1 . July is National Ice Cream Month. This means it is your civil duty to consume a spoon or two of the delicious treat daily. In 1984 the former US president Ronald Reagan designated July 17 as National Ice Cream Day in honor of the nutritious food. Here are some ice cream anecdotes (轶事) to keep you entertained while enjoying the creamy dessert.
Origin of ice cream
The first records of milk-based ice cream, made using heated milk, flour, and camphor (樟脑), come from China’s Tang dynasty (618-907 AD). But the Arabs are credited with inventing the delicious treat, using milk, sugar as ingredients in the 9th century. By the 10th century, the modern-day recipe with milk, cream and dried fruits was widely available in West Asian countries.
The frozen treat did not arrive in the US until 1744 when Maryland Governor Thomas Bladen served strawberry ice cream to guests. Now, Americans are the world’s largest consumers of ice cream, eating an average of 48 pints (品脱) per person every year.
Ice-cream related Guinness World Records
The frozen dessert’s popularity makes it a favorite for setting new Guinness World Records. The latest one was set in 2021 by the Ice Cream Lab pop-up at the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The temporary retail shop offered ice cream lovers 1,001 flavor options — setting a new world record for the most flavors offered.
Ice cream choice reveals personality traits
Most people believe their choice of ice cream flavor is due to taste preferences. But Dr. Alan Hirsch, founder of the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, maintains it reflects the individual’s personality.
Vanilla ice cream fans are risk-takers who are great at relationships. Love chocolate ice cream? Then you are lively, charming, and slightly dramatic. Mint chocolate ice cream fans can be ambitious and argumentative. Surprisingly, those who enjoy the multi-colored rainbow sherbet (果汁冰糕) are labeled pessimists, while rocky road ice cream lovers are believed to be engaging speakers and even better listeners.
1. How many stages did ice cream experience before it arrived in the US?| A．2. | B．3. | C．4. | D．5. |
| A．Vanilla ice cream. | B．Chocolate ice cream. | C．Rainbow sherbet ice cream. | D．Rocky road ice cream. |
| A．Fun tradition. | B．Cultural heritage. | C．Nutrition and health. | D．Celebrity anecdotes. |
2 . It is generally accepted that blind people are limited when it comes to enjoying beautiful things around them. This month the Utrecht Central Museum in the Netherlands offered an unusual art exhibition called The Blind Spot. This exhibition was accessible to the visually disabled. Sighted visitors are encouraged to wear a blindfold on their eyes as they experience the artworks. This exhibition excited the other senses other than the visual sense. Visitors could look at artworks as expected. Besides, they could also touch and smell them. The show was designed to provide a better experience for museumgoers with poor eyesight.
The Blind Spot recreated existing famous paintings, but with extra dimensions, such as sound and smell. Visitors could even get a “feel” for the art, which included touchable elements.
Visitor Farid el Manssouri seemed to enjoy his experience. He smiled as he moved his hands over cheese, grapes and bread，part of the representation of a famous 1610 painting by Floris van Dvck. “The first thing that struck me was the smell. I could really smell the fragrant cheese, and I touched it too.” Manssouri said. Manssouri wondered how the food did not fall from its unbalanced position. “That was really surprising to feel... I guess it was glued on pretty well,” Manssouri said.
Artist Jasper Udink ten Cate and designer Jeroen Prins created The Blind Spot. They said they were inspired by an experience they shared with a blind visitor at an art show one year ago. “One day, somebody who could not see was there. At the place we served food out of this work, and we helped her touch the artwork. She was blind and she had a lot of feelings. She was touched. So we bad the realization, ‘Wow, we have something.’ That moment was the starting point to actually create this exhibition.” ten Cate said.
The museum's head Steffie Maas said The Blind Spot was an impressive experiment on the way to more such improvements.
1. What are visitors with normal vision encouraged to wear to experience the artworks?| A．Gloves. | B．Signs. | C．Eye covers. | D．Face masks. |
| A．Only blind visitors were allowed in. | B．The exhibits could be heard or smelled. |
| C．Original famous paintings were on show. | D．The artworks were copies of famous paintings. |
| A．A famous 1610 painting. | B．A blind visitor's recommendation. |
| C．Realization of more sense dimensions. | D．A previous experience with a blind visitor. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Skeptical. | C．Negative. | D．Ambiguous. |
1.写信目的；
2.俱乐部的招生信息。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Dear Jack,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
4 . The hula hoop(呼啦圈) can date back to around 1000 BC. Originally, the hula hoop was made of dried grapevines(葡萄藤).
The more modern version of the hula hoop, which is spun around the waist, was first invented in the 1950s. A plastic hoop created by California’s Wham-O toy company had sold nearly 100 million hula hoops by 1960.
Throughout the United States, the hula hoop craze was large and diverse. But by 1980 the use of hula hoops had begun rapidly fading.
Eventually, the hula hoop was introduced into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 1999, showing its important place within the entertainment and children’s toy industries.
| A．It was lighter than the bamboo hoops. |
| B．This was not the case, however, in China or Russia. |
| C．It was just thrown and rolled down hills in children’s games. |
| D．As a combined exercise, it is extremely beneficial to the body. |
| E．Not all hula hoop games were played for fun and entertainment. |
| F．This created what was known as the “hula hoop craze” during the 1950s. |
| G．Today, hula hoping is still common among children as it was during the ancient time. |
5 . In the mid-1990s, Tom Bissell taught English as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. He left after seven months, physically broken and having lost his mind. A few years later, still attracted to the country, he returned to Uzbekistan to write an article about the disappearance of the Aral Sea.
His visit, however, ended up involving a lot more than that. Hence this book, Chasing the Sea: Lost Among the Ghosts of Empire in Central Asia, which talks about a road trip from Tashkent to Karakalpakstan, where millions of lives have been destroyed by the slow drying up of the sea. It is the story of an American travelling to a strange land, and of the people he meets on his way: Rustam, his translator, a lovely 24-year-old who picked up his colorful English in California, Oleg and Natasha, his hosts in Tashkent, and a string of foreign aid workers.
This is a quick look at life in Uzbekistan, made of friendliness and warmth, but also its darker side of society. In Samarkand, Mr Bissell admires the architectural wonders, while on his way to Bukhara he gets a taste of police methods when suspected of drug dealing. In Ferghana, he attends a mountain funeral(葬礼)followed by a strange drinking party. And in Karakalpakstan, he is saddened by the dust storms, diseases and fishing boats stuck miles from the sea.
Mr Bissell skillfully organizes historical insights and cultural references, making his tale a well-rounded picture of Uzbekistan, seen from Western eyes. His judgment and references are decidedly American, as well as his delicate stomach. As the author explains, this is neither a travel nor a history book, or even a piece of reportage. Whatever it is, the result is a fine and vivid description of the purest of Central Asian traditions.
1. What made Mr Bissell return to Uzbekistan?| A．His friends' invitation. | B．His interest in the country. |
| C．His love for teaching. | D．His desire to regain health. |
| A．Developing a serious mental disease. |
| B．Taking a guided tour in Central Asia. |
| C．Working as a volunteer in Uzbekistan. |
| D．Writing an article about the Aral Sea. |
| A．Romantic. | B．Eventful. | C．Pleasant. | D．Dangerous. |
| A．To introduce a book. | B．To explain a cultural phenomenon. |
| C．To remember a writer. | D．To recommend a travel destination. |
6 . What’s On?
Electric Underground
7.30pm－1.00am Free at the Cyclops Theatre
Do you know who’s playing in your area? We’re bringing you an exciting evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract(合同)? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He’s going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce you music.
Gee Whizz
8.30pm-10.30pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope
Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He’s the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7.00pm with drinks and snacks.
Simon’s Workshop
5.00pm-7.30pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage
This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years’ experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.
Charlotte Stone
8.00pm-11.00pm Pizza World
Fine food with beautiful jazz music; this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta(面食). Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.
1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?| A．Jules Skye. | B．Gee Whizz. |
| C．Charlotte Stone. | D．James Pickering. |
| A．The Cyclops Theatre. | B．Victoria Stage. |
| C．Kaleidoscope. | D．Pizza World. |
| A．It teaches comedy writing. | B．It lasts three hours each time. |
| C．It is run by a comedy club. | D．It is held every Wednesday. |
7 . Anyone who has children has likely heard "I'm bored!" too many times. When you're on a budget, it can be tough to think of ways to entertain the family that don't cost a lot of money.
Head to the library, and not just check out books. Look at the library's community events calendar. Most libraries have everything from story times for children to game nights for teens.
Camp in a national forest or build a sandcastle. A lot of the sites are free to use, though they do lack facilities.
Tour the fire station. Most fire fighters will give you and your kids a free tour,as long as you call and schedule ahead of time.
Check out a state park. Stop by the ranger station and ask about free programmes for kids, such as nature walks and hands-on science classes. Some parks have junior ranger badges(徽章)children can earn by completing conservation related activities.
| A．Visit the local community center. |
| B．Go to the beach and build a sandcastle. |
| C．The time when children visit is very important. |
| D．Spend more time finding much free information. |
| E．Kids can learn about fire safety and tour the facilities. |
| F．Many libraries also have enrichment classes offered free of charge. |
| G．Fortunately, there are many options available to you if you know where to look. |
