On a farm in England, Gavin and Alice Munro are taking sustainability to the next level: they harvest trees which they grow into chairs.
The couple have a furniture(家具) farm in Derbyshire where they are growing 250 chairs, 100 lamps and 50 tables. It is their answer to what they see as the inefficient(无效率) process of cutting down mature trees to create furniture.
“Instead of force-growing a tree for 50 years and then cutting it down and making it into smaller and smaller bits ... the idea is to grow the tree into the shape that you want directly. It’s like a kind of 3D printing,” said Gavin.
Part of the inspiration for the idea came when Gavin was a young boy. He spotted an overgrown bonsai tree (盆栽) which looked like a chair.
The 44-year-old began experimenting in 2006. In 2012, Gavin and Alice set up the company Full Grown. Within several years, the couple developed the most effective way to shape a tree without limiting its growth. They guide shoots (嫩枝) already heading in the right direction, rather than force them the wrong way against their natural growth.
The average chair takes six to nine years to grow - and another year to dry out. The labor and time involved in producing the organic pieces means they do not come cheap. Chairs sell for￡10,000 each, lamps for ￡900 to ￡2,300 and tables for ￡2,500 to ￡12,500.
1.What is special about the farm?
A.It uses 3D printing. B.It grows bonsai trees.
C.It was set up by a couple. D.It grows trees into furniture.
2.How do the couple shape a tree?
A.By limiting its growth.
B.By following its natural growth.
C.By forcing it against its natural growth.
D.By guiding its shoots in the right direction.
3.How long does it take to make an average chair for the company?
A.Over 50 years. B.About 6 to 9 years.
C.At most 6 years. D.About 7 to 10 years.
4.Which can best describe the furniture?
A.Big and eco-friendly. B.Natural but expensive.
C.Hand-made and creative. D.Traditional but organic.
5.What does the writer's opinion on the farm?
A.It’s brought in huge money. B.It grows trees inefficiently.
C.It’s a good try of sustainability. D.It will gain popularity soon.
Award-winning food writer Sasha Martin started her blog in 2010. Her plan was simple: to prepare a meal from every country in the world. Over the next four years, she cooked over 650 dishes from 195 countries. In this interview, Martin describes her experience of cooking the world.
Was “cooking the world” a way to travel without leaving home?
That’s right. I think the idea that exploration is for everyone is really important. There are so many people who dream of travel. But I think that you really can go on adventures without leaving home. With food, if you have the right ingredients, you can create the flavor of another place. It’s like armchair travel, but it’s faster and easier. I call it “stovetop travel.”
What did you hope to teach your daughter by cooking the world?
I wanted her to feel that she had a place in the world where she belonged. But I also feel it’s important for children to grow up knowing people from other countries-their global neighbors. I call them neighbors because the world is so small now. I remember going on Facebook in its early days. I noticed there were people from different parts of the world commenting on posts, even arguing with each other. I feel that in that environment, young people need to be able to respect and understand each other.
So food is a great way to create that common ground?
Yes. I wanted to share recipes that were bridges to other cultures. A lot of celebrity TV chefs tend to choose the most shocking recipes. But I think you need a bridge first. Then people won’t put up a wall in their mind about that culture. They won’t just think, “Gross! Those people eat such odd things!”
1.What seems to be the name of Martin’s blog?
A.Cooking the World. B.Armchair Travel.
C.Knowing Your Neighbors. D.Cultures in Food.
2.Why is food a great way to create common ground according to Martin?
A.It makes the world colorful. B.It is a universal topic.
C.It creates cultural connections. D.It offers a sense of belonging.
3.Who might Martin’s blog be intended for?
A.Ordinary people. B.People travelling abroad.
C.Celebrity TV chefs. D.Parents with young children.
4.Which of the following Chinese recipes might not be shared on Martin’s blog?
A.Gong Bao Chicken. B.Dim Sum. C.Sichuan Hot Pot. D.Stinky Tofu.
5.Which might best express your comment on Martin’s blog?
A.“Gross! Do they really eat such odd food? “
B.“Wow! You’ve been to so many amazing places!!”
C.“Awesome travel tips for getting around the world!”
D.“Incredible! I cooked black pudding by myself! Thanks!”
6.Where does this passage probably come from?
A.Talk Show. B.Features. C. Breaking News. D.World Screen.
An old man was sitting on a train with his son who was about 20 years old. As the train started, the young man was filled with ____ and curiosity. He was seated by the window and shouted, “Dad! Look! All the trees are going behind!” The old man____.
There was a couple beside the young man. They were just sitting and listening to the___ between the father and the son. Suddenly the young man shouted again, “Dad! Look at the____! Clouds are moving with the train!”
The couple watched the young man. They thought it was rather___ that the young man was behaving like a small child.
Now it started raining and some water drops ___ the young man's hand. He was even more__ and he closed his eyes. He shouted again, “Dad! It's raining! Water is touching me! Dad! Look!”
The couple couldn't___ themselves any longer and asked the old man, “Why don't you take your son to a___ ?”
The old man said, “Yes，we were just coming from the hospital. Today my son got___ first time in his life.”
1.A.joy B.panic C.humour D.confidence
2.A.shouted B.cried C.left D.smiled
3.A.argument B.story C.quarrel D.conversation
4.A.sky B.field C.lake D.mountain
5.A.frightening B.amazing C.strange D.informal
6.A.cleaned B.touched C.filled D.covered
7.A.shocked B.satisfied C.excited D.inspired
8.A.help B.protect C.forgive D.understand
9.A.teacher B.scientist C.lawyer D.doctor
10.A.eyesight B.strength C.images D.gifts
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What does the speaker tell us about his mother's early childhood?
A.Her parents set up an ice-cream store.
B.Her parents immigrated(移民) to America.
C.Her parents left Chicago to work on a farm.
2.What do we learn about the speaker's father?
A.He left Italy at 16.
B.He taught English in Chicago.
C.He was made limp(瘸) in an accident.
3.What does the speaker say about his mother?
A.She was a school secretary.
B.She was helpful to neighbors.
C.She was highly devoted to her family.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.When will Ellen get home?
A.At 2:00 o'clock. B.At 3:00 o'clock. C.At 5:00 o'clock.
2.What are the speakers doing?
A.Preparing for a party. B.Hurrying to Ellen's party. C.Buying Ellen birthday gifts.
3.Why did the man’s neighbors call the police last year?
A.His party was too noisy. B.He ran from his house. C.He hid in the bushes.
4.What do we know from the conversation?
A.Ellen knows nothing about the party.
B.Neighbors will be invited to the party.
C.Ellen is too stressed to attend the party.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the man considering doing?
A.Learning a new language. B.Going back to school. C.Travelling to France.
2.What can we learn about the woman?
A.She goes to France a lot lately.
B.She has forgotten a lot of French.
C.She used to work in a French restaurant.
3.How did the woman learn French in adult classes?
A.She was taught one-on-one.
B.She learnt by doing activities.
C.She had to repeat the grammar.
