【推荐1】Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia, I saw a small pool of water ahead on the path. I changed my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn’t covered by water or mud. As I reached the pool, I was suddenly attacked! Yet I did nothing for the attack. It was so unpredictable and from somewhere totally unexpected. I was surprised as well as unhurt though I had been struck four or five times. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Had I been hurt, I wouldn’t have found it amusing. And I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!

Having stopped, laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He charged towards me at full speed, attempting to hurt me but in vain. For a second time, I took a step backwards while my attacker paused. I wasn’t sure what to do. After all, it’s just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly. I stepped back to look the situation over. My attacker moved back to land on the ground. That’s when I discovered why my attacker was charging at me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying.

Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it up on himself to attack me for his mate’s sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large. He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life. His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate’s safety seemed admirable. I couldn’t do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the pool. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed.

Since then, I’ve always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge barriers facing me.

1. Why did the writer change his direction while walking down a path?

A．To reach the pool.	B．To avoid getting his shoes dirty.
C．To escape a sudden attack.	D．To get close to a butterfly.

2. What did the man find funny?

A．Not to get hurt.	B．Not knowing what to do.
C．Being attacked by a butterfly.	D．Stepping on a butterfly.

3. Which of the following words can best describe the male butterfly?

A．Horrible.

B．Amusing.

C．Aggressive.

D．Courageous.

4. From this experience the man learned ________.

A．what he should do when faced with trouble

B．people should show sympathy to the weak

C．how he should perform to protect his male

D．whether people should protect butterflies

【推荐2】I am a taxi driver. One Monday morning, I had stopped at New York Hospital when I found a well-dressed man coming over. He was waving to me. I waited until he jumped into the taxi. “La Guardia Airport, please,” he said.

As always, I wondered about my passenger. “What do you do?” “I am working at the hospital.” For some unknown reason. I decided to ask for his help.

“Could I ask a favor of you?” He didn’t answer. “I have a son, 16. He’s doing well in school. He wants a job this summer. Is there any possibility that you might get him a summer job?” After a minute, he said, “The medical students have a research project. Maybe he could fit in. Have him send me his school records.” He searched his pocket and handed me a card.

That evening, I pulled the card from my pocket. “Robbie,” I said proudly, “This could be a summer job for you. Send him your school records.” He read it out loud, “Fred Plum, New York Hospital.” “Is this a joke?” he said doubtfully. After I shouted and threatened （恐吓） to cut off his pocket money, Robbie promised to send off his grades the next morning.

Two weeks later, when I arrived home, my son handed me a letter from Plum. He was to phone Plum’s secretary for an interview.

Robbie got the job. The white coat he wore made him feel more important than he really was. As high school graduation neared, Plum was kind enough to write letters of recommendation （推荐） for universities. At last, Robbie was admitted to New York Medical College.

It never happened to me that a stranger should change my son’s future.

1. The author threatened to cut off Robbie’s pocket money probably because ________.

A．he was tired after a day’s work

B．he didn’t earn enough money

C．Robbie was unwilling to work

D．Robbie didn’t believe what he said

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

A．patient and selfless

B．generous and careful

C．kind and helpful

D．wealthy and cruel

3. What message does the passage want to tell us?

A．A stranger may change your life.

B．One must be friendly to strangers.

C．A father should be responsible for his son.

D．Doctors may have a great effect on people.

【推荐3】Tracy Garett was the Mr Fix-it of a village where I lived for two years. I heard about mysterious doings of his late wife, Minnie. There were stories of someone who had got into trouble a proper amount of money would cure, and each ended on the same strange note: “Minnie is in hock(抵押)again.”

I tried to talk with locals to solve the mystery. But at a newcomer’s spying curiosity, the villagers always avoided any conversation. It left me completely in the dark.

Soon I began having troubles of my own. My daughter had an expensive operation, but the money I had counted on didn’t come in.

One day Garett came to fix my television, which never worked properly. Working silently for a while, he looked at me and said, “Understand you’ve been having a little trouble.” I was feeling sadder, but still talked it out. “Then it’s time you met Minnie,” he said decisively.

I felt a bit scared and was prepared for anything, but all that happened was that he took out a tired-looking $ 1000 bank-note. Roughly printed on it was: MINNIE.

“All you do is take Minnie to the bank and put her up for any amount up to $1000. You pay the bank their required interest, and then Minnie comes back to me. “He continued. “Minnie loved this village, and she wanted to keep on helping people after she was gone.”

I began to understand why the town folk had been so secretive. They didn’t know whether I could be trusted with a secret so precious.

Though I moved away later, I would like to believe Minnie is still in circulation(流通). Minnie strikes me as the kind of woman who goes on forever.

1. What is Tracy Garett?

A．A banker.

B．A doctor.

C．A gardener.

D．A repairman.

2. When will “Minnie” appear?

A．Stories about her are being told.

B．Things need to be fixed.

C．She was wanted in a conversation.

D．People in the village are in need of money.

3. What’s the villagers’ attitude toward the mystery?

A．They treasure it.	B．They think nothing of it.
C．They are scared of it.	D．They are proud of it.

4. What does the writer want to express?

A．It is in giving that we receive.

B．A little kindness goes a long way.

C．He who plants kindness gathers love.

D．Kindness is the key that unlocks the heart.

【推荐1】When I was about 12 years old, my older brother, James, smuggled (偷运) a BB gun into the house. Our parents had told us many times that we were not allowed to bring home guns or knives, even if they were just toys. Having any form of weaponry (兵器) in our home was strictly forbidden.

James brought me to his room. He opened his closet door and took out a shoebox that was buried beneath a heap of clothes. The BB gun was inside. I was immediately attracted by the shiny barrel (枪管).

“Can I shoot it, James?” I asked, hopefully.

“No way,” James said, taking it from me and putting it back.

One day, when no one was home, I went into James’ closet and took it out. For some incomprehensible reason — I have no idea what I was thinking — I went to the front window of the second floor in our row house. I cracked the window open. I pointed the gun outside and shot. I quickly shut the window and looked outside secretly.

In a matter of seconds, old Mr. Schlosberg came out of his grocery store. He looked back at his store window. He looked up the street. He looked down the street. Then he looked straight across to our house.

Thankfully, James made it home before Mother or Father.

As he stepped through the door, I could hear old Mr. Schlosberg call his name. “James, James,” he called. “Come here, son.”

After several minutes, James ran back across the street and into the living room. I had retreated into the kitchen. “Alma!” he screamed. “Get out here! You cracked Mr. Schlosberg’s window with my BB gun!”

“Oh, please, James,” I begged. “Don’t let him tell Mother. She will hit my bottom real good!” James sighed. He wiped my tears and went back across the street to Mr. Schlosberg’s. I don’t know what James said to that man, but there was never a mention of the incident again.

Years later, I found out James had used the money he got from his newspaper route to pay for Mr. Schlosberg’s cracked window. He only got one cent for every paper he delivered. He managed to pay back the debt just before he went off to fight in World War Ⅱ.

Since that day, I have never touched a gun: a BB gun, a water gun, a real gun, or any other type.

1. Why was the gun hidden in the closet?

A．The gun was too expensive.	B．The family had only one gun.
C．The law didn’t allow anyone to have a gun.	D．The parents didn’t allow a gun to appear at home.

2. The word “retreated” in the middle of the passage is closest in meaning to “_____”.

A．rushed happily	B．moved excitedly
C．wandered unhurriedly	D．escaped quietly

3. What did Alma expect from James after he shot Mr. Schlosberg’s window?

A．To deal with the problem.	B．To talk with his parents.
C．To throw away the gun.	D．To tell the truth.

4. Which of the following best describes James as a brother?

A．Responsible and strict.	B．Brave and determined.
C．Responsible and caring.	D．Naughty and determined.

5. The best title of the passage is ______.

A．A Warmhearted Brother

B．A BB Gun

C．A Cracked window

D．An Incident

【推荐2】Some jobs are so demanding that there is not a free moment to do something else than to recover and rest. Most physicians have great difficulty starting or even maintaining a hobby. But there are exceptions.

Take Menno Baars for instance. He works full time as a cardiologist(心脏病专家)in a hospital in Holland. "Full time" might still be an understatement-as a cardiologist he spends about 60 hours a week in the hospital. However，after a long day of work，he likes to come home and spend hours doing what is his great passion: painting.

How can he find the time and energy to live a life that few others can pursue?" "Actually it is quite simple. If you like what you do, you will find a way to do it. Don't get me wrong. I love cardiology, but it is not a very creative profession," says Baars."It is a specialty that is based on strict treatment guidelines, without much room for your own ideas and creativity. That is why painting as a hobby is so wonderful. There are no rules and I can do whatever I want."

Although there are no rules in painting, for Baars it is still some sort of a custom. The only thing that reminds the painter Baars of the cardiologist Baars is his white coat and his surgical gloves which he wears every time he is painting." I sometimes start at 10 at night and can continue working until 4:30 in the morning and still make it to work on time that same day," says Baars."That is the advantage of my training as a medical specialist. I get used to making crazy hours and long nights."

You would think that someone who is so driven by his passion for painting was already fascinated by art as a little kid." Not at all," says Baars unexpectedly." I never dreamed of becoming a painter. My parents expected me to finish college and pursue a professional career. I only realized my passion for painting after having completed medical school. Once I was attracted by a painting of Miro, but could not afford it. So I decided to paint myself. I just started painting lines, but within minutes a beautiful dove was on the canvas. I suddenly realized this is what I want to do."

A successful doctor. A successful painter. It seems unfair to have the two identities in one person. What do his fellow cardiologists think of his passion for painting？“They accept it and actually appreciate it as well. You see，if I was a cardiologist who provided suboptimal(未达最佳标准的)care for his patients，they would not agree. My chairman told me a few years ago in the hospital that he would rather see me reading cardiology books at night than see me holding a paint brush.”

“I used to pack a lot of ideas into each painting-different shapes，colors and so on. I still have tons of ideas，which is not the problem. But I do strive for more simplicity. To depict a simple idea clearly is my goal. Also my technique has improved over time. When I started out，the paint would sometimes flake(剥落)if the basis was not good，but that doesn't happen anymore these days.”

Menno Baars never has any doubts when he is painting. However，he does like the response he gets from the most important woman in his life. His wife is the first to see each newly-finished painting." Sometimes when I finish a new painting in the middle of the night, I wake her up to see if she likes it. She doesn't always like to be woken up, but she always gives an honest answer.

Even if she doesn't like it, for me the painting is finished. I won't change it afterwards. It is more of the feeling that once my wife has seen it, it is ready to be presented to the rest of the world."

1. Why does Menno Baars like painting?

A．Because he dislikes rules very much.

B．Because he feels bored with his work.

C．Because he wants to pursue a career as a painter.

D．Because he finds painting a creative process.

2. Baars wears his working uniform while painting to_______.

A．help him work late into the night	B．make himself feel easy and comfortable
C．remember his identity as cardiologist	D．remind himself to work on time next morning

3. Baars developed the hobby of painting _______.

A．when he completed a beautiful painting	B．when he was a very young child
C．to live up to his parents' expectations	D．to spend his leisure time at home

4. What is Baars' colleagues' attitude towards him?

A．They can't hide their envy at his success.

B．They don't expect too much of his paintings.

C．They think he should put his job as a doctor first.

D．They don't think he should spend time painting.

5. Baars is trying to make his paintings_______.

A．full of different colors	B．clearly convey a simple idea	C．special with creative ideas
D．improve with modern techniques

6. If Menno Baars gets a negative response from his wife, he_______.

A．will probably feel very disappointed	B．will still keep the painting and have it presented
C．will accept her advice and change the painting	D．will never ask for her opinion any more

【推荐3】Seminole was far too accustomed to the business. Everyone sympathized with him depending an long hours minimum wage, and ill-mannered customers. Although struggling to pay his rent he still went all out to make those lucky enough to sit at his tables laugh. The day was going quick.

He was exhausted when he arrived to work the next day, but he went about his daily duties, putting on a brave face as customers complained about the food or questioned the bill. Usually as he prepared to close for the night, a couple of customers would sit down and order drinks. Most of the crew had left by closing time, but Seminole stayed to serve. Eventually, the last round was ordered and he gave them the bill. The minimum tip was suggested on the receipt. “Tomorrow will be better,” murmured he.

But luck wasn’t on his side. Evening approaching, a group of teenagers stepped in. Thankfully, they were polite and respectful. Their cheerful behavior began to rub off on him. As always, he did his best to make their dining experience a pleasant one.

Once they finished their dishes, he placed the bill on the table, accompanied with some candies. They placed their notes on the receipt and left smiling. When he returned to clear the table, he was shocked. The teenagers only left a tip of $3, but their total bill was more than $100. He'd gone above and beyond serving the tasty dishes. Ho would they be so rude?

Later that week, he struggled to let go of the awkward memories. He arrived at work and expected it to like any other, but there was something left behind the desk for him--a two-page handwritten letter from the teenagers with $18 attached, in which they explained they were unaware of the tipping practice due to it being their first time out alone. Everything suddenly made sense.

Seminole was so touched by their gesture that he uploaded a picture of the letter sharing their admirable efforts. Web visitors voiced their opinions, and the reaction was more than positive.

1. Why did Seminole wear a brave face?

A．To serve better.

B．To relax himself.

C．To sell more drinks.

D．To gain a reputation.

2. What made the teenagers only leave a tip of $3?

A．Ignorance of tipping culture.	B．Dissatisfaction with the meal.
C．Gratitude for Seminole’s service.	D．Misunderstanding of tipping practice.

3. What can we learn from the teenagers in the text?

A．One good turn deserves another.	B．Actions speak louder than words.
C．Honesty can turn into an opportunity.	D．It is better to make things right than not.

【推荐1】New technology is making it possible for people to make videos of people appearing to say things they never actually said. The videos are known as “deepfakes”.

The word “deepfake” is a combination of “deep learning”(an important part of artificial intelligence) and “fake” (not real). Deepfake software allows people to replace part of a video with another video image. The result is a fake video.

The software allows you to put your face over the face of a talking president or movie star. This process will make your face speak in the voice of that president or movie star. Many people are worried the technology will be used to trick voters. Lawmakers, intelligence officials and media experts have expressed concern about deepfakes. They warn the false videos could be used to threaten America’s national security.

“We have entered a new world where it is going to be difficult to know how to believe what we see,” said Hany Farid, a researcher at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He added, “the opposite result is also worrying. People will become so used to seeing false videos that they will be more likely to doubt a real video. ”

The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency(DARPA) is already working to develop technologies to identify fake images and videos. But Senator Rubio says, now the identification is difficult and takes a very long time.

“It takes advanced technology to be able to show that it’s not real. And by the time that’s done, it’s been widely used.”

Rubio and other lawmakers say people will need to take more responsibility to identify fakes.

1. What is “deepfake” software used to do?

A．Kill some virus.	B．Make fake videos.
C．Make excellent movies.	D．Benefit stars and leaders.

2. Why was Hany Farid worried?

A．False videos might mislead people.

B．It was too difficult to use the software.

C．Private information might be given away.

D．Some people might be addicted to “deepfakes”.

3. What can we know from Rubio’s words?

A．It is really difficult to identify fake videos.

B．The technology “deepfake” has been banned.

C．The government is responsible for identification.

D．National security is being threatened by “deepfake”.

4. What does the text mainly talk about?

A．Ways to identify fake videos.

B．People’s different views on “deepfake”.

C．A new technology with a bright future.

D．A worrying new technology “deepfake”.

【推荐2】Welcome to Arundel Castle which is situated in West Sussex, England. The castle has a history of nearly 1000 years and has welcomed visitors traveling from all over the world. Arundel Castle also plays a starring role in many films.

The Gardens

The White Garden is planted with soft white Iceberg Roses, and Snow White Lilies.

The Rose Garden is newly planted with lovely old-fashioned English roses that are at their very best in June and July.

The Organic Kitchen Garden produces a wide range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, pears, cherries and apples.

The Castle Shop

In the Castle Shop, you will discover a wide and interesting range of gift ideas for everyone. It offers gifts and souvenirs designed to appeal to all tastes and pockets. Foods, china, books, and stationery (文具)are all available. Many are sold in this Castle Shop only.

At Arundel Castle we pride ourselves on supporting local suppliers and actively encourage environmentally friendly products.

The Arundel Festival 2014

Saturday 16th to Monday 25th August

The annual Arundel Festival gets bigger and better every year. It is one of the most amazing, diverse and easily accessible arts festivals in the UK, offering a mix of visual arts, music, theatre and street entertainment.

Parking

Coaches and mini-buses can drop off at the main Castle entrance in Mill Road and park in the main town car park that is opposite the Castle entrance. Please inform us when making your booking of how many parking permits are required.

1. When visiting the castle, you can___.

A．get old-fashioned English roses as gifts	B．see how the local gifts are being made
C．get seasonal fruit and vegetables for free	D．buy eco-friendly products in the Castle Shop

2. Where can you park the coach?

A．In Mill Road	B．Inside the Castle
C．In the main town car park	D．At the main Castle entrance

3. How long does the Arundel Festival last this year?

A．10 days

B．One week

C．16 days

D．One month

【推荐3】The China Opera Festival 2017 is set to open in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, on Dec 16. Since 2011, the Ministry of Culture, supported by local governments, has hosted two opera festivals in Fujian and Hubei provinces. Works such as Tulou, Red River Valley, and Suwu of the Han Dynasty were spoken highly of by both journalists and viewers.

During this year’s festival, 23 opera works — the highest number to date — from all around the country will be performed not only in Nanjing, but also in other cities in Jiangsu such as Xuzhou and Yixing. Free lectures about the opera works will also be given.

Among the 23 operas, there are works based on real-life events, the Chinese development, historical heroes and events, and also Western operas.

Modern Chinese opera works will be one of the highlights of this year’s festival. Eight such works will be performed during the festival.

In addition, to allow more people have chance to admire to the operas, the prices of tickets have been set from the lowest 20 yuan up to a maximum of 120 yuan. More than 60 percent of the tickets will be priced under 60 yuan.

1. What is the opera watchers’ attitude towards the festival?

A．Fond.

B．Grateful.

C．Frightened.

D．Concerned.

2. What will be one of the most attractions of the festival?

A．Historical heroes and events.	B．Twenty-three real-life events.
C．Free lectures about the opera.	D．Modern Chinese opera works.

3. How much is the cheapest ticket to the opera festival?

A．20 yuan.

B．60 yuan.

C．72 yuan.

D．120 yuan.