1 . The pandemic-caused lockdown(封锁) threw up many trends, but one that shows no sign of dwindling(减少) is “cottagecore”.

So, what is cottagecore all about? Cottagecore is a social media trend seen as a romanticized explanation of countryside living, where cottage-dwellers can make homemade jam and live off the land.

Naomi Stuart, who documents her countryside dream on her cottagecore Instagram page, says, “Since lockdown, the trend has become far more popular with people who look for rural properties when they work from home. Gorgeous images on social media of living in the countryside have sold the dream that life out in the sticks is less stressful. And it is. I share my cottage life as I hope it will give people a little insight into what living in a small village surrounded by the countryside is like. Peace and quiet, the sounds of nature, no road noise, cows and sheep in the nearby fields, horse riders and dog walkers going by. For me, it is the perfect de-stress cure for everyday stresses and strains that we all have.”

With COVID-19 grounding most of the world, “home” has taken on a new meaning. And as we make sense of our new normal, the focus is being placed firmly on living a simple and slower life.

Cottagecore is a concept that anyone can embrace. Look at decorating your home in a traditional, old-fashioned style and take up skills such as drying flowers, spending time growing vegetables and enjoying time in the evening by candlelight with loved ones. The interpretation of cottagecore spans a variety of ideas, from slow fashion to home decor(装饰), home cooked meals, and gardening.

1. What do the underlined words “in the sticks” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．In the forests.	B．In the country areas.
C．In the unfurnished houses.	D．In the abandoned buildings.

2. What can we learn about cottagecore from the text?

A．It tends to decline during the lockdown.

B．It is a way to keep away from COVID-19.

C．It shows the good of living in the countryside.

D．It is interpreted as an old-fashioned way of life.

3. What’s the author’s attitude to cottagecore?

A．Supportive.

B．Skeptical.

C．Opposed.

D．Unconcerned.

4. Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．Cottagecore— a trend of a peaceful life

B．Cottagecore—a way to deal with Covid-19

C．Cottagecore—a new lifestyle hard to adopt

D．Cottagecore— a necessary experience for the young

2 . Libraries are the temple for book lovers, the main source of knowledge and wisdom. Here are the biggest libraries in the world.

The Library of Congress

The Library of Congress in the US is the biggest library in the world, whose collections are from all around the world. The library has a collection of 32 million cataloged books. It receives 22,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the US. Some of the major works stored in the library are Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence, the world’s most famous architectural designs and so on.

The British Library

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom. It is the second biggest library in the world. It holds 150 million items from different countries. It receives 8,000 copies per day from the publication produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Its collection includes 14 million books. Every year over 3 million items are added to the library. The major highlights of the library collection are Diamond Sutra and Alice’s Adventures under Ground.

Library and Archives (档案馆) Canada (LAC)

Canada has the third biggest library in the world. The library holds 20 million books, 24 million photographs and a lot of digital works. Its collection includes The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act, the British North America Act and many more precious works.

The New York Public Library (NYPL)

It is the fourth largest library in the world. It is the public library having 87 branches. The library has a collection of 53 million items. It also has four research libraries which are open to the general public. You can ask and discover about anything on the official website of NYPL.

1. Which of the following works is stored in the Library of Congress?

A．The British North America Act.

B．Alice’s Adventures under Ground.

C．Rough Draft of the Declaration of Independence.

D．The Proclamation of the Canadian Constitution Act.

2. How many new items does the British Library receive every year?

A．About 22,000.	B．More than 8,000.
C．About 14 million.	D．More than 3 million.

3. Which library owns an official website where you can search for all information?

A．Library and Archives Canada.	B．The Library of Congress.
C．The New York Public Library.	D．The British Library.

3 . Four of the Coolest Plant Shops in the State of California

Plants have given us comfort during the coronavirus pandemic, so it should come as no surprise that garden stores are more popular than ever. Here is a look at a few of our favorites.

All Time Plants

Location: 1322 Coronado Ave. Ste B, Long Beach, California 90804

All Time Plants is inside the coffee and bottle house. The storefront is now a hybrid coffee house-plant store-home store where visitors can shop for plants and home goods while enjoying a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or beer.

EnCactusar

Location: 3577 N. Figueroa St., Highland Park, California 90065

The COVID-19 pandemic gave artists Jackie and Julio the opportunity to turn their hobby into their own garden center, a small business at their Boyle Heights home. It is a kind of place where staff members will carry your plants out to your car for you while offering care tips. Open Saturdays and Sundays only.

Flyplant

Location: 1801 E 7th St, Los Angeles, California 90021

Flyplant was founded at the height of the pandemic, by Filipina with a passion for helping plant growing. Their shop offers customers plant and pot pairings, plant-themed costumes and gardening tools. Recently, they have added hands-on workshops, where guests can learn how to plant and care for their houseplants.

Folia Collective

Location: 5052 Eagle Rock Blvd., Eagle Rock, California 90041

Every plant at Folia Collective, from roses to ferns (蕨类植物), comes with a care card written by owner Danae Horst, a famous author in the field of home growing. Staff will ask you questions to help you pick the perfect plant and offer tips. Horst has houseplant gifts and, before the pandemic, hosted book signings and occasional cutting exchanges.

1. What can you do in All Time Plants?

A．Host book signings.	B．Drink some coffee or beer.
C．Attend classes to look after plants.	D．Borrow gardening tools.

2. Which plant shop provides plant-themed clothing?

A．All Time Plants.

B．EnCactusar.

C．Flyplant.

D．Folia Collective.

3. What do the four plant shops have in common?

A．They were founded during the pandemic.	B．They are open on weekends.
C．They are from the same state.	D．They carry plants to your car.

4 . Great design can make people happy. From the color of our walls to the sofa we sit on and the cup that holds our morning coffee, products can have a huge effect on the way we feel. Here are a few examples.

The red table (from £9,020)

The struggle to find a large extendable dining table in a finish (饰面) other than wood led the De Rosee Sa studio to design this statement piece. “This table is amazing and really different,” says Lucinda Chambers. “I love the high shine and it would be such a talking point in a room.”

The Pacific chair (around £1,900)

The rounded, oversized shapes of this chair by Patricia Urquiola are further strengthened by her use of soft upholstery (座套) including plush wool and luxurious velvet. “This piece looks graceful in style and would make a great side chair,” says Sarah Spiteri.

The Holi sofa (around £2,750)

Available in 60 colors, there is a true versatility (多功能性) to the Holi sofa. Its washed-linen material feels casual and comfortable—it is an excellent family piece. “It’s smart enough to work in a fashionable living room, and also friendly enough to sit in any other room of a house,” says Pip McCormac.

The headboard bed (from £1,289)

This eye-catching bed features an elegant winged headboard and is available in 100 different colors and materials with a wide range of leg choices. “It’s an affordable design that you could make your own with custom fabrics,” says Minnie Kemp.

1. Who designed the Pacific chair?

A．Lucinda Chambers.	B．Patricia Urquiola.
C．Sarah Spiteri.	D．Minnie Kemp.

2. What does Pip McCormac think of the Holi sofa?

A．It is an affordable piece.

B．It looks graceful in style.

C．It is suitable for any room.

D．It can be a talking point in a room.

3. What can you buy with ￡1,500?

A．The red table.	B．The Pacific chair.
C．The Holi sofa.	D．The headboard bed.

5 . I am lucky enough to live in a house that has a walled garden. In fact, this was one of the main features which encouraged us to buy this house.    1    . Apple, plum, and cherry trees are growing well here. Since we moved in, we have been turning this area into a richer forest garden.

    2    . Walled gardens can be created from the very beginning using recyclable materials. They can also be created in old industrial or agricultural sites, where the roofs of structures are no longer in good repair. In fact, our walled garden was made from an old cattle shelter.

I live in an area where temperatures can fall as low as around -5℃.    3    The stone walls help in temperature regulation(控制). Plants benefit from the protected microclimate in the garden all year round.   I find I can successfully grow several plants that would not usually grow well outdoors.

Stone walls can provide a quieter space than other gardens surrounded by fences. We live in the countryside but are near a busy road. Enter this garden, however, and we might be in a different world protected from traffic noise and other outside distractions(使人分心的事).     4    .

Finally, it is also worthwhile considering that when a garden is surrounded by walls, it provides a range of choices for vertical(垂直的) growing.     5     Fruit trees can be trained to grow up the walls to make the most of the space. There are plants to choose from for each wall of a walled garden, each of which offers different conditions.

A．People are likely to live in a warmer place

B．This wall can turn the garden into a quiet heaven

C．Such kind of places can make excellent wall gardens

D．Climbers and small plants can find their places along the edges

E．The stone walls of this garden protected a collection of fruit trees

F．There may be arguments about where to create walled gardens

G．However, the garden warms more quickly in spring and cools more slowly in autumn

6 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.

Yellow Hostel

If I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.

Hostel Alessandro Palace

If you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.

Youth Station Hostel

If you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes

Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.

1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?

A．Comfort.	B．Security.
C．Price.	D．Location.

2. Which hotel best suits people who enjoy an active social life?

A．Yellow Hostel.	B．Hostel Alessandro Palace.
C．Youth Station Hostel.	D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes.

3. What is the disadvantage of Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes?

A．It gets noisy at night.	B．Its staff is too talkative.
C．It charges for Wi-Fi.	D．It’s inconveniently located.

7 . The Biggest Stadiums in the World

People have been pouring into stadiums since the days of ancient Greece. In around 80 A.D., the Romans built the Colosseum, which remains the world’s best known stadium and continues to inform contemporary design. Rome’s Colosseum was 157 feet tall and had 80 entrances, seating 50,000 people. However, that was small fry compared with the city’s Circus Maximus, which accommodated around 250,000 people.

These days, safety regulations-not to mention the modern sports fan’s desire for a good view and comfortable seat — tend to keep stadium capacities (容量) slightly lower. Even soccer fans tend to have a seat each; gone are the days of thousands standing to watch the match.

For the biggest stadiums in the world, we have used data supplied by the World Atlas list so far, which ranks them by their stated permanent capacity, as well as updated information from official stadium websites.

All these stadiums are still functional, still open and still hosting the biggest events in world sport.

·Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang D.P.R. Korea. Capacity: 150,000. Opened: May 1,1989.

·Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U. S. Capacity: 107,601. Opened: October 1, 1927.

·Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania, U. S. Capacity: 106,572. Opened: September 17, 1960.

·Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, U. S. Capacity: 104,944. Opened: October 7,1922.

·Kyle Field, College Station, Texas, U. S. Capacity: 102,512. Opened: September 24, 1927.

1. How many people could the Circus Maximus hold?

A．104,944.

B．107,601.

C．About 150,000.

D．About 250,000.

2. Of the following stadiums, which is the oldest?

A．Michigan Stadium.

B．Beaver Stadium.

C．Ohio Stadium.

D．Kyle Field.

3. What do the listed stadiums have in common?

A．They host big games.	B．They have become tourist attractions.
C．They were built by Americans.	D．They are favored by architects.

8 . Last year, 138,000 San Francisco residents used Airbnb, a popular app designed to connect home renters and travelers. It’s a striking number for a city with a population of about 850,000, and it was enough for Airbnb to win a major victory in local elections, as San Francisco voters struck down a debatable rule that would have placed time restrictions and other regulations on short-term rental services.

The company fiercely opposed the measure, Proposition F, with a nearly $10 million advertising campaign. It also contacted its San Franciscan users with messages urging them to vote against Proposition F.

Most people think of Airbnb as a kind of couch-surfing app. The service works for one-night stays on road trips and longer stays in cities, and it often has more competitive pricing than hotels. It’s a textbook example of the “sharing economy”, but not everyone is a fan.

The app has had unintended consequences in San Francisco. As the San Francisco Chronicle reported last year, a significant amount of renting on Airbnb is not in line with the company’s image: middle-class families putting up a spare room to help make ends meet. Some users have taken advantage of the service, using it to turn their multiple properties into vacation rentals or even full-time rentals. Backers of Proposition F argued that this trend takes spaces off the conventional, better-regulated housing market and contributes to rising costs.

“The fact is, widespread abuse of short-term rentals is taking much needed housing off the market and harming our neighborhoods,” said ShareBetter SF, a group that supported Proposition F. Hotel unions have protested the company’s practices in San Francisco and other cities, saying that it creates an illegal hotel system.

San Francisco is in the middle of a long-term, deeply rooted housing crisis that has seen the cost of living explode. Actually, explode is a generous term. The average monthly rent for an apartment is around $4, 000. Located on a narrow outcropping of land overlooking the bay, San Francisco simply doesn’t have enough space to accommodate the massive inflow of young, high-salaried tech employees flocking to Silicon Valley.

As the Los Angeles Times reported, some San Francisco residents supported the measure simply because it seemed like a way to check a big corporation. Opponents of Proposition F countered that the housing crisis runs much deeper, and that passing the rule would have discouraged a popular service while doing little to solve the city’s existing problems.

1. The intention of Proposition F is to ________.

A．place time limits in local election.	B．set limits on short-term rental.
C．strike down a controversial rule.	D．urge users to vote against Airbnb.

2. What is the negative consequence of Airbnb on San Francisco?

A．It shrinks the living space of middle-class families.

B．Users are taken advantage of by the service financially.

C．It makes the house market more competitive.

D．It indirectly leads to high house rental price.

3. The housing crisis in San Francisco results from ________.

A．explosion of the living cost	B．its geographic characteristics
C．generosity of local enterprises	D．inflow of migrant population

4. The author’s attitude toward Proposition F is ________.

A．objective	B．supportive
C．negative	D．indifferent