【推荐1】Top Tips for the Flu Season

It’s coming. I can feel it in the air. On the subway every time someone coughs, I look up to see if I can move a little further. As I exit the train, I immediately reach for hand wash to remove any of the dirt on my hands.     1    

If you are young and healthy, it’s most likely that you will just feel uncomfortable for a week or two, miss some work or study. If you are elderly, have medical problems, or are a young child, you may not be so lucky.     2     Depending on the year, between 3,000 and 49,000 people die.

The best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated (接种疫苗).     3     However, it still offers considerable protection. In adults , the vaccine is 59 percent protective on average. For children the story is better. Clearly, we need better vaccines but it’s still a really good idea to get vaccinated.

Can the flu shot give you the flu? You may have an arm pain or a little fever, but the injection does not contain a live virus and cannot give you the flu.

    4     It isn’t clear how long protection lasts and if the vaccine protects against different flus for only one year.

Finally, here is some advice for what to do if you get the flu.

•     5    

• Stay at home until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours. That will reduce the number of people you give this to.

• Cover your coughs and sneezes.

• Keep your hands clean. Use soap and water or hand wash frequently, especially after coughing or sneezing.

• Drink plenty of water.

Best wishes for a happy flu season!

A．Flu season is here, and I take it seriously.

B．If you got the flu shot last year, do you need it this year?

C．Each year more than 200,000 people are staying in hospital due to the illness.

D．If you have the symptoms, call your doctor early to see if he wants to prescribe some medicine.

E．Flu symptoms usually come on suddenly and frequently and include high fever, cough, sore throat and body aches.

F．Oftentimes doctors’ offices have special rooms set up in the fall just for giving flu shots, so its fast , easy and effective.

G．You may have heard about a new study on flu vaccines, and it found that the flu vaccine didn’t work as well as we thought or would like.

【推荐2】Eating chocolate at least once a week could avoid a heart attack, according to new research published in a magazine. Chocolate is packed with plant chemicals that weaken inflammation(炎症) and help blood flow, explained scientists.

The study author Dr. Chayakrit Krittanawong said, “Our study suggests chocolate helps keep the heart’s blood vessels healthy.” The study collected data from six trials that examined the link over the past five decades. A total of 336,289 people reported their intake. Those who ate chocolate more than once a week reduced their risk of coronary artery(冠状动脉) disease by eight percent. This was compared to peers who ate it less than once a week.

Researchers stress that some heart-healthy nutrients in chocolate can improve some measures of heart health by reducing inflammation and flushing low-density lipoprotein(低密度脂蛋白) out of the body. When the latter collects, it causes vessels and arteries to become blocked up. It can stop blood flowing to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.

Dark chocolate has long been known to have health benefits but recent research has suggested milk chocolate may also provide valuable nutrients to the heart. Dr. Krittanawong pointed out his study did not investigate whether any particular type of chocolate is more beneficial or if there is an ideal portion size. He said, “Chocolate appears promising for the prevention of coronary artery disease. But more research is needed to show how much and what kind of chocolate could be recommended.”

While it’s not clear how much is perfect, Dr. Krittanawong warned people against overeating. He said, “Moderate amounts of chocolate seem to protect coronary arteries but it’s likely that large quantities do not.”

1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．The result of the study.	B．The process of the study.
C．The participants of the study.	D．The purpose of the study.

2. Which of the following can probably prevent the blood flow?

A．A stroke.	B．A heart attack.
C．High-density lipoprotein.	D．Low-density lipoprotein.

3. What does the recent study in Paragraph 4 tell us?

A．Chocolate is good for blood pressure.

B．Dark chocolate is beneficial to health.

C．Milk chocolate may also benefit the heart.

D．Chocolate contains special plant chemicals.

4. What’s Dr. Krittanawong’s attitude toward chocolate’s preventing coronary artery disease?

A．Indifferent.	B．Hopeful.
C．Negative.	D．Uncertain.

【推荐3】French baby-milk maker Lactalis and health authorities have ordered a major international recall ( 召回) of several food products for babies. The Lactalis Group is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of dairy products. It said French health officials warned the company that 26 babies had been sickened with salmonella (沙门氏菌) since December 1,2017.

The French Ministry of the Economy ordered the suspension of marketing and export of several baby products made at a Lactalis factory in Craon, France. It said all the products were manufactured after February 15, 2017, the French health ministry’s website says the recall affects nine countries in four continents: Britain and Greece in Europe; Morocco and Sudan in Africa; Peru and Colombia in South America; and Pakistan, Bangladesh and China in Asia. The United States, a major market for Lactalis products, is not affected.

A company spokesman told the Associated Press Monday that the recall is “precautionary (预防的)” and involves “several million” products. Lactalis noted in a statement that the 26 cases of infection were linked to products with the brand names Picot SL, Pepti Junior 1 , Milumel Bio 1 and Picot Riz. The statement included an apology and provided financial support to the families whose children were sickened. The company said it had taken measures to clean the area of the factory where the bacteria spread.

Infection with salmonella can cause sickness. Signs of infection include abdominal ( 腹 部 ) pain , diarrhea ( 腹泻) and higher-than-normal body temperature. The sickness is more dangerous among some populations, including the very young.

The Lactalis Group is a privately-held company. Its headquarters is in western France. Lactalis has 75, 000 employees in 85 countries and earnings of about 17 billion euros a year. Its famous brands include President and Galbani cheeses, as well as Parmalat milk.

1. Why are the dairy products of Lactalis ordered to be returned?

A．Because they may have been polluted by salmonella.

B．Because they have claimed the lives of some babies.

C．Because their marketing strategy has been adjusted.

D．Because they are being boycotted by consumers.

2. What can we learn about infection with salmonella from the passage?

A．26 baby cases have been found by now.

B．The symptoms include a high body temperature.

C．The very young tend to suffer less.

D．Nine countries were infected, including America.

3. What measures have been taken to address the issue?

A．Recalling the products made before Feb.15, 2017.

B．Cleaning all the areas of the relevant factories.

C．Pausing the promotion of products in Australia.

D．Covering the medical expenses of the sick children.

4. Where does the text probably come from?

A．A book review.

B．A research paper.

C．A news report.

D．A doctor’s diary.

【推荐3】If a woman has an extra piece of cake, don’t blame it on greed, blame it on her brain.

Scientists have found that women’s brains react to food very differently — and much more strongly — than men’s. Academics found that decades of dieting pressure on women and advertising have programmed certain parts of the female brain to react strongly when faced with any kind of food. Men, on the other hand, are not usually as obsessive (着迷的) about what they eat.

Dr. Rudolf Uher and his colleagues at the Institute of Psychiatry in King’s College London used brain scanning technology, known as functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI), to look at the brains of eighteen men and women.

The volunteers were given images of food to look at, as well as food to taste. Their brain reactions were observed by the scientists.

They found that the female brains reacted much more strongly than those of males.

The same reaction did not happen when they were shown non-food images. The team believe this means women think more about food than men tend to do.

Dr. Uher said, “This could be related to biological differences between men and women. But the more likely explanation is that women have a more complicated reaction to food because of social pressure.

Professor Carey Cooper, psychology and health professor at Lancaster University, said, “For centuries women have had a providing role — preparing and cooking food for their families. And it is part of that rule to make sure the food is safe. They will therefore be much more sensitive to food than men are, and I would not be surprised if that was now built into their DNA. If the female brain reacts to food because it historically has developed neural (神经的) pathways to do this, then food will be the way they express their stress. Food actually, is a comfort for women.”

But other experts have said that more research must be done before the results can be proved. American scientist Angelo del Parigi of the John B. Pierce Laboratory in New Haven, Connecticut, said, “Looking at an FMRI alone cannot make sure whether the stronger reaction in women is due to innate (天生的) differences or a learned process.”

1. Dr. Uher and his colleagues carried out the research by comparing ____

A．FMRI’s effectiveness on women and men

B．volunteers’ reaction to different kinds of food

C．volunteers’ reaction to food before and after meals

D．women’s and men’s reaction to different images

2. In Dr. Uher’s opinion, women react more strongly to food than men most probably because they are ____　.

A．told to do so for a long time

B．influenced by advertisements

C．forced by powerful social influences

D．born to do so due to biological reasons

3. According to Professor Carey Cooper, women _______.

A．turn to food when they feel sad

B．are stressed because of food safety

C．accept their social role from the heart

D．are satisfied with preparing food for their families

4. What was Angelo del Parigi’s attitude towards the research results?

A．Surprised.	B．Uninterested.
C．Doubtful.	D．Curious.

【推荐1】A woman held her phone tightly to her heart the way a church-goer might hold a Bible. She was anxious to take a picture of an impressive bunch of flowers that sat not so far away, but first she had to get through a crowd of others pushing their way to do the same. The cause of this was Bouquets to Art, one of the most popular events at the de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Flower sellers were asked to create flower arrangements that respond to pieces of art on display, from ancient carvings to contemporary sculptures. It’s extremely attractive and also memorable, to the point that it has become a problem.

In recent years, the de Young received more than a thousand complaints from people who felt that cell phones had spoiled their experience of the exhibit. Institutions of fine art around the world face similar problems as the desire to take photographs becomes a huge attraction for museums, as well as something that upsets some of their patrons (资助人). So the de Young responded with a kind of compromise:carving out “photo free” hours during the exhibition’s six-day run.

One common complaint about the effect of social media on museum culture is that people seem to be missing out on experiences because they are so busy collecting evidence of them. A study recently published in the journal Psychological Science suggests there is some truth to this. It finds that people who keep taking photos of an exhibit and posting them on social media rather than simply observing it, have a hard time remembering what they see. But the issue is complex for the professionals running museums. Linda Butler, the de Young’s head of marketing and visitor experience, acknowledges that not everyone wants a museum to be“a photo-taking playland”. Yet a lot of people do and she believes that the de Young is in no position to judge one reason for buying a $ 28 ticket to be more valid than another. “If we removed social media and photography,” she says. “We would risk becoming irrelevant.”

1. What was the woman eager to do according to Paragraph 1?

A．To get her phone.	B．To escape the crowd.
C．To take a photo.	D．To push ahead.

2. How did the de Young respond to the dilemma?

A．By setting periods without photo-taking.

B．By making the exhibition free of charge.

C．By compromising with the government.

D．By extending the free exhibition hours.

3. The recent study finds that the use of social media in museums may ________.

A．uncover the truth	B．cause irrelevancy
C．bring more pleasure	D．play a negative role

4. Which of the following may Linda Butler support?

A．Reducing admission prices.

B．Catering to visitors.

C．Reserving judgement in public.

D．Banning social media and photography.

【推荐2】A volcanic eruption in Iceland has sent ash across northern Europe.Airlines have stopped or changed the flights across the Atlantic Ocean, leaving hundreds of passengers stuck in airports.

Grirmsvom is one of the largest and most active volcanoes in Europe. What makes Grimsvom different is that it lies under a huge glacier of ice up to 12 maters thick. The hot volcano heats up the ice above it, which then forms a layer of water between the glacier and the volcano. This layer of water puts pressure on the volcano, keeping it stable. As the water flows out from under the glacier, the pressure lifts. The lava from the volcano then comes up to the surface. This is exactly what happened today.     

Now, airlines have to make changes to their flights so as not to fly through the clouds of volcanic ash. According to KLM, one of Europe’s biggest airlines, airplanes cannot go under the cloud or over it. Going through the cloud can result in ash getting stuck in the airplane’s engines, causing damage to the plane.     

The eruption has also caused problems for animals in Iceland. The volcano left ash and sharp. Glass-like rocks all over the countryside. Farmers are keeping their animals inside to stop them from eating ash- covered grass to the sharp object.

1. What makes Grimsvom different from other volcanoes?

A．It is below ice.

B．It lies under the sea

C．It is the largest volcano

D．It is lava affects the airlines

2. Which of the following is the result of the volcanic eruption?

A．People stop traveling in Europe

B．Airlines suffer from the loss of planes

C．It becomes dangerous for animals to eat outside

D．Farmers have lost many of their animals

3. This text is most probably taken from________

A．a research paper

B．a newspaper report

C．a class presentation

D．a geography textbook.

【推荐1】At your next meeting, wait for a pause (停顿) in conversation and try to measure how long it lasts.

Among English speakers, it is probable that it will be a second or two at most. But while this pattern may be universal, our understanding of silence differs greatly across cultures.

What one culture considers a confusing or embarrassing pause may be seen by others as a valuable moment of thought and respect for what the last speaker has said. Research in Dutch (荷兰语) and also in English found that when a silence in conversation lasts four seconds, people start to feel uneasy. However, another study of business meetings found that Japanese people are happy with silences of 8.2 seconds—nearly twice as long as in Americans’ meetings.

In Japan, it is recognized that the best communication is when you don’t speak at all. It’s already a failure to understand each other by speaking because you’re repairing that failure by using words.

In the US, it may originate from the history of colonial (殖民地的) America as a crossroads of many different races (种族). When you have difference, it’s hard to reach common understanding unless you talk and there’s understandably a kind of anxiety unless people use words to establish a common life. This applies also to some extent to London.

However, when there’s more homogeneity, perhaps it’s easier for some kinds of silence to appear. For example, among your closest friends and family it’s easier to sit in silence than with people you’re less well know.

1. Which of the following people might have the longest silence in conversation?

A．The Dutch

B．The American

C．The English

D．The Japanese

2. What might the Japanese agree with in a conversation?

A．Speaking more gives the upper hand.

B．Speak out what you have in your mind.

C．Great minds think alike without words.

D．The shorter talking silence, the better.

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．A four second silence in conversation is universal.

B．It’s hard for American to reach a common agreement.

C．English speakers are more talkative than Japanese speakers.

D．The closer we and our family are, the easier the silence appears.

4. What does the underlined word “homogeneity” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Similarity

B．Difference

C．Disagreement

D．Misunderstanding

【推荐2】L. Bean Quad backpack

If you need a backpack that can carry large and small objects and is comfortable to wear, this is the backpack for you. The reasonable price and customers’ 100% satisfaction makes this a great buy any way you look at it. While it’s not the most beautiful backpack on the planet, it does look nice at first sight.

Kanken 15" backpack

This Kanken bag is a great choice for school kids of grade one to six or adults with narrow shoulders. Weighing under 450g, it’s easy and comfortable to carry this bag around. The simple design with a lot of eye-catching colors may have you fall in love with it at once.

Timbuk2 Command backpack

If you want to safely carry your laptop and look stylish, the Timbuk2 Command backpack is the one for you. The soft back is made for a comfortable wearing experience. The clean coloring and lines of the bag may make you more “grown-up”.

Amazon Basics backpack

With a lowest price among all these backpacks, the Amazon Basics backpack is a great choice for college students on a tight budget. There are tons of storage choices in this backpack, so it’s easy to forget exactly where you placed a certain object. It is a basic black backpack with a few designs and is never going to appear on a fashion T stage.

1. What makes L. Bean Quad backpack attractive?

A．The color and the design.	B．The cost and the public praise.
C．The style and the quality.	D．The lightweight and the simplicity.

2. Which backpack might be the most suitable one for a Grade-3 student?

A．L. Bean Quad backpack.	B．Kanken 15" backpack.
C．Timbuk2 Command backpack.	D．Amazon Basics backpack.

3. Which of the following is an advantage of Amazon Basics backpack?

A．Price.

B．Fashion.

C．Comfort.

D．Storage.

4. In which section of a newspaper can you probably find the passage?

A．News.

B．Society.

C．Business.

D．Reviews.

【推荐3】There is an old Chinese proverb that states “One Generation plants the trees; another gets the shade,” and this is how it should be with mothers and daughters. The relationship between a mother and daughter is sometimes confusing. If close, the relationship can be similar to friendship. However, the mother and daughter relationship has unique characteristics that distinguish it from a friendship. These characteristics include a hierarchy (等级) of responsibility and unconditional love, which preclude mothers and daughters from being best friends.

Marina, 27 years old, says, “I love spending time with my mom, but I wouldn’t consider her my best friend. Best friends don’t pay for your wedding. Best friends don’t remind you how they carried you in their body and gave you life! Best friends don’t tell you how wise they are because they have been alive at least 20 years longer than you.” This doesn’t mean that the mother and daughter relationship canˈt be very close and satisfying.While some adult relationships are still troubled, many find them to be extremely rewarding. This generation of mothers and adult daughters has a lot in common which increases the likelihood of shared companionship. Mothers and daughters have always shared the common experience of being homemakers, responsible for maintaining and passing on family values and traditions. Today contemporary mothers and daughters also share the experience of the workforce and technology, which may bring them even closer together.

Best friends may or may not continue to be best friends, but for better or worse, the mother and daughter relationship is permanent, even if for some unfortunate reason they aren’t speaking. The mother and child relationship is closer than any other. There is not an equal relationship. Daughters should not feel responsible for their mother’s emotional well-being. It isn’t that they don’t care deeply about their mothers. It’s just that they shouldn’t be burdened with their mother’s well being.

The mother and daughter relationship is a relationship that is not replaceable by any other. Mothers never stop being mothers, which includes frequently wanting to protect their daughters and often feeling responsible for their happiness. Mother always “trumps”(王牌) friend.

1. What does the underlined word “preclude” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Differ.

B．Prevent.

C．Benefit.

D．Change.

2. What do we know from the text?

A．The mother and daughter relationship can be replaced by a best friend.

B．A mother’s love brings her and her daughter a close friendship.

C．The mother and daughter relationship goes beyond best friends’ friendship.

D．Marina has a troubled relationship with her mother.

3. How does the author mainly prove his statements?

A．By listing data.	B．By giving explanations.
C．By quoting sayings.	D．By making examples.