There are many kinds of book clubs where members discuss a different book every month. What about dinner clubs, where people get together once a month or four times a year to make and eat dinner? In the dinner club that I joined, the hostess of the dinner club would prepare a big dinner first. Then the members would begin discussing the food. 1. .
There are two variations of a dinner club. One has a group of people who try a different restaurant once a month. 2. When they all meet, they order and share different dishes. This is a great idea, especially if you live in a big city where there are hundreds of different restaurants.
3. One way is to have the hostess for the month decide on a type of food. The hostess is responsible for cooking the entrees. The other members make different courses at home, like salad and dessert, and bring them to the dinner club. For an even more exciting and interactive type of dinner clubs, the entire group comes together in the hostess’ kitchen. 4. In this way the members of the group not only learn about different types of food, but also different methods of cooking.
The great thing about a dinner club is that it serves in many different ways. You can make the dinner club even more special one month by inviting partners. 5. A stay-at-home mother can get a couple of other stay-at-home mothers together and start a children’s lunch club. If you have a group of friends that love to get together and experiment with different types of food, the possibilities are endless!
A.They prepare the entire meal in a group effort.
B.Usually one member decides on the restaurant.
C.This was the beginning of our dinner club.
D.They are like-minded people with similar education level.
E.The second kind of dinner clubs has many different forms.
F.It offers regular well-organized social events in selected places.
G.Couples can get together for some food and great conversations.
If you’ve ever been on a fishing boat, you’ve probably seen crowds of birds following it, hoping to catch a snack. Now scientists use those birds’ behavior to track illegal fishing boats.
Researchers attached data loggers to the backs of 169 albatrosses (信天翁) in Indian oceans. Weighing only 42 grams, the devices included a GPS, which enabled them to detect the presence and intensity of radar signals emitting from boats. That information was then sent by satellite, so the researchers could track the location of the birds—and thus the radar-emitting boats—in real time.
The scientists then cross-checked that data against the known locations of boats, collected from a system boats use to declare themselves, called the Automatic Identification System (AIS). And noticeable differences appeared frequently.
More than a third of the times the birds “loggers” detected radar signals, and therefore a boat, but no such boat appeared in the official log—meaning that the vehicles had likely switched off their AIS—something that probably happens in illegal fishing operations.
The work suggests birds could be an effective boat-monitoring tool as long as illegal fishing operations don’t target the birds.
Fortunately, such a task would be difficult. Around fishing boats, you can find hundreds of birds at any one time that are flying around. And the birds with loggers are not marked in any way. So it’s not really possible for fishermen to pick out a specific bird.
But what concerns researchers is that albatrosses often get caught by some fishing boats. Though regulations have been established to protect against that happening—with success—illegal boats don’t necessarily obey. So scientists might be underestimating the risk posed to albatross populations.
1.What characteristic of albatrosses do scientists take advantage of in their research?
A.Their feeding patterns.
B.Their sense of direction.
C.Their greedy behaviors.
D.Their habit of following fishing boats.
2.For what purpose does a boat shut off its AIS?
A.To seek more fishes.
B.To have it mistaken for another.
C.To avoid being detected.
D.To save the trouble of declaring itself.
3.What does “such a task” in Paragraph 6 refer to?
A.Identifying birds with loggers.
B.Monitoring illegal boats.
C.Tracking radar signals automatically.
D.Fishing illegally.
4.What could be the best title for the text?
A.AIS: an Effective System to Locate Boats
B.Humans Are Good at Discovering Birds’ Nature
C.Data Loggers Help Fishermen Get a Good Harvest
D.Scientists Use Birds to Track Illegal Fishing Operations
Public transport is declining in the rich world. To those who have to squeeze onto the number 25 bus in London, or the A train in New York, the change might not be noticeable. But public transport is becoming less busy in those places, and passenger numbers are flat or falling in almost every American city despite healthy growth in urban populations and employment.
Although transport agencies blame their unpopularity on things like roadworks and broken signals, it seems more likely that they are being outcompeted. App-based taxi services like Uber and Lyft are more comfortable and convenient than trains or buses. Cycling is nicer than it was, and rental bikes are more widely available. Cars are cheap to buy, thanks to cut-rate loans, and ever cheaper to run. Online shopping, home working and office-sharing mean more people can avoid travelling altogether.
The competition is only likely to grow. More than one laboratory is developing new transport technologies and applications. Silicon Valley invented Uber and, more recently, apps that let people rent electric scooters(滑板车) and then abandon them on the pavement. China created sharing-bicycles and battery-powered "e-bikes", both of which are spreading.
Transport agencies should accept the upstarts(新兴方式), and copy them. Cities tend either to ignore app-based services or to try to push them off the streets. That is understandable, given the rules-are-for-losers attitude of firms like Uber. But it is an error.
It is doubtful that most people make hard distinctions between public and private transport. They just want to get somewhere, and there is a cost in time, money and comfort. An ideal system would let them move across a city for a single payment, transferring from trains to taxis to bicycles as needed. Building a platform to allow that is hard, and requires much effort of traditional networks as well as technology firms. It is probably the secret to keeping cities moving.
1.What is the change in public transport in big cities?
A.It is becoming busier.
B.It is getting less popular.
C.There are fewer traffic delays.
D.There is more new transport.
2.In the author’s opinion, the reason for the decline of public transport is that ______.
A.there are roadworks and broken signals.
B.people are becoming healthier and employed.
C.cars and bikes are more and more available.
D.transport agencies are seemingly less competitive.
3.How does the author develop his idea in Paragraph 3?
A.By giving examples
B.By providing research results
C.By stating arguments
D.By comparing different approaches
4.According to the text, the key to keeping cities moving is ____________.
A.to develop an ideal system that satisfies everyone.
B.to provide people with more means of transportation.
C.to build a good platform that appeals to transport agencies.
D.to make traditional networks and technology firms cooperate.
It was the Olympic final day earlier this month, but this was an Olympics with a difference. Over the last five months, local and regional competitions have been held across Kenya for Maasai men of "warrior" age as part of the Maasai Olympics 2018. December 15 marked the final round with crowds gathering in Kimana, near the Amboseli National Park, about 200 km south of Narobi. Cash prizes and medals are in store for the winning individuals and communities.
International Charity Born Free Foundation is a main sponsor of the event which has been held every two years since 2012 to offer Maasai and warriors an alternative to(作为......
的替代)killing lions as part of their traditional ceremony. It was the idea of the Wildlife Charity Big Life Foundation and eight Maasai elders who wanted to "stop lion hunting by our warriors once and for all, making it a cultural taboo(禁忌)”.
"As soon as we understood the idea for the Maasai Olympics, we were attracted by the excitement, and inspired by the complete sense of this great plan," said Born Free Foundation's CEO Howard Jones. "As human populations grow and our wants seem to increase, with little sympathy for those other species with whom we share the planet, the pressing needed for coexistence is urgent. And examples of how this may be achieved are few and far between."
"About 2,000 lions remain in Kenya, and Born Free works to monitor the population, ease human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence. "added Jones. “The Maasai live and work alongside lions and other wildlife, so they play a key role in their protection and conservation. However, the Maasai also have a 500-year-old tradition of hunting lions when men reach warrior age."
The Maasai Olympics were developed to encourage young men to compete in an organized sports competition based on their traditional warrior skills. They compete in six events (5,000 m, 800m, 200m, high jump, etc.) and there are also two events (1,500m and 100m) for women. As well as the competitive element, the event also aims to educate local people about conserving lions and other wildlife, and the importance of human-wildlife coexistence and tolerance.
1.What do we know about the Maasai Olympics according to the text?
A.They are only accessible to men.
B.They had been held four times by 2018.
C.They are held in the Amboseli National Park.
D.They honour winners with the title of hero.
2.What can we learn about the Maasai Olympics traditional ceremony?
A.It is primitive and unacceptable.
B.It is a proof of their being sympathetic.
C.It is the result of human-wildlife conflict.
D.It is highly regarded by Born Free Foundation.
3.Which of the following might NOT be the aim of Born Free Foundation?
A.To change the lifestyle of lions in Kenya.
B.To ease human-wildlife conflict in Kenya.
C.To monitor the population of lions in Kenya.
D.To promote coexistence of humans and lions in Kenya.
4.What does Howard Jones try to express in Para. 4?
A.Humans and wildlife cannot benefit each other.
B.The Maasai should not interfere with wildlife.
C.Humans should live in harmony with wildlife.
D.The Masssai should not give up their old tradition.
Activities in Connecticut
Northeast Camping Show
Northeast Camping Show is the ideal place for camping families who are wanting to purchase their first camper, or wanting to update their present camper to explore new camping adventures. Representatives from the Connecticut Campground Owners Association will teach attendees to make their camping trips more enjoyable.
Location: Connecticut Convention Center
Stay with Penguins
Enjoy beautiful underwater views as you visit one of Mystic Aquarium’s most popular animals. Held in the Aquarium’s Main Gallery, the activity will offer you the chance to enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Take a moment to meet an African penguin between 7 pm and 8 pm to learn about this great animal from an aquarium trainer.
Location: Mystic Aquarium
Family Ice Fishing Day
Families are welcome to attend this unique event which is a part of the CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) program. The program is taught by certified volunteer instructors and it’s fun. All fishing equipment and course materials are provided for free. Bring a lunch. Program：9:30 am~11:30 am, ice fishing (weather permitting): noon~3 pm. Pre-registration is required.
Location: Memorial Conservation Center
Acorn Adventure: Eagle Eyes
Families are invited to come to The Last Green Valley to experience how big a bald eagle’s wings and eyes are compared to the size of their heads and other fun facts. The group will also search for eagles at this popular spot for these incredible birds of prey. Enthusiasm and a desire to learn about these beautiful birds are essential.
Location: The Last Green Valley
1.What can you do in Northeast Camping Show?
A.Help design a new camper. B.Learn some camping knowledge.
C.Explore an outside adventure. D.Drive a camper with the representatives.
2.Which activity should be signed up in advance?
A.Northeast Camping Show. B.Stay with Penguins.
C.Family Ice Fishing Day. D.Acorn Adventure: Eagle Eyes.
3.Where can you visit eagles?
A.In Connecticut Convention Center. B.In Mystic Aquarium.
C.In Memorial Conservation Center. D.In The Last Green Valley.
假定你是李华，正在负责策划“绿色校园”活动（Green Campus Campaign），请给你的英国笔友Henry写一封邮件，向他介绍此次活动的目的、内容，并征求他的建议。
注意：
1. 词数100左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯；
Dear Henry,
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
