Lawns（草坪）are some of the most common things in the world until you really start thinking about them. That’s when you realize that they make no sense. Why do people keep these uninteresting, pointless little plants outside their homes? They’re not beautiful like flowers, they don’t provide food and you have to take care of them constantly.
Israeli bestselling author Yuval Noah Harari thought these deeds were weird too. He looked into their history and ended up with an interesting story.
No one considered putting patches of grass outside their homes in ancient times. That changed in the Middle Ages, when French and English kings and nobles started putting patches of grass at their castle entrances.
“Well-kept lawns demand land and a lot of work,” wrote Harari in his book. “In exchange, they produce nothing of value.” Peasants could never afford to waste their time or land on lawns, so these lawns were a perfect status symbol（身份的象征）for nobility（高贵）.
When the Industrial Revolution began in the 18th and 19th centuries, the middle classes started being able to afford their own suburban（郊区的）houses. And guess what became the suburban status symbol? A perfectly kept lawn.
The popularity of lawns continued to grow, taking over public event spaces and sports. In the past, people played sports on all kinds of surfaces—dirt, ice, sand. But in the last couple centuries, they made the switch to green grass.
“Grass is nowadays the most widespread crop in the USA after corn and wheat,” Harari continued. Lawns spread beyond Europe and the U.S, and they’re now status symbols around the world.
Suburban people may not realize it, but they care for lawns just because centuries ago, French and English kings wanted to show off by intentionally planting something useless. It’s strange that people should continue to spend so much time and money on what’s really a leftover（遗留物）from the Middle Ages. When you plan your house, you can shake off（摆脱）the cultural leftover and imagine for yourself a rock garden or some other new creation.
1.What does the underlined word “weird” in paragraph 2 probably mean?
A.strange B.ordinary
C.beneficial D.attractive
2.What could lawns indicate in the 19th century?
A.Environmental awareness. B.People’s taste.
C.Cultural background. D.Personal wealth.
3.What is the author’s attitude towards keeping lawns?
A.Uncaring. B.Disapproving.
C.Favorable. D.unclear.
4.What might be the best title for the text?
A.The Function of Lawns B.The Value of Lawns
C.The History of Lawns D.The Management of Lawns
One of my all time favorite holiday destinations is the Gold Coast. With its beautiful beaches, mountain hinterland and theme parks, the variety from one location to another is fantastic! And it’s also important that its like a playground for my children.
The Gold Coast certainly offers something for every member of our family. We all love heading down to the beach for an early morning swim or surf. The beaches feature some of the softest golden sand and pumping waves, making them ideal for surfing. Safety is important especially when I'm out with the kids, and I feel better knowing that lifeguards are continually on patrol（巡逻）. The long coas also offer the perfect setting for a leisurely walk at sunset-a favorite activity of mine.
Then, of course, there’s the bargain-hunting in the city’s center. For shoppings goers there are amazing shopping centers boutiques and the usual chain stores. I always pick up loads of goodies at Pacific Fair.
The Gold Coast is popular for its theme parks-Sea World, Wamer Bros Movie World and Dream World. The seal and dolphin presentations at Sea World keep both children and adults on the edge of their seats as the sea creatures go through a series of complicated jumps, flips and rolls. It’s great entertainment and an educational window to the underwater world for the kids. Our kids also enjoy meeting the characters at Movie World and watching how real movies are made.
Night-time is equally fun, as we usually set off to find the best local restaurants and cafes. The mix of cultures and influences has given the Gold Coast a wide variety of choices, including modem Australian, Italian, Asian and seafood, although sometimes nothing beats fish and chips!
A visit to the Gold Coast in the Sunshine State is worthwhile and fun.
1.Why does the author consider the Gold Coast as her ideal holiday destination?
A.There are a lot of shopping centers.
B.The whole family can have fun there
C.It’s a safe and interesting place for kids
D.The author can walk leisurely along the coast.
2.What does the underlined word “boutiques” probably mean?
A.Theme parks B.Beautiful parks
C.Small shop D.Local restaurants
3.What does Paragraph 4 mainly talk about?
A.What the theme parks offer
B.How popular the Gold Coast is
C.Why kids love theme parks so much
D.What people can do in the Gold Coast
4.What makes night time in the Gold Coast attractive for tourists?
A.The presentations B.The entertainments
C.The shopping centers D.Various choices of food
The STAR Eco Station is an environmental science museum, a wildlife rescue center, and a shelter for endangered and illegally-traded foreign animals confiscated （没收）by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It carries out the mission “Preservation through Education ”by educating visitors about the preservation of the environment and the inter-dependence of all living things.
Field trips
STAR Eco Station hosts field trips for schools and camps throughout Southern California. Each field trip lasts two hours, consisting of a one-hour gathering and a one-hour tour of the facility, with lessons associated with California State Science Standards.
Throughout the field trip, students learn about the latest developments in environmental protection and the ways in which wildlife interacts with various ecosystems. The students also receive an up-close and hands-on experience with our rescued foreign wildlife. The tour includes different environmental exhibits that showcase the ways students can help protect animals in the wild.
Field trips are offered on weekdays only, from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. or 12 p.m.-2 p.m. The rate is $6 per visitor, both child and adult, with a $120 minimum. We offer one free adult per 10 children for groups of 40 or more. Maximum capacity is 120 people per field trip.
Public tours
Guided tours of the STAR Eco Station introduce visitors to over two hundred rescued foreign wildlife. Each tour is led by an Eco Station staff member, and features fun animal facts, hands-on animal encounters, surprising rescue stories, environmental exhibits, and original approaches to going green. Visitors may only see the animals on a guided tour, for both your safety and the safety of our animals.
The guided tour lasts approximately 45-60 minutes. Visitors are served on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are required. However, tours may sell out. We suggest larger groups schedule a private tour.
Note:
Our regular public tours times are subject to change without notice・ Please call in advance for the most up-to-date information
1.The STAR Eco Station aims to_________.
A. help research wildlife abroad
B. collect money for animal shelters
C. raise awareness of wildlife protection
D. provide a knowledge of unusual animals
2.What can students do during a field trip?
A. Make a speech on the environment.
B. Take part in foreign wildlife rescue.
C. Get to know why species get endangered.
D. Learn how living things affect each other.
3.For a guided tour, visitors should know that_________.
A. large groups are served first B. it is available on weekdays
C. its time could change D. booking is needed
Preschool girl lifts old man’s spirits
When Tara Wood brought her daughter to a grocery store to buy the four-year-old some cupcakes, she had no idea that would be a life-changing experience.
As Tara pushed her daughter Norah around the store last month, she passed an old man who was by himself. The old man looked cold, until Norah shouted to him, “Hi! It’s my birthday today!” The man stopped and his demeanor changed from distant and serious to warm and friendly. “How old are you today?” the man asked. After some time talking together, Norah asked her mom to take a picture of her with her new friend “Mr Dan”, Dan Peterson, 82. They hugged and after ten minutes went their separate ways. That could have been the end of the story. But it is actually the beginning of a special relationship.
Tara posted the picture of her daughter and Mr. Dan on Facebook and someone who recognized him reached out to her with his contact information. It turned out that Mr. Dan’s wife died in March and he had been suffering from depression and anxiety ever since. The person on Facebook told Tara that it was the first time they had seen Mr. Dan smile since the death of his wife. Knowing that, Tara contacted Mr. Dan, and ever since Norah and the 82-year-old have developed a friendship unlike any other. “She has shown me a depth of love, a depth that I didn’t know existed,” Mr. Dan told the reporter.
Mr. Dan told Tara that before meeting Norah, he hadn’t had one night of uninterrupted sleep. Anxiety kept him up at all hours and made him restless. After meeting Norah, he said he now sleeps soundly. For Mr. Dan’s 82nd birthday on October 20, the mother and the daughter brought balloons and presents—and, of course, cupcakes. Mr. Dan will also spend a day around Thanksgiving with Norah and her family. “If you don’t take the time to notice people, you will never know how you can positively impact a life,” Tara Wood said.
1.Mr. Dan looked cold because ________.
A.he felt lonely B.he disliked little kids
C.nobody had hugged him D.he knew little about Norah
2.The underlined word “demeanor” in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.
A.words B.body
C.thoughts D.attitude
3.How did Tara know more about Mr. Dan?
A.From a news reporter. B.From a stranger.
C.From a shop assistant. D.From his neighbor.
4.What can we learn from the story?
A.Giving makes a real difference.
B.It is important to respect each other.
C.We should not judge a person at first sight.
D.Good things will happen if one keeps trying.
A Heroic Driver
Larry works with Transport Drivers, Inc. One morning in 2009, Larry was ______along 165 north after delivering to one of his _______. Suddenly, he saw a car with its bright lights on. _______ he got closer, he found ____ vehicle upside down on the road. One more look and he noticed _______ shooting out from under the _______ vehicle. Larry pulled over, set the brake and _______the fire extinguisher (灭火器). Two good bursts from the extinguisher and the fire was put out.
The man who had his bright lights on _______ and told Larry he had _______ an emergency call. They ________ heard a woman’s voice coming from the wrecked (毁坏的) vehicle. ________the vehicle, they saw that a woman was trying to get out of the broken window. They told her to stay ________ until the emergency personnel arrived, ________ she thought the car was going to ________. Larry told her that he had already put out the fire and she should not move ________ she injured her neck.
Once fire and emergency people arrived, Larry and the other man ________ and let them go to work. Then, Larry asked the ________ if he was needed or ________ to go. They let him and the other man go.
One thing is ________—Larry went above and beyond the call of duty by getting so close to the burning vehicle! His ________ most likely saved the woman’s life.
1.A. walking B. touring C. traveling D. rushing
2.A. passengers B. colleagues C. employers D. customers
3.A. Since B. Although C. As D. If
4.A. each B. another C. that D. his
5.A. flames B. smoke C. water D. steam
6.A. used B. disabled C. removed D. abandoned
7.A. got hold of B. prepared C. took charge of D. controlled
8.A. came down B. came through C. came in D. came over
9.A. returned B. received C. made D. confirmed
10.A. then B. again C. finally D. even
11.A. Starting B. Parking C. Passing D. Approaching
12.A. quiet B. still C. away D. calm
13.A. for B. so C. and D. but
14.A. explode B. slip away C. fall apart D. crash
15.A. as if B. unless C. in case D. after
16.A. stepped forward B. backed off C. moved on D. set out
17.A. woman B. police C. man D. driver
18.A. forbidden B. ready C. asked D. free
19.A. for certain B. for consideration C. reported D. checked
20.A. patience B. skills C. efforts D. promise
Billions of poor people around the world 1. (depend) on the use of wood for cooking. And as they take more and more firewood from wild areas, they are destroying habitats around the world. Wood collection is one reason why many animals have become endangered.
This is 2. Dr. Metcalf spends each summer in Africa. He wants to teach women and children in villages how to cook with the sun. He helped create Solar Cookers International. It’s an organization that introduces solar cookers to developing countries 3. teaches people how to use them.
