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My hobby made me money! We all know that hobbies can be a great way of relaxing, learning new things and making new friends. But did you know that some hobbies can even make you money? This is what Vanessa Hughes found out last year. The nineteen-year-old told us: “I’ve always loved cooking and baking. Since I was seven or eight years old, I’ve been in the kitchen making my family meals and snacks. Last summer, it was my best friend's birthday, and I decided to organize a surprise party for her. I didn't have enough money to buy lots of ready-made food, so I made my own.” The surprise was a huge success and Vanessa was surprised when people kept asking her “Who prepared all this delicious food?” At the end of the party, a friend asked her if she would cook for his mother's birthday party. Vanessa said: “He offered me money, but I wouldn't take money from a friend. I just said I’d do it.” The next party Vanessa cooked for went equally well, and by the end of that one, Vanessa had three more bookings for parties over the next month. She said: “By then I realized I was going to have to start charging some money for my services. At the beginning, though, I only asked for a small amount to cover the ingredients I used.” Since these early days, Vanessa hasn't stopped. She's now busy every weekend, cooking for parties. “I love it”, she says “… and I feel so lucky that my hobby is helping me earn money. I’m going to use the money to help me to go to college—to study courses of catering! (1)、What is Vanessa Hughes’ hobby?( )
Why shopping online can be good for your pocket and your health How do you buy your food? Perhaps you do your shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, preferring to be able to see and touch the things you buy. If so, consider this: switching to an online shop could save your time, money and calories. As a student, Sara Mills switched to online shopping three months ago and she feels sure that she made the right choice. Sara says, “Since I started shopping online, I’ve saved so much money! I’ve also saved a lot of time. I don't need to stand in long queues at the till anymore. I just open up laptop, reorder from my online shopping cart and click ‘buy’”. Not only has Sara saved money, she is also eating much more healthily. She explains, “When I used to go to the shops, I’d see things which looked really tempting—chocolate and sweets for example. It was really difficult not to buy them if they were beside me while I was waiting in the queue. Now that I shop online, I never have to deal with these temptations. I’m definitely eating more healthily.” So are there any disadvantages to shopping online? “It's not always the best way to shop if you’re buying fresh food like fruit and vegetables.” Sara admits, “I think it's a good idea to look at food like that to make sure it's fresh. That's why I go to an organic greengrocer once a week.” Why not try online food shopping? It seems as if the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. (1)、According to the writer, what are the advantages of shopping online?( )
Young people to help in “war against cybercrime” The police have asked young people to become involved in protecting older people against cybercrime. This follows a record number of cases of identity theft in the past year. Hundreds of over-60s have replied to scam emails and telephone calls, and as a result have lost thousands of pounds and in a few cases, their entire savings. Police Inspector Martin Brill says, “It's very sad, but older people are very often the victims of online criminals. This is probably because they don't have the technical skills of the younger generation.” As a result of the rise of cybercrime against this group of people, the police are asking young people to help educate the older generation. Inspector Brill says, “Many of these victims are over 70, and often don't leave home very much. They don't want to travel to attend courses about online safety. What we’re asking is that young people take an hour or so every week to visit their grandmother, grandfather or elderly neighbors and teach them some of the basics of online safety.” Eighteen-year-old Sasha Smith says, I've been going to my grandmother's house once a week since I read the police report. I've helped her choose strong passwords for her accounts, and I've asked her to tell me about any strange-looking emails she gets too. Does Sasha think more young people should get involved in helping to tackle cybercrime? She nods, “Yes, of course. Older people need to be able to use the internet safely, without feeling frightened.” (1)、What do the police want young people to help them with?( )
My summer with sixteen cats The long summer vacation is here, bringing with it a world of possibilities for students all around the world. What will the summer months bring you? Some students manage to combine both travel and money-making. Take Dan Taylor for example, the 19-year-old student knew he wanted to spend the summer somewhere different. However, he was also on a budget. He searched the internet for days, looking for interesting opportunities. And then he found it: a website called GlobalPetsitters.com. The website was full of advertisements written by people from all over the world. These people had one thing in common: they all wanted to go on vacation, and they wanted a reliable person to come and look after their pets. The advertisements all offered free accommodation, while some also offered travel costs and a small wage. Dan got in touch with a couple from Long Island in New York. They were going on a month's vacation, leaving their sixteen cats behind them. “I like challenges”, says Dan. “And I’ve always wanted to go to New York.” What was the reality of pet-sitting like? Dan says, “It was fantastic. The cats kept me busy. I did have a stressful day when one went missing, but it came back again so that was okay. The house and garden were beautiful, and I had the freedom to explore New York. Plus, I got paid for it!” If you like animals, and enjoy spending time in new places, perhaps pet-sitting could be the summer job for you. (1)、What kind of summer vacation was Dan Taylor looking for?( )
Stress-busting hobbies For college students, who are often trying to deal with studies and part-time jobs, life can be stressful. It's important to take time out to unwind and relax, and this is where the kind of hobby you choose is very important. Some hobbies are more relaxing than others, and this article will look at three of the hobbies which are most likely to calm you down. Music Music is very good at helping you to relax. Listening to music is calming, but creating music (through playing an instrument, for example) can be an even more powerful way of relieving stress, because it allows you to express yourself creatively. Playing an instrument also takes all your attention, so you don't have time to worry about other things. Looking after an aquarium Looking after (and watching) an aquarium of beautiful fish is a very calming hobby. Why? Well, fish need regular attention, but they take up far less of your time than a dog or a cat. There is something creative about looking after an aquarium too. You get to produce your own mixture of fish, plant and rock life. Exercise Exercise isn't just good for your physical health. It can also improve your mental health by relieving stress. It's important to find a kind of exercise which you enjoy doing. Once you’ve found something you like, make it a regular part of your routine. You could join a sports team, do online exercise videos or choose something as simple as going for a walk every day. There are plenty more relaxing hobbies out there; these are just three out of many. The important thing is to find something which works for you. (1)、According to the writer, why is it important to think carefully about the hobby you choose?( )
Introducing the intelligent bicycle In recent years, autonomous cars have received much media attention. However, intelligent bicycles are now a reality and are set to become more and more popular in urban areas. It's easy to understand the reason behind the intelligent bicycle's rise in popularity. The stresses and dangers of urban cycling have long been recognized. Urban cyclists have to be incredibly focused and aware of their surroundings when riding through busy cities, and the intelligent bicycle helps to relieve some of the pressure from their minds, by detecting threats and providing a kind of warning system in heavy traffic. The intelligent bicycle is able to warn its rider when a fast-moving, deadly object is nearby in order to prevent a fatal accident. How does it do this? The saddle and handlebars of the intelligent bicycle vibrate whenever danger is near: this helps cyclists order to be more aware of their surroundings and of any danger. Bicycle lights are becoming smarter too. Once they just flashed, now they can sense when you are at a junction, a roundabout or heading toward an approaching car. When they sense the situation needs extra light, they shine more brightly, keeping the rider safe. The intelligent bicycle also comes with a camera system that uses image processing to detect multiple vehicles at the same time. If intelligent bicycles continue to evolve in this way, accidents could become a thing of the past. (1)、What is the purpose of this article?( )
Singles' Day, shopping spree November 11th, also called “Double 11”, is Singles’ Day in China and the red-letter day in every shopper's calendar. It is China's largest shopping festival and the retail industry's most important 24 hours of the year, according to a report by a consumer research group. The findings of this report show that many shoppers stay up late and take the shopping festival as the one day of the year they could not do without. Showing off on social media Typical participants on “Double 11” shopping spree are young professional women working in junior positions. Many female respondents to the survey said they posted photos of their purchases on social media for their friends to admire. Hu Xuanling, 23, said she was looking forward to showing off her “loot” during “Double 11”, particularly for popular products which she has bought at a discount. “That only makes them look much better,” she said. Team work: ready, steady, shop! As the day has increased in popularity, some shoppers have even established their own traditions. Hu Xuanling admitted to teaming up with friends and colleagues, saying, “My friends and I even have tactics, like splitting up into teams for different products, to make sure everyone gets his or her favorite. It is so much fun.” The report concludes that because of the success of “Double 11” shopping spree, similar online shopping festivals are emerging, such as, “6·18” and “12·12”. It also predicts that with online shopping becoming more and more popular, more cashless payments will be made in China than ever before. (1)、What happens on November 11th in China?( )
How to stop procrastinating? It happens to all of us sometimes, doesn't it? You have a deadline to meet, but instead of doing your work, you check Facebook or do some online shopping. This is called procrastination, and it affects everyone. So how can you stop procrastinating? We often procrastinate because a task seems too big, or impossible to achieve. Try breaking down the task into smaller pieces. For example, instead of thinking, “I need to finish this essay by 10 p.m. tonight,” tell yourself, “I’m going to make a short outline, fill that in, and then look for quotes.” Another important factor is your environment, isn't it? If there are too many distractions in your work space, you may be tempted to procrastinate more. Are there any things in your work space (for example, a TV) that could be causing you to lose focus? If so, find yourself a quiet place to work. Making a timeline with goals and deadlines is a great way to stop yourself from procrastinating. However, it is important to make your deadlines realistic so that you can be sure you'll stick to them. Some people like to wait for the perfect time to start a task, while the perfect time is often now. Try something called the “Two-Minute Rule” to help you get started. This idea comes from David Allen's best-selling book Getting Things Done. It states that if something takes less than two minutes, such as washing your dishes after a meal, then you should do it now. So, what are you waiting for? Follow these tips and stop procrastinating today! (1)、Procrastination means _________.( )
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