【推荐1】Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to the article “Protecting Our Public Spaces” in issue 14, published this spring. In it, the author claims that “all graffiti(涂鸦)is vandalism(破坏), pure and simple, and offers no benefit to our public spaces”. I would like to point out that many people believe that graffiti is an art form that can benefit our public spaces just as much as sculptures, fountains or other more accepted art forms.

People who object to graffiti usually do so more because of where it is, not what it is. They argue, as your author does, that posting graffiti in public places constitutes an illegal act of property damage. But the location of such graffiti should not prevent the images themselves from being considered genuine art.

I would argue that graffiti is the fundamental public art form. Spray paint is a medium unlike any other. Through graffiti, the entire world has become a canvas(画布). No one has to pay admission or travel to a museum to see this kind of art. The artists usually do not receive payment for their efforts. These works of art dotting the urban landscape are available, free of charge, to everyone who passes by.

To be clear, I do not consider random words or names sprayed on stop signs to be art. Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism, pure and simple. However, there is also graffiti that is breathtaking in its complex detail, its realism or its creativity. It takes great talent to create such involved designs with spray paint. Are these creators not artists just because they use a can of spray paint instead of a paintbrush, or because they cover the side of a building rather than a canvas?

To declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and nothing more, is an overly simplistic statement that I find out of place in such a thoughtful publication as your magazine. Furthermore, graffiti is not going anywhere, so we might as well find a way to live with it and enjoy its benefits. One option could be to make a percentage of public space, such as walls or benches in parks, open to graffiti artists. By doing this, the public might feel like part owners of these works of art, rather than just the victims of a crime.

Regards,

John Johnson

1. John Johnson wrote this letter in order to__________.

A．point out the spelling mistakes in an article in the latest issue

B．discuss the importance of protecting public spaces

C．tell the editor why many people dislike graffiti

D．share his different opinions about graffiti art

2. In Paragraph 4, John Johnson states, “Plenty of graffiti is just vandalism, pure and simple.” He most likely makes this statement in order to__________.

A．agree with the author of “Protect Our Public Spaces”

B．show the limits of the importance of art in society

C．clarify the limits of his position

D．introduce the wonderful details of graffiti

3. Which of the following statements indicates the author’s feelings about graffiti art?

A．Graffiti is not as beneficial as sculptures, fountains or other more accepted art forms.

B．People who object to graffiti usually misunderstand its function told by the editor.

C．Random words or names sprayed on stop signs should be regarded as a form of art.

D．It’s rather simplistic to declare that all graffiti is vandalism, and nothing more.

【推荐3】There are apps help people prepare disasters. Some tell users when a disaster has taken place, other disaster apps can be used when people need rescue or other help. Here are some such apps.

SirenGPS Mobile

The free SirenGPS Mobile app connects users to emergency services at the touch of the screen. The app will let emergency workers know where the person in need is. The app works over cell networks, but it also works on Wi-Fi if cell networks are unavailable. Users can create a personal health report on the app to share with emergency services.

Guardly

Guardly is an app that can help keep people safe in places such as companies and universities. This app allows workers and students to report about unsafe conditions, dangerous activities and more. Reports can be sent to an organization as well as government emergency services. The reporter's location can be sent with the report so that emergency services' help can arrive more quickly.

Life360

The Life360 app provides a service to keep loved ones connected. Users can set up a network of people to share their location, chat, and be reminded when they are near someone in their network. People in the same network can use the app on iPhone and Android devices. The app helps users communicate when they are in a disaster.

Red Panic Button

When a person is in a dangerous situation, the Red Panic Button app might help. This app can send a text message or an email to chosen contacts, providing the user’s location. You can also add a voice or video message and/or a photo to your text message or email. This app can also be used to contact emergency services.

1. What can SirenGPS Mobile be used for?

A．Sending video messages.	B．Watching disasters online.
C．Getting emergency services.	D．Training emergency workers.

2. Guardly would most probably be used by someone wanting to__________.

A．find a friend’s location	B．prevent a dangerous activity
C．create a personal health report	D．provide emergency services in person

3. Which app would you use to stay in touch with your friends?

A．Life360.

B．SirenGPS Mobile.

C．Guardly.

D．Red Panic Button.

4. What do the four apps have in common?

A．They all can be helpful in a disaster.	B．They all can tell users' health condition.
C．They are all developed by the same company.	D．They are all used to contact emergency services.

【推荐1】Portugal's Most Beautiful Seaside Destinations

The long coastline of Portugal is extraordinarily diverse. Wind your way along it and you will find true Portugal, its history, its heart and its soul.

Viana do Castelo

In a beautiful setting on the Lima river mouth, the streets of this historic town are lined with noble houses in different styles, built using the wealth with which the 16th-century explorers returned from their ocean travels. The main square, Praca da Republica, with its notable 16th-century Misericordia building, is at the centre of the town's winding streets. The capital of Minho folk culture, there is a booming handicraft industry here.

Aveiro

Described as "the Venice of Portugal" because of its canals and the colourful, gondola-like boats, or moliceiros, which navigate them, the city is also celebrated for the bright contemporary art graffiti that line its main canal. Visit the fish market, filled with all kinds of fish and seafood that feature in local menu.

Nazare

Best visited out of season, for this is a popular——and crowded——summer resort. Nazare has a glorious beach that surrounds a bay backed by high cliffs. Its origins as a fishing village are evident and it maintains old traditions such as the regional dress that the women wear in the fish market.

Azeitao

This town is famed for the manual cheese to which it has given its name. The oldest producer of table wine in Portugal, Jose Maria da Fonseca, also has its storing basements here. Just outside the town is the Quinta da Bacalhoa, a wine producer and the 15th-century architectural treasure, once owned by the royal family.

1. Which of the following can best describe Aveiro?

A．The art centre	B．The water town.
C．The home of graffiti	D．The source of seafood.

2. What time does the author advise tourists to avoid visiting Nazare?

A．Spring	B．Summer.
C．Autumn.	D．Winter.

3. Where do wine-loving tourists probably prefer to go?

A．Aveiro	B．Nazare.
C．Azeitao	D．Viana do Castelo.

【推荐3】Mistletoe (槲寄生) has many mysterious abilities. It is an evergreen herb (草本植物) that grows on branches of other trees. There is a mystery about how mistletoe came into being. It has no roots in the ground, but it lives on its host (寄主). The myth surrounding mistletoe interests mankind, especially researchers.

Mistletoe is found all over the world wherever there are big trees, and it has many species. Long ago it was hung on walls in Australia to drive the evil power. Similar beliefs existed in Sweden and many other European countries. The ancient Druids believed mistletoe had magical and healing (愈合的) power, thus a myth was created around the herb. To treat diseases, in most cases, the leaves of mistletoe are boiled and the water is used as tea. Drinking this tea reduces the effect of cancer, and it helps blood flow. It cures many diseases and serves as a tonic for the entire human body. Users around the world have mythical stories about what mistletoe can do.

Mistletoe has a long history of being the most powerful herb through the ages. In ancient Greek mythology, some gods such as Venus, Apollo, and Odin were known to use mistletoe to achieve wonderful sill. The herb was used as power to attract love, health and protection. Women with children took mistletoe tea as an aid to them, and men used it for good luck in hunting. Besides myths and beliefs, proven uses of this herb include the treatment for cough, bleeding, high blood pressure, and many others.

It is clear from the above that mistletoe has excised as a magic plant given by mysterious nature in many countries and cultures. In the presence of this herb of all-round power, man’s search for treatment for diseases is well on course.

1. How does the plant mistletoe grow?

A．It lives on its host like trees.	B．It mainly grows in the deserts.
C．It grows with its few roots in soil.	D．It has no roots and depends on animals.

2. What did the ancient people believe it could do when hanging mistletoe on walls?

A．Bring them good luck.	B．Prevent them from getting ill.
C．Protect their houses against the evil power.	D．Stop wild animals entering their houses.

3. What does the underlined word “tonic” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Something that is very delicious.	B．Something people like and respect.
C．Something that makes people happy.	D．Something that gives strength or energy.

4. What does the author mainly want to tell us?

A．The ancient Greek mythology.	B．The mysterious abilities of mistletoe.
C．The most mysterious thing in nature.	D．What diseases mistletoe can cure.

【推荐1】Picture yourself at a crowded airport departure gate. Your flight is 20 minutes late. The woman on your left is noisily eating something that smells awful.The man to your right is still braying into his cellphone, and the traveler next to him is preparing to kill time with...wait, is that a toenail clipper?

Unless you are saintly or unconscious, a few things in that description-on many things, or all the things-are likely to really bug you. We know an annoyance when we experience it. But what makes something annoying? And does research of from any advice for prevent life's annoyances from making our heads explode? The answers to those questions are: no. Did even one university create a Department of Annoyance Science...or offer a major in this universal emotion? No. Nothing.

Then what makes something annoying? It must be harmful but not physically. A housefly buzzing around your head is unpleasant but it won't kill you. Also, it must be unpredictable and intermittent. The loud ticking of an a arm clock or the odor of a cat litter box may at first be annoying, but with constant exposure overtime, it ceases to be noticeable. Psychologists' term for this gradual tolerance of a stimulus is habituation.Yet when an unpleasant noise or smell comes and goes, it becomes annoying each time it shows up.

Finally, to be truly annoying, something has to persist for an uncertain period of time.A fight that's delayed an hour is a bother, but tolerable, so long as it really is just an hour. A fight that's delayed and delayed and delayed, with no explanation and no end in sight, is extremely annoying. The intermittent nature of annoyances makes them hard(if not impossible) to anticipate and thus to prepare a defense against.If you know you're going to best stuck in traffic, you might be able to accept it or bring along a distraction. But when the slowdown is unexpected, it gets to you before you can stop yourself.

An interesting thing about annoyances is how they appear to change over time. A decade ago, our research led us to conclude that one of the most annoying things in the world was listening to someone else's loud cell phone conversation. We hypothesized that the reason it was so annoying is that our brains naturally tend to paint a complete picture of reality, but when you only hear half of a conversation, that's not possible. Then, cell phone conversations seemed annoying only to the people not on the phone. Today it's the call recipients that seem to be getting annoyed. I'm not talking about receiving a robocall. I'm talking about the 20-something who recently told me that an unexpected call, even from a close friend; is annoying, The thinking seems to be, Why call when a text will do? Or even, You should have, texted to ask if you could call...

I've thought a lot about what makes people, things, and situations annoying, and what any of us might do to immunize ourselves against becoming annoyed. The answer's actually surprisingly simple: All you have to do is

Editor's Note: The contract for this article set a strict word limit. The writer exceeded the limit; the magazine feels, obliged to enforce it. We regret any annoyance this might cause,dear readers.

1. According to the passage, which of the flowing is NOT really annoying?

A．Noisy eating in crowded pubic places.

B．A buzzing housefly around you head.

C．The constant ticking of an alarm clock.

D．A delayed flight without definite arrival time.

2. According to the author, which of the following statements about annoyance is TRUE?

A．Annoyances can be easily avoided if people are conscious of them.

B．Annoyance may be the most widely experienced and least studied emotion.

C．Annoyances change as phone calls are the last choice for young people.

D．Annoyance happens when people poke their nose into others' affairs.

3. What is the purpose of the Editor's Note?

A．To inform the readers of the strict rules of the magazine.

B．To apologize to the readers for missing the last sentence.

C．To vaguely criticize the author for failing to observe the contract.

D．To humorously echo the theme that annoyances are universal.

4. The article was originally published in National Geographic. In which section do you think it was put?

A．Explore/ The future	B．Explore/ Nature
C．Explore/ The big idea.	D．Explore/ Fashion

【推荐2】When thinking about quitting(停止) smoking…
List all the reasons why you want to quit. Every night before going to bed, repeat one of the reasons 10 times.
Decide positively that you want to quit. Try to avoid negative thoughts about how difficult it might be. Develop strong personal reasons as well as your health and responsibility to others. For example, think of all the time you waste taking cigarette breaks, rushing out to buy a pack, hunting a light, etc. Set a date for quitting --- perhaps a special day like your birthday, a holiday. If you smoke heavily at work, quit during your vacation. Make the date seriously, and don't let anything change it. Begin to condition yourself physically; start a modest (适当的) exercise; drink more water; get plenty of rest.
Immediately after quitting...
The first few days after you quit, spend as much free time as possible in places where smoking is prohibited, e.g. libraries, museums, theatres, department stores, etc.
Drink large quantities of water and fruit juice. Try to avoid wine, coffee, and other drinks which remind you of cigarette smoking.
Start a conversation with someone instead of a match for a cigarette.
If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your hand, play with something else - a pencil, a pen, a ruler. If you miss having something in your mouth, try a fake (仿制的) cigarette.
1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?

A．Whenever you feel like a cigarette, try to forget it by sleeping.

B．Try to start a conversation before asking for a light.

C．If you miss the feeling of having a cigarette in your mouth, play with a pen.

D．Every night before going to bed, repeat all the reasons 10 times.

2. From the passage, we know smokers __________.

A．should drink a lot of coffee	B．have to stop to smoke from time to time
C．should drink a lot of wine	D．should not do any exercise

3. According to the passage, what does the underlined word “prohibited” mean?

A．forbidden

B．allowed

C．received

D．welcomed

4. If the passage is in a newspaper, which section is it in?

A．Sports

B．News

C．Health

D．Culture

【推荐3】Brother James Kimpton, an Englishman, has been planting trees for a lifetime and doesn't plan on stopping now. The founder of Reaching the Unreached(RTU)has been serving among the poorest and most disadvantaged communities of India for the last 50 years.

It's difficult to describe Brother Kimpton's work. He digs wells, builds homes, runs schools, dresses wounds, helps the disabled, feeds the hungry, trains the unskilled, and shelters the abandoned(被遗弃者). At 27, he was sent on foreign duty to Sri Lanka. For 12 years, he taught in the slums(贫民窟). In 1964 when the government ordered all foreigners to leave the country, he caught a ship to India and travelled to the city of Madurai. "The minute I got there I knew I'd come home."

Brother Kimpton founded an orphanage(孤儿院)in Madurai, a huge organization modeled after Nebraska's Boys Town. But this was only a beginning. The suffering and helplessness he saw in India led him to start RTU. What began as a single, modest medical clinic has today developed into a network of highly valuable programs aimed at long and meaningful rural development.

There're many wonders at RTU. As an architect, artist, educator, economist, medical worker, James did a lot over 2,000 wells have been dug in this area bringing clean, sate water to the villages; over 6,000 homes have been built and given away to the very poor daycare centers have been set up that now feed and treat close to 2,000 poor children every day; over 2,000 receive free education in the schools he builds and runs…

In his last will. Brother Kimpton has requested to be buried at Anbu llama. Speaking to the audience who gathered to celebrate his 50th years of service in Asia, he said. "I'm an Indian by choice."

He's smiling. but there's something moving in his words.

1. Which of the following is TRUE about James Kimpton?

A．He went to Madurai on a business trip.	B．He founded an orphanage in Sri Lanka.
C．He does many kinds of jobs to make a living.	D．He has devoted most of his life to helping others.

2. What did James Kimpton mean by saying "I knew I'd come home."?

A．He was warmly welcomed there.	B．He fell in love with it.
C．He was familiar with it.	D．He was born there.

3. From the text, we can learn that RTU __________.

A．began as a medical school	B．was modeled after Nebraska's Boys Town
C．focus on the development of rural areas in India	D．aims at helping the poor around the world

4. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．RTU's achievements	B．James Kimpton's plan
C．RTU's development	D．James Kimpton's success