【推荐1】Last winter, when I was heavily pregnant, I was visiting my sister and sister-in-law's house and had to park in a nearby parking lot because they didn't have accessible parking. The snow was extremely heavy and there was lots of ice on the ground — not many people had ventured out that evening! When I returned to my car around 11 pm, I noticed that I was the only car left. Nervously, I jumped into the car and let it warm up a bit. When I finally tried to drive away, my wheels began to spin. I was stuck! I spun and spun and wondered what to do.

All of the sudden, in my rear view mirror, I saw four teenaged boys approaching my car. They were walking side-by-side in a line and dressed a bit like gang members — at least I thought that’s what they looked like. My car was in a very isolated area and I began to panic. I was certain they were coming to my car to harm me. Terrified, I just froze. One of the young men tapped on my window and said ''Excuse me, Ma’am, can we help you? You seem stuck.'' Still afraid and fearing the worst, I said ''I am stuck.'' And the young man said ''It's okay, stay in your car and we'll push you out of the snow.'' And they did!

When they finally got me out of the snow, they smiled and waved. I rolled down my window and thanked them, embarrassed to have judged them so poorly.

1. Which of the following words can best describe the four young men?

A．Impolite.	B．Warm-hearted.
C．Unfriendly.	D．Ill-mannered.

2. Why did the author just freeze when the four kids walking toward her car? Because she _________.

A．was cold indeed in that freezing evening

B．sat in her car for too long a time

C．was afraid of being harmed

D．knew they would rob her of the car

3. Which of the following is true according to the text?

A．One of the four teenagers was a gang member.

B．The kids wanted to help the author out of trouble.

C．The author would have a baby in her car.

D．The young men enjoyed pushing cars out of the snow.

【推荐3】Last week I was riding my special motorbike and then stopped at a convenience store. As I was getting my wheelchair off the back, a man watched me from his car and I noticed a wheelchair in his back seat. We spoke for a moment and I asked him about the wheelchair. He answered that it was for his daughter. “Well, do you think she would like to go for a ride on my motorbike with me?” I asked. He seemed shocked that a total stranger would ask him this. He thought about it for a second and said, “OK, as long as I can follow you.”

He introduced me to Amy and he sat her on my back seat. Her father followed me for a few miles and she talked non-stop about what she wanted for Christmas.

As we came back to the convenience store, she said, “This ride is the best Christmas present I could ever receive. I have been in a wheelchair my whole life and didn’t know I could do this.” I told her about some of the other things I do (ski, travel the world by myself, etc.). As her father was taking her off my bike, she turned to him and said, “Oh Daddy, I’m going to be OK. Mr. Bryant does all kinds of things, and I will too.” Her father turned away as a tear of joy rolled down his cheek. He hugged me and said, “I was sitting here praying for a gift for Amy that would encourage her. She often felt that her life was dull compared to other children. God answered my prayer just now. Now I pray that God will bless you for your gift to Amy today.” I believed what he said. Being kind and thoughtful to others, we can be an answer to prayer.

1. When the daughter was invited to ride by the author, her father ________.

A．was touched as the author wanted to give her a help

B．felt curious as the author behaved in a strange way

C．was happy as his daughter could be excited by the author

D．felt astonished as he was unfamiliar with the author

2. What can we know about the author?

A．He lived a colorful life in fact.	B．He worked in a convenience store.
C．He used to give a hand to people in need.	D．He was disabled at an early age.

3. According to the passage, the girl ________.

A．was not good at driving a motorbike	B．usually felt down for her suffering
C．didn’t believe in God any longer	D．used to be a extremely healthy person

4. What do you think is the best title of this passage?

A．A useful wheelchair.	B．A funny ride.
C．A warm hug.	D．A special gift.

【推荐2】A poor traveller stopped under the tree to eat the boiled rice and vegetalbes which he had brought with him. A few metres away, there was a small shop by the side of the road where a woman was frying fish and selling it to travellers. The woman watched the poor traveller carefully, and when he finished his food and began to go, she shouted rudely, “You haven’t paid me for the fried fish!”

“But I have not had any fried fish !” he said.

“But everyone can see that you enjoyed the smell of my fried fish with your rice and vegetables,” said the woman, “If you had not smelled the fish, your meal would not have been so pleasant!”

Soon a crowd collected, and although they supported the poor traveller, they had to admit that wind was blowing from the shop to the place where he had eaten, and that it had carried the smell of the fried fish to him.

Finally, the woman took the poor traveller to a judge, who said: “The woman says that the traveller ate his meal with the smell of her fried fish. The traveller agrees that the wind was blowing from the woman’s shop to the place where he ate his rice and vegetables and that it carried the smell of her fried fish to his nose while he was eating, so he must pay for it . What does your fried fish cost?” he asked the woman.

“Twenty-five cents a plate,” she answered, delighted.

“Then go outside together,” said the judge. “There the traveler must hold up a twenty-five-cent piece so that its shadow(影子) falls on the woman’s hand. The price of the smell of a plate of fried fish is the shadow of twenty-five cents.”

1. Why did the traveler refuse to pay the woman for the fried fish? Because __________.

A．he was poor	B．he was rude
C．he was supported by a crowd.	D．he hadn’t eaten her fried fish at all

2. When the judge asked the woman a question, she felt ___________.

A．excited	B．anxious
C．glad	D．angry

3. Which of the following statements is true?

A．The traveller bought the boiled rice and vegetables and ate them by the side of the road.

B．The judge had no idea what the woman meant.

C．In the fifth paragraph, the first “it” has the same meaning as the second “it”.

D．The woman got nothing but the shadow of twenty-five cents in the end.

【推荐1】These are the 20 Nicest Places in America, from tiny Hayesville, North Carolina, to the city of Providence, Rhode Island. You really can find kindness all over the U.S.

Yassin’s Falafel House in Knoxville, Tennessee

Yassin Terou, a refugee who came to Knoxville in 2011, is a local celebrity. His falafel house won the Nicest Places in America contest in 2018 because it serves as a welcoming and safe place for people of every color, culture, and religion. Even though not everyone accepts him for who he is, Yassin likes to give everyone a chance because he was given a chance to fulfill the American dream. Read more about Yassin’s Falafel House and why it’s the Nicest Place in America in 2018.

Katy, Texas

In 2017, Katy, Texas was hit hard by Hurricane Harvey. About 700 homes and 80 businesses were destroyed or damaged in the small town. Without hesitation, local residents and businesses immediately pitched in to help their neighbors recover. Read more about this resilient Texas town.

Kalamazoo, Michigan

Student loan debt is an ever-present issue for students looking to further their education, but in Kalamazoo, it’s not an issue. An organization funded by anonymous donors called The Kalamazoo Promise pays for any student that attend Kalamazoo public schools to go to college. Read more about this town’s amazing promise that is keeping hope alive.

Enoch Pratt Library in Baltimore, Maryland

Enoch Pratt isn’t your typical library; it’s more of a community services center. In a city with a high crime rate, it offers help to people that got in trouble with the law. Volunteers, including local lawyers, serve hundreds of people every week. This library is writing a new chapter for Baltimore. Read more about this inspiring library.

1. Who will most probably come to Yassin’s Falafel House for help?

A．Celebrities.

B．Criminals.

C．Political sufferer.

D．Local residents.

2. Students in Kalamazoo don’t need to worry about their _____.

A．School performance

B．Tuition fees

C．Course arrangement

D．Future career

3. What gives Baltimore a new look?

A．High crime rate.

B．Voluntary work.

C．Enoch Pratt.

D．Social welfare system.

【推荐2】Brain disease research could be sped up using a smartphone-controlled “plug-and-play” neural implant (神经植入管) invented by scientists from the USA and South Korea.

The researchers, who come primarily from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and the University of Washington, designed the soft device to deliver drugs or coloured lights directly to targeted neurons (神经元), with the goal of accelerating discovery about addiction, depression and pain. The LEDs involved are smaller than a grain of salt, and the drugs are delivered by tiny channels with the thickness of a human hair.

For researchers, the main advantage of the new wireless implant is ease of use. The inventors describe its replaceable drug tube as “lego-like” and “plug-and-lay”, while set-up happens over an “elegant, simple” smartphone interface (界面).

For the subjects, in current testing — the small, soft device won’t impede movement and is safer to use over time.

Current devices used in this field are rigid, so they cause damages in soft brain tissue over time. With the new devices, scientists can now monitor one area of the brain over much longer periods, and with the test subjects moving freely.

“It allows us to better analyze the neural basis of behavior in various ways,” said Michael Bruchas, a professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine who heads the Bruchas Lab. “We are also eager to use the device to help us develop new treatments for pain, addiction and emotional disorders.”

The researchers, who published their findings in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering, created the implant for laboratory use with animals but would like to develop the technology for clinical applications in the future, meaning one day a similar device could be tested on humans.

Their invention comes after three years of cooperation between the Jeong group at KAIST in Daejeon and the Bruchas Lab in Seattle. The former specializes in soft electronics for wearable and implantable devices, while the latter is a research laboratory focusing on stress, depression, addiction, pain and other diseases.

1. How does the device work?

A．It locates a certain position in neurons.	B．It directly cures the damaged neurons.
C．It delivers drugs through a human hair.	D．It directly controls coloured lights.

2. Which is closest in meaning to the underlined word “impede” in Paragragh 4?

A．Destroy.	B．Increase.
C．Improve.	D．Prevent.

3. What can we learn about the device?

A．It helps to observe the whole brain work.

B．It has been tested on humans to deal with diseases.

C．It helps to find new ways to cure some diseases.

D．It has been invented by the Bruchas Lab.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Brain Neural Implant by Smartphone

B．A New Smartphone That Controls Brain

C．The Development in Exploring Brains

D．A New Cure for the Brain Diseases

【推荐3】Being physically fit at age 18 is linked to a higher IQ, a new study finds. The researchers also show that fitness predicts greater educational and professional achievements later in life. Earlier studies have found links between physical fitness and intelligence(智力)in animals, children and older adults. But the relationship in young adults hasn’t been clear.

In the new study, researchers used data(数据)to examine over 1.2 million young men born in Sweden between 1950 and 1976. All the men had their physical fitness and intelligence assessed(评估) at age 18. The researchers compared this information to details of later achievements in academic(学术), social and economic aspects from other national databases and made some findings.

Fitness in the 18-year-olds was strongly linked to scores on intelligence tests. “Being fit means that you have good heart and lung capacity and that your brain gets plenty of oxygen, ’’ says Dr. Michael Nilsson of the University of Gothenburg. “This may be one of the reasons why we can see a clear link with fitness.” The researchers also found that fit teens were more likely to get a university degree later in life. Fitness at age 18 was also linked to landing better jobs, with Higher pay or management responsibilities.

The findings point to the importance of encouraging physical fitness in teens. “If so, physical education is a subject that has an important place in schools,” says Dr. Maria Aberg of the University of Gothernburg.

1. What is the new study about?

A．The relationship among young adults.

B．IQ differences between children and adults.

C．Educational and professional achievements.

D．Teenagers’s physical health and intelligence.

2. How did the researchers make the findings?

A．By comparing data.	B．By using earlier studies.
C．By giving intelligence tests.	D．By interviewing young men.

3. What do the findings of the research suggest?

A．Similar researches should be made.

B．Jobs with higher pay are hard to get.

C．It’s time to improve teenagers’ intelligence.

D．Physical education should be stressed in schools.

【推荐1】“One reason I can do stand-up comedy is because of all the material I have from being a male nurse，”says Adrian Matei. False stereotypes（刻板观念）about nursing make for good jokes. But they may also put men off the job.

At a conference in May of the royal college of Nursing（RCN），David Ferran，a nurse in Belfast，proposed a campaign to promote nursing to men. His proposal did not pass as the view was that nursing should be intended for anyone with the right skills，whatever the gender（性别）.

Undeterred，Mr. Ferran started a group，Northern lreland Men in Nursing，which visits schools to promote nursing as a career for men. Similar groups are being set up elsewhere. Several universities have launched social-media campaigns to draw men into nursing programmes.

With a growing decline of nurses across the National Health Service（NHS），attracting men is becoming more urgent. In 2017，for the first time in a decade，more nurses left the profession than joined. Applications to nursing programmes are down by a third since 2016. And the shadow of Brexit makes it tougher for the NHS to fill its 40，000-odd nurse vacancies from abroad. Doubts about whether they will be able to stay discourage nurses from EU countries.

Last month the NHS launched its biggest-ever nurse recruitment（招募）campaign. TV advertisements show them in action in hospital wards and ambulances，and on home visits. Some are male-an improvement from previous campaigns，but not enough to draw men in. Paul Vaughan from NHS England，who leads a proposal to change concepts of nursing，thinks recruitment should avoid playing to gender stereotypes. He takes a negative view of slogans like "Are you man enough to be a nurse?" used in the campaign.

Views of nursing as a "woman's job" have deep roots. Florence Nightingale, who established the principles of modern nursing in the 1860s, insisted that men's rough hands were not fitted to touch, bathe and dress wounded limbs. The RCN did not even admit men as members until 1960. Outdated titles such as "sister" and "matron" (used for men as well) do not help. Mr. Ferran says some patients are surprised when he shows up, because they thought only women could be nurses.

Boys do not see nursing as a career because they lack role models. In films, female nurses are cast as helpers of heroic male doctors. "When I do ward rounds with my nurse mentor and she asks questions, patients often turn to me to respond" says Richard Dowell, a third-year nursing student. On the other hand, those men who go into nursing usually follow in the footsteps of a parent or realize that it could be a career after seeing a male nurse care for a relative.

Mr. Vaughan's team at the NHS is trying to promote the image of nursing by stressing that it is a professional job in which careers can be made, that it includes special skills such as cardiology or intensive care, and that it has a use for skills in technology and leadership. Most young people also do not realize that the job can take them round the world. For men, there is another bonus. According to his study of more than 20,000 advanced nurse practitioners, men reach the seventh band(a mid-career level) four years sooner than women partly because women are twice as likely as men to work part-time and are more likely to accept a lower band to secure a job they really want. As Mr. Dowell remembers, when he started his nursing studies, he was promised:" You'll go further because you are a man. "

1. The underlined sentence in Paragraph l indicates that________.

A．male nurses tend to be humorous

B．male nurses tend to be laughed at

C．male nurses enjoy making good jokes

D．male nurses provide material for stand-ups

2. The word "undeterred" in Paragraph 3 probably means_________.

A．determined	B．discouraged
C．cautious	D．open- minded

3. What do we know about the NHS nurse recruitment campaign last month?

A．It reveals some details about a nurse's daily work.

B．It strongly recommends men to take up nursing.

C．It takes an effective policy of involving male nurses.

D．It changes the gender stereotypes in the designing.

4. By Paragraph 5 and 6, the writer aims to tell us ______

A．the drawbacks of modern nursing principles

B．the consequence of lacking role models

C．the development of recruiting male nurses

D．the challenges of recruiting male nurses

5. According to the last paragraph, the special benefit of being a male nurse is___________.

A．building great careers	B．involving special skills
C．taking global trips	D．getting easier promotion

6. What is the main idea of this passage?

A．Having male nurses has many advantages.

B．Filling nurse vacancies has become urgent now.

C．Nursing should be viewed as a man's job.

D．Nursing shouldn't be a job limited to women.

【推荐2】Thanks to technology, ride-hailing(打车) is as easy as opening an app on your phone. According to Didi, China’s top ride-hailing app, 81.3 percent of passengers preferred using an online service last year. But just like many other modern high-tech developments, convenience comes with concerns.

Didi Chuxing announced a trial re-launch of its carpool(拼车) service, Didi Hitch(滴滴顺风车), in seven cities including Harbin, Taiyuan and Beijing from Nov 20. More than a year ago, Didi suspended the service following the murders of two separate female passengers in May and August, respectively.

The re-launch comes with a range of new safety features. One of the new measures proved controversial. It carried out an 8 pm curfew(宵禁) on women, but allowed men to enjoy the service till 11 pm.

Many users complained on social media that the policy was sexist. According to CNN, the topic “#Women Can’tTakeDidiAfter8PM#” was trending on weibo, with one post calling it “negative marketing and gender- biased(性别歧视的)”. It had gained more than70,000 likes as of Nov 11.

After the strong public reaction, Didi Chuxing changed its decision. Both men and women will be able to use Didi Hitch between 5 am and 8 pm.

According to CNN, Didi Hitch had logged more than a billion total rides before its suspension, but it remains to be seen if the company can win back users’ trust.

Didi is not the only ride-sharing app to arouse public safety concerns, nor is it the only one to attempt special protections for women. The globally popular car-hailing services Uber and Lyft now require strict background checks and emergency SMS services that will automatically send a car’s description, license number, and current location to police, CBS news reported.

According to CNBC, one Boston-based ride-hailing service only hires women to drive and will only accept women or children under 13 as passengers. Despite all the safety features, riders should check their drivers’ number plates, ensure they are being taken on the correct route, and inform friends of travel plans.

1. What are the first six paragraphs mainly about?

A．Safety tips for using Didi Hitch.	B．Public safety concerns over Didi Hitch.
C．The advantages of Didi Hitch’s new services.	D．The recent developments of Didi Hitch.

2. The underlined word “suspended” in Paragraph 2 probably means ________.

A．improved on something	B．worried about something
C．stopped something for a time	D．took the responsibility for something

3. Why did Didi Chuxing change its Hitch curfews?

A．Because of its recent online risk analysis.

B．Because of the public’s negative reaction.

C．For the convenience of different users.

D．For the sake of safety problems of women.

4. The passage is probably taken from________.

A．an advertisement	B．a textbook
C．a newspaper	D．a public speech

【推荐3】When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming many things. Sometimes, I wished I was an astronaut going up into space, finding new planets and jumping around in a cool space suit. Other times, I imagined being a cowboy in the Wild West, wearing stylish cowboy boots. On other occasions, I pretended to be a famous footballer, using my skills to score lots of goals for my team.

Looking back, I realize that imagination is a wonderful thing. I was able to create entire environments and scenarios in my head, using nothing more than my brain, and to be able to adapt things in my everyday surroundings to fit the specific story of the day. Growing up with siblings (兄弟姐妹) also helped, as it meant that even bigger stories could be created, combining our ideas and putting our thoughts into action. It also allowed for more varieties in the stories, as sometimes I could be the hero while on other occasions, I would be the bad guy.

One of my all-time favorite memories as a kid was playing in my back garden. I played the role of Indiana Jones, which cleaned up at the cinema at that time, with my younger sister as my assistant and my brother as a bad person. We used everything in our garden, from the path to the fence, as part of the storyline to create obstacles that needed to be overcome, and we would keep the story going for hours!

My personal favorite game was Indiana Jones and the Stolen Easter Eggs, where my brother hid small chocolate eggs around the garden and my sister and I had to find them by answering questions or solving a puzzle. It was difficult, but eventually we found all the eggs and shared them together.

Since then, I have seen many great things and met many amazing people. The elements of fun and varieties of my creative imaginations are what I try to bring into every part of my positive life. So I can enjoy sharing with and hearing about other people’s stories, too.

1. What do we know about the author from his childhood?

A．He enjoyed living a life full of freedom.

B．He was longing to experience adventurous things.

C．He was always imagining a bright life for his future.

D．He had a clear picture of what he would do after growing up.

2. Which of the following can best replace the underlined word “scenarios” in Paragraph 2?

A．experiences	B．situations
C．positions	D．excuses

3. From the passage, we know that Indiana Jones was       .

A．an astronaut	B．a famous footballer
C．a hot film	D．a very popular book

4. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．My Creative Imagination.	B．My Childhood.
C．My Positive Life Today.	D．My Pride in Myself.