【推荐1】E-waste is a serious problem that isn’t going to get better on its own.     1    

Maybe the biggest cause of our e-waste problem is the fact that we buy things that we just don’t need. Next time you feel like you need a device or electronic item, stop yourself and ask if it is truly necessary. This is maybe also the easiest way we can manage e-waste.     2     If you don’t keep your connectors, DVDs, wires and gadgets (小器具) organized, you won’t be aware of what you have. When we buy duplicate electronics because we think we need them, we are contributing to our growing e-waste problem. “How to manage e-waste” becomes less of an issue when we keep our own houses in order.

If you do not need a piece of equipment and it is in good enough condition to be reused, donate it as soon as you can so that somebody else can use it. Donations are good for us because they are a useful way to get tax deductions (减税), and a lot of times that tax deduction will be close to the value of the item had you tried to sell it.     3     Some stores offer trade-in programs, where you can drop off your old equipment in return for gift cards.

There are also places to sell electronics that might be valuable to somebody else. Just be sure to sell them right away, because they lose value very rapidly in our changing market.

If you are frequently receiving memory sticks and little gadgets, collect them into a good-e-bag.     4     You might be surprised at how quickly it fills up. So be sure you are utilizing your materials and products thoughtfully. With these tips you can use DIY solutions to learn how to manage e-waste.     5    

A．Organize your electronics.

B．Don’t buy too many gadgets.

C．Take your electronics back to the store.

D．Here are some do-it-yourself tips on how to manage e-waste.

E．Donation means a lot for people who are in need of electronic devices.

F．Your house will be cleaner, you will save money and you’ll be doing a good thing.

G．Whenever you no longer need a USB stick or a small electronic device, toss it into the bag.

【推荐3】Most of the efforts aimed at reducing climate change centering on reducing the use of fossil fuels. But a new study warns that pollution caused by the world’s food production system is also a major driver of rising temperatures on the planet. The study found that if the world food system stays on its current growth path, it will produce nearly 1.4 trillion tons of greenhouse gases over the next 80 years. That pollution is expected to come from chemical fertilizers used in agriculture, mismanaged soil, food waste and methane (甲烷) gas released from cows and other animals.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota and the University of Oxford in Britain led the study, which recently appeared in the publication Science. The researchers predict that even if fossil fuel emissions (排放) were halted now, emissions from the world food system would make it impossible to reach current international climate change targets. They say that emissions from food production alone could push world temperatures past 1.5 degrees Celsius by the middle of this century and above 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century.

A main goal of the 2015 United Nations Paris Agreement on climate change is to keep rises in the Earth’s temperature during this century to between 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius. The U. N. has said that in order to stay below the 1.5 Celsius level, emissions must fall at least 7.6 percent each year through 2030.

The new study calls for immediate improvements in farming practices, as well as changes in what we eat and how much food we waste to help reach the Paris Agreement goals.

1. Which is the pollution of food production system?

A．The process of producing food.	B．Mismanaged soil by farmers.
C．Harmful gas given off by vehicles.	D．Animals’ wastes used to be fertilizer.

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

A．Improved.	B．Withdrew.
C．Monitored.	D．Quitted.

3. How does the writer develop the passage?

A．By making a comparison.	B．By presenting data.
C．By giving examples.	D．By taking on arguments.

4. What is the best title of the passage?

A．The Connection of Agriculture and Pollution

B．Say no to the Pollution of World’s Food Production System

C．Food Production System, a Major Cause of Global Warming

D．Fossil Fuel Emission, the Consequence of Temperature Rising

【推荐1】An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.

Fragile items like those made of glass are easily broken and should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them in the cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. So when there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly, not on you.

There is a strong chance of short circuits and fire during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.

During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases (楼梯) at all times.

If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.

If trapped in ruins, cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or the wall so rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is available. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match because you may burn yourself.

1. The purpose of the passage is to tell readers 　　　.

A．the damage caused by earthquakes

B．the rescue work after earthquakes

C．how to prevent earthquakes

D．what to do about earthquakes

2. The underlined word “Fragile” in Paragraph 2 probably means “　　　”.

A．easily found

B．easily broken

C．expensive

D．heavy

3. To reduce the injury from the earthquake, items made of glass should be put 　　　.

A．in the cupboards

B．on a lower surface

C．in the bedroom

D．in a place where children can’t reach them

4. During the earthquake, people are advised to 　　　.

A．go out of the building at once

B．shout for help

C．take shelter under a tree

D．turn off electricity and gas immediately

【推荐3】Based on bone and tooth records, mammoths（猛犸象）were thought to have gone extinct about 12,000 years ago. But a new genetic sampling technique suggests the great beasts may have stuck around a lot longer. The story is in the soil.

Bones are rich sources of prehistoric genetic information, but not the only ones; items ranging from shed Ice Age skin cells to pine needles can contribute to the genetic record stored in dirt. Paleogeneticists（古遗传学家）have been analyzing "environmental DNA" from soil for a long time, but getting rid of non-DNA material without destroying these fragile clues is daunting（使人气馁的）.

"Environmental samples contain a huge range of other chemical substances that are hard to separate from the DNA," says McMaster University geneticist Tyler Murchie. "We can't afford to lose whatever we can get."

In the new approach, soil samples are got and then broken into smaller portions, stirred and run through a "cold spin method" to separate as much DNA as possible. The DNA is then compared against an existing genetic library to detect species matches.

The method is limited because researchers using it need to know what DNA to look for. If a saber-toothed cat species is not already in the genetic library, the analysis cannot detect that animal. For known species, however, the process may yield exciting information. In their study, the researchers detected about 2,100 kinds of plants and 180 animals.

Not yet published results from other field sites are yielding similar results, Murchie says, and future fossil discoveries could strengthen the case. "We can use this approach to identify species in places and times we never knew they existed," he adds.

1. Why does the author mention "mammoths" in Paragraph 1?

A．To present a fact.	B．To show us an extinct animal.
C．To correct a mistake.	D．To introduce the topic of the passage.

2. Which word can best describe the work of getting rid of non-DNA material?

A．Challenging.	B．Interesting.
C．Boring.	D．Satisfying.

3. What is the disadvantage of the new method?

A．It is very slow.

B．It can't detect unknown animals.

C．It is not very accurate.

D．It can only be carried out in the genetic library.

4. What is the text?

A．A news report.	B．A short story.
C．A book review.	D．A research report.

【推荐1】When you walk with a backpack, do you know how the things inside move from side to side? Now scientists have figured out how to tap into that movement to produce electricity.

Picture a pendulum (摆锤) fixed to a backpack frame and stabilized with springs on either side. The pack’s weight is attached to the pendulum, so the pendulum swings side to side as you walk. Then a machine is driven by that swinging movement, and spits out electrical current to charge a battery.

Volunteers carried the pack while walking on a running machine and wore masks to measure the flow of O₂ and CO₂. Walking with the slightly swinging 20-pound load, the device (设备) did not significantly affect the volunteers’ metabolic (新陈代谢的) rate compared to when they carried the same weight fixed in place. In fact, the energy-harvesting pack reduced the forces of acceleration they’d feel in a regular pack, which might mean greater comfort for a long hike. And the device did produce a steady trickle (涓流) of electricity. If you up the load to 45 pounds, the swing of the pack could fully charge a smart phone only after 12 hours. The details are in the journal Royal Society Open Science.

The device produces electricity from human movement and has been identified as a workable solution to providing a renewable energy source for portable electronic devices. It is particularly useful for those who work in remote areas, as these people often carry a lot of weight in a backpack for their exploration.

But here’s a real conundrum: the energy-harvesting device currently weighs five pounds. The researchers say that’s about four pounds too many to be a smart alternative to batteries. So they hope that more research lets them lighten the load, to ensure the pack charges you up without weighing you down.

1. What does Paragraph 2 mainly talk about?

A．How the device works.

B．What the device looks like.

C．Who the device is designed for.

D．Why scientists designed the device.

2. Which of the following describes the device?

A．It greatly affected the volunteers metabolic rate.

B．It harvested energy as the volunteers walk.

C．It failed to produce steady electricity.

D．It was useless for a long walk.

3. What does the underlined word “conundrum” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Problem.

B．Method.

C．Bond.

D．Decision.

4. What will the researchers try to do next?

A．Increase the charging speed of their device.

B．Find smarter alternatives to batteries.

C．Reduce the weight of their device.

D．Put their device on the market.

【推荐2】It's said that making friends gets harder when you get older. People settle into their existing friendships during childhood or at university. However, new research suggests that's not what happens. According to a recent survey, the age group that feels least confident in chatting to strangers is those aged 18 to 24. Similarly, it was found that 59% of Millennials   (千禧一代) spend more time chatting to friends on social media than they do seeing them in person

Author and expert on friendship, Kate Leaver, said, "Young people are not confident when speaking to strangers not only because they're afraid of refusal, but also because they've really been socially conditioned not to. Previous generations had a much stronger sense of community in public, shared spaces. We don't have as much access (接近) to that because the way we structure our modern lives means we are less in touch with our communities. Shared public spaces like parks and libraries - places where people might get close to a stranger - are being shut down."

Laura, 27, hates meeting new people. The majority of her friends are from university days. "I'm pretty chatty and open when I get to know someone, but during that first meeting, I'm very shy. I get very anxious about what to talk about, and people judging me or just not understanding my sense of humor."

But not all young people feel the same way. Hayley, 31, regularly meets people in unusual ways and makes friends with them. "I became good friends with someone who I met on the plane," she said. "It just shows how you can really connect when you're offline."

If you're comfortable with your present friendship situation, that's great. But, if you do want to enlarge your social circle, here are some tips. Avoid unpleasant silences by searching for people with common interests - join a book club or a local sports team. If it is too stressful, there are some friendship apps that you can use.Or, strike up a conversation with someone in a public place.

1. What can we get from the recent survey?

A．Seniors prefer to make friends online

B．Teens spend less time on friends than before

C．Making friends gets harder when you're older.

D．Young people build relationships with difficulty.

2. The underlined word "that" in Paragraph 2 probably refers to "

A．refusal

B．a stranger

C．the sense of community

D．the social condition

3. What problem does Laura have when socializing?

A．She fails to contact her old friends.

B．She is skilled at making new friends.

C．She prefers to make new friends online.

D．She is unwilling to get close to new people.

4. What does the author suggest in the last paragraph?

A．Developing a sense of humor.

B．Enlarging friend circles offline.

C．Joining groups with shared interests.

D．Keeping strong ties with old friends.

【推荐3】We once had a poster competition in our fifth grade art class.
“You could win prizes,” our teacher told us as she wrote the poster information on the blackboard. She passed out sheets of construction paper while continuing, “The first prize is ten dollars. You just have to make sure that the words on the blackboard appear somewhere on your poster.”
We studied the board critically. Some of us looked with one eye and held up certain colors against the blackboard, rocking the sheets to the right or left while we conjured up our designs. Others twisted their hair around their fingers or chewed their erasers while deep in thought. We had plans for that ten-dollar grand prize, each and every one of us. I’m going to spend mine on candies, one hopeful would announce, while another practiced looking serious, wise and rich.
Everyone in the class made a poster. Some of us used parts of those fancy paper napkins, while others used nothing but colored construction paper. Some of us used big designs, and some of us preferred to gather our art tidily down in one corner of our poster and let the space draw the viewer’s attention to it. Some of us would wander past the good students’ desks and then return to our own projects with a growing sense of hopelessness. It was yet another grown-up trick of the sort they seemed especially fond of, making all of us believe we had a fair chance, and then always—always—rewarding the same old winners.
I believe I drew a sailboat, but I can’t say that with any certainty. I made it. I admired it. I determined it to be the very best of all of the posters I had seen，and then I turned it in.
Minutes passed.
No one came along to give me the grand prize, and then someone distracted me, and I probably never would have thought about that poster again.
I was still sitting at my desk, thinking, What poster? when the teacher gave me an envelope with a ten-dollar bill in it and everyone in the class applauded for me.
1. What was the teacher’s requirement for the poster?

A．It must appear in time.

B．It must be done in class.

C．It must be done on a construction sheet.

D．It must include the words on the blackboard.

2. The underlined phrase in Paragraph 3 most probably means ________.

A．formed an idea for

B．made an outline for

C．made some space for

D．chose some colors for

3. After the teacher’s words, all the students in the class________.

A．looked very serious

B．thought they would be rich

C．began to think about their designs

D．began to play games

4. After seeing the good students’ designs, some students________.

A．loved their own designs more

B．thought they had a fair chance

C．put their own designs in a corner

D．thought they would not win the prize

5. We can infer from the passage that the author________.

A．enjoyed grown up tricks very much

B．loved poster competitions very much

C．felt surprised to win the competition

D．became wise and rich after the competition

【推荐1】Noise pollution in cities is causing our health to suffer: one in five Europeans is regularly exposed to sound levels at night that could significantly damage their health, leading to diseases, sleep difficulties and stress. Researchers in Belgium have developed an app called NoiseTube that allows everyone to transform their smartphone into a sound level meter (仪表).

NoiseTube works by recording sound levels and GPS locations. Once launched the app shows decibel (分贝) levels of green or red depending on the level of noise. That information is then sent to the NoiseTube server via the Internet where a “noise map” is produced and then made available to the user.

The project started in 2008 as a new form of data gathering, one that was close to people and of a social concern. “Sound was an obvious choice because everyone has a microphone on their mobile phone, and noise pollution, along with air pollution is an environmental concern. Often the two go hand in hand,” D’Hondt of the NoiseTube project said.

Since its launch, the app has been popular with community groups who want to monitor their own noise levels. They don’t think that city produced noise maps give an enough explanation of the level of noise they are experiencing. City produced noise maps are based on statistical models involving very few actual measurements. NoiseTube on the other hand gives a detailed account of the level of noise experienced at a specific time and location. “Ten people walking the same area from 9am to 10am every day for one week can make a valid (有效的) and detailed map for an area of a couple of blocks,” D’Hondt said.

So far these sorts of noise maps have been produced for a number of European cities. The app has been downloaded by 10, 000 people with 2, 700 people registered on the NoiseTube website.

1. What is the main function of NoiseTube?

A．Measure noise levels.

B．Reduce noise pollution.

C．Make people aware of noise pollution.

D．Help treat diseases caused by noise pollution.

2. What can be learned about NoiseTube from the passage?

A．NoiseTube is mainly accepted and used by young people.

B．NoiseTube helps record the location of the noise in detail.

C．NoiseTube can show the process of drawing noise maps.

D．NoiseTube is a built-in app in a new kind of smartphone.

3. What is paragragh 2 mainly about?

A．How NoiseTube works.

B．How NoiseTube gathers data.

C．How NoiseTube was invented.

D．How noise levels are classified.

4. Why do people think little of city produced noise maps?

A．They aren’t drawn very clearly.

B．They are difficult to understand.

C．They can’t be used without a smartphone.

D．They can’t show the read noise level of a place.

【推荐2】On the evening of June 21, 1992, a tall man with brown hair and blue eyes entered the beautiful hall of the Bell Tower Hotel in Xi’an with his bicycle. The hotel workers received him and telephoned the manager, for they had never seen a bicycle in             the hotel hall before though they lived in “the kingdom of bicycles.”
Robert Friedlander, an American, arrived in Xi’an on his bicycle trip across Asia which started last December in New Delhi, India.
When he was 11, he read the book Marco Polo and made up his mind to visit the Silk Road. Now, after 44 years , he was on the Silk Road in Xi’an and his early dreams were coming true.
Robert Friedlander’s next destinations were Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Urumqi, etc. He will complete his trip in Pakistan.
1. The best headline for this newspaper article would be ______ .

A．The Kingdom of Bicycles	B．A Beautiful Hotel in Xi’an
C．Marco Polo and the Silk Road.	D．An American Achieving His Aims

2. The hotel workers told the manager about Friedlander coming to the hotel because______ .

A．he asked to see the manager

B．he entered the hall with a bike

C．the manager had to know about all foreign guests

D．the manager knew about his trip and was expecting him

3. Friedlander is visiting the three countries in the following order. ______ .

A．China, India, and Pakistan	B．India, China, and Pakistan
C．Pakistan, China, and India	D．China, Pakistan, and India

4. What made Friedlander want to come to China? ______.

A．The stories about Marco Polo .	B．The famous sights in Xi’an .
C．His interest in Chinese silk.	D．His childhood dreams about bicycles .

5. Friedlander can be said to be _______ .

A．clever

B．friendly

C．hardworking

D．strong—minded

【推荐3】Last night one of our 3 family dogs was hit and killed by a car in front of my mother’s house. The dogs became more or less, my mother’s children after her human children grew up and moved out and my father ran with a midlife crisis and left her. The one that was killed had bonded with my mom far more than the others. She is shocked and upset. I loved the dog, but my true sadness currently results from having to watch my mother experience another tragedy after everything she has been through in her life.

In the midst of all of this I have to sincerely applaud the driver of the vehicle, which feels wrong, but it's not.

I’ll start by stating it was not his fault. The dog chased(追赶) a deer into the road at night. In an effort to not hit the deer with his car he changed direction suddenly, not seeing the dog, leading to her deaths. He could have very easily continued on his way, but he did something that I hope I never forget. He did the right thing (in my eyes). The driver pulled over, carefully wrapped our dog in a blanket he got from his car, and carried her up to my mother's front door.

He was visibly shaking and very upset. He informed my mother of what happened and she broke down immediately. He consoled her the best a stranger could and waited with her while my sister rushed to her house. He left his information and offered assistance in anyway he could.

Yes, he is the man who hit and killed our dog-accidentally. What he really did was sparing my mother from discovering unexpectedly a horrible scene herself while searching for the dog. He had so many choices. Choices that were far easier than what he chose. He did the right thing and for that, thank you, stranger. You recovered my faith in humanity.

1. What can we learn about the author's mother?

A．She has suffered a lot in her life.	B．She has grown up with her dogs.
C．She misses her husband very much.	D．She has three dogs killed in an accident.

2. What's the author s attitude towards the dog-killer?

A．Doubtful.

B．Indifferent.

C．Critical.

D．Praising.

3. What does the underlined word “consoled” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Encouraged.

B．Followed.

C．Comforted.

D．Helped.

4. What is the best tide for the text?

A．An Unfortunate Accident	B．Sadness over a Dog’s Death
C．An Easy-to-Make Choice	D．Faith in Humanity Recovered