【推荐1】Toronto in Canada is one of those cities that people visit and then dream of living in. It’s large, but not too large; prosperous（繁荣的）, but not expensive. But most importantly, Toronto is very open and tolerant（宽容的）. The city, the capital of Ontario, is one of the world’s most multicultural cities.

The fact that 140 languages are spoken in the city tells a story. What’s more, 12.5 percent of the citys population is Chinese.

With all the different groups in the city, you’d expect a variety of foods to try. And, sure enough, there are many different restaurants in Toronto, from Vietnamese to Ethiopian. Many of them are are found in the Kensington Market area, where there’s also music to hear and art to see.

This multicultural background is probably one of the reasons why many people consider it a mysterious place. Speaking to BBC News, blogger Alyssa James said, “The city doesn’t give up its secrets easily. I love Toronto because I really have to love and know it.”

Toronto is a great place to explore if you want to get the most out of it. James mentioned the beaches, which are close to the city and have wonderfully clean sand and water. The good thing is that getting around in Toronto is easy, since it has a very good public transport system. It also has a reputation of being home to many talented computer geniuses. So, if you’re hoping to work in the technology industry, Toronto is a place to consider moving to.

With all this to offer, it’s not surprising that this Canadian city is an attractive destination, whether you’re going on a vacation or even looking for a home.

1. What do people think of Toronto in Canada?

A．A place people used to visit most.	B．The largest city in Canada.
C．The most expensive city.	D．An open and tolerant place.

2. What can we learn about Toronto?

A．People can experience different cultures.

B．12. 5% of the residents are from France.

C．Vietnamese foods are the most popular.

D．People can appreciate only African music.

3. What probably make people think Toronto a mystery?

A．Computer geniuses.	B．Residents.
C．various cultures.	D．Beaches.

【推荐3】In Western countries people have been using the installment （按揭）plan since the first half of the twentieth century. Today, a large number of families in Great Britain buy furniture, household goods and cars by installments .In the U.S., the figure is much higher than in Great Britain, and people there spend over 10 percent of their income on the installment plan.
The price of an article bought on installments is always higher than the price that would be paid by cash. There is a charge for interest. The buyers pays one quarter or one third of the price as a down payment when the goods are delivered to him. He then makes regular payments, weekly or monthly, until the full price is paid up. The legal ownership of the goods remains with the seller until the final payment has been made.
Installment buying has advantages and disadvantages. It can help couples with small incomes to furnish their homes and start housekeeping, It increases the demand for goods, and in this way helps business and employment. There is ,however, the danger that when business is bad, installment buying may end suddenly, making business much worse. This may result in a great increase in unemployment. If the people on the installment plan lose their jobs, they will probably not be able to make their payments. If great numbers of people are not able to pay their installment debts there is a possibility that businessmen cannot collect their debts and will therefore lose money. If businessmen lose money or fail to make a satisfactory profit, it becomes more likely to have a depression. This is why, in some countries, the government controls the installment plan by fixing the amount of the down payment to discourage people from buying more than they can pay for on the installment plan.
1. Which of the following is true about the installment plan?

A．British families just use the installment plan to buy furniture.

B．More than 10 precent American families buy things on installment.

C．Americans spend more on installment buying than British people do.

D．The payment of installment buying is easier than buying by cash.

2. Goods bought on installments are more expensive than goods bought by cash because_________.

A．the buyer has to pay extra money as interest

B．the delivery of the goods charges extra money

C．the buyer has to pay a down payment

D．The service offered by installment plan charged extra money

3. What will happen to a buyer if he fails to make the full payment for an item bought on installments?

A．He might lose his job

B．He will stop owning the item he has bought

C．He will have to sell what he has bought

D．He will go into debt

4. The advantages of installment buying might include all the followings EXCEPT that _________.

A．purchasing power is strengthened

B．Employment might be increased

C．People develop a good habit of saving money

D．Young couples are able to furnish their homes

5. In some countries, the government controls the installment plan to_________.

A．increase employment

B．avoid depressions

C．ensure that businesses make good profits

D．ensure that people can pay for what they buy

【推荐1】School is, waking up early in the morning, whether it is hot or cold, putting on school uniform and rushing to the bus stop to catch the school bus and getting used to the words “Hurry up! You will be late!” You reach school and again the same words “Hurry up!” do not let you rest in peace.

Throughout the day, it is a mad rush. One period gets over, the other starts and you are ready for the second subject. When you forget to do your homework, you try to sit at the back and pretend to be looking for something on the floor or in your bag. You are lucky if you are not seen and it is bad luck if you get caught. If you are not lucky, be ready for a good scolding during break or after school. If you are lucky and your teacher is in a good mood, you may be left with a warning.

However, school is not so dull all the time; the games, library period and breaks are a welcome time. When you can relax, joke and have fun with your friends. There are some teachers, too, who can make school very exciting. For example, Mr. Taneja, has a typical style of talking, making us always hooked on the playground.

School can be fun, real fun, when picnics and field trips are organized. We wait for them eagerly and keep on requesting our class teacher to organize one for us. Debates, quizzes, cultural programmes also add luster to an otherwise dull school life. Fun increase after real hard work and you tend to enjoy more than those who had been lazy and have wasted their time. I think this period of your life is the most wonderful period-full of dreams and hope.

1. How is the school life described by the author in the passage?

A．Dull and stressful.	B．Stressful but interesting.
C．Strict and fearful.	D．Annoying but funny.

2. What can we conclude according to the second paragraph?

A．Some students hope to get away with their fault.

B．Teachers should be more patient to their students.

C．Some students dislike finishing their homework.

D．Teachers should reduce the amount of homework.

3. Which subject does Mr. Taneja teach at school?

A．Physics.

B．Language.

C．Chemistry.

D．Physical Education.

4. What does the underlined word “luster” mean in the passage?

A．Difficulty.

B．Value.

C．Pleasure.

D．Trouble.

【推荐3】Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison has expressed regret over his handling of the bushfire crisis damaging the country. The PM has faced mounting criticism over his government's response to the bushfires and its climate policy.

Since September, bushfires have killed at least 28 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Mr Morrison's government has been accused of not doing enough to deal with climate change, which experts say could increase the strength, frequency and size of bushfires. But in the interview, the PM defended the approach of the government, which he said took into account the effect of climate change on the bushfires.

Each year there is a fire season during the Australian summer, with hot, dry weather making it easier for flames to start and spread. Natural causes are to blame most of the time, like lightning strikes in drought-affected forests. Humans can also be to blame. NSW police have charged at least 24 people with deliberately starting bushfires, and have taken legal action against 183 people for fire-related offenses since November, according to a police statement.

Bushfire conditions eased on Saturday, giving firefighters a temporary short break in areas where flames are still spreading. But authorities have warned that the huge fires, caused by high temperatures, wind and a three-year drought, will persist until there is adequate rainfall.

About half a billion animals have been affected by the fires across NSW, with millions likely dead. The figures for NSW include birds, reptiles, and mammals, except bats. It doesn't include insects and frogs, so the real number is almost certain to be higher, the ecologists said. Almost a third of koalas in NSW may have been killed in the fires, and a third of their habitat has been destroyed, said Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.

1. What can we learn in the first two paragraphs?

A．The bushfires caused little damage in Australia.

B．The PM criticized the climate policy.

C．People are angry about the government's inadequate action.

D．The government will change its response to the bushfires.

2. What makes the Australian summer a fire season?

A．Greenhouse effect.	B．Lightning strike.
C．Human's behaviour.	D．Hot dry weather.

3. What does the underlined word “persist" mean in Para 4?

A．decrease

B．last

C．disappear

D．run

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．More animals have been affected than the figure shows.

B．A billion animals face extinction due to the fires.

C．Koalas are in immediate danger of dying out.

D．The huge fires have no influence on insects and frogs.

【推荐1】Babies are born yogis. Once we were all able to pull our toes up by our ears and laugh about it. Then we aged, got injured, and began carrying stress in our shoulders and back. In short, we lost our balance.
Yoga（瑜伽） is an ancient practice that helps create a sense of union in body, mind, and spirit. It brings us balance. I was seriously out of balance when I started practicing yoga in 1999. I had plantar fascitis in both feet, and my doctor had warned me against all the things I loved to do: walking, hiking, and playing tennis. I was desperate for exercise. Yoga became my salvation and even enhanced my other fitness activities. I practice yoga at least twice a week, but I consider yoga to be part of my daily life because after a while you no longer just practice yoga—you love it.
Yoga becomes part of your physical life. Your body grows stronger, more toned, and more flexible as you move from one pose to the other. I spent a week in Mexico at a yoga retreat, and it was the first vacation on which I lost weight. “Rather than building muscle, yoga builds muscle tone,” says Shakta Kaur Khalsa, author of the K.I.S.S. Guide to Yoga. “Because yoga helps maintain a balanced metabolism (新陈代谢), it also helps to regulate weight. Additionally, yoga stretches muscles lengthwise, causing fat to be removed around the cells.” I do yoga poses throughout the day. After hours at my computer, I stretch my stiff shoulders and arms. When I need a boost of energy, I do energizing poses. When I am feeling exhausted at the end of the day, I do restorative poses.
Yoga becomes part of your mental life. Yoga teaches you to focus on breathing while you hold the poses. This attention to breath is calming; it dissolves stress and anxiety. I use yogic breathing on the tennis courts, in the dentist’s chair, and in traffic jams. You should always leave a yoga practice feeling energized, not tired. If you feel tired after yoga, it means you spent the time “fighting” yourself, trying to force yourself into poses. In yoga, you “surrender” to the pose by letting go of the tension.
Yoga becomes part of your spiritual life. Yoga is practiced by people from all religions; it is not restricted to any religious group. Yoga teaches “right” living in how we deal with ourselves and others. As I work on a difficult pose, I learn patience, forgiveness, and the value of gentleness. Yoga advocates proper eating, but you don’t have to be a vegetarian to practice yoga.
1. What would be the best title for this passage?

A．What’s Yoga?	B．How I Do Yoga Poses
C．The Benefits of Yoga	D．The Varieties of Yoga

2. According to the third paragraph, yoga can help people __________.

A．grow taller	B．lose weight
C．become flexible in thinking	D．make more friends

3. People feel tired after yoga because __________.

A．they consume energy in practicing yoga

B．they respond well to yoga poses

C．they spend too much time on yoga

D．they force themselves into yoga poses

4. If s passage continues, what will the writer most probably write about in the next paragraph?

A．Yoga as a means to keep fit.	B．Different yoga poses.
C．Popularity of yoga all over the world.	D．Encouraging people to do yoga.

【推荐2】Four International Books Every Child Should Read

Konstantin, Gerda Wagener

Written in German, this book follows a shy crocodile named Konstantin who plays the instrument in secret in the jungle. The jungle’s other inhabitants are hiding and listening to him play. In the end, the shy and lonely animal finally finds friendship through his music.

Everyone Poops, Taro Gomi

Written in Japan, this book features the introduction of the toilet habits of a range of animals before explaining that everyone has to use the toilet. Designed to teach children that going to the toilet is nothing to be embarrassed about, the book helps kids to deal with toilet training.

Pettson and Findus, Sven Nordqvist

Pettson and Findus is a series about the adventures of an old man, Pettson, and his cat, Findus, living in the countryside. These stories are beloved in their home country of Sweden. The book describes lots of funny stories which will delight any child.

The Three Musketeers, Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers was written in France in 1844. A young man named D’Artagnan who leaves home to pursue his dream of joining the Musketeers (火枪手) of the Guard. D’Artagnan isn’t accepted at first, but in the end manages to befriend three musketeers. This book is a must-read for any fans of action and adventures.

1. Which book tells of an animal who can play the instrument?

A．Konstantin.	B．Everyone Poops.
C．Pettson and Findus.	D．The Three Musketeers.

2. What is special about Everyone Poops?

A．It helps children to deal with toilet training.

B．It helps children develop an interest in Japanese.

C．It begins by introducing the toilet habits of animals.

D．It stresses the importance of training children in going to the toilet.

3. What do Pettson and Findus and The Three Musketeers have in common?

A．Both of them were written in France.	B．Both of them were written in the 19th century.
C．They both contain adventures.	D．They both tell a story about an old man.

【推荐3】One sixth of undergraduates (本科生) in   Beijing this year have registered at a driving school . The students, mostly from majors such as business management or international trade , will finish their driving courses within 20 days or so .
       Training costs have dropped to, 2,600yuan for students, according to the Haidian Driving School in Beijing. The price is not really low , but students will accept it , seeing it as an investment (投资) in their future. Familiarity with the operation of computers and fluent English are the basic skills graduating students need to find a job. But a driver’s permit has become another factor.

“In the job market, owning a driver’s permit sometimes strengthens a graduating student’s competitiveness for a good position,” says Zhou Yang, an undergraduate at the China University of Political Science and Law.

Cars will become a necessary part of many people’s lives in the coming years, and it’s difficult to get a permit out of campus because of the pressures on working people’s time. “Having a full-time job after graduation offers limited time to learn to drive. We senior students have plenty of spare time, plenty of opportunities to learn.”

Xu Jian, an official at the driving school, said undergraduates were very able and serious, and could grasp in an hour what it took ordinary people four hours to learn. In this driving school, middle-aged people, young women and college students are the main customers.

To get a driver’s permit, a beginner is now required to have at least 86 hours’ practice before the final road test.
1. The undergraduates are learning to drive because         .

A．they like to drive cars

B．they need this skill to find a good job.

C．most of them will be able to buy cars in the future

D．they want to become full-time drivers after graduation

2. Which of the following is Xu Jian’s opinion of students learning to drive?

A．He decided it was a waste of money and time.

B．He thought they must learn it at school.

C．He thought they would spend three times more time.

D．He agreed that young people had an advantage in learning to drive.

3. Which of the following would be the best title of this passage?

A．Students Learn to Drive

B．Welcome to Driving School

C．It’s Better to Learn to Drive at College

D．Students Pay Less to Learn to Drive Now

【推荐1】Imagine you made plans with a new friend to talk on the phone. You called but there was no answer-and you didn’t get a call back. What happened? Perhaps they got held up by a work obligation. Perhaps they didn’t want to meet but didn’t bother to cancel. Or perhaps they had a busy week and simply forgot to write down your appointment time.

In social situations like this, our minds can produce various explanations, ranging from ones that are more understanding to ones that put blame to the other party. Psychologists refer to this as our attributional style. Past research has found that individuals with a “hostile” attributional style tend to be less satisfied with their relationships.

According to a new study, they’re also less happy overall. The researchers can’t say for sure whether seeing people as hostile directly lowers our happiness, or whether unhappy people are just more likely to make hostile attribution in the first place. However, this study does suggest the possibility that giving people the benefit of the doubt is a practice to improve our relationships and well-being.

Dorota Jasielska, lead researcher of the study, suggests that we start by developing positive and trusting social relationships. When we find ourselves surrounded by warmth and support, it can help us see the social world in a kinder light. Another important strategy is to have open and direct communication. Instead of letting your anxieties get worse, it may be better to simply talk to people about their confusing behavior.

So the next time a friend cancels plans or forgets to text back, consider giving him the benefit of the doubt and waiting to hear his side of things before jumping to conclusions. Assuming others have good intentions will make the world seem like a friendlier place.

1. How does the author introduce the topic of the text?

A．By giving an example.	B．By asking a question.
C．By giving a definition.	D．By telling a story.

2. What is the attributional style?

A．To show an understanding of one’s mistake.	B．To imagine a particular social situation.
C．To find out the cause of social phenomena.	D．To make assumptions on uncertain things.

3. What can make us happier according to the study?

A．Finding common interests with others.	B．Making positive excuses for others.
C．Improving social communication.	D．Being friendly to others.

4. What do the last two paragraphs mainly talk about?

A．Importance of reaching out and making friends.	B．Strategies for having effective communication.
C．Advice on handling confusing social behavior.	D．Methods for improving our social relationships.

【推荐2】The word “music” is easier to use in practice than to explain. Music is a reminder (提醒物) of how things once were, a symbol of how things are and a view of where society is headed. Music can bring us back to memories we wish to never forget, or bring us hope when we feel that all is lost. According to Nietzsche, “Nothing is worth living for without music.” And Albert Einstein once said, “Without the music education in my childhood, I would succeed in nothing.”

Most of us enjoy different kinds of music just to entertain (娱乐). Are there other reasons for us to listen to music? Some types of music can make us feel relaxed. After a long workday, classical music or certain types of jazz can physically relax our bodies and take our attention away from the cares of the day—at least for a while. On the other hand, loud, fast music with a strong beat can excite us. In fact, sometimes we may prefer one kind of music, but at other times, that’s the last thing we want to listen to.

Music also affects our feelings. Movie music can most clearly show this. If you close your eyes in an action movie or a disaster movie, you can pretty much tell what’s happening on the screen by the music alone. The same is true for a love story. Film composers (作曲家) such as John Williams get paid big money for their ability to change your feelings from moment to moment. So what’s going on between you and music? Clearly, music and feelings are closely connected in some non-physical way.

1. Why are Nietzsche and Albert Einstein mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To show music helps people succeed.	B．To show the development of music.
C．To show the importance of music.	D．To show music is everywhere.

2. Which of the following statements would the author agree with?

A．Classical music is more popular than jazz.

B．Entertainment is the whole story of music.

C．An artist’s character decides his music style.

D．People need different music at different times.

3. According to the last paragraph, what is film composers’ ability?

A．They can introduce different music to people.

B．They can produce an effect on people’s feelings.

C．They can connect with people non-physically.

D．They can help people become confident.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．The Power of Music	B．Different Kinds of music
C．The True Meaning of Music	D．The Entertainment Value of music

【推荐3】Why do most of us live our life always caring what people might say or think? Some of the decisions we make are just to please the outside world around us. I have always lived life pleasing the ever over-demanding society. This had a great effect on my search for authenticity (真实性). I only felt good enough when people paid attention to me. So I would frequently do things to catch people’s eye instead of placing emphasis on what really matters to me.

A recent experience changed my view. I had been looking for a tailor to mend some of my clothes. With the help of a few friends, I found one, who just so happened to go to the same gym as me. As we chatted, he shared his story and his use of drugs for muscle development with me. In his words, he weighed over 240 pounds and was the envy of a lot of people. So many people wanted to be like him and have a body like his, which made him use more drugs.

But within two years something happened. He began to have problems with his liver. The doctor advised him to stop using drugs and give up lifting heavy weights for a while. This was a hard decision because he had got so used to the attention from people. He didn’t want to give that up; who would? Right? That was it. He made me understand how he lived his life for people. He lost sight of what was best for him.

He told me not to live life thinking about too much what people think, feel, or say. Instead, live life with meaning. His story really has an effect on me. I have to look at my life to see what I do. I am not saying we shouldn’t take the advice of others into consideration, but we must work hard for continuous self-awareness (自我认识). If we can know what we’re doing and why we’re doing it, we can realize just how important that thing is to us.

1. What does the underlined phrase“placing emphasis on”mean?

A．Looking forward to.	B．Paying attention to.
C．Getting familiar with.	D．Taking pride in.

2. Why did the tailor use drugs?

A．To lose weight.	B．To keep healthy.
C．To treat his liver disease.	D．To improve his muscle and weight.

3. Why was the tailor unwilling to accept the doctor’s suggestion?

A．He was afraid of losing others’admiration.

B．He didn’t have any trouble with his health.

C．He wanted to live a simple and easy life.

D．He wasn’t able to lose sight of himself.

4. What lesson does the story tell us?

A．We should live life to the fullest.

B．Being open to others’advice is important.

C．We should have a good understanding of ourselves.

D．Nothing is more important than good health in our life.