Many people set an academic goal: graduating from college. ______, One woman waited a long time to ______ that goal. Last week, 84-year-old Janet Fein received her bachelor’s ______ of sociology (社会学) from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Fein ______ in New York City. In high school, she just wanted to ______ and get a job. After ______ early, at the age of 16, she went to work. After getting married, she spent 18 years staying home with her children. She held several jobs throughout her life, ______ 20 years as a secretary at a Dallas hospital. But she still wanted to ______ a bachelor’s degree.
Fein ______ a program that lets people aged 65 and older take free classes at universities. “With each class I already ______ a lot, but then I also learned a lot.” Health experts say continuing with education later in life is one way to keep ______. They believe keeping active and giving yourself something to look forward to is a ______ move.
In Fein’s case, she kept going to class even as her health conditions ______. She needed to use a walker (助步器) to get around and required oxygen. She also ______ knee problems. So, Fein took ______ classes to finish the last part of her degree requirements. But she never showed ______ of giving up.
Tracy Glass, Fein’s classmate, said Fein’s personal ______ of world events — like the women’s movement — improved a lot of class discussions. Their sociology teacher Carol Lanham ______ that Fein made the classroom experience more meaningful for other students.
Fein has also ______ her caregiver Renee Brown. At 53, she plans to begin nursing school to ______ her career. Fein told her, “Renee, you can do it. If I can do it, you can do it, and you will feel so good about it.”
1.A.However B.Therefore C.Instead D.Moreover
2.A.miss B.accept C.set D.reach
3.A.position B.application C.offer D.degree
4.A.got by B.grew up C.passed by D.took off
5.A.teach B.study C.finish D.retire
6.A.working B.settling down C.graduating D.giving up
7.A.supposing B.regarding C.concerning D.including
8.A.earn B.make C.check D.abandon
9.A.took part in B.was in charge of C.handled with D.was aware of
10.A.paid B.knew C.considered D.forgot
11.A.awake B.calm C.fit D.quiet
12.A.positive B.frustrating C.special D.difficult
13.A.improved B.worsened C.strengthened D.required
14.A.caused B.solved C.developed D.destroyed
15.A.academic B.regular C.additional D.online
16.A.symbols B.significance C.signs D.signals
17.A.memories B.opinions C.preferences D.interests
18.A.criticized B.agreed C.argued D.recommended
19.A.praised B.amazed C.comforted D.inspired
20.A.start B.further C.change D.discover
Climate change has already begun to impact our planet in more ways than we can think.
1. Saving the environment starts with us and it is our responsibility to act against these terrible changes to preserve the planet for future generations.
Make your commute green. Millions of people drive to work every day. 2. However, the downside to this is that millions of cars emit greenhouse gases that destroy our atmosphere. There are always other options that you can utilize to make your commute to work eco-friendly. For starters, taking public transportation to work is a great way to cut out emissions. Riding your bike to work is also incredibly helpful to the environment and is a great method to get exercise.
Be more conservative with energy usage. Becoming more energy efficient is a great way to prevent pollution. 3. Make sure to turn off lights and unplug devices that you are not using anymore when you are done with them. Replace your light bulbs with energy-efficient light bulbs to help you save electricity too.
Recycle. Manufacturing plants emit a large number of greenhouse gasses per year. It is unavoidable in the production of goods that we use on a regular basis. However, a cleaner alternative would be to invest in recycling. 4. The professionals will take these items to a processing plant where they will be remade into other recyclable materials again.
5. Focusing your efforts to spread awareness about renewable energy is the best way to create a positive impact in your community. By informing others about how renewable energy is better than fossil fuels (化石燃料), you will persuade others into investing in the idea.
A.Educate yourself and others.
B.Encourage the use of renewable energies.
C.It’s simply unavoidable in our modern-day society.
D.Be sure to collect your abandoned paper, plastic and electronics.
E.Fortunately, there are always things we can do to fight against it.
F.This requires you to cut down on energy usage in your household.
G.Recycling is a cost-effective and eco-friendly process that eliminates waste.
When was the last time you listened to someone? And when was the last time someone really listened to you? I asked people what it meant to be a good listener. The typical response was a blank stare. People had no trouble, however, telling me what it meant to be a bad listener.
Of course, technology plays a role. Social media helps filter out (滤掉) opposing views. People find phone calls disturbing and ignore voice mail, preferring text or wordless emoji. But tech is not the only blame. High schools and colleges rarely, if ever, offer classes or activities that teach careful listening. Traffic noise on city streets and music playing in shops exceed (超过) the volume of normal conversation by as much as 30 decibels (分贝), and can even cause hearing loss.
So how can we reclaim the lost art of listening? After years of studying and consulting, I discovered that listening goes beyond simply hearing what people say. It also involves paying attention to how they say it and what they do while they are saying it, in what context, and how what they say resonates (与. . . 共鸣) within you. It’s not about merely holding your peace while someone holds forth. Quite the opposite. A lot of listening has to do with how you respond — the degree to which you assist in the clear expression of the other person’s thoughts and in the process, express your own.
Good listeners ask good questions. Good questions don’t begin with “Wouldn’t you agree. or “Don’t you think. . . ?” and they definitely don’t end with “right?” The idea is to explore the other person’s point of view, not sway it. You also want to avoid asking people personal and evaluating questions. Instead, ask about people’s interests so that they feel more connected than if they spend time together accomplishing a task.
The reward of good listening will almost certainly be more interesting conversations. Attentive listeners receive more information, related details from the speakers, even when the listeners didn’t ask any questions. We are, each of us, the sum of what we attend to in life. And to listen poorly, selectively or not at all limits your understanding of the world and prevents you from becoming the best you can be.
1.Which is NOT mentioned as a factor that contributes to bad Listening?
A.People prefer text message to phone calls.
B.Listening skills are not taught in school.
C.The noise around us drowns out our speech.
D.Our responses to others while listening is different.
2.What does the author find about listening?
A.Listening combines hearing, understanding and responding.
B.Listening requires the listener to keep in total silence.
C.Listening isn’t just hearing but also predicting questions.
D.Listening is to put your thoughts into other person’s mouth.
3.What does the underlined word “sway” in paragraph 4 mean?
A.Influence. B.Stop.
C.Prove. D.Complain.
4.Which of the following will the author most probably agree with?
A.Good listeners should express themselves bravely.
B.Good listening promotes our understanding of the world.
C.Good listeners always receive reward from the speakers.
D.Good listening develops people’s interest in private life.
The decline in sea ice seen in the Arctic in recent decades has been linked by scientists to the spread of a deadly virus in marine (海洋的) mammals. Researchers found that Phocine distemper virus (PDV) had spread from animals in the North Atlantic to populations in the North Pacific.
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the ice has been retreating by around 12% per decade between 1979 and 2018. These sea ice changes in September (2018) are likely unprecedented (前所未有的) for at least 1, 000 years. “Between 1979 and 2018, the real proportion (比例) of multi-year ice that is at least five years old has declined by approximately 90%,” the IPCC said in their report on the oceans and the cryosphere (冰冻圈) published in September.
Against this changing background, researchers have investigated the likely spread of the PDV infection, which caused a large number of deaths among harbour seals in the North Atlantic in 2002. Melting sea ice is now connecting marine mammals, like these Steller sea lions, which were formerly separated by ice . “As animals move and come in contact with other species, they carry opportunities to introduce and catch new infectious disease, with potentially destructive effects.” said author Dr Tracey Goldstein, from the University of California, Davis.
The authors warn that this trend could continue as they believe climate driven changes in the Arctic ocean will increase. The opportunities for the spread of PDV will likely grow, with uncertain health outcomes for many species.
1.What does the word “populations” in paragraph 1 refer to?
A.The marine mammals. B.The people.
C.The virus. D.The land animals.
2.What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?
A.The loss of sea ice. B.The formation of sea ice.
C.The effect of sea ice. D.The proportion of sea ice.
3.What does paragraph 3 try to tell us?
A.How marine mammals adapt to their habitats.
B.How a large number of seals died in the Arctic.
C.How melting ice is linked to the spread of virus.
D.How marine mammals live with the melting ice.
4.In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?
A.Entertainment. B.Health.
C.Education. D.Nature.
Oscar Valera likes to use 3D printers to build a collection of crafts (模型), but he is now turning his hobby toward the fight against the coronavirus pandemic (新冠大流行).
In just four days, the New Jersey high school teacher has printed and distributed 200 face masks to medical professionals across the country, including Florida and Texas. He is far from done. “One woman told me what you’re doing right now is giving people peace of mind. You’re probably saving lives,” said Valera, who found a mask design posted online.
Demand for face masks, along with N95-masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) has increased with the surge (大量涌现) of patients infected with the highly infectious virus. That has prompted volunteer 3D printers like Valera to step in to support doctors, nurses and first responders, who are all in danger of contracting the sometimes deadly illness.
In Sunnyvale, California, community workspace nonprofit Maker Nexus has been running its 13 3D printers and three laser cutters (激光切割机) nonstop. The company produced 1,800 masks for local hospitals and now has requests for another 13,000.
Elsewhere in Silicon Valley, more companies are joining in. Fremont-based PrinterPrezz, a 3D-printing medical device contract manufacturer that specializes in metal spinal implants, switched production to printing PPE after getting a request from nearby Washington Hospital Healthcare System.
Snap Lab, a unit of Snap Inc, is also producing face masks to donate to hospitals. In New Jersey, Valera said he will continue to do his part. “I don’t mind doing this,” Valera said. “I just hate the fact that I have.”
1.What do we know about Oscar Valera?
A.He is a professional craftsman.
B.He is helping medical worker to save lives.
C.He adopts the online mask design.
D.He is forced to print face masks.
2.How many enterprises are mentioned to help produce medical equipment?
A.2. B.3. C.4. D.5.
3.What’s the tone of the author when reporting the news?
A.Concerned. B.Critical.
C.Objective. D.Enthusiastic.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.A Teacher’s Creativity to Produce Masks.
B.3D Printers Help Make Face masks.
C.Face Masks Are in Great Demand.
D.The Fight Against the Pandemic.
In California, there are farms that you can visit, tour, and buy locally grown products to sample and enjoy. These are some of the best farms to visit when you’re in California!
China Ranch Date Farm, Tecopa
China Ranch is a small family-owned farm that is truly an oasis in the desert. When you visit, you can try fresh dates and bread, muffins, and cookies made with dates. The shop is open every day except for Christmas and is an easy 85-mile drive from Las Vegas as well. There’s a small museum that’s open to the public，and the China Ranch is available for film and photography shoots.
Tanaka Farms, Irvine
For farm-fresh fruits and vegetables in Southern California, look no further than Tanaka Farms. This Irvine destination allows you to take a guided walking tour around the farm to pick your own produce. Throughout the year, there are watermelon, pumpkin patch, and Christmas tree tours. Make sure to bring your own water, wear comfortable close-toed shoes, and leave your pets at home.
Underwood Family Farms, Somis
This is a family-friendly farm that is open every day throughout the year and has an animal center as well. One of the most fun things to do here is to pick your own strawberries, blueberries, blackberries and raspberries. For kids, this is a fun place to host a birthday party, take an educational farm tour, or attend farming camp in the summer. McClelland’s Dairy Farm, Petaluma
McClelland’s is a dairy farm, but it is also an organic pumpkin patch and sells free-range eggs and organic artisan butter. This farm offers tours that are designed for both kids and adults with a hands-on approach to learning about farming. The traditional farm tour takes you through the history of the farm and to see baby calves. You’ll watch a cow being milked by hand over the 1. 5-hour tour.
1.Which is not available in China Ranch Date Farm?
A.Tasting fresh dates. B.Visiting a museum.
C.Shooting a picture. D.Celebrating Christmas.
2.What is the style of Tanaka Farms?
A.Pet-friendly. B.Family-owned.
C.Camp-based. D.Pick-your-own.
3.What do Underwood Family Farms and McClelland’s Dairy Farm have in common?
A.They are open every day throughout the year.
B.They allow visitors to pick up fruits by themselves.
C.They offer chances to kids to experience farming.
D.They have an animal center to sell dairy products.
