【推荐1】Things to do in Miyakojima

Famous for its sunny beaches and natural wonders, Miyako Island welcomes many visitors during holidays.

Unique beaches

Yonaha Maehama Beach is the most famous beach in Miyakojima, where white sand stretches for seven kilometers. The ocean is colored in emerald blue, attracting visitors with its beauty.Compact Sunayama Beach, known for its arch-shaped rock, is accessed by walking through a narrow tunnel of trees.

Diverse and colorful fish

Snorkeling is a must-try in Miyakojima. Dense coral reefs, schools of tropical fish, sea turtles and plenty of space to free dive to depths of 8 to 15 meters close to the shore are standout features.For beginners, Aragusuku and Shigira are a good choice but advanced snorkelers may see Imgyo Marine Garden, Waiwai Beach and Shimojishima as their ultimate spots.

The bridges

Irabu Bridge is the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. It connects Miyakojima and Irabujima,stretching for 3540m, drawing a gentle curve. The length of the bridge can also be read as“san go no shi ma,” meaning coral island in Japanese. Smaller bridges connect Irabu and Shimoji islands,giving visitors additional beach options. On Shimoji Island, there is a boardwalk around Tooriike,two dramatic marine ponds connected to each other and the sea by an underwater cave system.

Fresh island food

Delight your senses with juicy, melt-in-your-mouth Miyako beef, delicious Miyako soba (noodles served in soup), or fresh fruit. Okinawa prefecture boasts the highest mango yield in Japan,and Miyako Island’s warm subtropical climate is optimal for growing fresh, juicy mangoes. Ice cream with a pinch of salt known as “yuki shio (snow salt)”does more than simply keep you cool.

1. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A tour brochure.	B．A research paper.
C．A geography book.	D．An academic article.

2. Which spot best suits people who want to try underwater activities?

A．Irabu Bridge.	B．Yonaha Maehama Beach.
C．Imgyo Marine Garden.	D．Compact Sunayama Beach.

3. Which is the least possible for you to enjoy in Miyakojima?

A．Delicate cuisine.	B．Attractive scenery.
C．Peaceful walking.	D．Ancient architecture.

【推荐2】Travelling around the world with children is difficult enough, while attempting it without using motorized transport is even more of challenge．Even so, Dario Schworer a 42-year-old climatologist and mountain guide, and his 33-year-old wife Sabine are on a journey to do just that．

The Swiss couple want to travel across the world's oceans and climb the highest mountain on every continent to promote Earth-friendly ways of life．

"We are collecting good examples of dealing with climate change and living in harmony with nature and we want to spread such ideas．" Schworer said．"We want to help people affected by global warming and to inspire children for the future．"

Recently after having spent three months teaching children in the Everest region, the couple want to show it is possible to travel through the world's climate zones using just human-power and forces of nature．

In the 47 countries they have visited they have collected 22 tons of trash, taught people in Ecuador how the sun's rays can be used to clean water and inspired a person in Chile to build a house on water with recycled plastic bottles as a foundation．They have also collected trash in the mountains of Nepal with school children．

So far they have communicated with 45,000 children from South America, Australia and Asia, giving presentations about the importance of recycling and using alternative energy like solar and wind power．

When they began their adventure in 2003 they had no children of their own．But since then two has become five: daughter Sabine is now five years old, Andri was born in Chile and baby Neo was born in Australia．

Initially the couple thought they would complete their travels in four years, but now, they believe it could take seven more．

"Since our belief is the need to respect nature, we travel only when conditions are good," Schworer said．
1. Why do the Swiss couple travel around the world?

A．To inspire their children for the future．

B．To prove a travel without motorized transport．

C．To promote Earth-friendly ways of life．

D．To explore the secret of global warming．

2. They did a lot during the travel except _____．

A．collect rubbish and waste

B．build a house with recycled plastic bottles

C．communicate with local children

D．show people how to use energy

3. What's the meaning of the underlined word "Initially"?

A．At the beginning	B．In a way
C．In the end	D．On the whole

4. The best title of the passage can be _____．

A．A Swiss family' journey across the world

B．Nature needs respecting and protecting

C．We have a long way to make a good travel

D．An eco-friendly adventure across the world

【推荐3】How to Plan a Holiday Trip

    1     Whether it's to grandma's house, a family reunion or simply a holiday getaway, these yearly road trips can often be the source of dread and stress. The thought of being trapped in the car with restless children or the possibility of car trouble along the way is enough to make anyone consider staying home.     2    

Plan out the route for your car trip. If you're planning on driving to your holiday destination, a little planning can help make your trip easy and uneventful.     3     Remember, it's likely that you won't be the only person on the road during the holidays, and traffic is always a factor. Alternate routes or shortcuts can help reduce time spent in traffic jams and get you to your destination sooner. This information can also come in handy in case of road construction or other situations that might block your primary route.

    4     Although traveling by air can be quick and convenient, it can also be much more expensive. Start planning your trip early to take advantage of advance purchase discounts and avoid sold out flights. Many airlines become extremely busy during the holidays so booking in advance can also help ensure that you get the flights that you want. High traffic destinations such as New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta can be extremely crowded during the holidays. If you have the option, consider booking your flight to a nearby airport and renting a car for the short drive to your destination.

Consider your luggage needs. If you're traveling by car, the issue of luggage is only important with regards to the amount of room needed. Before you begin packing, think about how many people will be in your vehicle and how much room they will need to travel comfortably. This could affect the number of bags that you can take along.     5     Not only is the possibility of lost luggage an issue, but most airlines now charge extra for checked baggage.

For a family of four, carrying a few bags each could result in several hundred dollars worth of baggage fees during your trip. Try to pack as lightly as possible.

A．As an alternative to driving or flying, check into the possibility of traveling by train.

B．Plan your trip to avoid peak travel times.

C．Luckily, with a little planning, these situations can be avoided.

D．Book airline tickets.

E．Each year, millions of people load up the family car and set out on a holiday trip,

F．For traveling by air, the number of bags that you take is a much bigger concern.

G．Consider your starting point and desired destination, and investigate several possible routes.

【推荐1】I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat doing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens and white paper, I decided that the act of writing must be the most wonderful thing in the world.

Years later, during her final illness, Mother kept different things for my sister and brother. "But the desk,” she said again, “is for Elizabeth."

I never saw her angry, never saw her cry. I knew she loved me; she showed it in action. But as a young girl, I wanted heart-to-heart talks between mother and daughter.

They never happened. And a gulf opened between us, I was "too emotional". But she lived "on the surface".

As years passed, I had my own family. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family, I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she did forgive me.

I posted the letter and waited for her answer; none came.

My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and, finally, peace. It seemed that nothing happened. I couldn't be sure that the letter had even got to Mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I could stop trying to make her into someone she was not.

Now the present of Her desk told me, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside — a photo of my father and a one — page letter, folded and refolded many times.

Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

1. The passage shows that___________.

A．Mother was cold on the surface but kind in her heart to the author

B．Mother was too serious about everything the author had done

C．Mother cared much about the author in words

D．Mother wrote to the author in careful words

2. The underlined word "gulf "in the passage means_________.

A．deep understanding	B．difference between ideas
C．free talks	D．part of the sea

3. What did Mother do with her daughter's letter asking for forgiveness?

A．She had never received the letter.

B．For years, she often talked about the letter.

C．She didn't forgive her daughter at all in all her life.

D．She read the letter again and again till she died.

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

A．My letter to Mother	B．Mother and Children
C．My Mother's Desk	D．Talks between Mother and me.

【推荐2】The San Francisco Giants added a special pitcher（投球手）for the day. It was small—yet fierce—Hailey Dawson, who has a 3D-printed hand.

The energetic 8-year-old from Nevada was invited to throw out the first pitch at the Giants game on Sunday. Dawson was born with Poland syndrome（综合症）, a disorder in which affected individuals are born with missing or underdeveloped muscles on one side of the body. It affected her hand.

With a traditional prosthetic（假肢）potentially costing thousands of dollars, Hailey’s mom, Yong Dawson turned to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for help. She emailed UNLV engineering, and they accepted the challenge. Brendan O’Toole, chairman of the mechanical engineering department, said he and his team had got a lot of requests, “but this one was different.” They got to work using a 3D-printer.Several prototypes（原型）and fittings later, Dawson got her first hand about four years ago.

Hailey’s mother said the hand had given her daughter a wonderful lift. “When she puts this robotic hand on, it changes her personality and confidence level,” Yong Dawson told CBS San Francisco. “I love seeing that. I just wanted her to have an even playing field.”

When she arrived at AT&T Park on Sunday, Hailey got to hang out with players in the shelter at the side of the sports field. They even let her try on their World Series rings.

Using her 3D-printed hand, Dawson threw out the perfect first pitch. Then with a wave and a smile, she headed into the stands to cheer on her newfound friends on the Giants.

1. What caused the function loss of Hailey’s hand?

A．A serious brain disorder.	B．A born physical problem.
C．An awful game accident.	D．An unexpected infection.

2. Why did Yong Dawson ask the University of Nevada for help?

A．She couldn’t find a suitable hospital.

B．She knew it had the advanced 3D-printer.

C．She couldn’t afford a traditional prosthetic.

D．She was forced to accept the tough challenge.

3. What is Hailey’s mother’s attitude towards the 3D-printed hand?

A．Skeptical.	B．Positive.
C．Ambiguous.	D．Cautious.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Mother’s love makes a huge difference

B．A talented young pitcher gets a great future

C．The 3D-printing technology is changing our life

D．A girl with a3D-printed hand throws her first pitch

【推荐3】From the age of seven，Cameron was educated at two independent schools.Due to good academic grades，Cameron entered the top academic class almost two years early.At the age of thirteen，he went to Eton College in Berkshire，following his father and elder brother.His early interest was in art.Six weeks before taking his O Level he was caught smoking cannabis(大麻)．He admitted the offence but had not been involved in selling drugs，so he was not expelled.However，he was fined and prevented from leaving school grounds.

After leaving Eton in 1984，Cameron started a nine­month gap year.He worked as a researcher for Tim Rathbone.In his three months there，he attended debates in the House of Commons.Through his father，he was then employed for a further three months in Hong Kong by Jardine Matheson as a“ship jumper”，which was an administrative post.

Cameron then began his Bachelor of Arts studies in Philosophy，Politics，and Economics at Brasenose College，Oxford.His tutor described him as one of the ablest students he had taught，with moderate and sensible Conservative political views.

Guy Spier，who shared a tutor with him，remembers him as an outstanding student，“We were doing our best to grasp basic economic concepts.However，nobody even came close to Cameron.He would be integrating them with the way the British political system is put together.He could have lectured me for it，and I would have sat there and taken notes.”

While at Oxford，Cameron was a member of the excellent student dining society，the Bullingdon Club，which has a reputation for a strange drinking culture associated with boisterous(狂放不羁的) behavior and damaging property. Cameron graduated in 1988 with a first­class honours degree.

1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?

A．Cameron's early education.

B．Cameron's hobbies at school.

C．Cameron's family members.

D．Cameron's bad experiences.

2. What happened to Cameron in his gap year?

A．He experienced different jobs.

B．He debated with many people.

C．He travelled a lot with his father.

D．He spent the year resting at home.

3. What words can be used to describe Cameron in Oxford?

A．Able and excellent.

B．Lazy and talkative.

C．Noisy but sensible.

D．Kind but aggressive.

4. The Bullingdon Club mentioned in the last paragraph____．

A．is very strict in admitting members

B．is themed with dining for top students

C．is closely related to politics and dining

D．is an international club for college students

【推荐1】I travel a lot with my sister Jane to attend a lot of jewelry(珠宝) shows as designers(设计师), so we can't pack lightly and usually bring about four suitcases filled with our work.

Most of our stuff is made from heavy materials and metals. So part of the routine for us when we fly is getting stopped by security(安检). Our jewelry sets off the alarms, and we've become accustomed to arriving early to go through private screenings. Most of the time, it's not troublesome.

However, on our recent trip to a Paris trade show, we were stopped at security and asked to empty our bags. One of the agents walked over to another agent and they started whispering to each other. Both gentlemen came back, and one of them then told us that it seemed that we were carrying a very dangerous object.

My sister and I just said, "Huh? Of course, we were a little concerned, thinking that maybe someone put something dangerous in one of our bags when we weren't looking.

One of the agents then started to unpack our bags. I kept asking what he was looking for and then the object in question finally appeared. It was our Cosima necklace. It's a piece of jewelry, with large, metal triangular spikes (三角形长钉).

My sister and I looked at each other and breathed a huge sigh of relief. We started laughing and explained to the two male agents that it was just a necklace from our collection, not a weapon of mass destruction. They thought we were lying, and one agent kept repeating that he believed it was a weapon.

I tried to explain that we were jewelry designers going to a trade show, and this was simply a piece from our collection. But the agents didn't buy it. Then a few women guards came over to assist. One of the women guards was holding an earring up to her ear and another was trying on a ring. Apparently, they liked our stuff.

It was only at this point that the male guards gave up and I think they also got tired of listening to a bund of women talk about jewelry. They let us through.

We took the names of the women agents and sent them a piece of jewelry when we got back to say thanks.

1. The writer and her sister were stopped by the agents because          .

A．their suitcases were too heavy.

B．they were suspected to carry dangerous objects.

C．the agents wanted to play a joke on them.

D．the agents wanted to admire the jewelry inside the suitcases.

2. The underlined word "buy" in Paragraph 7 probably means          .

A．Doubt	B．Purchase
C．Believe	D．understand

3. The writer sent the women agents a piece of jewelry in order to          .

A．show them her thanks for their assistance	B．get help from them next time
C．show them her talent in designing jewelry	D．persuade them to buy her jewelry later

4. According to this passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．The writer is always travelling on business.

B．The male agents didn't believe the writer at first.

C．The female agents liked the jewelry.

D．Someone put something dangerous in one of the writer's bags.

【推荐2】

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1. Which of the following is NOT the feature of the Amazon.com Rewards visa card?

A．With this card there is no need for you to pay the annual fee.

B．You can get rewarded with this card even if you buy something on other websites.

C．$30 will be instantly loaded into your Amazon.com account upon the approval of your credit card application.

D．Besides the redemption for instant savings at Amazon.com checkout, you can also redeem   for cash back and gift cards.

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．You can get one point for every dollar you earn with the card.

B．In some cases, you can get your cash back with the points in your card account.

C．The most attractive part of this card is the 2X rewards in gas and restaurant purchases.

D．Your points will be redeemed at Amazon.com checkout automatically towards any eligible purchase.

【推荐3】Nasr Majid started hunting this fall at Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge (保护区) on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in USA. He’s one of the relatively few new hunters who officials hope will help stop a nearly four-decade decline nationally in what has become a hobby for fewer than 5 percent of Americans.

Natural resources and wildlife officials in Maryland are encouraging hunting of deer, turkeys and some other wild animals, which is believed to be good for the environment. Without hunting, they say, sika deer will overpopulate the wildlife refuge and they’ll overeat the bushes and other plants that provide important habitat for birds. On the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, hunting is also important to prevent the spread of diseases such as Lyme.

In many families, the hunting tradition has been handed down for generations. But as longtime sportsmen age and children lose interest, the number of hunters in the United States fell by 2 million, from 2011 to 2018, to about 11 million.

“Everything is changing. Kids are growing up in front of video games and computers instead of going hunting.” said Chris Markin, a hunting specialist for the state natural resources department. “Adults usually focus on working and providing for their families. Those pressures are preventing many other potential hunters from going out, and from raising the next generation of hunters.”

To avoid such a decline, a new approach is needed. Government agencies and nonprofit groups are now launching mentoring (指导) programs to train more hunters, which not only helps preserve an industry and a culture but also means more protection for wildlife and their habitats through deer population control and investment.

Luckily, there are those still eager to learn, like Majid. He was just looking for an outdoor hobby he could share with his children when he came across the mentorship program. Now, he feels capable of hunting on his own, but also has someone he can text with questions that pop up. His new pastime has already paid off for him—on his second hunt with his mentor, in the last minutes of daylight, he bagged his first deer.

1. In this passage,Nasr Majid is considered as a symbol of________.

A．devotion

B．bravery

C．enthusiasm

D．hope

2. What can be inferred from Chris Markin’s words?

A．No one is interested in hunting any more.

B．The hunting tradition is facing challenges.

C．Parents fail to spend enough time with kids.

D．Hunting adds to many adults life pressures.

3. What does the underlined words“new pastime”refer to?

A．Raising questions.	B．Looking for hunters.
C．Learning to hunt.	D．Sharing a new hobby.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Teach hunters new skills	B．Make Hunting More Popular
C．Reduce the pressure of life	D．Train more skilled hunters

【推荐2】Thanks to this new hands free suitcase, carrying around heavy luggage may soon become a thing of the past. Designed by Israeli company NUA Robotics, this "smart" suitcase can follow you everywhere you go.

The carry-on suitcase, currently a prototype(雏形), connects to a smart phone app via Bluetooth. It has a built-in camera sensor that can "see" you and follow you around on flat surfaces like airport floors. It comes with an anti-theft alarm to prevent someone carrying it away when you're not looking, and it has a backup(备用) battery that you can use to charge all your devices.

"It can follow and carry things for people around while communicating with their smart phone, and avoiding obstacles(障碍)," explained Alex Libman, founder of NUA Robotics. "We're combining sensor network, computer vision, and robotics. So if you download our app, press the 'follow me' button, the luggage recognizes its user and knows to follow and communicate."

NUA is still testing the device and trying to improve features like speed and customization(客户定制), but they hope to make the suitcase available to customers in a year's time. If it proves successful, they want to use the Bluetooth pairing technology to automate lots of other devices, like shopping carts at the supermarket. These devices are especially meant to be useful to the physically disabled and elderly. "Any object can be smart and robotic," Libman told Mashable. "We want to bring robots into everyday life."

The Israeli tech company made it clear that the finished product will look just like a regular suitcase. They're planning to partner with a carry-on luggage maker, since the device that makes it "smart" weighs just 2.5 pounds and can be fitted on old-fashion luggage.

With NUA's smart suitcase, it isn't a burden to carry around heavy luggage. But how will their invention handle tough obstacles like stairs? It will be interesting to wait.

1. According to the passage the "smart" suitcase ______.

A．is on sale now	B．can make our hands free during traveling
C．was designed by Alex Libman	D．can go everywhere

2. If you want to use this free hand suitcase, you must ______.

A．avoid obstacles	B．carry a camera
C．download the app	D．look at it all the time

3. What can we learn about NUA?

A．It has improved the features of the device.

B．It will make the suitcase available to customers in a month.

C．It was founded by Mashable.

D．It wants to bring more smart and robotic devices into everyday life.

4. Where is the article probably from?

A．Science fiction.

B．Website.

C．Poster.

D．Textbook.

【推荐3】“Hey, don’t read in the hallway. Your eyesight will be damaged.” You must have heard such warnings many times. Don’t read in dim (暗的)light! This is one of the “pearls of wisdom” that are supposed to help us live a healthy life. Such common beliefs, however, lack scientific basis, according to a paper published recently in the British Medical Journal.

Do you believe in the following everyday wisdom?

Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

In dim light, you might blink (眨眼) more, feel discomfort from drying and have trouble focusing. But the majority of eye experts believe it is unlikely to do any permanent damage.

We must drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

In 1945, the Nutrition Council in US suggested that people need to consume 2.5 litres of water a day. But the water contained in food, particularly fruit and vegetables, as well as in milk, juice and soft drinks, also counts towards the total.

We only use 10 percent of our brains.

This myth arose as early as 1907. People have long argued about our power of self-improvement and our brains’ potential abilities. But detailed imaging shows that no area of the brain is silent or inactive.

Shaving your legs causes hair to grow black faster and thicker.

This theory is also illusion. Shaving has no effect on the thickness or rate of hair growth, studies say. Just over time, the edge of hair gets worn away and thus the edge of long hair becomes finer (更细). So hair that is newly grown gives the impression of darkness.

1. What does the paper say about some common beliefs?

A．They are pearls of wisdom

B．They help us live in healthy ways

C．They are well-known theories.

D．They do not have scientific basis.

2. Which of the following is true according to the passage ?

A．Reading in dim light does permanent harm to one’s eyes.

B．People need a total of 2.5 litres of water a day

C．People use 90 percent of their brains.

D．Shaving your legs will give you thicker hair.

3. Why does newly-grown hair look thicker?

A．Because it is darker.

B．Because it grows faster.

C．Because its edge isn’t worn away.

D．Because shaving has an effect on it.

4. This passage is most likely to be found in __________.

A．a newspaper	B．a science fiction
C．a biology textbook	D．a medical book