【推荐1】Why is pink or purple a color for girls and blue or brown for boys?

The answer depends largely on cultural values as well as personal experiences. To the Egyptians, green is a color that represents the hope and joy of spring, while for Muslims, it means heaven. Red is a symbol of good luck in many cultures. In China, children are given money in a red envelope to bring good fortune in the New Year. For many nations, blue is a symbol of protection and religious beliefs. Greek people often wear a blue necklace hoping to protect themselves against evils.

People’s choice of colors is also influenced by their bodies’ reactions toward them. Each color has its own function (功能). Red can cause a person’s blood pressure to rise and increase people’s appetites (食欲). Many decorators will include different shades of red in the restaurant. Similarly, many commercial websites will have a red “Buy Now” button because red is a color that easily catches a person’s eye.

Blue is a calming color. Unlike red, blue can cause people to lose appetite. So if you want to eat less, some people suggest that eating from blue plates can help. Green is said to be the most restful color. It has the ability to reduce pain and relax people both mentally and physically. People who work in green environment have been found to have fewer stomachaches.

The next time you are deciding on what to wear or what color to decorate your room, think about the color carefully.

1. How is paragraph 2 mainly developed?

A．By listing numbers.	B．By following time order.
C．By giving examples.	D．By discussing problems.

2. Why is red often seen in restaurants?

A．To make people eat more.	B．To draw people’s attention.
C．To make people calm down.	D．To bring good luck to people.

3. Which color may help you feel less pain?

A．Red.

B．Blue.

C．Green.

D．Brown.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．People’s Choice of Colors	B．The Cultural values of Colors
C．Colors and Personal Experiences	D．The Meaning and Function of Color

【推荐2】The fact that blind people can see things using other parts of their bodies apart from their eyes may help us to understand our feelings about color. If they can sense color differences, then perhaps we, too, are affected by color without knowing it. Salesman have discovered by experience over a long period of time that sugar sells badly in green wrappings, that blue foods are considered not agreeable to the taste, and that cosmetics(化妆品)should never be packed in brown. These discoveries have grown into a whole subject of color psychology.

Some of our preferences are clearly psychological. Dark blue is the color of the night sky and therefore connected with calm, while yellow is a day color connected with energy and encouragement. Experiments have shown that colors, partly because they are connected with psychology, also have a direct effect on people’s mind. People in bright red surroundings show an increase in breathing speed, heartbeat and blood pressure. Red is exciting. Pure blue has exactly the opposite effect; it is a calming color. Being exciting, red was chosen as the signal for danger, but a closer study shows that a bright yellow can produce a more basic state of alarm, so fire engines in some advanced areas are now rushing around in bright yellow colors that stop buses, trucks and cars.

1. The passage tells us that salesmen have ________.

A．found out that colors affect sales

B．discovered the relationship between color and psychology

C．tried colors on blind people

D．developed a special subject of color psychology

2. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．foods sell well in green or blue wrappings

B．blind people cannot see color differences

C．what color we prefer depends on our state of mind

D．a bright color was exactly the opposite effect to red

3. If people are exposed to pure blue, ________.

A．their body pressure rises	B．they won’t easily feel nervous
C．they want to taste blue foods	D．they will feel like buying things

4. The most effective color in the passage for warning people is ____.

A．red	B．bright yellow
C．dark blue	D．green

【推荐3】What is your favorite color? Do you like yellow, orange or red? If you do, you must be an optimist (乐观者), a leader, an active person who enjoys life, people and excitement. Do you prefer grays (灰色) and blues? Then you are probably quiet, shy and you would rather follow than lead. If you love green, you are strong-minded and determined (意志坚定的). You wish to succeed and want other people to see you are successful. At least this is what psychologists (心理学家) tell us, and they should know, because they have been seriously studying the meaning of color preference (爱好), and the effect (影响) that colors have on human beings. They tell us that we don’t choose our favorite color as we grow up. If you happen to love brown, you did so as soon as you opened your eyes, or at least as soon as you could see clearly.

A yellow room makes us feel more cheerful (开心的) and more comfortable (舒服的) than a dark green one, and a red dress rings warmth and cheer to the saddest winter day. On the other hand, black is depressing (压抑). Light and bright colors make people not only happier but more active. It is a fact that factory workers work better, harder, and have fewer accidents when their machines are painted orange rather than black or dark gray.

Remember, then, that if you feel low, you can always brighten your day or your life with a new shirt or a few colorful things. Remember also that you will know your friends and your enemies better when you find out what colors they like and dislike. And don’t forget that anyone can guess a lot about your character when you choose a piece of handkerchief.

1. According to this passage, ________.

A．one can choose his color preference

B．one is born with his color preference

C．one’s color preference is changeable

D．one has to choose his favorite color as soon as he can see clearly

2. We would pay attention to colors because ________.

A．colors do have effect on our moods (情绪)

B．colors may have effect on our work and study

C．light and bright colors make people happy

D．you can know your friends better by the colors they like or dislike

3. The main idea of this passage is ________.

A．one’s color preference shows one’s character

B．you can brighten your life with wonderful colors

C．psychologists have been studying the meaning of color preference

D．one’s color preference has something to do with his character and colors have effects on human beings

4. “I am feeling black” means ________.

A．I am feeling well	B．I am very happy
C．I am excited	D．I am depressed

【推荐3】With more recognition than Halloween and less than Christmas,Valentine's Day as an imported festival faces a dangerous situation in China, where it's caught between forces of tradition and fashion.Valentine’s Day has a natural enemy in China.And it is not the Chinese equivalent, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh month on the lunar calendar, usually around half a year away from Feb.14. It is the Spring Festival,also known as the Chinese New Year, that will influence the Feast of Saint Valentine.

The real disagreement between East and West probably took place over a century ago,when China’s door was forced open by Western powers and Chinese scholars supported westernization as a means to strengthen our nation’s ability to compete.

The introduction of the solar calendar and Western measurements was both an acknowledgment of their influence and an effort to be accepted by the world order.

For a full century, we have had two systems running in parallel. When it comes to the eventual outcome, practicality usually beats all other concerns. Laws can help, such as the three traditional festivals of Tomb Sweeping, Dragon Boat and Mid-Autumn gaining legal status in 2008 and giving every Chinese citizen a day off, but laws cannot push what people have no feelings for. So, the celebration or boycott of imported holidays or homegrown ones should be no cause for worry. If they are irrelevant, no social media will change the public’s mind; and if they are accepted, there must be a need which they happen to satisfy.

Since we have no global Qin Shihuang to force one system on every country,we can always rely on a dual (双重的) approach by which we share with the outside world on the one hand but preserve our own ways of life on the other.

1. What does the author think about Valentine's Day in present China? ______

A．It meets with a natural enemy.	B．It is better known than Christmas.
C．It strongly attacks Chinese culture.	D．It is more popular with young people.

2. The underlined word “equivalent” in the first paragraph refers to ______ .

A．the Dragon-boat Festival	B．the Spring Festival
C．the Mid-autumn Festival	D．the Chinese Valentine's Day

3. According to the author, the leading factor to decide what to celebrate is ______ .

A．current laws

B．people’s needs

C．public media

D．age-old tradition

4. The author believes that ______ .

A．the conflict between the East and the West will last long

B．Chinese festivals are to be paid more attention to in years

C．both Chinese and foreign systems of festivals can co-exist in China

D．this cultural shock is normal and will be received by more people in the future

【推荐1】Can you imagine that there are a huge number of tiny waste pieces in the Arctic(北冰洋的)sea ice? Because of the waste pieces, 30,000 kinds of animals are in danger. It’s true that one person’s acts alone can’t help the planet. But each one of us can find ways to make our contributions.

In the home, we could try not to waste foods. Use a digital meal planner to get a right amount of food so that everything we buy and cook gets eaten. Learn how to store foods to keep them fresh longer. Be sure to use proper ways to keep our home warm. For example, we can replace old windows with energy-saving ones.

At the store, we could green our habits. Buy reusable plates, but not single-use ones. Buy home tissue not made of materials which may lead to destruction of forests. Buy glass cups instead of paper ones.

In the community, we could help keep its plants healthy. Take part in tree-planting projects or grass-cutting activities to help plants grow well.

Our actions alone can’t save the planet, but the above ways and habits can help.

1. What puts so many animals in danger?

A．Cold ice.	B．Waste pieces.
C．Bad weather.	D．People’s acts.

2. Why should we use a digital meal planner?

A．To avoid wasting foods.	B．To cook delicious foods.
C．To keep foods fresh.	D．To store foods.

3. What does the underlined word “reusable” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．That can be kept long.	B．That can be used again.
C．That can be thrown away.	D．That can be used only once.

4. Why does the author write this passage?

A．To protect animals.

B．To describe the future of the planet.

C．To encourage an environment friendly life.

D．To introduce shopping places for green products.

【推荐2】Wang Yan, a 15-year-old Chinese girl, likes eating snacks very much. She prefers cream biscuits, McDonald's hamburgers and KFC chicken. As a result, she has become overweight.

Today in China, there are many children like Wang Yan. Health experts say children should have healthy eating habits. First, they must eat regular meals and begin with a healthy breakfast. Second, they should have different kinds of foods such as fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, milk and meat. Third, children shouldn't eat too much junk food. It is delicious, but eating it often is bad for their health. If children do as the experts say, they won't become overweight. They will be healthier. Students won't become tired at school, and they will have enough energy to study hard.

1. Why has Wang Yan become overweight?

A．Because she doesn't like sports.	B．Because she likes eating vegetables.
C．Because she likes eating snacks.	D．Because she likes eating fruit.

2. How many pieces of advice do the health experts give in this passage?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

3. What kinds of food are good for our health according to the passage?

A．Milk, fruit and KFC chicken.

B．Cream biscuits, McDonald's hamburgers and KFC chicken.

C．Packages of biscuits.

D．Fruit, vegetables, grain, eggs, milk and meat.

4. If we do as the experts say, we will be____.

A．overweight

B．healthier

C．tired at school

D．confident

【推荐3】Obviously television has both advantages and disadvantages. In the first place, television is not only a convenient source of entertainment, but also a comparatively cheap one. With a TV set in the family people don’t have to pay for expensive seats at the theatre, the cinema, or the opera. All they have to so is to push a button or turn a knob, and they can see plays, films, operas and shows of every kind. Some people, however, think that this is where the danger lies. The television viewers need do nothing. He does not even have to use his legs if the has a remote control. He makes no choice and exercises,no judgment. He is completely passive and has everything presented to him without any effort in his part.

Television, it is often said, keeps one informed about current events and the latest developments in science and politics. The most distant countries and the strangest customs are brought right into one’s sitting room. It could be argued that the radio performs this service as well; but on television everything is much more living, much more real. Yet here again there is a danger. The television screen itself has a terrible, almost physical charm for us. We get so used to looking at the movements on it, so dependent on its pictures, that it begins to control our lives.

People are often heard to say that their television sets have broken down and that they have suddenly found that they have far more time to do things and that they have actually begin to talk to each other again. It makes one think, doesn’t it?

There are many other arguments for and against television. We must realize that television itself is neither good nor bad. It is the uses that it is put to that determine its value to society.

1. What is the main purpose of paragraph 1?

A．To arouse the reader’s concern.

B．To introduce the topic sentence of the whole passage.

C．To summarize the whole passage.

D．To state the primary uses of TV.

2. Television,as a source of entertainment, is          .

A．not very convenient

B．very expensive

C．quite dangerous

D．very cheap

3. One of the most obvious advantages of TV is that          .

A．it keeps us informed

B．it is not very cheap

C．it enables us to have a rest

D．it controls our lives

4. According to the last paragraph, whether TV is good or not depends on          .

A．its quality

B．people’s attitude towards it

C．its value

D．when we use it

【推荐1】The Board of Education of the Islip Union Free School District is accepting applications for this key leadership role, director of Schools, in the 2,788 student K-12 school district located on the south shore of Islip Town approximately 50 miles from Manhattan. The Board is seeking an experienced educational leader who has the following characteristics:

•Knowledge of K-12 curriculum and instruction, technology, the budget process, finances, labor relations, and community engagement.

•Experience as a successful classroom teacher and an effective educational leader in New York State.

•A strong commitment to academic excellence, and with outstanding communication and leadership skills.

New York State SDA or SDL certification required.

The Board is prepared to offer a regionally competitive salary package. An application and a brochure describing the position and the school district can be found at: www.esboces.org.

Application deadline: December 18, 2020. Send letter of intent and resume to: Islip UFSD. Director Search passes them on to Dr. Julie Davis Lutz, Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, PO Box 454, Medford, NY 11763. Or directly email: suptsearch@esboces.org.

1. What is the advertised position you can apply for?

A．A teacher.	B．An assistant.
C．An educational leader.	D．An operating officer.

2. Which of the following is not necessary for your qualification?

A．Financial support.	B．Rich experience.
C．Extraordinary skills.	D．Adequate knowledge.

3. When and where do you have to send your application papers?

A．Beyond December 18, 2020; www.esboces.org.

B．By December 18, 2020; www.esboces.org.

C．Beyond December 18, 2020; suptsearch@esboces.or

D．By December 18, 2020; suptsearch@esboces.org.

【推荐2】Can you be too beautiful? It is hardly a problem that most of us have to bother — as much as we might like to dream that it were the case.

Yet the blessings and curses of beauty have been a long-standing interest in psychology. Do those blessed with shiny faces and an attractive body live in a cloud of appreciation — or does it sometimes pay to be ordinary? At the most basic level, beauty might be thought to carry a kind of halo (光环) around it; we see that someone has one good quality, and by association, our deep mind may assume that they have other good ones too.

But if beauty pays in most circumstances, there are still situations where it can have opposite results. While attractive men may be considered better leaders, for instance, hidden sexist prejudices (偏见) can work against attractive women, making them less likely to be hired for high-level jobs that require power. And as you might expect, good-looking people of both sexes run into envy — one study found that if you are interviewed by someone of the same sex, they may be less likely to employ you if they judge that you are more attractive than they are.

More worryingly, being beautiful or handsome could harm your medical care. We tend to link good looks to health, meaning that illnesses are often taken less seriously when they affect the good-looking. When treating people for pain, for instance, doctors tend to take less care over the more attractive people.

To conclude, scientists point out that focusing too much on your appearance can itself be harmful if it creates stress and anxiety — even for those already blessed with good looks. “If you are crazy about attractiveness, it may affect your experience and interactions,” she says. It’s an outdated saying, but no amount of beauty can make up for a bad personality. As the writer Dorothy Parker put it so elegantly: “Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”

1. From paragraph 1, we can learn that        .

A．some may be bothered by their unattractive appearance

B．most people are not afraid of being too beautiful

C．we might always dream about being bothered by others

D．being too beautiful can be a problem bothering everyone

2. Which is right according to the passage?

A．Doctors care more about beautiful patients.

B．Beautiful people tend to have a healthy body.

C．Attractive women and men have equal chance of leadership.

D．Focusing too much on your appearance can be harmful.

3. What’s the meaning of the underlined sentence in the last paragraph?

A．The more beautiful outside, the less beautiful inside.

B．Beauty can help make a better personality.

C．Beauty cannot make up for bad personalities.

D．Ugly people have more confidence in their personality.

4. What might be the best title for the passage?

A．What is Real Beauty?	B．The Bad Effects of Beauty
C．Benefits of Beauty	D．Beauty, a Blessing?

【推荐3】Most people know that Marie Curie was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the first person to win it twice. However, few people know that she was also the mother of a Nobel Prize winner.

Born in September, 1897, Irene Curie was the first of the Curies’ two daughters. Along with nine other children whose parents were also famous scholars, Irene studied in their own school, and her mother was one of the teachers. She finished her high school education at the College of Sevigne in Paris.

At the age of 17 Irene entered the University of Paris to prepare for a degree in mathematics and physics. When World War I began, Irene went to help her mother, who was using X-ray facilities(设备) to help save the lives of wounded soldiers. Irene continued the work by developing X-ray facilities in military hospitals in France and Belgium. Her services were recognized in the form of a Military’s Medal by the French government.

In 1918, Irene became her mother’s assistant at the Curie Institute. In December 1924, Frederic Joliot joined the Institute, and Irene taught him the techniques required for his work. They soon fell in love and were married in 1926. Their daughter Helene was born in 1927 and their son Pierre five years later.

Like her mother, Irene combined family and career. Like her mother, Irene was awarded a Nobel Prize, along with her husband, in 1935. Unfortunately, also like her mother, she developed leukemia because of her work with radioactivity(辐射能). Irene Joliot-Curie died from leukemia on March 17, 1956.

1. When did Irene Curie go to the University of Paris?

A．In 1897	B．In 1914
C．In 1918	D．In 1924

2. Who was not a winner of Nobel Prize?

A．Marie Curie	B．Irene Curie
C．Frederic Joliet	D．Helene Joliot

3. Which of the following about Irene Curie is not true?

A．She was the elder child of Marie Curie’s

B．She got a Military’s Medal because of her services to save the wounded

C．She met her husband at the Curie institute in 1924

D．She developed leukemia but was cured

4. Which part in the newspaper may the passage come from?

A．People	B．Society
C．Culture	D．History