YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.
Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child’s birthday.
But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.
Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering (妨碍) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie — only prettier.
According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone — it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of 
“she got the bigger piece!”
Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self- determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite.
In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was electe
d president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.
Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to think about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________.
| A．the family holds a party for children on their birthday |
| B．a mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday |
C．a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birt hday and brings it to the classroom |
| D．parents go travelling with their children on their birthday |
Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcakes on children’s birthday?
| A．Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes. |
| B．Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious. |
| C．Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “She got the bigger piece”. |
| D．Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat. |
What cannot be inferred according to Marion Nestle?
| A．The cupcake is more democratic than any other desserts in the US. |
| B．The cupcake is too small to share with others. |
| C．The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone. |
| D．Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned. |
The underlined word “trendy” in paragraph 7 probably means ________.
| A．popular | B．gentle | C．delicious | D．different |
Why did the writer mention Hillary Clinton and Ruth Reichl?
| A．To arouse the readers’ attention to banning the tradition of making cupcakes. |
| B．To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular way to show kindness and comfort. |
| C．To make a comparison between them in order for readers to remember them. |
| D．To give readers some idea of cupcakes so as to better understand the American culture |
Here are some of the strangest buildings in the world. Please look at them and tell us your impressions.
Stone House, Portugal
The stone house in Portugal is really similar to the famous home of the Flintstones （《摩登原始人》）. It is built between two rocks and its architecture（建筑） has impressed some of the greatest architects. The house was attacked by some bad people. The house is pretty comfortable inside, with a fireplace and every- thing necessary, so it is a wonderful example of modern architecture in Stone Age style!
Dancing Building, Czech Republic
The Dancing House, or “Fred and Ginger”, is situated in Prague, the Czech Republic. It is an amazing masterpiece of architecture which has its own romantic charm. There is something so sweet in the way the buildings hug each other for a dance! It has become a symbol of the city!
The Crooked (弯曲的) House, Poland
The crooked house in Poland has an extraordinary and amazing structure. It was built in 2003 with its design based on the pictures of Jan Marcin Szancer and Per Dahlberg. It looks as if it has been taken from a cartoon: its design is “crooked”, but it is balanced, so it is not ugly at all, just strange! The interesting part is how builders managed to create this genius idea, but the house is a fact and everyone admires their creativity!
Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada
Habitat 67 in Canada is a very interesting arrangement of cubes，which looks like the building blocks that children play with. It is pretty interesting how it was designed — it looks so original, and at the same time the building is completely stable（稳定的） and comfortable for living! It was created as a main attraction for Expo（展览会） 67, where it was officially exposed!What is a common feature of the Stone Houseand the Dancing Building?
| A．They all appear very modern. |
| B．They are the symbols of their own cities. |
| C．They are all for people to live in. |
| D．They are both examples of great architecture. |
What is a special feature of The Crooked House?
| A．It was designed by two architects. |
| B．It has the longest history of the four. |
| C．Its construction lines are not straight. |
| D．Its design inspiration is from cartoons. |
Which of the buildings can remind people of a kind of toy?
| A．The Stone House, Portugal |
| B．The Dancing Building, the Czech Republic |
| C．The Crooked House, Poland |
| D．Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada |
Habitat 67 ____________________.
| A．is situated in Europe |
| B．was built for an exhibition |
| C．looks like an ancient building |
| D．has a fireplace in it |
Until the invention of the steam engine, humans traveled the earth on foot. The slow travel meant that explorers frequently returned with stories about distant lands: some of them wild tales, some honest descriptions.
Barbara Klion, who has retired, knows what that’s like. As a walker who has toured Australia, Kenya and China on foot, her trips are the modern edition of an ancient tradition. For years, Klion and her husband, now 75 and 80 years old, traveled independently.
Walkers know that seeing the world on foot gives them a rare experience. Often travelers are attracted by local people and customs. They also get a beautiful and lasting impression of the scenery. Walking tours can be done in one’s backyard, but there are several destinations around the world that expose travelers to the best of nature and culture.
What to look for? A famous guide says that the essentials of a quality walk are great scenery, tolerable1 weather, suitable level of difficulty and something like ecology, history or culture. These may seem like unclear instructions, but the fun of walking tours is that many things are determined by the traveler.
|
Someone who appreciates hot climates, wildlife and flat areas could choose a walking tour in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Travelers who don’t mind the cold and enjoy adventure could hike Patagonia, an area of southern Argentina east of the Andes.
In general, independent travelers can decide how far to go each day, while guests of a tour agency should expect to walk an average of four to eight miles a day. At the Fordland National Park, for example, there are several easy-to-difficult hikes, giving travelers many choices.| A．Great scenery. |
| B．Tolerable weather. |
| C．A helpful companion. |
| D．Suitable level of difficulty. |
According to the passage, compared with guests of a tour agency, independent travelers .
| A．can walk farther | B．have more choices |
| C．face more difficulties | D．spend less |
What’s the author’s attitude towards walking tours?
| A．Indifferent. | B．Negative. |
| C．Worried. | D．Supportive. |
The best title for the passage might be “ ”.
| A．See the World on Foot |
| B．Barbara Klion, a Great Traveler |
| C．What to Look for |
| D．The Fun of Walking |
At the beginning of every year we promise ourselves we will live a healthier life, and exercise more. The year tarts with the best of intentions, but many times we are unable to keep up with very high goals. Good news is that a healthy lifestyle is achievable and it's all about making small changes that make a difference.
News on healthy lifestyles says that the key is moderation and consistency. There are so many health and well-being products out there in the market promising many things. And although many may be true, select carefully.
The basics of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a balanced diet and doing regular exercise. By eating well, it means really to make sure you include plenty of vegetables and fruit preferably in season in your diet, avoid fried and junk foods and foods high in sugar as well as processed foods. Eating fresh homemade meals rather than ready-made meals which are high in salt and sugar is always the better option. Reducing alcohol intake, drinking plenty of water and supplementing your diet with healthy snacks like nuts and seeds.
For external care choose natural skin care products and hair care oil. Natural beauty care involves using natural moisturizers like Argan oil, Coconut oil and Sweet Almond oil. These nourish the skin far more than counter creams full of chemicals. Skin reflects what we put inside of us, so a healthy diet with plenty of greens and healthy protein will make your skin brighter.
Of course exercise is essential but the key is regular and consistent exercise. So walking three times a week for 45 minutes is much more beneficial than a binge workout once a week.Why can't we keep up with our goals according to the passage?
| A．The goals are too high to achieve. |
| B．We have a large amount of work to do. |
| C．We are naturally lazy and never do exercise. |
| D．The reason isn't given in the passage. |
It can be inferred from the passage that _______.
| A．we should think twice before choosing heath products |
| B．the key to a healthy lifestyle is getting enough sleep |
| C．food high in salt and sugar is the best choice for us |
| D．we should walk once a day for a healthy lifestyle |
What does the passage mainly talk about?
| A．How to achieve our goals. |
| B．The best way to take exercise. |
| C．How to make a difference in life. |
| D．Suggestions for a healthy lifestyle. |
Do you love running? It is a good exercise, yet many people find it boring. But what if making your morning jog a creative one? Like jumping from walls and over gaps, and ground rolls? Just like the James Bond in the movie Casino Royale？Bond jumps down from a roof to a windowsill and then runs several blocks over obstacles on the way. It is just because of Bond's wonderful performances that the sport has become popular worldwide.
Yes, that's parkour, an extreme street sport aimed at moving from one point to another as quickly as possible, getting over all the obstacles in the path using only the abilities of the human body. Parkour is considered an extreme sport. As its participants dash around a city, they may jump over fences, run up walls and even move from rooftop to rooftop.
Parkour can be just as exciting and charming as it sounds, but its participants see parkour much more than that.
Overcoming all the obstacles on the course and in life is part of the philosophy(哲理) behind parkour. This is the same as life. You must determine your destination, go straight, and jump over all the barriers as if in parkour and never fall back from them in your life, to reach the destination successfully. A parkour lover said, "I love parkour because its philosophy has become my life, my way to do everything."
Another philosophy we've learnt from parkour is freedom. It can be done by anyone, at any time, anywhere in the world. It is a kind of expression of trust in yourself that you earn energy and confidence. Which of the following is TRUE of parkour?
| A．It is a team sport. |
| B．It is a good but boring sport. |
| C．It needs special training. |
| D．It challenges human abilities. |
As its participants move around a city, ________.
| A．they can ask for help | B．they should run to extremes |
| C．they may choose to escape | D．they must learn to survive |
Which of the following is the philosophy of parkour?
| A．Determination and freedom. | B．Excitement and popularity. |
| C．Dreams and success. | D．Sports and extremes. |
What is the passage mainly about?
A. What parkour is and what it can bring us.
B. What parkour is and where can do it.
B. Why we do parkour and what we get from it.
D. When we can do parkour and how we do it well.
Dear Alcohol,
You've been around forever. I can remember all the pain you've caused for me.
Do you remember the night you almost took my father's life? I do. He loves you. Sometimes I think he loves you more than he loves me. He's addicted to you, to the way you promise to rid him of his problems only to cause more of them. You just sat back and laughed as his car went spinning through the street, crashing into two other cars. He wasn't the only one hurt by you that night.
Do you remember the night of my first high school party? You were there. My friends were intrigued by you. They treated you as if they were never going to see you again, drinking all of you that they could. I spent two hours that night helping my friends who had fallen completely. "I'm so embarrassed," they said as I held their hair back so that they could vomit (呕吐). "I'm sorry," they said when I called taxies for them, walking them out and paying the driver in advance. "This won't happen again," they said as they were sent to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped. Two 15-year-old girls slept in hospital beds that night thanks to you.
Do you remember the night when you took advantage of my 17-year-old neighbor who had to drive to pick up his sister from her dance lessons? Do you know how we all felt when he hit another car and killed the two people in the other car? He died the next morning too. His sister walked home from her dance lesson, and passed police cars and a crowd of people gathering on the sidewalk just two blocks away from the dance studio. She didn't realize her brother was in the midst of it all. She never saw him again. And it's all your fault.
I wish you'd walk out of my life forever. I don't want anything to do with you. Look at all the pain you've caused. Sure, you've made people happy too from time to time. But the damage you've caused in the lives of millions is inexcusable. Stop luring (引诱) in the people I love. Stop hurting me, please.
Sincerely,
AnonymousWhat is author's purpose in writing to alcohol?
| A．To introduce Mr. Alcohol to the readers |
| B．To describe the harm alcohol did to his family. |
| C．To show how much alcohol can hurt people. |
| D．To show the great fun that alcohol can bring to people's life. |
What did alcohol do to the author's father?
| A．It made him crash into two other cars and took his life. |
| B．It made him drink too much and he had to get his stomach pumped. |
| C．It made him kill two other people when driving. |
| D．It made him get into a car accident and badly injure himself. |
The underlined phrase "were intrigued by" is closest in meaning to ______.
| A．were familiar with | B．were interested in |
| C．were disappointed with | D．were satisfied with |
What is the tone of the article?
| A．Critical. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Unconcerned. | D．Humorous. |
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