【推荐1】Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, has an ancient competition with Chongqing, a city to its south-east. Residents of Chongqing accused their Chengdu cousins of being pompous (自大的). The people of Chongqing were hotheads, Chengdu residents shot back. Both cities share a love of spice-laden Sichuan cuisine, which in recent decades has occupied Chinese dinner tables. But they are at war over which has the best Sichuan hotpot—a type of DIY-cooking that involves boiling vegetables and slices of meat with chillies and numbing peppercorns.

A private museum in Chongqing, opened several years ago, makes the case for the Chongqing-style hotpot. It describes how it developed from a method used to make cheap offcuts of meat taste delicious. But Chengdu is playing catch-up. In January the city sold a plot of land on condition that the developer build a hotpot museum on part of it.

The two cities are among many in China with their own styles of hotpot. Hotpot restaurants in China are more profitable than other kinds. Haidilao, a well-known Sichuan-based hotpot chain, raised nearly $1bn when it was listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (股票交易所) in September.

Not all Chinese warm to hotpot. Some older Sichuanese refuse to be connected with it. They complain that it is causing overuse of chilli in other dishes that cover up the original genuine flavours.

But Chengdu’s plans for a museum suggest that Sichuan hotpot is not only growing in popularity, but is also becoming symbolic. If it can set the West on fire, officials may hope it will become a delicious new source of Chinese soft power. There will be plenty of glory for both Chengdu and Chongqing to take pride in if that happens.

1. Why are Chengdu and Chongqing competing with each other?

A．Because Chengdu people think Chongqing people are pompous.

B．Because Chengdu residents like to shoot back in battles.

C．Because they both think they are better at eating spicy food.

D．Because they both believe they have the best Sichuan hotpot.

2. What is the purpose of building a hotpot museum in Chengdu?

A．To compete with Chongqing.	B．To advertise Sichuan cuisine.
C．To show their love for hotpot.	D．To keep the hotpot tradition.

3. What can we infer about hotpot from the last paragraph?

A．The two cities have competed only in recent decades.

B．More hotpot museums will be built in the future.

C．Hotpot is already a source of Chinese soft power.

D．People hold a high expectation for hotpot culture.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Growing Popularity of Hotpot in Two Cities

B．Two Cities’ War Over Tastiest Sichuan Hotpot

C．“No Hotpot, No Happiness” True in Food Business

D．Private Museum in Chongqing Opened First

【推荐2】Chinese people are, quite rightly, proud of their food. However, when foreigners like Britons and Americans think of Chinese food, their impression of it is different to what you might think.

Growing up in the UK, the Chinese food I was used to eating was food I now recognize as being from Guangdong. For example, a typical dish I would order would be pork in sweet and sour sauce, probably with some rice and spring rolls on the side. This is the type of food we generally eat because most Chinese immigrants(移民) to the UK have come from Guangdong. You can tell, because when most British people try to copy the sound of Chinese, they actually copy the sound of Guangdong people—hearing the real Putonghua is sometimes a shock to British people who have grown up thinking it sounds completely different!

British attitudes to Chinese food may be changing, though. Chinese-American chef Ken Hom has been on British TV for 30 years, and he told BBC Food: “Chinese food at the beginning of the 80s (in the UK) was sweet and sour pork, mainly. Most Brits had the unchangeable view of Chinese food. Now you are seeing more local Chinese food from Sichuan, Hunan and other areas of China. It is no longer just Guangdong food.” Similarly, to most Americans, Chinese food doesn’t go too far past orange chicken and fortune cookies, but more Chinese local dishes are becoming successful, especially in big cities like New York.

Attitudes have not quite changed completely, though. Many foreigners who live in China will be familiar with this question from a relative back at home: “Have they given you dog yet?” Yes, perhaps because people still know too little about Chinese culture, many people believe that Chinese people love to eat dog meat. And of course, some people do eat dogs, which to Americans is like “eating a member of one’s family” according to Vision Times. Also, Chinese people eat many other things people in the West do not—chicken claws, duck heads and some animals’ organs.

But what do foreigners think when they come to China and taste real Chinese food? You’ll be glad to know that in my experience, the impressions have been very good.

1. Why are some British people surprised when they hear the real Putonghua?

A．Because it sounds too funny to believe.

B．Because it’s different from what they hear.

C．Because they all find it hard to learn.

D．Because nobody has been to China before.

2. What does chef Ken Hom think of the present Chinese food?

A．Popular.	B．Tastier.
C．Richer	D．Best.

3. How does Paragraph 3 develop?

A．By giving examples.	B．By making inferences.
C．By analyzing.	D．By reasoning.

4. What can we infer from “Have they given you dog yet?”?

A．Foreigners don’t like eating dog meat at all.

B．Chinese hate dogs so they often eat them.

C．Chinese eat everything including dog meat.

D．There are differences between cultures.

【推荐3】There is an old saying in China that goes, “The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days.” “Sanjiu period”, which is in Minor (较小的) Cold, refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th to the 27th day) after the day of the Winter Solstice (冬至). There are many different customs related to Minor Cold in China.

Eating hotpot

During Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the cold weather. Winter is the best time to have hotpot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is important to notice that too much spicy food may cause health problems.

Eating huangyacai

In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.

Eating glutinous rice (糯米饭)

According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved (腌制的) pork, sausage and peanuts and mix them into the rice.

Eating vegetable rice

In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually disappeared. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today. The rice is steamed and is unspeakably delicious. Among the ingredients (原料), aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausage and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.

1. What do we know about Minor Cold?

A．The Sanjiu period is in this period.	B．It refers to the Winter Solstice.
C．It lasts twenty-seven days.	D．It marks the first day of winter.

2. What is a special custom in Tianjin in Minor Cold?

A．Eating hotpot.	B．Having vitamin A and B pills.
C．Having huangyacai.	D．Buying cabbage.

3. This text may be taken from the        column (栏目) of a newspaper.

A．travel

B．fashion

C．culture

D．science

【推荐1】A car needs gas to run and your body also needs food to work for you. Eating the right kind of food is very important. It can help your body grow strong. so take care of what you eat.

There are four main food groups altogether. The dairy group has food like milk, cheese and sour milk. The other three groups are the meat and fish group, the fruit and vegetable group, and the bread and rice group. Each meal should have at least one food from all four main groups. With all these food together, you will be given enough energy during the day.

It is easy to get into bad eating habits. You may eat your breakfast in a hurry to get to school on time. Or you may not have time for a good lunch. It may seem easy to finish your supper with fish and chips all the time. But you will find yourself tired in these days and you can not think quickly.

Watching what you eat will help keep your body healthy and strong. It is also good to take some exercise. It will help you eat more if you take a walk or play games in the open air. Having a good eating habit with some exercise is the key to your health.

1. Which of the following diets do you think is the best one?

A．Eggs, tomatoes and chicken.

B．Milk, bread, cabbages and beef.

C．Corn, fish, cream and pork.

D．Rice, beancurd (豆腐), apples, fish and chicken.

2. Which of the following is a good eating-habit?

A．Going to school without any breakfast

B．Eating fish and chips for supper all the time.

C．Having at least one food from all four groups each meal.

D．Having different food from all four food groups.

3. In this passage the writer mainly tells us that________.

A．every person needs food to grow well

B．taking exercise can keep your body strong

C． the right kind of food with exercise will keep you healthy

D． enough energy helps people think more quickly

4. The best title for this passage is ________.

A．The Four Food Groups	B．A Healthy Diet
C．Your Body And Food	D．Food And Your Health

【推荐2】The food we eat seems to have profound effects on our health. Although science has made enormous steps in making food more fit to eat, it has, at the same time, made many foods unfit to eat. Some research has shown that perhaps eighty percent of all human illnesses are related to diet and forty percent of cancer is related to the diet as well, especially cancer of the colon. Different cultures are more likely to cause certain different illnesses because of the food that is characteristic in these cultures. That food is related to illness is not a new discovery. In 1945, about 35 years ago, government researchers realized that nitrates, commonly used to preserve color in meats, and other food additives, caused cancer. Yet, these carcinogenic additives remain in our food, and it becomes more difficult all the time to know which things on the packaging labels of processed food are helpful or harmful. The additives, which we eat, are not all so direct. Farmers often give penicillin to beef and living animals, and because of this, penicillin has been found in the milk of treated cow. Sometimes similar drugs are given to animals not for medical purposes, but for financial reasons. The farmers are simply trying to fatten the animals in order to obtain a higher price on the market. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has tried repeatedly to control these procedures, the practices continue.
1. What is the best possible title of the passage?

A．Drug and Food

B．Cancer and Health

C．Food and Health

D．Health and Drug

2. Which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．Drugs are always given to animals for medical reasons

B．Some of the additives in our food are added to the food itself and some are given to the living animals

C．Researchers have known about the potential dangers of additives for over thirty---- five years.

D．Food may cause forty percent of cancer in world.

3. How has science done something harmful to mankind?

A．Because of science, diseases caused by polluted food have been virtually eliminated.

B．It has caused a lack of information concerning the value of food.

C．Because of the application of science, some potentially harmful substances have been added to food.

D．The scientists have preserved the color of meats, but not of vegetables.

4. What are nitrates used for?

A．They preserve flavor in packaged food.	B．They preserve the color of meats
C．They are the objects of research.	D．They cause the animals to become fatter.

5. The word “carcinogenic” most nearly means _________________

A．trouble–making

B．color– retaining

C．money –making

D．cancer–causing

【推荐3】Every morning is a struggle.     1     But did you know that drinking water can make you more energetic and productive?

It helps to balance your nervous system. Drinking water on empty stomach especially if it’s hot can improve the health of your nervous system.     2     At this moment, if you just have a glass of warm water, it can properly offer water to your nervous system， which will help it function properly.

It prevents mild headaches.     3     So just by increasing your water intake，you are basically preventing your chances from suffering from them.

    4     Water can help release bacteria and other harmful elements from your system. This, in turn，can help your body fight the effects of certain chemicals which can cause your looking older. Furthermore，your skin will feel refreshed, which can help it maintain a flexible appearance.

It improves your appetite（胃口）. Early in the morning, with your stomach totally empty，it is natural you will feel hungry. So another benefit of drinking water is preparing you to have the most important meal of the day—breakfast.     5    

So now you know the benefits of drinking water on empty stomach. Just add a glass of warm or hot water to your schedule after you wake up and see all the health benefits it will bring to your life.

A．It prevents body aging.

B．It promotes mental fitness.

C．Early morning, the stomach is most thirsty.

D．We think that a cup of coffee would make things right

E．The importance of drinking water can’t be emphasized too much.

F．Besides, having a healthy desire for food is good for overall health.

G．Doctors say they result from the removal of water among various reasons.

【推荐3】You are driving to school. You look up to see a pretty, hot air balloon. Whoa! You almost went through a stop sign! In a driverless car, you can look at the balloon. The car sees the stop sign without your help and stops the car. Car makers and others are already testing driverless cars or AVs(automated vehicles) in the U. S. and other countries.

Most cars already have some driverless technology like the Anti-Lock Braking System(ABS). When a car is slipping on an icy road, the ABS can tap the brakes quickly. The wheels turn slowly but do not stop. The driver can then control the car to safety. Many cars also have parallel parking technology. These cars can park themselves along a street. No driver is needed.

A driverless car can see the road better than people with the help of radar, cameras, and lasers. Radar helps the car see things up to 100 meters away even in darkness or rain. Cameras help the car see objects that are close. Lasers that work like radar, called lidar, spin on the roof and build a 3D model of the world around the car. Automated vehicles use a GPS to find the best way from one place to another. All the information from the radar, cameras, lasers, and the GPS goes to the Controller Area Network bus, which lets all those devices talk to one another. The CAN bus uses the information to direct the car and to tell the car to go or stop.

Problems still exist with AVs. Hackers(黑客) may take over the car. There will probably be fewer jobs for people who drive taxis and trucks. A robo-taxi can find you and take you to your destination without a taxi driver. AV trucks may roll along highways without a truck driver.

In the future, you can be the driver of your car, or you can look out of the window while the car drives you.

1. A pretty, hot air balloon is mentioned in Paragraph 1 in order to ________.

A．tell that there are always interesting things to see while driving

B．show how interesting it is to drive to school

C．show the strength of driverless cars

D．tell the possible danger while driving

2. What does the underlined word in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．cars

B．equipment

C．information

D．automated vehicles

3. Which of the following ideas will the author agree?

A．There will be no human drivers in the future.

B．All the truck drivers will be out of work in the future.

C．All the driverless cars will be safe in the future.

D．All the cars won’t be driven automatically in the future.

【推荐1】The UK is filled with unbelievable palaces and historic castles. Now you can take 360 degree virtual (虚拟的)tours of the attractions by just clicking(点击)your mouse at home.

Buckingham Palace

The Queen's palace offers 360 degree virtual tours of rooms including the Throne Room, Grand Staircase and the White Drawing Room. There are clickable “information points" which when clicked can explain the history of the rooms. CLICK HERE

Palace of Holyrood House

The Queen's official palace in Edinburgh is packed with history. The palace is usually open year round to the public, but for those who can't visit for whatever reasons, you can take virtual tours of some of the amazing rooms including the Morning Drawing Room and Royal Dining Room. CLICK HERE

Blenheim Palace

Blenheim Palace offers 360 degree virtual tours of some of its beautiful state rooms from the grand Drawing Rooms and Saloons to the Great Hall. You can choose to listen to the audio (声首) guide which not only gives you a quick look inside, but offers lots of exciting details. CLICK HERE

Edinburgh Castle

Here is a great visual trip to Edinburgh Castle. You can visit the historic ruins and have some wonderful views of Edinburgh itself. You can also zoom in (拉近)or out to get an idea of the museums and interesting places to explore, as well as 3D models of the castle. CLICK HERE

1. What do the four places have in common?

A．They are the Queen's palaces.

B．They provide online virtual tours.

C．They are open to the public all year round.

D．They have clickable "information points”.

2. What is special about Edinburgh Castle?

A．It has become ruins.	B．It offers audio guides.
C．3D models of it are provided.	D．History of the castle is unknown.

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A website.	B．A travel guidebook.
C．A newspaper.	D．A medical magazine.

【推荐2】There’s one easy thing you can do every day to live longer and happier, according to a recent study, and it has nothing to do with diet, exercise, or cutting out bad habits.

A review of nearly 150 studies with more than 300,000 participants found that having active social circles decreases your chances of dying by 50 percent, regardless of age, gender or medical history. “When we’re social, we live longer.” Dr. Kelli Harding noted, “Loneliness is more of a risk factor to health than other known risk factors, like high blood pressure and obesity.”

The findings are written up in Dr. Harding’s new book，The Rabbit Effect, which is about how kindness, rather than laughter, may be the best medicine. The book gets its title from a famous 1978 study of the relationship between cholesterol（胆固醇）and heart health in rabbits. Researchers accidentally discovered that those rabbits that received the most affection from their human handlers lived much longer than the others.

We live in a world where most of our social interactions happen through our phones. But to get the health benefits of a more active social circle, you don’t have to throw away your device and join a book club. More casual interactions with neighbors, shop owners, and others you meet every day can do the trick. Increasingly，those relationships can start online. That’s where Nextdoor comes in. The stated purpose of the company is “to cultivate a kinder world where everyone has a neighborhood they can depend on”.

When asked for advice on one thing you can do to live longer and happier, Dr. Harding said it perfectly, “Be kind. It’s actually pretty amazing how much each person can make the world a better，kinder，healthier place. It really takes very little and you never know the impact you have on somebody.”

1. What do we know about The Rabbit Effect?

A．Its title comes from a study.	B．It's a report about heart health.
C．Laughter could cure diseases.	D．Rabbits could help live longer.

2. What’s the purpose of Nextdoor?

A．To advocate online shopping to save time.

B．To offer the neighborhood sports facilities.

C．To settle the arguments among the families.

D．To create a harmonious community to rely on.

3. What does the underlined phrase “do the trick” in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Improve health and wellness.	B．Set up online relationships.
C．Build a happy and warm family.	D．Keep away from bad habits.

4. What can be inferred from Dr. Harding’s words in the last paragraph?

A．We can look for a kind neighborhood.

B．We should be kind to animals in the wild.

C．Every small act of kindness can make a difference.

D．All kinds of social activities can make a better world.

【推荐3】Brazil is the greatest football nation in the world. There are 170 million Brazilians. How many of them are football fans? 100 million! All of them think they know all about football. This makes life very difficult for the Brazilian team managers. When things go bad for the Brazilian team, the newspapers would demand that the team manager should leave his job. “If we win, they me in heaven,” a manager once said. “If we lose, they put me in hell(地狱).”

You can’t escape football in Brazil. There are football matches on every street and beach. On television, the results of football matches come before the main news programs. There are six television channels(频道) in Rio de Janeiro. On Sundays each channel shows a different football match.

Brazil is not the richest country in the world, but the government spends lots of money on football. It cost more than one billion pounds to prepare for the 1978 World Cup. That’s 10 pounds for every Brazilian man, woman, and child. And many Brazilians don’t earn as much as 10 pounds a week. Is it worth it?

“Brazil must have a great football team,” says one journalist. “If it costs one billion pounds, that’s all right. If the government doesn’t give us a good team, then it will become unpopular. Football is more than a game in Brazil.”

Football is more than a game in Brazil. This is certainly true in its largest city, Sao Paulo. The most popular team is Corinthians. Corinthians’ fans are the most loyal and emotional in Brazil. When Corinthians win, production(产量) in the Sao Paulo car factories increases by fifteen per cent. When they loses, it drops. At one time Corinthians won the national championship for the first time, for four days fans danced and sang in the streets.

Why are people so loyal to one football team? What makes a football fan? One man says, “Without Corinthians my life would be sad. Corinthians bring some joy and excitement into my life. We all need that, don’t we?”

1. In Paragraph 1, what the manager said means_______.

A．he is respected by newspapers	B．he will probably be killed by fans
C．he is judged on his team’s results	D．it’s difficult for him to get good scores

2. All the following statements about the Brazilians and football are true EXCEPT _______.

A．all the Brazilians know all about football

B．football has an influence on politics in Brazil

C．the Brazilians spend a lot of money on football

D．Corinthians’ fans are always supporting their team

3. Some people danced and sang in the streets for four days in Sao Paulo because_______.

A．production in the Sao Paulo car factories increased

B．Corinthians won a national football championship

C．Corinthians won the World Cup

D．the newspapers put a team manager in heaven

4. People are loyal to their football team mainly because _______.

A．it brings joy and excitement to their life	B．they could always count on it
C．it can increase the car production	D．they could see hope in it