【推荐1】Odland remembers like it was yesterday working in an expensive French restaurant in Denver. The ice cream he was serving fell onto the white dress of a rich and important woman.
Thirty years have passed, but Odland can not get the memory out of his mind, nor the woman’s kind reaction. She was shocked, regained calmness and, in a kind voice, told the young Odland. “It is OK. It wasn’t your fault.” When she left the restaurant, she also left the future Fortune 500 CEO with a life lesson: You can tell a lot about a person by the way he or she treats the waiter.
Odland isn’t the only CEO to have made this discovery. Instead, it seems to be one of those few laws of the land that every CEO learns on the way up. It’s hard to get a dozen CEOs to agree about anything, but most agree with the Waiter Rule. They say how others treat the CEO says nothing. But how others treat the waiter is like a window into the soul.
Watch out for anyone who pulls out the power card to say something like, “I could buy this place and fire you,” or “I know the owner and I could have you fired.” Those who say such things have shown more about their character than about their wealth and power.
The CEO who came up with it, or at least first wrote it down, is Raytheon CEO Bill Swanson. He wrote a best-selling book called Swanson’s Unwritten Rules of Management. “A person who is nice to you but rude to the waiter, or to others, is not a nice person,” Swanson says. “I will never offer a job to the person who is sweet to the boss but turns rude to someone cleaning the tables.”
1. What happened after Odland dropped the ice cream onto the woman’s dress?

A．He was fired.

B．He was blamed.

C．The woman comforted him.

D．The woman left the restaurant at once.

2. Odland learned one of his life lessons from          .

A．his experience as a waiter

B．the advice given by the CEOs

C．an article in Fortune

D．an interesting best-selling book

3. According to the text, most CEOs have the same opinion about ________.

A．Fortune 500 companies	B．the Management Rules
C．Swanson’s book	D．the Waiter Rule

4. From the text we can learn that ________.

A．one should be nicer to important people

B．CEOs often show their power before others

C．one should respect others no matter who they are

D．CEOs often have meals in expensive restaurants

【推荐2】It was a Sunday night. I circled the neighborhood a few times, looking for a place to park my car. Finally, I found one to the south of my house. It was behind a late-model Jeep. I tried to back into the space, but I failed to see the angles clearly. I heard it before I felt it, the sound of plastic on plastic, like a sheet of sandpaper along the surface of a painted piece of wood. I got out of my car to check the damage. My car was unharmed. However, there were two distinct lines on the Jeep.

Then I noticed a woman, walking her dog, who was now photographing me with her phone. “Hope you’re no planning to drive away,” she said quietly. Until then, I was annoyed with myself for having been careless, but now I was mad with her for taking my picture. How dare she, I thought. She had no respect for my privacy. And how dare she assume I would do the wrong thing? But soon I calmed down because I knew she wasn’t entirely incorrect. I’d made no decision to drive away without leaving ante (预付款) but I’d be lying if I said the idea hadn’t flashed across my mind. It was dark, and aside from her no one was watching. It happens all the time-the hit-and-run in the parking lot.

We all have those desires to behave selfishly, to go against the social contract; it is not the thought but what we do with it that counts. It is the commitment (承诺) to take responsibility, to care for one another, and to think about the greater good that makes this world a better place to stay. The choice to own up was left to me. I left a note with my name and phone number under the wiper blade (雨刮器) of the Jeep.

1. What happened to the author on that Sunday night?

A．He hit a parked car accidentally.	B．He got hurt in a car accident
C．He knocked down someone.	D．He failed to find a parking space.

2. Why did the author feel angry with the woman?

A．She blocked his view on purpose.

B．She spoke to him in a very rude way.

C．She refused to take responsibility for her fault.

D．She photographed him without permission.

3. What can be the best title for the text?

A．A Tragedy Happens in the Parking Lot

B．The Greater Good Makes the World Better

C．A Note Left Makes a Difference

D．Photographing without Permission Disrespects Privacy

4. What does the author intend to tell us through his story?

A．Everyone makes mistakes.	B．Apologizing sincerely matters.
C．Avoid conflicts with others.	D．Always do the right thing.

【推荐3】It was a beautiful Southern California morning. I walked through the parking lot of the shopping mall thinking of little else than my appointment with a pecan roll at the local bakery.

As I walked in front of the grocery store, I noticed a young woman with a sad look standing next to the store entrance with bags of groceries. As is my practice with strangers, I made eye contact with her and smiled. When I took a few steps past her, I heard her say, “Thank you for seeing me!”Her words brought me to a stop. Still smiling, I turned around and walked over to her, extending my hand. “My name’s Mark. What’s yours?”

For the next twenty minutes, I listened with attention to Dominique telling about her experiences. She had grown up in Louisiana where her mother and sisters still lived. Three weeks ago, a family tragedy made her make the move to California, where without contacts or the promise of employment, she had managed to create a life of purpose and fulfillment. After telling her story, she looked better and walked away.

With the pecan roll on my plate in the bakery, I looked at the people there. I nodded to the regulars sitting at their favorite tables, some reading the daily newspaper, and others on their laptops. I smiled while thinking about what I had just experienced with Dominique — a simple smile and a short time of listening brightened her.

Every person has a story to tell if we’re willing to take the time to listen. Greeting a stranger with a smile is a small thing to do and yet can have a great effect. I have found the benefit of doing these small things not only helps me keep a positive outlook on life, but also may even plant a few seeds of hope for someone else.

1. What did the author do in front of the grocery store?

A．He carried things for a woman.	B．He made friends with a stranger.
C．He greeted a stranger with a smile.	D．He was stopped by a woman in trouble.

2. After the author’s introduction, Dominique _____.

A．asked the author for help	B．refused to talk to the author
C．listened to the author patiently	D．shared her story with the author

3. Which words can best describe the author?

A．Kind and helpful.	B．Brave and patient.
C．Outgoing and creative.	D．Considerate and hardworking.

4. Which of the following can conclude the text?

A．No man is born wise or learned.	B．A small act of kindness means a lot.
C．A candle lights others and consumes itself.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.

【推荐1】For twelve years, my church has participated in the Appalachia Service Project. One week each summer, volunteers go to repair or build homes for families.

At the age of sixteen, I went on my first volunteer project in West Virginia. On the night we arrived, we discovered that “our family” was living in a trailer (活动房屋) that was in poor condition. The staff soon decided that the only reasonable solution was to build a new house. “Our family” was overjoyed with their new house that was 20x30 foot with three bedrooms, a bath and a kitchen/family room.

On Tuesday of that week, I asked “our family’s” three boys, Josh, Eric and Ryan, “What do you want for your new room?” Josh, the oldest, responded, “I just want a bed.”

We were stunned. The boys had never slept in a bed. They were used to foam pads (泡沫垫). That night we had a meeting and decided that beds would be the perfect gift. On Thursday night, we drove to the nearest city and bought beds and new bedding.

On Friday, when we saw the delivery truck coming, we told “our family” about the surprise. It was like watching excited children on Christmas morning. That afternoon, we set up the beds. As we fitted the frames together, Eric ran into the house to watch us. He observed with wide-eyed enthusiasm. As Meggan, a member of our group, slipped a pillowcase onto one of the pillows, Eric asked, “What is that?”

“A pillow,” she replied,

“What do you do with it?” Eric persisted.

“When you go to sleep, you put your head on it,” Meggan answered softly. Tears came to our eyes as she handed Eric the pillow.

“Oh... that’s soft,” he said, hugging it tightly.

1. “Our family” refers to ________.

A．a poor family in West Virginia

B．the author’s family

C．the family which consists of three boys

D．the family formed by the volunteers

2. What does the underlined word “stunned” mean?

A．Frightened.

B．Confused.

C．Doubtful.

D．Shocked.

3. What can we infer from the text?

A．The children like lying on foam pads.

B．The family is too poor to buy a bed.

C．The volunteers bought beds for the family.

D．The children had never slept in a bed.

4. Tears came to our eyes when Meggan handed Eric the pillow because ________.

A．we felt very tired

B．Eric didn’t know how to use what we bought for him

C．we were sad to know Eric had never used a pillow

D．Eric wanted some other things

【推荐3】When I was 16 years old, I skipped school for the first time. It was easily done: Both my parents left for work before my school bus arrived, so when it showed up at my house on that cold winter morning, I simply did not get on. The perfect crime!

And what did I do with myself on that glorious stolen day, with no adult in charge and no limits on my activities? Did I get high? Hit the mall for a shoplifting extravaganza (狂欢)?

Nope. I built a warm fire in the wood stove, prepared a bowl of popcorn, grabbed a blanket, and read. I was thrilled and transported by a book — it was Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises — and I just needed to be alone with it for a little while. I ached to know what would happen to Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley and Robert Cohn. I couldn’t bear the thought of sitting in a classroom taking another biology exam when I could be traveling through Spain in the 1920s with a bunch of expatriates (异乡客).

I spent that day lost in words. Time fell away, as the room around me turned to mist, and my role — as a daughter, sister, teenager, and student — in the world no longer had any meaning. I had accidentally come across the key to perfect happiness: I had become completely absorbed by something I loved.

Looking back on it now, I can see that some subtle things were happening to my mind and to my life while I was in that state of absorption. Hemingway’s language was quietly braiding itself into my imagination. I was downloading information about how to create simple and elegant sentences, a good and solid plot. In other words, I was learning how to write. Without realizing it, I was hot on the trail of my own fate. Writing now absorbs me the way reading once did and happiness is their generous side effect.

1. Why did the author skip school on that day?

A．Because her parents left home early.

B．Because it was a cold winter morning.

C．Because she was fascinated by a novel.

D．Because she hated to take the biology exam.

2. What did the author think is the source of true joy?

A．Reading by the fire.	B．Travelling in Spain.
C．Breaking the regulations.	D．Being occupied by one’s passion.

3. Which can best replace the underlined phrase “braiding itself into” in the last paragraph?

A．Entering.

B．Destroying.

C．Mending.

D．Blocking.

【推荐1】All languages change over time, and there can be many different reasons for this. The English language is no different — but why has it changed over the decades? Some of the main influences on the evolution of languages include: The movement of people across the globe…

What changes has the English language seen?

As the English language has changed, it’s been easy to pick out words that pass into common usage. The rise in popularity of internet slang (俚语) has seen phrases such as “LOL” ( Laugh Out Loud ), “YOLO” ( You Only Live Once ) and “bae” (an abbreviated form of babe or baby ) become firmly rooted in the English language over the past ten years. Every decade sees new slang terms like these appearing in the English language. And while some words or abbreviations do come from the Internet or text conversations, others may appear as entirely new words, a new meaning for an existing word, or a word that becomes more generalized than its former meaning. Decades ago, “blimey” was a new expression of surprise, but more recently”woah” is the word in everyday usage.

Sentence structure is of course another change to English language. Decades ago, it would have been normal to ask “Have you a moment?” Now, you might say “D’you have a sec?” Similarly, “How do you do?” has become “How’s it going?” Not only have the sentences been shortened, but new words have been introduced to everyday questions.

Connected to this is the replacement of certain words with other, more-modern versions. It’s pretty noticeable that words like “shall” and “ought” are on the way out, but “will”, “should” and “can” are doing just fine. Other changes can be more subtle (微妙). A number of verbs can be followed by another verb in either the “-ing” form or the “to” form, for example “they liked painting / to paint”, “he didn’t bother calling / to call”. Both of these constructions are still used but there has been a steady shift over time from the “to” to the “-ing”.

What do the changes mean?

Most language experts accept that change in language, like change in society, is unavoidable. Some think that is regrettable, but others recognize it as a way to enrich the language, bringing alternatives that allow subtle differences of expression.

As with everything, change isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, as the needs of English language users continue to change, so will the language !

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The main influence on the evolution of the English language.

B．The different opinions on the English language changes.

C．The English language has changed over the decades.

D．Why the English language has changed over the years.

2. The English language has seen the changes in___________.

A．Internet slang terms and new words’ meanings

B．words, expressions and sentence structures

C．text conversations and everyday questions

D．a few model verbs and gram mar

3. Some abbreviated forms of word like LOL and YOLO appear in English because of__________.

A．the fast-paced modern life

B．the worsening laziness of the youth

C．the English influence on technology

D．the rise in popularity of the Internet slang

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the changes of the English language?

A．Opposed.	B．Doubtful.
C．Approving.	D．Uncaring.

【推荐2】University of Oxford is the oldest university in the English-speaking world and it's one of the top universities in the world. There is no clear date when the university started, but teaching began at Oxford in some forms in 1096 and developed quickly from 1167.

There are 39 independent(独立的) Colleges at Oxford, attracting students and learned men from across the world. There are over 100 libraries for the students and learned men to use. At University of Oxford. they also provide a number of money for the best students. Of course, if you want to study here, first you have to reach a certain level of English language.

College life at Oxford is very exciting but busy. The groups of college provide a friendly and welcoming home for students while the colleges are strict with students about their studies. Many Chinese students are studying here. The number of Chinese students at the university has grown quickly over the past 10 years.

1. How many libraries are there at Oxford?

A．Only 100.	B．Just 100.
C．More than 100.	D．Less than 100.

2. What do you have to do first if you want to study at Oxford? You have to        .

A．be independent	B．study English hard
C．be the best student	D．pass a certain level test of English language

3. How's the college life at Oxford? It's full of______ and has       .

A．excitement; much school work to do	B．excitement; no school work to do
C．attraction; no school work to do	D．attraction; a little school work to do

4. What's the best title for the passage?

A．The College Life	B．The Famous Learners at Oxford
C．The Chinese Students at Oxford	D．The University of Oxford

【推荐3】The Best Children's Books

From mysteries to classics, these books can make a kid smile- and teach them a life lesson or two. Read on for People editors' picks.

She’ S Got This by Laurie Hemandez

The American gymnast's picture book takes pages out of her own life: She's Got This follows Zoe, a young girl, as she discovers her love for gymnastics. It's a colorful reminder that you must fall to fly — the perfect message for any little one- Morgan Smith, Editorial Assistant.

What Do You Say, Dear? by Sesyle Joslin

This book is a throwback, but it still feels fresh today! It's a guide to manners that makes even adults laugh—invaluable when it comes to books for young readers, which you tend to read again and again.— Alex Apatoff, Lifestyle Director

City Spies by James Ponti

In his Dead City and Framed! trilogies (三部曲)，James Ponti created amazingly entertaining escapades (恶作剧) through which his tween characters marched with mischievous (淘气的) attitude and clever smarts. He is at it again with his newest, which finds Sara Maria Martinez, a 12-year-old Brooklyn kid and computer hacker, secretly recruited by a man known as Mother into a British network of spies.— Jeff Truesdell, Writer

A World of Opposites by Gray Malin

The photographer repurposes some of his most excellent shots into a kids "book. Using photos from all over the globe and including some of kids' favorite animals, he illustrates the concept of “opposites”.— Alex Apatoff , Lifestyle Director

1. Whose book inspires readers to never give up?

A．Gray Malin’s.

B．James Pohti’s.

C．Laurie Hernandez’s.

D．Sesyle Joslin’s.

2. What is What Do You Say, Dear? about?

A．Opposite things.	B．How kids should behave.
C．Teen spies' stories.	D．How a gymnast realizes her dream.

3. What do we know about the last book?

A．It has a follow-up.	B．It is for detective fans.
C．It features wonderful photos.	D．It is picked by Jeff Truesdell.

【推荐2】By the summer of 2005，the Reverend (牧师) Richard Joyner of Conetoe Chapel Missionary Baptist Church realized he was hosting funerals (葬礼) twice a month—a surprising number for his town's tiny population. In this African American town，a quarter of families live an extremely poor life and heart disease kills more 20­ to 39­year­olds than car accidents do.

Joyner decided to do something about it. Driving home one day，he pulled over and thought that maybe he'd get further with his eyes open. He looked around，and all he saw was farmland. It gave him an idea：Get the kids to take part in it.

Joyner ran a youth camp，so that summer，he showed the campers how to grow their own food on the small land. The kids,4 to 16 years old，ate up the vegetables they had grown，and the following year，they gave free boxes of vegetables to the old people in the town.

Not everyone welcomed the idea. Some church elders questioned whether it was wise to let kids take part in agrarian pursuit (农业工作). But Joyner saw it differently. “The kids are bringing food to people who need it. They enjoy what they're doing，” he said. At the same time，it improved the health of the community by providing healthy foods.

Today，because of Joyner，that small land has changed into the 21­acre Conetoe Family Life Center. The local hospital，schools and restaurants help the center by buying its salad greens，peppers，strawberries，and other food for people. Research from East Carolina University found that people in Conetoe have lost weight，lowered their blood pressure，and visited the hospital less frequently because of the fresh food and health advice available at the center.

1. What do we know about the town where Joyner lives?

A．It develops very slowly.	B．There are not enough churches.
C．Many young people die from accidents.	D．People are too poor to live a healthy life.

2. Why did Joyner decide to grow food on the small land?

A．To provide food for kids.	B．To teach kids how to plant.
C．To lower the number of deaths.	D．To make full use of the small land.

3. What did some church elders think of Joyner's idea?

A．They were doubtful about it.	B．They weren't interested in it.
C．They strongly disagreed with it.	D．They thought it did harm to kids.

4. What's the result of what Joyner has done?

A．It's unusual.	B．It's successful.
C．It's unexpected.	D．It's unbelievable.

【推荐3】Fictional British detective Sherlock Holmes is probably one of the most popular and intelligent detectives in literary history. Known for his brilliant analytical skills and ability to handle complex clues(线索), the detective holds the world record for the most described literary human character in film＆TV. Thus, it’s not surprising to hear that the Royal Mint, responsible for producing coins in Britain, has honored the detective with a commemorative(纪念性的)coin.

Shown in May, in honor of his creator Conan Doyles 160th birthday, the 50-pence coin gives an outline of Holmes, surrounding Holmes’picture are some of the related novels, like The Hound of the Baskervilles.

The tiny lettering of the books titles, which require a magnifying glass(放大镜) to read, may seem like a mistake caused by the attempt to put too much in a small space. However, the coin’s designer, Steve Raw, says he deliberately put them all there to bring out the “inside detective”in fans. He explains, “Naturally, the only way to deal with the unknown text is by using that important piece of equipment always carried by the detective: a magnifying glass.”

The Royal Mint plans to put the 50p coin in general circulation later this year. However, fans hoping to add a new one to their Sherlock Holmes collection can also get an uncirculated version for £10 from the Royal Mint’s website. What are also available are 600 limited edition Silver Proof coins for £55 each and 400 limited edition Gold Proof coins for £795 each.

Born in 1859, Conan Doyle was a trained doctor running a clinic, before showing his love for writing. Holmes’ character was based on Joseph Bell, an intelligent scientist good at observing and crime solving, whom Conan Doyle studied under. Following the success of A Study in Scarlet, Conan Doyle produced many other stories.

Britain’s fun tradition of putting fictional characters on currency began in 2016, when the Royal Mint celebrated Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday with coins containing characters from the authors’ story. The Royal Mint thinks highly of the tradition. We wonder who will be next!

1. Why does the author give an introduction to Holmes in Paragraph 1?

A．To present the glory of British literature.

B．To show commemorative coins’ link to literature.

C．To state people’s affection for detective novels.

D．To analyze causes of Holmes being honored on a coin.

2. What leads to the lettering of the titles being so tiny?

A．The mistake made in the design.

B．The limitation of the coin’s space.

C．The aim to better present Holmes to people.

D．The wish to promote more of Conan’s novels.

3. What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The Royal Mint’s plans for marketing the 50p coin.

B．Available versions of commemorative coins of Holmes.

C．The great value of the new commemorative coins

D．The commemorative coins’ popularity with the public

4. What will the Royal Mint’s future commemorative coins be about?

A．Some funny characters.

B．Characters from fictional stories.

C．Beatrix Potter.

D．Old British traditions.