Want to pick up that new best-seller for your flight, but not sure you want to spend the money?
This will change your mind.
If you’ve done a lot of traveling, you’ve probably noticed that the bookstores at airports all look pretty similar. They’ve all got familiar logos, the walls of inviting plane snacks, and, of course, the towers of new hardcover books. Chances are you’ve wanted to grab one of those books for the plane ride. However, those hardcover books are a little pricey. Is it worth it to splurge, just to relieve the midair boredom?
Yes it is—because of a cool program that these bookstores have in place. These similar airport stores are all owned by the company Paradies Lagardère, and all of those stores take part in what’s called the “Read and Return program.” It’s exactly what it sounds like. Whenever you buy one of those books, you’ve got six months to finish it and bring it back to the same, or another, Paradies Lagardère location. When you do that, you get half your money for the original purchase back.
If you’re going on a trip, buy that book you’ve been dying to read. When you go back to the airport for the return trip, bring the book back with you and get half the money back. While you’re still in the bookstore, go ahead and get that other book you’ve been dying to read. Or the sequel to the book you read on the way there. Either way, your boredom on the flight back will be cured. And it gets better: the book you gave back will be re-sold for half price! Here’s what you can get for free at an airport.
There are two things you do need to make sure of. You have to bring back the receipt to get your money back. Also, the book needs to be in decent condition. But other than that, this program couldn’t be easier. In a way, it’s like a buy-one-get-one-half-off deal for books. Or get two books for the price of one-and-a-half. Either way, count us in.
1.What does the underlined word “splurge” in paragraph 2 mean?
A.Spend the money. B.Take the effort.
C.Take the trouble. D.Spend the time.
2.How does the “Read and Return program” run?
A.You can read books for free in any Paradies Lagardère store.
B.You can buy books for half price in airport bookstores.
C.You need to return the book to the same store where you buy it.
D.You can get half your money back if you return the book timely.
3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A.It is difficult to take part in the program.
B.The receipt is necessary if you want to return the book.
C.The program is popular with readers.
D.The program runs successfully.
4.Why does the author write this passage?
A.To encourage people to read on airplanes.
B.To introduce Paradies Lagardère company.
C.To advertise the “Read and Return program”.
D.To show the advantages of reading on airplanes.
If the three Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle) is a guideline to save the planet, garbage-sorting is where the efforts start. Since May 1, Beijing has started to carry out mandatory garbage-sorting in new efforts to better protect the environment. Under the new regulation, residents are required to classify household waste into four categories: kitchen, recyclable, hazardous and other waste. People who fail to sort their garbage properly can be fined from 50 to 200 yuan, reported Xinhua.
Some residential communities in Beijing have introduced rewards to encourage residents to sort their garbage. According to Xinhua, residents can earn points by classifying their domestic waste correctly and then exchange the points they accumulate for daily necessities such as soap.
Garbage sorting practices have reached over 70 percent of housing estates in 18 cities, including Shanghai, Xiamen and Hangzhou, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. Shanghai first enacted a mandatory garbage-sorting regulation in July 2019 and has had a 90 percent compliance (服从) rate among its housing estates.
According to a report by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, over 90 percent of the public believe that garbage-sorting is important for the protection of the environment. However, garbage-sorting is still a big problem in China. Only 30 percent of participants said they think they are completely sorting their waste, the report noted. According to Xinhua, it’s partly because many people lack the willingness to sort their own waste. Also, some previous garbage regulations didn’t include fines for people who failed to obey them.
“It’s a must to have a legal guarantee to promote garbage sorting,” Liu Jianguo, a professor from Tsinghua University, told China Daily, “Aside from China, many countries like Germany, Spain and Britain, also ask people to sort waste into specific categories. In Japan, there is a fixed time for the sorting of each kind of garbage and littering.”
1.What can we learn about the new regulation in Beijing?
A.It hasn’t been put into use yet.
B.Residents can sort the garbage as they like.
C.People can get money if they classify their domestic waste correctly.
D.Those who can’t sort the garbage as the new rule requires shall be fined.
2.What’s the problem in garbage sorting in China?
A.Most people are unaware of its importance in protecting environment.
B.Some people don’t want to take the trouble to sort the garbage.
C.Only residents in big cities can sort the trash correctly.
D.The government doesn’t have enough money to support garbage sorting.
3.What can we infer from Liu Jianguo’s words?
A.It’s difficult to carry out garbage sorting in China.
B.Some laws in garbage-sorting are needed.
C.People in developed countries can better sort the garbage.
D.We should learn from Japan.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Garbage sorting, a new start in China B.New regulations in Beijing
C.Argument on garbage sorting D.How to sort domestic garbage
Many of us would like to spend all of our time helping dogs in need, but it can be hard to carve out that kind of time. Well, one man, Eugene Bostick, decided that when he retired, he would devote the rest of his life to helping homeless dogs feel loved.
Eugene Bostick was fortunate enough to be able to retire at the ripe age of 65 after working his entire life on his farm. His farm was located at the end of a dead-end street, and he noticed that people would, unfortunately, abandon their dogs on the farm and race off.
Eugene refused to see these pets suffer, and he quickly picked up these abandoned dogs, giving them food and taking them to the vet to make sure they were spayed and neutered.
Eugene’s farm has all kinds of animals, such as horses and goats, so these dogs have plenty of other animals to play with.
Over the last 20 years, Eugene has shown his kindness by taking on these abandoned pets, but he also saw the chance to offer them a bit of adventure. After spotting a neighbor transporting rocks behind his tractor using barrels, he realized he could do the same for his dogs. Eugene got to work to make his own train, and made sure to add some pleasant pillows so his furry friends could travel in comfort. The dogs quickly got on the train, and together, they spent hours traveling around town and through the forests nearby.
After they were spotted around town, one neighbor took a picture of Eugene that went viral, and a GoFundMe page was started that gained plenty of donations. Eugene was amazed by everyone’s generosity, and was happy to see others help these abandoned animals feel loved. Eugene will continue to care for his dogs, and we should all follow his lead!
1.What can we learn from the passage?
A.Eugene wished to retire ahead of time to care for homeless dogs.
B.People would race to the farm to pick up homeless dogs.
C.Eugene and the vet took in many abandoned dogs together.
D.Eugene’s idea for the barrel train was inspired from his neighbor.
2.What’s people’s attitude to Eugene’s act?
A.Supportive. B.Unconcerned.
C.Doubtful. D.Astonished.
3.Which words can be used to describe Eugene?
A.Serious and hardworking. B.Caring and adventurous.
C.Rich and generous. D.Playful and Childish.
4.What can be the best title for this passage?
A.A retired man’s life B.Lucky dogs
C.Train for homeless dogs D.How to help homeless dogs
Innovative Designs for Accessibility
Deadline: 2020-04-30
Award: $ 7,500 CAD
Open to: University students
The Innovative (创新的) Designs for Accessibility student competition challenges students across Canada to use their creativity to develop innovative, cost-effective and practical solutions to accessibility barriers for people with disabilities. (Read more)
Clean Tech Competition
Deadline: 2020-04-13
Award: $ 28,000
Open to: Students 13-15 years old
The Clean Tech Competition is a unique, worldwide research and design challenge for pre-college youth. The competition is designed to build a deeper understanding of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related concepts, recognize outstanding talent, and prepare the next generation of globally competitive innovators. (Read more)
Agile Robotics Competition
Deadline: 2020-04-10
Award: $ 17,500
Open to: Adults
Agile Robotics Competition is a simulation-based (仿真) competition designed to promote agility(灵活) in industrial robot systems by employing the latest advances in artificial intelligence and robot planning. The competition will be held virtually (虚拟的), so there is no need to travel to compete. The competition will use the Gazebo simulation tool. (Read more)
Wearable Robotics Innovation Challenge
Deadline: 2020-04-24
Award: $ 5,000
Open to: Everyone
The Wearable Robotics Association is inviting entries that represent the most innovative new ideas in wearable robotic technology. The review committee will select as many as ten finalists. The one considered to be the most innovative will be announced at the conference and will receive $ 5,000 to accelerate the new technology. (Read more)
1.Which competition favors competitors with a creative mind in helping the disabled?
A.Innovative Designs for Accessibility. B.Clean Tech Competition.
C.Agile Robotics Competition. D.Wearable Robotics Innovation Challenge.
2.What’s the aim of Clean Tech Competition?
A.To make a research about STEM.
B.To encourage university students to be innovators.
C.To help students prepare for the university.
D.To find talented teenagers and develop their ability to innovate.
3.What can we know about the four competitions?
A.They are open to everyone. B.Every competitor can get an award.
C.They are held in April. D.They are held virtually.
假定你是李华，如今新冠状病毒（novel coronavirus）疫情在国外肆虐，你非常牵挂远在英国的好朋友Jonny，你打算给他写封email，内容包括：
1. 关心和牵挂；
2. 体验和感受；
3. 建议和祝福。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
3. 开头和结尾已给出，不计入总词数。
Dear Jonny,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
The Origin of Father’s Day
Maybe Father’s day is celebrated all across the world, but do you know the origin of Father’s Day? Mrs. John B Dodd, of Washington, first came up with 1. idea of a “father’s day” in 1909. Mrs. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father William, 2. wife died while giving birth to 3. (they) sixth child. Mr. Smart 4. (leave) to raise the newborn and his other five children by himself on a rural farm in 5. (east) Washington state. It was after Mrs. Dodd became an adult that she realized the 6. (strong) and selflessness her father had shown in 7. (raise) his children as a single parent.
The first Father’s Day was observed on June 19, 1910 in Washington. And it was in 1966 that President Lyndon Johnson 8. (official) declared the 3rd Sunday of June 9. Father’s Day.
Father’s Day 10. (become) a day to not only honor your father, but all men who act as a father figure. Stepfathers, uncles, grandfathers, and adult male friends are all honored on Father’s Day.
