【推荐3】A town in Oxfordshire has become the first in the UK to have biomethane (生物甲烷) gas from human waste piped to their homes for gas central heating and cooking.
Up to 200 families in Didcot now receive the gas via the national gas power system. Head of energy and technology at British Gas, Martin Orrill, said customers wouldn’t notice any difference as the gas is purified (提炼) to the highest standard and has no smell. The gas is produced at a sewage (污物) treatment works plant in Didcot.
The entire process takes only less than three weeks, with the sewage being collected and sent first to settlement tanks. The solid waste material is then fed into digesters, where anaerobic bacteria (厌氧菌) digest the sewage, with the aid of enzymes (酶) to speed up the process. The digestion process produces methane, which can be burned to drive machines to produce electricity, or can be purified and fed into the gas network and piped to homes and businesses. British Gas says supplying the gas rather than electricity is far more efficient since around two-thirds of the energy is lost in producing electricity.
Partners in the Didcot project, British Gas, Scotia Gas Networks, and Thames Water, all hope to expand the process to other towns, and other companies such as Ecotricity and United Utilities have also announced biomethane projects being planned. One of these projects, in Manchester, could be supplying 500 homes with biomethane by mid next year. Another British Gas project in Suffolk will provide gas from digestion of brewery wastes to around 235 families.
The Didcot project cost ￡2.5m and was influenced by promises of government aids aimed at encouraging companies to develop renewable technologies. An EU directive means the UK must ensure at least 15 percent of its energy is from renewable sources by 2020.
The UK produces about 1.73 million tons of sewage annually. If all sewage treatment works in the UK were fitted with the technology, they could supply gas for up to 350,000 families.
1. Which of the following is true of the biomethane gas?

A．It’s mainly made from rotting plants.

B．It’s an environmentally friendly gas.

C．Its production process is too long.

D．It’s easily recognized by the customers.

2. What is the function of the enzymes?

A．To digest the solid waste material.

B．To help get rid of anaerobic bacteria.

C．To help purify the biomethane.

D．To speed up the digestion process.

3. According to British Gas, the biomethane gas had better be used _____.

A．as the power for the vehicles

B．for the heating and cooking

C．to produce the electricity

D．to drive a variety of machines

4. The last three paragraphs mainly show that _____.

A．UK government supports the biome thane projects

B．the biome thane projects are very costly

C．the biome thane projects still face many barriers

D．the biome thane projects are promising

5. What should the text belong to?

A．Computer science.

B．Engineering.

C．Energy.

D．Business.

【推荐2】Tips for avoiding traffic jams

The radio has more than just music. Check the local news station for the latest traffic report. Or go online and check traffic cameras before you set out. If there is a jam, you’ll be prepared and can try another route.

Take the road less travelled. Although highways may be the most direct route, back (偏僻的) roads can be much less crowded, which can save you from the frustration of the stop­and­go traffic.

Rush hour isn’t just a lovely nickname. It means the morning and afternoon traffic lasts for several hours, but they’re still called “rush hour” for a reason — everyone’s on the road and in a hurry to get somewhere. Treat rush hour like bad weather — if you don’t have to go anywhere, stay off the roads.

Tips for those unavoidable traffic jams

Don’t break the law. You’ve gone 30 feet in 30 minutes and all of a sudden you see people using the shoulders (紧急停车道). Don’t behave like them. Not only is this illegal, but also there’s a good chance they’ll get caught or cause even more problems.

Pay extra attention to zig­zaggers (Z字形行进者). When some people are anxious, they may start changing lanes (车道) every 5 seconds or cut you off. Keep checking your windows and mirrors for these lane changers.

Look for an escape. If it is possible to exit the road safely, do it. Use a GPS unit, and you can change your route mid­trip if needed.

Be courteous. Good manners could help you avoid a possible accident. Allow people in from a lane that is ending. Speeding up to keep them out increases your chances of an accident.

1. To avoid traffic jams, we are advised to do the following EXCEPT         .

A．getting traffic news before leaving	B．changing lanes frequently
C．avoiding rush hours	D．choosing back roads

2. What should we do when there are zig­zaggers?

A．Sound the horn loudly.	B．Stop and let them go first.
C．Keep checking the mirrors.	D．Drive quickly to keep them out.

3. In which part of a magazine can this passage be found?

A．Entertainment.	B．Advertisement.
C．Market.	D．Life.

【推荐1】A number of studies show that sports and other physical activities can contribute to the development of self-esteem (a feeling of pride in oneself). For example, Canadian scientists found that sixth-grade students who were more physically active had considerably higher levels of self-esteem. A study in Switzerland found that teenagers who took part in sports clubs were healthier, including being better socially adjusted, feeling less anxious, and generally being happier about their lives. Similar findings were reported in a study of Latino students, where participation in school sport was found to be greatly associated with self-esteem.

There seems little doubt that part of the potency (潜能) of sports lies in their social setting. There are a lot of facts showing the importance of social connectedness (关联性) for healthy child and teenager development, and sports offer a popular and engaging setting for social interactions. Involvement in team sports has been positively associated with social acceptance and a sense of belonging, especially where such involvement is characterized by positive coaching, progressive skill development, and peer support.

But, the social setting of sports can exclude as well as include. There is now evidence that boys’ and girls’ experiences of sports can be very different, and this can affect the contribution they can make to the self-esteem of players. Peer acceptance seems to be an important factor in determining the relationship between sport participation and self-esteem, and girls can be particularly sensitive to negative judgments. And studies have found that many ‘girly’ boys and girls benefit most from non-competitive physical activities.

So, a note of caution ought to be sounded in case sports are considered to be a cure. Much of the literature on the most positive psychological (心理的) outcomes associated with childhood and youth sports stress the absolute importance of positive experiences. It will surprise no one that bullying, excluding or abuse experiences will harm, rather than support the development of self-esteem, and well-being in general. Sadly, it will also not be a shock to learn that many children’s introductions to sports are far from improving the quality of life.

The great developmental psychologist Jean Piaget argued that the foundations of self-esteem were laid between the ages of about 6 and 11 years of age. Importantly, this is also the time when children are most likely to be introduced to sports. We should know the importance of positive early sporting experiences for the development of both self-esteem and on-going participation in sports and other physical activities. Teachers, coaches, and parents have a responsibility to ensure that these experiences ‘catch’ as many children as possible, and for this to happen they need to remember ‘the principles of child development’: Children are not mini-adults.

Problems arise when adults forget these principles, and kid themselves into thinking that they are coaching future Olympians or Super stars. Unluckily, evidence suggests that talented children are most likely to stand out when they are given time to develop, to play, and to remain children.

Children are not miniature adults, and their enjoyment of sports (and their self-esteem) can suffer when adults forget this!

1. Studies in Switzerland and Latino showed teenagers who often join in sports _____.

A．build self-esteem earlier

B．have more good experiences

C．are more sensitive to judgments

D．are healthier both physically and mentally

2. In general, the author’s attitude toward the influence of sports on teenagers is _____.

A．positive	B．critical
C．uncertain	D．tolerant

3. According to the author, when children take part in sports, they _____.

A．will be happier about their lives

B．are more likely to be attracted by competitive sports

C．should be treated by coaches and parents as super stars

D．will build self-esteem if given positive comment and support

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Children Should Take Part in Sports

B．Sports Offer You a Better Teenage Life

C．Sports Experience and Building Self-Esteem

D．People Should Treat Teenagers Like Miniature Adults

【推荐2】It has been around for centuries, but up until very recently, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) wasn’t fully accepted abroad. Proof of this can be found in The Treatment (《刮痧》), a 2001 film that tells the story of a Chinese man in the US who’s accused of abuse after he uses guasha, a form of TCM treatment, to cure his grandson’s disease.

During the last 10 years or so, however, TCM has been getting increasingly popular all over the world. A report released by the State Council Information Office on Dec. 6 says this style of health care, which includes different forms like herbal medicine and exercise, has spread to 183 countries and regions.

“We have set up 10 TCM centers outside China, and all of them are popular among locals,” Wang Guoqiang, head of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said at a news conference on Dec 6. “Governments of 86 countries and regions have signed agreements with the Chinese government on TCM corporation.”

One of the reasons behind the growing popularity of TCM is the increase of scientific research into it. And after Tu Youyou-the Chinese scientist who discovered the anti-malaria (抗疟疾) drug qinghaosu (青蒿素)-won the Nobel Prize last year, TCM became even more famous internationally.

However, all these achievements in TCM don’t mean that it’s problem-free. Over the years, TCM has faced challenges in being able to prove that it has certain effects.

Some researchers have suggested TCM should be more exact and work together with Western medicine.

“Bringing together with Western medicine and TCM, rather than being in competition, is where the potential for great effects is,” said Bernhard Schwartlander, the China representative of the World Health Organization.

1. The film The Treatment is mentioned in the first paragraph is to         .

A．introduce the film to readers

B．show TCM is increasingly popular

C．arouse readers’ interest in Western medicine

D．prove that TCM is not fully accepted in western countries

2. We can learn from the passage that         .

A．TCM is not exact in curing diseases

B．10 TCM centers abroad are all set up by locals

C．86 countries have cooperated with China on TCM

D．Tu Youyou’s success contributes to the popularity of TCM

3. According to Bernhard Schwartlander, TCM should         .

A．combine western medicine

B．face no challenge at all

C．give an exact description of its effects

D．complete with western medicine

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the passage?

A．A report on TCM

B．Opinions about TCM

C．TCM & Western Medicine

D．Traditional healing spreads

【推荐3】Glovelies

Using a phone or palmtop computer with touch screens while wearing gloves has always been difficult. Well, with Glovelies, you no longer have to write text messages with frozen fingers. Glovelies are stylish gloves with special pads (垫块) in the fingertips to help you type or scroll (滚屏) without difficulty. They come in a range of sizes and colors. Price: £15.00

Mini Vax

It is a tiny cleaner that you plug into (插入) your computer's USB port. Although it's small enough to fit into your pocket, the Mini Vax is very powerful and you'll be amazed at how much dust and dirt it manages to suck up (吸取) from your computer keyboard. Your Mini Vax comes with three attachments of different sizes to help you reach all those difficult places. Color: gray / black. Price: £8.00

Cheeky Clock

Cheeky Clock might look like a normal digital alarm clock, but the difference is that Cheeky Clock is a clock with wheels. When the alarm goes off in the morning, Cheeky Clock jumps down from your bedside table and starts running around the floor looking for a place to hide. The alarm won't stop until you find your Cheeky Clock and switch it off. By this point, you'll be wide awake. It needs three AAA batteries (not included). Price: £40.00

Piano Magic

Have you ever wanted to learn to play the piano but thought that pianos were too expensive and took up too much room? Then Piano Magic is for you. Piano Magic is a real four-octave (八度) (forty-nine-key) keyboard which runs from the USB port on your computer. It sounds as good as a real piano and yet fits into a small backpack. It comes with a free “Master The Piano” program which teaches you the piano as you play along. Price: £60.00

1. How can you properly use Glovelies?

A．By wearing them.	B．By knocking on them slightly.
C．By touching the screens on them.	D．By connecting them with your computer.

2. What is Mini Vax used to do?

A．To help edit text messages.	B．To improve computing speed.
C．To provide power for computers.	D．To clean up computer keyboards.

3. Which of the following can best describe Cheeky Clock?

A．Annoying but effective.	B．Fashionable but inaccurate.
C．Fast-moving and power-saving.	D．Clock-shaped and solar-powered.

4. What's the characteristic of Piano Magic?

A．It runs on batteries.	B．It is convenient to carry.
C．It looks like a real piano.	D．It can be played without a keyboard.

【推荐1】Throughout history it has been the individualists, like Henry Ford and Rosa Parks, who have led nations, formed common groups, and made the greatest influence. However, people, such as the author, Michael Walzer, of Multiculturalism and Individualism, condemn the independent person as an unreliable and empty creature. This criticism of the socially unlimited human is the fearful reaction to the power that these individuals can possess. Nevertheless, strong individuals form the foundation of the world progress in technological and social fields because of their willingness to question and create.

Individualists have always been more involved with technological advances than the communitarian (社群主义者). It has been the person, unstopped by other people’s familiar opinion that has given the most creative and helpful of inventions. A brief look into history reveals names such as Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and, more recently, Bill Gates who have improved and contributed to the comfort of humanity. These individuals were often criticized for their self-interest work, but when the products of their imagination changed the lives of humans around the world the dissatisfied voices quieted.

Individualists are more socially persuasive than the faceless members of self-interest groups. History disclosed the fact that it is the individual that empowers the people. I ask you, what are ten important interest groups that had a positive influence on America in the nineteenth century? This is a difficult question. However, if the words interest groups are replaced with individuals, the answer would be relatively easy. Michael Walzer claims that individuals are just trash floating aimlessly away from every creative center. But, it is the strange individualists who have the power to create the groups and the fact is that every group is a product of individualists. So by arguing for wiping out individualistic thought a group is actually cutting their own lifeline.

Individualists are the largest and most important contributors to society. The fear of change doesn’t change that fact. Society has always condemned the different, strange, and unusual person when in actuality that person is the source for the advancement of society itself.

1. What attitude does Michael Walzer have to individualists in his book?

A．Optimistic.

B．Objective.

C．Negative.

D．Positive.

2. Why are Bill Gates and Edison more creative according to the author?

A．They don’t follow the traditional ideas.

B．They are more constructive to the society.

C．They are more likely to stick to old ideas.

D．They dislike the main stream society.

3. What can be inferred from paragraph 3?

A．Individualists make the majority of groups.

B．Most group members are usually creative.

C．The life of a group lies with individualists.

D．Individualists should be removed from groups.

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To call on people to contribute to the society

B．To stress the importance of individualists

C．To criticize the individualists

D．To tell the difference between individualists and groups

【推荐2】Ail Charms to You — Charm School is Coming!

Our Mission

Beautify the world by helping to reach your potential! We will focus on the body and spirit needed to become a well-rounded individual. Through motivating, encouraging and training, we have changed the lives of 1,000 plus eager young minds, aged 4—15. Our classes primarily focus on manners and etiquette, with academic subjects secondary. Our aim is to make you presentable both inside and outside and prepare you for entry into society.

"Elegant Ladies" Class Overview

• Engage in artistic lessons including but not limited to six different dance styles.

• Style your hair in various ways.

• Take your sewing to the next level and see how easy it is to create a constructed dress.

• Master the art of tea ceremony.

• Practice daily conversations in a foreign language.

“Honorable Gentlemen" Class Overview

• Learn good manners and conversational skills in social context.

• Maintain reasonable dress code standards.

• Build a charming character and the future leadership at school.

• Master time-management strategies. Learn how to do multitasking time-saving.

• Become an excellent golfer in your spare time.

• Learn to make safe small talk with a foreigner in class.

Costs

Tuitions： Early birds (before Dec.]) ： $9,000 Regular： $ 10,000

Black Slip-On Jazz Shoes (price varies)

Charm Jacket: $15 / $25 / $60

• All fees stated above are not due upon registering. For example, jacket fees are usually due the third week of the session.

• We provide healthy lunch for energy support. Our lunch is not your ordinary "school box lunch", but instead, fulfilling and hearty meals.

• With new applicants, we offer a one-time brief free-of-charge phone consultation with our experts. This gives us the opportunity to get to know you better and allows you to bring up any questions you may have.

• Click here for many free printable material.

1. Who may have an interest in Charm School?

A．A man who has potential for sports.

B．A woman who wants to learn practical skills.

C．A student eager to improve academic subjects.

D．A teenager seeking for well-rounded education.

2. What do the girls and boys' classes have in common?

A．Dress making.	B．Sports training.
C．Language learning.	D．Leadership building.

3. Which of the following is the correct information about costs?

A．The shoes and jacket cost $15 in total.

B．All fees have to be paid when you register.

C．The lunch and consultations are free of charge.

D．The tuitions have a 10% discount if you sign up early.

【推荐3】A Japanese billionaire Yusaku Maezawa, will be the first man to fly on a SpaceX rocket for an about seven-day trip around the Moon as early as 2023, and he plans to bring six to eight artists along.

Maezawa, 42, will have been the first moon traveller since the last US Apollo task in 1972. He paid a large amount of money for the trip. “Ever since I was a kid, I have loved the Moon,” he said. “This is my lifelong dream.”

Maezawa is CEO of Japan's largest online fashion mall. He is the founder of ZOZO,a global company based in Japan where people can buy clothing online. His another hobby is collecting valuable works of modern art.

His love for art led him to decide to invite artists to come along. He said, “I would like to invite six to eight artists from around the world to join me on this mission to the Moon. They will be asked to create something after they return to the earth. These masterpieces will inspire the people who have dreams.”

The first space tourist was Dennis Tito, an American businessman who in 2001 paid some 20 million dollars to fly on a Russian spaceship to the International Space Station.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk described Maezawa as the bravest and best adventurer. “He stepped forward,” Musk added. “We are honored that he chose us.” Musk said he would not make known the price for the Moon trip, but said it would be “free for the artists”.

“This is dangerous, to be clear. This is no walk in the park,” Musk warned. “There is a chance something could go wrong.”

1. According to the text, Yusaku Maezawa__________.

A．will be the first space tourist in the world.

B．owns the world's largest online fashion mall.

C．has dreamed of travelling to the moon since childhood.

D．plans to spend seven days walking on the moon.

2. What made Maezawa decide to invite some artists to come along?

A．His strong love for art.	B．his dream of becoming an artist.
C．His hobby of collecting rocket models.	D．his idea of making a meaningful journey.

3. What will the artists be expected to do according to the text?

A．Create unusual art works after the journey.	B．Pay for their own journey.
C．Explore their imagination in space.	D．Inspire people to become dreamers.

4. What Musk said in the last paragraph means__________.

A．tourists might go in a wrong direction.	B．tourists might lose their lives.
C．tourists are sure of their safety.	D．tourists have a chance to live in space.