【推荐2】Parcel Post Rates

Zones

Weight 1 pound and no exceeding(pounds)	local	1&2	3	4	5
		Up to 150 miles	150 to 300 miles	300 to 600 miles	600 to 1400 miles
2 3 4 5	$0.61 0.65 0.69 0.73	$0.72 0.78 0.84 0.90	$0.75 0.83 0.90 0.98	$0.83 0.92 1.01 1.10	$0.92 1.04 1.16 1.28
6 7 8 9 10	0.77 0.81 0.85 0.89 0.93	0.96 1.02 1.08 1.14 1.20	1.05 1.13 1.20 1.28 1.35	1.19 1.28 1.37 1.46 1.55	1.40 1.52 1.64 1.76 1.88

1. What is the cost of mailing a 10-pound package a distance of 286 miles ?

A．93 cents

B．$ 1.20

C．$1.35

D．$1.55

2. The exception noted at the bottom of the table means _______________________

A．large packages weighing less than 10 pounds cost the same as a 10- pound package

B．large packages weighing more than 10 pounds cost more than small packages weighing more than 10 pounds

C．large packages measuring over 100 inches cannot be mailed by parcel cost

D．large packages weighing 10 pounds cost less to mail than small packages weighing 10 pounds

3. Which of the following best summarizes all the information on the table ?

A．The table indicates that heavy packages cost more to mail than light-weight packages

B．The table shows five zones that cover the distance from one mils to 600 miles

C．The cost of mailing a package is dependent on the weight of the package and the distance of it being mailed

D．Rates for local mailing are the lowest

【推荐2】As for old people, some of the applications are hard to use because they didn’t grow up with them. They don’t have simple models of how they should work, what to do when something doesn’t work or where to go for help. We make it as easy as possible to be used for people who are not familiar with the technology.

I think there is huge potential and we are designing it. The ability to connect to friends, who remember the same movies and news and music, is really important, especially as people get old. They end up in retirement homes and they aren’t always close to their friends. Allowing the network to help them connect with friends and family is a really powerful thing.

My mother is an enthusiastic user of the Internet, although it took me years to get her to use e-mail. She was born with normal hearing, but lost it when she was 3. She was totally deaf for many years, until age 53, when she got ear aids. They work really well. That is a big change for her. But before then, her friends couldn’t call her on the phone, so they insisted she use e-mail to communicate with them.

Young people don’t even think of the Internet as technology. It’s just there, and they use it. There’s been a very interesting change in communication styles between old people and young people. There are some kids who are now in their teens and aren’t willing to make phone calls. And they think of e-mail as old-fashioned and slow.

The reason why teens don’t make phone calls seems to be that they don’t know what to say. When they call they often stop for a while. They don’t know what to say, and there’s this silence. On the other hand, texting is considered proper, and it’s okay if you don’t answer. You might have been distracted(分心的). It’s not considered rude. But it is considered strange if you’re in this kind of voice conversation and simply stop talking.

1. We can infer from the passage that the author is a ________.

A．company manager

B．program designer

C．college professor

D．mobile phone designer

2. What do the young people think of the Internet according to the passage?

A．Interesting.	B．Amazing.
C．Boring.	D．Common.

3. Why do teens like to send texts to communicate with others?

A．To save money.

B．To maintain friendship.

C．To avoid embarrassment.

D．To make communication much easier.

4. What is the trouble that old people meet when surfing the Internet?

A．They don’t know how to use some applications.

B．They have to buy electronic productions at a high price.

C．There is no professional teacher to teach them how to use the Internet.

D．They have no friends to communicate with online.

【推荐3】Did you ever think that it would be possible to travel the world in just seconds, and from the comfort of your own sofa? Well, thanks to digital technologies, you can be anywhere with just a click. Now let’s check out some ideas of free virtual(虚拟)trips you can take right now!

Take a tour in Central Park, New York

As one of the world’s biggest attractions, Central Park is located in the very heart of Manhattan. With this tour offered by youvisit.com, you’ll be able to see the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, the Belvedere Castle, and the Strawberry Fields and “walk” through the park’s scenic grasses. If you’re in the mood for greenery, this tour will definitely suit you.

Enjoy the breathtaking views of the Grand Canyon, Arizona

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is considered one of the world’s treasures. The virtual tour provided by the National Park Service U. S, lets you discover ancient places within the canyon and explore archaeological excavations（考古发掘）in an interactive way.

Explore the wonders of Japan

Take a tour across this beautiful country with a 360-degree VR movie from the Japan National Tourism Organization: you’ll be able to explore tradition, modernity and nature all at once, and enjoy the mixture of fascinating cultural sites and the most attractive natural spots.

Climb Everest for an unforgettable adventure

Experience what it feels like to climb the world’s tallest mountain with Everest VR: Journey to the top of the world, a document series especially made for Virtual Reality headsets. Have you ever imagined experiencing an Hymalayan avalanche（雪崩）or a rock-climbing fall? Or just admiring the unique sunset from the top of the mountain? This journey will take you to places you never thought possible.

1. What can you do during the visit to the Grand Canyon?

A．Enjoy the sunset.	B．Discover natural spots.
C．Explore historical sites.	D．Meet ancient people.

2. Which trip suits you best if you are a mountain climbing lover?

A．The trip to Central Park.	B．The trip to the Grand Canyon.
C．The trip to Japan.	D．The trip to Everest.

3. What is special about the above trips?

A．They can be experienced at home.	B．They can be taken at the same time.
C．They are designed for disabled people.	D．They are filled with challenges.

【推荐1】It’s normal to long for the taste of potato chips or a cheese –covered pizza. Even though they’re full of calories, eating them occasionally won’t do much harm. However, according to the new numbers, young people are becoming more gluttonous. The BBC’s Good Food Nation Survey showed that on average, 16 to 20-year-olds ate fast food at least twice a day in the UK. So what’s behind this fast food binge (狂热).

WebMD, an online publisher of news and information of human health and well-being, surveyed nearly 600 teenagers and adults in the United States. They found that the most common reason was our busy lifestyle. More than 92.3 percent of respondents said they were too busy to cook. Many find it challenging to balance work and life, and the convenience of fast food meets their needs. Fast food is readily available in corner stores and vending machines (自动售货机).

Remember those instant noodle cups from the supermarket? They’re ready in minutes, and you can store them at home for a long time.

But many people think this trend does no good. Sarah Toule, head of health information at World Cancer Research Fund, told the BBC: “It’s frightening that people, especially younger generations, are eating so much fast food loaded with fat, sugar and salt, but offers little nutritional value.”

She added, “Especially high in calories, fast food leads to unhealthy weight gain – which in turn increase the risk of 11 cancers later in life.

So what is the right thing to do? Toule suggested that young people should prepare meals in advance and learn to include the different food groups in their diets.

1. What does the underlined phrase “more gluttonous” in paragraph 1 mean?

A．Greedier.

B．Healthier.

C．Smarter.

D．Lazier.

2. What is the main idea of paragraph 2?

A．People should make a change to their busy lifestyle.

B．Fast food helps people balance their work and life.

C．Why is Fast food becoming popular with teenagers and adults.

D．Nowadays people have more challenges both in work and life.

3. According to Sarah Toule, fast food _____________.

A．can’t provide enough nutrition for eaters.

B．will lead to 11 cancers.

C．can help lose weight.

D．is easy to prepare ahead of time.

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

A．Fast Food –- Full of Calories.

B．Health Should Be Stressed.

C．Think Twice before Crazy about Fast Food.

D．A New Trend among the Young.

【推荐2】Best Ways to Make Money Online

◆Sell Digital Products

Selling digital products means never having to keep physical goods. You can sell such items as WordPress themes, audiobooks, and PowerPoint templates (模板) through a marketplace like ClickBank.

The amount of money you can make will vary greatly from just a few dollars a month to several hundred or even thousand dollars. It depends on the success of your products and how you market them.

◆Run an Etsy Store

Do you enjoy working with arts and crafts? Sell your unique creations through Etsy, an online marketplace for all things handmade. Etsy sellers list such items as pillowcases, dream catchers, canvas prints, custom shower curtains and more. You set your own pricing and Etsy takes a small cut from your sales.

◆Work for Mechanical Turk

If you are just looking for a way to earn a little extra pocket money, Amazon Mechanical Turk could be a great solution. You can work from home, writing video descriptions, translating a paper, or performing online research. The barrier to entry is really low and you can start making money right away.

◆Make Money Through Your Podcasts (播客)

Many people start podcasting as a hobby, but these audio shows can also be a reliable source of income. Similar to blogging and YouTube channels, podcasts can be changed into money through advertisements. One of the greatest challenges will be growing your audience through podcast directories like iTunes. The potential is there if your audience is large enough and you attract the right partnerships.

1. What do you need to make much money by selling digital products?

A．Plenty of patience to sell them.

B．A large warehouse to store goods.

C．Your creativity and marketing skills.

D．Enough time to make digital products.

2. What’s the advantage of Mechanical Turk?

A．Doing tasks that need no skill.

B．Attracting many young people.

C．Working with flexibility.

D．Making money easily.

3. What should you do to earn good money through podcasts?

A．To extend your influence.

B．To create excellent products.

C．To put forward unique ideas.

D．To treat podcasts as a good career.

【推荐3】The United States celebrates Valentine's Day each year on February 14. Many other countries celebrate Valentine's Day, too, each in their own way. Here is a look at the Valentine's Day traditions in three countries.

Wales：land of love spoons

In Wales, it is called St. Dwynwen's Day, which takes place on January 25. The traditional romantic gift on this day is a love spoon.

Beginning in the 17th century, Welsh men made beautiful wooden spoons as a show of their love for that special person in their lives. Each shape of the spoons has a different meaning. For example, horseshoes mean good luck； keys represent the key to a lover's heart； and wheels are a sign of support.

Argentina：a week of sweets

Argentina celebrates Valentine's Day in February, but also gives a whole other week to love in July. They call it Sweetness Week. If you kiss someone, they have to give you a sugary treat.

Sweetness Week started in 1989 with a candy company called Arcor. They made an advertisement called “Candy for a Kiss”. The idea was to give the company's chocolates and other candies in exchange for a sweet kiss on the cheek. The campaign had a stronger effect than the company expected—it led to a new holiday!

Every July, couples who take part give each other candies and kisses all week long.

South Korea: three is a charm

For South Koreans, Valentine's Day happens in three parts： February 14, March 14 and April 14.

On February 14, women traditionally give men gifts of chocolate to show their love. One month later, on a holiday known as White Day, men show their thanks by giving women a sweet gift. The name “White Day” comes from the custom of giving white-colored gifts.

Let's not forget Black Day on April 14. Single people who did not get gifts on February 14 or March 14 often gather on Black Day to eat noodles with black bean soup.

1. What does a key-shaped spoon mean?

A．Strong support.	B．Good luck.
C．Deep love.	D．Real thanks.

2. When is Sweetness Week celebrated?

A．In July .	B．In June.
C．In March.	D．In February .

3. What would be a good gift on White Day?

A．White   chocolates.	B．Silver spoons.
C．Black candies.	D．Black beans.

【推荐1】The Chinese name system has a long history. Today, there are over 700 different Chinese family names, but as few as twenty cover most of the Chinese family names. Most Chinese family names have only one character, but there are a few with two. Chinese family names are written first, something that often causes confusion among those from countries where the family name usually comes last.

Generally speaking, Chinese given names have one or two characters, and are written after the family names. When a baby was born, parents often give him/her a “milk name” or “little name” such as Xiaobao. The given name is then chosen somewhat later, but the parents may continue to use the nickname. Given names of males are linked with strength and firmness while females with beauty and flowers. Females sometimes have names that repeat a character.

Chinese personal names may also reflect periods of history. For example, many Chinese born during the Cultural Revolution have “revolutionary names”, such as “Guoqiang”, “Dongfeng”, or even “Wenge”!

Chinese married women usually keep their maiden names (娘家姓) as their family names, rather than use the names of their husband, and children usually use their fathers’ family name.

With a limited supply of family names, Chinese depend on using given names to introduce variety in naming. Almost any character with any meaning can be used. However, it is not considered appropriate (合适) to name a child after a famous person and highly impolite after an older member among the family or even distant relatives.

1. From the passage, we know that ________.

A．women should change their family names after getting married

B．children’s nicknames are not used when they grow up

C．people usually name their children after some famous people

D．Chinese family names usually have only one character

2. Some Westerners may feel confused when they find ________.

A．Chinese family names are written at the beginning before given names

B．Chinese family names are written at the end of the full names

C．there are so many Chinese people using the same family name

D．there are only 700 Chinese names for people to choose from

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE about Chinese names?

A．Some Chinese family names may have two characters.

B．Only a few characters could be used as given names.

C．Children don’t like their nicknames given by their parents.

D．Children can be named after their grand-parents' names.

【推荐2】Drawing For Fun

You will learn some basic techniques using soft pencils. These different types of paper are provided. Just bring yourself and a willingness to “have a go”. This is a start­up day so people who have already attended courses should not apply.

Time: 1：00 p. m.－3：00 p. m.

Focus On Landscapes

This course is designed for students who are familiar with painting in watercolours, but are having difficulty with some techniques. We will discuss choice of materials, colour mixing and other areas that may be raised.

The day will start with a demonstration, followed by a chance to paint outdoors. After a light lunch cooked in the studio, there will be a further practice session.

Time: 9：30 a. m.－3：00 p. m.

Find Your Voice

You may feel you can't sing or you may be a good singer who wants to develop singing skills. You will be shown how to sing correctly and how to project your voice. You may attend this course more than once and each time you will have a wonderful experience. Everyone can sing and it's great fun.

Time: 2：00 p. m.－5：00 p. m.

The Music Takeaway

Get some friends, family or coworkers together for your own music course in a place of your choice, which could be your front room, basement or workplace. We send two guitar teachers to lead a one­day course for you in the style of music you prefer, such as rock, country, funk or blues.

Time: 2：30 p. m.­9：00 p. m.

1. Those who attend Drawing For Fun are required to ________.

A．bring their own works

B．be a newcomer to the course

C．be good at watercolour painting

D．bring their own pencils and paper

2. What's the purpose of Focus On Landscapes?

A．Paint outdoors.

B．Discuss the painting materials.

C．Improve the students painting techniques.

D．Teach how to start watercolour­painting.

3. Which allows you to decide where the course is held?

A．Find Your Voice.	B．Drawing For Fun.
C．The Music Takeaway.	D．Focus On Landscapes.

4. What do the four courses have in common?

A．All last a whole day.	B．All offer free lunch.
C．All are related to the arts.	D．All are open to all levels.

【推荐3】In China, more and more middle school students are getting shorter sleeping time than before. More students sleep less than nine hours every night, because they have much homework to do. Some homework is given by their teachers, and some by their parents. Also, some students don’t know how to save time. They are not careful enough while they do their homework, so it takes them a lot of time. Some students spend too much time watching TV or playing computer games. They stay up very late. Some students have to get up early every morning on weekdays to get to school on time by bus of by bike . It can be a long way from home to school. It will probably make them sleepy during school hours.
Schools and parents should cut down some of the homework so that our children can enjoy more than nine hours of sleep every night for their health. For children, they should make the most best use of their time. When they have enough time for sleeping .They will find it much better for both their study and health.
1. What make most students sleep less than nine hours every night?

A．Doing housework.	B．Playing computer games.
C．Doing homework.	D．Watching TV.

2. Who else gives children some homework to do except their teachers according to the article?

A．Their parents.	B．Other students.
C．Nobody else.	D．They themselves.

3. How many hours of sleep is good for students’ health?

A．Only 9 hours.	B．Over 9 hours.
C．8 hours.	D．Less than 9 hours.

4. Which is the following is NOT true?

A．Some students are careless that they spent much time on the homework.

B．All the students stay up late for their homework.

C．Schools and parents should take care of children’s health.

D．Children should be given less homework.