A 90-year-old driver is providing it’s never too late to pursue（追求）your dreams. Last year, Hershel McGriff became the ______ driver to compete in a NASCAR event when he raced at the Tucson Speedway in his home state of Arizona.
McGriff has been ______ since he was a teenager. His first time behind the ______ came when he was just 17 years old after he read an ad in his local newspaper and was drawn to the ______ that comes with driving hundreds of miles per hour around a track, ______ for first place.
"I borrowed my dad’s 1940 Hudson — an ugly car, and I got a couple of guys to help me," McGriff ______ his beginning in the sport. "I didn’t do very ______ .I think I finished 12th or 13th out of a bunch of cars. That got me started."
His first win on the NASCAR circuit (联赛）came when he ______ in Mexico at the age of 22. McGriff went on ______ dozens of races, finally being ______ as one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers. He retired from the sport at 74, but he never stopped his love for the track and decided to return to racing for a few special events that have made him famous in his hometown and ______ others to keep pursuing their dreams as well.
McGriffs spot in the race was a gift for his 90th birthday from his son and long-time friend, team owner Bill McAnally. "Bill called me up on the phone and said, ‘For your 90th birthday, I will furnish the car. All you have to do is ______ it," McGriff said. "When he made the ______, I was ready to accept
McGriffs history-making race proves that you can pursue your dreams at any ______ , but for this young — at — heart racer, it was just a chance to get behind the wheel and ______ pursuing his passion.
1.A.oldest B.fastest C.kindest D.bravest
2.A.studying B.racing C.dreaming D.growing
3.A.screen B.camera C.seat D.wheel
4.A.excitement B.nervousness C.comfort D.honor
5.A.waiting B.searching C.preparing D.fighting
6.A.looked back on B.looked forward to C.looked up to D.looked down on
7.A.seriously B.carefully C.well D.soon
8.A.relaxed B.performed C.competed D.traveled
9.A.organizing B.winning C.entering D.losing
10.A.remembered B.introduced C.employed D.named
11.A.inspired B.required C.allowed D.forced
12.A.repair B.buy C.drive D.decorate
13.A.change B.offer C.comment D.design
14.A.cost B.speed C.place D.age
15.A.finish B.consider C.continue D.imagine
It’s the weekend, and you’re not at work. So what are you doing? 1. If you re in the UK, you might be hiding from the rain in your local shopping centre. Where you live and the culture you live in affect what you choose to do with any leisure（空闲）time you have.
However, as well as these cultural influences on the concept of leisure, there are many aspects that affect the actual leisure activities that people take part in. 2. People who live in places with cold or wet weather might be more likely to spend their free time indoors, for example. According to one study, people in France spend twice as much time eating and drinking, at home and in restaurants, as people in Mexico. 3. Many populations have limited electricity supplies in these countries, compared to North America, Where TV and the Internet are among the top leisure interests.
4. Visiting historic sites is popular in Europe, but not so much among the young as the older generations. Perhaps now more than ever, the real division in cultures from all around the world is that of age. 5. For example, they like playing games, chatting watching videos. What their cultural background is already doesn’t really matter. Take a look around you — can you predict what your friends and family are up to this weekend just by their age? I have a feeling you can!
A.Activities with such strong cultural influences will be welcome.
B.If you’re in Switzerland you might be hiking through the countryside.
C.There are different meanings for the idea of leisure in different cultures.
D.Things like climate and basic systems come into play in different cultures.
E.Age and social background also influence the activities people choose to do.
F.The generation that has grown up with the Internet likes spending free time online.
G.Other studies show live music and dancing events are more popular in African countries.
Because computer knowledge is important in our society today, many parents believe that the earlier their children begin to use the computer, the better. Accordingly, most children are spending a large amount of time on computers during their preschool years. But is it healthy for preschoolers to use computers? And if so, how can parents decide how much computer time is proper?
Some studies have shown that using computers from an early age has several advantages. Preschoolers who have already attended computer classes come out top in their studies. Also, playing educational games contributes to their language learning and math.
The greatest benefits, though, are gained when preschoolers use computers side by side or when they work with adults. In these situations, preschoolers develop cooperative（合作的）problem-solving skills. They also have the chance to communicate with others, which will reinforce their learning.
Despite many benefits, experts also point out disadvantages of preschool computer use. Preschoolers’ muscles（肌肉）and bones are still developing, but computers and furniture are seldom set up properly for them. "Most parents, says Peter Buckle of the Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics, "seem unaware of the possible dangers of preschoolers sitting for long periods unsupported with necks and wrists（手腕）damaged."
Another problem arises when parents put educational games into computers and believe it’s better for their preschoolers to play these games than sit in front of a TV Educational expert and teacher Jane Healy disagrees. She doesn’t believe there is much difference between the two. "Simply watching a screen is not the same as real mental activity." Healy says. She suggests that reading together, having family discussions, or playing are much more valuable. Besides, Healy also questions whether some popular computer games have educational value. "Some," she says, "may even damage creativity, attention and motivation（动力）.
To make the computer valuable for you and your preschoolers, you need to decide on rules and time limits. When purchasing（购买）software for your preschoolers, look for programs that offer many different functions, which can help improve preschoolers creativity and ability to solve problems. Above all, try your best to stay with your preschoolers rather than leaving them alone before the computer.
Here are some additional tips:
*Adjust（调整）the computer and furniture for your preschoolers use;
*Manage your preschoolers’ computer activities;
*Limit the amount of time your preschoolers spend on the computer
1.We can learn from Paragraph 2 that___.
A.computers are good for preschoolers’ learning.
B.most preschoolers are familiar with computers.
C.preschoolers shouldn’t use computers too early.
D.preschoolers can learn to use computers easily.
2.What does the underlined word "reinforce" in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.Protect. B.Strengthen.
C.Continue. D.Praise.
3.Peter Buckle most probably agrees that__.
A.parents have realized the dangers of preschoolers, using computers.
B.using computers has many advantages for preschoolers.
C.improper computer use can lead to health problems.
D.preschoolers are developing too fast nowadays.
4.According to Jane Healy, parents should__.
A.forbid their preschoolers to watch TV.
B.join in their preschoolers’ practical activities.
C.encourage their preschoolers’ creativity.
D.realize that educational computer games are valuable.
5.The author advises parents to__.
A.give their preschoolers enough time to play computer games.
B.place the computer and furniture properly.
C.purchase all kinds of computer games.
D.leave their preschoolers alone when they are using computers.
Ice-skating athlete Alysa Liu is no stranger to breaking records. In 2016, the then 10-year-old became the youngest figure skating（花滑）champion in U.S. history. In 2018, at the age of 12, Liu became the youngest to compete in, and win, the U.S. junior championships. That same year, she was also the youngest to land a triple axel （三圈半跳）in an international competition.
On January 25, 2019, the skater made history once again as the youngest-ever national figure skating champion at the Geico U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Championships held in Detroit, Michigan. The record before was held by Tara Lipinski in 1997 when she was 15.
At the championships, things were going well for defending U.S. champion Bradie Tennell, who was in the lead following the short program on January 24. But things changed the following day when Tennell had a series of setbacks（挫折），first stepping out of a triple loop and then falling during a triple lutz attempt. Meanwhile, Liu, who was in second place and had already impressed the judges with a perfect triple axel in the short program, gave a perfect free skate performance.
When asked about her amazing performance, Liu said, "I was just happy that I beat my personal record, and I did a clean long program." Another thing the young champion was happy about? A trip to Disneyland for Liu and her family. "It’s so much fun," said the 13-year-old.
Liu fell in love with ice skating during her first lesson at the Oakland Ice Center. The then five-year-old showed such a natural gift that Laura Lipetsky, a former national competitor who has taught Liu ever since, asked her father, Arthur Liu, to send her to private lessons.
Unfortunately, Liu won’t take part in the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships in Japan because of the age requirement of 15. However, that doesn’t appear to affect her. She says, "I’m not too worried about that part because I get more time to work on my jumps, skating skills and just trying to learn more."
1.What is described at the beginning of the text?
A.The history of ice-skating. B.Liu’s achievements in ice-skating.
C.The ice-skating champions in history. D.A national figure skating championship.
2.What happened during the 2019 U.S. Women’s Figure Skating Championships?
A.The judges were shocked by Lipinski. B.Lipinski met Liu for the first time.
C.Tennell made some mistakes. D.Liu took the lead at first.
3.What can be inferred from the text about Liu?
A.She likes traveling with her father. B.She was taught to skate by her father.
C.She got a lot of support from Lipetsky. D.She fell in love with skating because of Lipetsky
4.What kind of girl is Alysa Liu according to the last paragraph?
A.Positive. B.Determined.
C.Patient. D.Intelligent.
It was a day I’d been waiting for. I had seen a few lift-offs(升空)on vision before, but this one was special. It was Apollo 11. The astronauts were headed for the Moon, just to orbit, as Apollo 8 and Apollo 10 had done a few months earlier. This time, people would actually walk on it!
I had a hard time getting through the next three days until Apollo 11 reached the Moon. I was glued to the television. Finally, Sunday morning arrived. After eating dinner, my family gathered in the living room. Our new television offered the best picture of the upcoming events. Luckily, I had read many books on space flight. I was familiar with the technical phrases, being discussed between Mission Control Center and the astronauts.,
Then, we heard the countdown to the undocking（出舱）of the Eagle, the Lunar Module （LM）, from the Columbia, the Command and Service Module. None of us paid much attention to the background chatter. If we had, we would have realized that the descent（降落）was not going well. A loud master alarm kept sounding inside the LM. If it continued, the astronauts would have to stop the descent. But in our excitement, we didn’t realize what was happening. Then we saw that the astronauts had reached the Moon. We all gave a loud cheer when Armstrong said his famous words as the LM touched down: "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
Even though I was only eight years old, I sensed the importance of that moment. Looking back at it, I feel a little sad that there has been nothing quite like that since. But we have our sight set on Mars now. To get to Mars, we will need to visit the Moon again. That excites me. I’d love to see another moonwalk. I hope that kids will watch, as I did, the images（影像）of humans on another planet. Perhaps the next moonwalkers will change the lives of those viewers, as Armstrong and Aldrin changed my life 50 years ago.
1.What can we learn about the author when he was young?
A.He liked watching TV B.He was crazy about reading.
C.He wanted to be an astronaut. D.He was interested in space flight.
2.Why did the author ignore the background chatter?
A.He didn’t know the technical phrases. B.He paid his attention to the alarm.
C.He was too excited. D.He was too young.
3.What would be the best title for the text?
A.A magical moment. B.A happy childhood.
C.A return to the Moon. D.A goal of visiting Mars.
Canada: off the beaten track — three to see
Rocky Mountains
The Rockies run along the Alberta-British Columbia border and are inside two huge national parks — Banff to the south and Jasper to the north. Banff was Canada’s first wildlife reserve and these days the town of Banff is the most popular tourist destination in the country. But Jasper National Park is larger, wilder, and less well-explored. Between the parks of Banff and Jasper is the Columbia Icefield, a huge bowl of ice made up of about thirty glaciers. If you don’t like ice, the Rockies offer wildlife walks, swimming, camping, hiking, canoeing, mountain climbing, and plenty of places to stay. Accommodation costs（住宿费）are usually lower at the Jasper end of this superb mountain playground.
Lunenburg
Lunenburg is south from Halifax, along a foggy coast of rocky seas, fishing villages, and historic towns. It is a beautiful little shipbuilding town and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Fishing has always been big in Lunenburg: most of Atlantic Canada’s deep-sea fishing boats leave from here, and North America’s biggest fish-processing factory is located in the town. Lunenburg still has many wooden buildings and as a result feels like an 18th century British colonial（殖民时期的）town. You can visit the town’s Fisheries Museum or just wander around, looking at the wooden houses in the old streets — and of course have a dinner of seafood.
Churchill
One of the few places in the north that is “easy” to get to, Churchill is a 1.5-day train journey from Winnipeg. Churchill is a major port, but eco-tourism is becoming more and more important. Although it is freezing, many visitors come to see the polar bears, whales, Arctic foxes, and if they are lucky, the Northern Lights. Churchill calls itself the “Polar Bear Capital of the World”, and for a good reason: the town sits right in the middle of the animals’ migration route, and the cute but deadly white bears sometimes wander into the town. Tours to see the bears from September to November are the most popular attraction.
1.Which of the following was Canada’s first wildlife reserve?
A.Banff. B.Jasper.
C.Halifax. D.Winnipeg.
2.What do we know about Lunenburg’s fish-processing factory?
A.It is now a museum. B.It is a wooden building.
C.It was built in the 18th century. D.It is the largest in North America.
3.What do most visitors to Churchill want to see?
A.Whales. B.Polar bears.
C.Arctic foxes. D.The Northern Light.
