【推荐1】If you look for a book as a present for a child, you will be spoiled for choice even in a year there is no new Harry Potter. J.K Rowling’s wizard is not alone the past decade has been a harvest for good children’s books, which has set off a large quantity of films and in return increased sales of classics such as The lord of the Rings.

Yet despite that, reading is increasingly unpopular among children. According to statistics in 1997, 23% said they didn’t like reading in all. In 2003, 35% did. And around 6%of children leave primary school each year unable to read properly.

Maybe the decline is caused by the increasing availability of computes games. Maybe the books boom has affected only the top of the educational pile. Either way, Chancellor Cordon Brown plans to change things for the bottom of the class. In his pre-budget report, he announced the national project of Reading Recovery to help the children struggling most.

Reading Recovery is aimed at six year olds who receive four months of individual daily half-hour classes with a specially trained teacher. An evaluation earlier this year reported that children on the scheme made 20 months’ progress in just one year, whereas similarly weak readers without special help made just five months’ progress and so ended the year even further below the level expected for their age.

International research tends to find that when British children leave primacy school they read well, but read less often for fun than those elsewhere Reading for fun matters because children who are keen on reading can expect lifelong pleasure and loving books is an excellent indicator of future educational success. According to the OECD, being a regular and enthusiastic reader is of great advantage.

1. What did Statistics suggest?

A．The number of top students increased with the use of computers

B．A decreasing number of children showed interest in reading

C．A minority of primacy school children read properly

D．A huge percentage of children read regularly

2. What do we know about Reading Recovery?

A．An evaluation of it will be made sometime this year.

B．Weak readers on the project were the most hardworking.

C．It aims to train special teachers to help children with reading.

D．Children on the project showed noticeable progress in reading.

3. Reading for fun is important because book-loving children ________.

A．take greater advantage of the project

B．how the potential to enjoy a long life

C．are likely to succeed in their education.

D．would make excellent future researchers

4. What is the aim of this text?

A．To overcome primary school pupils reading difficulty.

B．To encourage the publication of more children’s books.

C．To remind children of the importance of reading for fun.

D．To introduce a way to improve early children reading.

【推荐2】Remembering names is an important social skill. Here are some ways to master it.

Recite and repeat in conversation.

When you hear a person’s name，repeat it. Immediately say it to yourself several times without moving your lips. You could also repeat the name in a way that does not sound forced or artificial.

Ask the other person to recite and repeat.

You can let other people help you remember their names. After you’ve been introduced to someone，ask that person to spell the name mad pronounce it correctly for you. Most people will be pleased by the effort you’re making to learn their names.

Admit you don’t know.

Admitting that you can’t remember someone’s name can actually make people relaxed. Most of them will feel sympathy if you say. “I’m working to remember names better. Yours is right on the tip of my tongue. What is it again?”

Use associations.

Link each person yon meet with one thing you find interesting or unusual. For example，you could make a mental note:“Vicki Cheng -- tall, black hair.” To reinforce your associations, write them on a small card as soon as possible.

Limit the number of new names you learn at one time.

When meeting a group of people, concentrate on remembering just two or three names. Free yourself from remembering every one. Few of the people in mass introductions expect you to remember their names. Another way is to limit yourself to learning just first names. Last names can come later.

Go early.

Consider going early to conferences, parties and classes. Sometimes just a few people show up on time. That's fewer names for you to remember. And as more people arrive, you can hear them being introduced to others—an automatic review for you.

1. How will most people feel when you try hard to remember their names?

A．They will be moved.	B．They will be annoyed.
C．They will be delighted.	D．They will be discouraged.

2. When you meet a group of people, it is better to remember __

A．all their names	B．a couple of names first
C．just their last names	D．as many names as possible

3. What does the text mainly tell us?

A．Tips on an important social skill.

B．Importance of attending parties.

C．How to make use of associations.

D．How to recite and repeat names.

【推荐1】Shooting down an ice-covered track, a bobsled can go faster than 80 miles an hour.     1     The answer is a combination of athletics and science.

At the start of a race, the crews push their sled, building up speed before they jump in for the ride. For months before the race, the crew members have built up explosive power in their legs. That means doing a lot of jumps, and sprints. It also means pushing heavy sleds! The push is the crew's only chance to add speed.     2    

The design of the sled's runners (滑板) reduces their friction with the ice.     3     They may not melt enough ice fora fast ride. Runners that are too rounded may become too warm, softening the ice and slowing the sled down.

    4     The rules state that all runners must be made of the same type of steel, and crews may polish them using only approved materials. Before each race, officials check the temperature of the runners. Runners may not be more than a few degrees warmer than the ice.     5    

But remember the sled must not be too fast — the crew still needs to be able to reach the bottom safely.

A．Why do people go for the sport?

B．Crews polish their runners for a fast ride.

C．The riders sit inside a hard shell, called cowling.

D．How do bobsleds go faster than cars on a highway?

E．A hot runner will melt more ice and may possibly go faster.

F．Runners that are too flat would spread the friction over a wide area.

G．All other work goes into keeping other forces from slowing the bobsled down.

【推荐2】More scientists are exploring cellular senescence(衰老)—a state in which cells(细胞)no longer divide. Senescent cells, which build up in older bodies, have a link to age-related conditions such as dementia(痴呆) disease.

Scientists are exploring drugs that treat senescent cells. But the most promising tool against the bad effects of senescent cells, experts say, is exercise.

Today, LeBrasseur, who directs a center on aging at Mayo, says exercise is “the most promising tool that we have” for good health in late life, and its power spreads to our cells. Research suggests exercise prevents the buildup of senescent cells, helping the immune(免疫的)system clear them and fight the cell damage that can affect aging.

Last year, LeBrasseur led a study that provided the first sign in humans that exercise greatly affected senescence. It cut signs in the bloodstream of the effects of senescent cells in the body.

After a 12-week exercise program, researchers found that older adults had cut signs of senescence and improved body strength, physical ability and reported health.   A recent study collects even more facts—in animals and humans—for exercise as a treatment to fight against senescence cells.

While such studies are not well-known outside scientific circles, many older adults connect exercise with youthfulness. Farmer Mike Gale, 81, put in a track and field throwing circle on his large farm in California. He and some of his friends throw the discus(铁饼) and use other exercise equipment. “I'd like to be competing in my 90s,” Gale says. “Why not?”

95-year-old Richard Soller says exercise keeps him fit enough to deal with what comes his way—including the discovery that his wife of 62 years had developed dementia. The two sometimes walk the streets of their neighborhood together, holding hands. “Do as much as you can,” he says. “That should be the goal for anyone to stay healthy.”

1. What do we know about LeBrasseur?

A．He discovered the cause of aging.	B．He developed drugs to treat aging.
C．He tested with animals and humans.	D．He firstly proved exercise stops aging.

2. How did Mike Gale feel about his physical condition?

A．Uncertain.

B．Confident.

C．Doubtful.

D．Anxious.

3. Why did the author mention the 95-year-old man?

A．To support his or her ideas.	B．To encourage people to exercise.
C．To praise him for his true love.	D．To introduce activities for the old.

4. Which is the most suitable title for the text?

A．Aging Secret Comes to Light	B．Aging Diseases Seriously Affect Health
C．Exercise Is Best Tool Against Aging	D．Elderly People Can Also Live Active Life