【推荐1】B

Mike Miles hadn’t had a stable job in years. He bounced around from one position to another, never sure when his last day would be. Sometimes, he lost a position with less than a day’s notice. This wasn’t due to a poor work ethic—from arriving early to staying late, Miles says he did everything he could to build a good relationship with employers. But because Miles had a criminal record, he was always cut loose when it came time to let staff go.

It wasn’t until October 2015, nearly a decade after his release from prison, that a cousin told Miles about Lancaster Food Company, a local business that focuses on hiring people released from prison. Hoping this would clear up what felt like a thick cloud of uncertainty over his future, Miles submitted an application. He got an interview, and he then began a new job.

Miles’ scenario is rare in Lancaster, where the poverty rate holds steady at 30%. This figure riled Charlie Crystle, Lancaster’s co-founder and CEO. Crystle was raised in Lancaster but left in 1986 to purse a college degree and later, a career in technology. He co-founded four tech companies, one of which sold for millions of dollars back in 2000.

Crystle is skeptical that many of Lancaster’s low-income residents can get started the way he did. He believes food production is a key way to meet former offenders who may lack a college degree. Lancaster produces products like bread. Nowadays the company is rapidly expanding; however, at just 16 full-time employees, including administration and owners, it doesn’t lower the city’s poverty rate.

Crystle says he wants to inspire other companies to rethink their current practices and start conversations around minimum wage and employment opportunities for everyone, including ex-offenders. Dan Jurman, who chairs the city’s Commission to Combat Poverty, believes that Crystle’s business is a great way to make this happen. “None of us can handle these issues alone,” he said.

1. The purpose of the first paragraph is to show __________ .

A．a man’s difficulty in living a stable life

B．an increasingly competitive workplace

C．a decrease in employment opportunities

D．the reason why Lancaster Food Company was founded

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

A．Annoyed.

B．Discouraged.

C．Amused.

D．Embarrassed.

3. What words can best describe Charlie Crystle according to the text?

A．Outgoing, kind and considerate.

B．Wealthy but a little bit greedy.

C．Humorous, diligent and ambitious.

D．Successful and socially responsible.

4. In Dan Jurman’s opinion, what is the biggest achievement of Lancaster Food Company?

A．It greatly increases employment opportunities.

B．It suggests an idea for fighting poverty.

C．It provides a way to handle ex-offenders.

D．It creates a stable environment for people.

【推荐2】People generally see themselves through achievements. In doing that, they end up caring more about their image than the reality of who they actually are. Rather than their performance at work, they end up defining themselves by external markers that they hope will earn them respect.

The problem with this is that it encourages both themselves and other people to judge their worth based on some relatively unimportant measure. For example, one day, their educational diploma may overshadow what they actually learned. Therefore, a better way to know a person, I think, is to ask a different set of questions: What motivates them? What makes them ache? What do they long for?

It’s in this spirit that I want to publicly share my values. They are the compass(罗盘) that guides my life. The kindest and most sincere thing I can do is to see, recognize, and understand another person before I make judgments. From there, I can learn to treat others appropriately, depending on the context, learning from my mistakes with time and experience. It's just a reminder that life is hard for all of us, while at the same time accepting that it's important we are all also held accountable for our actions.

I have learned that we are all deeply self-interested. I hope to be self-aware enough to check out of the power and status games. That means I'm not competing with anyone for a shiny object; I'd rather compete with myself. It's about becoming so uniquely different that it would be an insult for me to measure myself against someone else. I believe if I do the work to be internally free from the pull of the power and status games, then I can add value to others based on my unique knowledge and experience.

If this resonates with(与……共鸣) you, I invite you to join me on this journey in understanding and relating to this complex world. It's a wonderful mystery, and I think together we can better define it—not just personally, but also collectively.

1. According to the article, which of the following is TRUE?

A．People generally judge others' worth by what they have achieved.

B．The external markers are better ways to know a person.

C．The author is someone who is keen on power games.

D．Learning from mistakes is the first step of treating others kindly.

2. What does the underlined word “overshadow” probably mean?

A．be relatively similar to	B．cause something to be stronger than
C．make something less important	D．block off light from something

3. Which of the following might the author agree with?

A．People should be self-aware enough and compete with themselves.

B．Life is hard, so we shouldn't criticize others when they are not responsible.

C．Everyone is unique, so showing off uniqueness is an insult to others.

D．One should see and understand another person using a real compass.

4. What is the writer's purpose of writing the article?

A．To promote harmonious living.

B．To ask people not to judge others.

C．To call on readers to learn his values.

D．To share his values of understanding the world.

【推荐3】Does your pet have a slim figure? According to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention (APOP), about half of all dogs and nearly 60% of all indoor cats are overweight. Larry Kornegay, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, says he sees an overweight pet nearly every day, and unusually the owner is overweight. So talking about the topic can be touchy. “I talk about their pet’s health. Still, some clients take it personally.”
Here are some tips for pet weight loss:
See the vet(兽医). Have your vet put together a plan and treat any existing medical problems. Pain relief and diet changes may be required for arthritic(患关节炎的) pets, which will allow for exercise to at least begin.
Skip the crash diet (an attempt to lose weight quickly by strictly limiting the diet). A special weight-loss diet may be suggested. For example, look for the supplement which burns fat and builds muscle mass in foods. Never place any pet on a crash diet, especially cats, which can suffer a potentially fatal liver disease as a result. There’s a safe weight-loss drug for dogs you can ask your vet about.
Dine alone. “Cut out treats and resist temptation by keeping pets out of the room you’re dining in,” says Chicago vet Sheldon Rubin. You can buy low-calorie treats for dogs and cats. Rubin also recommends mini carrots, small apple slices or blueberries for dogs. What’s important is finding other ways, aside from food, to show your love. Play with your cat using an interactive toy, and take your dog for walks. Walks are great for bonding, and good for you. Studies show people are actually more willing to lose weight themselves if it also will help their pet.
Feed pets at special times. Pre-measure food carefully—don’t give them a larger meal than ever—and leave it in various places, so pets sniff it out and use the stairs. It’s fun, and it’s good exercise.
1. The underlined word “touchy” in Paragraph 1 probably means__________

A．sensitive

B．exciting

C．moving

D．pleasant

2. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．Overweight people usually like overweight pets.

B．Pets’ weight is easier to lose than humans’.

C．Cats have a greater chance of serious liver disease.

D．Overweight people often ignore their pets’ weight.

3. Which of the following methods is healthy for your pets?

A．Providing them with mini carrots or blueberries.

B．Keeping them with you when you’re dining.

C．Supplying them with larger meals or drinks.

D．Leaving the food in a fixed place for your pets.

4. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．How to feed pets without a crash diet.

B．The importance of pet weight loss.

C．How to help pets lose weight.

D．The problems that pets will meet.

【推荐1】James T.Green thought he was having a panic attack.

He took a break from work to walk around the block during a stressful day, and noticed he felt out of breath walking up a slight slope."This isn't normal,” Green thought.He had become a regular biker in recent months and wasn't exactly out of shape.He sat down at his desk, and looked at the Apple Watch on his wrist.His heart rate was through the roof, and the Heart Watch app he was using to check his pulse （脉搏）was flashing warnings.Maybe it was something more serious, he thought.

Although he had blood clots （血栓）in his lungs a few years back, he had been taking medication, and doctors said that it was an unusual condition for someone in their mid-20s.Still, the symptoms （症 状）this time were much less serious, and he was feeling stressed, so his mind didn't automatically jump to blood clots.Green's doctor told him it sounded like anxiety.But then he showed her his heart rate recorded by the Apple Watch.

"This is my normal heart rate,” Green told her, pointing to the graph in the app.“This is where my heart is now.There's something wrong."

The doctor ordered a CT scan.The blood clots in his left lung had returned.An ambulance rushed Green to the emergency room, where he was pumped full of blood thinners.He didn't need surgery this time, but doctors told him that if he had waited, a clot could have killed him.

Green isn't the only person who has discovered a serious health condition after seeing heart-rate data on a smartwatch.And he won't be the last.Presently, smartwatches from Apple to Fitbit and others can tell you your heart rate and track your workouts.But these companies want to go beyond the basics by developing ways to tell you when something is wrong.In fact, it's already happening.

1. What is not normal for Green this time?

A．He breathed with difficulty.	B．He worked out less often.
C．He had a heart attack.	D．He was out of shape.

2. Which of the following confirmed his serious problem?

A．He himself.

B．His doctor.

C．The CT scan.

D．The Apple Watch.

3. What really caused the symptoms of Green this time?

A．Tiredness.

B．Anxiety.

C．Work stress.

D．Blood clots.

4. What might be discussed in the following paragraph?

A．Apple's new study on smartwatches.	B．The tips on how to buy a smartwatch.
C．Other cases where smartwatches save lives.	D．The application of smartwatches in health care.

【推荐2】Growing up in America, I enjoyed the convenience of eating the most attractive, well-packaged foods of the 20th century, including all the candies we often see near the cash register.

During those times I wasn't aware how bad sugar was, and in fact, neither was anyone around me. So I continued to spread jam on my toast and eat ice cream daily.

Strangely enough, I felt that sweet was some sort of wonderful drug: it gave me the energy to function properly, to feel good and to perform at my best, all of which seemed necessary for growth. So why avoid it?

Years later, huge food companies, like General Mills and Post, began pumping more sugar into their products, and then more and more people appeared with bigger bellies. It finally came to my awareness that our society was becoming more miserable and unfit. And from what?

From sugar!

I began to do some research into sugar and what it did exactly to our bodies. To my amazement, I found its damage was just as bad as, if not worse than, what alcohol and cigarettes brought about. You see, when you take in more sugar than you need or burn, your body and brain become over-active. This, in effect, causes your cognitive abilities to slow down, your mood to get to the extremes, your skin to age faster, your blood to become thicker and your liver and kidneys to be worn out.

But what surprised me most, out of all of these horrible side effects, was that sugar adds extra pounds to your waistline, even if you do exercise regularly. And what I've always wanted, for the past few years, is to remove that extra fat around my “love handles” so that I could finally see my abs(腹肌).

I just didn't know, this whole time, what damage I had been doing to myself and my dreams, but I knew I had to do something. Something I had never done before.

1. What did the writer mean by “wonderful drug” in the third paragraph?

A．Sugar could be a cure for some diseases.	B．He benefited a lot from consuming sugar.
C．Sugar could make his life more convenient.	D．He had a better relationship with his friends.

2. Why did huge food companies add more sugar into their products?

A．To satisfy the taste of the general population.	B．To encourage people to eat more properly.
C．To meet the requirements for food safety.	D．To raise awareness of keeping healthy.

3. What did the writer find in his research?

A．Sugar causes much less harm than alcohol.	B．Sugar lovers gain no weight with exercise.
C．Sugar lovers experience changeable moods.	D．Sugar reduces people's ability to understand.

4. After the passage, the writer will most probably write about          

A．how he dreams big	B．how he takes exercise
C．how he cuts sugar	D．how he stops skin aging

【推荐3】California’s Yosemite National Park is home to many stunning waterfalls. However, from mid-to-late February each year, the unlikely star of the preserve is Horsetail Fall-a small waterfall that forms over the eastern edge of the park’s famous vertical rock formation, El Capitan, every winter. That’s because, during the two-week-period, the temporary1,000-foot fall frequently transforms into a red “firefall” for about ten minutes a day during sunset.

For the phenomenon to occur, several conditions need to coincide. There must be enough snow and snow must be melted to form the waterfall. During drought years, Horsetail Fall is reduced to a trickle flowing slowly in drops or does not appear at all. Additionally, the skies have to be entirely clear. Even a slight mist is enough to ruin the illusion (错觉) of fire falling down the cliffs. Finally, the sun has to strike the water from the right angle to set the waterfall “burning” brightly.

The “firefall” has been popular with professional and amateur photographers since the 1940s.However, in recent years, thanks to social media, its fame has risen to new heights, with thousands of people flocking to the national park each February. In 2019, over 2,200 people crowded into the small viewing areas on February 22, the best day to see the light show last year. However, the visitors not only stepped on sensitive vegetation but also left behind large amounts of rubbish.

To prevent a repeat of the unfortunate incident, in 2020, the park service closed two of the ideal viewing areas. The only one open required a 1.5-mile-long hike. However, the 3-mile round-trip, as well as a warning by the officials that a dry spell turned the fall into a trickle, leaving the possibility of a “firefall” in doubt, didn’t not seem to have deterred fans. Hundreds of people made their way to Horsetail Fall to catch a glimpse of the light show. Hopefully, Horsetail Fall enthusiasts would be more respectful of the natural environment this time.

1. When can the “firefall” be seen?

A．About at dawn.

B．Exactly at noon.

C．Just before dusk.

D．Late at night.

2. Which of the following conditions must be met for the “firefall” to be visible?

A．The temperatures have to be warm enough.

B．Horsetail Fall must be reduced to a trickle.

C．There has to be enough slight fog in the sky.

D．The waterfall must be frozen down the cliff.

3. What do we know from Paragraph 3?

A．The “firefall” was discovered by a photographer.

B．The viewing areas were equipped with telescopes.

C．Social media offer new tools to view the “firefall”.

D．The tourists caused the environmental pollution.

4. What does the underlined word “deterred” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Disapproved.	B．Discouraged.
C．Disturbed.	D．Distinguished.

【推荐1】Scotland is a unique place, loaded with history, where you can find aristocratic（贵族的）palaces and castles, as well as the traditional parades in national costumes.
In order to see and discover the true soul of Scotland today and what formed the character of this splendid region, we have to go towards the northern regions, to the Grampian Mountains（格兰扁山区）, beautiful and plain. The Scots conquered the environment with simple spades and strong arms, for it was difficult to farm.
The history of this ancient struggle, and its people’s ancient love with the hard land, can be felt within the walls of the Angus Folk Museum. You are able to get a feel of the typical rural atmosphere of times past from the everyday artifacts displayed here.
From coastal Aberdeen in towards the Grampian Mountains there runs the Castle Trail, a road that touches on many fortresses（堡垒）, which are witnesses of continual fights against the control of neighboring England in Scottish history.
Perhaps the most exciting moment for Scottish autonomy is ____ experienced inside this ancient church of Arbroath, where, in 1320, the Declaration of Independence was celebrated, at the instigation（鼓动）of King Robert the Bruce. He carried out the plan for autonomy drawn up by the great popular hero William Wallace, for whom cinema has designed the wonderful film Brave Heart, the winner of the five Oscars.
This is Glamis Castle, where King Macbeth and Queen Elizabeth used to live. Among the most frequent guests here are the predictable ghosts, if not actually created, by ancient popular beliefs. These have been handed down over the centuries by people tending to live with mystery, with the forces of the supernatural.
Another attraction here is a legendary monster: the Loch Ness Monster. Whether it’s real or imaginary, this monster, which has been nicknamed Nessie, has collected a good 3,000 sightings over the last 50 years.
The true flag of Scotland, tartan, is recognizable from the brightly colored plaid patterns which are used to distinguish the various social groups.
Bagpipes and dancing open the competitions of local sporting events, which are called Highland Gatherings.
1. Take a look at the Angus Folk Museum, and we can learn about _______.             .

A．the love of ancient Scottish to the hard land

B．the rural atmosphere in Grampian Mountains

C．ancient Scottish people’s fighting against the enemy

D．the history of the Scottish famous palaces and castles

2. What were the fortresses built for?

A．Fighting against the invaders of England.

B．Developing business with neighbor areas.

C．Preventing the people from moving around.

D．Providing a shelter from tough weather for travelers.

3. In the fifth paragraph, the underlined “the one” refers to the moment of _______.

A．the film Brave Heart winning the five Oscars

B．the plan for Scottish autonomy being carried out

C．the instigation of King Robert the Bruce

D．the celebration of the Declaration of Independence

4. According to the passage, which one is TRUE?

A．The film Brave Heart is mainly about King Robert Bruce.

B．The Scottish film industry is one of the attractions of the land.

C．Highland gatherings are often marked with bagpipes and dancing

D．The supernatural forces in Glamis Castle may change a person’s belief.

5. The purpose of the writer is to _______.

A．advise readers to pay a visit to Scotland

B．teach students about the customs of Scotland

C．introduce cultural background about Scotland

D．analyze the geographic formation of Scotland

【推荐2】A nickname is a shortened form of a person's name. A nickname can also be a descriptive name for a person, place or thing. Many American cities have nicknames.

Los Angeles has several nicknames. One is simply the city's initials, LA. It is also called "The City of Angels" because Los Angeles means “the angels” in Spanish.

Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather. So another nickname is “City of Flowers and Sunshine”. New York is called “The Big Apple”. So Los Angeles is sometimes called “The Big Orange” because of the fruit that grows in that city's warm climate.

The American motion picture and television industries are based in Los Angeles. So it is not surprising that it is called “The Entertainment Capital of the World”. Many films are made in the area of Los Angeles called Hollywood. Millions of people visit the area. No trip to Los Angeles is completely without seeing the word “Hollywood” spelled out in huge letters on a hillside.

Many movie stars live in Los Angeles. The city is sometimes called “Tinseltown”. This nickname comes from the shiny, bright and often unreal nature of Hollywood and the movie industry.

Another nickname for Los Angeles is “La–La Land”, using the first letters of Los and Angeles. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and maybe even out of touch with reality.

The city of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County. There are many smaller cities in the county. Beverly Hills, with its rich people, is one of them. So is Pasadena, with its Rose Parade each New Year's Day.

A good place for watching unusual-looking people is Venice, an area on the west side of Los Angeles. A system of waterways designed after the Italian city of Venice has been built there.

1. What's the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To tell us what a nickname is.	B．To prove that nicknames are popular.
C．To lead us into the topic to be presented.	D．To tell us some people's nicknames.

2. Which of the following is NOT the nickname for Los Angeles in the passage?

A．LA.	B．City of Flowers and Sunshine.
C．The City of Angels.	D．The Big Apple.

3. Why is Los Angeles called “The Entertainment Capital of the World”?

A．Because Los Angeles often has warm, sunny weather.

B．Because many movie stars live in Los Angeles.

C．Because there are many smaller cities in the county.

D．Because the American motion picture and television industries are there.

4. The underlined part “out of touch with reality” in Paragraph 6 can probably be replaced by “______”.

A．fantastic

B．false

C．real

D．practical

【推荐3】It may be common knowledge that what British people call “football” is known as “soccer” in the US, and “colour” in British English(BrE) goes without the “u” in American English (AmE). But according to a chart made recently by website Grammar Check, these are far from being the only differences between the two countries’ use of English. The chart outlined 63 of the main contrasts between BrE and AmE, from the more well-known “lift/elevator” and “autumn/fall” to the lesser-known “garden/yard” and “petrol/gasoline”.

Some of the vocabulary mismatches are so different that two people in a conversation may fail to understand each other. For example，the two countries have different names for certain food. “ Biscuits “ and “sweets” in Britain   are known as “cookies” and “candy” , respectively, in the US. But while getting food names mixed up only causes confusion, some misunderstandings may lead to embarrassment if you’re not careful. I f a British man in the US is asked to show up a party in “pants”, there’s a chance that he might get a lot of stares from other guests. “Pants” in the UK means underwear. “Trousers” are what you need to ask a British friend to wear if you don’t want them to cause a scene among your friends.

However, even if 63 is already a lot, there are still many differences that the chart failed to cover. If a US girl walks into a UK barber and says “I want to have my bangs fixed”, for example, it could take a while before the hairdresser realizes what she       means is actually her “fringe”.

1. By presenting the first paragraph, the author mainly tell us     .

A．the chart is made by Grammar       Check

B．people are much more familiar with “lift/elevator”

C．BrE and AmE are different in spelling

D．There are many differences between BrE and AmE

2. If a British man is asked to join in a party in “pants”, he might .

A．get into an embarrassment

B．be attractive among his friends

C．be puzzled at others’ dresses

D．ask for a pair of trousers instead

3. Why is the example in the barber mentioned?

A．To confirm some examples are unknown.

B．To support the author's opinion on the topic.

C．To indicate the British are slow in understanding.

D．To show the hairdresser isn’t familiar with “bangs”.