This is the place for you to come to share stories with other real kids who are trying hard to improve their bodies and minds! Did you score a goal in your soccer game? Have you got rid of a bad habit? Are you working to reduce your stress in life? Tell the world what makes your body and mind healthy!
Posted by Dp, Ohio
I have been working on a fitness equipment to exercise for over four months. I have completed my goal of losing weight and I am very proud of myself. That is so cool!
Posted by MK, Missouri
I was always tired at school, because I used to stay up late watching TV. I even fell asleep one day in my history class, and when I woke up, the teacher was looking at me and laughing! I decided that minute to start going to bed on time. It’s kind of a drag missing the shows I like, but I can tell my body loves it – I feel so much better!
Posted by SP, Georgia
Last year, I didn’t make the soccer team at school. I didn’t want to try out again this year, but a few weeks before tryouts(选拔赛), I started kicking the ball around and practicing. When tryout day came, I decided to give it another shot. Guess what? I made the team!
Posted by JS, New York
I’m deaf, so I’ve had more trouble playing sports than other people. But who wants to sit at home all the time? I like to play basketball with guys in my neighborhood. I can’t hear the ball bounce(弹起) or listen to the guys call plays, but I’ve taught them to use some sign language, and so far, we’ve been unstoppable! The kids mentioned in the text came here _________.
| A．to make new friends |
| B．to learn to tell stories |
| C．to talk about their efforts to keep fit |
| D．to share weight-losing experiences |
The achievement that SP, Georgia has made is that ________.
| A．he was admitted to the school soccer team |
| B．he scored a goal in an important soccer match |
| C．his soccer skills have improved a lot this year |
| D．he helped the school soccer team win an important match |
Who taught other kids sign language?
| A． DP, Ohio | B． JS, New York |
| C． SP, Georgia | D． MK, Missouri |
The underlined part “a drag” in the text probably refers to something that is ____.
| A． satisfying | B． rewarding | C． puzzling | D． annoying |
A chocolate printer that allows sweet lovers to create 3D desserts by themselves is to go on sale at a cost of 2,500 pounds.
The machine squirts (喷射) out chocolate and, via computer instructions, allows the user to build any shape they like out of the food. But makers Choc Edge have missed the Easter rush. Even so, they hope the printer will be snapped up by retailers (零售商) immediately they come to the market. Britain’s biggest chocolatiers Thornton’s have already said they are interested. Because of the high cost, however, few individuals are likely to buy one. But thedevicecould one day allow people todesigntheir own 3D objects after submitting their designs on a website. Dr Hao, founder of Choc Edge came up with aprototype (原型)last year and has only just perfected it so that it can now go on sale. “We’ve improved and simplified the machine, so now it is really easy to use,” he told the BBC. “You just need tomeltsome chocolate, fill asyringe (注射器) that is stored in the printer, and get creativeprinting of your chocolate.”
3D printing is a technology where a threedimensionalobjectis created by building up successive layers of material. The technology is already used in industry toproduceplasticand metal products, but this is the first time the principles have been applied to chocolate. The research has presented many challenges. Chocolate is not an easy material to work with because it requires accurateheating and cooling cycles. Dr Hao said, “What makes this technology special is that users will be able todesignand make their own products. From reproducing the shape of a child’s favourite toy to a friend’s face, the possibilities are endless. It could be developed to help consumers design many products from different materials, but we’ve started with chocolate as it is easilyavailable, low cost and harmless.” “There is also no wastage as anyspoilage (损坏物)can be eaten.” Dr Hao added, “Eventuallywe may see manymass-produced products replaced byuniquedesigns created by the customer.”
EPSRC chiefexecutiveProfessor Dave Delpy said, “This is a good example of howcreativeresearch can be applied to create new manufacturing andretailideas. By combining developments in engineering with the commercialpotentialof the digital economy，We can see the new market prospect (前景)—creating new jobs and, in this case, the chocolate printer is called sweet business opportunities.”Which is the advantage of the chocolate printer?
| A．It is easilyavailable, low cost and harmless. |
| B．It mainly produces children’s favourite toys. |
| C．The user can build the shape they like via computer instructions. |
| D．The designs made by it are the same as many mass-produced products. |
What can we conclude from the passage?
| A．The printer sold well during last Easter. |
| B．The technology of 3D printing promises a good future. |
| C．The printer was perfected and went on sale many years ago. |
| D．It’s the first time that the technology has been used in industry. |
Dave Delpy’s attitude towards the chocolate printer is __________.
| A．doubtful | B．supportive | C．negative | D．critical |
We can conclude that this passage is a __________.
| A．science fiction | B．book review | C．news report | D．travel guide |
Nicknames for Los Angeles
A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames. These can help establish an identity, spread pride among citizens and build unity. Nicknames can also be funny.
Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in population, after New York City. Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city’s initials, L.A. It is also called the City of Angels because Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish.
Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is City of Flowers and Sunshine. New York is called The Big Apple. So Los Angeles is sometimes called The Big Orange because of the fruit that grows in that city’s warm climate.
The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called The Entertainment Capital of the World. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. No trip to Los Angeles is complete without seeing the word "Hollywood" spelled out in huge letters on a hillside.
Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called Tinseltown. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry.
Another nickname for Los Angeles is La-La Land, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality.
The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day. So are the coastal cities of Santa Monica and Malibu, where people like to ride surfboards on the Pacific Ocean waves.
A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there.
Many people love Los Angeles for its warm sunny weather, beautiful mountains and beaches, and movie stars. That includes Randy Newman, who sings about his hometown.A nickname of a place can have the following functions except ___________.
| A．building up identity |
| B．entertainment |
| C．bringing pride to the locals |
| D．uniting surrounding cities |
The underlined sentence can best be replaced by __________.
| A．Your trip to Los Angeles is not perfect if you miss the big letters "Hollywood" on a hillside |
| B．Not seeing the word "Hollywood" on a hillside means you haven’t been to Los Angeles. |
| C．If you visit Los Angeles you should first pay a visit to "Hollywood" s on a hillside. |
| D．Seeing the big letters "Hollywood" on a hillside means you’ve been really to Los Angeles. |
How many nicknames have been given to Los Angeles?
| A．4 | B．5 | C．6 | D．7 |
Which of the following is conveyed in this article?
| A．Los Angeles is most famous for its nicknames. |
| B．Hollywood alone adds fame to Los Angeles. |
| C．All the nicknames increase the charm of Los Angeles. |
| D．Los Angeles was built after the Italian city of Venice. |
I was feeling a little blue because my mother had been laid off from her job and she had lots of bills to pay. It left me wondering what was going to happen to us now. But it reassured me some when my mother told me she was relieved to be leaving since her boss wasn't the nicest person to be around.
I got off the college shuttle bus and started walking. That's when I heard piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people and the traffic. I walked a little slower so I could find out where it was coming from. Through the crowd I saw a young lady sitting at a piano with a carriage next to her.
She was singing songs about love, keeping on trying, and not underestimating the power within yourself. The way she was singing comforted me a bit. I stood there watching her play for about fifteen minutes, thinking that it must take courage to perform on your own in the middle of a crowded New York ferry terminal.
So I stood there listening.
She must have felt my presence because she would occasionally look in my direction. By now I was telling myself that if she could perform in front of hundreds of people she didn't know then I could at least tell her how good she sounded. I walked over and put some money in her carriage and she said, "Thank you." Instead of continuing my way home, I said to her, "I have been going through a rough time lately, but you've made me hopeful again."
"I'm happy that I could help," she replied. "Why are you so sad?"
"Well, my mum told me she had got fired from her job, and that made me sad. I'm not so sure what to do ..."
"You see, here's the problem," she explained. "The way you were walking, your head was down. Don't look defeated, because opportunity comes in different ways and if your head is down you might never see it. You should smile more ... lift your head up."
I smiled faintly, amazed by how she was encouraging me. So, I asked her, "Why are you playing the piano in the middle of a crowded place? I've seen you do this more than once."
She explained to me that she sees a lot of negative people in the world and she tries to alleviate the pain and bring more positivity by sharing motivational music. She told me that when she wasn't making music she studied psychology. So, that was how she knew some of the things she was telling me.
I smiled a little wider because I knew that she was doing a good thing. So, after that we parted, my heart touched and lightened by a musical soul!We can learn from Paragraph 3 that the young lady sang to _________.
| A．show her love for life |
| B．rid herself of low spirits |
| C．earn money for her schooling |
| D．inspire others to live positively |
Which word may best describe the young lady?
| A．helpful | B．outgoing | C．ambitious | D．humorous |
Which do you think is the best title of the passage?
| A．An Unforgettable Experience |
| B．A Heart Touched By A Musical Soul |
| C．Music Can Do Wonders |
| D．A Good Deed Helped Me Out |
Celebrating sleep
World Sleep Day, observed on 21 March, was created to bring attention to the growing number of sleep problems worldwide. Sleep is a natural part of human life, but many people in the modern world ignore its importance. As a result, sleep problems are increasingly common.
In 2002, scientists at the University of Athens in Greece conducted a survey of over 35,000 people in 10 countries around the world, including China, Belgium and South Africa. Of the people that responded to the survey, 24 percent said that they did not sleep well, and based on their responses, 31.6 percent were diagnosed (诊断)with insomnia（失眠）and another 17.5 percent were diagnosed with borderline insomnia. In addition, 30.7 percent of survey respondents reported visiting a doctor for help with sleep problems and 11.6 percent said that they felt very sleepy during the day.
Overall, the survey found that ninny people suffer the effects of poor quality sleep, some examples of which are being unable to fall asleep and waking up in the middle of the night. The main factors causing these problems are pressure from school or work and a fast pace of life, but noise pollution and light pollution also interfere with sleep and contribute to poor quality sleep. The survey’s findings are particularly troubling because large numbers of people were found to have difficulty sleeping at night. The short-term effects of this are tiredness and trouble concentrating. If this happens for a long time, the risk of putting on weight and having a heart attack may increase.
There are many things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep. First, you should have regular sleep habits. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day. You also need to make your bedroom a cool, dark, quiet place to sleep so that heat, light and noise do not disturb you. At night, you should also avoid things that contain caffeine, such as chocolate, coffee, tea and many soft drinks, as caffeine may keep you from sleeping.
Getting a good night’s sleep is important for everyone. By following the advice above, you can rest better at night and work better during the day.
Title: Celebrating Sleep
| Topic |
Context |
| World Sleep Day |
Due to ignorance of the importance of sleep problems, people observe Mar. 21, World Sleep Day to bring (78) ▲to the problem. |
| Responses of the survey |
1). Of 3, 5000 people in 10 countries in the world, there were 24 percent of the people saying they didn’t sleep well. 2). 31.6 percent were diagnosed with insomnia and another 17.5 percent were on the borderline of sleeplessness. 3). The (79) ▲of the people feeling sleepy during the day is 11.6. 4) 30.7 percent reported (80) ▲to a doctor for sleep problems. |
| (76) ▲causing sleep problems & their consequences |
1).Under (81) ▲from school or work, people may have sleep problems. 2). Noise or light pollution（82)▲to poor quality sleeps. 3).Sleepless people may easily (83)▲weight and have a heart attack. 4). Feeling fired and sleepy, people find it (84) ▲ to concentrate. |
| (77) ▲to take to improve sleep quality |
1). Have regular sleep habits. 2). Make your bedroom cool, dark and quiet. 3). Avoid things (85) ▲caffeine. |
Every object tells a story. Even the most ordinary objects can present to us powerful images. Sometimes it is the ordinary nature of these objects that actually makes them so extraordinary. Such is the case with an old leather shoe in a museum in Alaska. At first glance it does not look like much. It is a woman’s shoe of a style popular in the 1890s. But what is unique(独特的) about this shoe is where it was found. It was discovered on the Checkout Pass, the famous trail used by the people seeking gold in Alaska. Who it belonged to or why it was left there is not known. Was it perhaps dropped by accident as the woman climbed up the 1500 stairs carved outface? Or did she throw away goods that she didn’t need in order to travel lighter?
Over 100, 000 people with “gold fever” made this trip hoping to become millionaires. Few of them understood that on their way they would have to cross a harsh wildness. Unprepared for such a dangerous journey, many died of starvation and exposure to the cold weather.
The Canadian government finally started requiring the gold seekers to bring one ton of supplies with them. This was thought to be enough for a person to survive for one year. They would carry their supplies in backpacks(背包) each weighing up to fifty pounds; it usually took at least 40 trips to get everything to the top and over the pass. Whoever dropped the shoe must have been a brave and determined woman. Perhaps she was successful and made it to Alaska. Perhaps she had to turn back in defeat. No one will ever know for sure, but what we do know is that she took part in one of the greatest adventures in the 19th century. The ordinary woman’s leather shoe is considered unusual because ______.
| A．it was an important clue to life in the past |
| B．it was found on a famous trail |
| C．it at one time belonged to a VIP |
| D．it was a fashionable shoe at that time |
According to this passage, many people who went to Alaska ______.
| A．eventually became millionaires |
| B．brought with them many shoes |
| C．had conflicts with the Eskimos |
| D．were not properly equipped |
The Canadian government made gold seekers bring one year’s supplies with them so that ______.
| A．they would not die of hunger and cold |
| B．the army would have enough food for fighting a war |
| C．they would change these goods with the Eskimos |
| D．the supplies would make Alaska rich |
No matter what happened to the woman who owned the shoe, ______.
| A．she must have lived a happy life |
| B．she certainly dropped the shoe on purpose |
| C．her adventurous spirit is definitely admired |
| D．her other shoes were equally fashionable |