【推荐1】Lady Gaga’s latest film became an instant hit over the weekend, helping push theaters to an October ticket-selling record.

A Star Is Born, actor-turned-director Bradley Cooper’s remake of a Hollywood classic in the late 1930s, went beyond the previous expectations of movie analysts by roughly 30 percent.

The original production is such a great Hollywood myth that it’s no wonder Hollywood keeps telling it. Whatever the era, the director or the headliners, it tells the story of two lovers on dramatically different paths: a famous man who’s racing to the bottom and a woman who’s soaring to reach the top.

Mr Cooper does a lot right in this movie AStarLsBorn, beginning with the casting of Lady Gaga, whose relaxing, naturalistic performance is the key to the movie’s force.

A post-Madonna pop artist was known for her elaborate （精心制作的）makeup and costumes, which she adopted no more here.

This unmasking of Lady Gaga makes her character seem genuine or say natural, a quality that the movie is in favor of and that serves as a kind of everlasting first principle.

1. What does the author think of the new movie?

A．Boring.	B．Recommendable.
C．Ridiculous.	D．Amusing.

2. The underlined word “soaring” in the third paragraph probably means ________.

A．rising	B．competing
C．advancing	D．performing

3. What can we learn about the movie?

A．The remakes of the movie adopt different plots.

B．The movie tells the story of two friends on different paths.

C．Natural performance is considered as the only principle in this movie.

D．The movie is more impressive than what movie analysts expected.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．A Hollywood Movie—A Star Is Born

B．Lady Gaga Is on the Edge of Potential Oscar Glory

C．A Latest Film of Lady Gaga Won the Oscar Award

D．The Box Office of Bradley Cooper’s New Movie

【推荐1】Free Level Test: Spanish courses in Sydney

Let your language journey begin.

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world and the official language of more than 20 states, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, etc.

If you are planning a trip or just want to learn Spanish, consider taking a free Spanish Level Test at Instituto Cervantes Sydney, the official Spanish language and cultural centre in Australia.

Instituto Cervantes Sydney is home to Spanish language classes whose purpose is to develop students’ ability to understand, speak, read and write in Spanish. All teachers are university qualified and use the most up-to- date teaching methods.

If you already have some knowledge of Spanish, this Level Test is fit for you, as you will be tested by one of the teachers before being put into a class. You can also have all the information you need to start learning Spanish here, including courses and costs.

Ask the customer service team members about information on the free library service for students and the exciting cultural activities held all year round.

If you haven't studied Spanish before, you can enroll(注册) online in a level A1.1 ( Beginner Course). You can also enroll at the reception during business hours.

Don't miss out on discounts. Learn Spanish with up to a 7% Early Bird Discount if you enroll before the 20 of April. Students at Instituto Cervantes Sydney also enjoy special discounts on activities such as dance classes, cinema tickets and much more.

Begin your Spanish language journey with Instituto Cervantes Sydney today by joining a free Level Test this summer; there are different classes to choose from between the 11h and 18 of April.

For more information on Instituto Cervantes Sydney and their classes and cultural activities, please visit sidney. cervantes. es/ en/ default. shtm.

1. To a student who has learned Spanish, the class he will be in is decided by _______.

A．which country he is from	B．his grades in a Level Test
C．when he enrolls for the course	D．his reasons for learning Spanish

2. What do we know about the Spanish courses?

A．They are about business Spanish.	B．They center on learners' listening.
C．They are run with cultural activities.	D．They are taught with traditional methods.

3. Why are learners advised to enroll before the 20" of April?

A．They can save some money.	B．They can go to free dance classes.
C．They can start their classes earlier.	D．They can choose their favorite teachers.

【推荐2】One of the key tasks for leaders at GE (General Electric) is to look after the company’s resources. We watch how money is spent and protect the company’s assets(资产) .We make efficiencies(效率) and fight to find funding for new ideas. We care about the health and welfare of our employees,and work to keep them safe all over the world.

Where we sometimes fall short-I am sure this is true of most organizations-is with time.I don’t think we manage time as well as we could. We have meetings that include too many participants,some of whom don’t need (or want) to be there. Too much time is spent at the start of meetings passing around information that could be shared in advance. Some meetings go on longer than they need to, and don’t always result in real actions, or decisions.

Leaders make personal decisions about how to distribute their own time,and this affects how others and particularly their teams have to spend their time. I’ve asked people in my organization to think ahead-what can be done individually or beforehand. We need to think about the impact every time we occupy time, or create work, for others.

Wasting time contributes to a competitive disadvantage. It keeps us from doing things that matter and meeting deadlines. One solution we’re working on at GE is adopting a “FastWorks” mindset. This is a lean start-up concept we developed to better understand pain points, quickly test product or service hypotheses(假设) and to understand if a proposed solution is right. We used this approach to develop our GuardEon circuit breaker in less than half the time it would previously have taken and went to market 3 years sooner.

If you are like me, you have your best days when you accomplish things. The worst days are when we spend time doing things without results, and you come away feeling you have wasted time. We don’t mind working hard, but we want to get things done. The old saying went something like “time is money,”In today’s world, it’s more like “time is speed and focus, and speed and focus is money.”We are more successful if we are focused and spend our time doing the things that matter.

1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To stress the importance of finding funds.

B．To show the company’s care for employees.

C．To call for the employees to treasure their career.

D．To lay the base for the viewpoint being presented.

2. How can a leader in a company make wise use of the meeting time?

A．By inviting more participants to a meeting.

B．By sharing more information at the meeting.

C．By attaching importance to individual tasks.

D．By focusing more on what requires teamwork.

3. What is the benefit of a“FastWorks” mindset in Paragraph 4?

A．It can greatly increase efficiency.

B．It can lead to advances in technology.

C．It can help workers find more solutions.

D．It can persuade people to work harder.

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

A．GE leaders manage time well

B．There is no point in wasting time

C．Meeting the deadline makes sense

D．Applying technology to life matters

【推荐3】Laughter fills the room as Claire Conza distributes balls of wool to a bunch of women gathered in a Birkenhead cafe on a Wednesday morning.

Conza, 34, is the founder of Make Give Live, a social enterprise that’s brought together about 40 women in five groups to knit(编织)hats. Her “makers” meet each week or fortnight. “We swap finished hats for new wool and patterns to keep them busy until the next catch up,” she says.

Since starting up last year, Make Give Live has sold more than 400 woollen hats on a “buy one—give one” model, so another 250 hats have been given to the homeless or elderly people through partnerships with Lifewise and Age Concern, with more donations to come.

But for Conza, the movement is about more than making hats—she sees Make Give Live as a way to connect communities, share good times and improve well-being. “There’s a magical interaction between the generations within our groups. Our older members are enriched by using their knitting skills to teach younger people. Our younger members have new methods to share and get to create something for their community.”

Makers are also enjoying the health benefits of knitting, which Conza says offers many of the same benefits as meditation(冥想). “The rhythmic movements and sense of focus can help keep from symptoms of anxiety, pressure, and stress.”

“I found so many benefits in the mindful process of knitting and the joy of creating something useful and beautiful, at a time when I wasn’t able to do much else. I decided if it worked for me, others would also benefit, and Make Give Live was born,” she says.

“A social enterprise is a hybrid of a charity and a business,” says Conza. “It’s about having the head of a business, the heart of a charity and the hands of the community. The key to its existence is recognizing people for their efforts so they are able to stay involved.

1. Which of the following best explains how the “buy one—give one” model works?

A．A new hat will be made when one is sold.

B．A buyer buys one hat and gets one free.

C．One hat is bought to give it to a person in need.

D．For each hat sold one is given to a person in need.

2. Why does Conza consider Make Give Live more than making hats?

A．It provides warm hats for people of all ages.

B．It helps to develop the members' knitting skills.

C．It creates a good relationship in the community.

D．It introduces new methods for creating better hats.

3. According to the text, what effect does knitting have on people?

A．It makes them relaxed.	B．It makes them hopeful.
C．It makes them energetic.	D．It makes them courageous.

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

A．Branch.	B．Standard.
C．Mixture.	D．Boundary.

【推荐1】From Alton Towers to Legoland, our experts pick their favorite British theme parks, highlighting the best roller coasters, character-led attractions, and animal safaris (狩猎旅行).

Drayton Manor

The Staffordshire theme park includes rides for all ages but stands out for having hit on a winning formula for young families with its expanding Thomas Land section. The 286-acre site is set in woodlands but the main village is enough for little legs to explore, making it well suited to pre-and primary school children.

Paultons Family Theme Park

On the edge of New Forest National Park, in Hampshire, Paultons Family Theme Park sits in 140 acres of attractive parkland. Although overshadowed by Thorpe Park and Alton Towers in terms of big rides, the park is home to Peppa Pig World, as well as 60 rides and attractions, and is best for families with young children.

Chessington World of Adventures

This park in Surrey has injected novelty (新奇) this year with the launch of its exclusive Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, raising its status as a family-friendly destination. The park also provides added family value with the opportunity to get a close-up interaction with animals including monkey walk-throughs and the Zufari safari experience.

Legoland Windsor

If you’re looking for stomach-in-the-mouth roller coasters, Legoland is not for you. This is the entry-level theme park for families with kids below the age of 12, with bucket-loads to keep them happy. Now in its third decade, set in lovely grounds, the theme park still has some of the charm of the original Danish parent park, with plenty of giraffes, crocodiles and pirates made out of Lego bricks spread over the rides.

1. Which of the following is recommended if a family want to interact with animals?

A．Drayton Manor

B．Paultons Family Theme Park

C．Chessington World of Adventures

D．Legoland Windsor

2. What do the four theme parks have in common?

A．They’re all ideal for children.

B．They all feature thrilling big rides.

C．They’re all renewing recreational facilities.

D．They all cover a vast area of over 200 acres.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To promote ecotourism.

B．To value family union.

C．To introduce theme parks.

D．To compare tourist attractions.

【推荐2】There are usually few things people want to do less than housework. But while washing the dishes and dusting the shelves seem like trouble some things. A new study has found just how important they are to our general health and happiness.

In fact, scientists now believe cleaning the house is more important to mental and physical health than other factors, such as the area you live in or how much you earn. Researchers at Case Western Reserve University say doing housework is helpful because of the exercise it takes to get the daily job done, which in turn affects mental health.

Dr. Kathy Wright and a research team at the university’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing wanted to find out how property (财产), education, environment and health behaviors, like smoking, affect an older person’s health. The study’s 337 participants, from 65 to 94 years old, had to have at least one chronic (慢性的) illness which prevented them from doing at least one basic daily task, such as bathing and dressing.

Dr. Wright said she was surprised to learn that doing housework and keeping their property affected the participants’ mental and physical health more than other factors. “House cleaning kept them up and moving, ” said Dr. Wright. “A clean environment is helpful in treating some illnesses. And poverty (贫穷) did not directly affect mental or physical health. ”

The study proved what Dr. Wright had observed in her visits: people living in a dirty environment seemed less satisfied than those in a place that was neat and tidy. Dr. Wright hopes the study shows how important it is for older people with chronic illnesses to continue physical activities, such as doing reaching exercise while sitting, standing up and sitting down in a chair.

1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．Most people don’t like doing housework.

B．Most people are too busy to do housework.

C．Most people do less housework than before.

D．Most people don’t know how to keep healthy and happy.

2. When Dr. Wright and the team did the research, they________.

A．limited the participants’ moving areas to certain places

B．tried different treatments for the participants’ illnesses

C．observed the changes of the participants’ behaviors

D．chose those who were weak as their participants

3. According to the passage, by doing housework, we can________.
a. learn to share
b. do some exercise
c. learn to be responsible
d. keep the house clean and tidy
e. enjoy staying with family members
f. improve our mental and physical health

A．a, c, e	B．b, d, f
C．c, d, f	D．d, e, f

4. The passage mainly tells us _______.

A．people’s different attitudes towards housework

B．how to improve mental and physical health

C．the advantages of doing housework

D．the best ways to do housework

【推荐3】There are two species of crocodile in Australia—the saltwater crocodiles and the freshwater ones.

Saltwater crocodiles are among the world's largest crocodiles, with males often reaching five metres. But some can reach six to eight metres. Females grow up to 2.5 metres long.

Saltwater crocodiles live in rivers, and coastal waters in northern Australia and eat a wide variety of prey. The young ones stick to insects, small reptiles and fish. But adults hunt for bigger prey like snakes, monkeys and cattle. And they have been known to attack humans.

Freshwater crocodiles, however, aren't usually dangerous to people. They live in freshwater streams, rivers and large water holes in northern Australia. Freshwater crocodiles aren't as big as saltwater ones either, reaching a length of three metres at most.

Crocodiles first appeared 200 million years ago and lived originally on land. But they soon evolved into aquatic (水生的) animals.

These reptiles are excellent predators (肉食动物) and have few natural enemies. Crocodiles have about 30 or 40 teeth in each jaw. And it is the jaw that gives a unique feature to them.

A crocodile can close its jaws with such force that it can break the bones of some animals. Yet, once the jaws are shut, they're so weak that they can be held together by a person's hand.

To reproduce, crocodiles, like other reptiles, lay eggs. One female can produce between 20 and 90 eggs at a time. Once laid, female crocodiles bury their eggs in sand or mud, where they are left to hatch. Some females stay in the area to protect the nest and look after the young after they hatch, but often other predators eat the eggs.

1. The largest crocodiles in Australia can reash a length of ________.

A．three metres	B．five metres
C．eight metres	D．ten metres

2. The following features of saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles have been mentioned in the passage except ________.

A．their eating habits

B．the law to find a mate

C．the key to their strong power

D．threat against their reproduction

3. What do saltwater crocodiles and freshwater crocodiles have in common?

A．Theh have the same size.

B．They both live in freshwater streams.

C．They are usually both dangerous to people.

D．They both live in northern Australia.

4. We can infer from Paragraph 7 that ________.

A．crocodiles close their jaws very quickly

B．crocodiles' jaws are easy to control when they are open

C．crocodiles are not dangerous to people when their jaws are closed

D．crocodiles' jaws are very powerful when closing

5. What usually happens after crocodile eggs are laid?

A．The eggs will be kept under the ground.

B．The eggs will be hatched by their parents.

C．The male crocodiles will protect the eggs.

D．The female crocodiles will leave the nest.