【推荐2】Life can be so wonderful, full of adventure and joy. It can also be full of challenges, setbacks and heartbreaks. Whatever our circumstances, we generally still have dreams, hopes and desires —that little something more we want for ourselves and our loved ones. Yet knowing we can have more can also create a problem, because when we go to change the way we do things, up come the old patterns and pitfalls that stopped us from seeking what we wanted in the first place.

This tension between what we feel we can have and "what were seemingly able to have is the niggling suffering, the anxiety we feel. This is where we usually think it's easier to just give up. But we're never meant to let go of the part of us that knows we can have more. The intelligence behind that knowing is us—the real us. It's the part that believes in life and its possibilities. If you drop that, you begin to feel a little "dead" inside because you're dropping "you".

So, if we have this capability but somehow life seems to keep us stuck, how do we break these patterns?

Decide on a new course and make one decision at a time. This is good advice for a new adventure or just getting through today's challenges.

While, deep down, we know we can do it, our mind—or the minds of those close to us—usually says we can't.

That isn't a reason to stop, it's just the mind, that little man or woman on your shoulder, trying to talk you out of something again. It has done it many times before. It's all about starting simple and doing it now.

Decide and act before over-thinking. When you do this you may feel a little, or large, release from the jail of your mind and you'll be on your way.

1. According to the passage, life is always             .

A．full of joy	B．full of challenges
C．so wonderful	D．changing

2. It can be inferred from the first two paragraphs that we should ___________ .

A．slow down and live a simple life

B．be careful when we choose to change

C．stick to our dreams under any circumstances

D．be content with what we already have

3. What is the key to breaking the old patterns?

A．To focus on every detail.

B．To decide and take immediate action.

C．To listen to those close to us.

D．To think twice before we act.

4. Which of the following best explains the underlined part in the last paragraph?

A．Escape from your punishment.

B．Realization of your dreams.

C．Freedom from your tension.

D．Reduction of your expectations.

5. What does the author intend to tell us?

A．It's easier than we think to get what we want.

B．It's important to learn to accept sufferings in life.

C．It's impractical to change our way of thinking.

D．It's harder than we expect to follow a new course.

【推荐1】I had grown up in a football-loving family; my dad had played until injury forced him out.

My older sister Stevie trained with Crewe Alexandra Girls for a year or two as a left back just like our hero Jamie Carragher.

I remember the exact moment I told my dad I was interested in doing what my big sister did. I was watching the game with him in the living room as a pre-teen and it just came out, “It makes me sad that I can’t be a footballer.” He asked why not, and I answered, “Because I’m not a boy.”

He immediately responded by telling me that women’s football was “great” and that I could play if I wanted to. “Yeah, I suppose,” I responded, “but no one watches women’s football.” Looking back I can see exactly why I felt like that.

At school, there was an unwritten rule that sports like hockey and netball were “girl” sports and rugby and football were for the boys. I’d never seen a women’s football match on TV; the only female athletes I’d heard of were in the Olympics.

Today, the Lionesses will take on Scotland in the World Cup. But although women’s football has turned out to be one of the FIFA’s best investments, the majority of female players in top tiers are earning under what anyone would consider a fair wage.

On Twitter you’ll find that the most popular defence of those figures is that there’s less money in the female side of the game because viewing statistics are lower than those from the male footballers, but the truth is that investment is needed for female football to become more visible and become an equally respected game.

Today, I’ll be cheering on the Lionesses, and its coming home will mean more this time around, because it’ll mean talented, skilful female footballers being broadcast into millions of homes and maybe, just maybe, a little girl believing that she can also be a lioness one day.

1. What do we know about Jamie Carragher?

A．He is the author’s teacher.

B．He is a friend of the author’s sister’s.

C．He’s on the Crewe Alexandra Girls.

D．He is an excellent footballer.

2. Which of the following best describes the author’s father?

A．Strict.	B．Encouraging.
C．Creative.	D．Critical.

3. What does the author think of the unwritten rule at school?

A．Disappointing.	B．Flexible.
C．Fair.	D．Appealing.

4. What should people mainly do if they want to make female football better known?

A．Hold more matches.

B．Increase investment.

C．Employ more skillful female footballers.

D．Broadcast women’s football matches.

【推荐1】When I was a boy there were no smart phones, and our television only got one channel clearly. Still, I was never bored. The fields, hills, and woodlands around my home were the perfect playground. I can remember once hiking to a nearby lake. At the backside of it I was amazed to find an old dirt road that I had never seen before. It was full of muddy tracks and deep woods bordered it on both sides, but exploring it still seemed like a fine adventure.

I walked on and on for hours. I was sure my guardian angel was whispering in my ear “Turn around and head back home”, but I was stubborn, so I walked on. There was still neither a car nor a house in sight. I noticed that the sun was starting to go down and I grew scared. I didn’t want to end up trapped on this road,   and I was worried that it would be dark before I could make my way back to the lake again.

I continued to walk on with something growing inside of me. My heart was pounding and my legs were aching. I was almost in tears when I turned one last curve and saw something in the distance.   It was a house that I recognized. I jumped up and down and laughed out loud.   It was still over a mile away,   but my legs felt like feathers and I hurried back to my house in no time. I walked in with a big smile on my face just in time for dinner.

I remembered this recently when I saw a sign that said “All roads lead home”. It is true. In life,   all roads,   no matter how they twist and turn,   can lead us home again. What is important,   though,   is how we travel them.   Are we going to go forth in fear or are we going to go forth in faith? Are we going to make this life a terrible trip or are we going to make this life a joyful journey? The choice is ours.

1. Why did the author hardly feel bored when he was young?

A．Because he could have fun in nature.

B．Because he could watch TV all day.

C．Because he had many friends.

D．Because he used to explore the old dirt road.

2. How did the author feel when he was exploring the dirt road?

A．He thought he would be scolded by his parents.

B．He felt contradictory in mind.

C．He thought he would be trapped in the woods.

D．He was unconscious.

3. What does the underlined word “something”(Para. 3) refer to?

A．The dirt road.	B．His house.
C．The lake.	D．A passing car.

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

A．Always make choices on our own.

B．All roads lead home.

C．It’s our attitude that matters in our life.

D．Every effort is worthwhile.

【推荐2】One summer during high school, my mom volunteered me to help Grandpa research our family tree. Great, I thought, imagining hours spent pawing through dusty, rotting boxes and listening to boring stories about people I didn't know. "You'll be surprised," my mom promised, "Family histories can be very interesting."

In truth, Grandpa didn't want to limit my work to just research, hoping to also preserve our family memories. He'd discovered a computer program that helps digitally scan old pictures and letters to preserve their contents before they crumble from old age. Grandpa wanted me to help him connect the scanner and set up the computer program. He could type documents and send emails, but had never used a scanner.

Soon after, I became fascinated with my relatives' lives. I asked Grandpa to tell the story behind every picture and letter we scanned. The stories, which turned out not to be boring at all, helped me not only understand but also relate to my relatives. I became so hungry for more information that Grandpa needed additional props to keep me satisfied. He showed me a chest filled with random stuff, all covered in dust.

Perusing through their belongings, I felt I was opening a window into the world of my relatives, a world long since gone. Grandpa showed me a bundle of letters he had sent to Grandma from the front lines of World War II and I could almost smell the gunpowder. I turned the pages of my great-grandmother's recipe book and could picture her cooking in her kitchen. All of the people who had been merely names to me now had faces to match.

Later, Grandpa admitted, "I probably could have done this project myself. I just wanted someone to share it with." I can't thank him enough for sharing the experience and making me appreciate the family members who have made me the person I am. I will cherish family memories and hope that someday will be able to pass them down to my own grandchildren.

1. Which of the following can best describe the author's first impression of research?

A．Delightful.	B．Tiresome.
C．Surprising.	D．Interesting

2. What does the underlined word "crumble" in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Come to life.	B．Tear apart.
C．Fall to pieces.	D．Break through.

3. Why did Grandpa give the author a chest?

A．To show him a bundle of letters.	B．To keep him away from boredom.
C．To give him something to sort out.	D．To fulfill his desire to know more.

4. What can we learn about Grandpa from the passage?

A．He used to serve in the army.	B．He knew nothing about computer.
C．He buried the letters under gunpowder.	D．He loved sharing what he had with others.

5. The best title of the passage is _______.

A．Precious family memories	B．My grandpa and his belongings
C．My grandpa and his family tree	D．Helping my grandpa in summer

【推荐3】You have probably heard of the Mozart effect. It's the idea that if children or even babies listen to music composed by Mozart, they will become more intelligent. A quick Internet search reveals(透露)plenty of products to help you in the task, Whatever your age is there are CDs and books to help you taste the power of Mozart's music,but when it comes to the scientific evidence that it can make you cleverer, the picture is more mixed.

The phrase "the Mozart effect"was made up in1991, but it was a study released two years later in the journal Nature that sparked(激起) real media and public interest in the idea that listening to classical music somehow improves the brain. It is one of those ideas that sound reasonable. Mozart was undoubtedly genius himself; his music is complex and there is a hope that if we listen Lo enough of it, we'll become more intelligent.

The idea took off, with thousands of parents playing Mozart for their children, and in 1998 Zell Miller, the Governor of the state of Georgia in the US,even asked for money to be set aside in the state budget so that every newborn baby could be sent a CD of classical music. It was not just babies and children who were exposed to Mozart s music on purpose. And even an Italian farmer proudly explained that the cows listened to Mozart three times a day to help them to produce better milk.

I'll leave the debate on the impact on the milk yield to farmers but what about the evidence that listening to Mozart makes people more intelligent? More research was carried out but an analysis of sixteen different studies confirmed that listening to Mozart's music does lead to a temporary improvement in the ability to handle shapes mentally but the benefit is short-lived and it doesn't make us more intelligent.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?

A．Mozart composed many musical pieces for children

B．Children listening to Mozart will be more intelligent

C．There is little scientific evidence to support the Mozart effect

D．There are few products on the Internet about Mozart’ s music

2. Why did many people believe in the idea of the Mozart effect?

A．Because a study described it in the journal Nature.

B．Because Mozart himself was a genius

C．Because: Mozart's music: is enjoyable

D．Because Mozart's music makes people relaxed

3. The underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 suggests that             .

A．the idea was accepted by many people

B．people were strongly against the ilea

C．the US government helped promote the idea

D．Mozart played an important part in people's life

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

A．To be or not to be?

B．What is the Mozart effect?

C．What music is beneficial?

D．Listening to Mozart is necessary?

【推荐2】They say music is universal, and it seems to be true since wherever we go, we see people listening, playing or dancing to it. We tend to think that music is larger than our cultural differences and shows the deeper connections between us.

But according to a recent study published in the journal Current Biology, music doesn’t speak to everyone. There is a condition, the researchers argue, called “musical anhedonia”. They say that those who have this condition lack the ability to experience pleasure from music.

For the study, 30 people listened to the same, mostly classical music pieces. They were then asked to complete a questionnaire on how they felt about the music. At the same time, the researchers measured their heart rate and skin reaction, which are considered physiological measures of emotion.

According to the researchers, most of the people in the study got pleasure from the music. They had a quicker heartbeat and sweated more. However, a small number had very little and even no pleasant feeling while they listened. These people had none or very few of the physical signs the others in the study experienced.

The researchers say that this means people have different abilities to enjoy music and that “there are people who specifically can’t enjoy music at all”, study author Josep Marco-Pallres of the University of Barcelona in Spain told Live Science.

To study the condition further, another group of scientists, at Columbia University, US, researched brain activities. They found that the key is the blood flow to the reward system in the brain.

“People who got less pleasure from music had lower blood flow to areas involved in the reward system of the brain when listening to music,” reported the Daily Mail.

The lower blood flow makes it more likely that the brain’s “reward system” will not be active. Thus, it will produce less of the “pleasure chemical” dopamine. As a result, people get less pleasure from music.

If the research is correct, according to National Public Radio, there are simply people who just don’t get music. They may get pleasure from many things, but a good song isn’t one of them.

1. What do we know about people with musical anhedonia?

A．They usually avoid listening to music.

B．They like to listen to certain types of music.

C．They believe cultural differences are larger than music.

D．They can’t feel the pleasure that music brings to others.

2. What was the purpose of the study?

A．To learn how music influences people’s emotions.

B．To understand the relationship between music and the body.

C．To learn what music people love the most.

D．To see whether music works in the same way for all people.

3. What happened to the participants when they listened to music?

A．Those who enjoyed music had more dopamine produced.

B．Those who enjoyed music had slower blood flow.

C．All of them had faster heartbeat and sweated more.

D．They showed different physical signs as the music changed.

4. Which is the best title of this passage?

A．How people get pleasure from music?

B．Why music isn’t for everyone?

C．What brain produces with music?

D．A new research of listening.

【推荐3】If someone is crying in an attempt to fake sorrow, we say they are shedding “crocodile tears”. But how and why did we start relating insincere displays of feelings to crocodiles?

The origin may have become popular around the 14th century when a bestseller, The Voyage and Travel of Sir John Mandeville, referenced a kind of snake who drops tears while eating their human victims.

In the centuries since, crying crocodiles have been related to fake sorrow. The expression has been used as a story to teach sincere regret, by Shakespeare and, more recently, by media mocking tearful politicians or murder suspects.

In 2007, University of Florida zoologist Kent Vliet actually proved that the animals do drop tears while snacking. But because crocodiles eat while in the water—making a study of their meal-time tears difficult—he studied their close relatives, alligators, who might dine on dry land. Out of the seven he filmed eating at a Florida alligator park, five teared up before, during, and after eating.

Vliet’s theory is that when the animals enthusiastically hit their jaws, the movement forces air through the crocodiles’ sinuses and finally empties tears into their eyes. Their eyes not only water but can bubble, as Vliet witnessed at the alligator park, where some even teared up in expectation of their meal of chicks and other food.

Vliet was asked to investigate the biology behind this phenomenon by Malcolm Shaner, a doctor, about why facial palsy sufferers cry when they chew. Findings suggest that this is similar to the case of crocodiles.

1. What does “crocodile tears” express?

A．False sadness.	B．Sincere apology.
C．Untrue suffering.	D．Faithful concern.

2. Who has studied humans’ shedding tears while chewing?

A．John Mandeville.	B．Shakespeare.
C．Kent Vliet.	D．Malcolm Shaner.

3. What's the meaning of the underlined word “mocking” in Paragraph 3?

A．Teasing.

B．Reporting.

C．Fooling.

D．Comforting.

4. What's the author's purpose in writing the passage?

A．To describe the physical appearance of crocodiles.

B．To give a biological explanation of crocodile tears.

C．To clarify a misunderstanding of political leaders.

D．To introduce results of research on human feelings.