It took multiple weddings for Christine Law to realize what she needed to do. In the summer of 2014, her schedule was packed with friends’ marriage celebrations - flower-filled occasions that got her thinking, “Where do all the flowers go after the party？” More often than not, they were thrown away. Law was confident she could find a better use for them.
By August, she had a plan:convince couples and companies hosting events to donate their flowers, which she would pick up and deliver within 48 hours to seniors across the city. She wanted to bring beauty into the lives of the elderly. She drew on her experience through being a volunteer in nonprofit institutions in order to set up her own organization, which she called Floranthropie. Not having enough bouquets (花束) for all 150 people of a health center, Law asked the staff to provide a list of patients who needed cheering up most. “The first woman I approached thought it was a mistake, and that the flowers couldn’t possibly be for her,” says Law. “I said they were a gift, and we talked for a half hour.
In addition to health centers, Floranthropie focuses on community groups devoted to the elderly. Laëtitia Thélème is a volunteer for Les Petits Fières, an organization that aims to help the elderly who don’t have a support system. The group receives a dozen or so bouquets from Floranthropie monthly, and then redistributes them. “Our motto is ‘flowers before bread’,” says Thélème. “We don’t focus on primary care, but rather on nourishing (滋养) the spirit. Floranthropie helps us do that. It’s amazing what a big difference a small bouquet can make.”
In the beginning, most of Floranthropie’s donations came through word of mouth. These days, Law receives messages from strangers via her organization’s Facebook page and has connected with corporations and flower wholesalers. Law hopes to expand Floranthropie nationally, but at this point is happy to be able to oversee each delivery personally.
1.What made Christine Law set up Floranthropie?
A.The warm atmosphere of weddings. B.The loneliness of seniors.
C.The persuasion of other friends. D.The waste of flowers.
2.How did the woman feel about Christine Law’s flowers?
A.She was moved. B.She was surprised.
C.She was worried. D.She was excited.
3.What can we infer about Floranthropie from Laëtitia Thélème’s words?
A.It should focus on primary care.
B.It is doing something of great importance.
C.It is benefiting more than the elderly.
D.It should cooperate with more nonprofit institutions.
4.What is the best title for the text?
A.Volunteer Your Time B.Don’t Throw Flowers Away
C.Brighten Seniors’ Lives with Flowers D.Special Delivery Makes Your Day
Guinness World Records Set by Kids
♦ The youngest club DJ
Oratilwe A J Hongwane likes putting in more efforts when playing music for a crowd. In 2012, he became the youngest club DJ—he was five when he played a one- hour set to 100 people at a bar in South Africa. Known in the business as DJ Arch Jnr, he broke the record previously held by a six-year-old in Japan.
♦The most viewed video game-unboxing video
Kids love watching someone unbox a new purchase—especially if it's something they can't get themselves. Maybe that's why more than 25 million people have watched YouTube HD. What's really cool about Evan is that he actually donates most of the toys to those in need. He also uses his popular YouTube channel to draw people's attention to worthy organizations for helping the poor.
♦The youngest drummer
The rules of Guinness World Records say a drummer must record a real song and be paid for his skills and that the drummer must give at least 20 concerts of 45 minutes or longer within five years. At the age of just four Julian Pavone met all those qualifications.
♦The fastest assembly (组装)of 10,000 Lego pieces and the longest Lego chain
A group of school kids in New Jersey went for their world records to increase public awareness about a fellow student who is suffering from a rare and deadly disease. The group put together 10,000 Lego pieces in just three hours, breaking the old one by five hours. They also set the record for the longest Lego chain, which ended up at 947 meters, beating the old record by 40.
1.Who is devoted to charity?
A.Oratilwe A J Hongwane. B.Evan.
C.DJ Arch Jnr. D.Julian Pavone.
2.What do we know about the youngest drummer?
A.He has recorded 20 real songs.
B.He gave at least 20 concerts at five.
C.He must earn a lot of money by recording.
D.He was qualified for the Guiness World Reords at four.
3.Why did the school kids set the world record?
A.To help a sick schoolmate.
B.To inspire team spirit.
C.To prevent a rare disease.
D.To make their school famous.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What is the passage mainly about?
A.The origin of advertising.
B.The prosperity of advertising.
C.The development of advertising.
2.What’s the financial source of the mass media?
A.Advertisements. B.The private businesses. C.The local governments.
3.What does the speaker talk about at last?
A.Ways of advertising.
B.The popularity of advertisements.
C.People’s opinions on advertising.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Where does Dr. Gucci work?
A.In London. B.In Paris. C.In Bergamo.
2.When will Mr. Wilkinson leave for the airport?
A.At about 6:30 am. B.At about 5:30 am. C.At about 4:15 am.
3.With whom will Mr. Wilkinson have lunch on Monday?
A.Gianni Riva. B.Gavin. C.Mr. Brown.
4.What is Linda most probably?
A.A secretary. B.A tour guide. C.A saleswoman.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What will the woman do on Saturday?
A.See a film. B.Do the housework. C.Visit her parents.
2.When did the man’s family move to the US?
A.Before he was born. B.When he was a young child. C.When he was a teenager.
3.What do we know about boys in Indian families?
A.They don’t help with the housework.
B.They’re expected to work at an early age.
C.They must take care of their sisters.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Who is the woman?
A.An architect. B.A saleswoman. C.A gallery worker.
2.How did the man know about the gallery?
A.From his friend. B.From a website. C.From a magazine.
3.What does the man think of the exhibition?
A.He didn’t like it at all. B.He liked the video a lot. C.He found the paintings great.
