【推荐1】Polar bears normally need sea ice to hunt seals, but an isolated (孤立的) group of polar bears living on the mountainous coast of southeast Greenland have figured out how to make a living, even though the sea ice there melts away early in the year.

These bears have found a way to supplement (补充) their limited sea ice supply by hunting on freshwater ice that comes from glaciers on land. The glacial ice falls off in pieces into fjords (峡湾), where the pieces get together into a floating platform that the polar bears use to catch seals, according to a report in the journal Science.

Climate change is making sea ice less and less. “Loss of sea ice is the primary threat to polar bears,” says Kristin Laidre of the University of Washington, lead author of the new study. But, she says, this new work suggests some bears might be able to deal with a decreased amount of sea ice - at least for a while - in places like Greenland where they can take advantage of floating glacier ice.

While local people have long known that bears live in southeast Greenland, it’s a remote, challenging environment that’s not frequented by humans. “It’s a coastline with huge mountain peaks, lots of winds, extreme conditions and plenty of fogs.” says Laidre, who has spent years working with colleagues to survey polar bears living on Greenland’s 1,800-mile-long east coast.

To see what they could find in southeast Greenland, the team had to take helicopters from the nearest settlement and fly for two hours in a straight line to the coast. “We arrived in these fjords, very isolated fjords, and there’s essentially no sea ice or very poor sea ice offshore,” says Laidre, explaining that the researchers expected to find few bears. “But there were a lot of bears in these fjords,” she says. “It was clearly just a unique habitat.”

The sea ice continues to exist in these fjords for only around a hundred days a year, she notes, meaning that bears don’t have much time to use it as a hunting ground.

1. What will happen to pieces of glacial ice after falling off?

A．They will gather to block some fjords.

B．They will exist in fjords for only a hundred years.

C．They will float into cold places and never disappear.

D．They will form a platform used by polar bears for food.

2. What is putting polar bears at risk according to the new study?

A．Lack of food sources.	B．Loss of freshwater ice.
C．Human activities in their habitats.	D．Decrease of sea ice due to climate change.

3. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Polar Bears Use Floating Glacial Ice to Hunt	B．The Exploration of Southeast Greenland
C．Polar Bears Can Survive in Isolated Areas	D．The Importance of Sea Ice to Polar Bears

【推荐2】People who are slightly overweight or mildly obese(肥胖的) have a lower risk of early death than normal weight individuals(个人;个体), according to a new analysis of nearly 100 international studies.
The studies, most conducted within the past decade, included about three million adults from around the world. The result of these studies by researchers at the National Center for Health Statistics in Maryland, part of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows that slightly overweight or obese people were six percent less likely to die from all causes compared to people of normal weight. But the researchers found that seriously obese individuals were still at a 30 percent greater risk of death compared to healthy-weight individuals.
Study lead author Katherine Flegal says she was not surprised that overweight people would not have a higher death risk. “Because we'd actually already read a lot of this literature and realized that death rates for overweight would be at least not higher than normal[weight," she said. “I guess l was a little bit surprised that it was definitely lower. And l was also surprised that the lower rates of obesity didn't seem to differ from normal weight."
But Flegal stresses the difference in death rates appear to be small between normal-weight people and overweight and mildly obese individuals.
The finding by Flegal and colleagues have raised new questions about the reliability(可靠性)of the so-called "body mass index" or BMI, a measurement of body fat as a ratio(比例，比率)of height to weight, that has become popular in recent years among public health experts to measure potential health risks.
But Heymsfield warns that individuals should not conclude that it's okay to put on extra kilograms, since being at a healthy weight lowers the risk for heart disease and diabetes.
1. Katherine Flegal feels surprised at the fact that____.

A．obese people have higher death rates

B．slightly obese people have lower death rates

C．obese people tend to die early

D．death rates have nothing to do with body weight

2. What do we learn from the fifth paragraph?

A．BMI may not be so reliable.

B．The study provides further evidence for BMI.

C．BMI tells nothing about potential health risks.

D．BMI has been much questioned recently.

3. What can we conclude from the passage'?

A．It's OK to put on extra weight.

B．It doesn't matter if you are slightly obese.

C．Obese people are much healthier.

D．Body weight has nothing to do with death rates.

4. What topic does the passage mainly deal with?

A．Technology.

B．Dieting.

C．Health.

D．Death.

【推荐3】"Mummy, I don' t know what to play with." Steve interrupts his mother, who is talking to a friend, for the fourth time. "You've got a room full of toys!" his mother says, impatiently. In fact it is the jumble of toys which is to blame for four-year-old Steve's lack of interest in his dolls, cars and stuffed (packed) animals. Each morning he tips out three washing baskets of toys all over his floor, listlessly pulls out something and shortly after is standing at his mother's desk or following her into the kitchen saying: "Mummy, I am bored."

A family therapist ( 心理医生) explains why children lose interest when they have a whole "toy shop" at home: "According to their brain development, little children are not in a position to judge the quality of a variety of things at once. There is always just one favorite toy for the moment. All the rest is left lying about." What can parents do to stop their children from being oversupplied with toys? Under no conditions simply make something disappear without the child's knowledge. If he/she takes no more notice of a toy, a parent can ask if it can be stored or given away. Be warned though the child will always say he/she wants it then! A talk with relatives and friends may also help. Lyn is the mother of four-year-old Jessie, and we like     her way. A small set of shelves in her child's room holds the toys and books that are the current (at present) favorites. When it seems to her that her daughter is tired of these toys, they put them away in a box together and select some other toys from   a cupboard in another room. The box of "old" toys goes into the cupboard. When her child says she is "bored", they also get something from her cupboard - it may be something she has had for some time but because she hasn't seen it for a while it is almost   like a new toy.

Some favorite toys stay out all the time, and there is collection of dolls which   sits in the corner, but in this way Lyn has found that she has fewer toys to put away at the end of the day and her daughter always has something "fresh" to play with.

1. Steve interrupted his mother several times because _____.

A．he felt uninterested in his toys

B．he disliked his mother's guest

C．he didn't have enough toys to play with

D．he hoped his mother would play with him

2. According to the therapist, children often complain that they have nothing to play with because _____.

A．they can't play alone for a long time

B．they are too young to play with so many toys

C．they are too lazy to pick out their favorites

D．they lack the ability to value too many things at a time

3. Which of the following can be used in place of "jumble"?

A．Simple choice.	B．Mixture in disorder.
C．Ordinary appearance.	D．Same shape.

4. Which is the advice given to parents in the text?

A．Buy fewer toys for their children.

B．Form good habits for their children.

C．Spare some time to play with their children.

D．Put some toys away without telling their children.

【推荐2】Whether it is for a special festival, to express thanks or to just let someone know that you care about them, giving gifts is a common custom. The purpose of giving gifts may be similar, but the tradition varies from country to country. A gift of respect in one place may be considered rude in another. Take a look at three unique gift-giving traditions.

India

If you’re invited to someone’s home in India, you should bring a small gift, whether it’s a box of chocolates or some flowers. Gifts shouldn’t be wrapped (包裹) in black or white colors. because they are considered unlucky. Instead, use bright colors such as green, red or yellow. When giving money for any occasion, it should have an odd number (奇数) value. That’s believed to bring good luck. Instead of receiving a gift with both hands, Indians generally only use their right hand because left hands are considered unclean.

Japan

For most Japanese, the ritual (礼节) of giving presents is more important than the gifts themselves. The correct way is to present or receive gifts with both hands. Every gift should be wrapped. That’s because uncovered gifts are considered disrespectful. To show politeness and thanks, those who are receiving the gift may turn it down once or twice before finally accepting it. Gifts should be given in pairs, but four should be avoided just like in China. Lucky numbers also include eight. Eight is said to bring prosperity.

Native America

While it may be common for guests to prepare gifts for hosts, this is different in Native American communities. From weddings to birthday celebrations, guests are the ones who receive gifts. Gifts are usually homemade arts and crafts that are made by hand to show love, respect and appreciation.

1. What kind of gift would you bring to an Indian home?

A．Some chocolates in a green box.	B．Flowers wrapped in black paper.
C．Sixty dollars in a yellow envelope.	D．Seventy-five rupees wrapped in white paper.

2. Why don’t Japanese accept a gift at once?

A．To get another better gift.	B．To be more polite and thankful.
C．To refuse one’s kindness.	D．To be more outgoing and active.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To list some attractive festivals.	B．To compare some countries.
C．To recommend some formal gifts.	D．To introduce some gift-giving traditions.

【推荐1】Japanese researchers are genetically changing mosquitoes so that they become carriers of a vaccine (疫苗) that could vaccinate millions for free. The researchers have already genetically changed a mosquito species so that its saliva (唾液) contains a protein that acts as a vaccine against leishmaniasis(利什曼病）, a deadly disease that leads to terrible skin problems. The team confirmed that mice bitten by the genetically-engineered mosquito developed an antibody to the disease, meaning they had built up immunity (免疫力).

“You would be vaccinated without even noticing. You wouldn’t need any drug and you wouldn’t need to show up at a fixed place for mass vaccinations,” said Shigeto Yoshida, the associate professor who has led the research. “Repeated bites would only strengthen the immunity.”

Similarly the mosquitoes could be used to help treat malaria (疟疾),     perhaps a decade from now, said the malaria expert.

Nearly one million people die each year from malaria ---- most of them are children ---- mainly in Africa and Asia, according to the World Health Organization. Now a problem is that no effective vaccine exists. “There is a treatment that works, but it is beyond the reach of people who need to worry about food for tomorrow,” Yoshida said.

However, Yoshida expects that the genetically-engineered mosquito will finally help wipe out the deadly disease in the developing world. “Technically speaking, I believe it’s a matter of 10 years or so, but it’s not clear whether society would accept it,” he said.

Another problem is that the genetically-engineered mosquito may still pick up and spread the infected blood of a person who has already caught malaria. Yoshida’s team is hoping it can solve this problem by developing a mosquito species that kills the malaria virus inside its own body.

1. How have scientists turned mosquitoes into carriers of a vaccine?

A．By changing their genes.	B．By killing the virus in their bodies.
C．By letting them bite mice.	D．By injecting vaccines into their bodies.

2. Which of the following is NOT an advantage of using mosquitoes as vaccine carriers?

A．It’s free of charge.	B．It’s convenient.
C．It’s more effective.	D．It’s unnoticeable.

3. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A．People welcome the idea of using mosquitoes to treat malaria.

B．Mosquitoes carrying vaccines may still spread malaria.

C．It is not long before people will use mosquitoes to get rid of malaria.

D．A mosquito can kill the malaria virus inside its own body.

4. The main purpose of the passage is to         .

A．introduce a possible solution to malaria

B．encourage people to use mosquitoes to fight against diseases

C．show that Japan has very advanced technology

D．call on people to help people suffering from malaria in Africa and Asia

【推荐2】We are born to dance. Dancing changes the way we feel and think, and increases self-worth.

As a dance psychologist and teacher, I have witnessed the ways dancing has changed the lives of hundreds of people. Then I set up the Dance Psychology Lab so that I could combine my knowledge in psychology with dance, using science to study the relationship between movement and the brain. What I found was extraordinary: people with Parkinson's disease（帕金森病）and dementia（痴呆）getting a new chance to live longer；an increase in the self-worth of teenagers；reductions in sadness and anxiety in adults；increases in social bonding between people；and fundamental changes in the way people think and solve problems. All because of dancing.

Dancing stimulates the link between the body and the brain. The emotional high we get from dancing is due to dopamine（多巴胺）.This brain chemical plays a role in how we feel, and low levels are associated with feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, pain and mood swings. Dancing is a great way to overcome these negative feelings because the exercise and our emotional responses to the music we're hearing can increase the release of dopamine in different parts of the brain. As dopamine levels go up, we can shake off some of those negative feelings and float into an excited state.

Scientists suggest that the best time to learn a dance routine is before you go to sleep. This is because the brain builds new knowledge structures while we sleep, and it is these structures that strengthen our ability to learn and remember information.

In our lab experiments, we found that people who did 20 minutes of improvised（即兴的）dancing became more creative when answering creative-thinking tasks. For example, before dancing, participants could generate about four or five alternative uses for a common object such as a brick or a newspaper, but after dancing they could generate seven or eight.

1. Why does the author build the Dance Psychology Lab?

A．To change how people think and feel.	B．To help people increase their self-worth.
C．To find out different social relationships.	D．To study how dancing influences the brain.

2. What change does dancing bring in people?

A．Dopamine levels go up.	B．Their intelligence is raised.
C．Sleep quality is improved.	D．Parkinson's disease and dementia are cured.

3. When is the suggested time to learn dance moves?

A．In the morning.	B．Before sleeping.
C．While working.	D．In the evening.

4. What do improvised dancing experiments show us?

A．Dancing helps with our creativity.

B．Dancing creates more activities.

C．Dancing attracts more participants.

D．Dancing inspires us to use more objects.

【推荐3】Located a few blocks away from the White House, Sakina Halal grill in Washington DC is a restaurant with a difference. Enter during the busy lunch time and you will find businessmen and women eating side by side with the homeless. The owner Kazi Mannan, who is from Pakistan, would not run it in any other way.

Growing up in a village with no electricity, running water or even a building for a school, Kazi is familiar with poverty (贫穷) and hunger. Even in those hard days, whenever his mother Sakina cooked for her own children, she would provide some for her neighbours as well.

When Kazi reached America, he only had three dollars in his hand. With the help of a Pakistani bus driver, he finally earned a down payment (首付款) on a restaurant.

The first thing he did was change the name of the restaurant. He named it after his mother Sakina Halal Grill, whom he lost 26 years ago. But he did not stop there, Keeping his mother’s teachings in mind, he not only used her old recipes (菜谱) but also decided to let the homeless eat at his restaurant for free. On the opening day of the restaurant, Kazi personally walked to the nearby park and invited the homeless there to have food at his restaurant.

Many friends said, “Don’t let homeless people come inside your restaurant. They will ruin your business. “But I don’t care. If I fail, I fail!” said Kazi Mannan.

In less than 5 years, Sakina Halal Grili has risen to such popularity that Kazi is able to feed over 16, 000 people for free every year. He also prepares extra food on Sundays for nearly 50 homeless people at the Georgetown Ministry Center. His deeds (事迹) encourage locals to volunteer there as well.

1. Why did Kazi change the name of the restaurant?

A．To complete his mothers wishes.	B．To attract more customers.
C．To memorise his mother.	D．To thank the Pakistani bus drive.

2. Which of the following can best describe Kazi?

A．Kind and encouraging.	B．Brave and reliable.
C．Selfish and mean.	D．Honest and stubborn.

3. What does the story want to tell us?

A．Money talks.	B．Kindness brings good business.
C．Technology is power.	D．A good friend is good for business.

【推荐1】It is not easy to eat perfectly for all time-even for dieticians! But when bad habits become common practice, you may end up with health issues ranging from weight gain to heart disease. So which unhealthy habits are getting us into trouble? Among the many, we’ve chosen six common ones that we should all avoid.

1.Poor Meal Planning

Based on our survey, one of the biggest obstacles to healthy eating goes to"time". Leave your meal for last-minute decisions, and it usually ends in fast food and pizza delivery. Planning your weekly meals may only take a few minutes, but will save your money, calories, and time in the long run.

2.Too Many Meals Away from Home

Despite being convenient, food served in restaurants and takeaways also tends to have larger portions with more calories and sodium. Preparing your meals at home, instead, would be a wiser and healthier choice.

3. Too Many Processed Foods

When shopping at the supermarket, you will find a large variety of salty, fatty and sugary convenience food with few nutrients. But it is the fresh and whole foods that you actually need. So next time when going shopping, read labels first before you go for more highly processed goods

4. Too Much Added Sugar

Not limited to sweets, chocolate, cakes and sweet drink, Sugar is also hiding in foods you might not think of, such as salad dressings, ketchup, bread and fat-free yoghurt. Keep records of the total sugar in your diet and figure out how to cut back on those empty calories.

5. Mindless Eating

Instead of eating when hungry, many of us would take a bite when we're bored, tired, stressed happy, or sad. You'd better not eat when your stomach isn't empty.

6. Too Many Liquid Calories

It's easy to forget that calories from soda, juice and other sugar-sweetened beverages count! Choose calorie-free drinks like water and plain tea instead

1. Which habit will easily lead to pizza delivery?

A．Mindless eating

B．Too many processed food

C．Poor meal planning

D．Too many liquid calories

2. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Foods served in restaurants are convenient and with less sodium.

B．We should read labels after buying some highly processed foods.

C．Sugar is often hidden in foods we may not think of like ketchup and bread.

D．We'd better eat something every time we feel bored.

3. According to the author's tips,______can replace high-calorie drinks when you are thirsty.

A．Juice

B．plain tea

C．soda

D．beverages

【推荐2】Rainbow Mountain in the Peruvian Andes

The Vinicunca mountain,Mountain of Seven Colors，sits pretty way up in the Peruvian Andes, where it was discovered about five years ago and is now a popular destination for tourists—through the long walk to reach it is extremely frightening. If you do survive the tough hike and uncomfortably high altitude, you’ll discover a breathtaking natural wonder: thick rainbow stripes seemingly painted into the mountainside, thanks to artfully placed mineral deposits over millions of years.

Seven Colored Earths in Chamarel, Mauritius

Volcanic activity on the island of Mauritius, off the African coast, has resulted in some unusually vivid sand dunes(沙丘). The various colors of this geological curiosity inspired the nickname Terres de Sept Couleurs, or Seven Colored Earths, in this former French colony. It’s become a popular destination for visitors not just for its aesthetic allure, but also because of its mysterious resilience: the dunes appear unaffected by erosion.

Zhangye Danxia Landform in Gansu, China

Before the Rainbow Mountain of Peru was discovered, the Zhangye Danxia Landform in China was the world’s most famous multicolored mountain range. Located in a geological park of the same name, in the province of Gansu, the Zhangye Danxia Landform—made of cretaceous sand stones and silt stones colored with mineral deposits—has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site..

Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

One of the legendary kicks you’ll get on a road trip through Route 66 is a tour of the technicolor Painted Desert in Arizona’ Petrified Forest near the southeastern rim of the Grand Canyon. The desert got its name from its unique terrain, a combination of sediments from sandstone, clay, volcanic ash, and other geological materials that project a kaleidoscope（万花筒) of colors including lavender, red, orange, and pink.

1. If Tom is an adventurer, which scenic spot is he most likely to choose?

A．Rainbow Mountain	B．Seven Colored Earths
C．Zhangye Danxia Landform	D．Painted Desert

2. What can we learn about Seven Colored Earths in Chamarel, Mauritius?

A．It is located in Asia.

B．It is governed by France.

C．It is a consequence of volcanic activity.

D．It seems that erosion has great effects on the dunes here.

3. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．All of the four scenic spots are colorful natural wonders.

B．All of the four scenic spots are in the same continent.

C．Both Zhangye Danxia Landform and Painted Desert are located in parks.

D．Both Rainbow Mountain and Zhangye Danxia Landform are famous multicolored mountain ranges.

【推荐3】I remember growing up, my mom always said, “Half the fun of doing anything is sharing it with others.” It is so true. Friends and mates allow us to enjoy our success and our joys, comfort us in our challenging moments, and provide a mirror for us to learn more about ourselves. I’ve always looked at friends as the family we choose. They enrich our lives. As Robert Louis Steven once said, “A friend is a present which you give yourself.”

To be a good friend or partner, it’s important be a good listener. Hear what your friend or mate has to say first rather than jumping to conclusions or getting defensive. Sometimes it is useful to be their mirror, for when they hear their words repeated back to them; it can help them to realize that what they said was not exactly what they meant to say.

Patience, compassion and empathy are also important traits in being a good friend or partner. You know the old golden rule, “Care for others the way you would like them to care for you.”The support of a friend during a tough time could make the difference between success and failure. Encouragement and confidence are priceless gifts that can help change a person’s life.

Take care, though, with whom you choose to have close relationship, for they can have a tremendous impact on your self-esteem and life path. As someone once told me, “the attitude of your friends is like the buttons on an elevator. They will either take you up or down.”

1. In order to make good friends, you should do the following except ______.

A．Be a good listener	B．Be patient, compassionate
C．Be careful	D．Be generous to your friends

2. What will you do to your friends according to the passage?

A．Buy your friend a mirror.	B．Point out their mistakes if there is any.
C．Give them encouragement and confidence.	D．Pay attention what they do.

3. What does the underlined sentence in the passage mean?

A．It is different whether you have friends or not.

B．The support of friends counts when you have difficulties.

C．A friend in need is a friend indeed.

D．You are certain to succeed if you get the support of friends.

4. Which of the following statements is not right according to the passage?

A．It is good to share your fun with other.

B．The friend is a mirror for us to learn more about others.

C．You’d better be a good listener if you want to be a good friend.

D．Be careful to choose your friend.