【推荐1】It never occurred to me when I was little that gardens were anything less than glamorous places. Granddad’s garden was on the bank of a river and sloped gently down towards the water. You couldn’t reach the river but you could hear the sound of the water and the birds that sang in the trees above. I imagined that all gardens were like this—a place of escape, peace and solitude. Granddad’s plot was nothing out of the ordinary when it came to features. He had nothing as grand as a greenhouse, unlike some of his neighbors. Not that they had proper “bought” greenhouses. Theirs were made from old window frames. Patches of plastic would be tacked in place where a carelessly wielded spade had smashed a pane of glass.

At home, his son, my father, could be quiet and withdrawn. I wouldn’t want to make him sound humorless. He wasn’t. Silly things would amuse him. He had phrases that he liked to use, “It’s immaterial to me” being one of them. “I don’t mind” would have done just as well but he liked the word “immaterial.” I realize that, deep down, he was probably disappointed that he hadn’t made more of his life. He left school without qualifications and became apprenticed to a plumber. Plumbing was not something he was passionate about. It was just what he did. He was never particularly ambitious, though there was a moment when he and Mum thought of emigrating to Canada, but it came to nothing. Where he came into his own was around the house. He had an “eye for the job.” Be it bookshelves or a cupboard—what he could achieve was astonishing.

Of the three options, moors, woods or river—the river was the one that usually got my vote. On a stretch of the river I was allowed to disappear with my imagination into another world. With a fishing net over my shoulder I could set off in sandals that were last year’s model, with the fronts cut out to accommodate toes that were now right to the end. I’d walk along the river bank looking for a suitable spot where I could take off the painful sandals and leave them with my picnic while I ventured out, tentatively, peering through the water for any fish that I could scoop up with the net and take home. After the first disastrous attempts to keep them alive in the back yard, they were tipped back into the water.

I wanted to leave school as soon as possible but that seemed an unlikely prospect until one day my father announced, “They’ve got a vacancy for an apprentice gardener in the Parks Department. I thought you might be interested.” In one brief moment Dad had gone against his better judgment. He might still have preferred it if I became a carpenter. But I like to feel that somewhere inside him was a feeling that things might just turn out for the best. Maybe I’m deceiving myself, but I prefer to believe that in his heart, although he hated gardening himself, he’d watched me doing it for long enough and noticed my unfailing passion for all things that grew and flowered and fruited.

1. What is the writer’s attitude to his father in the second paragraph?

A．He was regretful that his father had not achieved more.

B．He was irritated that his father used words he didn’t understand.

C．He was sympathetic to the reasons why his father behaved as he did.

D．He was grateful that his father had not taken the family to Canada.

2. What does the writer mean by the underlined phrase “came into his own”?

A．was able to do something by himself

B．was able to show his talents flat out

C．was able to continue his day job

D．was able to forget his failure

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．The writer felt irritated that the garden was less enchanting

B．The writer was an excellent fisherman for his gift

C．Around the house lied the father’s dream of being carpenter

D．The fishing trip illustrated the writer’s carefree childhood.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．His father is unsure about his son’s future

B．His father was tired of giving way to his son.

C．His father had been impressed by his son’s love of gardening.

D．His father had been trying to find a job his son would enjoy.

【推荐2】I decided to ski to the North Pole. It was after I saw an advertisement in a newspaper looking for people to join a team to ski 350 miles to the North Pole. Back in 1996, there had never been a woman from the UK who had accomplished this challenge. I wondered what it would be like to survive in temperatures cold enough to freeze your flesh in seconds, so I sent off for the application form.

The application form full of pictures of male explorers arrived. The words "Are you man enough for the ultimate (终极的) challenge?" made me angry and even more determined to get on the team.

Over 500 individuals applied for a place in the team, and the selection process included physical and psychological tests designed to pick the best group. In one test, there was a huge rope ladder we had to climb, and I froze at the top because I have a fear of heights. I thought my hopes were fading as most other applicants sailed past, leaving me behind. But two others helped me over, and later I found out that the organizers were not looking for amazing individuals, but great team players, and this moment had shown them who would take care of others in the team.

I had revealed (显示) my weakness, and in a place like the Arctic, you have to be yourself, as there is nowhere to hide. There personalities of asking for help and showing weakness are necessary for women to master.

I realized that by being myself, I could succeed. I was selected for the team. I realized that I could achieve more than I ever imagined—more importantly, by sharing my story with others, I could inspire them to take a step into the new world and reveal more of their abilities.

1. How did the author react on seeing the advertisement?

A．She got cross.	B．She was determined.
C．She got frightened.	D．She was uninterested.

2. What did the organizers view as the most important in the selection of new hands?

A．Personal quality.	B．Individual ability.
C．Spirit of teamwork.	D．Courage to challenge.

3. What does the author think of women's showing weakness?

A．Beneficia1.	B．Shamefu1.
C．Mercifu1.	D．Disturbing.

4. What's the intention of the author in writing this passage?

A．To inspire us to prepare for our future goa1.

B．To advise women to turn to others.

C．To make suggestions to her team members.

D．To encourage people to explore the unknown.

【推荐1】How often do you get uncomfortable? A couple of years ago I bought a shirt as part of an adoption fundraiser. The front of the shirt said, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” That phrase has really resonated (产生共鸣) with me and has increasingly pushed me in many areas of my life so much that I really want 2018 to be a year when I challenge my comfort zone like never before.

I believe the best things in life come from stretching(延伸，伸展) ourselves and getting uncomfortable.

Take health and fitness, for example. It is so deliciously tempting (诱人的) to sit on the sofa and watch a favorite Netflix series with a favorite sweet or salty snack in hand. That is comfortable, and physically unhealthy when done repeatedly. A good heart-pounding, sweaty workout is uncomfortable in the moment, and physically and emotional strengthening when done repeatedly.

Here’s another example. My wife and I adopted a boy with Down syndrome in April 2016 to add to our family of three sons. It was a decision that we cautiously made and with some level of fear and wonder as to what would happen. While we are still very early in this lifetime journey with him and while the past nearly two years have been more challenging and harder than we certainly imagined, I have personally never felt so much peace, joy and energy. In the many sacrifices (牺牲) required to raise our wonderful son, I believe I have found so much more that would have otherwise been possible.

My goal is to stretch my comfort zone in all that I do as a husband, father, family member, and employee. We only live once and it will be done before we know it. I want to make as much difference as I can in the time that I have here before it all ends. And I really believe that begins with pushing past my comfort zone.

Perhaps you should challenge yourself to get uncomfortable and see where the adventure takes you.

1. What inspired the author to challenge his comfort zone?

A．Being an adoption fundraiser.	B．Some words on a shirt.
C．Being physically unhealthy.	D．The coming of 2018.

2. The author holds the view that his adopted son ______.

A．makes him happy and energetic	B．seldom brings trouble to his family
C．sets a good example for his other sons	D．hardly affects his lifetime journey

3. What does the author probably advise readers to do?

A．Treasure your comfortable zone.	B．Relax yourself by watching TV.
C．Solve problems by yourself.	D．Risk living an uncomfortable life.

4. How does the author mainly develop the text?

A．By setting down general rules.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By giving examples.	D．By presenting research findings.

【推荐2】“Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?”

The usual laughter followed, and people stirred(骚动) to go. Papaderos held up his hand and looked at me for a long time, asking with his eyes if I was serious and seeing from my eyes that I was.

“I will answer your question.”

Taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished into a leather billfold and brought out a very small round mirror, about the size of a quarter. And what he said went like this:

“When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found the broken pieces of a mirror.

I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece, this one, and, by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would never shine—in deep holes and cracks and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible(难达到的) places I could find.

As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of light. But light—truth, understanding, knowledge—is there, and it will shine in many dark places only if I reflect it.

I am a fragment (碎片) of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have I can reflect light into the dark places of this world—into the black places in the hearts of men—and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.”

1. Why did Dr. Papaderos like the small round mirror so much as a child?

A．Because he was too poor to afford other toys.

B．Because it could shine the places where the sun couldn’t reach.

C．Because he believed it would bring good luck to him.

D．Because it told him a lot about what life really meant to him.

2. The underlined “metaphor” in the 7th paragraph most probably means ________.

A．symbol

B．source

C．light

D．purpose

3. Which of the following might be the best title for the passage?

A．A Special Game in the Childhood	B．A Broken Piece of Mirror
C．Dr. Papaderos’ Experience	D．The Meaning of Life

【推荐1】One morning more than thirty years ago, I entered the Track Kitchen, a restaurant where everyone from the humblest(卑微的) to the most powerful came for breakfast. I noticed an empty chair next to an elderly, unshaven man, who looked somewhat disheveled. He was wearing a worn-out hat and was alone. I asked if I might join him. He agreed quietly and I sat down to have my breakfast.

We cautiously began a conversation and spoke about a wide range of things. We never introduced ourselves. I was concerned that he might have no money and not be able to afford something to eat. So as I rose to go back to the counter and buy a second cup of coffee, I asked,

“May I get you something ?”

“A coffee would be nice.”

Then I bought him a cup of coffee, We talked more, and he accepted another cup of coffee, Finally, I rose to leave, wished him well, and headed for the exit. At the door I met one of my friends. He asked,

“How did you get to know Mr. Galbreath ?”

“Who?”

“The man you were sitting with. He is chairman of the Board of Churchill Downs.”

I could hardly believe it. I was buying, offering a free breakfast, and feeling pity for one of the world’s richest and most powerful men!

My few minutes with Mr. Galbreath changed my life. Now I try to treat everyone with respect, no matter who I think they are, and no matter another human being with kindness and sincerity.

1. What does the underlined word “disheveled” mean?

A．Unfriendly.	B．Untidy.
C．Gentle.	D．Kind.

2. The author bought coffee for the old man because____________.

A．he thought the old man was poor

B．he wanted to start a conversation

C．he intended to show his politeness

D．he would like to thank the old man

3. What is the message mainly expressed in the story?

A．We should learn to be generous.

B．It is honorable to help those in need.

C．People in high positions are not like what we expect.

D．We should avoid judging people by their appearances.

【推荐2】In 1885, the Republic of France, important friend during the American Revolution, donated the largest statue in the world, Liberty Enlightening the World, to the United States of America. The statue would celebrate its century of independence. To ship it, the statue was broken down into 350 pieces. And now, spread across Bedloe’s Island in New York Harbour, it sat in 214 wooden packing boxes. The problem was that New York had no money to re-assemble it. Six other cities, less affected by the recent economic decline, had the money and bid to build it.

But a Hungarian immigrant, Joseph Pulitzer, the owner of America’s biggest newspaper called the World, wouldn’t let “Liberty” go. When he heard that the Statue of Liberty was about to die from lack of funds, he saw his chance.

Pulitzer set the fund-raising goal of the World at $ 100,000. In its pages he laughed at the rich, thus increasing the paper’s appeal among working-class people, and firmly planted the idea that the statue was a monument not just for New York City but, indeed, for all of America.

Perhaps Pulitzer’s cleverest trick was the promise 10 publish the name of every single contributor in the pages of the World, no matter how small the contribution. The editorial that opened the fund-raising campaign set its tone. He wrote: “The World is the people’s paper and it now appeals to the people to come forward and raise the money for the statue’s base.” The statue, he said was paid for by “the masses of the French people. Let us respond in like manner.” The circulation of the World increased by almost 50,000 copies.

African American newspapers joined in the effort, encouraging their readers to contribute to a monument that would, in part, celebrate the end of slavery. So the money poured in, as single-dollar donations from grandmothers and pennies from the piggybanks of schoolchildren.

On August 11, 1885, the front page of the World announced, “ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!” The goal had been reached, even slightly beyond, thanks to more than 120,000 contributions.

1. What does the underlined word “re-assemble” (Para. 1) probably mean?

A．Put together.	B．Take apart.
C．Transport.	D．Repair.

2. Which of the following was the greatest move in Joseph Pulitzer’s success?

A．Attacking the rich people.

B．Celebrating the end of slavery.

C．Printing every contributor’s name in the World.

D．Persuading children to donate their pocket money.

3. What did Joseph Pulitzer try to convey to his readers about the Statue of Liberty?

A．It was a symbol of independence.

B．It was a monument for the whole USA.

C．It was a wonder in the building history.

D．It was a favor from the rich French people.

4. What was the main purpose of Joseph Pulitzer’s efforts?

A．To protect the Statue of Liberty.

B．To win working-class readers over.

C．To expand the circulation of his paper.

D．To raise money for the Statue of Liberty.

【推荐3】Tragedy struck for brothers Rob and Paul Forkan when they lost their parents in the 2004 Asian tsunami. Now, over ten years later, they're using their flip flop business to help other orphans.
The boys had an unusual childhood. They were just 11 and 13 when their parents, Kevin and Sandra, took them out of the UK education system and moved the family to Goa in India. Their parents were of the philosophy that they would receive a healthier and fuller education by traveling the world and helping others. There they did lots of voluntary work and mixed with the local community. It was when the family were on holiday in Sri Lanka that the tsunami hit. Although the children managed to escape, their parents tragically couldn't. But Paul says their upbringing meant they were able to cope with this tough blow. "Our parents gave us this confidence that we could do anything, that nothing was hard to achieve," says Paul.
What the boys did was to start a business selling ethically-sourced sandals. They're called 'Gandys' after the father of India's independence movement, Mahatma Gandhi. "He was in all our schoolbooks as kids; he's on all the money over in India;   he's famous for wearing his flip flops," says Paul. The entire project was inspired by their parents’ philosophy, their globetrotting childhoods and what happened to them in Sri Lanka. Their parents had previously worked in the fashion industry before quitting their jobs and focusing on humanitarian projects. Thus, Gandys is a very fitting tribute to their lives. Gandys sells flip-flops and donates 10 percent of the profits from every pair sold to orphans around the globe. In conjunction with Gandys, the Forkans also founded Orphans for Orphans, a charitable organization dedicated to helping orphans. They say they can make a profit and do good at the same time: they give 10% of their profit to charity, and have set up their own foundation through which they've been able to open a children's home in Sri Lanka.
This year alone, Gandys has sold 250,000 pairs of flip flops, which is only expected to increase. In 2013, the business made around 1.2 million pounds ($1.8 million). With more profits, more orphans will receive assistance. Hence, it’s safe to say that the Forkan brothers are making their parents very proud.
1. The two brothers left the UK for India because _________.

A．the UK education system is not so good as that of India

B．their parents had humanitarian projects in India

C．the voluntary work in Goa attracted them

D．their parents expected them to grow through travelling

2. We can infer from the passage that _______.

A．the parents had great influence on the two brothers

B．the two brothers were left hopeless after the tsunami

C．their parents died soon after they settled in India

D．the two brothers had a troubled childhood

3. Why did the brothers name their sandals after Gandhi?

A．Because Gandhi wears and sells flip flops.

B．Because Gandhi always helps orphans.

C．Because Gandhi is influential in India.

D．Because Gandhi fits into their lives in India.

4. What can best describe the brothers?

A．Unlucky.

B．Modest.

C．Generous.

D．Ambitious.

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

A．Orphans for Orphans

B．Making Parents Proud

C．Gandys: Making Money and Doing Good

D．Rise Up from Tragedy to Success

【推荐1】Let’s take a moment to consider the words of one of America’s most remarkable philosophers, Henry David Thoreau.

Thoreau spent the years 1845-1847 living on the outskirts of society in a small cabin in the woods by the side of Waldon Pond. He called this period of his life an experiment of intentional living and wrote this famous paragraph：

I went to the woods because I wished to live intentionally, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach，and not，when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow（精华）of life.

There is great wisdom in Thoreau’s purpose here, and I think it’s very useful to ask ourselves this question：What would our lives be like if we sucked all the marrow out of life?

If Thoreau’s quote sounds familiar, it may be from watching the film Dead Poets Society, a movie with deep wisdom. The film is about young men at a boarding school as they prepare to do good in the world because they have the privilege to bring about change. Their English teacher, played by Robin Williams, tries to convince them that they should live life well now instead of believing that they will find happiness after they reach certain goals. Part of his argument is conveyed by quoting this famous passage from Thoreau.

Sucking the marrow out of life sounds simple enough, but as a matter of fact, it may be the most difficult thing that we can ever do. But it actually is as simple as it. Sounds—though “simple” is not quite the same thing as “easy”. I can think of one barrier that often keeps us from living our best lives. What keeps us from getting the most out of life is our desire for approval and fame. In the process of always                           looking for fame and glory, there is the danger that we will stop living. In order to seek approval from others, we fail to find a sense of approval within our own spirit.

When we become aware that we are missing so much out of life, we can decide that we want to make changes. Our best move is to start small. If we are having a meal, whether a great festival feast or a modest supper, it is always within our power to take it slowly and really feel, taste, and enjoy the food before us. Few of us can easily do like Henry David Thoreau and get away from it all in the wilderness. But we can make small changes every single day.

1. What wisdom is conveyed in Thoreau’s words?

A．Stay away from city life.	B．Live one’s life to the fullest.
C．Only nature can bring happiness.	D．One can never be too old to learn.

2. Why did the author mention the film Dead Poets Society?

A．To recommend a good film.	B．To praise the teacher’s wisdom.
C．To further illustrate Thoreau’s wisdom.	D．To state the film was adapted from Thoreau’s works.

3. What’s the author’s attitude towards people’s seeking for approval?

A．Critical.

B．Supportive.

C．Sympathetic.

D．Unconcerned.

4. How can people change life for the better according to the author?

A．Live in the wildness.	B．Set higher goals.
C．Make small changes daily.	D．Read more classics.

5. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．Ask for More：Thoreau Exposes the Meaning of Life

B．Sunk in Thought：Thoreau Outshines Ancient Philosophers

C．Aim High：Thoreau’s Practical Advice Ensures Successful Life

D．To Live Intentionally：Thoreau’s Philosophy Remains Valuable

【推荐2】Hacking our senses to boost learning power

Some schools are pumping music, noises and pleasant smells into the classroom to see if it improves exam results. Could it work? Why do songs stick in our heads? What does your school smell like? Is it noisy or peaceful?

It might not seem important, but a growing body of research suggests that smells and sounds can have an impact on learning, performance and creativity. Indeed, some head teachers have recently taken to broadcasting noises and pumping smells into their schools to see whether it can boost grades. Is there anything in it? And if so, what are the implications for the way we work and study?

There is certainly some well­established research to suggest that some noises can have a harmful effect on learning. Numerous studies over the past 15 years have found that children attending schools under the flight paths of large airports fall behind in their exam results. Bridget Shield, a professor of acoustics (声学) at London South Bank University, and Julie Dockrell, from the Institute of Education, have been conducting studies on the effects of all sorts of noises, such as traffic and sirens (汽笛), as well as noise generated by the children themselves. When they recreated those particular sounds in an experimental setting while children completed various learning tasks, they found a significant negative effect on exam scores.

“Everything points to a bad impact of the noise on children’s performance, in numeracy, in literacy, and in spelling，” says Shield. The noise seemed to have an especially harmful effect on children with special needs.

Whether background sounds are beneficial or not seems to depend on what kind of noise it is - and the volume. In a series of studies published last year, Ravi Mehta from the College of Business at Illinois and his colleagues tested people’s creativity while exposed to a soundtrack made up of background noises - such as coffee­shop chatter and construction­site drilling - at different volumes. They found that people were more creative when the background noises were played at a medium level than when volume was low. Loud background noise, however, damaged their creativity.

Many teachers all over the world already play music to students in class. Many are inspired by the belief that hearing music can boost IQ in later tasks, the so­called Mozart effect. While the evidence actually suggests it’s hard to say classical music boosts brainpower, researchers do think pleasant sounds before a task can sometimes lift your mood and help you perform well, says Perham, who has done his own studies on the phenomenon. The key appears to be that you enjoy what you’re hearing. “If you like the music or you like the sound - even listening to a Stephen King novel - then you do better. It doesn’t matter about the music，” he says.

So, it seems that schools that choose to prevent disturbing noises and create positive soundscapes could enhance the learning of their for students, so long as they make careful choices. Yet this isn’t the only sense being used to affect learning. Special educational needs for students at Sydenham high school in London are being encouraged to revise different subjects in the presence of different smells - grapefruit scents for maths, lavender for French and spearmint for history.

1. The four questions in the first paragraph are meant to ________.

A．create some sense of humour to please the readers.

B．provide the most frequently asked questions in schools nowadays.

C．hold the readers’ attention and arouse their curiosity to go on reading.

D．declare the purpose of the article: to try to offer key to those questions.

2. What does the conclusion of the studies of noise conducted by Bridget Shield and Julie Dockrell suggest?

A．Peaceful music plays an active role in students’ learning.

B．Not all noises have a negative impact on children’s performance.

C．We should create for school children a more peaceful environment.

D．Children with special needs might be exposed to some particular sounds.

3. Ravi Mehta’s experiment indicates that ________.

A．students’ creativity improves in a quiet environment.

B．we may play some Mozart music while students are learning.

C．a proper volume of background noises does improve creativity.

D．noise of coffee­shop chatter is better than that of construction­site drilling.

4. Towards the positive impact of appropriate background sound and smell on students’ learning and creativity, the author’s attitude is ________.

A．ambiguous.

B．doubtful.

C．negative.

D．supportive.

【推荐3】Ever since Grumpy Cat first appeared online, the Internet can't get enough of her.But attention is not the only thing that this cat is getting. Her fortune is estimated at $100 million, more than many famous actors and musicians earn.

So how did it all start?

Grumpy Cat's owner Tabatha Bundesen was working as a waitress when her brother Bryan decided to take a photo of her funny­looking cat and post it on Reddit, a social news site. In a matter of hours, she became a sensation (轰动)．

It got 1 million views on Imgur in 48 hours.

Grumpy Cat's real name is Tardar Sauce and she actually has a condition called dwarfism, which makes her constantly frowning. But that unique frown turned out to be worth millions of dollars.

Tabatha, who lives in Arizona in the U．S., isn't complaining. She still remembers that September 22, 2012, when her life turned upside down.

Since her cat became a worldwide phenomenon, she was able to quit her job and devote her life to managing her cat's modeling career. Sounds unbelievable, but it's true. She says that her only job now is to book Tardar's photo shoots, commercials (商业广告), and other appearances.

What are the other benefits of owning a million­dollar cat?

Apart from not having to work, Tabatha can travel all the time. She has time and money to visit her family more often and enjoy her life. She never could have imagined just how huge her cat would become, but she always knew Tardar was very special. And she is glad to see her cat bringing joy to so many people around the world.

As for the millions of dollars Tardar has earned, they come from all the products, commercials and a best­selling book. She even has her own movie Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever.

1. What does the underlined part “the Internet can't get enough of her” mean?

A．The Internet can't stand her any more.

B．The Internet can't pay more attention to her.

C．People don't focus on her any longer on the Internet.

D．The Internet can't find enough information about her.

2. What made Grumpy Cat become famous?

A．Her unusual appearance.

B．Her bad temper.

C．Her short and fat body.

D．Her unique fur.

3. About Tabatha Bundesen, we know that ________.

A．she now works as a waitress

B．she feels very tired of her famous cat

C．she only manages her cat's modeling career

D．she is too busy to go home to visit her parents

4. The general idea of the last paragraph is ________.

A．how the cat can become so famous

B．how the cat can make so much money

C．what the film about the cat is named

D．how the cat's owner spends so much money