They may seem like ordinary people by day but in their spare time, these office, shop and school workers bring history to life. During the week they work in shops, offices, clinics and schools, but at weekends they transform into Vikings, Romans and Medieval peasants. The world of re-enactment (重演) is booming with more and more men and women taking up the hobby of travelling to bygone times.
Factory manager of a busy printers, Brett Freeman, 46, from Nottingham, changes into “Padmore,” a Victorian street-seller selling stationery (文具).
Already a veteran (老兵) of military re-enactments, Brett joined the “Ragged Victorians” when middle-age kicked in. “I was too old to portray a soldier but I wanted to get back into the hobby and the Ragged Victorians looked the best in terms of being genuine.”
At his first event, group members gave him “loaner gear” and a year to research his character. His teeth blackened with theatrical stain, in top hat and floppy coat, Brett looks every bit his Victorian image.
Seeking inspiration, Brett dipped into the works of Victorian journalist, Henry Mayhew, who wrote about the working people of London.
“My character is inspired by the description of a stationer in Mayhew’s London Labour and London Poor. I mixed that up with my own background in print, and local historical sources to create street stationer, Padmore, which is the name of my Victorian great-great grandfather.”
“Getting into kit (装备) helps immensely and once you are in the public area you try to remain in character wherever possible.” For extra authenticity, Brett combines his language with Victorian selling patter (顺口溜), replacing the word “envelope” with “hangflups.”
“Re-enacting is great fun, but we’re always glad of a hot shower and a comfortable bed at the end of the weekend,” says Brett. “Normal life can seem very dull after a particularly good weekend. It would be wonderful to go back in time for a visit, but studying the period as I have done, makes you realise just how hard life was for our ancestors.”
1.Why does Brett choose to be a Victorian street-seller?
A.He has already played a veteran.
B.Portraying a soldier no longer fit him.
C.He is a manager of a busy printers.
D.His blackened teeth make it real.
2.What does the underlined phrase “loaner gear” in paragraph 4 mean?
A.Stage costume lent to him. B.Money paid on loan.
C.Adequate time. D.An assistant.
3.Which of the following words can best describe Brett?
A.Brave and careful. B.Kind and positive.
C.Humorous and caring. D.Serious and devoted.
4.Where can you probably find the above passage?
A.In a research report. B.In a magazine.
C.In a travel brochure. D.In an advertisement.
A study by the Institute for Employment Studies found that learners reported higher life enjoyment and greater confidence. The following apps will help you to learn something new…
Quizlet
Whether you’re learning gardening knowledge and cooking techniques, or getting to grasp your favourite literature classics, the online learning platform, Quizlet, gives you access to over 300 million different study sets on almost any subject you can imagine — for free. Whether you are learning a skill yourself or helping your grandchild revise their school work, Quizlet is a great study platform for mastering any subject.
Babbel
As well as being a great skill to show off on holiday, learning a new language can have profound effects on the way you approach problem-solving and might even give you a hand in your career. Not only does speaking a little of the local language give you a great sense of accomplishment, studying a language sparks a strong desire to travel, too.
Blinkist
Blinkist is the perfect app to assist you this summer, providing the key highlights from non-fiction books in both audio and text form. Whether you want to start a new business, improve your management skills, or achieve a better work/life balance, micro-learning app Blinkist takes key ideas from non-fiction texts and summarize them into easy-to-consume 15-minute digests.
Remente
Whether the aim is to improve mental wellbeing, mindfulness, stress management or personal or professional relationships, Remente guides a user through every step in order to make their goals a reality. It does this through breaking down your overall aim into daily goals, making large tasks, manageable and keeping you on track.
1.Which app favors senior citizens?
A.Babbel. B.Quizlet.
C.Blinkist. D.Remente.
2.What is special about Blinkist?
A.It provides key non-fiction books.
B.It improves your micro-learning ability.
C.It offers shortened non-fiction books.
D.It improves your management skills.
3.If you’re stressed with your new business, you can choose _____?
A.Babbel & Quizlet B.Remente & Quizlet
C.Blinkist & Babbel D.Blinkist & Remente
假如你是李华，听闻你的笔友Tom所在城市伦敦开展Books on the underground（丢书大作战）的读书活动，你很感兴趣，请你给他写一封信，内容包括：
1. 谈谈你对阅读的看法；
2. 分享一本对你影响最大的书.
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文 中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或 修改。
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号((∧)),并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
Recently I found a couple of donation box in my living community. People come to it when they have clothes they don't wear. The donation box, I think, is of great useful. I have a lot of clothes which don't fit for me any longer. I have no idea before about how to deal with the clothes that are real new and still in good condition. Now I know how to do next. I will donate them or help those people in need. So I think the donation box is good idea that lights up our life and make the world a better place to live in.
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。
A group of researchers and scientists from China and other countries are working together 1. (record) and collect digital images of cultural relics from the Mogao Caves, which were a key stop 2. the Silk Road throughout China's ancient history. Nearly 500,000 high quality digital photographs 3.( produce) since the international project started in 1994.
The Mogao Caves 4.(study) in many countries have long been a meeting point for different cultures. Today the caves are just as international as they were at the time5.people travelled the Silk Road. Tourists from all over the world visit Dunhuang to see the caves, and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles has reproduced a copy of the caves and6.(paint) for people to admire in America.
By sharing so many digital photos over the Internet, the group hopes to promote even 7.(wide) interest around the world in China's ancient history, culture, and traditions.8.one researcher who is working on the project explains, “9.(appreciate) one's own cultural heritage is very important for understanding oneself. Recognizing the cultural heritage of other countries 10. (do) good to international communication and understanding."
The other day I was shopping at a local store and came upon a lady from India squatting (蹲)on the floor ___ a certain product on the bottom shelf. She ___when she saw me as if to get out of my way. ___ , she explained that she was a ___ and on her lunch break, trying to ____ a few needed items.
I told her, “I am in no hurry. ____and do what you need to do. ” While she searched for a particular brand, she said that sometimes customers were ___ to her and she really ____ my kindness. I told her that I had noticed cashiers being treated rudely by some people and they needed to be more ___.
It is stressful to the cashier when people are ____ at them when the cashier is doing the best they know how. I explained to her that I was a retired nurse and ____some of what she was saying. Sometimes patients or doctors could be very rude. But I ___ to understand why they were____ that way and let it go.
She thanked me for being so ____ and friendly. I told her, “The world would be a better place if we all acted ___ toward each other. Those who are rude may have bad karma (报应)coming after them ___ for treating people badly. She nodded and said it was ___ that I knew what karma was.
It felt so good that I may have helped her ___ the pressure for even a few seconds. In a brief ___ I showed her there are good and kind people in the world and may have boosted (增强)her faith in ___ .
1.A.looking for B.looking into C.pulling apart D.pulling down
2.A.bent B.passed C.jumped D.ran
3.A.Tentatively B.Honestly C.Apologetically D.Unwillingly
4.A.manager B.student C.teacher D.cashier
5.A.get B.put C.mark D.show
6.A.Calm down B.Go ahead C.Keep up D.Try on
7.A.patient B.good C.kind D.rude
8.A.accepted B.appreciated C.remembered D.expected
9.A.considerate B.helpful C.honest D.careful
10.A.nodding B.glancing C.glaring D.smiling
11.A.heard B.ignored C.understood D.did
12.A.happened B.tried C.intended D.forgot
13.A.crying B.fighting C.shopping D.feeling
14.A.cool B.nice C.humorous D.generous
15.A.kindly B.coldly C.differently D.equally
16.A.frequently B.eventually C.regularly D.seldom
17.A.puzzling B.satisfying C.frightening D.amazing
18.A.reduce B.realize C.find D.increase
19.A.interview B.speech C.exchange D.lecture
20.A.peace B.future C.truth D.humanity
