1 . How to Convince Your Parents to Give You More Freedom
As you grow up, it can happen that you want more time to go out with friends or more computer time, but your parents are concerned about you. In this case, how can you gain more freedom from your parents?
Follow your parents' rules and instructions without complaint.
Avoid dangerous behaviors and wrong companions. It will be much harder for your parents to give you more freedom if you're drinking, partying a lot, or hanging out with the wrong crowds.
Remain calm and accept their decision. Explain to them exactly why you think you can handle this particular freedom. If they say no, respect that choice. Becoming angry will only prove to them that you are not yet mature enough to handle additional freedom. Continue your good behavior instead. They might eventually recognize that you have grown up.
| A．If possible, bring your friends home. |
| B．Naturally you will be given more freedom. |
| C．Always come home when you're supposed to. |
| D．Choose an appropriate time to discuss this topic. |
| E．You will need to show them that you are trustworthy. |
| F．Connect with your parents frequently in your daily life. |
| G．For instance, you can think about any possible consequence. |
2 . Agriculture may feed the world, but it is also contributing to environmental problems. Agriculture production uses about 70% of the Earth's fresh water and makes up about a third of greenhouse gas emissions. But it doesn't have to. Farming is moving inside, and farmers aren't exactly what they used to be.
Take for example Grover and Phil, two robots, or farmers of the future, working at Iron Ox, a farm tech company in Silicon Valley, planning to set up farms around the country in or- der to grow crops closer to consumers in a greener way. “We have different robots that are looking after the plants. They can check and scan them for issues, and change the amount of nutrients plants get and the amount of water they get, "explained Brandon Alexander, CEO of Iron Ox.
Iron Ox’s method is very different from what Alexander calls the“spray (喷洒) and pray” approach to agriculture on a Texas farm, where he grew up and more chemicals create more quantity at the expense of quality. “Besides, a lot of the water in field farming gets just washed out and never actually reaches the plants. And when 70% of your fresh water is going into farming, only 10% of that actually reaches the plants. It's just generating a lot of waste, ”he said. However, the indoor farming allows farmers to grow any crop at any time, regardless of climate change. It also uses hydroponics(无土栽培) , growing crops without soil so water goes directly to the roots.
“In the indoor farming industry today, even with all the investments into it, these investments are a drop in the bucket(桶) in spite of the great potential of this new industry,” he added.
Iron Ox is now magnifying its business in more states. Alexander says the company will produce about 100 times more produce over the next 18 months than it's currently producing to satisfy greater needs.
1. Which of the following may be Grover and Phil's work?| A．Producing nutrients for crops. |
| B．Curing plants of their diseases. |
| C．Watering plants scientifically. |
| D．Delivering produce to consumers. |
| A．Chemicals contribute a lot to the quality of crops. |
| B．Hydroponics is impractical in growing crops now. |
| C．It takes much more time for crops to grow indoors. |
| D．Indoor farming has advantages over traditional one. |
| A．It causes a waste of more water. |
| B．It needs buckets to grow crops. |
| C．It is unlikely to attract investments. |
| D．Its investments are far from enough. |
| A．Expanding. |
| B．Changing. |
| C．Reducing. |
| D．Quitting. |
3 . Best Educational Apps for Kids
Kids love screen time. But if you want your child to do a little less Pokémon chasing and a little more learning, there’s good news. Many of today’s apps for kids are combining technology and education to make learning more interactive, and—dare we say—fun than ever before.
We have highlighted the four best learning apps for kids loved by parents and youngsters.
Khan Academy
Price: Free
Ages/Grades: Grades K – 14
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Suitable for beginners and advanced students, Khan Academy offers learning opportunities for students of all ages across many subjects, including math, economics, and history.
Busy Shapes
Price: $3
Ages/Grades: Ages 2 – 5
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Your toddler will love moving the shapes around in this app, and you’ll love that it’s secretly teaching them spatial recognition and object awareness.
ABCmouse.com
Price: $ 13 per month
Ages/Grades: Ages 2 – 8
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: ABCmouse.com has more than 10,000 activities available to play on its app or website. There are games for traditional subjects, like math, science, and language arts, as well as art activities, song sand puzzles.
Prodigy
Price: Free for basic; premium memberships cost $ 10 to $ 15 per month and $ 75 to $100 per year.
Ages/Grades: Grades 1 – 8
Apple/Android: Both
Why We Chose It: Prodigy helps students learn math while having fun by providing interactive games that align with(与……一致) the curriculum they’re learning at school.
1. What Apps can you choose for a 10—year—old child?| A．Busy Shapes & ABCmouse.com. | B．ABCmouse.com &. Khan Academy. |
| C．Khan Academy & Prodigy. | D．Prodigy&. Busy Shapes. |
| A．$13. | B．$130. | C．$78. | D．$ 75. |
| A．They are free of charge. | B．They are for beginners. |
| C．They are for kids of all ages. | D．They can be used on Apple and Android phones. |
4 . How do you usually spend your spare time? Many people choose to be couch potatoes, but not Luo Han, a 9-year-old from Changsha, Hunan.
Luo Han completes at least two hours of outdoor activities every day and has raised a wave of discussion online. Although he is in primary school, he has already mastered sports like kayaking and paddling. His aptitude for outdoor sports is from his father Luo Ge, who actively encourages him to enjoy nature, rather than focusing only on his learning. After noticing that Luo Han did not go out for enough exercise after school, his father took him to do outdoor activities every day.
Many applauded them. “Exercise can ease brain fog and improve memory. Many students feel stressed about school work, so outdoor activities can help us keep our moods uplifted and improve our learning efficiency.” said Liu Yu, 18, a university freshman. Wang Tao, a parent of a 16-year-old, showed her support for the father. “It’s more than a way to relax. It’s a training of willpower,” she said. Her son He Xin, from Hefei Thomas School, Anhui, is a fan of outdoor sports. Although facing increasing pressure in his studies, he has joined the school’s athletic programs.
However, some have also expressed their concerns. “Two hours isn’t too much for a 9-year-old, but it might be difficult for high school students to guarantee this block of time when school becomes more demanding,” said Huang Xi, 16, from Liyang High School of Jiangsu province.
Ms. Zhu, who has a daughter in middle school, also agreed that two hours is too much for the majority of parents, especially on weekdays. “When I am off duty, I need to do housework. After my daughter finishes her homework, she prefers to watch TV. Neither of us would think of going outside for exercise,” Zhu said.
Other parents are concerned about the safety of outdoor activities. Zhang Zhijin has a son in high school. “Sometimes, teenagers can do crazy and risky things. We worry about accidents,” Zhang said.
1. Which of the following is true?| A．Liu Yu thinks outdoor activities can improve our learning. |
| B．Outdoor playing is only good to relaxation. |
| C．Luo Han ’s father thinks learning is more important than exercising. |
| D．Luo Han’s father thinks exercise on campus is enough for him. |
| A．annoyed | B．excited | C．anxious | D．frightened |
| A．Huang Xi | B．Liu Yu | C．Wang Tao | D．Luo Han |
| A．Please go out for exercise | B．Daily outdoor play and working |
| C．People’s concerns | D．Parent’s views on after-class work |
