题型:阅读选择 题类: 难易度:困难
浙江省丽水市2024年中考英语一模试卷
David Gill might be the richest man in Sebastopol, California. The semi-retired health care officer is banking the most valuable currency (货币) in the world—TIME. Gill has 480 hours saved at the local time bank.
In brief, a time bank does with time what other banks do with money: It stores and trades it. "Time banking means that for every hour you give to your community, you receive an hour credit (积分)," explains Krista Wyatt, a director of the nonprofit TimeBanks. Org, which helps volunteers set up local time banks all over the world.
Nobody knows the exact number, but thousands of time banks with several hundred thousand members have been set up in at least 37 countries, including China, Malaysia, Japan, Senegal, Argentina, Brazil and in Europe, with over 3.2 million exchanges. There are probably more than 40,000 members in over 500 time banks in the US.
In Sebastopol, 250 local people have time bank accounts (账户) where they save and withdraw hours as needed. For example, Gill likes to offer his advice and help with computer programming, editing and financial (经济的) planning. In return, he asks for help when he needs a ride to the airport or someone to transport heavy furniture. The time banks are building social capital (资本). "I've made wonderful friends I wouldn't have met otherwise and we now invite each other to our garden parties," says Gill. "It's about making community and being a part of the community. You can't put a price on that."
David Gill came to the time bank like most of his neighbors. He doesn't remember where he first heard about it a few years ago, but he immediately thought it was a great idea. He signed up, started using it, and when the founders asked for help, he stepped up. He gets paid in the currency he values most: hours.
Time banks are a valuable resource for building social capital and supporting aging populations. They allow people to contribute to their community and receive help in return, creating a stronger, more connected society.
Giant Pandas Where they live: Mainly in Sichuan, also in Shanxi and Gansu. Why they are in danger: They don't have enough food. They don't give birth to many babies. Fun facts: A new baby panda is as small as a mouse. Pandas spend almost the whole day eating. But they only take in 20% of what they eat. Pandas poop(排便)over 12 times a day. Pandas have been on the earth for about 3 million years. Siberian Tigers(东北虎)Where they live: Northeastern China and Russia. Why they are in danger: People hunt them and destory their habitat(栖息地). Baby tigers are weak and often die early. Fun facts: A father tiger always leaves his family without saying goodbye. Then the mother tiger takes care of the babies. She is very careful. She hides her babies when she goes out hunting, and takes a different way home. |
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