1 . A program at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is hoping to fight against loneliness brought on by the pandemic by forming friendships between students and seniors in the community. They’re making it possible through weekly calls.

“It’s been a thing I look forward to every week,” Miranda Savioli, a VCU medical student said.

The program is run by students involved with the American Geriatrics Society and pairs medical and health science students with seniors in the community.

VCU education administrator for the School of Medicine, Chuck Alexander, says it was formed to fight against loneliness and give students valuable interaction with that age group — something that’s been missing since training programs stopped earlier this year. “It’s mostly just social — just chatting,” Alexander said. “A lot of times they just need someone to talk to. A lot of times they feel that they have a connection with someone younger who is just entering a new phase in their career and that they have some wisdom to impart to them — medically and socially as a friend.”

So far, the volunteer program has paired around 40 students with seniors.

Every week, Savioli video calls retiree Joan Kerby, who lives in a retirement community in Henrico.

“It’s a really good connection because in lockdown you really don’t have long conversations with anybody,” Kerby said. Those long conversations soon turned into a visit. The two participants decided to meet in person back in November and Kerby said it was a special moment. “We talked for two hours. We probably could have gone on longer but we had to stop,” Kerby said.

Savioli says they plan to keep the program going, and encourages others to pick up the phone and call a loved one who may be isolated. “It was developed to help seniors with isolation, but mean, we all got isolated during this pandemic,” Savioli said. “It’s been nice to talk to someone every week.” The group has no plans to stop the program. “We’re going to keep the program going and as for Joan and I, we’ve established ourselves as lifelong friends,” Savioli said.

1. What can be learned about the program?

A．It is run by college teachers.	B．It asks students to write to seniors.
C．It charges participants for weekly visits.	D．It connects college students with elderly people.

2. What does Alexander say about the program?

A．It should involve families.	B．It should be more professional.
C．It reduces students’ training time.	D．It benefits both students and seniors.

3. What did Kerby feel about the two-hour talk?

A．It was boring.

B．It was stressful.

C．It was wonderful.

D．It was humorous.

4. What does the group want to do according to the last paragraph?

A．Stop face-to-face visits.	B．Reduce conversation time.
C．Inspire people to talk to each other.	D．Switch from weekly calls to daily visits.

2 . “Everyone should have the chance to play” is the idea behind All Terrain (地形) Georgia, a program that offers free all-terrain wheelchairs at Georgia’s parks to those with physical disabilities. Being in the woods, fishing, or having a picnic at one of Georgia’s state parks can help those people feel normal again. This is a cooperation program between the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the Aimee Copeland Foundation.

All-terrain wheelchairs look like an advanced version of everyday wheelchairs.They have a tank-like appearance, and their wheels are bigger. And bigger engines make them have more power to cross terrain quickly. Most importantly, these chairs are specially designed to make them reliably cross terrain that’s rough, wet, sandy or snowy. Therefore, they can give people who might not be able to cross more difficult types of terrain the ability to start a trip.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.1% of U.S. adults have serious difficulty walking or climbing steps. And yet, the most wheelchair-friendly national park in the country, South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, has only 3 roads out of 17 suitable for wheelchairs. Besides, traditional wheelchairs can be risky, uncomfortable, and difficult to use in the park, not to mention the fact that the price of some all-terrain wheelchairs can be between $13,000 and nearly $30,000.

Now, as long as you complete a form and meet the requirements, you can book an all-terrain wheelchair and use it for free at one of the cooperative state parks in Georgia. Do remember you need to have an adult around you during the trip. The adult must undergo a training program, carry a fully charged phone and be physically capable of seeking help, if necessary, by returning quickly to the place where the chair was checked out.

Last year, a number of all-terrain wheelchairs were put into service at 11 state parks and historic sites through All Terrain Georgia. Looking ahead, Melanie Dunn, the assistant director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation, said, “The foundation will soon have the ability to move the chairs to many other parks. Everyone deserves the chance to get close to nature and we can help them do it.”

1. What may users value most about all-terrain wheelchairs?

A．Their ability to run on challenging terrain safely.

B．The convenience of avoiding heavy traffic.

C．The creative idea behind them.

D．Their cool appearance.

2. Why is South Dakota’s Badlands National Park mentioned?

A．To praise the park’s user-friendly design.

B．To recommend the national park to the public.

C．To show the shortage of wheelchair-friendly public services

D．To call on the government to build more special roads.

3. What do the instructions on the program in Paragraph 4 suggest?

A．It allows free visits to most national parks.

B．It is aimed at a risk-free user experience.

C．It sets difficult training tasks for users.

D．It works better for adult users.

4. What is Dunn’s attitude towards the future of all-terrain wheelchairs?

A．Doubtful.

B．Worried.

C．Curious

D．Positive.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman talk to the man?

A．To ask for permission.

B．To extend an invitation.

C．To get some information.

2. Where will the woman’s children probably do volunteer work?

A．At a museum.

B．At a food bank.

C．At an animal shelter.

3. How will the woman find volunteer opportunities?

A．By surfing the Internet.

B．By visiting local charities.

C．By calling community organizations.

4 . On January 14, 2006, Ben Keene received an email that changed his life. He had just taken a sip of hot tea when the message popped up, and Keene did a double-take at the subject line: “A TRIBE IS WANTED”.

From there, Ben co-founded Tribewanted, an eco-friendly sustainable community existing in the virtual world of the internet and on an actual desert island at the same time.

With huge media interest, the courageous and bold idea could have had enormous consequences for tourism. The idea behind Tribewanted was to recruit (招募) a group of similar people online before heading to the Fijian Island of Vorovoro to build a sustainable community alongside the local native tribe.

The idea was swept along with a flood of interest, with the island lease (租约) was secured, the virtual community sprung to life. All major decisions on the island were voted on by an online tribe that anyone around the world could join. The idea was so exciting that the journey was turned into a 5 part BBC series “Paradise or Bust” and a book, Tribewanted.

Ben spent 10 years building and expanding Tribewanted beyond the crowdfunded sustainable-tourism villages on an island in Fiji, to a beach in Sierra Leone and a farm in Umbria. He faced challenges including a fire sweeping through the island in the first week of the project, a military coup (政变), and a hurricane that threatened to destroy the emerging village. Online disagreements also made decision making hard and pushed the project to the edge.

The project survived, and for a while, thrived. From there Ben joined Escape the City, a global community with the mission to help one million people to do work that matters to them and the world, inspiring thousands of talented career changers and ambitious businessmen to take the leap and launch their ideas into the world. Ben led the Escape school team for 5 years, and became a business advisor and guider at Virgin Startup, and Zinc. Ben has supported and guided thousands of people to set up impactful businesses on a limited budget.

1. What is Tribewanted?

A．A voting software.	B．An island adventure project.
C．An employment plan.	D．An eco-community in virtual and real worlds.

2. Which phrase may best replace the underlined “sprung to life”?

A．passed on.	B．came into being.
C．got involved.	D．struggled to survive.

3. What might be Ben’s intention of joining Escape the City?

A．To seek funds for his Tribewanted.

B．To call for investment in remote islands.

C．To support people to launch influential businesses.

D．To help ambitious businessmen to change careers.

4. In which column can you read this text?

A．Inspiring people.	B．Connected lives.
C．Inventive solutions.	D．Global business.

5 . Last Christmas, I volunteered for WNWNB, a charity which takes surplus (剩余的) produce from New Covent Garden Market and ________ it to the local community.

The food was already in containers. So we set up the stand and got ready to distribute some Christmas ________. At first, it was ________. People seemed a bit suspicious of taking food for free. But they gradually ________ us and we had a fun afternoon singing carols and trying to ________ passersby to take our food.

It was then time to deliver meals to those who weren’t able to come. This is ________ things changed for me. The first door I knocked on was ________ by a woman in her 30s. She had children and looked absolutely worn out. I told her I was from WNWNB and gave her the ________ meals. It was probably only about two days’ worth of food but, the way she ________, I felt as if I was handing her gold.

I had similar responses to my next ________. In some cases, when people were elderly or alone, I’d go into their homes and have a brief ________ before heading off. Many felt ________, but I saw how happy they were to have another adult human to ________.

As a local politician I knock on doors and talk to people a lot, but there was something deeper about those ________ on Christmas Day. I finished my day at WNWNB a slightly different person from the one who ________.

1.

A．distributes

B．introduces

C．sells

D．exhibits

2.

A．forgiveness

B．images

C．recipes

D．cheer

3.

A．easy

B．nice

C．slow

D．safe

4.

A．broke away from

B．put up with

C．cut in on

D．warmed up to

5.

A．threaten

B．encourage

C．allow

D．command

6.

A．why

B．how

C．where

D．when

7.

A．opened

B．repaired

C．cleaned

D．guarded

8.

A．costly

B．unfinished

C．deserted

D．ready

9.

A．declined

B．reacted

C．argued

D．traded

10.

A．purchases

B．interviews

C．deliveries

D．schedules

11.

A．meal

B．chat

C．report

D．silence

12.

A．proud

B．free

C．lonely

D．content

13.

A．connect with

B．look after

C．turn to

D．rely on

14.

A．conversations

B．budgets

C．explanations

D．deals

15.

A．hesitated

B．started

C．ignored

D．struggled

6 . Guardian Angels are people who travel on the New York subways and protect other passengers from criminals (罪犯). They are volunteers: they don’t get paid anything to do this job. The Guardian Angels would never have appeared without a young man named Curtis Sliwa.

Forty-three years ago, if you’d wanted to travel home late at night on the New York subway, you wouldn’t have felt very safe. Luckily, on February 13, 1979, at 3:00 a. m. , the first safety patrol (巡逻)—called The Team—went into action. Curtis Sliwa and his friend Don Chin began to cleanup crime on one of New York’s toughest subway lines, the Number 4 train. However, this was not a job for two, but a job for 13, so thirteen brave people walked into the last car of the Number 4 subway line in New York City—the “Mugger’s Express”. If they saw a danger of violence (暴力), they stopped it, using non-violent means. The group became known as the “Magnificent 13”.

The Magnificent 13 soon went from thirteen members to hundreds and they changed their name to the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol (GASP). At first, GASP faced opposition from the police, but they had the strong support of the public. Today, the Guardian Angels can be found all over the US. If you travel by subway, you will see them wearing red hats and white T-shirts. Although Guardian Angels are not armed, if they’re present, a criminal will think twice before committing a crime.

The Guardian Angels also train young people to join them in their fight against crime. They believe that if they train groups of volunteers to patrol dangerous areas in New York, the city will be safer for everybody. “If we had more volunteers, we would be able to reduce the problems many cities face: violence, crime, and drugs. ”

They have also started after-school training programs inside high schools and community centers. If young people visit the Guardian Angels Headquarters (总部), volunteers will talk to them about their work and will then guide them through the Times Square area. It’s fun. It’s safe and meaningful!

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The changes brought by the Magnificent 13.

B．The birth of the Guardian Angels Safety Patrol.

C．The subway lines that the Guardian Angels patrolled.

D．The reason why Curtis Sliwa wanted to stop subway crime.

2. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The police influenced the public’s opinions about GASP.

B．Volunteers play an active role in reducing crime in New York.

C．The Magnificent 13 put an end to crime on the Mugger’s Express.

D．The Guardian Angels sometimes turn to violence to keep passengers safe.

3. What can young people do at the Guardian Angels Headquarters?

A．Talk to the leader of GASP.	B．Take part in training programs.
C．Carry out safety patrols with guides.	D．Get educated about the Guardian Angels’work.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To publicize a social service group.	B．To call attention to public safety concerns.
C．To introduce Curtis Sliwa’s great contributions.	D．To present new ways to reduce crime in society.

7 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What did the woman help do in Ghana?

A．Teach children at a school.

B．Build houses for the locals.

C．Care for wild animals.

2. What is the contact number of the volunteer programme?

A．212-831-7172.

B．212-831-7272.

C．212-831-7372.

8 . Thanks For Giving 4 Miler

Thurs. November 23, 2023

The Event

Sign up today for the 2023 Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Dash that will take place this Thanksgiving in New Albany! Come out and join us for a fun kick off to Thanksgiving Day festivities! As always, 100% of our net proceeds go to help those in need.

All are welcome, including competitive runners, joggers, and walkers wanting to enjoy time with friends and loved ones. Registration ends on November 22, 2023.

The Fee

There is no official race fee. You can give as much or as little as you want. However-a $40 minimum donation is required to get our soft T-shirt. Our goal is to feed as many families in Central Ohio as we can. You can help by running our race, spreading the word, or making a donation. You may bring any donation you want, from a can of soup to cash. Let’s make a difference.

Event Day Timeline

6:30 am: Race day check-in begins.

8:00 am: Opening ceremony (仪式) begins!

8:15 am: Kids Dash begins!

8:30 am: The Thanks For Giving 4 Miler kicks off!

Awards

The top three overall male and female finishers will receive a gift certificate. The top three male and female finishers in each of the following age groups will receive a pumpkin (南瓜) pie: 14 and under, 15-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70 and above. Every participant of the kids race receives a finisher’s medal!

Safety

For safety, please no bicycles, skateboards, inline skates, or participation with pets.

1. What is Thanks For Giving 4 Miler and Kids Run?

A．A marathon race.	B．A charity event.
C．A kid-targeted activity.	D．A holiday get-together.

2. What will a man ranking second in his age group be sure to win?

A．A soft T-shirt.	B．A pumpkin pie.
C．A gift certificate.	D．A finisher’s medal.

3. What is required for participation?

A．Bringing a donation.

B．Reaching a certain age.

C．Registering in advance.

D．Wearing safety equipment.

9 . Voluntary Organizations

Do-it.org.uk

If you want to make a difference, meet new people or learn new skills through volunteering, then look no further than “do-it.org uk”, which offers a million opportunities to volunteers in the United Kingdom.

With listings from a lot of major charities, such as National Trust and Oxfam, as well as local non-profit organizations, do-itorg.uk. really makes volunteering easy. Enter your postcode and interests at www.do-itorg uk, and look for the opportunities online; it’s as simple as that.

Horizon School Peru

We are a non-profit organization based in Trujillo, Peru. We provide free English classes for the surrounding area by giving tutoring classes in our building and teaching in a public school. We believe that providing these free English classes can help the community get themselves out of poverty. By learning English, people here will be able to have more job opportunities.

As a volunteer, you will teach English both in Horizon and at a local public school. There’s also an opportunity to explore Trujillo and the local beach town. Volunteers will experience the Peruvian culture and cuisine (烹饪) as well as the language. Please contact us for more information or go to our website: contact @horizonperu. Com.

Aim abroad in India

Aim abroad is a non-profit volunteer organization in India. International volunteers are welcome to take-part in the programs for the improvement of society. For more information please refer to www.aimabroad.org.

Adventist Nepal Volunteer Organization

We are a non-profit organization in Kathmandu, Nepal with the aim of providing volunteer services in Nepal in the field of education, health, human rights, writing, travel and hiking etc. People who want to work as volunteers please feel free to contact us. We also provide home stay conditions for the volunteers. Email: Adventistnepalvolunteer @gmail.com.

1. If you want to do some voluntary work in London, what will you choose?

A．Do-it.org.uk.

B．Horizon School Peru

C．Aim abroad in India

D．Adventist Nepal Volunteer Organization

2. What do these organizations above have in common?

A．They all call in English teachers.

B．They take in volunteers from Britain.

C．They help the poor children in India.

D．They are all non-profit organizations.

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To show the great need for volunteers in Europe.

B．To take in more volunteers for the organizations.

C．To explain how to take part in the organizations.

D．To tell people where to find relaxed voluntary work.

10 . If you had an extra $100, how would you use it to bring more kindness in your community? If you have a creative response to that question, read our FAQ below and apply for our monthly contest.

What is it?

Kindness-In-Action helps individuals put kindness idea into action. People from all around the world submit their ideas on what they would do if they had an extra $100, and KindSpring selects a winner every month.

How does it work?

First, you submit your idea, and if it gets selected, you’ll hear from one of our volunteer reviewers about setting up a phone or Skype call. Following that, we’ll mail you a check, you’ll have a month to implement (实施) the idea in your community, and then share your experience and photos with the KindSpring community. We’ll also feature it in our monthly newsletter that reaches more than 100 thousand people in 150 countries, so others can share the idea and spread more love!

What is the criteria for selection?

Your personal intention, creative use of Smile. Cards, potential ripple effect (连锁反应) in the local community, and the votes from the KindSpring community (existing members can login and vote as well). Ultimately, we are trying to inspire small (not big!) acts of kindness.

How did you start?

We received an unexpected donation in May. To share in the joy, we posted a small blurb in our online community asking for ideas. In less than couple weeks, more than 50 ideas were submitted and dozens of people helped us evaluate the ideas by adding “smiles”. On July 1st, we announced our first winner and a commitment to continue this experiment. The aim of the experiment continues to be: To inspire creative acts of kindness in local communities, to empower individuals to practice generosity, to model a trust-drive philanthropy(慈善事业), and to spread good ideas.

Click Here to Apply. Or join our community and help us select the next winner
1. What can we learn from the text?

A．A winner is selected every year.

B．Only people from America can submit their ideas.

C．An unexpected act of kindness contributes to its origin.

D．The one selected needs to use his or her own money to implement the idea.

2. What's the purpose of Kindness-In-Action?

A．To choose more wise consumers.

B．To promote international cooperation.

C．To arouse people to express themselves.

D．To encourage acts of kindness and spread good ideas.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook

B．A guidebook

C．A website

D．A report.