【推荐1】Michelle Obama, Kate Moss and Samantha Cameron are three of the most stylish﹙时髦的﹚ women on the planet because they have their daughters rather than their style. A new research has shown that women with daughters tend to be more stylish than mothers of sons; a fact partly because of the style advice their daughters offer as they get older.
78 percent of women over the age of 50 say they would be more than happy to let their daughters choose a complete outfit﹙全套衣装﹚ for them. However, just five percent of women say they would turn to their sons for style advice, while 28 percent believe that mothers of boys are less fashionable than women with girls.
“Women who don’t have daughters become less interested in style as they grow older but having a daughter may keep alive her interest in looking great,” comments psychologist Honey Langcaster-James. “And, because of their close relationship, they also have a source of support and encouragement when it comes to their style decisions.”
More than a quarter of women believe that Mums who have sons are less fashion-conscious than Mums with daughters. The most common reasons for this are that daughters are more critical, offer good advice and inspiration, and add an element of competition to look the best while sons don’t seem to care and aren’t as strict as daughters.
Interestingly, although mothers tend to rely on their daughters’ style tips, their confidence isn’t reciprocated﹙互换﹚, with 40 percent of women between the age of 19 and 34 saying they wouldn’t allow their mothers to shop for them as what their mothers would choose for them would not be as good as they expected.
And although they might not appreciate the fashion advice, the research, which was conducted by online retailer Gray & Osbourn, showed that daughters do still need their mothers with 71 percent saying they chat to their female parent every day.
“In short, the research shows just how important relationships are between mothers and daughters,” added Langcaster-James, “and just how much women appreciate an honest and trustworthy opinion.”
1. The opening paragraph is mainly to show        .

A．mothers like to follow their children’s advice

B．women with children are often less stylish

C．girls influence their mothers’ style decision

D．boys are actually better advisors than girls

2. Which of the following may Langcaster-James agree with?

A．Mothers without daughters show less interest in style.

B．It’s hard for boys to get along well with their mothers.

C．Daughters usually love their mothers more than sons do.

D．Girls are more independent than boys in some ways.

3. It can be inferred from the passage that girls        .

A．show more interest in science than boys

B．are good at encouraging other people

C．can help a lot to solve family problems

D．care more about what their mothers wear

4. By saying “their confidence isn’t reciprocatedin Paragraph 5, the author means that      .

A．some women don’t like to choose clothes for their mothers

B．some women aren’t sure what to wear when attending a party

C．some women would not like to follow their mothers’ style advice

D．some women often show no confidence in themselves

5. What does the author mainly tell us in the passage?

A．It confuses many parents how to talk with their kids.

B．Mothers of girls are more fashionable than those of boys

C．It is important for parents to respect their children’s choice.

D．Daughters prefer to talk with their mums instead of dads.

【推荐2】It’s not easy being a teenager —— nor is it easy being the parent of a teenager. You can make your child feel angry, hurt or misunderstood by what you say without realizing it yourself. It is important to give your child the space he needs to grow while gently letting him know that you’ll still be there for him when he needs you.

Expect a lot from your child, just not everything. Except for health and safety problems, such as drug use or careless driving, consider everything else open to discussion. If your child is unwilling to discuss something, don’t insist he tell you what’s on his mind. The more you insist, the more likely that he’ll clam up. Instead，let him attempt to solve things by himself. At the same time，remind him that you’re always there for him if he should seek advice or help. Show respect for your teenager’s privacy. Never read his mail or listen in on personal conversations.

Teach your teenager that the family phone is for the whole family. If your child talks on the family’s telephone for too long, tell him he can talk for l5 minutes, but then he must stay off the phone for at least all equal period of time. This not only frees up the line so that other family members can make and receive calls, but teaches your teenager moderation(节制).Or if you are open to the idea, allow your teenager his own phone that he pays for with his own pocket money or a part-time job.

1. The main purpose of the text is to tell parents ________ .

A．how to get along with a teenager	B．how to help a teenager grow up
C．how to understand a teenager	D．how to respect a teenager

2. What does the phrase "clam up" in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．refuse to talk	B．show respect
C．become excited	D．seek help

3. The last paragraph is about how to teach a teenager________.

A．to pay for his own telephone	B．to use the phone in a sensible way
C．to share the phone with friends	D．to answer the phone quickly

4. What should parents do in raising a teenager according to the text?

A．Not allow him to learn driving or take drugs.

B．Let him have his own telephone.

C．Give him advice only when necessary.

D．Not talk about personal things with him.

【推荐3】On Thanksgiving weekend, the Heffelmire family gathered for a meal at their home. After dinner, the family went down to the finished basement (地下室)to relax except Charlotte's father, Eric, who was in the garage(车库)to fix his truck.

Around 8 pm, Charlotte decided to check on her dad. She walked through the kitchen. When she opened the side door to the garage, black smoke rose up into the kitchen. She could only make out her father lying on his back, trapped under the truck. He'd removed the front passenger-side tyre(轮胎)and raised the truck on a jack(千斤顶).The truck had slipped off the jack, and now the whole weight of the wheel was on his chest and shoulders.

Charlotte ran to the front of the truck and struggled to lift it. Eric was still conscious (有意识),and he cried, “You got it! One more try!” She tried again and was able to tip the truck backward just enough for her to pull her dad by the shirt with both hands from under the truck.

She pulled him across the garage and 20 feet down the driveway. Then she ran back to the garage, which had been on fire. “I was afraid the car was going to explode(爆炸)says Charlotte, so she climbed into the truck, which faced forward, turned the key, and pressed the gas pedal(油门). The car was slowly driven out of the house.

Safely on the driveway, Charlotte stopped the truck and ran back to the basement. “There's a fire! Everybody get out!” she cried as she picked up her three-month-old niece and ran out. Outside, she handed the baby to her mom, and then ran around to the burning garage. She picked up a garden hose(水管)and sprayed the fire while calling 911.

A few minutes later, firefighters and an ambulance arrived. Charlotte was treated for second-degree burns on both her feet and face. Her dad had injuries on his chest and shoulders, as well as minor burns on his face. The garage and the house were damaged but the family survived.

The Heffelmires are staying in an apartment while their house is rebuilt. "Charlotte is a remarkable kid,“ says her dad. Charlotte, however, simply says, “I was saving my family and my house. I wasn't going to let my dad die.”

1. Where did the fire begin at first?

A．In the kitchen.	B．In the garage.
C．In the basement.	D．In the living room.

2. What happened to Eric?

A．He drove the truck and had an accident.

B．He lifted the truck and get away from the truck.

C．He found the fire and saved the whole family.

D．He was trapped under the truck and couldn't move.

3. What did the family lose in the accident?

A．They lost their house.

B．The truck exploded in the fire.

C．One of the families lost life.

D．The garage and the house were damaged.

4. Which of the following words could be used to describe Charlotte?

A．Brave and smart.	B．Handsome and clever.
C．Popular and lovable.	D．Strong and popular.

【推荐1】Videos and video calls are becoming increasingly popular on social media in China, particularly on WeChat, the country’s most-used messaging app. We Chat’s 1.08 billion monthly active users last year made 410 million daily video and audio calls. That was 5.7 times more than in 2015, when WeChat first disclosed its operational data.

Uploading videos on WeChat Moments, a function that allows users to share their latest whereabouts, has become more widely used, with the number of videos posted multiplying 4.8 times in the past 4 years.

As a one-stop solution for Chinese people’s daily lives, We Chat has been able to produce a breakdown of its users’ preferences by age group. Those born in the 1980s for example are followers of news related to state and public affairs, whereas those younger than 20 spend the most on sweet treats.

In line with previous findings, China’s elderly population are becoming adept at using WeChat as a means of communication and conducting errands (办差事). As of September 2018, over 63 million users were registered as 55 years old or above. This group recorded an average length of 11 minutes for video calls, topping all age groups. We Chat Wallet has also registered exponential (指数的) growth, with payments in public transportation and high-speed traffic rising 4.7 times and 6.3 times, separately. Spending in retail stores and dining via WeChat rose by 1.5 times and 1.7 times. The number of users who use the app for making medical appointments and paying bills almost tripled.

1. Which of the following is closer to the truth according to the passage?

A．The number of videos posted has declined in the past 4 years.

B．The users’ preferences for WeChat can be various by age group.

C．Downloading videos on WeChat Moments is widely banned officially.

D．The number of users’ spending in retail stores and dining via WeChat will be doubled.

2. From what column on a certain website is the above passage most probably taken?

A．VIDEOS	B．ADVERTISING
C．BUSINESS	D．CAREER DEVELOPMENT

3. What does the underlined word “adept” in the last paragraph roughly mean?

A．disappointed	B．inexperienced
C．surprised	D．skilled

4. What is the passage mainly concerned about accordingly?

A．Video use continues to rise sharply on WeChat.

B．WeChat video calls are more frequently used by those younger than 20.

C．The post-80s are more likely fond of public affairs as well as sweet treats.

D．Making medical appointments and payments on We Chat will be more convenient.

【推荐3】Recent years have witnessed the increasing popularity of such apps as WeChat and TikTok.     1     Also TikTok is already a household name globally, maybe one of the Chinese brands to be truly recognized universally.

WeChat is particularly relied upon as a secure part of the structure of our technologically advancing societies.     2    

Moreover, a court in Haidian allows litigants(诉讼当事人)to communicate with their lawyers through WeChat video connections.

Many features of WeChat alongside its well-thought-out design have meant that the app has dominated its competitors domestically.

The ability to move through web pages without tags and save articles alongside other offline content within the app simplified the online experience.     3    This is a fantastic application designed to combine the comprehensive nature of the web experience with the simplistic convenience of mobile apps.

    4     An example is that users, when opening an app such as WeChat, will simply at first see the content that had been previously browsing, allowing them to pick up where they left off, much like reading a book.

The intuitive(直观的)design is what makes WeChat not just an app in communicating with friends and family.     5    You can also order a taxi through it. All of these extra features come down to the one single universal strength of detail in design and multiple app service integration.

A．Residents in Guangzhou can use the app to store their ID cards.

B．Many may bring up the fact that you can pay for goods and services.

C．WeChat alone, as of 2020, boasts more than 1 billion users worldwide.

D．The app itself has no doubt also been an influence on many Western apps.

E．In a web browser, a user saves a list of favorite sites for future use while browsing.

F．Users didn’t have to switch constantly from app to app depending on the type of multimedia they consumed.

G．The continuity(连续性)in the online and offline browsing experience makes WeChat successful in keeping our attention.

【推荐1】Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” I’ve always enjoyed learning new language. So far I’ve learned 11 languages.

German is the first language I started learning completely on my own. I don’t remember clearly why I chose this language to learn, but I remember I had no idea how to learn it. I spent several months reading an old grammar book found in my grandmother’s bookcase. But I quickly lost heart.

Then I saw an advertisement on TV about a language series in 4 languages and decided to give it a go. While using it, I came up with my method: a special technique to absorb (掌握) the basic patterns of any language in a light, natural and fun way. I quickly realized that it was helpful to me.

After using the technique for a year and a half, I met a group of Germans while on vacation. I would always remember their faces as they asked in surprise, “Wie kannst du so gut Deutsch?” This reaction and the resulting special connection were enough to increase my passion (激情) to improve my German. From that moment on, I started reading a lot. The language has become an important part of my life.

The lesson learned: If you find a method that you like and works, you can start learning any language by yourself. There is no best method of learning a language. Find something that is helpful to you. And above all, experiment!

1. What does the author want to show by Nelson Mandela’s words?

A．The skills of mastering new languages.

B．The means of understanding foreigners.

C．The advantage of speaking mother tongues.

D．The importance of learning foreign languages.

2. What did the author most probably think of the old grammar book?

A．Boring.

B．Surprising.

C．Simple.

D．Helpful.

3. What does the underlined word “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．The advertisement on TV.

B．The basic language pattern.

C．The language series in 4 languages.

D．The author’s special learning method.

4. What did the Germans’ words mean in paragraph 4?

A．Could you be a guide for us?

B．Where did you learn German?

C．How can you speak German so well?

D．Can you share your way of learning German?

【推荐2】A city child’s summer is spent in the street in front of his home, and all through the long summer vacations I sat on the edge of the street and watched enviously the other boys on the block play baseball. I was never asked to take part even when one team had a member missing—not out of special cruelty, but because they took it for granted I would be no good at it. They were right, of course.
I would never forget the wonderful evening when something changed. The baseball ended about eight or eight thirty when it grew dark. Then it was the custom of the boys to retire to a little stoop(门廊) that stuck out from the candy store on the corner and that somehow had become theirs. No grownup ever sat there or attempted to. There the boys would sit, mostly talking about the games played during the day and of the game to be played tomorrow. Then long silences would fall and the boys would wander off one by one. It was just after one of those long silences that my life as an outsider changed. I can no longer remember which boy it was that summer evening who broke the silence with a question: but whoever he was, I nod to him gratefully now. “What’s in those books you’re always reading?” he asked casually. “Stories,” I answered. “What kind?” asked somebody else without much interest.
Nor do I know what drove me to behave as I did,for usually I just sat there in silence, glad enough to be allowed to reain among them; but instead of answering his question, I told them for two hours the story I was reading at the moment. The book was Sister Carrie. They listened bug-eyed and breathless. I must have told it well, but I think there was another and deeper reason that made them to keep an audience. Listening to a tale being told in the dark is one of the most ancient of man’s entertainments, but I was offering them as well, without being aware of doing it, a new and exciting experience.
The books they themselves read were the Rover Boys or Tom Swift or G.A.Henty. I had read them too, but at thirteen I had long since left them behind. Since I was much alone I had become an enthusiastic reader and I had gone through the books-for-boys series. In those days there was no reading material between children’s and grownups’books or I could find none. I had gone right fromTome Swift and His Flying Machine to Theodore Dreiser and Sister Carrie. Dreiser had hit my young mind, and they listened to me tell the story with some of the wonder that I had had in reading it.
The next night and many nights thereafter, a kind of unspoken ritual (仪式) took place. As it grew dark, I would take my place in the center of the stoop and begin the evening’s tale. Some nights, in order to taste my victory more completely, I cheated. I would stop at the most exciting part of a story by Jack London or Bret Harte, and without warning tell them that that was as far as I had gone in the book and it would have to be continued the following evening. It was not true, of course; but I had to make certain of my new-found power and position. I enjoyed the long summer evenings until school began in the fall. Other words of mine have been listened to by larger and more fashionable audiences, but for that tough and athletic one that sat close on the stoop outside the candy store, I have an unreasoning love that will last forever.
1. Watching the boys playing baseball, the writer must have felt ________.

A．bitter and lonely	B．special and different
C．pleased and excited	D．disturbed and annoyed

2. The writer feels grateful even now to the boy who asked the question because the boy ________.

A．invited him to join in their game

B．liked the book that he was reading

C．broke the long silence of that summer evening

D．offered him an opportunity that changed his life

3. According to Paragraph 3, story-telling was popular among the boys basically because ________.

A．the story was from a children’s book

B．listening to tales was an age-old practice

C．the boys had few entertainments after dark

D．the boys didn’t read books by themselves

4. The boys were attracted to Sister Carrie because ________.

A．it was written by Theodore Dreiser

B．it was specifically targeted at boys

C．it gave them a deeper feeling of pleasure

D．it talked about the wonders of the world

5. Sometimes the writer stopped at the most exciting part of a story to _______.

A．play a mean trick on the boys

B．experience more joy of achievement

C．add his own imagination to the story

D．help the boys understand the story better

6. What is the message conveyed in the story?

A．One can find his position in life in his own way.

B．Friendship is built upon respect for each other.

C．Reading is more important than playing games.

D．Adult habits are developed from childhood.

【推荐3】If you rent an apartment in Beijing, you also rent the landlord or landlady for at least a year. It's important you find a good match because you have to deal with them in the long term. For me, it was love at first sight with the elderly couple who owns my apartment.

It was quite a tough trying to find the right apartment when I first arrived in Beijing. The apartments were either unsuitable or I find fault with the owners who looked indifferent at best and unfriendly at worst. But that all changed when the renting agent's car stopped in front of a hutong house in the heart of the capital.

I saw an elderly couple, in their 70s perhaps, waving to me. They were warm and welcoming at first glance, and when I saw them attentively hanging up the curtains in what would become my bedroom, I was just sold on the place and the owners!

Chinese people talk about yuanfen, meaning fate that brings people together. Before I met my current landlords, I thought the concept of yuanfen was overrated. A generous landlady who liked me and wanted me to move into her apartment had used the term in reference to me. But it was this lovely couple that changed my mind about the concept.

We have become accustomed to visiting each other at home. The couple's apartment is lovingly decorated, boasting a recent wedding photo of themselves taken in bridal wear. The landlord likes to smoke and sip tea, while the landlady takes great pride in her appearance.

After three years, I dare say they treat me a bit like a "daughter", despite having two grown sons, one of them close by. They give me gifts of tea or clothes, and I bring them souvenirs from my trips. A match made in heaven, indeed!

1. How did the author feel about renting an apartment in Beijing?

A．It was a piece of cake.

B．There were lots of unfriendly owners.

C．It was worth trying different apartments.

D．It was not so easy to find a suitable apartment.

2. What did the elderly couple do when they first met the author?

A．They looked indifferent and find fault with the author.

B．They gave a warm welcome and took good care of the house.

C．They liked the author and wanted her to move into their apartment.

D．They were nice and gave her gifts of tea or clothes.

3. Which one is correct about the elderly couple?

A．They are newly married.	B．They are nice and easy to get along with.
C．They love drinking tea.	D．They live together with their two sons.

【推荐1】Kid-friendly attractions & hands-on museums

National Geographic Museum

Animal lovers young and old will look forward to a visit to the National Geographic Museum, which is near Farragut West. There are changing exhibits that always feature work by great photographers, as well as exhibits that show the efforts of international scientists to protect the natural worlds resources (资源) and animals. Children under 5 are free.

National Air and Space Museum

The National Air and Space Museum on the National Mall offers daily programs involving science experimentation. Kids are welcome to make and fly their own paper airplane, look through a real telescope (望远镜) with astronomy experts, watch a show at the Planetarium, climb in an aircraft, or watch an IMAX film.

National Building Museum

Kids can learn how engineers construct architectural wonders by using soft blocks in the Great Hall of the National Building Museum. Little ones will love the Building Zone, where they can drive a bulldozer (推土机) and build a house.

Renwick Gallery

Take the kids to the Renwick Gallery, which hosts the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s amazing collection of decorative art, and start a completely new conversation between kids and art.

1. What is special about the museum near Farragut West?

A．It enables kids to build a house on their own.

B．It houses a vast collection of paintings.

C．It teaches kids about the environment.

D．It is free for both parents and kids

2. Who is the Renwick Gallery for?

A．Architects.	B．Animal enthusiasts.
C．Art lovers.	D．Astronomy fans.

3. Where does the text most probably come from?

A．A news report.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A geography textbook.	D．A culture magazine.

【推荐2】Buy the GNN paperback book directly from Good News Network if you’re in the U.S.A.—and you will save $2.00 compared to the Amazon price during our Holiday Sale—plus get FREE shipping!

Here’s a great gift for all the news junkies (上瘾的人) in your life: Our book...And Now, The Good News, shines a spotlight on the extraordinary and everyday heroes and solutions to make you feel optimistic and hopeful about our world — and makes a GREAT gift!

Instead of complaining about the news, TRY this book to get a dose of GOOD News (for a change) ...

*A small paperback with 28 stories, great for reading on an airplane or daily commute.

*Perfect for office waiting rooms, or thank-you gifts.

This collection of unique, inspiring stories celebrates 20 years of Good News Network—the website that features all-positive news from around the world at GNN.org. Created in 1997 by former Washington, DC television news editor Geri Weis-Corley, these are among her favorite GNN stories from two decades.

FOR USA RESIDENTS ONLY!! Shipping directly from Good News Network, here.

Live Outside the U.S. or Want Amazon Prime?

You can purchase now on Amazon.com Prime — which requires 1-2 days to print, and then additional to ship. If you are outside the U.S., order here from Amazon: United Kingdom—Canada—Germany—Spain—Italy—Australia

1. Why is the book considered a great gift for all the “news junkies”?

A．It can be bought directly from Good News Network.

B．Buyers can save $2.00 compared to the Amazon price.

C．It can help readers find the power of positive thinking.

D．Buyers outside the USA can also get free shipping.

2. Why did Geri Weis-Corley collect these inspiring stories?

A．She likes reading books on an airplane.

B．She often sends thank-you gifts to friends.

C．She hopes to gain international popularity.

D．She wants to celebrate 20 years of Good News Network.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A brochure.

B．A website.

C．Newspaper.

D．A magazine.

【推荐3】Good tool design is important in the prevention of overuse injuries. Well-designed tools and equipment will require less force to operate them and prevent awkward(别扭的)hand positions. They will allow the worker to keep the elbows(肘)next to the body to prevent damage to the shoulder and arm.

Overuse injuries can therefore be prevented or reduced if the employer provides, and workers use:

●power tools rather than having to use muscle power

●tools with specially designed handles that allow the wrist to keep straight (See figure 1). This means that hands and wrists are kept in the same position as they would be if they were hanging relaxed at a person’s side

Figure1. Bend the tool, not the wrist

●tools with handles that can be held comfortably by the whole hand. This means having a selection of sizes-remember that tools that provide a comfortable firm hold for a person with a very large hand may be of no use for someone with a very small hand. This is a particularly important consideration for women who may use tools originally designed for men.

●tools that do not press fingers (or flesh) between the handles, and whose handles do not have sharp edges or a small surface area.

1. What is the best title for the passage？

A．Good tool Design for Women	B．Importance of Good Tool Design
C．Tool Design and Prevention of Injuries	D．Overuse of Tools and Worker Protection

2. Which of the following describes a well-designed tool？

A．It‘s kept close to the body.	B．It fully uses muscle power.
C．It makes users feel relaxed.	D．It will make users use less force

3. What is Figure 1 used to show？

A．The effective use of the tool.	B．The way of operating the tool.
C．The proper design of the handle.	D．The purpose of bending the wrist.

4. In choosing tools for women，_____of the handle is the most important.

A．the size

B．the edge

C．the shape

D．the position