1 . Hem an Bekele is not your typical high school student．Rather than spending his free time playing video games or staring at his phone, this 14 year-old from Fairfax, Virginia was calling professors and conducting experiments, all to create a soap that could treat skin cancer, and to make it affordable for everyone who needs it．His work won him the grand prize in this year’s 3M Young Scientist’s Challenge, a competition that encourages kids to think of unique ways to solve everyday problems.
Growing up in Ethiopia, Bekele found in pity that people working outside were likely to end up getting skin cancer．Skin cancer did have cures and was treatable in most cases．However, the average price of skin cancer treatment globally was almost $40,000．Those shocking statistics really inspired him to create a more accessible solution．He started doing experiments and working on different things, and that turned into his bar of soap as a project.
A lot of his research and development started in his family’s kitchen and in his basement．But as he reached the final of the competition, he realized that he did need to do a little bit more outside of just his house．So he reached out to people at University of Virginia and people at Georgetown, and he got a lot of assistance．The number one person would be Deborah Isabelle, who helped him organize and structure his ideas during the finalist competition．Bekele said that he definitely couldn’t have done that all by himself.
Bekele’s award-winning soap is a compound based bar of soap and it’s charged with different cancer fighting chemicals．The color of the soap is a bit of a dark type of white and it has a rough surface, which could be a good exfoliant（去角质剂）．It does have a strong medicine smell and feel a bit stickier．The whole point of it is that even once you wash off the soaps, the medicinal parts will stay on your skin．It can activate the body’s immune cells to defend cancer.
Bekele won 25,000 prize money and he was going to use it to continue research．He said, “I still need a lot of resources to be able to conduct this research, so this money will definitely help me achieve it.”
1. Why did Heman Bekele start working on creating the soap?| A．Because he thought it was a fun project. |
| B．Because he wanted to win a science competition. |
| C．Because he found skin cancer treatment unaffordable. |
| D．Because he wanted to create a unique soap for everyone. |
| A．Well begun is half done. | B．Learn humbly, ask willingly. |
| C．Actions speak louder than words. | D．Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. |
| A．What features the soap has. | B．How the soap is used. |
| C．What chemicals the soap contains. | D．How the soap is produced. |
| A．Patient and talented. | B．Friendly and ambitious. |
| C．Cautious and generous. | D．Caring and devoted. |
2 . TikTok has many clever tips and tricks to make life a little easier. From creative advice to practical skills, there is something for everyone on the video sharing App. Many of these methods have left viewers open-mouthed at their simplicity or scratching their heads as why they hadn’t thought of them first. But to save you some boring scrolling (滚屏), we have made a list of the best TikTok life tips in 2021. Ready to be impressed?
Chop onions
Chopping onions is an emotional experience or, at least, it looks it. The vegetable can make us tear up, and salty liquid flowing down your cheeks is never a stylish look. However, a woman created a makeshift protective gear out of a hooded sweatshirt (连帽运动衫) and a pan cover. Next step, New York Fashion Week.
Clean car headlights
It is vital that your cars headlights stay in good working order so as to keep you safe. If yours are fogged up, just use a lemon and some baking soda. Many netizens have claimed that this method can save them some serious cash.
Bathe your dog
If your dog hates having a bath, why not try peanut butter? While this one may seem ridiculous, one TikTok video has shown it is effective. In the clip the pet can be seen licking it off the side of the tub, as the owner cleans his fur. “I don’t even know I am having a bath. All I know is peanut butter,” the caption (字幕) reads.
1. What can we infer from the first TikTok life tip?| A．Chopping onions can make you upset. |
| B．You can find the protective gear in New York. |
| C．The makeshift protective gear is creative. |
| D．It’s stylish to have tears flowing down your cheeks. |
| A．The tips and tricks sound easy but are difficult to apply. |
| B．You can use a lemon and some baking soda to bathe your dog. |
| C．Cleaning car headlights with a lemon and some baking soda is economical. |
| D．The author finds bathing a dog with the help of peanut butter ridiculous. |
| A．To analyze the reasons why people like TikTok. |
| B．To share some clever tips and tricks found on TikTok. |
| C．To come up with some practical suggestions on TikTok. |
| D．To call on people to share more tips and tricks on TikTok. |
3 . In the last 50 years the media influence has grown increasingly with the advance of technology.
First there was the telegraph, then the radio, the newspaper, the television and now the Internet. We live in a society that depends on information and communication to keep moving in the right direction and do our daily activities.
In our daily life, we rely on the media to get the current news and facts about what is important and what we should be aware of. We have put our trust on the media as an authority to give us news, entertainment and education. However, the influence of mass media on our kids, teenagers and society is so big that we should know how it really works.
Of all the media distribution channels, the most influential has been the television. We are constantly exposed to thousands of images of violence, advertising, celebrities and much more. But who owns the media, which are the companies or people that shape our values, beliefs and decisions? In America, the media is basically dominated by some major companies. They own the major entertainment theme parks, entertainment movie studios, television and radio broadcast networks and programming, video news and sports entertainment. They also own integrated telecommunications, wireless phones, video games softwares, electronic media, music industry and more.
Years ago there was more diversity in companies, but they have merged(融入) so now they are just a few and they have the power to shape the opinions and beliefs of us and our kids. So it’s important to be aware of what your kids are exposed to every day and you should also try to look at things from different perspectives(角度) and not just from the one the media gives you.
1. In the author`s opinion, which media is the most influential?| A．Newspaper. | B．TV. | C．Radio. | D．Telegraph. |
| A．Replaced. | B．Overlooked. | C．Controlled. | D．Sold. |
| A．They have more power to shape our opinions and beliefs |
| B．We know more about what our kids are exposed to. |
| C．We can look at things in various perspectives. |
| D．A lot of money can be saved and spent on other projects. |
| A．What mass media is | B．Influence of TV on the masses |
| C．The harm of media | D．Mass media influence |
Throughout our lives, we are faced with many different learning experiences. Some of these experiences have made more of an impact than others. This can be due to different intelligences or learning styles. A person’s learning style or “intelligence” is the method through which they gain information most easily.
The theory of multiple intelligences was proposed in 1983 by Dr. Gardner in his book Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, and it suggests that traditional ideas about intelligence, measured by standardized IQ tests, are very limited. According to him, eight different intelligences are proposed to describe the range of different abilities in children and adults. They are: linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, spatial intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, musical intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, intrapersonal intelligence, and naturalistic intelligence.
Some schools focus attention on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences. However, Dr. Gardner says that we should place equal attention on people who possess the other intelligences: designers, athletes, musicians, salesmen, psychologists, and biologists.
Education can be much more interesting and help more students to learn more effectively if teachers are encouraged to present lessons in a wide variety of ways using music, group work, art activities, role-play, multimedia, field trips, among others. The good news is that hundreds of schools are currently using the theory of multiple intelligences to design the way they educate children. By doing so, students will perform better and store more important information in their minds. Understanding a student’s learning style can help later in life and lead them into a more fulfilling career direction.
The theory of multiple intelligences also gives adults a whole new way to look at their lives, examining potentials that they left behind in their childhood, such as a love for art or drama. They may now have the opportunity to develop these through hobbies or other programs of self-development.
1. According to the passage, what is a person’s learning style?2. What does Dr. Gardner use the eight intelligences to describe?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
To help students perform better and store more important information in their minds, schools should focus on linguistic and logical-mathematical intelligences.
4. Which intelligence do you want to develop most? Why? (In about 40 words)
This June, during Financial Literacy Month, we have some to share.
In 2015, a free online financial education course named FutureSmart was introduced to middle school students, specifically targeting this group at a time in their lives when financial habits take hold and grow.
Fast forward to today, FutureSmart, available in English and Spanish, has reached over 13,000 schools across all 50 states. More than two million students have completed the course, with almost half coming from low-to-moderate income families.
But we aren’t stopping there. We promise to reach four million more students by the end of 2025.
Why? Because this moment calls for brave action. Never before have money management and investment decisions been so easy to conduct at any time or place through the use of a smartphone. It is time to offer students more critical financial literacy education to encourage them to make good financial decisions on a daily basis as they make their way through a complex world.
From weighing opportunity costs to delaying instant satisfaction for long-term financial gain, FutureSmart educates our youth using hands-on simulations (模拟) to introduce concepts like daily financial decisions and the rewards of long-term planning. Teaching young learners how to build solid financial foundations is an important step in building financially healthy communities.
Although our work is far from complete, we know that FutureSmart works. And it works exceptionally well.
In the largest study of its kind, supported by the MassMutual Foundation and EVERFI, the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute (UMDI) recently concluded that 90% of students saw a statistically significant and educationally meaningful increase in knowledge after taking the FutureSmart course.
What’s more, these results were consistent across all student demographics including race, age, gender, school year, and socioeconomic status.
We have a long way to go to reach every single middle school student, but we welcome the challenge. Together, our teams have started a movement to provide equal access to financial education, and we invite others to join us.
Visit getfuturesmart. com to learn more and see how you can bring FutureSmart to the young people in your life.
MICHAEL FANNING RAY MARTINEZ
Head of MassMutual US President and Co-Founder of EVERFI
1. The course FutureSmart .
| A．is offered in two different languages |
| B．requires skillful smartphone operation |
| C．has been bought by a large number of schools |
| D．targets students from low-to-moderate income families |
| A．By establishing financially healthy communities. |
| B．By managing opportunities and rewards. |
| C．By simulating real-life situations. |
| D．By delaying financial gain. |
| A．improve their academic performance |
| B．accept financial challenges at any time |
| C．understand people from various backgrounds |
| D．build a stable financial foundation for the future |
6 . I was four when Dad first showed me how to skim stones, a game in which one throws smooth flat stones into a river to make them jump across the surface. I’d pass hours on beaches with my brother, picking up muddy stones and skimming them. It was satisfying making them dance on the surface. That perfect skim, where the stone glided (滑行), brought me fantastic feelings-and still does. I was a competitive child and good at throwing. I enjoyed javelin (标枪) and was on a baseball team, but skimming stones was just for fun.
In adulthood, things changed. In August 2017, an advertisement for the All England Open Stone Skimming Championships drew my attention. I signed up and paid £2 for three stones. I skimmed 28 metres and tried again and again, buying more stones to feed my desire, finally reaching 37 metres, which won me third place. I drove home excitedly, and £ 20 lighter.
I returned to the 2018 championship, hoping for a champion. Walking on to the small throwing platform in my trainers, I threw a decent 44 metres and won. I spotted someone wearing a competition sweater with “World” written across it. “Where’s that?” I asked and he told me about the annual World Stone Skimming Championships in Scotland.
It was a month away and a six-hour drive. I thought about the cost and distance for weeks until, the day before the contest, the feeling of winning made a decision for me. “I’m going. ”I arrived at a hotel at 10 pm, but couldn’t sleep for nerves and excitement. Early the next morning, I drove to the crossing where the competitors had begun waiting. Ropes and buoys (浮标) marked a 63-metre couarse. I had no idea if my best score was good enough to win. When my name was called at the prize-giving ceremony that afternoon, I was overjoyed. I was the women’s world champion.
I’m a big believer in giving things a go. I’m 42, and to become a world champion at this stage is pretty left-field. It showed me it was worth jumping in the car that day, and proof that a childhood spent throwing muddy stones from beaches wasn’t wasted.
1. What did the author enjoy about the stone skimming as a child?| A．The competitiveness of the sport. |
| B．The outstanding ability at throwing. |
| C．The satisfaction the glide of the stone brings. |
| D．The fun time she spent with her dad at the beach. |
| A．Her discipline. |
| B．Her desire to win. |
| C．Her confidence. |
| D．Her efforts on training. |
| A．Take it easy in face of challenges. |
| B．Change the world by being yourself. |
| C．A bigger stage is ready for those who try. |
| D．Either I will find a way, or I will make one. |
7 . Give a little sunshine!
The Council on Aging (COA) runs a telephone friendship project called the Sunshine Call Program, matching over-60s with a friendly volunteer for a daily chat over the phone. The aim is simple-to help ease the loneliness and repair social networks.
Sheila, 77, a retired teacher, lived alone. She has been receiving calls from Rianne, a volunteer, for over two months. “Talking to Rianne is something I really look forward to—a breath of fresh air. We talk about everything—theatre, her work, books we’ve read…Listening to someone else’s life enriches you and gives you something positive to focus on.” “At the beginning, I had no expectation of how the phone calls would go, but it’s wonderful that it’s led to a genuine friendship. Rianne helps me a lot …” |
Are you ready to add a little sunshine to a senior’s life?
The Sunshine Call Program initially links a volunteer with an isolated (独居的) senior for a daily call. When comfortable, the volunteer introduces a second senior to the call. Then another, until there are four seniors to one volunteer on what is essentially a conference call. Without having to leave the house, you will help the seniors meet and make new friends. They will then exchange phone numbers to chat on their own and reduce their isolation.
What are the volunteer qualifications?
Volunteers must have access to the Internet and be willing to be trained on the use of a chat app. COA will provide all supplies required to make the calls. Besides, volunteers must agree to participate in monthly meetings with other volunteers and guest speakers. All volunteers must be willing to provide a recent Criminal Record Check, the cost of which will be borne by COA. And the most important volunteer qualification is a sense of caring and a desire to help seniors in the community!
If you wish to volunteer with our Sunshine Call program, never hesitate! Just CLICK HERE to fill out the application form.
1. Why does the passage mention Sheila’s experience?| A．To show her loneliness |
| B．To share a sweet memory. |
| C．To stress the value of CoA |
| D．To praise Rianne’s kindness. |
| A．making weekly calls to seniors |
| B．visiting seniors during holidays |
| C．introducing new friends to seniors |
| D．teaching seniors to use smart phones |
| A．Learn the use of a chat app. |
| B．Prepare a computer by yourself. |
| C．Offer a letter of recommendation. |
| D．Have relevant working experience. |
| A．To inform the readers of COA. |
| B．To invite seniors to sign up for COA |
| C．To introduce volunteer work in COA. |
| D．To advertise for new volunteers for COA. |
8 . GREAT BOOKS TO TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
Here is a shortened list of books sponsored by the magazines TIME and TIME for Kids that are suitable for primary schoolers. To make the list, we considered how age-appropriate the material was, and whether the tone and story line left the reader feeling engaged and empowered rather than anxious or confused.
Experts recommend the youngest kids to read books that explore the beauty and fragility (脆弱) of nature. When developing an appreciation for the world around them, they can switch to books that show the cause and effect of how humans treat our planet, and why it’s important to respect the environment. For older primary school kids, picture books can illustrate how our use of fossil (化石) fuels contributes to global warming. Most of the books on the list also offer lessons about how children, families, schools, and communities can make a difference.
 THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET By April Pulley Sayre This photography book shows to us plants, animals and landscapes in vivid colors and descriptions. From up-close images of insects to pictures of mountain ranges, the pages introduce children to the planets’ diversity in a simple but effective way. |  THE LORAX By Dr. Seuss Thanks to its rhyme, and whimsical illustration, this classic tale is suitable for young children who can grasp the scarcity of natural resources, and also older kids who can see a danger in valuing profits over long-term environmental harm. |
 WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS By Carole Lindstrom A tribute to native tribes that are protecting the planet, this book vividly shows the harms of oil pipelines. Kids will see the value of community action, while adults will recognize the story of the native tribes Standing Rock Sioux’s fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline. |  POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? By Robert E. Wells This book introduces the greenhouse effect with illustrations showing how sunlight gets trapped. It then explains fossil-fuel energy, and our reliance on it for electricity and transportation. The pages are full of science. |
| A．Confusing story line. | B．The tone of anxiety. |
| C．The books sponsorship. | D．Age-appropriate content. |
| A．They can see the value of community action. |
| B．They can know how to protect the native tribes. |
| C．They can recognize the story of the native tribes. |
| D．They can understand the importance of oil pipelines. |
| A．THE LORAX |
| B．WE ARE WATER PROTECTORS |
| C．POLAR BEAR, WHY IS YOUR WORLD MELTING? |
| D．THANK YOU, EARTH: A LOVE LETTER TO OUR PLANET |
9 . In a study in the journal Science, researchers at Northwestern University in Illinois reported that they had developed an effective and inexpensive method for breaking down chemicals called poly fluoro alkyl substances (PFAS).
PFAS, first created in the 1930s, are chemical compounds (化合物). They are used to make a wide range of everyday products, including nonstick pans, carpeting, electronics, and fast-food wrappers. Once the chemicals are in the environment, they are almost impossible to eliminate because they are designed to avoid breaking down. Researchers have linked regular levels of exposure to these chemicals with several health problems, including liver damage, an increased risk of cancer, and reduced immunity.
Scientists had previously figured out how to remove PFAS from polluted water or soil but, until now, had no safe and effective way to destroy them once they were removed. The study reported that when the team boiled PFAS molecules (分子) with two common substances, the PFAS quickly broke down and became harmless.
In 2020, William Dichtel, a chemist and professor at Northwestern, read a study in which chemists at the University of Alberta, in Canada, found an easy way to break down chains of molecules. He asked a graduate student, Brittany Trang, to try the method on PFAS molecules.
Trang had spent months in the lab unsuccessfully attempting to pull apart PFAS, and at first she thought Dichtel’s idea was too simple to work. But she tried it, boiling PFAS with a common solvent (溶剂) called dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Trang was shocked when the process destroyed the PFAS. She later mixed DMSO with a chemical called sodiumhydroxide and broke down PFAS even more quickly.
The scientists will work on ways to destroy PFAS outside the lab so large amounts of forever chemicals can be broken down at once. “It’s a huge challenge, but it’s in our grasp,” Dichtel told The New York Times. Scientists are also calling for a decrease in the amount of PFAS being released into the natural world. In June, the US government announced new plans to monitor PFAS, decrease the amount released into the environment, and address the effects of PFAS on human health.
1. What does the underlined word “eliminate” probably mean in paragraph 2?| A．Identify. | B．Destroy. | C．Remove. | D．Release. |
| A．He got information from a study of others. |
| B．He conducted the experiments on his own. |
| C．His graduate student, Brittany Trang, told him. |
| D．Chemists at the University of Alberta told him. |
| A．She tried the method from Dichtel but didn’t succeed at first. |
| B．She pulled apart PFAS with her own idea at her first attempt. |
| C．She developed a more effective method to break down PFAS. |
| D．She thought Dichtel’s idea was too simple, so she didn’t try it. |
| A．Addressing the effects of PFAS on human health and environment. |
| B．Reducing the amount of PFAS being released into the environment. |
| C．Finding more effective ways to destroy PFAS in and outside the lab. |
| D．Stopping the use of PFAS in everyday life to avoid health problems. |
10 . A nightmare plot turned into a miracle-like rescue in Colorado on Sunday. Three children aged 4 to 11 years old were playing on the icy pond at The Addison at Cherry Creek apartments. Suddenly they fell in and were sinking in the freezing water. Dusti Talavera, who lives at the apartment complex, was looking out her window when she saw the kids fall in. Talavera, 23, said she did not hesitate to put on her shoes and rush to the pond, which is 15 feet deep.
“Before I realized it, I was on the pond pulling the two kids out, and that was when I fell in the pond for the third kid,” Talavera said during a press conference on Monday. Two of the kids were saved and Talavera began to pull a 6-year-old up to the surface, but was struggling. That was when a 16-year-old male, identified as the cousin of the 6-year-old, jumped in to help.
As deputies (警官) rushed to the scene, they heard that people were out of the pond, but one was not breathing. Deputy David Rodriguez immediately began chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, CBS Denver reports. Two other deputies, Blaine Moulton and Justin Dillard, also assisted. She was rushed to Children’s Hospital and was breathing and had a pulse.
“Seeing her breathe was a massive relief,” said Dillard. The girl has been transferred to Denver Health, and as of Monday was in serious condition, but expected to survive, according to CBS Denver.
1. What can we learn from paragraph 1?| A．The accident happened on a summer Sunday. |
| B．Without thinking Talavera offered the kids help. |
| C．The kids were playing with Talavera on the pond. |
| D．Talavera lives far from where the accident happened. |
| A．A deputy. | B．A teenager. | C．A doctor. | D．A reporter. |
| A．Brave and helpful. | B．Cautious and patient. |
| C．Far-sighted and generous. | D．Warm-hearted and modest. |
| A．A timely rescue. | B．A serious drowning. |
| C．Some lucky children. | D．Some honorable rescuers. |
