1 . With so many festivals taking place in the UK, it’s getting harder every year to decide which ones to go to—and more importantly, which ones you can actually afford.
Parklife — Heaton Park, ManchesterDates: 10th — 11th June
Headliners: The 1975, Skrillex and Aitch
Cost: From £149.50 (weekend ticket), from £84．50 (one-day ticket)
Manchester’s favourite music festival is, unsurprisingly, a favourite with the city’s large student population. The weekend usually features a top-drawer line-up with loads of acts. You can’t camp at Parklife, so you also have to factor in accommodation in Manchester.
Latitude — Henham Park, SouthwoldDates: 20th — 23rd July
Headliners: Pulp, Paolo Nutini and George Ezra
Cost: £286.45 (weekend ticket with standard camping), from £90.75 (one-day ticket)
Latitude is one of the pricier festivals out there, but the lineup normally justifies (证明……正确) the dollar. The festival will have big artists alongside its main headliners. It’s a great all-rounder festival, where you can get back to nature by camping and lake swimming before dancing to DJs until the early hours.
Wireless — Finsbury Park, LondonDates: 7th — 9th July
Headliners: Playboi Carti, Travis Scott and 50 Cent
Cost: From £248.39 (weekend ticket), from £88 (one-day ticket)
We’re still a bit upset with Wireless for cancelling the festival’s Birmingham stop, making it a London-only event. Wireless hosts the sounds of grime, hip-hop, rap and R&B in North London’s Finsbury Park. Wireless isn’t a camping festival, so you’ll have to factor in the price of London accommodation for this one.
Victorious — Southsea Seafront, PortsmouthDates: 25th — 27th August
Headliners: Jamiroquai, Kasabian and Ben Howard
Cost: £180 (weekend ticket with camping), £60 (one-day ticket)
Although it has an excellent line-up of big names, this is still a relatively little-known festival. Since there are so many big acts, it’s also a pretty cost-effective option too. Best of all, the Castle Stage is situated in front of the stunning Southsea Castle, making this one of the most picturesque festivals around.
1. What do Parklife and Wireless have in common?| A．They are for students. | B．They are in London. |
| C．They don’t offer campsites. | D．They are in July. |
| A．Heaton Park. | B．Henham Park. | C．Finsbury Park. | D．Southsea Seafront. |
| A．Parklife. | B．Latitude. | C．Wireless. | D．Victorious. |
2 . According to the Houston Health Department, for nearly one-quarter of children living in Houston, Texas, the choice to eat healthily doesn’t exist. Annie Zhu was shocked to find out so many children in Houston lived in food deserts — areas without access to fresh food. She was also shocked to see how much fresh food supermarkets discard (丢弃) every day. So she and her twin sister Shirley went to work.
First, they partnered with the Houston Health Department to give out food at community centres. With the help of Second Servings, they collected surplus food from grocery stores and began organizing monthly markets. They even connected with human service agencies to provide help beyond food. Lastly, they developed a simple app that tells people when and where the markets are. Since the food is fresh, it needs to be picked up right away, so they developed the text and messaging app Fresh Hub.
Each month, Fresh Hub organizes high schoolers who wear green shirts and go to work setting up stands of fresh produce, baked goods and packaged meats. The Zhu sisters and the green dream team have given out over 1,500 pounds of food. And while families are collecting food, volunteers are entertaining kids with art projects that teach healthy eating.
At the end of the day, Annie says the two are happy to be making a difference. “Frustration (沮丧) over the unfair circumstances built into society led us to meet amazing people,” says Annie. “I know I’m not alone on this journey to help the underserved — and I know our journey has only just begun!”
1. Why do one-quarter of children living in Houston eat unhealthy food?| A．They live in deserts. |
| B．The supermarkets waste lots of fresh food. |
| C．They find nowhere to get fresh and healthy food. |
| D．They choose unhealthy food instead of fresh food. |
| A．Extra. | B．Different. | C．Fresh. | D．Sufficient. |
| A．How to use the app Fresh Hub. |
| B．The Zhu sisters’ green dream team. |
| C．How much food they have given out. |
| D．The things volunteers do to help those families. |
| A．She prefers to work alone. |
| B．She will continue to help those in need. |
| C．The members of the team need to be replaced. |
| D．The unfair circumstances are good for the society. |
3 . When people talk about American popular music, they don’t just mean country music or rock music. There are two other types of popular music with national and international appeal that are basically American. One is jazz. The other is a musical form associated with New York City theaters.
Jazz dates from African religious and folk music. The themes and songs of jazz music have historical origins. They come from songs sung by black Americans in church or at work. There have been different kinds of jazz music: bebop, ragtime, swing, boogie-woogie and others.
In playing jazz music, the performers combine rhythms and songs with their skills of improvisation (即兴创作). Modern jazz music has developed into a complex musical style enjoyed more by musicians and older jazz lovers than by the general public.
American theater has developed another American musical style. It is associated with a street in New York City, Broadway. Broadway musicals are dramatic productions in which the story is told partly by dialogue and partly through songs. The lyrics of these songs give background information about the story and express the feelings of the characters in the story. Many Broadway musicals have been made into movies that have been shown all over the world. Oklahoma, Sound of Music, My Fair Lady and West Side Story are some good examples.
Songs from these musicals and others have translations in various languages that are sung around the world. Many of them have become popular with people who have not even seen the musicals for which they were written.
1. What does jazz belong to?| A．Rock music. | B．Country music. |
| C．Traditional music. | D．American popular music. |
| A．Its playing method. | B．Its popularity. | C．Its origin. | D．Its historical position. |
| A．It needs special skills to perform. | B．It is not well received by ordinary people. |
| C．It is welcomed only among musicians. | D．It is popular with the general public. |
4 . Jack London, one of America’s major writers of adventure tales, was born in California in 1876. During his life, London worked at many jobs. His broad life experiences would become the background for his writing.
London, loved to read. As a teenager, he spent many hours educating himself at the Oakland, California, public library. He attended college at the University of California at Berkeley, but he stayed for only six months. He though Berkeley was “not lively enough” and wanted to do something more exciting.
London wrote stories about working people and the hard times they had making a living. He knew their problems first hand. He worked as a sailor, farmer, factory employee, railroad worker, and gold prospector, to name just a few of his many jobs.
London grew up near the waterfront in Oakland. He loved the water. When he was fifteen years old, he bought a small sailboat called a sloop. Later he sailed to Japan on a schooner, which is much large sailing boat. Like many people of the time, London caught the Klondike Gold Rush Fever. In 1897, he headed for Alaska. He didn’t find gold, but he discovered something even more valuable. He discovered that people enjoyed listening to the stories he made up with his vivid imagination. London entertained the miners with story after story. Later, using his experiences during the Gold Rush, he created many more colorful stories.
London resolved to live a full, exciting life. He once said, “I would rather be a superb meteor (流星), every atom of me in magnificent glow,than a sleepy and permanent planet.” Each day, he pushed himself. Once London determined that he was going to be a writer,nothing could stop him. His goal was to write at least one thousand words everyday. He refused to stop even when he was sick. In eighteen years, the writer published fifty-one books and hundreds of articles. He was the best-selling and highest-paid author of his day. Many people also considered him to be the best writer. White Fang and The Call of the Wild are his most famous stories and are about surviving in the Alaskan wilderness. Readers can enjoy Jack London’s energy and his talent for telling wonderful stories each time they open one of his novels.
1. Why was Jack London able to write on many topics?| A．He pushed himself to reach goals. |
| B．He had a variety of experiences and jobs. |
| C．He was drawn to the Klondike Gold Rush. |
| D．He was the best-selling and highest-paid author. |
| A．That he was hired to sail to Japan. |
| B．That he traveled to Alaska in 1897. |
| C．That he spent much of his time writing. |
| D．That he was not interested in college life enough. |
| A．is expert at universe. |
| B．aims high and strive to succeed. |
| C．is excited about life of the wildness. |
| D．face a choice between life and death. |
| A．To support the statement that London was the “best writer”. |
| B．To describe life during the Klondike Gold Rush. |
| C．To provide information on Jack’ s life. |
| D．To identify books written by Jack London. |
5 . How the economics profession should fix its gender problem
At the heart of economics is a belief in the virtues (好处) of open competition as a way of using the resources you have in the most efficient way you can. Thanks to the power of that insight, economists routinely tell politicians how to run public policy and business people how to run their firms. Yet when it comes to its own house, academic economics could have done more to observe the standards it applies to the rest of the world.
In particular, it recruits (招聘) too few women. Also, many of those who do work in the profession say they are treated unfairly and that their talents are not fully realised. As a result, economics has fewer good ideas than it should and suffers from a skewed (歪曲的) viewpoint. It is time for the dismal science to improve its dismal record on gender.
For decades relatively few women have participated in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and maths. Economics belongs in this list. And a survey by the American Economics Association (AEA) this week shows that many women who do become academic economists are treated badly.
To deal with its gender shortfall (缺口), economics needs two tools that it often uses to analyse and solve problems elsewhere: its ability to crunch data and its capacity to experiment. Take data first. The AEA study is commendable, but only a fifth of its 45,000 present and past members replied to its poll. Better data are needed to capture how work by female economists is discriminated against. The more comprehensive (全面的) the picture that emerges, the sooner and more easily action can be taken to change recruitment and to reform professional life.
The other priority is for economists to experiment with new ideas, as the AEA is recommending. For a discipline that values dynamism, academic economics is often conservative, sticking with teaching methods, hiring procedures and social conventions that have been around for decades. The AEA survey reveals (显示) that 46% of women have not asked a question or presented an idea at conferences for fear of being treated unfairly, compared with 18% of men. Seminars could be organised to ensure that all speakers get a fair chance. The way that authors’ names are presented on papers could ensure that it is clear who has done the intellectual heavy lifting.
Instead of moving cautiously, the economics profession should do what it is best at: recognise there is a problem, measure it objectively and find solutions. If the result is more women in economics who are treated better, there will be more competition for ideas and a more efficient use of a scarce (稀缺的) resource. What economist could possibly object to that?
1. Why does economics have fewer excellent ideas than it should?| A．Economical environment isn’t good enough. |
| B．Professionals in this field are treated unjustly and their gifts are not fully recognized. |
| C．Too many women are employed. |
| D．Women do worse in economics than men. |
| A．Data to capture how work by female economists is discriminated against. |
| B．Its ability to process data quickly and its capacity to experiment. |
| C．Action to change recruitment and professional life of female economists. |
| D．Seminars organised to ensure that all speakers get a fair chance. |
| A．The result of the AEA survey is that there is better treatment to women. |
| B．More women in economics will bring more competition of scarce resource. |
| C．A balanced sex ratio will do good to the development of economics. |
| D．Men in economics can’t make this discipline better. |
| A．Opposed. | B．Positive. | C．Objective. | D．Indifferent. |
6 . The World-Famous Nine
By Ben Guterson, illustrated by Kristina Kister
Zander’s grandmother owns the most incredible department store in the world. When a string of mysterious accidents start happening at the store, Zander’s grandmother tells him that a monster called Darkbloom may have returned. The monster, which can control people, wants a magical object that disappeared from the store decades ago. Zander notices that walls on many floors contain mysterious symbols and takes them down in his notebook. Will the 11-year-old boy be able to solve the puzzle and secure the object before Darkbloom does? Packed with suspense, fascination, and a family drama, this mystery may remind you of a cross between Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Ask the Author
The Week: What inspired this book?
Ben Guterson: When I was growing up, Seattle had two big department stores. Something about these big buildings held many possibilities for mystery and discovery to me.
The Week: Why is Zander close to his grandmother?
Ben Guterson: I didn’t want Zander to be alone, so he’s got his loving grandmother there to give him some guidance and keep him safe.
The Week: Do you enjoy mysteries?
Ben Guterson: Yes, I like stories with a mysterious feel to them. I don’t think I have ever been drawn to straightforward realism.
1. What can we learn about Zander?| A．He grows up in Seattle. | B．He lives alone at a store. |
| C．He wishes to be a magician. | D．He wants to defeat Darkbloom. |
| A．A kid loving true-life stories. | B．A kid enjoying fictional works. |
| C．A kid interested in grandma’s dishes. | D．A kid drawn to online store shopping. |
| A．A writer’s profile. | B．An interview outline. |
| C．A children’s story. | D．A book recommendation. |
7 . For eight years, Sophie created realistic-looking limbs (肢) for those who wanted to fit in. But she longed to work on more odd designs that would stand out. Then she met Pollyanna Hope, a young amputee (被截肢者).
“She wanted something a little different on her leg: pictures of a cartoon she loved, Peppa Pig,” said Sophie, who is now based in London. So she designed a unique leg covered in tattoo-like images of Peppa and other pigs riding a bicycle and eating ice cream. Working with Hope made Sophie realize there was a potential market for limbs.
Since then, Sophie founded the Alternative Limb Project (ALP) to make artistic limbs. Her work includes an arm wrapped in sculpted snakes and a leg that looks like porcelain (瓷器) covered in a painted flowery vine. She makes about six limbs per year, always including clients’ ideas so that they receive a personal piece they can celebrate rather than hide.
Of course, a fancy-looking limb won't suit everyone. For Sophie, the basis is that each limb must satisfy a combination of comfort, beauty and functionality, and pushing too hard in one direction can weaken other areas. But for amputees who appreciate novelty, Sophie has some amazing ideas.
“I’d really like to make a candy-dispenser leg with colorful candies inside it” she says. “Or a cuckoo-clock leg with a wooden bird that pops out every hour.” Her goal is to fashion a striking limb.
“It’ll transform the limbs from an elephant in the room into a conversation piece.”
1. Why did Pollyanna Hope come to Sophie?| A．She hoped to have a tailored limb. |
| B．She intended to design a cartoon figure. |
| C．She longed to expand the market for limbs. |
| D．She expected to sell Sophie some odd ideas. |
| A．boost users’ confidence | B．sharpen users’ creativity |
| C．improve Sophie’s sculpture skills | D．extend Sophie’s art business |
| A．The novelty of the pattern tops the list. | B．The balance of multi-needs comes first. |
| C．Fashion is the best policy. | D．Functionality is the key. |
| A．Sophie resolves to lead the fashion of limbs. |
| B．Sophie plans to further transform artistic limbs. |
| C．Amputees will feel at ease to talk about limbs. |
| D．Amputees will have easy access to artistic limbs. |
8 . When 19-year-old Emily Bhatnagar from Maryland, USA, found out her father had stage four thyroid cancer, her response was a little different than you might expect. To honour her father, who she also describes as her best friend, she decided to start a book drive called For Love and Buttercup, collecting books for kids with cancer.
“It was very much an overnight idea,” she explains. “I posted a message on an app called Nextdoor asking my neighbours for used book donations. I was only expecting a few here and there, but the response was truly incredible and it was just the push I needed to co-exist with my grief rather than letting it consume me.”
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to watch my dad go through cancer and see him lose a little bit of himself each day, but the book drive allowed me to develop a newfound sense of purpose connected with sympathy to help others in any shape or form. I wanted to help kids. They’ve always held a soft spot in my heart.”
Using tips she earns from working at her parents’ bread shop, Emily has bought many books out of her own pocket. In addition, she receives donations through her Amazon wish list, which can be found in the bio of the book drive’s Instagram account, @forloveandbuttercup.
The project has seen a huge success, with For Love and Buttercup donating over l5,000 books and being recognized by The Washington Post, Forbes, The President’s Volunteer Service Award and Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation.
1. What was Emily’s reaction when she found out her father’s illness?| A．She lost herself in sadness. |
| B．She drove her father around the world. |
| C．She sought support from her best friend. |
| D．She showed her sympathy to kids with cancer. |
| A．It broke her heart. | B．It was her father’s dream. |
| C．It became a big challenge. | D．It gave her a sense of purpose. |
| A．Anyone who donated books received a special gift. |
| B．Emily wanted to arouse people’s awareness of cancer. |
| C．People donated money to her father through the book drive. |
| D．Emily’s cause has received positive response from the public. |
| A．An Inspiring Cause | B．A Lifesaving Decision |
| C．A Heartbreaking Story | D．An Award-winning App |
9 . Keeping your weight within the ideal range for your height is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints. It is healthy to keep your weight below a certain level.
Calculate your BMI
A good way to work out whether you need to lose or gain weight is to calculate your body mass index (BMI).
Your weight is a reflection of the balance between your energy intake and energy consumption. If your intake exceeds expenditure, the excess energy is stored on your body as fat. To lose weight you simply need to tip the balance in the other direction, by increasing your consumption, decreasing your intake, or a combination of both.
Develop a good eating habit
Exercise regularly
Losing weight is not difficult — it is keeping it off that is the real challenge.
| A．Keep a balance |
| B．Don’t skip breakfast. |
| C．More than half the UK population is overweight. |
| D．But it is also important not to go too far the other way. |
| E．The most effective way to lose weight is plenty of exercise. |
| F．The safest way to lose weight is to do it slowly and steadily. |
| G．A BMI between 18.5 and 25 is associated with the lowest health risks. |
10 . Are you an “I person” or an “E person”? These two personality labels in particular are widely discussed online. They are part of a popular personality test called the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or MBTI. All of the results have four letters, and there are 16 results in total, “I” and “E” refer to “introverted” and “extroverted”, respectively.
Even if someone is typically quiet, many online discussions suggest that an “I person” can still act outgoing at times. For example, when an introverted person is with a group of introverted friends, they might become more social like an “E person”. According to psychologists, this idea of temporarily switching personalities is called “masking”. That is hiding your true personality in specific situations.
“Human beings want to feel they belong, and they might become people-pleasers to do so,” wrote the MasterClass website.
Thinking on this, I may actually be the kind of person that these people are discussing. Most times, I just wish to make the atmosphere more interesting and exciting and show people that I’m easy to get along with. But deep down, I mostly enjoy being alone and quiet.
Using the MBTI result to identify and describe someone’s personality seems fun. However, I went too far at one time. My sister was excitedly making a day-to-day travel plan when I remembered from an article that “P people” don’t like to make or stick to plans, so I said to her, “You don’t seem like a ‘P person’?” “Why?” she asked back, “Since when do I need to follow what my personality test tells me to do?” It was then that I realized I’d taken the result too seriously.
The MBTI personality test may show something you don’t know about yourself and can even be a fun ice-breaker question when meeting new friends. And that’s all it is-for fun. Knowing someone’s MBTI result doesn’t mean you really know this person. And those four letters of yours don’t define who you are.
1. What do we know about an “I person”?| A．An “I person” may feel lonely. | B．An “I person” can be outgoing. |
| C．An “I person” is always selfish. | D．An “I person” is popular online. |
| A．Covering. | B．Avoiding. | C．Showing. | D．Criticizing |
| A．She didn’t like the “P person” | B．She didn’t like making plans. |
| C．She didn’t take MBTI seriously. | D．She didn’t take the personality test. |
| A．It’s just for fun. | B．It defines who you are. |
| C．It helps match good friends. | D．It can shape your personality |
