The Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (联盟) in America every year. The champion of the National FootballConference (NFC) competes against the champion of the American Football Conference (AFC) to decide which is the best team in the country. Super Bowl is far more than a sporting event. The mix of America’s biggest instituti ons (体系):sports, TV, food consumption, advertising and entertainment makes the Super Bowl an American cultural phenomenon.
The Super Bowl is usually held on the last Sunday of January or the first Sunday of February. That day is called Super Bowl Sunday. For years, it has been the most watched one-day sporting event in the US and it gradually has become an unofficial national holiday. The average viewing rate of Super Bowl reached to 44.9 percent in 2019.
Super Bowl Sunday sees more parties than any other day during the year. Young people are no exception to the party spirit. They gather to watch the game on TV. The Super Bowl is the third biggest eating day in America — behind Christmas and Thanksgiving. Fans host Super Bowl parties by filling their living rooms with junk food and drinks. Guests may arrive dressed in their team’s T-shirt and carrying beer to share.
Knowing that the Super Bowl has the attention of millions of Americans, companies pay big money for game-time advertising. In 2019, the advertising cost set a record — $5.3 million for 30 seconds. The Super Bowl has developed to a T V selling season sandwiched between after-Christmas sales and Valentine’s Day.
Another tradition of the Super Bowl is the Halftime Show, which presents at the halftime break between the second and third quarters. The Super Bowl Halftime Show is the most-watched musical event of the year. So it is also called the Americans’ Spring Festival Gala. Non-football fans tune (调台) into the Super Bowl for the most famous musicians’ performances during halftime. As the top performers, Maroon 5, Travis Scott and Big Boi gave impressive live show for the audience in the Super Bowl Halftime Show 2019. The show represents a link between American football and pop culture and helps broaden the television audience and nationwide interest.
Americans view the Super Bowl as a National Day of revelry ( 狂欢).Although people may watch it for different reasons, there is one thing for sure they can find their own pleasure in it.
1.What is the Super Bowl?
2.When is the Super Bowl usually held?
3.How do fans usually host Super Bowl parties?
4.Why is the Halftime Show called as the ―Americans’ Spring Festival Gala‖?
5.What makes the Super Bowl more than just sport?
The first breath-taking pictures of the Earth taken from space showed it as a solid ball covered by brown land masses and blue-green oceans. We had never seen the Earth from that distance before. To us, it appeared as though the Earth had always looked that way and always would. Scientists now know, however, that the surface of the Earth is not as permanent (永久的) as we had thought.
Scientists explain that the surface of our planet is always moving. Continents moves about the Earth like huge ships at sea. They float on pieces of the Earth's outer skin. New outer skin is created as melted rock pushed up from below the ocean floor. Old outer skin is destroyed as it rolls down into the hot area and melts again.
Only since the 1960s have scientists really began to understand that the planet Earth is a great living machine. Some experts have said this new understanding is one of the most important revolutions in scientific thought. The revolution is based on the work of scientists who study the movement of the continents－a science called plate tectonics.
The modern story of plate tectonics begins with the German scientist Alfred Wegener. Before World War One, Wegener argued that the continents had moved and were still moving. He said the idea first occurred to him when he observed that the coastlines of South America and Africa could fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. He proposed that the two continents might have been one and then split apart.
Wegener was not the first person to wonder about the shape of the continents. About 500 years ago, explorers thought about it when they made the first maps of Americas. The explorers noted the east coast of North America and South America would fit almost exactly into the west coast of Europe and south Africa. What the explorers did not do, but Wegener did, was to investigate the idea that the continents move.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.The coastline of India and Africa fit together.
B.Our ancient thought that the surface of the earth is still.
C.Alfred Wegener was not the first person to investigate the idea that the continents move.
D.We didn't see the Earth from far away until we saw the picture taken in the space.
2.The last word of the third paragraph "tectonics" means" "______".
A.study of building B.study of the earth structure
C.study of the earth surface D.study of designing
3.What did the explorers find?
A.The east coastlines of North America and the west coast of Europe could fit together.
B.The coastlines of North America and Africa could fit together.
C.The coastlines of South America and Africa could fit together.
D.The coastlines of North America and India could fit together.
The Sixth Time I Went to the Principal's Office
When I was in the seventh grade, I had problems behaving. My heart was in the right place, but I couldn't always follow the rules. I played many tricks on my schoolmates. Once, I even pulled a girl's hair on the school bus to get her attention. As a result, I was repeatedly sent to the office of the principal(校长).
Although I hated going there, I did not hate the principal, Mr. Ratcliff. Mr. Ratcliff was a kind, elderly man. When he spanked(打屁股) me for putting some ants into a classmate's pencil box, it didn't hurt at all, but it did hurt my feelings. I thought so much of him and moments like that seemed to prove I was hopelessly bad.
When I got called to Mr. Ratcliff's office for the sixth time, I had no idea what I had done. I felt disappointed as I walked down there. I went into his office, sat down, and looked at the floor. Then he said the last thing I expected to hear, "Kevin, I've heard you've been behaving really well lately. I want you to know how proud I am of you, and I just called you down to my office to give you a peppermint."
"Really?" I was surprised. "Yes. Now you can take that peppermint and go back to class."
I carried the peppermint with me as if it was a gold coin. When I got into my classroom, I bragged(吹嘘) to my classmates about my turn around, excitedly. I wasn't so bad after all.
Mr. Ratcliff was really kind. He made me realize that I was just a kid who had problems with behavior. He bought some peppermints and took the time to notice me when I got something-anything-right. Mr. Ratcliff gave me some hope by giving me some love. I will just remember him for the rest of my life.
1.In his seventh grade, the writer _________.
A.hated the principal B.had problems behaving
C.always followed the rules D.often helped his classmates
2.How did the writer feel when he went to the principal's office for the sixth time?
A.Lonely. B.Excited. C.Confident. D.Disappointed.
3.The sixth time the writer went to the principal's office, he got _________.
A.a peppermint B.a model bus C.a pencil box D.a coin
J&M Music Store ★Rock, pop and country music ★Buy CDs new or used ★Listen before you buy ★Guitar lessons offered | Peth Market ★Fresh fruit and vegetables ★Open Friday to Sunday mornings ★Free ice cream for children under 12 |
Times Coffee Shop ★The best coffee in town ★Sandwiches, cakes, pies ★Open 10:00 a.m.－11:00 p.m. daily ★Jazz music: Wednesday to Sunday | Macon's B&B ★Feel like home when you're away from home ★We have different kinds of rooms ★Delicious homemade breakfast ★Guitar lessons offered |
1.You can _________ at J&M Music Store.
A.have guitar lessons B.borrow new or used CDs
C.have homemade breakfast D.buy all kinds of music books
2.You can enjoy the best coffee _________.
A.in J&M Music Store B.in Peth Market
C.at Times Coffee Shop D.at Macon's B&B
3.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A.There is no breakfast at Macon's B&
B. You can't listen to the CD before you buy it.
C.Times Coffee Shop offers Jazz music every day.
D.Kids under 12 can get free ice cream in Peth Market.
Unexpected but Good
What a fine day! Mansor was sure that he would see his birthday present on the dining table. It had been like this for the past 15 years. Whatever happened, his parents would place the present next to his glass of milk on that day. He had given various hints (暗示) about what he really wanted, and even silently put a picture of the mobile phone into his mother's handbag. It was impossible that she didn't get the message.
To his surprise, there was nothing on the table this time. The family gave morning wishes to each other as usual and talked as if there was nothing special about the day. His mother only reminded him to clear his writing table.
Mansor quickly ran out of the house as he did not want his parents to see he was sad that they had forgotten his birthday! He would feel better if he joined his friends at the Old People's Home. As he did not want to stay around the house any longer, he got into the first taxi he saw. He was still sad while he was in it.
He got down from the taxi and realized how fine the weather was. The sun was shining brightly as if to give him joy. The chirping of the birds lightened his heart. He walked with a spring in his steps to Old People's Home. As he looked around, he saw people laughing and enjoying themselves. These old people didn't get much care or attention from their busy children, yet they were happy. Why should he be sad? A mobile phone was not quite a big deal after all.
Then he decided to go home. After getting home, he started to tidy his table, knowing that his mother expected him to do so. Wait! What's this? An air ticket to Pulau Redang (热浪岛) for a scuba diving course! "The mobile phone is nice, but we prefer that you learn something rather than have the latest mobile phone.
Hope you will like our present."
With tears of excitement, Mansor realized that he should have known that his parents would never forget his birthday.
1.What did Mansor do to get the present he wanted?
A.He talked to his parents. B.He gave hints to his parents.
C.He carefully cleaned his table. D.He paid a visit to his good friends.
2.After seeing those old people, Mansor___________.
A.felt their life was so boring B.realized he shouldn't be sad
C.wanted to offer help to them D.hoped to get another present
3.What can we learn from the story?
A.Mansor liked the birthday present. B.Mansor knew his parents very well.
C.Mansor's parents would buy a new gift. D.Mansor's parents would say sorry to him.
TEEN WORLD JOBS | |
Babysitter needed We need a babysitter to, look after our boys aged 5 and 7. after school from 4 p.m-6 p.m, Monday to Friday. £40/week. Call Mary on 678345211 | Munchies Café We're looking for breakfast and I lunchtime waiters and waitresses to work in our café on Sundays. Call Bella on 612398745 (8a.m-4p.m) |
Holiday job Do you want to earn some extra money this summer? Do you speak another language? We need French, Spanish or German speakers to work for us in the City Museum shop from Tuesday to Friday. Send your CV to citymuseum@job.lkj | Newspaper round We need young people to deliver newspapers on Monday and Friday mornings before school. The paper round takes 30 minutes in the village of Brook. Papers must be delivered before 8 a.m. and you must have your own bike. Send your CV to postoffice@brook.com |
1.How much will you be paid every week if you look after Mary's children?
A.£40. B.£50. C.£60. D.£70.
2.If you want to work in the City Museum shop, you must ________ .
A.have your own bike B.speak another language
C.be interested in museums D.be at work before 8:00 a.m.
3.If you want to work before going to school in the morning, you can________.
A.call Mary at 678345211 B.call Bella at 612398745
C.send your CV to citymuseum@job.lkj D.send your CV to postoffice@brook.com
