Eight-year-old Tyler Stallings has been helping homeless veterans（老兵）since he was 4 years old, and so far, this little boy has raised over $50,000 for his cause.
Tyler’s mother, Andrea Blackstone, said when Tyler was 4 she wanted to teach him about the importance of veterans. 1. As Tyler was watching these YouTube videos, he asked his mother, "If they're heroes why should they be on the street?”
Blackstone said 4-year-old Tyler then begged her to take him to buy wood and nails and build the veterans houses. 2.
So the mother got Tyler in touch with Maryland's Governor, and Tyler was given a grant of $100. With the help of the grant, Tyler decided that once a year on Veteran's Day, he would gather items like clothes to give homeless veterans care packages. This went on so well, however, that they decided just "Veteran's Day wasn't enough. 3.
Tyler's goal is to raise people's awareness of the veterans, sacrifices and bring "hero bags" to veterans who are homeless or need basic supplies. 4. Recently, he was able to partner with a mattress company that donated 250 beds and a backpack company that gifted Tyler backpacks to hold his "hero bag" products.
5. "They should have the things they need because of all the good things they've done for our country, " Tyler said. "It makes me feel very happy and very good when they have a happy reaction."
A. She explained to him they couldn't afford it.
B. For Tyler, his work is both important and rewarding.
C. He saw videos of homeless veterans and he thought this isn't right.
D. It was supposed to be a one-time thing, but turned into an all — the — time event.
E. Tyler hopes to raise enough fund for a truck to deliver even more items to them.
F. Tyler's "hero bags" for veterans include things such as clothes, hygiene products and bedding.
G. She turned to YouTube to show her son videos about veterans and the things they did for our country.
A 23-year-old British woman has invented a product that she hopes will one day take the place of single-use plastic. The new product is made by combining fishing waste and algae （藻类）.
Lucy Hughes created the material, called MarinaTex, for her final year project at the University of Sussex. She continued her research after she left the university.
On November 13, the James Dyson Foundation announced that Hughes was the international winner of the 2019 James Dyson Award for design.
MarinaTex is edible, meaning it can be eaten without danger. Hughes says it also is strong and stable. But unlike plastic, MarinaTex breaks down in four to six weeks under normal conditions and does not pollute the soil.
The inventor said she is concerned about the growing amounts of plastics in ocean waters. She noted one report that there would be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by the year 2050. The United Nations estimates that 100 million tons of plastic waste has already been left in the oceans.
Hughes also was investigating ways to reduce the amount of waste from the fishing industry. The industry produces an estimated 50 million tons of waste worldwide each year, UN officials say.
Hughes told Reuters that she was "trying to work out how I could use the waste stream and add value to that waste." Examining fish parts left over from processing helped to give her the idea for a material that was useful and did not harm the environment.
To create a strong material, Hughes added the molecule chitosan, which comes from sea creatures like crabs, and agar, a material from red algae.
After months of testing, Hughes produced a strong, flexible sheet that forms at temperatures below 100 degrees Celsius.
Inventor James Dyson said that MarinaTex is "stronger, safer and much more sustainable" than the plastic polyethylene. It is also easier to break down than other possible replacement products for polyethylene, the material that single-use plastic bags are made of.
Hughes will receive about $41,000 in prize money as the first place winner of the James Dyson Award. She told Reuters that she plans to use the money to better develop the product and ways to mass produce it.
1.When did Lucy Hughes create MarinaTex?
A.At university. B.After graduation.
C.Before going to university. D.After winning the James Dyson Award.
2.What's true about MarinaTex?
A.It is delicious. B.It is environmentally friendly.
C.It is a type of plastics. D.It exists for a long time in nature.
3.What helped to give her the idea for MarinaTex?
A.Observing the process of fishing.
B.Studying different parts of a fish.
C.Checking waste from the fishing industry.
D.Examining left-over fish parts after cooking.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Entertainment. B.Education.
C.Lifestyle. D.Technology.
Screens during meals rob kids of opportunities to improve language and communication skills （storytelling, making jokes, etc.）, as well as to develop patience and even imagination as they entertain themselves waiting for food to arrive.
Meals are an opportunity to connect, to learn more about and enjoy each other. They strengthen the bonds that will bring benefits to the rest of our lives. We squander that opportunity when we stick a screen in front of our kids during dinner.
Of course, we all want to have enjoyable family meals, which is why I love Bruce Feiller's book "The Secrets of Happy Families", in which he devotes an entire chapter to ways to make them fun and meaningful for everyone---such as "fill in the blank" sentences you make up. Sharing something good and something challenging makes for pleasant conversations, too. And I've had fun playing Uno with my daughters until the food arrives in a restaurant.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (小儿科）also offers guidelines to help families manage children's screen time. The academy recommends avoiding digital media for children under 2, except for video-chatting, and limiting screen time to just one hour a day of high-quality programming for children ages 2 to 5.
Fundamentally, we all benefit from more human connection, not less — and that's especially true for children. Schools, airplane trips, most jobs, games, even "social" interaction were all once done without screens but now are filled with them. And while we have gained some advantages, including new connections, we have lost something fundamental, as well.
Less is always more when it comes to screens, even if they are effective at keeping kids quiet. But soon after complaining that they are "bored, ” kids have a natural tendency to fill the screenless void （空虚）with creative games, art, exploration and conversation. There are no studies that warn against having too many hours of those activities.
Let's all work harder to keep family meals special by getting rid of the iPads and nourishing our personal connections as we nourish our bodies.
1.What's the author's attitude to the kids' staring at screens during meals?
A.Disapproving. B.Favorable.
C.Cautious. D.Unconcerned.
2.What does the underlined word "squander" in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.Take. B.Waste.
C.Expect. D.Create.
3.What will kids do if they have no access to screens?
A.Keep quiet.
B.Refuse to eat.
C.Feel bored all the time.
D.Find ways to entertain themselves.
4.What is the author's purpose in writing this passage?
A.To introduce the iPads to the children.
B.To stress the importance of family meals.
C.To appeal for family meals without screens.
D.To teach parents how to punish their children.
When Tony took up running as a hobby he was 42 years old. Now 42 years later he's a national champion and a world record holder.
He never imagined at the age of 84 this is where he'd be, but then he doesn't meet many people in their 80s who are out training four times a week.
"I can see it's a bit unusual, yes. But it's been my life, " he told the reporter.
The retired officer runs at a track near his home in Leeds.
At an event in Italy last month he set a world record in the 80 metres hurdles （跨栏）with a time of under 17 seconds. But he sees no reason to slow down and his ambition is still to be competing when he passes a hundred.
"I probably won't be doing a crouch start （蹲式起跑）,but it's only 16 years away," he joked. Like anyone his age, he's had health problems. He's had a string of severe heart attacks, but doctors have told him as long as it makes him feel good, he should carry on running.
"I can't let my heart get in the way of my training. When I am sprinting I have to give it my absolute all. My heart is the last thing on my mind." he said.
He trains every other day, dances and plays hockey and he recently cuts down on alcohol and chocolate. He said, "I've heard alcohol can lead to dementia and I don't want that. I've cut down to one glass of wine every other day. I now have to stay as fit as I can be to keep up my lifestyle."
Tony's next birthday is next September. And the first thing he wants to do is become the world's fastest 85-year-old.
1.What will Tony do after the competition in Italy?
A.He decides to slow down.
B.He decides to retire as an officer.
C.He plans on running until he's 100.
D.He plans to compete in the 100 metres hurdles.
2.What do the doctors suggest to Tony?
A.Continuing to run if he feels good.
B.Stopping running to treat his heart disease.
C.Trying to run as fast as he can.
D.Cutting down on alcohol and chocolate.
3.Which of the following best describes Tony?
A.Imaginative. B.Positive.
C.Caring. D.Demanding.
4.What's the best title of the text?
A.The Fastest Man in the World.
B.The World's Fastest 85-year-old.
C.A National Champion and a World Record Holder.
D.Granddad Crowned Fastest 84-year-old in the World.
Places to Spend Christmas in Canada
Quebec City
Quebec City would be a great place to spend the holidays, with stone streets, soft white snow, and some of the most historic and striking architecture in Canada. And there's a lot going on in the capital of La Belle Province, including an authentic German Christmas market where you can drink hot wine and look for gifts, and the chance to meet Santa Claus himself at Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac Hotel.
St. John's, Newfoundland
In St. John's, Newfoundland, people would disguise （伪装）themselves in whatever small objects they could find in their homes and show up on their neighbours doorsteps singing, dancing and celebrating—and not removing their masks until the neighbours correctly guessed their identities. This fun and festive tradition lives on with an annual Christmas festival, complete with workshops and a big parade that shows these simple disguises.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
The illumination （照明）of the magnificent waterfalls is part of Niagara Falls' annual Winter Festival of Lights, which sees more than three million lights lighted throughout the city. There are also weekly fireworks over the falls during the whole festival, and a number of other festive events, including musicals, shopping fairs and concerts.
Saskatoon
There are few bigger thrills than being a kid at Christmas, especially if you live in Saskatoon. A recent study by the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management found that Saskatoon has the highest number of candy and toy stores, in the country, and a very good probability of having snow on December 25. It's the perfect combination for a magical Christmas! Grown-ups will also appreciate the booming food scene.
1.Which place will you go if you are interested in historic buildings?
A.Quebec City. B.St. John's.
C.Niagara Falls. D.Saskatoon.
2.What is special about Niagara Falls, Ontario during Christmas?
A.Market. B.Wine.
C.Light. D.Snow.
3.Who will be the most excited at Christmas in Saskatoon?
A.Babies. B.Children.
C.Grown-ups. D.Senior citizens.
假定你是中学生李华,你的加拿大朋友Lily也是一名中学生，她想知道你将如何度过 这个寒假。请用英语给她写一封邮件，介绍你的假期计划。内容包括：
(1)锻炼身体(跑步、打球等)；
(2)做家务(洗衣服、扫地等)；
(3)学习(完成作业、阅读等)。
注意：(1)词数100左右，开头与结尾已给出,不计入总词数。
(2)可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Lily，
I'd like to share my plan for the coming winter vacation with you.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I'm looking forward to your reply.
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
