second annual creative writing festival celebrating the short story. Join us for this event packed with workshops, interviews and readings with the very best short story authors, critics and publishers, including award-winning writers Tessa Hladley, Dame Gillian Beer, and Daisy Johnson.
Date: Jun.22
Tickets: £22.50-E55
Open Air Cinema: Bohemian Rhapsody (12A)
Join us for a magical cinematic experience under the stars, in the splendid Gardens of Madingley Hall. We’ve got the seating and wireless headphones, so all you need to do is round up your friends, bring a blanket to wrap up in and relax in one of our deckchairs.
Date: Aug.16
Tickets: £18
Chapterhouse Open Air Theatre Presents: Treasure Island
Join Chapterhouse Theatre Company for this brand-new adaptation of everyone’s favourite exciting pirate adventure: Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. When he accidentally found a jealous treasure map, young Jim Hawkins found himself on a journey in the hope of finding Treasure Island.
Don’t miss this much-loved story.
Date: Sept.8
Tickets: £16
Open Cambridge: Discover the Medicinal Garden
Join us in exploring Madingley Hall’s beautiful eight-acre gardens. Discover cures, curiosities, tastes, and learn fascinating facts about herbs with professional herbalists and the garden team at the Hall’s Medicinal Garden.
Date: Sept.14
Tickets: Free of charge
1. The Cambridge Short Story Festival is suitable for people who are interested in ________ .| A．technology | B．medicine | C．literature | D．sociology |
| A．Headphones. | B．Snacks. | C．A deckchair. | D．A blanket. |
| A．Sept.8 | B．Jun.22 | C．Aug.16 | D．Sept.14 |
| A．Decorate the eight-acre garden. | B．Learn about some medical plants. |
| C．Grow medicinal plants in the gardens. | D．Buy a controversial book about medicine. |
| A．Cambridge Short Story Festival |
| B．Open Air Cinema: Bohemian Rhapsory (I2A) |
| C．Open Cambridge: Discover the Medicine Garden |
| D．Chapterhouse Open Air Theatre Presents; Treasure Island |
7 . Sara Kays, a 22-year-old girl, is a rising star on online video — sharing platforms. She not only uses TikTok to promote her music but also posts songs to get feedback from her followers.
“It’s been cool to engage with people that way” said Kays, who has been using online platforms to pursue her music dream to maximum effect. Now, she is a TikTok celebrity with about 1.3 million followers. She released her breakup song Remember That Night? in November 2020. The post blew up, getting almost three million views in a matter of days.
Kays has loved singing since she was young. At 11, she got a guitar from her mother and then started to sing while playing. Gradually, people started asking her to play at restaurants and she also started to post some live videos on YouTube, gaining her more and more followers. At 17, Kays turned to songwriting to help her deal with the confusion of adolescence and serve as an outlet for her thoughts and feelings.
“I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to release songs and that all these people are listening to them online,” said Kays. “It’s been amazing.”
Different from other content creators who update their content frequently, Kays updates on a weekly basis and only posts videos about her songs and related stories, such as singing, playing the guitar or ukulele, shooting music videos. Her videos are always concise and simple, the recording process is pretty simple too: she edit the vocals and video in her room.
Now, Kays has signed with a music company. In Kays’ eyes, people like her songs and videos because she exemplifies the ideal package for a TikToker: Relatable, authentic and youthful. “I just sing and share my feelings about divorced parents, body image, loneliness and mental health,” said Kays. “I want more people to know they’re not alone with the struggles in their lives.”
1. For what purpose does Kays use TikTok?| A．relaxing herself. | B．learning the fashion. |
| C．chatting with people. | D．chasing her dream. |
| A．Was almost ignored. | B．Received a lot of criticism. |
| C．Suddenly became popular. | D．Confused people. |
| A．She hoped to make money by writing songs. |
| B．She wanted to find an outlet for her feelings. |
| C．Her followers asked her to write songs for them. |
| D．She wanted to help teenagers with their difficulties. |
| A．She updates her songs frequently on video platforms. |
| B．Her music videos are simple and concise. |
| C．She posts the recording process for her songs. |
| D．Her songs express feelings felt by many young people. |
| A．Songs from the heart | B．Ways to use TikTok well |
| C．The popularity of TikTok | D．A lucky girl |
8 . WELCOME!
We are excited to have you join Circuit of Change and we look forward to making your experience as fun, easy and enjoyable as possible.
BASICS
* All indoor classes are conducted without shoes.
* No shoes are permitted in the studio or bathroom.
* Please silence your phone upon entering the studio.
* We have two dressing rooms inside the main studio, and one bathroom.
* We provide mats for all classes.
* We do not sell bottled water or offer towels; however, we do have a water filtration (过滤) system, so please bring your own bottle or you may purchase a reusable Circuit of Change water bottle for $12 at the studio.
* To help out the studio, you are responsible for cleaning your own mat after class.
* Circuit of Change is not responsible for any lost or stolen items.
* We offer tea before and after class for everyone.
SIGNING UP& PURCHASING CLASSES
To sign up for classes you must first create an account on our website. Visit Class Schedule/ Sign In and follow the user-friendly directions. There you will get all the information you need on attending your first class, and selecting which package is best for you.
CANCELATION POLICY
We have a two-hour cancellation policy. If you don’t cancel within the two hours, the class will be on the go!
WAITLIST POLICY
When creating your account, make sure you click the “Opt-In” box to receive email notices from us. If you’re on the waitlist for class, you’ll receive an auto-email as soon as a spot opens up.
HAVE FUN!
Circuit of Change is all about having fun and doing the work. Listen to your body, go at your own pace, and let the sweat pour! We look forward to meeting you soon.
Still have other questions? Contact us at 212.255.0053 or info@circuitofchange.com.
1. What is Circuit of Change according to the text?| A．A camping club. | B．A health website. |
| C．A fitness center. | D．A sports school. |
| A．The towels. | B．The mats. | C．The water. | D．The tea. |
| A．click the “Opt-In” box | B．visit Class Schedule/ Sign In |
| C．call 212.255.0053 | D．send an email to info@circuitofchange.com |
Across America, libraries used to reach out to readers by sending bookmobiles into school parking lots, street corners and rural byways (侧道). Now, those rolling reading rooms are becoming fewer.
One town in northern New England just lost its bookmobile. The Cobleigh Public Library in Lyndonville, Vt., had managed to keep its van (有蓬货车) rolling until about a month ago, when it died.
If you want to hear first-hand what it’s like to go through a whole month without a single visit from the bookmobile, just ask the preschoolers at a daycare centre.
“We miss the bookmobile,” one child says. “Yeah, we miss the bookmobile until it comes here,” says another.
Now that the bookmobile has broken down, librarians have to bring books in their own cars for story hour. Daycare provider Anneka Bickford says it’s not as exciting as having a big, brightly painted van roll into the driveway and open its doors so the kids can choose their own books.
“It’s getting the children involved with what a library is, how to check out books and how to return books,” Bickford says. “They would do programs with the children; singing, dancing, themes—so it’s the excitement of the library that we can’t give to the children.”
It’s not the first bookmobile to bite the dust. Over the years, Vermont’s large number has reduced to three or four. Lyndonville’s head librarian, Cindy Karasinski, says replacement costs have risen quickly.
“New bookmobiles are expensive; just one of them costs $90,000,” she says, “so that seems not the way we are going to go.” Sadly, Karasinksi says, money that used to support bookmobiles has nearly dried up.
However, not everyone hopes the Cobleigh bookmobile gets a second chance. Some in town feel the bookmobile has served its purpose and become a financial burden (财政负担).
1. What’re bookmobiles? (no more than 5 words)2. What can kids do with the help of bookmobiles in the opinion of Anneka Bickford? (no more than 15 words) .
3. What does the underlined phrase “bite the dust” in Paragraph 7 most probably mean? (no more than 5 words)
4. What leads to the disappearance of bookmobiles? (no more than 10 words)
5. What’s your own opinion on bookmobiles according to the passage? (no more than 25 words)
10 . If you’re looking for some part-time work, micro jobs can be a good choice for you to make money online. Micro jobs refer to small tasks or short-term jobs you can complete online. Here are a few sites that allow you to do such work.
Voices
If you have a speaking voice that is clear and are interested in voice-overs(旁白), then you should consider this website. There is no age requirement and you just have to make a brief introduction to yourself and upload a voice sample(样本).You can expect to earn around $100 per job.
CrowdSource
You can get paid to complete many kinds of tasks including data entry, writing, and translation among others. If you have a writing task, you can expect to earn anywhere between $0.02 and $0.035 per word.
Omee
You will need to install(安装) Qmee on your computer or mobile phone before you can make money. It will show some advertisements when you are online and you will get paid for each ad that shows. If you click an ad, you will have money put into your account. Payment is made regardless of the amount earned.
Ibotta
With this app, you basically get paid to shop. If you are planning to go shopping, simply have a look at the app, see the rewards on offer for specific products and then head out and make some cash back. If you are a new user, you earn $10 the moment you sign up.
1. What is the requirement for working on Voices?| A．Being over 18 years of age. |
| B．Having got trained in broadcasting. |
| C．Being experienced in making speeches. |
| D．Showing your voice and personal details. |
| A．$60. | B．$90. | C．$105. | D．$115. |
| A．By advertising Qmee. | B．By viewing advertisements. |
| C．By writing comments on Qmee. | D．By sharing online games with others. |
| A．People enjoying reading fashion news. |
| B．People hoping to get valuable products. |
| C．People loving to spend a long time online. |
| D．People wanting to save money while shopping. |
| A．They are all well-paid. | B．They all offer long-time jobs. |
| C．They all provide small jobs online. | D．They are all designed for teenagers. |
