【推荐1】First Days

First Days are milestones in our lives. They mark the beginning of a new experience or journey. They are also filed with mixed emotions. They can be a little frightening as we step into the unknown, but they can also inspire us as they give us fresh hope for the future. First days are powerful as we can leave our mistakes and failures in the past and make a new start.

I want to share a story that perfectly illustrates this point. It is a story about a little girl named Trisha. Trisha was born into a family of teachers who had taught her that reading was the key to knowledge. She watched her older brother as he read his schoolbooks and could hardly wait for the day when she would learn to read.

But when Trisha finally started school, she found that she was not able to understand the words like the other boys and girls. No matter how hard she tried, the letters mixed up together, and she saw only confusion. Trisha fell further behind, the other children laughed and made fun of her, and she began to believe that she was not smart. By the time Trisha entered fifth grade, she had lost all confidence in herself. That was the year she met Mr. Falker. He was different. He praised Trisha’s talents, and he wouldn’t tolerate the other children teasing her. Mr. Falker realized that Trisha didn’t know how to read, but he knew she could with some help.

He recruited（招聘）a reading specialist, and together they worked with Trisha after school. They helped her to write letters and hear the sounds until one day Mr. Falker handed her a book and she read it all by herself. She didn't even notice the tears in his eyes.

This is a true story. The little girl is Patricia Polacco, the famous children’s author, and thank you Mr. Falker is the twenty-sixth book that she has written.

Mr. Falker gave her a fresh new start when she walked into his fifth grade class on that first day of school. And he made a difference in her life.

We can all make a difference in the world—one student at a time by using "first days" with wisdom and grace, and giving each individual the chance to start over and become the best that they can be.

1. Trisha fell far behind in school because she ________.

A．was not confident	B．was looked down upon by others
C．did not know how to read	D．did not try her best

2. The passage is probably intended for ________.

A．teachers	B．students
C．children’s authors	D．reading specialists

3. How does the writer make his point?

A．By giving an example.	B．By making suggesting.
C．By arguing.	D．By persuading.

4. The passage mainly conveys the message that first days are ________.

A．frightening as we step into the unknown

B．inspiring as they give us fresh hope for the future

C．turning points from where we can make a new start

D．chances when we can forget our mistakes and failures

【推荐3】It is William Shakespeare, the great coiner, who is given credit for the word. Coriolanus, one of his characters, compares going into exile (流放) to a “lonely dragon” retiring to his cave. He was talking about a physical state: someone who was lonely was simply alone. Then, thanks to the Romantic poets, the word took on emotional meanings. Loneliness became a condition of the soul. For William Wordsworth, who famously “wandered lonely as a cloud”, the natural world offered an escape from negative feelings of loneliness — a host of flowers could provide “cheerful company”. Today, loneliness is often seen as a serious public-health problem, creating the feeling of disconnection.

In his book Solitude, Netta Weinstein, a psychology professor wonders the rewards of time spent alone. He begins with an account of stories of solitude created by figures such as Michel Montaigne, a writer, and Edward Hopper, a painter. Netta then draw on laboratory work, interviews and surveys to clarify how being alone really affects the human mind.

It is common to treat loneliness and solitude as synonyms (同义词), but they are not. The author suggests that what is negatively described as one state can be positively expressed as the other. Loneliness, often perceived as negative, can potentially be transformed into a positive experience of solitude. To this end he emphasizes how being alone can help restore people and offers practical advice. In a noisy world, he argues, people should make time to be alone, away from attention-grabbing motives.

The book’s interviewees mostly regard a lack of company as a contributor to autonomy (自主). But this depends on whether solitude is desirable or not. Enforced solitude, such as that experienced by prisoners, typically leads to nothing but suffering. Elective solitude, by contrast, affords space for self-reflection. It can open the door to “peak experiences” such as wonder, harmony, and happiness. However, it is a pity that in a highly-connected digital age, many readers don’t like their chances of ever taking a long enough break to have such experiences.

1. How does paragraph 1 introduce the concept of loneliness?

A．By tracing its development.	B．By analyzing causes.
C．By making a point to be argued.	D．By sharing a romantic story.

2. What does Netta Weinstein’s book Solitude focus on?

A．The various terms of solitude.	B．The societal impact of solitude.
C．The long-standing history of solitude.	D．The psychological benefits of solitude.

3. Netta describes the state of loneliness as _______.

A．stressful

B．essential

C．changeable

D．harmful

4. What does Netta most probably agree with according to the last paragraph?

A．Enforced solitude is a matter of choice.

B．Enforced solitude contributes to autonomy.

C．Elective solitude is rare in the digital world.

D．Elective solitude interrupts peak experiences.

【推荐1】When Sir Ector saw Arthur pulled the sword out of the stone and then pushed it back, he rubbed his eyes. “I can’t believe it!” he cried. Then he fell on his knees before Arthur. “Father, please do not kneel before me. Tell me what you mean!” Arthur said with great confusion.

“Listen, then,” said Sir Ector. “Years ago the wise magician, Merlin, carried a baby in his arms. That baby was you. Merlin told me to bring you up as my own son. Now I can guess. You must be the late king ⸺ King Uther’s son. Who else could have pulled out the sword? Arthur, we must let all England know you are qualified to be the new king.”

“I would rather be your son than be a king!” cried Arthur.

“On Christmas the Bishop(主教) will give everyone a chance to pull the sword. You must take your turn and show everyone that you are the only person who can pull the sword out.”

On Christmas Day the great crowd of knights(骑士) and lords gathered before the church. They pulled and pushed, but no one could make the sword move.

Down the street came Merlin. Behind him came Sir Ector with Arthur. “Who are these men?” asked the Bishop. “Here is one who will try the sword,” said Merlin. He laid his hand on Arthur’s shoulder. “Here, lords of England, is the true son of King Uther!” Arthur stepped upon the stone and laid his hand on the sword. Smoothly and easily he pulled it out. He held it high so all could see.

So Arthur became King of all England. Some of the lords did not want him, and he had to fight them. As the years went by, he became stronger and greater. Knights came from all lands to be in his court. At Camelot Arthur started the famous Knights of the Round Table. These were the greatest of all the knights. They made their names famous for all time.

1. Sir Ector fell on his knees before Arthur because ______.

A．Sir Ector wanted to ask for forgiveness from the new king

B．Merlin told Sir Ector to respect Arthur as if he were the King

C．Arthur pulled the sword out and Sir Ector knew who he was

D．Arthur was so powerful that Sir Ector admired him very much

2. Arthur found it ______ when Sir Ector said he was qualified to be the new king.

A．believable	B．unacceptable
C．enjoyable	D．unchangeable

3. What did Arthur do as King of all England according to the passage?

A．Fighting the foreign countries.	B．Making the famous table.
C．Developing the national economy.	D．Gathering the greatest knights.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Arthur Becomes King	B．Arthur Trains Knights
C．Arthur Defeats Enemies	D．Arthur Loves Swords

【推荐2】Luke Grenfell—Shaw had a rare form of cancer. It started as a pain in his shoulder and the tumour spread to his lungs, making it stage four. The Oxford graduate was teaching English in Siberia when he suffered a shoulder pain and saw the school nurse. It was her reaction to a lump on his back that sent him back home to Bristol. “I was 24 years old. I had done an ultramarathon,” Luke says. “48 hours later. I was back in hospital in the UK.” On 19 June, 2018, doctors told Luke that he had cancer.

“I had kind of worked out that it was cancer, but what kind of blew me away was the fact that it was stage four cancer,” says Luke. “That day, my life felt like it had disintegrated. My life had been comfortable and conventional. I had worked hard and got rewards in terms of education, jobs, things like that. That was all taken away.” On the day of his diagnosis, Luke had one clear thought in his mind that he wanted to cycle around the world. It was something he had always hoped to do, but the cancer news made him realize that he couldn’t put it off.

“I realized that the future had to become now,” Luke explains. He decided to cycle from Bristol to Beijing—more than 5,000 miles—on a tandem bike, because he wanted to bring people along to share the experience with him. Luke will not only be joined by family and friends for certain legs of his trip, but also by other young people who are living with cancer. “This trip is something I’m going to enjoy,” says Luke. “I’s going to be the richest and most fulfilling experience that I can have.”

1. What made Luke realize the potential threat of the illness?

A．A lump on his back.	B．The pain on his shoulder.
C．The school nurse’s reaction.	D．The Oxford graduate’s warning.

2. The underlined word “disintegrated” in Paragraph 2 means “________”.

A．changed

B．broken

C．disappointed

D．protested

3. Why did Luke decide to cycle around the world?

A．To enjoy the rest of his life peacefully.

B．To seek the best doctor treating his cancer.

C．To conquer the cancer in his own way.

D．To make his dream come true.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Luke intended to change his future life by cycling.

B．Luke planned to challenge the cancer with young men.

C．Luke wanted to end his life during the cycling trip.

D．Luke expected to challenge the tough journey.

【推荐3】At the age of four, I suffered from epilepsy (癫痫). Having a physical disability and a learning disability, I felt like I was an outcast. When I was a teenager, I was being told what I couldn’t do in the future. My doctor said that I had brain damage and I wouldn’t be able to do analytical things. I wanted to be a counselor (顾问) more than anything else in the world, but he crushed my dream.

When I graduated from high school in 1994, I entered a local community college. I met two people that impressed me a lot. One was my college professor, who thought I was an amazing, articulate (能说会道的) student. She encouraged me to apply for the Human Services program at Western Washington University. The other one was my best friend, who helped me with my math. He showed great faith in my abilities. He himself was visually damaged, but he never quit on his dreams. I admire his positive attitude very much.

In 1997, I decided to attend Western Washington University. I knew exactly what I wanted and I was determined that no one could stop me. My parents had a hard time grasping that I could go to university. They did not want to see me get hurt. But I was willing to get hurt. To me, that was part of growing and gaining experience. I wanted to experience the same opportunities as everyone else.

Later, not only did I receive my bachelor’s degree in Human Services program, but I got a master’s degree in Psychology! After finally becoming the counselor, I wanted to explore a new direction. This new direction had something to do with writing and inspiring others to see their inner power, as well as their freedom to choose their own life path.

Now, I am fortunate to have family and friends standing by me through all the successes and failures. They remind me that I am worth it.

1. The underlined word “outcast” in Paragraph 1 probably means “_________”.

A．someone facing lots of treatment	B．someone with hard work to do
C．a legally protected person	D．an abandoned person

2. What can we know about the author from the second paragraph?

A．He felt sorry for his friend’s visual problem.

B．He was often laughed at by other students at school.

C．His teacher and friend had an important influence on him.

D．His teacher thought he was a normal person like all of us.

3. Why did the author decide to go to Western Washington University?

A．To gain a higher degree.	B．To experience life like others.
C．To get praise from his parents.	D．To repay his college professor.

4. The passage is organized ___________.

A．by the order of time	B．by listing examples
C．by comparing facts	D．by the order of space

【推荐1】Among the more practical advice that can be offered to international travelers is wisdom of the toilet. I do not mean those squats (下蹲) you see at the gym. No, strong glutes (臀肌) will not save you here. I mean the deep squat. This position is so stable that people in China can hold it for minutes and perhaps even hours…

Of course, squat toilet is not unique to Asia, nor is the deep-squatting position. But so common is the position in Asia and so rare it is in the West that it’s been nicknamed the “Asian squat”. Bryan Ausinheiler, a physician in California said, “The squat is a great model for a multi-segmental movement pattern. You have to fold everything up underneath you.” There’s a lot going on.

But the key factor seems to be ankle flexibility. This is also in part. Ausinheiler says, why kids have no problem squatting. “I measured my daughter’s ankle flexibility when she was one day old,” says Ausinheiler. “She has 70 degrees of ankle dorsiflexion (背屈)! Normal in the West is like 30.” So humans are born squatters; some of us lose it when we stop trying. Body shape also seems to play a role. People with the longest legs have the worst squat.

Believe it or not, no one appears to have actually studied born ability in deep squatting across ethnic groups. “You would have to take kids from the time they’re born in China and never let them do any squats to be a control group, and it’ll never happen,” says Matt Hundson, a physiologist at the University of Delaware, humorously. And finally, it may not matter. Practice and training make the bigger difference.

Some believe America’s squat problems can be blamed on toilet seats. Yet this ability that comes so naturally has been lost ----- and it’s not so easy to get it back. But the position, while doable, is not very comfortable for me.

1. Why has the deep-squatting position been named “Asian squat” ?

A．It came from Asia	B．It is widely adopted by Asians
C．It can be performed only by Asians	D．It is completely invisible in the West

2. What is the most important factor for performing “Asian squat” ?

A．Flexible ankles.	B．Strong glutes.
C．Body shape.	D．Ethnic groups.

3. What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?

A．Studying deep squatting is not practical.

B．Asians have born ability in deep squatting.

C．It’s necessary to study newborn babies in China.

D．Everyone can do deep squatting through practice.

4. Why have Americans lost the ability of deep squatting?

A．Because it comes so naturally.

B．Because it is never got back once lost.

C．Because they rely on toilet seats too much.

D．Because they feel it impossible and uncomfortable.

【推荐2】Hair Loss (Alopecia)

Information about male pattern baldness(秃顶) causes, triggers and treatment in the UK

In contrary to popular belief, hair loss—or alopecia—can start at any age. While it is associated with mature males, and statistics show it does mainly affect men above 40, the reality is you can notice symptoms in your 30s, or even 20s and teen years. The NHS statistics state that 25% of men start losing their hair by the time they reach 30. The most common form of hair loss is male pattern baldness—also known as androgenic alopecia—that affects more than half of men around the world.

One option many men seek is treatment to avoid further hair loss, especially early on in the process. With treatments, such as Propecia, that specifically target male pattern baldness, it is possible to stop hair loss completely and even encourage fresh new hair growth.

What is alopecia?

Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss. Most commonly affecting males, hair loss in men is caused by an increased sensitivity to the male sex hormones (androgens). The type of alopecia you have (as well as hereditary and external factors) can influence levels of hair loss. The most common type of hair loss (alopecia) is male and female pattern baldness. Other types include：

* Alopecia areata (patches of baldness, usually on the scalp)

* Scarring alopecia (hair loss directly affecting the hair follicles)

* Telogen effluvium (hair thinning over a larger area on the top of the head, rather than bald patches)

* Anagen effluvium(most commonly caused by cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy)

1. Which of the following statements is FALSE about Propecia?

A．It can stop hair loss almost in all cases.

B．People can buy it online without doctor visit.

C．It encourages new hair growth in rare cases.

D．it is especially effective on male pattern baldness.

2. The next part of the webpage is most likely to be about ________．

A．hair loss causes	B．hair loss symptoms
C．preventing hair loss	D．treating hair loss

【推荐3】Embassy Suites by Hilton Santa Ana Orange County Airport

Neighborhood: John Wayne Airport(SNA),Orange County,1325 East Dyer Road, Santa Ana, CA

OVERALL GUEST SCORE

Hotel Description

Being close to the airport and freeway access make the Embassy Suites a top choice for our guests in the area. The 300-room Embassy Suites offers homey comforts for those on business and vacation alike-suites with separate living and sleeping areas, refrigerators, microwaves, coffeemakers, Wi-Fi access and two TVs. Wake up to a free cooked-to-order breakfast and enjoy the indoor pool and fitness center. A two-hour evening reception offers drinks and snacks and the on-site restaurant serves American favorites. The property also has a business center with copy and fax services. Parking is available for an additional fee. Less than two miles from I-405,the Embassy Suites is within a half-mile of various restaurants and just three miles from John Wayne Airport. Our guests say the Embassy Suites 'location, "brilliant" breakfast and "friendly" staff make it one of their favorite Santa Ana properties.

Guest Ratings

Good                                                         Feb 8,2017 By: Harold Pros: Loved the breakfast and the friendly, helpful staff. Spacious accommodations made this a very good value. Cons: Didn't love the heating/AC system; room was too cold for comfort. Also was not aware of the parking fee until we checked in. The parking fee was $ 17 a night.

Good                                                         Jan 24,2017 By: Micaela Pros: Breakfast was amazing with a variety of choices and the staff were helpful. Cons: The room had a very strange old smell when we first got there. I had to open the door to air it out. Very Good                                               Jan 5,2017 By: Bruce Pros: The location was very good for us and the included breakfast was a plus. Cons: The room was not cleaned properly when we got there. The heating system was not working for the hotel as well.

1. What makes the Embassy Suites a top choice for its guests in the area?

A．The business center.	B．The friendly staff.
C．The convenient location.	D．Wi-Fi access.

2. According to the guest ratings, all the guests are satisfied with its       .

A．heating system	B．free airport shuttle
C．parking fee	D．breakfast

3. This advertisement is made more believable by        

A．using guests' comments	B．interviewing the guests
C．offering competitive prices	D．providing the exact address

【推荐1】High school in the United States starts too early．Given teenagers' sleep patterns, the ideal school start time could be as late as 11:30 a.m.-when many high school students have already finished half a school day and are eating lunch．

Researchers from Harvard and Oxford wrote about this new finding in a recent article in the journal Learning．Media, and Technology．In the article, Paul Kelley supposed that, given when kids and teenagers are biologically conditioned to wake up,10-year-olds should start school at 8 a.m.．16-year-olds should start between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and 18-year-olds should start between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

There's been lots of research done on sleep and performance in school-but this article thinks that school should start even later than most proposals for a later start time call for．Teens aren't lazy-adults need to adjust．This isn't laziness-sleep patterns are a biological necessity．Reviewing evidence from studies around the world, the researchers think that starting school later would help students learn more, perform better on tests, and even make teenagers less annoyed．When the Minneapolis Public Schools moved their start time from 7:15 a.m. to 8:40 a.m., students liked the change and reported that "attendance, achievement, behavior, and mood improved．"

Parents were positive, too．92 percent said they liked the change, and parents reported that their kids were easier to live with when they weren't getting up so early．At the US Air Force Academy, where students were randomly assigned to classes with earlier and later start times, students who started earlier performed worse all day long on those days．

The researchers consider that this is partly cultural, and that getting up early is still seen as a virtue．That's wrong, they write: "A common belief is that adolescents are tired because they choose to stay up too late, or are difficult to wake in the morning because they are lazy．Educators tend to think that adolescents learn best in the morning and if they simply went to sleep earlier, it would improve their concentration．．．The truth is that adults need to be educated．"

1. What does the passage mainly argue about?

A．The time to start high school．	B．The performance of teenagers．
C．The sleep patterns of the teenagers．	D．The common belief of adolescents．

2. From Paul Kelley's research, people can conclude _______________．

A．the earlier the children get up, the cleverer they will become

B．the elder the children are, the later they should start learning

C．the more time children spend learning, the better they will be

D．the later children wake up, the less knowledge they can get

3. Which is NOT the benefit of starting school later in Paragraph 3?

A．Gaining more knowledge．	B．Getting higher marks．
C．Making mood better．	D．Doing less homework．

4. How did the parents think of starting late?

A．The students are losing a virtue．	B．The adults need to be taught．
C．The students benefit from that．	D．The adults become lazier．

5. What should the students do to perform well in school, according to the educators?

A．They should have the wonderful virtue．	B．They should develop the common belief．
C．They should become lazier and lazier．	D．They should get habits of sleeping early．

【推荐2】To Friend or Not to Friend

We all love our parents and turn to them when we're in need, but would you like them to hear the conversations you have with your friends on the school playground or lunch queue? Social networking sites have become extensions of the school hallways, so would you add your parents as "friends” and allow them to view your online activities and conversations with friends?

In the past the generation gap included a technology gap, where children were up to date with latest technology and parents were left behind, content to continue their day to day lives as they always had because they had no need to know more about technology. However, more and more parents are beginning to realize just how important social networks are in their lives. This realization has given many parents the motivation to educate themselves about social networking sites.

These days many people are attracted to social networking sites because they can choose who they have around them; there's also a certain amount of control over privacy that we don't get in real life. Sometimes we feel that privacy is violated when we must accept a "friend" request from a parent or family member.

It's a difficult choice whether or not to allow a parent to become a part of our online lives. On the one hand we don't want to "reject" their request because that might hurt their feelings or make them feel you have something to hide. On the other hand if you do accept, then you could have a sense of being watched and no longer feel free to comment or communicate the way you did before.

A recent survey suggested that parents shouldn't take it personally if their child ignores their request: "When a teen ignores a parent's friend request, it doesn't necessarily mean that they are hiding something, but it could mean that this is one part of their life where they want to be independent." Perhaps talking with parents and giving explanations would help soften the blow if you do choose not to add them to your friends list.

1. From Paragraph 2, we learn that

A．parents feel secure about the privacy online

B．social networks successfully fill the generation gap

C．parents have realized the importance of social networks

D．social networks offer a platform for parents to communicate

2. Teenagers may refuse a parent's friend request because .

A．they hide something from their parents

B．they are unwilling to be watched by parents

C．their parents tend to fall behind in technology

D．their parents make negative comoments on them

3. The passage is mainly about

A．parents* friend requests	B．social networks
C．privacy online	D．the generation gap

4. The passage is written mainly for

A．teachers	B．parents
C．teenagers	D．researchers

【推荐3】Computer technology is still developing rapidly. The computer of the future will increase in value and performance while decrease in cost. It will become smaller, but faster and more powerful.

It is possible to make some guesses about what the future of the computer will look like, based upon the types of technologies that are being developed now. A lot of progress has already been made in some of these new technologies, but some are still in their earliest stages and may not be ready for use for years. Two of the most interesting areas of computing that are currently being developed are quantum computing(量子计算) and nanotechnology(纳米技术).

Quantum computing is one possibility for the future of the computer that could make computers run far faster than even the quickest computers do today. Quantum computers could be able to do what modern supercomputers are unable to do by using transistors that are able to take on many statistics at the same time.

Nanotechnology could also change the face of computing, by creating computers that could be very powerful, though they are tiny in size. These computers could be incorporated(并入) into everyday objects, including electrical appliances(电器), clothes and even the human body. We will be able to use computers in new and unimaginable ways. They will become a part of our lives rather than simply being a box that is used only for specific purposes such as work.

Quantum computing and nanotechnology will be able to play new roles, which will make us live greener lives, as well as enjoy better health and happier lives.

1. According to the text, quantum computing ________.

A．has been put in use so far

B．can make computers run by themselves

C．can reduce the cost of computers

D．will work by using transistors

2. The text is mainly about ________.

A．what nanotechnology is

B．what quantum computing is

C．what the computer of the future is like

D．what future computers can bring us

3. Which of the following best shows the structure of the text?
(①＝Paragraph 1, ②＝Paragraph 2，…⑤＝Paragraph 5)

A．	B．
C．	D．