【推荐1】Columbus College, 241 Queen Elizabeth Drive .Kowloon City

Memo

To: All Staff

From: Jakie Mok , Secretary; Sports Development Committee

Date: May 20, 2010

A week ago, “Sports for Life'" programme was sent to the parents, requiring them to select a sport they wanted their children to play. Since then, our staff have received lots of calls from parents asking for more information about it Here is a memo （备忘录）for your reference when you answer the phones.

Sports l:Baskctball

We expect that this will be the most popular of the four sports. Therefore, students should be advised to sign up as soon as possible. Students will take a private bus to and from Kwun Tong Sports Park. To cover the cost of hiring a bus, each student will have to pay $ 10 each time. There will be four basketball courts available for our use with one teacher watching over each game.

Sports 2: Gym

We will be using St Peter's Memorial ParL There are two reasons for choosing this park First, it is not very busy and crowded before 6:00 pm. Second, it has lot of trees with plenty of shade. Students must bring along two bottles of water to prevent thirst Three activities, skipping;, jogging, outdoor aerobics (有氧运动),all of which are free of charge, will be arranged. And there will be a teacher on duty for each of the activities.

Sports 3: Hiking

Hiking will take place at Kowloon Peak. The activity will start at 2:30 pm and finish 90 minutes later. Three teachers will accompany the students, and a hiking instructor will accompany each group of 15 hikers. Each instructor will cost $ 75/hr. Students are advised to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

Sports 4: Swimming

The Kowloon City Aquatic Centre is a 10-minute walk from our school. Four teachers will go to the pool and conduct the goings-on from the poolside. We will only be able to reserve the pool for one hour (Le. 2:45pm to 3:45pm). Only students skilful at swimming can take up this activity. The pool will have two lifeguards present. Girls must wear a swimming suit The cost is $ 10 per visit

1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Students participating in gym should arrive at 6:00 pm.

B．Students selecting basketball had better register early.

C．Hiking usually begins at 2:30 pm and lasts 2 hours.

D．Students having swimming suits can take up swimming.

2. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Students taking part in basketball will walk to the courts.

B．Every student can gain admission to one of the four sports.

C．Hiking students can have a regular rest in the shade of trees.

D．Students taking up fhe four sports should bring bottles of water.

3. It can be concluded from the passage that .

A．each sport will take only one hour

B．students will be charged for the four sports

C．all the sports will take place at Kowloon Peak

D．teachers will accompany students on each sport

【推荐3】WHILE reports of a unique form of flu---swine flu---were appearing around the world,there was the question:Is this the next big one?Is this the new virus that will kill millions,like the pandemics(流行疾病)of 1918,1957 and 1968?

Well,even the scientists’crystal ball may not help them come up with an answer that quickly.“It’s hard to predict,”said Anne Schuchat,liuxing PhD,of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.“We need to be prepared for change.”

The center of the new virus is Mexico,where it has been blamed for 152 deaths and an estimated 2,000 cases,since April 13.Health officials around the world say they are investigating suspected cases in people who have been to Mexico.The level of concern rose even more when the US declared a public health emergency on Sunday.

The flu makes people feel like they have a serious cold.In more serious cases,it may bring death.Flu viruses can be carried by humans,birds,and other animals and transmitted among themselves.It is believed that rotating flu viruses revisit humans in intervals and can leave a huge number of casualties.(伤亡者)

Swine flu contains genetic elements from humans and birds as well as from pigs.It seems to spread among people more easily than past swine flus,which sometimes jumped from pigs to people.

Pigs are considered particularly susceptible（易受影响的）to both bird and human viruses.They are a likely place for genetic change that might lead to a new form of flu that spreads easily.
1. The passage is mainly about___________.

A．measures to control swine flu

B．different opinions about dealing with swine flu

C．people’s reaction to swine flu

D．a brief introduction to swine flu

2. Which of the following statements is True?

A．Swine flu doesn’t have any effect on the US

B．Genetic elements make a change when pigs are harmed by bird and human viruses

C．Scientists know how to deal with swine flu

D．Swine flu is transmitted from pigs to humans

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Swine flu can cause deaths

B．It is not the first time that swine flu has appeared

C．The number of suspected cases is increasing

D．Pigs take revenge on Mexicans because many of pigs are killed

【推荐1】FaceApp has taken the world by storm, giving users the chance to see themselves age through its algorithm(算法). 12.7 million people—some three million more than the population of New York City—reportedly downloaded it in a week last month.

Although the Russian app has become known for its privacy issues, the more interesting lesson of our FaceApp fling(尽情玩乐)is what it tells us about our society—and our future lives. It turns out we are more interested in aging than we realized. Most younger people are denying old age, doing almost nothing to prepare for it. We rarely have a chance to plan for the future, with increasing time and financial pressures. Those pressures bring sacrifices we may not always want to make: we can no longer afford to spend the time or the money needed to look after our elderly parents.

As a family doctor, I can see the loneliness epidemic(流行病) developing. Elderly patients come to see me with no particular illness, no clear medical issue. After a few minutes of the consultation, I understand why: they are not sick, and often they don’t feel sick. They just need someone—anyone—to talk to.

Although loneliness has no medical classification, the health effects are real: loneliness and isolation can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is more damaging than obesity. But loneliness does not come with nearly enough health warnings.

So what next? Since 1980, we are living on average 10 years longer. Meanwhile, people are having fewer children, and they are having them much later in life. The snake of a world class health service is eating its own tail; its care is prolonging people's lives, but as the rate of pensioners(退休人员)to working-age people increases, there are fewer taxpayers to fund that very health service.

Into this emptiness have stepped NGOs, charities and volunteers. But in the long term, the only way to truly help the oldest members of our society is to go back to the traditional values of inter-generational cooperation—often under the same roof. Ultimately, we will need to evolve towards a culture where elderly care is treated the same as childcare, where employers recognize the duty of someone with an elderly parent the same way they recognize those of someone with a newborn child.

1. What’s the writer’s intention of mentioning FaceApp in the first two paragraphs?

A．To prove its popularity.

B．To explain its function.

C．To show the progress of technology.

D．To introduce the topic of aging and loneliness.

2. What makes elderly people without illness go to see their family doctors?

A．Desire to have the consultation.	B．Strong feeling of loneliness.
C．Unclear medical issues.	D．Questions to ask doctors.

3. How can the oldest members be truly helped?

A．By being treated as children.

B．By going back to the traditional society.

C．By providing family care.

D．By living with other elderly people under the same roof.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The loneliness of elderly people needs more attention.

B．FaceApp’s popularity proves it has no security problems.

C．Health service lacks fund because of prolonged people’s lives.

D．FaceApp is helpful in dealing with elderly people’s loneliness.

【推荐2】Sleep's Effect on the Brain's Performance

When you have a busy schedule, it can be easy to neglect your sleep because of the different items you want to get done on your checklist each day. Whether you stay up late responding to emails or cut your sleep short to exercise in the morning, lack of sleep can start to have a negative effect on the brain. Your sleep can affect your brain's performance in a few main ways.

When your brain doesn't have time to rest, it can slow down your ability to think quickly, as well as your reaction time. You may have difficulty trying to stay awake and become more alert, which can affect how well you make decisions. You may find yourself taking more risks than normal.

Studies also show that memory and sleep are closely linked, which means it can be difficult to recall certain details or facts if you fail to get at least seven hours of sleep each night. NREM (Non-Rapid-Eye-Movement Sleep) and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep are necessary for remembering basic facts to improve your efficiency and ability to perform different tasks. In particular, fragmented sleep can affect the memory even if you get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.

Those who are easy to suffer from migraines (偏头痛) are at a higher risk of developing a headache if they don't get consistent, quality sleep. Studies show sleep loss also increases the risk of diabetes. It affects the body's ability to release insulin, resulting in higher blood sugar levels. Your body also has more difficulty determining when it's full while eating, which can make it easy to consume more calories than you need throughout the day.

There are many ways your sleep can affect the brain's performance and impact every area of your life. Scheduling your sleep and creating a restful, comfortable setting in the bedroom can make it easier to feel relaxed and recharged.

1. What is the function of the first paragraph?

A．To stress what a busy life people live nowadays.

B．To warn the readers of the importance of sleep.

C．To show brain sometimes has poor performance.

D．To introduce the theme of the whole passage.

2. What would happen if you have a slower reaction time?

A．Your ability to drive safely will be influenced.

B．You can realize your mistakes in a short time.

C．Your ability to remember is likely to decline.

D．You can't carry out a few tasks at the same time.

3. What does the underlined word "fragmented" mean in the 3rd paragraph?

A．Sound.

B．Broken.

C．Adequate.

D．Dreamless.

4. Why do some people suffer from diabetes?

A．Sleep loss leads to the decline of insulin.

B．People fail to control the amount of intake.

C．People don't know the calories they need.

D．Sleep loss results in their poor appetite.

【推荐3】Next week, strangers with a truck will take away everything we own, except the clothes on our backs, the car we will drive, and as much stuff as we can pack into it. It's called moving. Some people do it often. For others, like me, it's a rare experience. In all my adult years, I've moved only three times.

My first husband and I moved into our first house with a bed, our clothes and a few gifts. That was a lifetime ago. Over the years, I filled that house with three children, a few dogs and enough stuff to reach the ceiling.

When the kids grew up, I lost my husband to cancer, and I began to learn about letting go. First, I let go of the idea of being in control. Life isn’t about being in charge of what happens; it's about being in charge of what we do with it. Next, I let go of putting off the things I care most about, like keeping in touch with the people that mean the most to me. I let go of the people whose lives are about anger or hatred, and tried instead to surround myself with those who shine with kindness. Finally, I let go of being alone---I remarried. I eventually moved to a new city with my new husband, and after that move, I promised I'd stop collecting meaningless things. But 12 years later, here I am, still learning about letting go.

Yesterday, while cleaning out a dresser, I found a box filled with old keepsakes. Nothing in that box may mean much to anyone, except me. They are treasures for me because of the memories they preserve. We finally decided to keep them, hold them close and never let them go. We’ll all move someday from this world to the next, but we won't need a truck to do it. We'll take nothing with us and leave behind a memory of the life we lived, the mistakes we made, and all the love and kindness we tried to show. That memory might not be a treasure, but if we're lucky, someone will keep it and hold it close and never let it go.

1. According to paragraph 3, which of the following might the author advise?

A．Never let all the memories go as they are.

B．Put off the things that mean the most to you.

C．Wherever you go, you should be kind to others.

D．Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you deal with it.

2. The underlined word ''keepsakes'' in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to_________.

A．something memorable	B．something expensive
C．something unpleasant	D．something beautiful

3. What is the author's main purpose in writing the article?

A．To stress the importance of letting the past go.

B．To give advice on how to make choices before moving.

C．To share how she learned to make important choices in life.

D．To explain how our memories can pass on to later generations.

【推荐1】Worried about the effect reality TV is having on your child? You aren't being overprotective-there's increasing evidence that these programmes can have a big impact on young people.

When our children are young,we tend to give careful thought to how much TV they're watching and whether or not it's good for them. But as they grow up, most parents let their kids make more independent choices about their viewing.

However, if you've got children, you may want to stay attentive. A research indicates that some reality TV shows can be every bit as damaging for teenage girls as too many cartoons are for kids－perhaps even worse.

The truth is that reality TV is anything but reality-but that's not necessarily what our children believe.A study for the Girl Scout Research Institute in the US found that eight out of ten girls aged between 11 and 17 who regularly watch reality shows believe these programmes describe real life.

In fact,much of reality TV is a heavily manipulated(操控）view of what's really happening, and the worst of it strengthens the sort of female stereotypes(刻板印象）women have spent decades trying to remove.

Many of the women on reality TV shows are acting out lives as teenage mothers or drama queens.Strong,hard-working,purposeful young women with ambitions beyond their looks are rare in these programmes.There's a widespread emphasis on the value of women being about how they look and dress,which gives young viewers the message that being a woman is all about style and appearance, not what you do or stand for.

Cultural critic and writer Jennifer Pozner describes reality TV as "the contemporary backlash（抵制）against feminism".Imran Siddiguee,Director of Social Media and Outreach, is concerned that these programmes show the worst stereotypes of womanhood and “normalize" them in what appear to be everyday settings."They offer such a limited view of what it is to be a woman, and all over the world young girls are addicted to it,"he says.

Siddiquee does recognize, however,that many girls themselves value reality TV.Some say it encourages them to think about situations different from their own. They also point out that some shows feature women running their own successful businesses.

＂It's important to acknowledge that there are some useful elements in reality TV,"Siddiquee says."But many girls need to be inspired to think more critically about some aspects of these shows so they're not manipulated by them and so their behaviour doesn't change because of them."

We should encourage our children to be critical thinkers and help them develop their media literacy. Whether reality TV is changing our children's views, or whether they are attracted to programmes that agree with their beliefs, it's vital we recognize that their viewing habits could strengthen these unbalanced ideals.

1. Who are likely to be the prime victims of reality TV shows?

A．Small children.

B．Teenage girls.

C．New parents.

D．Random audience.

2. What is the problem with a reality TV show?

A．It is too true to life for viewers to believe in.

B．Actors in them lack a sense of innovation.

C．Its contents and views are rather artificial.

D．It can hardly cater for teenage girls' taste.

3. As far as the author is concerned, what should reality TV shows present?

A．Genuine accounts of females and their work.

B．Ways to gain more popularity among peers.

C．Distinction between true life and TV dramas.

D．Tips on how to become ambitious young girls.

4. Imran Siddquee believes that.

A．it is normal to include stereotypes of females in reality TV shows

B．teens need guidance on how to critically assess the contents of such shows

C．parents should leave children to make independent choices when viewing

D．there are more useful elements than bad stereotypes in reality TV shows

【推荐2】Although Macao is small, it has all its vital organs. When you come to this unique town, there are experiences you can't miss.

Macao Tower

The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10^th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as eating and entertainment. One of the activities is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go!

Macau Maritime Museum

Occupying an area of 800 square meters, the Macau Maritime Museum was built on the site where the first group of Portuguese explorers landed on Macau in 1553. Enlarged in 1990, the museum follows the typical museum layouts of a European style. The exhibits explore major themes in the history of the maritime industry in Macau and show traditions, fishing techniques and navigation equipment of the fishermen in Macau.

Ruins of St. Paul

The Ruins of St. Paul is the signature landmark of Macao. The ruins consist of the St. Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul, built in 1583. However, after three intense fires in 1595, 1601 and 1835, the church was seriously damaged. Surprisingly, after the vigorous cycles of rebuilding and fires, the huge facade （正面）and the front stairway remain unburned.

Macao Grand Prix

The Macao Grand Prix is a major worldwide car-racing event held annually, attracting over 300 top drivers every year. Racing through the small streets and roads over this tiny city, the Macao Grand Prix circuit is the only street circuit racing in the world for car and motorcycle events. Thus, it is also well-known as one of the world's most demanding circuits.

1. As a bungee enthusiast, Brian will most likely visit       .

A．the Macao Grand Prix	B．the Macau Maritime Museum
C．the Ruins of St. Paul	D．the Macao Tower

2. What will you do in the Macau Maritime Museum?

A．Enjoy amazing egg tarts.	B．Learn about the sea history of Macau.
C．Take a boat to the sea.	D．Listen to tours led by local fishermen.

3. What is special about Macao Grand Prix?

A．It is held annually.	B．It attracts many drivers.
C．It features street racing.	D．It offers relics views.

【推荐3】On a recent trip to the island of Newfoundland, Canada, my husband asked our talkative cab driver what made him most proud to be from there.

“Our generosity and hospitality (好客),” he replied in a strong local accent. “Your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, someone will stop to help. People here are kind like that.”

His answer lingered in my mind during that ride with my husband and teenage kids, as we headed out to explore on the first day of our vacation.

Little did I know we were about to experience some of that remarkable Newfoundland kindness for ourselves.

We met Alma that same morning at the start of a long hike.

Our teenagers hurried ahead, and as we walked behind, admiring the scenery, two women in sunglasses and summer hiking gear stopped.

They’d heard us discussing different routes, then asked if we’d like suggestions.

They looked to be in their 40s, and were both enthusiastic to share their local expertise.

We listened eagerly, taking mental notes, until one of the women asked, “You have a car, right?”

I explained that there were no cars available during our week on the island, so we had to rely on cabs instead.

“Oh no,” she said, “you need a car.” And then, as casually as if offering a piece of chewing gum (口香糖), she said: “Take mine!”

Dumbfounded, my husband and I just smiled in disbelief.

“Why not?” She insisted. “You need a car to get to know all these places.”

“But you don’t even know us,” I said.

“That doesn’t matter,” she continued with absolute determination.

Stunned, I looked over at her friend, who shrugged and said, “That’s Alma.”

Forty minutes of talking later, my family climbed into Alma’s car.

We spent the rest of our vacation discovering different areas of this beautiful island.

But it wasn’t the groups of whales we saw, or the vast areas of woodland, that made this place so memorable.

Instead, it was the act of kindness from a complete stranger that made us realize how special Newfoundland really was.

Next year, there’s no doubt where we’ll be taking our summer vacation. Who knows what act of kindness we’ll meet then?

1. What problem did the author’s family have in Newfoundland?

A．They couldn’t understand the local accent.

B．Their car broke down on the first day.

C．They got lost during a hike.

D．They didn’t have a car.

2. The underlined word “dumbfounded” in Paragraph 12 is closest in meaning to ______.

A．shocked	B．satisfied
C．relieved	D．embarrassed

3. What impressed the author most during her stay in Newfoundland?

A．The talkative cab driver.

B．The whales swimming.

C．The beautiful scenery of the island.

D．The help from an enthusiastic stranger.

4. What can we infer about the author from the last paragraph?

A．She is looking forward to meeting Alma once more.

B．She expects to visit Newfoundland again.

C．She hasn’t decided where to go next year.

D．She also wants to be kind to others during vacation.