【推荐1】EVERY YEAR, millions of Americans see their personal information leak into the wrong hands. Maybe there’s spyware on their computer, or a service they use suffered a security reach --- as eBay did this year, leaving customers at risk of exposure. Or perhaps their password is easy to guess: Security company SplashData reports that the most popular passwords in 2013 were 123456 and password.
Fear not: It is a lot easier than you might think to set up proper defenses. In fact, you can easily do it all in a weekend. Here’s how.
Clean Your Computer And Smartphone
Before you put new security measures into place, make sure your devices are as spotless as possible. This means installing a good antivirus program and taking the time to clear out any spy- or malware that may have already infected your system. Go with AVG Free Antivirus (free. Avg. com) or Avast! (avast. com) ---each is free. Run a full system scan. This can take over an hour, so start it before settling into other plans. When you return to your computer, clear out anything that shouldn’t be there with a few simple steps (the program will guide you). These days, it’s also worth it to make sure your phone is safe from viruses. iPhones are less likely to be targeted by spyware, but Android users should download the Lookout app (lookout. com) to scan their devices and ensure everything is as it should be.
Security Your Wi-Fi
Now that your computer is clean, you should plug any holes in your home network. It’s fairly easy for potential criminals to gain access to your information if they’re able to share your connection --- that’s why you want to be careful when using public Wi-Fi. For your home, the Federal Communications Commission recommends a few steps. Even though you put security measures into place a couple of years ago, it’s a good idea to refresh your settings. You may have to refer to the instructions for your wireless router or call tech support for help. Different routers will have different setup pages, so the actual step-by-step will vary, but the end result will be the same.
Dig Deep with Your Passwords
Everything you just accomplished could be for nothing if a thief has your existing passwords, so you need to change them for every service you use. Try it when you find yourself on those sites anyway.
What you’ve heard is true: Passwords should use a variety of special characters, numerals, letters, and cases when possible. They should be close to random, and there should be a different one for each website you use. Doing this, and keeping track of it all, is a pain --- which is why people don’t do it and wind up with stolen identities. Try Dashlane (dashlane.com), a password manager with powerful encryption (加密) that can securely keep track of the most ridiculous codes you can come up with. Best of all, it logs you into sites automatically, so there’s no need to worry about all those obscure keystrokes. Whew!
Never Answer Unwanted Email
Take are when shopping online. Always check the security symbols when using an online site for shopping. If the lock icon encryption is not there, do not give out credit details. Also, check that the site is legal --- never go to a site from a random email and start shopping online. Go to the site through a known URL or by searching for it on a search engine first.
Keep a separate credit card just for online shopping. This will make it easier to cancel if something bad does happen and your other credit card for “in real life” can still be used uninfluenced.
Don’t store information on any store’s website. It may be conventional but it’s also a possible loss to you if the site is hacked.
1. The passage is mainly about _____________.

A．ways of avoiding online identity theft

B．tips of freeing computers from viruses

C．measures to ensure network security

D．steps to keep track of passwords

2. According to the passage, the risk of exposing personal information may possibly be caused by ___________.

A．the applications of antivirus programs

B．the practice of using public Wi-Fi

C．the difficult access to the passwords

D．the separate credit card for online shopping

3. To put new security measures into place, we need to ____________.

A．clear out of everything in the system

B．make a random selection of network

C．get rid of potential spyware

D．refresh the infected system

4. Which of the following is the improper way to shop online?

A．Adopting a unique password for every website.

B．Shopping online at reliable websites.

C．Keeping credit details safe by checking security symbols.

D．Monitoring credit card by storing information.

【推荐2】Do you have a headache about learning English?     1    

Speak without fear.

The biggest problem that most people face is their own fear.     2     Some say that they will look stupid. Some are afraid that they can not get themselves understood. So they don’t say anything at all. Don’t do this. The fastest way to learn English is to say it again and again until you get it right. Like everything else, English requires practice. Don’t let a little fear stop you from getting what you want.

Surround yourself with English.

    3     Put English books around, listen to English broadcasts and watch English movies. Speak English with your friends whenever you can. The more English material that you have around you, the more progress you will make.

    4    

Music can be a very effective method of learning English. In fact, it is a way to help us understand English. The best way to learn, though, is to get the lyrics (歌词) you are listening to and sing them as the artist sings. There are several good Internet sites where you can find the lyrics for most songs.     5     And if you like to sing, even better!

A．Here are some tips that may help you to understand the language better.

B．Listen to English music.

C．Listen to native speakers as much as possible.

D．Some people worry that they won’t say things correctly.

E．If you listen to the news, you can also hear different accents.

F．The best way to learn English is to surround yourself with it.

G．In this way you can practice your listening and reading at the same time.

【推荐3】When kids tend to learn new skills, supervision（监督）is necessary to ensure kids stay safe.    1    Give kids chances to try something new, make mistakes and learn from them.

If your son wants to learn how to make a butter sandwich, show it, set up the materials and let him try. Will he make a mess? Almost certainly. But be patient if he messes up.    2    If you step in, your boy will think," well. I guess I can't make sandwiches,"

But if you have patience for the mess and the time, the payoff will be real. Someday he'll say," I'm hungry, so I'm going to make my own sandwich." Certainly, sometimes kids can give up. Help by encouraging them to do it one more time.    3    

Once kids reach a goal, you can not only praise the result but also encourage them to try another. For example, after your son has mastered making the butter sandwich you might show your confidence by saying."    4    " That's not a huge achievement, but is a further step in the right direction toward your child's independence.

Throughout childhood, parents have chances to prepare kids to take care of themselves. It's great to feel needed, but as kids gain confidence and independence, their relationship with you can be even richer.    5    

A．Will you make a butter sandwich for me?

B．Next time, why not learn how to fry an egg?

C．It is a clear sign of your faith in his abilities.

D．In fact, it's also important not to stay around.

E．Avoid any behavior that could discourage him.

F．Your kids will share pride in all they've achieved with you.

G．By trying again, kids learn that difficulties can be overcome.

【推荐2】It doesn’t kill germs better than cooler water, but turning tap temperatures high, the US burns carbon equal to the emissions of Barbados.

People typically wash their hands seven times a day in the United States, but they do it at a far higher temperature than is necessary to kill germs, a new study says. The energy waste is equivalent to the fuel use of a small country.

It’s cold and flu season, when many people are concerned about avoiding germs. But forget what you think you know about hand washing, say researchers at Vanderbilt University. Chances are good that how you clean up is not helping you stay healthy; it is helping to make the planet sick.

Amanda R. Carrico, a research assistant professor at the Vanderbilt Institute for Energy and Environment in Tennessee, told National Geographic that hand washing is often “a case where people act in ways that they think are in their best interest, but they in fact have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions.”

Carrico said, “It’s certainly true that heat kills bacteria, but if you were going to use hot water to kill them it would have to be way too hot for you to tolerate.”

She explained that boiling water, 212°F (99.98°C), is sometimes used to kill germs - for example, to clean drinking water that might be polluted with germs. But “hot” water for hand washing is generally within 104°F to 131°F (40°C to 55°C.) At the high end of that range, heat could kill some germs, but the sustained contact that would be required would scald the skin.

Carrico said that after a review of the scientific literature, her team found “no evidence that using hot water that a person could stand would have any benefit in killing bacteria.” Even water as cold as 40°F (4.4°C) appeared to reduce bacteria as well as hotter water, if hands were scrubbed, rinsed(冲洗) and dried properly.

In fact, she noted that hot water can often have an unfavorable effect on hygiene. “Warmer water can harm the skin and affect the protective layer on the outside, which can cause it to be less resistant to bacteria,” said Carrico.

Using hot water to wash hands is therefore unnecessary, as well as wasteful, Carrico said, particularly when it comes to the environment. According to her research, people use warm or hot water 64 percent of the time when they wash their hands. Using that number, Carrico’s team calculated a significant impact on the planet.   

“Although the choice of water temperature during a single hand wash may appear minor, when multiplied by the nearly 800 billion hand washes performed by Americans each year, this practice results in more than 6 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions annually,” she said.

That’s roughly equal to the emissions of two coal-fired power plants, or 1,250, 000 passenger vehicles, over the course of a year. It’s higher than the greenhouse gas emissions of small countries like El Salvador or Armenia, and is about equivalent to the emissions of Barbados. If all US citizens washed their hands in cooler water, it would be like eliminating the energy-related carbon emissions of 299,700 US homes, or the total annual emissions from the US zinc or lead industries.   

The researchers found that close to 70 percent of respondents said they believe that using hot water is more effective than warm, room temperature, or cold water, despite a lack of evidence backing that up, said Carrico. Her study noted research that showed a “strong cognitive(认知的) connection” between water temperature and hygiene in both the United States and Western Europe,compared to other countries, like Japan, where hot water is associated more with comfort than with health.

The researchers published their results in the July 2013 issue of International Journal of Consumer Studies. They recommended washing with water that is at a “comfortable” temperature, which they noted may be warmer in cold months and cooler in hot ones.

1. What does the writer mainly focus on when writing this passage?

A．Whether hot water helps kill germs effectively in hand washing.

B．How hot water contributes to the serious worsening of our planet.

C．Why the consumption of hot water is unnecessary and wasteful.

D．What the advantages and disadvantages of using hot water are.

2. The underlined word scald in paragraph six probably means        .

A．burn

B．improve

C．soften

D．wrinkle

3. According to the passage, all the following share roughly the same CO2 emissions yearly EXCEPT        .

A．two coal-fired power plants	B．US zinc or lead industries
C．1,250, 000 passenger vehicles	D．El Salvador or Armenia

4. Which of the following is WRONG according to the passage?

A．Boiling water at 212°F (99.98°C) works effectively in killing germs.

B．Warmer water can damage the protective layer of the outside skin.

C．There is much difference between cold water and hot water in reducing bacteria.

D．Americans have inaccurate beliefs or outdated perceptions in hand washing.

【推荐3】When stress affects your sleep on a nightly basis, it sets you up for a terrible insomnia (失眠) that forces you to turn to sleeping pills.    1    

※ Target （把…作为目标）the enemy

“Every night a couple of hours before bed, sit down and make a list of all the problems you have to deal with,” says Donna Arand, director of Kettering Hospital Sleep Disorders Center. “Next to each item, write a solution or plan.”     2     That way, if thoughts of your problems arise as you’re trying to sleep, you can tell yourself, “I’ve got a plan and I’ll work on it tomorrow. “

※ Balance your work and activities

    3     But a joint study of 314 workers found that workers with higher levels of enjoyable activities such as exercise, hobbies, and social activities, were able not only to come back from workplace stress better than their always-on-the-job coworkers but also sleep much better than others.

※ Deal with less

Four of the top ten stressors we experience are related to money.    4     And how should we spend it? Given that, doesn’t it make sense that if we want less and are satisfied with less--smaller houses, and simpler forms of transportation--our stress levels will go down?

※   Give a nod to a nap （打盹）

It’s doubly unfortunate that stress makes it hard to get to sleep because, chemically speaking, the antidote （对抗手段）to stress is sleep. There is a way to deal with it.    5     It’s true that one nap of up to 90 minutes between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 P.M. during the day, will make people energetic again.

A．That’s by taking a nap.

B．Here’s how to step back from that state.

C．Now there is some advice on how to keep energetic.

D．When you ‘re ready for bed, put the list by the bedroom door.

E．It was reported recently that on-the-job stress has reached the worst levels.

F．How can we get it ?

G．Does stress always interrupt you?

【推荐1】So many things can keep you from seeing your loved ones in person, from busy schedules to long distances to a rather unexpected pandemic.     1     But if you're someone who's more prone(倾向于)to typed out messages than verbal ones, you may want to reconsider.     2    

A new study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology, found that communication interactions that included voice, like a phone call or video chat, created stronger social bonds than communication through typing, like text messaging or email. In the study, researchers used various experiments to estimate connectedness. In one, they asked 200 people to make predictions about what it would be like to reconnect with an old friend by email or by phone and then assigned people at random to do one or the other.     3     "People reported they did form a significantly stronger bond with their old friend on the phone versus email, and they did not feel more awkward,“ study co-author Amit Kumar, an assistant professor of marketing at the McCombs School of Business, said in a statement.

    4     They found that both forms of voice communication-whether video or audio only-made the strangers feel significantly more connected than when they communicated via text.

Sabrina Romanoff, a Harvard trained clinical psychologist based in New York City, says     5     “A phone call is actually more convenient when considering the net effects of the message,” she explains. “Each party is more present, and therefore, able to gauge the meaning behind the content without ruminating on the endless possible meanings behind words and punctuation.”

A．“Texting corresponds information exactly in the way people intend.”

B．“In reality, texting can make it hard to determine the true meaning behind a conversation.”

C．People held the view that a phone call was really awkward and reconnected with their friends by email.

D．Fortunately, thanks to modern technology, the people we miss are often only a phone call or text message away.

E．According to science, if you want to feel more connected to the people you're talking to, you should call them instead of texting.

F．In another experiment, the researchers had strangers connect by either texting, talking over video chat, or talking using only audio.

G．Although people anticipated that a phone call would be more awkward, hearing someone's voice actually made the experience better.

【推荐1】The Houston Museum of Natural Science

Founded in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) has always been one of the most heavily attended museums in the United States. It houses a variety of permanent exhibit areas that examine astronomy, space science, Native American culture, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals, seashells, Texas wildlife and much more. In addition, the museum frequently presents traveling exhibitions on a variety of topics. The Museum is a major science learning center with over a half million school children visiting it annually, including every fourth grade and seventh grade class in the Houston Independent School District.

Crowds

The Museum can be quite crowded on weekends and weekday mornings, due to the hundreds of thousands of students that visit HMNS each year. Please call 713-639-4629 to inquire about the crowds that are anticipated during your intended visit.

Opening Hours

Monday-Sunday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.)

It’s closed on New Year’s Day and Christmas Day.

PLEASE NOTE: Average museum visit takes 2 hours or more.

Pricing

Adult Ticket: $25 (ages 12 and up)

Child Ticket: $16 (ages 3-11)

Children aged 2 and under: FREE

College Students with ID: $16

Seniors (62+): $16

Groups (10+): $10

Please Note

Flash photography is ONLY allowed in the Grand Hall and the rainforest of the Coekrell Butterfly Center. Selfie sticks (自拍杆), tripods and camera stands are not allowed anywhere in HMNS. Photography is not allowed in certain exhibitions. Please check for signs by the exhibit entrance for more information or ask a museum employee.

1. When can people enter HMNS for a visit?

A．At 8:30 a.m. on June 1st.	B．At 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 3rd.
C．At 14:40 p.m. on Oct. 15th.	D．At 10:00. a.m. on Dec.25th.

2. How much should Tom and his two sons aged 8 and 13 pay in all to HMNS?

A．$66.	B．$57.
C．$41.	D．$30.

3. What can be known about HMNS from the text?

A．It has a history of less than a century.

B．Visitors aren’t allowed to take photos inside.

C．It has the largest number of visitors of all American museums.

D．People who enjoy quiet have better visit it on weekday afternoon.

【推荐2】Thompson Strawberry Farm

The Thompson family has been growing strawberries in Kenosha County for over 70 years. We have been primarily a “Pick-Your-Own” farm for 50 years. Scott Thompson is the 4th generation of Thompson to grow strawberries. During the peak of the “Pick-Your-Own”, our family grew 150 acres of strawberries. Our farm is located just east of The Club at Strawberry Creek Golf Course. We currently farm about 100 acres and will be picking 20 acres of strawberries this year. Although we have downsized, we still have plenty of strawberries to meet the demand. The season usually starts about mid-June and usually we pick at least through July 4th. We are more than just strawberries though. We also have raspberries, pumpkins and other vegetables!

Always check “Today on the Farm” the day you come to the farm. Weather and crowds can change the quantity of berries we have very quickly. Come out and pick your own strawberries! When you arrive at the farm, you will follow the signs to the pre-picked strawberry stand. An employee will direct you, from the stand to the strawberry field, where you can park. The field will always have employees available to answer questions, and they are located by the large trailer (拖车). We supply the baskets for you to pick the berries and take them home in. When you are done picking, you will move to the checkout stand to pay for the baskets that you have picked.

Dates & hours of operation:
Mid-June-Early July
Monday-Friday 8:00 am-6:00 pm
Saturday-Sunday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Prices:
$14 per basket
Pick 6 baskets and only pay for 5
Get one dollar off when you reuse our baskets
1. What do we know about Scott Thompson’s farm?

A．There are a variety of supplies on the farm.

B．There are 150 acres of strawberries this year.

C．It is open to the public for two whole months.

D．It became “Pick-Your-Own” farm 70 years ago.

2. Where are you supposed to park your vehicle?

A．The pre-picked strawberry stand.	B．The entrance of the farm.
C．The strawberry field.	D．The checkout stand.

3. How much should you pay for 6 baskets of strawberries with your reused baskets?

A．$69.

B．$70.

C．$64.

D．$65.

【推荐3】

The Campus Bookstore Bookie’s , the campus bookstore is located at the Campus Activity Centre , main floor . Bookie’s is the only place in Kamloops to buy your course textbooks . There is a booklist in the bookstore listing the books required for each course . If you need help in finding your course textbooks , ask any of the staff in the bookstore . There are more than just textbooks at bookie’s . They carry a wide variety of stationary , art supplies and gift items . You can also buy telephone cards , postage stamps and bus passes . You must show your student card to get a discount for the bus passes .
TEXTBOOK RETURNS 1) Do I need my receipt to return books ? Yes . 2) How long do I have to return books ? Books purchased must be returned within ten working days of the date of the purchase . 3) What if I wrote my name in the book ? Unfortunately , we cannot give you a full refund for books not in mint condition as publishers will not accept this for credit . 4) What happens if I miss the last day for return ? We may purchase the text book as “ used ” in accordance with our Buyback program . 5) What if I discover that my book has missing Pages half way through the semester ? We will replace the defective books , new or used , for a like copy of that title . Cash refunds are not given for defective books returned outside the normal return dates .	BUYBACKS 1) What books do you buy back ? We buy back all current edition textbooks . If we do not use them at UCC , we buy them 2) How much do I get for my books ? If bookie’s is buying the book for use at UCC , you will receive 50% of the current new retail price . In order to receive optimum buyback price , discs and supplements must accompany the book . 3) What happens to the books that I sell ? Books for bookie’s are processed by our staff and sold to students at 75% of the new retail price . 4) What condition do my books need to be in ? Books should be in good condition , meaning that the cover is still attached and all pages intact . Highlighting , notes and markings on the pages are perfectly fine . Workbooks and study guides are generally not purchased back unless they are free of all markings . No sales receipt is required for these books .
Bookstore Hours Monday—Thursday 9:00am—6:00pm Friday 9:00am—5:00pm Saturday and Sunday Closed

1. The intended readers of this passage are __________ .

A．Book dealers	B．University students
C．Publishers	D．Campus staff

2. The underlined word “ defective ” can best be replaced by __________ .

A．faulty

B．adapted

C．new

D．latest

3. Bookie’s will not buy back your used textbook if __________ .

A．you have lost the sales receipt

B．there are markings and notes on the pages

C．the cover of the book is missing

D．you miss the last day for return

4. Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage ?

A．Bookie’s is a place for students to buy their course textbooks .

B．Student cards are needed to get a discount for the textbooks .

C．Books bought in bookie’s can be returned within ten working days .

D．Books bought back are processed by the staff and sold to students .