【推荐1】A modern phone can put the world at the user’s fingertips. Calls, messaging, photos and information access, all make for a better lifestyle. But sometimes, these phones are of little practical use. Leku Wuniure’s 63-year-old mother communicates in the Yi language, because she can’t read Chinese or speak Mandarin and is even unable to read numbers. As a result, a very simple, taken-for-granted feature of any modern phone like finding someone, can prove to be difficult. Whenever she wants to call her son, she has to ask someone to help her to dial his number.

Leku, 25, a young man of the Yi ethnic (彝族) group, naturally, wanted to help. So he created an app that responds to his mother’s request to “call my son” in the Yi language. Once this is said, the app will automatically dial his number. The app is called Yayou. It turned out to be a fantastic aid for his mother and has also benefited many among the more than 8 million Yi people in China.

“With the app, I wanted to help my mom, as well as the Yi people,” says Leku, a college student at Chongqing University. “Besides my mother’s plight, I’ve also witnessed some villagers, who left to make a living as workers in cities, suffering financial losses or misunderstanding due to the obstacles (障碍) in communication.”

The dream is becoming bigger-after more than two years’ development, Leku and his partner Mise Achang are ready to launch an updated version of their app in May. The 2.0 version of Yayou will have several new functions, providing news and entertainment content, as well as online shopping services, in both the Yi and Chinese languages. What’s more exciting, some users will be able to test the new voice assistant function and interact with their smartphone in the Yi language, before its final release.

With the app, users could listen to more songs, watch videos and read news presented on the app in the Yi language. The app, apart from bringing greater convenience, can also serve as an important cultural tool. It can be used as a database to collect oral and written records of Yi culture and help keep it.

1. What makes it hard for Leku’s Mother to ring him up?

A．New technology.

B．Language difficulty.

C．Her old age.

D．The complex number.

2. What does the underlined word “plight” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Understanding.

B．Impression.

C．Trouble.

D．Request.

3. What is the best title for the passage?

A．App Helps Ring in a Better Life	B．Mother’s Request Is Satisfied
C．A Practical App for Cellphone	D．A Clever Son and His Mother

【推荐2】Did you know it’s possible to swim with whales in the ocean while lying on a hospital bed? Have you imagined experiencing your 74th birthday as a 20-something? Medical virtual reality is an area with interesting and attractive possibilities. Although the field is brand new, there are already great examples of VR having a positive effect on health care. Here are some.

Have you ever lain down on a hospital bed counting the clays until you leave the hospital? Brennan Spiegel and his team at the Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles introduced VR worlds to their patients to help them reduce stress and pain. With the special glasses, they could escape the four walls of the hospital and enjoy amazing scenery in Iceland, take part in the work of an art studio or swim together with whales in the ocean. So the hospital experience is improved.

As we know, the experience in a hospital is even more stressful for small children who miss their parents and friends. Now, a Dutch company made their dream possible. Through a smart phone and virtual glasses, VisitU makes live contact possible with a 360 degree camera at the patient’s home, school or special occasions like a birthday celebration or a football game. Though staying in hospital, young patients can relax and still enjoy their lives.

Did you wonder what it feels like to grow old? Embodied Labs created “We Are Alfred” by using VR technology to show young medical students what ageing means. Everyone can be the imagined Alfred for 7 minutes, and experience what it feels like to live as a 74-year-old man. Thus it’s possible to solve the disconnection between young doctors and elderly patients clue to their huge age difference.

MindMotionPro, produced by the Swiss Mindmaze, allows patients with a brain injury to u practicen how to lift their arms or move their fingers with the help of virtual reality. The app makes the practice of repetitive movements fun for patients. The mental effort helps their damaged nervous systems to recover much faster than lying helplessly in bed.

1. What is implied in the questions raised in Paragraph 1?

A．The characters of medical VR.

B．The function of medical VR.

C．The popularity of medical VR.

D．The limitation about medical VR.

2. In what aspect does medical VR play a great role according to Paragraph 2?

A．Relaxing patients in hospital.

B．Raising the hospitals’ price.

C．Exposing patients to real life.

D．Making patients adapt to their surroundings.

3. What is the real purpose of “We Are Alfred”?

A．To make doctors trust their patients.

B．To increase doctors’ interest in their work.

C．To help doctors experience the life of an elder.

D．To help young doctors know much about elderly patients.

4. Which example is intended to show that medical VR speeds up recovery?

A．Spieget’s special glasses.	B．The application of VisitU.
C．The use of MindMotionPro.	D．The creation of “We Are Alfred”.

【推荐1】People are talking about the “new economy.” It’s very different from the “old economy”.
        In the old economy, people travel to walk. They buy things in stores. They use the post office, the fax and the telephone to send information. They see people face-to-face at their jobs or in stores. People get information from newspapers, radio, television, books and libraries.

In the new economy, people do business through the “net,” which is a connection of millions of computers everywhere in the world. In the new economy, workers often work at home. They can get information online. They can communicate with employers and co-workers by e-mail. Businesses have “virtual stores”. They are websites on which customers can see the products. Businesses can sell to customers anywhere in the world.

In the new economy, people live a fast paced, convenient and colorful life. The whole world develops more quickly than before. But the new economy is a double-edge sword. Its disadvantage is also obvious. For example, the Internet has led to a huge increase in credit card cheating. Some illegal websites offer some cheap or banned goods or services. Online shoppers who enter their credit card information may never receive the goods they want to buy and their card information could even be for sale in an illegal website. So people in the new economy should be smarter and knowledgeable.

1. The cause of the differences between the new economy and the old economy is ____.

A．the change of people’s idea	B．the business people do
C．the use of the Internet	D．the change of people’s life

2. In the old economy, people can do the following things EXCEPT____.

A．getting information from books

B．communicating with friends by telephone

C．meeting people face to face

D．shopping online

3. “But the new economy is a double-edge sword ” in the last passage means_____.

A．The new economy is as sharp as a sword

B．The new economy has advantages and disadvantages

C．The new economy is better than the old economy

D．Both the new economy and the old economy have disadvantages

4. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．People can get all kinds of information on the Internet.

B．Telephone, radio, television, newspapers and so on will disappear in the new economy.

C．People in the new economy should have high quality.

D．Life in the new economy is more comfortable than the one in the old economy.

【推荐2】When you visit America, you will see the word “motel” on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (however, you don’t need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided, but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Some provide television in every bedroom while others have swimming pools. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in the big National Parks.

In these great National Parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a little story. In the middle of a moonless night she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept(悄悄地缓慢行进) towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: It wasn’t a human thief—it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins(罐) with its paw, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!

There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”, where they receive lodgers (房客). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning—looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon!

1. What can we know about motels?

A．The word “motel” is formed by two words.

B．They are free for people who arrive by car.

C．If you want to stay at a motel, you must have a car.

D．You can only find motels in the big National Parks.

2. Which of the following is not provided by motels?

A．TV.

B．Baths.

C．Meals.

D．Swimming.

3. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us?

A．A little story of the author’s.	B．The experience of the author’s friend.
C．Bears usually look for tasty food at night.	D．A thief crept into the author’s room.

4. What does the underlined part mean?

A．Tourists cannot find gold there.	B．It is easy to admire the moon there.
C．Tourists can have a sweet dream there.	D．It is difficult to find a room there.

【推荐3】Food festivals around the world
Stilton Cheese Rolling
May Day is a traditional day for celebrations, but the 2,000 English villagers of Stilton must be the only people in the world who include cheese rolling in their annual plans. Teams of four, dressed in a variety of strange and funny clothes , roll a complete cheese along a 50-metre course. On the way, they must not kick or throw their cheese, or go into their competitors' lane. Competition is fierce and the chief prize is a complete Stilton cheese weighing about four kilos (disappointingly, but understandably the cheeses used in the race are wooden ones). All the competitors are served with beer or port wine, the traditional accompaniment for Stilton cheese.
Fiery Foods Festival—The Hottest Festival on Earth
Every year more than 10,000 people head for the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico. They come from as far away as Australia, the Caribbean and China, but they all share a common addiction—food that is not just spicy ,but hot enough to make your mouth burn, your head spin and your eyes water. Their destination is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival which is held over a period of three days every March. You might like to try a chocolate-covered habanero pepper—officially the hottest pepper in the world—or any one of the thousands of products that are on show. But one thing's for sure—if you don't like the feeling of a burning tongue, this festival isn't for you!
La Tomatina—The World's Biggest Food Fight
On the last Wednesday of every August, the Spanish town of Bunol hosts Ea Tomatina—the world's largest food fight. A week-long celebration leads up to an exciting tomato battle as the highlight of the week's events. The early morning sees the arrival of large trucks with tomatoes—official fight-starters get things going by casting tomatoes at the crowd.
The battle lasts little more than half an hour, in which time around 50,000 kilograms of tomatoes have been thrown at anyone or anything that moves, runs, or fights back. Then everyone heads down to the river to make friends again—and for a much-needed wash!
1. Where is the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival held?

A．In New Mexico.	B．In the Caribbean.
C．In Australia.	D．In China.

2. The celebration of La Tomatina lasts .

A．three days	B．seven days
C．less than three days	D．more than seven days

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．The chief prize for the Stilton cheese rolling competition is beer or port wine.

B．More than 10,000 Chinese take part in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival.

C．Thousands of spicy foods are on show in the Fiery Food and BBQ Festival.

D．An exciting tomato battle takes place at the beginning of La Tomatina.

【推荐1】Several recent studies have found that being randomly assigned(分配) to a roommate of another race can lead to increased tolerance but also to a greater likelihood (可能性) of conflict.

Recent reports found that lodging with a student of a different race may decrease prejudice and force students to engage in more ethnically diverse friendships.

An Ohio State University study also found that black students living with a white roommate saw higher academic success throughout their college careers. Researchers believe this may be caused by social pressure.

In a New York Times article, Sam Boakye – the only black student on his freshman year floor -said that "if you're surrounded by whites, you have something to prove."

Researchers also observed problems resulting from pairing interracial students in residences.

According to two recent studies, randomly assigned roommates of different races are more likely to experience conflicts so strained that one roommate will move out.

An Indiana University study found that interracial roommates were three times as likely as two white roommates to no longer live together by the end of the semester.

Grace Kao, a professor at Penn said she was not surprised by the findings. "This may be the first time that some of these students have interacted, and lived, with someone of a different race," she said.

At Penn, students are not asked to indicate race when applying for housing.

"One of the great things about freshman housing is that, with some exceptions, the process throws you together randomly," said Undergraduate Assembly chairman Alec Webley. "This is the definition of integration (融合)."

"I've experienced roommate conflicts between interracial students that have both broken down prejudices and reinforced prejudices," said one Penn resident advisor (RA). The RA of two years added that while some conflicts "provided more multicultural acceptance and melding (融合)," there were also " cultural conflicts."

The RA said that these conflicts have also occurred among roommates of the same race.

Kao said she cautions against forming any generalizations based on any one of the studies, noting that more background characteristics of the students need to be studied and explained.

1. What can we learn from some recent studies?

A．Conflicts between students of different races are unavoidable.

B．Students of different races are prejudiced against each other.

C．Interracial lodging does more harm than good

D．Interracial lodging may have diverse outcomes.

2. What does Sam Boakye's remark mean?

A．White students tend to look down upon their black peers

B．Black students can compete with their white peers academically

C．Black students feel somewhat embarrassed among white peers during this year

D．Being surrounded by white peers motivates a black student to work harder to succeed.

3. The Indiana University study implies that______.

A．interracial roommates are more likely to part

B．roommates of different races just can't get along

C．few white students like sharing a room with a black peer

D．assigning students’ lodging randomly is not a good policy

4. What does Alec Webley consider to be the “definition of integration”?

A．Students of different races are required to share a room

B．Interracial lodging is arranged by the school for freshmen.

C．Lodging is assigned to students of different races without exception.

D．The school assigns roommates without regard to race.

【推荐2】Book reading is certainly one of the most absorbing habits. For young adults who love to read, finding some good books to read is very essential. Writing a book review can help you to improve your language and writing skills.

The Book Thief

Listed on The New York Times Children’s Best Seller List for over 100 weeks, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is the story of a young girl in the Nazi camps set during World War Ⅱ. So, if you love history and wish to learn how the life was during Adolf Hitler’s time, read this historic book.

The Diary of Young Girl

Even Anne Frank can not have imagined that, her personal diary written during World War Ⅱ would become such a popular book. It’s a must read that describes the situation of a family in the evils of wars through the eyes of a teenager.

Animal farm

Animal Farm is one of the most popular books by George Orwell. It is just a reflection of the Stalin and World War I period that has been so creatively presented in this book. It is an interesting example of how literature can be used to present conditions common in the society.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the great American novels in the history, and is certainly a great pick for young adults. Young Huck Finn and his mischief along with the colorful description of people around the Mississippi River make this novel a great book to read.

1. Who wrote Animal farm?

A．Markus Zusak.	B．Anne Frank.
C．George Orwell.	D．Mark Twain.

2. What do the first three books have in common?

A．All of them are diaries.

B．All of them are about wars.

C．All of them are about farms.

D．All of them are about animals.

3. The author’s main purpose of writing the passage is to ________.

A．instruct youngsters how to improve skills

B．introduce several good books to youngsters

C．tell youngsters some wonderful reading habits

D．give youngsters advice on writing a book review

【推荐3】Railcards

Want to save on the price of your train tickets? Then you'll need to buy a National Railcard. The first step is to pick the right Railcard, but worry not! We'll walk you through each type and help you find the one most suited to your needs.

The Network Railcard

Spend £ 30 on a Network Railcard for the year and look forward to 1/3 off your train tickets during off-peak (非高峰)times. Enjoy discounted travel across 16 counties (郡)in the South East, even including the whole of London! It is a great option for anyone who doesn't fall into any of the other Railcard categories, as people of any age can hold one.

The student Railcard

At the cost of just £ 30, this Railcard is of excellent value for money. Whether you have an early morning lecture or you're rolling home in the early hours after a night out, you can still get 1/3 off on all passenger rail services within the UK! The only requirement for this railcard is that you need to be within the ages of 16 and 25.

The Millennial railcard

This railcard is available for all who are between the ages of 26 and 30, regardless of peak or off-peak times. However, it is currently only available digitally, with users being required to download the Railcard app and show ticket inspectors during train ticket checks. Costing just £ 30, the new railcard can be used across the UK.

The Disabled Persons Railcard

Any passenger with a disability is eligible(符合条件的) to apply for one. It only costs £ 20, making your overall discount for the year even better! The most important thing is that any types of tickets can be purchased throughout the UK rail network. Besides, it can also get you discount on London attractions.

1. Which Railcard just applies to train services in part of the UK?

A．The Network Railcard.	B．The Student Railcard.
C．The Millennial railcard.	D．The disabled Persons Railcard.

2. What is the age range of the people using the Student Railcard?

A．7-12.

B．13-15.

C．26-30.

D．16-25.

3. What is special about the Millennial Railcard?

A．It cannot be used during peak times.	B．It is the cheapest among the four railcards.
C．It requires its owners to download an app.	D．It offers discounts on London attractions.

【推荐1】The bus screamed to a stop in Nazareth, Israel. Five Australian backpackers boarded and struck up a conversation with me. They asked typical travelers’questions - where was I going and why was I traveling alone? My plan was to travel with a friend of a friend, I explained, but when I called her that morning, she didn’t pick up and I had no other way to reach her. My stomach was in knots, but I decided to head out anyway, thinking I might run into her if I traveled to Tiberius, where we had planned to go together.

“Why don’t you travel with us?”one of the backpackers offered. They were experienced adventurers who would work for a few months, save, then travel for as long as they could. Their current plan was to explore the Middle East and Europe in three months.

It seemed risky to travel with perfect strangers, but my instinct said yes. For the next two weeks, I explored Israel with the backpackers and learned to trust my instincts in all types of new and interesting situations. When they hooked a ride, I took the bus, but when they wanted to steal into the King David Hotel’s swimming pool, I led the way. The world opened up to me because I chose to travel alone. I joined complete strangers, who became close friends. Years later, one couple from the backpacking group even flew from Sydney to Phoenix to be in my wedding. The trip was such a special experience that it gave me confidence in all areas of my life. Since then, I’ve backpacked alone across South Africa, sky-dived from 12, 000 feet in New Zealand and even moved across the U.S. with no job lined up.

On my third day wandering in Israel with my new friends, I ran into the woman I was supposed to meet. Though I was happy she was all right, I was grateful she hadn’t picked up the phone.

1. According to the first paragraph, the author was _______ .

A．nervous of meeting strangers	B．anxious about the speedy bus
C．upset about the sudden change	D．worried about her stomachache

2. Which of the following best describes the backpackers the author met?

A．Homeless but lighthearted.	B．Warmhearted and trustworthy.
C．Jobless and poorly educated.	D．Courageous but disrespectful.

3. The author’s sixth sense told her that _______.

A．she would get along with the backpackers

B．it was risky to travel with perfect strangers

C．she ought to stay away from the backpackers

D．it could add exciting experience to her travel

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Some backpackers attended the author’s wedding years later.

B．The author gathered the courage to be a fulltime backpack traveler.

C．The woman missed the phone call with the purpose of traveling alone.

D．The author considered it the best decision of her life to travel on her own.

【推荐2】Scotland is a unique place, loaded with history, where you can find aristocratic（贵族的）palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes.
In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today and what formed the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains（格兰扁山区）, beautiful and plain. The Scots conquered the environment with simple spades and strong arms, for it was difficult to farm.
The history of this ancient struggle, and its people’s ancient love with the hard land, can be felt within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here.
From coastal Aberdeen in towards the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses（堡垒）, which are witnesses of continual fights against the control of neighboring England in Scottish history.
Perhaps the most exciting moment for Scottish autonomy is ____ experienced inside this ancient church of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation（鼓动）of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, for whom cinema has designed the wonderful film Brave Heart, the winner of the five Oscars.
This is Glamis Castle, where King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth used to live. Among the most frequent guests here are the predictable ghosts, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs. These have been handed down over the centuries by people tending to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural.
Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Whether it’s real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3,000 sightings over the last 50 years.
The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various social groups.
Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings.
1. Take a look at the Angus Folk Museum, and we can learn about _______.             .

A．the love of ancient Scottish to the hard land

B．the rural atmosphere in Grampian Mountains

C．ancient Scottish people’s fighting against the enemy

D．the history of the Scottish famous palaces and castles

2. What were the fortresses built for?

A．Fighting against the invaders of England.

B．Developing business with neighbor areas.

C．Preventing the people from moving around.

D．Providing a shelter from tough weather for travelers.

3. In the fifth paragraph, the underlined “the one” refers to the moment of _______.

A．the film Brave Heart winning the five Oscars

B．the plan for Scottish autonomy being carried out

C．the instigation of King Robert the Bruce

D．the celebration of the Declaration of Independence

4. According to the passage, which one is TRUE?

A．The film Brave Heart is mainly about King Robert Bruce.

B．The Scottish film industry is one of the attractions of the land.

C．Highland gatherings are often marked with bagpipes and dancing

D．The supernatural forces in Glamis Castle may change a person’s belief.

5. The purpose of the writer is to _______.

A．advise readers to pay a visit to Scotland

B．teach students about the customs of Scotland

C．introduce cultural background about Scotland

D．analyze the geographic formation of Scotland

【推荐3】Despite the anxiety that the first digital novel caused in 1993, publishers weren’t too concerned that e-books would one day replace printed books. However, that attitude was changed suddenly in 2007 when Amazon Kindle came onto the market, which led to e-book sales jumping up to 1,260%. Since then, e-books’ popularity has continued to rise steadily. The publishing industry seemed to have lost all possible ability to regain its position. Will printed books eventually become a thing of the past? According to Mike Shatzkin, founder and CEO of the Idea Logical Company, printed books just for reading will, in 10 years from now, be unusual. “Not so unusual that a kid will say, ‘Mommy, what’s that?’ but unusual enough that on the train you’l see one or two people reading something printed, while everyone else is reading on a tablet computer screen.” And Shatzkin believes that the demise of print is sure to happen, though such a day won’t arrive for perhaps 50 to 100 or more years.

Robert Stein, founder of The Institute for the Future of the Book, however, believes that books won’t disappear entirely, at least not anytime soon. “Print will exist, and it may have an artistic value,” he says. He predicts that the distance between writers and readers will be made less obvious by a social reading experience in which authors and consumers can digitally interact with each other to discuss any passage, sentence or line.

Should print really disappear entirely? According to Maryanne Wolf, director of the Center for Reading and Language Research at Tufts University, electronic reading can negatively affect the way the brain responds to the text, including reading comprehension and the ability to pay attention to details like the order of events. “My worry is that we’ll have a short-circuited(短路的) reading brain, excellent for gathering information but not necessarily for forming critical, analytical deep reading skills,” Wolf says. He hopes that we continue to keep a “bi-literate” society — one that values both the digital and printed words. “A full reading brain circuit is a huge contribution to the intellectual development of our species. Anything that threatens it deserves our attention.”

1. How did publishers feel about the rising e-book sales inspired by Amazon Kindle?

A．Worried.	B．Excited.
C．Curious.	D．Doubtful.

2. The underlined word “demise” in Paragraph 1 probably means _____.

A．rise	B．death
C．adjustment	D．popularity

3. According to Robert Stein, paper books will exist because of _____.

A．the artistic value

B．the digital interaction

C．the growing popularity

D．the traditional design

4. It can be concluded from the last paragraph that Wolf holds that _____.

A．e-reading will strengthen the power of our brain

B．digital books and paper books should not coexist

C．e-reading will make us more critical and thoughtful

D．we should not risk losing a full reading brain circuit