【推荐1】In the classic marriage vow (誓约), couples promise to stay together in sickness and in health. But a new study finds that the risk of divorce among older couples rises when the wife－not the husband－becomes seriously ill.

“Married women diagnosed with a serious health condition may find themselves struggling with the impact of their disease while also experiencing the stress of divorce.” said researched Amelia Karraker.

Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham analyzed 20 years of data on 2,717 marriages from a study conducted by Indiana University since 1992. At the time of the first interview, at least one of the partners was over the age of 50.

The researchers examined how the onset (发生) of four serious physical illnesses affected marriages. They found that, overall, 31% of marriages ended in divorce over the period studied. The incidence of new chronic (慢性的) illness onset increased over time as well, with more husbands than wives developing serious health problems.

“We found that women are doubly weak when their marriage breaks up in the face of illness,” Karraker said. “They’re more likely to be widowed, and if they’re the ones who become ill, they’re more likely to get divorced.”

While the study didn’t assess why divorce is more likely when wives but not husbands become seriously ill, Karraker offers a few possible reasons. “Gender roles and social expectations about caregiving may make it more difficult for men to provide care to sick spouses.” Karraker said. “And because of the imbalance in marriage markets, especially in older ages, divorced men have more choices among potential partners than divorced women.”

Given the increasing concern about health care costs for the aging population, Karraker believes policymakers should be aware of the relationship between disease and risk of divorce.

“Offering support services to spouses caring for their other halves may reduce martial stress and prevent divorce at older ages.” she said. “But it’s also important to recognize that the pressure to divorce may be health-related and that sick ex-wives may need additional care and services to prevent worsening health and increased health costs.”

1. What can we learn about marriage vows from the passage?

A．They can help couples get through hard times.

B．They are not taken seriously any more.

C．They are as binding as they used to be.

D．They may not guarantee a lasting marriage.

2. What did Karraker and co-author Kenzie Latham find about elderly husbands?

A．They can develop different kinds of illness just like their wives.

B．They are more likely to get serious illness than their wives.

C．They are generally not good at taking care of themselves.

D．They are more likely to be divorced in the face of illness.

3. Why is it more difficult for men to take care of their sick spouses according to Karraker?

A．They think it more urgent to take on their social role.

B．They find it much easier to find another partner.

C．They are more accustomed to receiving care.

D．They expect society to do more of the job.

【推荐2】Buying books on the Internet is a great way to save time and money. Online bookstores offer new books and used books that can save you lots of money. They are far better compared to traditional bookstores as they offer much more kinds of books. Another advantage of shopping online is that you can also read the book reviews as well as readers’ reviews to get an idea whether the book is worth buying. Online bookstores offer great discounts (折扣) to regular customers, which is a big attraction for book lovers.

For book lovers, the most important thing is to get books on time. Therefore, you need to find a reliable online bookstore that will be able to provide fast deliveries (递送).

Here are some tips to use when you are choosing an online bookstore. Some online bookstores are popular for fiction books; some are for non-fiction books or novels, etc. Understanding their specialization will help you get the right kind of book in time. Check whether you will buy the books from a third party seller or directly from the website. Although he online bookstore could be reputable (声誉好的), third party sellers advertised on its site may not have a good reputation. Never jump at stores that offer super cheap prices, as books sold at such low prices could be in very bad condition.

Most of the popular online bookstores offer useful tools. One tool is a wish list tool on the website. You can change the list of books you wish to buy in the future. The bookstore will know what you want and will e-mail you immediately when the book of your choice is available.

1. How can a reader buy a worthy book when shopping online?

A．By comparing the service.

B．By asking for discounts.

C．By reading online reviews.

D．By asking booksellers for advice.

2. What do online book lovers care about most?

A．The speed of deliveries.

B．The author of books.

C．The prices of books.

D．The condition of books.

3. What is the third paragraph mainly about?

A．How to choose a reliable online bookstore.

B．How to avoid buying books in bad condition online.

C．How to understand the specialization of an online bookstore.

D．How to advertise on the website to get a good reputation.

4. The wish list tool can help readers ________.

A．learn about the number of the books

B．get to know more reliable booksellers

C．pay for their books more quickly

D．buy their favorite books in time

【推荐1】If I could give today’s young people three wishes, they would be: more hugs, more time outside in nature, more belief in their own power to change the world. The third one leaves some people wondering why young people’s belief in their own power is so essential.

Let’s start with the idea that all of us – especially young people – need heroes. Our modern society is terribly confused about the difference between a celebrity and a hero. A celebrity is all about fame– temporary, superficial fame, usually for qualities that are easy to see: a pretty face, a great dance move, etc. A hero, by contrast, is about character – qualities under the surface that aren’t seen until they take action.

Heroes are all around us. They truly hold our world together, through their unselfish devotion to helping others, teaching children, and protecting the environment. They don’t want fame, or glory; they just want to help. In so many ways, these unsung heroes pilot the boat in which all of us sail.

Yet, young people hear a lot more about celebrities than about heroes in the media. The hidden message they get from all this is that their self-worth comes from what they buy – which shoes, which cell phone – not who they are down inside. What gets lost in this? Young people’s sense of their own potential for heroic qualities – their own power to – make a positive difference in the world. Truth is, there is a potential hero, a future difference maker, in every young person.

How do we help young people believe in their own power? The best way is simply to share examples of other young people who have made a difference.

Barbara grew up on a farm in Texas. When she realized that local farmers were pouring their used motor oil into rivers, causing pollution, she organised the creation of a recycling centre for crude oil (原油). Her project has grown to include 18 recycling centres in Texas.

The list could continue. These are but a few examples of young people who have discovered that they can build on their own energy to do something great.

1. What is the author’s purpose in writing Paragraph 2?

A．To give examples of celebrities and heroes around us.

B．To show the details about being celebrities and heroes.

C．To discuss the distinctions between celebrities and heroes.

D．To explain the meanings of the words “celebrity” and “hero”.

2. What does the underlined part mean in Paragraph 3?

A．Heroes only help specific groups of people.

B．Heroes want to be recognised for their work.

C．Heroes play a vital role in keeping the world running.

D．Heroes enjoy piloting boats to reach their destination.

3. How does the author advance his view that young people believe in their own power?

A．By explaining the qualities that make a young person a hero.

B．By comparing the achievements made by different young people.

C．By giving examples of young people who show the qualities of a hero.

D．By providing examples of qualities that have made young people famous.

4. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．More heroes are needed in the modern world.

B．Celebrities are reported too much in the media.

C．Adults should become role models for young people.

D．Young people should believe in their ability to make a difference.

【推荐2】Age discrimination(歧视）is a large problem in the United States today. Teenagers are considered dishonest, old people are considered incapable(无能的）,kids considered noisy.

Picture this: a teenage boy, with a group of friends, walks laughing into a store.They read some magazines, walk by the candy, and then walk out without buying anything. What’s the first thought of this? It might be that they stole something. Maybe the employees would even go as far as to call the police about these boys, who didn’t steal anything but were discriminated against simply because they were “teenage boys”.

This happens every day, all over America. We don’t tell the kids much, because they won’t understand, they’re too young. We feel surprised when we see old people run marathons, or even take part in simple fun activities such as volleyball or swimming, because they are “old”, and “incapable".

People who are discriminated against, no matter what the reason, can be hurt by it.They can be offended, because it isn't something they can help.Like my example of the teenage boy above, he was simply having fun as he walked into the store.He wasn’t planning to steal anything or to cause any trouble; he could even be one of the best students in school, but he was discriminated against for being a teenager.

Of course,this doesn’t mean you should persuade your grandparents right away to run a marathon,but give them a little trust.They are capable of doing things we are,and sometimes more.So next time you tell your little brother that he’s “too young to understand” or think that your grandmother is “too old” to do sports, listen to yourself. I know you are offended by being considered as a teenager, so how do you think they feel? Remember, it all hurts. Everyone should have equal opportunities, no matter how old he is.

1. The underlined word “It” in Paragraph 2 refers to       .

A．The fact	B．The result
C．The thought	D．The problem

2. The author mentions the teenage boy in Paragraph 2 to show that       .

A．people should give more opportunities to teenagers

B．age discrimination is serious in today’s world

C．teenagers should behave in a proper way

D．it's really hard to depend on teenagers

3. The author holds the view that       .

A．we shouldn’t judge others by their age

B．we should try to help incapable people

C．we should encourage old people to run marathons

D．we shouldn’t enter a store if we don’t want to buy anything

4. The text mainly discusses       .

A．an unfortunate teenager

B．different age groups

C．equal opportunities

D．a social problem

【推荐1】Here's a simple question—answer it honestly, because your response could promote the level of pleasure in your daily life, put off dementia (痴呆), and even help you live longer. How many hours did you spend reading last week?

Recently, when researcher Mathew P. White and his workmates at the Yale School of Public Health dug into 12 years of information about the reading habits and health of more than 3,600 men and women, a hopeful pattern became known. Book readers who report more than three hours of weekly reading are 23 percent less likely to die than those who read only newspapers or magazines.

To understand why and what each of us can do to get the most out of our words, start by asking the same question the Yale team did. What is it about reading books that increases our brain power while reading newspapers doesn't?

For one，the researchers suggest that chapter books encourage “deep reading”. Unlike，say, going through a page of headlines, reading a book forces your brain to think creatively and make connections from one chapter to another, and to the outside world. When you make connections, so does your brain. Over time, these neural (神经的) networks can promote quicker thinking, which provides greater protection against dementia.

Secondly，reading books, especially novels，has been confirmed to increase empathy (共鸣) and emotional intelligence. Developing social tools such as empathy and emotional intelligence can lead to more and more positive human interaction, which in turn can lower stress levels—both of which are proven to help you live longer and healthier.

That’s not to say that magazines, newspapers, and online articles are of no benefit. Reading anything that fills your mind seems to bring about mental benefits. When it comes to words, addiction is encouraged. Because it pays to increase your word power—today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life.

1. How did White carry out the research?

A．By doing experiments.

B．By direct observation.

C．By interviewing in person.

D．By referring to former facts.

2. In which way does reading books increase our brain power?

A．Promoting brain growth.

B．Preventing us from ageing.

C．Keeping us free from stress.

D．Strengthening neural networks.

3. What’s the author’s attitude to reading online articles?

A．Negative.

B．Positive.

C．Uncertain.

D．Unconcerned.

【推荐2】As I was thinking about language learning the other day, the image of baking bread came into my mind. I compared some of the exercises and drills that we put ourselves through in order to learn a language to the various ingredients that go into baking a loaf of fresh bread.

Real language learning takes place in human relationships. No one sits down and eats a cup of flour, even if he is hungry and in a hurry. You don’t become bilingual (双语的) by learning lists of vocabulary. You don’t become a speaker of a language by memorizing verb conjugations (动词的词形变化) and agreement rules. You become bilingual by entering a community that uses that other language as its primary means of communication.

I am not suggesting that we can make bread without ingredients. Flour is necessary, as are yeast, salt, water and other ingredients. Vocabulary is part of any language and will have to be learned. Grammatical rules exist in every language and cannot be ignored. But merely combining the appropriate ingredients in the recommended proportions does not result in bread. At best, you only end up with a ball of dough (面团).

In order to get bread, you have to apply heat to the dough. And in language learning, that heat comes from the community. Anyone who has learned a second language has experienced that heat. It creeps up your neck when you ask the babysitter, “Have you already been eaten?” when you meant to say, “Have you already eaten?” When you try to say something quite innocent and the whole room bursts into laughter, you are experiencing the heat that turns raw dough into good bread. Remember the old saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?” This is where language learning often breaks down because we find the heat uncomfortable and we stop the baking process. In other words, we can’t stand the heat, so we get out of the kitchen.

However, the language learner who stays in the kitchen——in the heat until the combined ingredients are thoroughly transformed will enjoy the richness of a quality loaf of bread. He said that he did not “get out of the kitchen” at the critical moment when the oven seemed too hot. The dedicated language learner knows that becoming bilingual cannot be achieved without the heat!

1. The passage is mainly about________.

A．how we can make baking bread with various Ingredients

B．how to become bilingual by communicating with others

C．what an important role “heat” plays in learning a language

D．what a high quality of bread you may achieve in the kitchen

2. You can become a speaker of a language by_______.

A．bearing millions of words and expressions in your mind

B．using the language to communicate with those around you

C．knowing verb conjugations and grammatical rules

D．saying something innocent to be laughed at by others

3. What is the purpose of illustration of the example——you ask the babysitter, “Have you already been eaten?” when you meant to say, “Have you already eaten?”?

A．To prove that you are sure to make some mistakes when you enter a community.

B．To show that you should combine the ingredients in the recommended proportions.

C．To prove that you may experience “heat” from the community in language learning.

D．To indicate that being bilingual calls for your courage, confidence and perseverance.

4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT the necessity of baking bread and learning language?

A．Wonderful skills.	B．Various ingredients.
C．Appropriate proportions.	D．Uncomfortable heat.

【推荐3】Are you angry？Unhappy in your job？Wish you had an outlet for those feelings?

Well, if you lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina, you could go to the Break Club. It’s made up of a group of people who get together to smash up rubbish as a way of venting (发泄) their aggression. They can throw bottles at the wall, or take their frustration out on an old computer.

Mora, a club member, is a 22-year-old media producer who works hard and is always stressed out. She says, “I have to deal with deadlines, with so many people and so many things every day. . . My nerves are at breaking point. Well, now it’s time I should break something too. ”

She wears overalls, thick gloves and visor (脸盔) to protect her eyes. In her hands there’s a baseball bat ready for action. After trashing an old computer monitor, Mora is almost breathless but has a smile on her face. “I feel like a new person. I’m happy! After this, I’m ready for anything！” she says.

Do you fume when your own computer crashes？Perhaps you’d feel better if you could do what 27-year-old Yamilla did to her keyboard-attack it with a hammer! The club’s creator, Guido Dodero, says Argentinians are a bit angry by nature and they like psychoanalysis. He thinks the key to the club’s success is being a mix of both.

About 85% of his clients are young women. Dodero explains: “This is still quite a macho (大男人的) country. Women feel they need to take certain roles in society. They need to break from that every now and then and the club is the place for that. ”

Some members bring a picture of an ex-fiancée to destroy. Others bring a picture of. . . Well, it could be of you or me. Natasha works in a call center and does to the old equipment what she might like to do to her callers. The young woman says her job drives her mad.

The Break Club’s creator says this is the only one of its kind in South America, but he’s heard that there are similar places in Spain, Japan and the US. Who knows, one day there might be one near you. Do you feel like breaking things?

1. The Break Club is a place where you can ________.

A．break anything as you like

B．tell your frustration to the experts

C．vent your aggression by breaking rubbish

D．share your terrible experiences with others

2. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．Get angry.	B．Get nervous.
C．Feel shocked.	D．Feel helpless.

3. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．Dodero creates and manages the club

B．Mora is tired of working with many people

C．Yamilla takes a computer apart when angry

D．Natasha vents her anger through calling friends

4. Why are the clients in the club mainly young women?

A．They have no job and have more free time.

B．They are fighting with men for equal rights.

C．They enjoy themselves in such a kind of club.

D．They greatly need to reduce their pressure.

【推荐1】NEW YORK (Reuters) — Global warming has cut about $5 billion worth of value from the world’s most commonly grown grains over 20 years, according to a new study.

Warming temperatures from 1981 to 2002 cut the combined production of wheat, corn and other crops by 40 million tons per year. “Contrary to what most people think, this study shows that warming over the past two decades has already affected global food supply. The effect is not a faraway thing,” said Christopher Field, a co-author on the study, the first to estimate how much global food production has already been affected by climate change.

Not every scientist agrees that agriculture is suffering from warmer temperatures. A UN report said warming is expected to turn the planet a bit greener by encouraging plant growth, but crops and forests may wilt beyond mid-century if temperatures keep rising.

Average global production for several of the crops suffered from warmer temperatures, with production dropping by about 3-5% for every 1°F increase, the study said. Average global temperatures increased by about 0.7°F during the study period, with even larger changes in several regions.

“If the past is an indication, agriculture will also suffer going forward,” Field said. “We expect future warming to continue to be a drag on grain production, like driving with the parking brake engaged.” The study said the cereal crops hit by global warming account for 55% of non-meat categories consumed by humans and they also contribute more than 70% of the world’s animal feed.

“Farmers can adapt to warmer temperatures by changing crop planting times, the varieties they grow, or the locations used for each crop,” Field said. “In the past farmers have been very adaptable to environmental challenges, but adaptation to warming can take years.”

1. It is commonly thought that global warming ______.

A．will have a bad effect on human beings’ present life

B．is something that will just affect the future

C．is becoming more and more serious

D．will soon lead to great decrease in food supply

2. The underlined word “wilt” in the third paragraph probably means “______”.

A．increase	B．grow taller
C．stay the same	D．grow badly

3. According to Field, we can learn that ________.

A．agriculture will not suffer a lot from global warming

B．grain production will increase despite global warming

C．grain production will be affected by global warming

D．farmers can increase crop production by changing crop planting times

4. This passage mainly tells us that __________.

A．the future food supply will change with global warming

B．global warming reduces global food production

C．traditional agriculture will disappear due to global warming

D．global warming prevents the growth of plants and grains

【推荐2】Perhaps there is no sport in the world more connected to sneakers than basketball. Many NBA players wear them to send important messages and showcase their personalities on court.

And now, thanks to a new policy, the NBA will strengthen its status as the most stylish sports league in the world. When the 2018-2019 NBA season kicked off in October, the NBA lifted its color restrictions on players’ sneakers. It is the first time in the league’s 72-year history that it has allowed shoes to be of any color a player likes, as long as no reflective (反光的) material is included.

In the past, the NBA required “uniformity (一致性) of uniform”, meaning each players’ shoes had to match those worn by the rest of the team. Their sneakers had to be at least 51 percent black or white, with an element of team color.

This landmark rule change is part of the NBA’s collective effort to support players “statements” on and off the court. “ More and more people realize that limitation of the color of players’ shoes actually constrains (限制) their personal expression and storytelling,” CNN News noted.

Sometimes a shoe was worn in a memorable game, or the design of a shoe has meaning for the player.

Before Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, nicknamed “the Black Mamba”, retired, it was said that he wore a new pair of sneakers to each game and stored his used sneakers.

Bryant brought the low-top style of sneaker with a Mamba print to the forefront in 2008 to symbolize the spirit of perseverance and bravery. In 2013, Bryant added nine red stitches (缝针) to the back of his shoe to represent the nine stitches from his Achilles tendon surgery. “It has become an attitude. That is my Mamba personality,” Bryant told Sports Illustrated magazine.

Kyrie Irving of the Boston, Celtics wears probably the most famous signature sneakers. Inspired by his mother, who died when he was four, he has a rose on one side of his shoe to represent her. All of his sneakers are also inscribed (刻) with the words, “JBY (Just Be You)”. “Just Be You is the motto I live by every single day, because I’m happy to be an individual. It’s a beautiful thing,” Irving told UK media site GiveMeSport.

There is no end to the stories about sneakers in basketball. It’s certain that they will remain a platform for players who want to use them to express their ideas and personalities.

1. According to the new policy, the NBA players ________.

A．may choose sneakers they like without restriction

B．should wear sneakers in their own team color

C．have to choose sneakers either in black or in white

D．have more freedom in choosing personal sneakers

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Uniformity guarantees better results.

B．The new rule leads to controversy.

C．The NBA cares little about players’ statements.

D．Players’ personal expression also counts.

3. Which of the following is used to express family value?

A．A rose.	B．JBY.
C．A Mamba print.	D．Nine red stitches.

4. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．The NBA lifts color restrictions.

B．Our shoes have stories.

C．Bryant has a unique dress style.

D．The NBA players are particular about the colors of their sneakers.

【推荐3】Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here’s what happened. I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station .We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car´s back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, who almost caused a big accident, started yelling bad words at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was friendly. So, I said, Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital! And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call The Law of the Garbage Truck.

Many people are like garbage (rubbish) trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they’ll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don’t take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You’ll be happy with what you did.

I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets? It was that day I said, I’m not going to do anymore.

Successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day. What about you? If you let more garbage trucks pass you by, you’ll be happier. Life’s too short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, Love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don’t.

1. What happened one day when the author was taking a taxi?

A．The taxi almost hit another car.

B．The taxi driver was injured.

C．The author scolded the driver of the other car.

D．The author learned a lesson from the driver of the garbage truck.

2. How did the taxi driver respond to the behavior of the driver of the black car?

A．He yelled back at the driver.

B．He sent the driver to the hospital.

C．He was friendly towards the driver.

D．He dumped some garbage in front of his car.

3. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．The author used to have a lot of garbage trucks.

B．The author used to complain a lot.

C．The author used to have a lot of money.

D．The author used to be a good manager

4. According to the passage, what should you do if people dump garbage on you?

A．Ignore them and go on with our own work.

B．Try our best to persuade them not to do that again.

C．Tell them to dump the garbage in the right place.

D．Take over their work and carry the garbage to somewhere else.