Tree-planting is an important part of the ongoing Richmond renaissance that has been changing the city for the last few years. And you are invited to be a part of this transformation on Saturday, November 2, 2013, from 9 am to 1 pm. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. Residents of the City of Richmond will be joined by community volunteers from Richmond Trees, Groundwork Richmond and The Watershed Project to celebrate the fall's Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event. 9:00 am Harvest festivities begin with a volunteer orientation about planting trees. 9:30 am Volunteers will divide into seven planting teams, each captained by an experienced Tree Steward, to plant 30 new street trees along Roosevelt, and on the 500 and 600 blocks of 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 35th & 36th streets in the surrounding neighborhood. Richmond Trees and the City of Richmond will provide shovels and vests. Those who would like to participate in planting trees are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes. 11 am La Rondalla del Sagrado Corazon, a local musical ensemble, will play traditional Mexican serenade music. 12 pm Speakers including Chris Magnus, Richmond's Chief of Police and Chris Chamberlain, Superintendent of Parks & Landscaping will speak about the many benefits of growing the urban forest. Healthy harvest refreshments, water and coffee will be available for a small donation that will support the work Richmond Trees is doing in the community to grow the urban forest. There will be art activities and games for children. For more information about the Harvest Festival and Tree Planting event, or planting trees in your own Richmond neighborhood, contact gro.seertdnomhcir@ofni, 510.843.8844. Which of the following is TRUE according to the text? A) In total, 30 trees will be planted in the neighborhood. B) This is the first time that the neighborhood has done tree-planting. C) Richmond Trees made a donation so there will be refreshments and coffee to enjoy. D) Chief Magnus will give a reward to those who attended planting trees.
A
"Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity," said the American talk show host Oprah Winfrey. I've never watched her show, but when a self-made billionaire gives life advice it's probably worth listening to. Her point is that blind luck is very rare. You may have to be lucky to find a good job these days but that does not mean you should sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you. If you're a Chinese, you may already be familiar with the tale of a farmer waiting by a tree stump for a rabbit to run out and break its neck. A book by the UK psychologist Richard Wiseman, called The Luck Factor, argues we can all make ourselves luckier. It's not about going to a temple to burn some incense hopes that the gods will give you good fortune; it's practical advice you can follow each day. Wiseman conducted an experiment as part of his studies. First he divided volunteers into two groups; those who said they were lucky in life and those who said they were not. He gave everyone a newspaper and asked them to look through it to count how many photographs it had inside. On average, the unlucky people took about two minutes to count the photographs while the lucky people took just seconds. Why? On the second page of the newspaper, a command, "Stop counting. There are 43 photographs in this newspaper," was written in big letters. The unlucky people mostly did not spot the message. It's easy to compare this situation to a young person looking for jobs in a local paper. They might search so hard for one type of position that they miss an even better opportunity. People who are "lucky", in fact, keep an open mind and don't go through the same routine every day. I first came to China in 2002 when it was considered a rather strange thing to do. Like many foreigners, my plan was to teach English for one year. Seven years later, and still here, I've had many great opportunities such as writing for newspapers and magazines. I did not dream these would have been possible. I've also never been sick, had an... The writer quoted the Chinese tale of a farmer in order to show _ . A) man can conquer nature B) luck is in your own hand C) bad luck can turn into good D) you should not sit at home waiting for the opportunity to come to you
D
Q: As I walked along the city streets, I passed a young man who was searching through a small block of land that contained a mix of leaves and rubbish. I was somewhat puzzled why some one like him would be searching through rubbish. Finding this a little _ , I asked him, "What are you searching for?" He replied very simply that he was looking for bills of money. After talking with him for a little longer, I found out that he had become homeless just three months ago after getting laid off from his job. Since then, he had been working part-time jobs in a doctor's office and in a food bank to earn some money. But he made so little that he lost heart. The man seemed fairly talented, although a little dirty. I offer him a freshly baked peanut cake that I had baked that day. His eyes lit up, and he eagerly jumped at my offer. He immediately took the cake with his dirty hands and quickly began eating the treat on the spot. I told him that our thought creates our reality, and suggested that he not give up and think in a positive way. I also said that he was young and everything was possible. As he chews the cake, what I said seemed to have an effect on him, and he told me that he would cheer up and try to find a good job. My sense told me that he might begin to see things a little differently from then on. While walking away, I was thinking of a man eating a cake packed with potential of raising his confidence. And so it is! The writer hoped that _ . A) there would be no homeless people B) the man would pass on the kindness C) he would be much richer to help others D) the man would have positive attitude toward life
A: D
December 2 Sharon called about four times today. At least it shows she's trying to explain something to me. I feel a little better. December 3 This morning Sharon said she had only told one person and didn't know why everyone seemed to know. Yes, I am an adopted daughter. But she had promised to keep it a secret for ever! December 5 I wish I had a friend I could really trust all of the time. I thought I found that friend, but I haven't and it's making me miserable ! It's wrong to tell her all about it. She gains my trust, and then loses it. December 7 I have a nice room, beautiful house and everything I've ever wanted. My adoptive parents will give me all the things I've ever dreamed of. Yet all the money in the world can't buy what I want now. I want for Sharon to be my best friend again. December 10 Sharon just called. She said she thought it might help if we spent more time together. She worried that I would switch schools . She is the best friend I've ever had. When I'm with Sharon, I can be myself. I need Sharon's friendship. I need it more than I've ever known. December 16 I just had the most _ two days of my life! This was the best time I've had for a long, long while. Yesterday, we walked five times around the park and today we walked along the river for twenty minutes. We talked so much. Sharon, Sharon, no brick wall between us now. It can be inferred that in the end the author and Sharon _ . A) were not friends anymore B) became good friends again C) would switch to another school together D) could hardly understand each other
B