This year some twenty-three hundred teenagers(young people aged from13~19)from all over the world will spend about ten months in U.S. homes. They will attend U.S. schools, meet U.S. teenagers, and form impressions of the real America. At the same time, about thirteen hundred American teenagers will go to other countries to learn new languages and gain a new understanding of the rest of the world.
Here is a two-way student exchange in action. Fred, nineteen, spent last year in Germany with George's family. In turn, George's son Mike spent a year in Fred's home in America.
Fred, a lively young man, knew little German when he arrived, but after two months' study the language began to come to him. School was completely different from what he had expected—much harder. Students rose respectfully when the teacher entered the room. They took fourteen subjects instead of the six that are usual in the United States. There were almost no outside activities.
Family life, too, was different. The father's word was law, and all activities were around the family rather than the individual. Fred found the food too simple at first. Also, he missed having a car.
"Back home, you pick up some friends in a car and go out and have a good time. In Germany, you walk, but you soon learn to like it."
At the same time in America, Mike, a friendly German boy, was also forming his idea. "I suppose I should criticize(批评)American schools," he said. "It is far too easy by our level. But I have to say that I like it very much. In Germany we do nothing but study. Here we take part in many outside activities. I think that maybe your schools are better in training for citizens. There ought to be some middle ground between the two."
When I was seven my father gave me a Timex, my first watch. I loved it, wore it for years, and haven't had another one since it stopped ticking a decade ago. Why? Because I don't need one. I have a mobile phone and I'm always near someone with an iPod or something like that. All these devices(装置)tell the time — which is why, if you look around, you'll see lots of empty wrists; sales of watches to young adults have been going down since 2007.
But while the wise have realized that they don't need them, others—apparently including some distinguished men of our time—are spending total fortunes on them. Brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Breitling command shocking prices, up to £250,000 for a piece.
This is ridiculous. Expensive cars go faster than cheap cars. Expensive clothes hang better than cheap clothes. But these days all watches tell the time as well as all other watches. Expensive watches come with extra functions — but who needs them? How often do you dive to 300 metres into the sea or need to find your direction in the area around the South Pole? So why pay that much of five years' school fees for watches that allow you to do these things?
If justice were done, the Swiss watch industry should have closed down when the Japanese discovered how to make accurate watches for a five-pound note. Instead the Swiss reinvented the watch, with the aid of millions of pounds' worth of advertising, as a message about the man wearing it. Rolexes are for those who spend their weekends climbing icy mountains; a Patek Philippe is for one from a rich or noble family; a Breitling suggests you like to pilot planes across the world.
Watches are now classified as "investments" (投资). A 1994 Patek Philippe recently sold for nearly £350,000, while 1960s Rolexes have gone from £15,000 to £30,000 plus in a year. But a watch is not an investment. It's a toy for self-satisfaction, a matter of fashion. Prices may keep going up—they've been rising for 15 years. But when fashion moves on, the owner of that £350,000 beauty will suddenly find his pride and joy is no more a good investment than my childhood Timex.
How to teach your kids the value of money
For the many parents who want to teach their kids economic (经济的) ideas and prepare them for their financial futures, where is the starting point?
Here's their advice:
Make sure money isn't "invisible (看不见的)" to your kids.
Chris Whitlow, CEO of Edukate, described money as "a contact sport (接触性运动)." " "It's like if you were to read about football and then try to play football," Whitlow said. ""
That's why it's important for families to speak openly about finances to get their kids better prepared for their financial future.
One way to teach kids about money is to simply let them have it, and cash is a great start. Gwen Tulin, founder of Brain Arts Productions, suggested that parents take a few minutes to get cash from an ATM and pick one store to use that money in front of their kids.
Don't be afraid of financial language.
Tanya Van Court started Goalsetter, a saving and giving platform (平台) for kids. She wonders why many parents are frightened to even start a conversation about money with their kids. To help other families do the same, Goalsetter offers an Urban Financial Dictionary that explains financial languages.
Goalsetter offers three different ways for kids to set their financial goals: saving for the future, saving for things, and sharing with others."We don't just want lessons about using your money for yourself." Van Court said, "but also giving back to other people in need."
A. Don't give your kids too much money.
B. Let your children have some money to work with.
C. Reading about it is more important than playing it.
D. Reading about it and playing it are two different things.
E. She made sure to introduce financial basics to her own children.
F. Don't forget to explain that money can be a powerful tool to help others.
G. We asked some experts to introduce the best ways to teach kids the value of money.
He was the first person this material to make such a tool.
Chinese New Year has been welcomed in Britain with its biggest ever program of events and celebrations.
From London's Trafalgar Square to major cities across Britain, tens of thousands of British people have joined Chinese communities to celebrate the arrival of the Year of the Rooster.
In Manchester there was a Dragon Parade, led by a spectacular 54-meter long dragon, ending is Chinatown where there was traditional Chinese entertainment, more than 6,000 lanterns, street food villages and a fireworks show. Celebrations also took place in Liverpool. Birmingham, Lake District, Durham, Edinburgh. Leeds and Newcastle.
Academic Dr. Wu Kegang said that the Chinese New Year event in Britain “is now bigger than ever and it is growing every year.”
When Wu arrived in Britain 26 years ago from Guangdong, south China, the first thing he noticed was that Chinese New Year was celebrated mainly in towns and cities with big Chinese communities. “You would go to London Chinatown and join your countrymen to celebrate, or to Chinatowns in places like Liverpool and Manchester for what were events almost exclusively held for Chinese people,” Wu recalled.
“Now it is so different, and we are seeing local communities all over the country taking part alongside their own Chinese populations,” he said. “It is clear to me that the celebrations will continue to grow in Britain. Chinese New Year has earned its place in the calendar of events in Britain, and is here to stay.”
Parents do not owe (欠) their children a college education. If they can afford it, they can certainly send them to a good university. But they needn't feel guilty if they can't. When children grow up and want to get married, their parents do not owe them an apartment. They do not have the duty to look after their grandchildren, either. If they want to do it, it must be considered a favor, not an obligation.
Do parents owe their children anything? Yes, they owe them a great deal.
One of their obligations is to give their children a personal worth. Children who are always made to feel stupid and unworthy, constantly compared with brighter brothers, sisters, or cousins will become so unsure, so afraid of failing that they won't try at all. Of course they should be properly corrected when they do wrong, but it's often better to let children learn their mistakes by themselves in time. All their parents should do is to trust them, respect them, understand them and give them chances to try and fail. They must learn to stand failure. When criticisms (批评) are really needed, they should be balanced with a smile and a kiss. That is the way children learn.
Parents owe their children a set of solid values around which to build their lives. This means teaching them to respect the rights and opinions of others; it means being respectful to elders, to teachers, and to the law. The best way to teach such values is by deed. A child who is lied to will lie. A child who sees no laughter and no love in the home will have difficulty laughing and loving.
No child asks to be born. If you bring a life into the world, you owe the child something.
Governors Ball
One of the greatest summer concerts in New York City is Governor's Ball, which takes place in early June at Randall's Island Park. Some of the many artists playing include Tool, Phoenix, Lorde, Flume, and the Wu-Tang Clan.
Date: June 2-4, 2019
Location: New York City, New York, USA
Music Type: Rock, hip-hop, pop
Price: $105-$305
Recommended places to stay in New York City:
·Super 8 Long Island City LGA Hotel
·Courtyard New York Manhattan/Upper East Side
Primavera Sound
To kick off the summer, there's no better place to be than Barcelona. On the concert lineup, you'll find bands like The Zombies, Arcade Fire, and Bon Iver. Then take some time to soak up the local food wine, and culture.
Date: May 31-June 4, 2019
Location: Barcelona, Spain
Music Type: Indie, rock, hip-hop
Price: 80€ - 300€ (around $86-$323)
Recommended places to stay in Barcelona:
·Hotel 1898
·Hotel Barcelona Universal
Bonnaroo
Bonnaroo is another epic summer event that draws in crowds of around 60,000 each year. Some of the most iconic music legends will be playing this year, including U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Weekend, and Chance the Rapper.
Date: June 8-11, 2019
Location: Manchester. Tennessee USA
Music Type: Rock, hip-hop
Price: $210.50-$554
Recommended places to stay in Manchester:
·Country Inn & Suites Manchester
·The Ambassador Inn & Luxury
When the fork was stolen off Bart Michiels's mountain bike last summer, he wheeled it nearly three miles from his home in Chelsea to Frank's Bike Shop on the eastern end of Grand Street.
Mr. Michiels passed many other bike shops along the way, including one that offers free coffee. But for 20 years, he has remained devoted(忠实的) to Frank's. "Frank's the man," he said of Frank Arroyo, the owner. "I don't care where he is in the city — I'll go."
Mr. Michiels doesn't have to worry about Mr. Arroyo's relocating(搬迁). The shop has stayed on the Lower East Side of Manhattan for 40 years.
After Mr. Michiels left, Marvin Priess arrived. A professor of chemistry and math, Mr. Priess wheeled in the Ross 18-speed he had bought at Frank's in 1978 and still rides today, at age 68. Mr. Priess said that over the years, every single part of it that couldn't be repaired had been replaced, sometimes more than once, at Frank's. Customers don't come for the ambience(环境). It's crowded and dirty; buckets of parts and boxes of training wheels line the entryway.
The store is filled with about 500 bikes and you will find Mr. Arroyo, 72, six days a week. He has been in the bike business since age 14. Born and raised on the Lower East Side, he has employed and taught many young people in the neighborhood. He is also willing to repair bikes in any condition, as well as his neighbors' walkers and wheelchairs.
English Epps, a lawyer, needed a new seat; his had been stolen. "I've been coming here since I was in the third grade," he said, adding: "There's a new bike shop on Delancey Street, but everybody comes here."
Benefits and Problems of Genetic Engineering
Plant breeding is the science of changing the characteristics of plants in order to produce desired ones. Genes in a plant are what determine what type of characteristics it will have. Plant breeders try to create a specific outcome of plants and potentially new plant varieties by changing the genes of the plants through breeding, which is making new plants from parents of different varieties or species.
Actually, plant breeding has been practiced for thousands of years, since near the beginning of human civilization. It is practiced worldwide by individuals such as gardeners and farmers and by professional plant breeders employed by organizations such as government institutions, universities, crop-specific industry associations or research centers. They have crossbred plants to create the new types of plants that are, for example, bigger, stronger, or more attractive.
Crossbreeding can take such a long time, however, and it is inaccurate. Now, we can change exact sections of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), so the process is more accurate and faster. But people all over the world are arguing about its benefits and disadvantages. Some people use the technology to produce desired characteristics of plants and animals. Other people are concerned that the genetically engineered plants may harm the environment and worried that they may be dangerous for people to eat.
There are many reasons for changing plants in this way. International development agencies believe that breeding new crops is important for ensuring food security by developing new varieties that are higher yielding(高产的), disease resistant, drought tolerant or regionally adapted to different environments and growing conditions. For example, some genetically engineered plants can live through frost or draught. As a result, famers can make more profit because fewer plants will die.
Some genetically engineered plants are more nutritious. They have less fat, taste better or stay fresher than non-genetically engineered plants. This will allow people to buy better-quality fruit and vegetables.
Some genetically engineered plants can resist natural pests such as viruses or insects. This reduces the amount of chemical needed to kill pests, which is helpful to the environment.
However, genetically engineered plants can cause unexpected problems. Genetically engineered plants that resist pests may pass on that characteristic to a wild relative. This may cause the wild plant to spread fast, because pests are not naturally killing it.
Genetically engineered plants can also harm animals. A type of corn has been developed which kills a species of insect that destroys it. The pollen (花粉) from this corn, however, can also kill monarch butterflies—the most beautiful of all butterflies, which do not harm the corn.
To ensure the most adapted varieties are identified, advocates of organic breeding now promote the use of direct selection for many desired characteristics.
Genetic engineering is a very new science and we have a lot to learn about the good it can do and the damage it can cause. The main concern is that not enough tests are being done to ensure it is safe.
Sp:Sub-point (次要点) C:Conclusion
I:Introduction Cp:Central Point P:Point
Many people often find themselves waking up in the middle of the night, unusually awake and excited.That's really frustrating. However, there is no need to worry. Here are some effective ways to help you fall asleep again.
Remain in bed. For you to fall asleep, your heart rate needs to slow down. When you get up, your heart rate goes up. So, avoid going to the bathroom during the night if you can. Do not eat too little or too much for dinner. Do not drink and fill your bladder (膀胱) before bed. . It may make you fall asleep faster, but it may also disrupt your sleep later in the night.
Stay in the dark. When you cannot sleep, LED lights on printers and cable boxes may be the reason. The same is true for light streaming in through cracks in curtains. . You should cover lights with tape and wear a sleep mask. A popular choice has deep eye cups so your eyes can open and shut while you wear them.
Quiet your mind. Try ways to relax, such as deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness exercises. . The point is to keep your brain busy with something that is not demanding and is relaxing.
If your wake-up time is 6:30 a.m. and your clock reads 3:00 a.m., do not think Oh no! I have only three hours left! Instead, say to yourself Oh great! I have three more hours to sleep!
You have a problem if you wake three times a week for more than three months. It may affect your quality of life. You need to find a sleep expert who can help identify the cause and fix it.
A. Think in a positive way.
B. Maintain a calm attitude.
C. They may keep you awake.
D. Most importantly, avoid alcohol in the evening.
E. You can do simple math problems in your head.
F. Getting up to do some mild exercise is also helpful.
G. Tossing and turning in bed, they are unable to fall asleep.
The real Li Na to end her professional career is her painful injuries.
Neither Tom nor his parents ______ at home.
a. is b. are c. has d. was
Acceptionist:Can I help you?
Daniel: Yes, I’m doing some research on Roman civilization. __6___
Acceptionist:These books over here are about ancient history. ___7__
Daniel: Can I check this one out?
Acceptionist:___8__. It’s for reference only, so it must stay in the library. But you’re welcome to look through it.
Daniel: Ok. ___9__
Acceptionist:All right. They’re due back next Wednesday.
Daniel: ___10__
A.I’m sorry.
B. It doesn’t matter.
C.Thanks for your help.
D.They might be helpful.
E. They must be useful for you.
F. And I’d like to check these books out.
G. Do you have any books on the subject?
What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher? A doctor? How about an ice-cream taster?
Yes, there really is a job where you can get paid to taste ice-cream. Just ask John Harrison, an “Official Taste Tester” for the past 21 years. Testing helps manufacturers to be sure of a product’s quality. During his career Harrison has been responsible for approving large quantities of the sweet ice cream — as well as for developing over 75 flavors (味道).
Some people think that it would be easy to do this job, after all, you just have to like ice cream, right? No — there’s more to the job than that, says Harrison, who has a degree in chemistry. He points out that a dairy or food-science degree would be very useful to someone wanting a career in this “cool” field.
In a typical morning on the job, Harrison tastes and assesses 60 ice-cream samples. He lets the ice cream warm up to about 12℉. Harrison explains, “You get more flavor from warmer ice cream, which is why some kids like to stir it, creating ice-cream soup.”
While the ice cream warms up, Harrison looks over the samples and grades each one on its appearance. “Tasting begins with the eyes,” he explains. He checks to see if the ice cream is attractive and asks himself, “Does the product have the color expected from that flavor?” Next it’s time to taste!
Continuing to think up new ideas, try out new flavors, and test samples from so many kinds of ice cream each day keeps Harrison busy but happy — working at one cool job.
1. What is John Harrison’s job?
A. An official. B. An ice-cream taster.
C. A chemist. D. An ice-cream manufacturer.
2. According to John Harrison, to be qualified in the “cool field”, it is helpful to ______.
A. keep a diary of work B. have a degree in related subjects
C. have new ideas every day D. find out new flavors each day
3. What does Harrison do first when testing ice cream?
A. He stirs the ice cream. B. He examines the color of the ice cream.
C. He tastes the flavor of the ice cream. D. He lets the ice cream warm up.
4. Which of the following is probably the best title of the passage?
A. Tasting with Eyes B. Flavors of Ice Cream
C. John Harrison’s Life D. One Cool Job
Nowadays many people make their choices about what they buy ,_______ advertisements rather than their own judgment.
A. basing on B. based on C. to base on D. was based on