1 . What comes into your mind when you think of British food? Probably fish and chips, or a Sunday dinner of meat and two vegetables. But is British food really so uninteresting? Even though Britain has a reputation for less-than-impressive cuisine, it is producing more top class chefs who appear frequently on our television screens and whose recipe books frequently top the best seller lists.
It’s thanks to these TV chefs rather than any advertising campaign that Britons are turning away from meat-and-two-veg and ready-made meals and becoming more adventurous in their cooking habits. It is recently reported that the number of those sticking to a traditional diet is slowly declining and around half of Britain’s consumers would like to change or improve their cooking in some way. There has been a rise in the number of students applying for food courses at UK universities and colleges. It seems that TV programmes have helped change what people think about cooking.
According to a new study from market analysts, 1 in 5 Britons say that watching cookery programmes on TV has encouraged them to try different food. Almost one third say they now use a wider variety of ingredients (配料) than they used to, and just under 1 in 4 say they now buy better quality ingredients than before. One in four adults say that TV chefs have made them much more confident about expanding their cookery knowledge and skills, and young people are also getting more interested in cooking. The UK’s obsession (痴迷) with food is reflected through television scheduling. Cookery shows and documentaries about food are broadcast more often than before. With an increasing number of male chefs on TV, it’s no longer “uncool” for boys to like cooking.
1. What do people usually think of British food?| A．It is simple and plain. | B．It is rich in nutrition. |
| C．It lacks authentic tastes. | D．It deserves a high reputation. |
| A．Authoritative. | B．Creative. | C．Profitable. | D．Influential. |
| A．20%. | B．24%. | C．25%. | D．33%. |
| A．The art of cooking in other countries. | B．Male chefs on TV programmes. |
| C．Table manners in the UK. | D．Studies of big eaters. |
2 . When you take a walk through nature, you probably find it impossible to ignore the sounds and smells around you, the birds chirping, a stream flowing nearby, animals running through branches, the scent of moss and damp earth.
A forest bath provides a sensory (感官的) experience that benefits both your physical and mental health. In fact, the benefits of forest bathing have been confirmed in about 20 different studies, and the practice has become a prescribed (处方) treatment for stress-related conditions
Finding it hard to hit that target in nature?
Is getting outside not an option? No worries. You can participate in a virtual forest bath by watching videos online that will take you on a tour of the natural world, with narration (解说) to guide you through the experience.
| A．Forest bathing is a way of life. |
| B．You can still obtain the benefits of forest bathing. |
| C．You can stay motivated with a reward for yourself. |
| D．Health experts recommend two hours in nature a week. |
| E．Taking a forest bath of whatever form is a personal choice. |
| F．You touch the bark of a tree or feel the breeze against your face. |
| G．So there are plenty of opportunities to take part in this type of bath. |
Shivangi Pathak, a 17-year-old girl from a small town Hisar, has achieved another milestone
She completed her mountain journey in just three days from 21st July and
Indian women
Shivangi Pathak has already held the title ‘The Eagle of Mountain’ after climbing the Mount Everest
4 . A 27 week pregnant woman got on a bus to go to the nearest hospital. She was having labor pains. The bus man knew this. As she approached her stop she got up from her seat. The driver told her to
The following day, the woman rang the bus
The
| A．get off | B．sit down | C．set off | D．get through |
| A．other | B．only | C．most | D．rest |
| A．first | B．last | C．following | D．previous |
| A．direction | B．stop | C．route | D．vehicle |
| A．drove | B．transmitted | C．accompanied | D．recommended |
| A．right | B．forward | C．eventually | D．indeed |
| A．passenger | B．company | C．driver | D．station |
| A．why | B．that | C．how | D．if |
| A．embarrassment | B．relief | C．trouble | D．position |
| A．praise | B．gratitude | C．reward | D．apology |
| A．new | B．sad | C．ordinary | D．excited |
| A．as | B．for | C．with | D．by |
| A．tough | B．particular | C．worthwhile | D．wonderful |
| A．when | B．who | C．whose | D．which |
| A．of | B．to | C．in | D．above |
5 . Today too much screen time has caused a lot of problems for tens. It makes teens get fat and spend less time taking part in social activities. It’s time to limit your teen’s screen time. Here are some ways to help you keep your teen’s screen time within healthy limits.
Be a role model. Telling your teen to turn off his electronics while you’re sitting in front of the TV isn’t likely to change anything.
Discourage multitasking.
Hold family meetings to discuss screen time.
| A．Make screen time a reward. |
| B．Turn off the TV during mealtimes. |
| C．Teens will learn more from what you do than what you say. |
| D．Most tens think they can do several things at the same time. |
| E．Then allow him to watch TV only after he’s completed his responsibilities. |
| F．Help your teen make good choices with video games, TVs, and computers. |
| G．Allow your teen to give opinions about the rules or about what would be helpful. |
6 . It seems there’s nowhere left to run from the microplastic (微塑料的)pollution. A small pilot study recently took microplastics from one of Europe’s most distant places, the French Pyrenees mountains, and found as many microplastics in the soil as you might expect from a big city like Paris.
The reason? The wind. Researchers now fear that our planet’s winds can pick up microplastics from about anywhere and transport them around the world, sometimes in large quantities. “We’d kind of expected it in a city getting blown around,” said Steve Allen from the University of Strathclyde in the UK, one member of the team. “But way up there? We expected to find some, ” he said. “We didn’t expect to find so many.”
Microplastics are pieces smaller than a fifth of an inch that have broken down from larger pieces of plastic. The forces of nature don’t distinguish (区分)between materials like stones and rocks, and plastics. Wind and waves hit plastics and break them down just the same, making them into dust that can then get swept up by the gentle wind and into the atmosphere. It’s a continuing environmental concern, as more and more microplastics find their way into our food and air.
The fact that microplastics can be found in large numbers even in distant places is a sign that is has become a global pollution problem. Steve Allen and his team set up collectors 4,500 feet up in the mountains for five months to trap plastic particles (粒子) as they fell to the Earth. The team found that an average of 365 plastic particles fell on their square meter collector daily. This included bits form plastic bags, plastic film and packaging material, among other plastic sources. Many of these materials were small enough to be breathed in without even realizing it. They’re in the air, and they’re everywhere.
1. How did Steve Allen think of the finding?| A．It was interesting. | B．It was surprising. |
| C．It was conflicting. | D．It was disappointing. |
| A．How the wind spreads the microplastics. |
| B．How the microplastics come into being. |
| C．How the microplastic pollution appears. |
| D．How the wind makes the pollution serious. |
| A．It is difficult to collect them. | B．They all come from big cities. |
| C．They are part of the air we breathe. | D．It is impossible to know their source. |
| A．Plastics have been found in the distant areas. |
| B．Plastics are proved to do great harm to the soil. |
| C．The microplastic pollution is worse in big cities. |
| D．Wind is carrying microplastics around the world. |
7 . Whether it’s your first time in the Big Apple or you’re returning to the city, it's not just the main sights that are worth checking out. There are plenty of amazing sighs that you won't want to miss.
Empty Met Tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Empty Met Tour is a 1.5-hour tour of the museum before it opens to the public. You're given the VIP treatment as a museum guide will take you around the famous exhibits before anyone else sets foot through the door. Just try not to look particularly proud when you leave and pass the long line of people waiting to get inside!
Iconic New York Photography Tour
The tour lasts 2.5 hours and is led by a professional photographer ready to share some tips and tricks for the perfect photo. And you'll learn everything you need to know for taking the best shot of the city
Bateaux New York Dinner Cruise
Bateaux New York Cruise will offer you a fantastic trip and a delicious dinner! In fact, here you can combine delicious food with sightseeing! As you have a meal, the all-glass boat means you can get a better view of the Statue of Liberty and other landmarks, not to mention New York's world-famous skyline.
Ultimate Central Park Picnic Experience
Chances are you've seen the picnic in Central Park shown in movies over the years. However, you don't need to be a famous actor to have the full experience and this luxurious（豪华的） service offers you much more than your typical egg sandwiches! In fact, you can choose from a selection of meats, cheeses and fresh fruit. Pillows and blankets are provided and even a clean-up is included!
1. What can you enjoy doing on the Empty Met Tour?| A．Being led by a professional tourist guide. |
| B．Gaining the respect of the general public. |
| C．Avoiding the normal crowded visiting hours. |
| D．Learning about the building's early history. |
| A．Empty Met Tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. |
| B．Ultimate Central Park Picnic Experience. |
| C．Iconic New York Photography Tour. |
| D．Bateaux New York Diner Cruise. |
| A．Only famous people can attend it. |
| B．People have to book it in advance. |
| C．It is well-known for its egg sandwiches. |
| D．People don't have to worry about cleaning up. |
8 . Vincent van Gogh was born in 1853 in Zundert in the south of the Netherlands. He was unlucky to live only for 37 years and to discover his love for art at the age of 27. Therefore, he worked as an artist for only 10 years of his life.
During the Enlightenment Age, emphasis on literature, philosophy, science, fine arts and music became more widespread especially with the growing middle class. This means that Vincent van Gogh had lived in a flourishing artistic movement, which was supposed to help him succeed as an artist and become rich. On the contrary, he did not win fame as an artist. Although Vincent painted 900 paintings and more than 1,100 drawings, his works remained unknown and unsold and his brother Theo supported him financially during his lifetime.
Perhaps one of the reasons for his failure as an artist is his clumsy behavior when he suffered from mental illness. Another reason is his short-tempered nature and rudeness which most of the time brought him bloody fights with his fellow Gauguin that ended up with cutting off Vincent's ears. Moreover, he was always dirty and not well-dressed, which made people avoid dealing with him and buying his artistic works. Furthermore, his poor health gave more blows to his life and caused an early death to such a great artist. But now in our age, his magnificent painting (Portrait of Dr: Gachet) is sold around 150 million dollars at auction.
Vincent van Gogh is just an example of the talented people who failed in their pursuit of glory.
1. What can we learn about Vincent before he was 27?| A．He showed no love for art. | B．He enjoyed staying alone. |
| C．He had a great interest in art. | D．He spent much time painting. |
| A．Two. | B．Three. | C．Four. | D．Five. |
| A．He was in a mess. | B．He became angry easily. |
| C．He didn't have fine works | D．He often fought with others. |
| A．Good manners are more important than talents. | B．A seed planted in darkness may bloom later. |
| C．Failure is the mother of success. | D．One is never too old to learn. |
9 . An 85-year-old primary school constructed in 1935 in Shanghai has been lifted off the ground in its entirety and relocated using new technology called the “walking machine.” The project marks the first time this “walking machine” method has been used in Shanghai to relocate a historical building.
Urbanization（都市化）has continued to significantly threaten architectural heritage. In the capital Beijing, for instance, more than 1,000 acres of its historic hutongs and traditional courtyard homes were destroyed between 1990 and 2010.
In the early 2000s, cities including Nanjing and Bejjing-due to the critics’ protest about the loss of old neighborhoods-drew up long-term plans to preserve what was left of their historic sites, with protections introduced to safeguard buildings and restrict developers.
These conservation efforts have taken different forms. In Beijing, a near-ruined temple was transformed into a restaurant and gallery, while in Nanjing, a cinema from the 1930s was restored to its original form, with some additions providing it for modern use. In 2019, Shanghai welcomed Tank Shanghai, an arts center built in renovated（重修的）oil tanks.
“Relocation is not the first choice, but better than destroying,” said Lan, the Shanghai primary school’s project supervisor. “I’d rather not touch the historical buildings at all.” Building relocations he said however, are “a workable option.” “The central government is putting more emphasis on the protection of historical buildings. I’m happy to see that progress in recent years.”
Shanghai has arguably been China’s most progressive city when it comes to heritage preservation. The survival of a number of 1930s buildings and 19th-century “shikumen” （or “stone gate”） house have offered examples of how to give old buildings new life.
“We have to preserve the historical building no matter what, ” Lan said. “The relocation has challenges, but in general, it is cheaper than destroying and then rebuilding something in a new location.”
1. How did cities respond to the loss of historical sites?| A．They criticized the developers. | B．They rebuilt the historic hutongs. |
| C．They ended the significant threat. | D．They proposed the protection project. |
| A．All original form. | B．A new addition. | C．A cinema. | D．A temple. |
| A．Provide strong evidence. | B．Introduce different opinions. |
| C．Summarize previous paragraphs. | D．Add some background information. |
| A．Walking Machine: a New Technology | B．Rebuilding: a New Option for Relics |
| C．Old Building Torn down for Modern Use | D．Historical Site “Walks” to New Life |
