【推荐1】If you want to become a fluent English speaker you should take some advice：There are four skills in learning English. They are reading，listening，speaking，and writing. The most important thing you must remember is that if you want to improve your speaking and writing skills you should first master the skills of reading and listening.

Read as much as you can. But your reading must be active. It means that you must think about the meaning of the sentence，the meaning of the unfamiliar words，etc. There is no need for you to pay much attention to grammars or try to understand all the unfamiliar words you come across，but the fact that you see them for the first time and recognize them whenever you see them，for example in other passages or books，is enough. It would be better to prepare yourself a notebook so you can write down the important words or sentences in it.

As for listening，there are two choices：besides reading，you can listen every day for about 30 minutes. You can only pay attention to your reading and become skillful at your reading，then you can catch up on your listening. Since you have lots of inputs in your mind，you can easily guess what the speaker is going to say. This never means that you should not practice listening.

For listening you can listen to cartoons or some movies that are specially made for children. Their languages are easy. Or if you are good at listening you can listen to VOA or BBC programs every day. Again the thing to remember is being active in listening and preferably taking some notes.

If you follow these pieces of advice，your speaking and writing will improve automatically，and you can be sure that with a little effort they will become perfect.

1. According to the author，which should you improve first among the four skills?

A．Reading and listening.

B．Reading and writing.

C．Writing and speaking.

D．Speaking and listening.

2. To improve your reading，when you read you should ________.

A．look up all the new words in the dictionary

B．think about what you are reading actively

C．spend more time studying grammars

D．copy as many words and sentences as possible

3. The underlined phrase“come across” in Paragraph 2 can probably be replaced be “________”.

A．meet by accident	B．discover
C．find on purpose	D．look for

4. The passage is mainly about how to ________.

A．choose suitable listening materials

B．deal with new words in reading

C．improve your English as quickly as possible

D．become fluent in speaking and writing English

【推荐2】Learning English or any language is like anything that requires continuous effort, like training for a marathon, or trying to lose weight. Rather than doing 1 or 2 days of studying all day, it is much better to do a small amount of study or practice every day, or at least on a regular basis.    1    .

It is important when learning English or any language not to be afraid of making mistakes. The important thing is to be able to understand and communicate ideas. Even native speakers don’t speak with perfect grammar.    2    . If you speak English with any close friends or family, ask them to do that.

Put yourself in an environment where you are surrounded by English. Watching TV in English and listening to English music can be good examples.

Tell your friends and family about your goal or desire of learning English.    3    . It could also help to explain why you want to learn/improve your English, such as studying abroad or getting a new job.

English has four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.    4    . However, if you have trouble with any one of them, spend time on it. Generally, skills required to produce language like speaking and writing will develop slower than listening and reading.

    5    . Avoid trying to memorize long lists of vocabulary, unless you feel that this is the best way to learn.

Try to learn words in a context. It will not only help you to remember the words, but also help you to use them correctly when you are writing or speaking.

A．Anyway, here is a list of some practical ways to improve your English

B．It will be helpful to cover each skill

C．If you do want to improve, ask your teacher to correct any mistakes you make

D．Here are some ways to improve your listening skills

E．Find friends with similar interests and who are supportive of your goals

F．Writing is a big headache for many English beginners

G．Use mind maps to help remember vocabulary

【推荐3】Sometimes when we are learning a new language it can be really frightening to start speaking it with other people.     1     as it will help us gain confidence in ourselves. Here are some great tips that can help you overcome your fear of speaking English.

■Accept that you are going to make mistakes and learn from them.

People make mistakes all the time, especially when speaking a new language. Don’t be sad or feel disappointed if you make mistakes; it’s part of the process of improving your speaking.     2     As Albert Einstein said, “Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”.

■    3    

Once you have started speaking English, don’t be afraid to ask people questions about how to say or pronounce something. Most of the time people will be more than happy to help you if you have any questions.

■Don’t be shy!

One of non-native speakers’ problems is being too shy to speak.     4     Be aware that most people speak more than one language and know how difficult it is to learn a new one. Also, most people really don't even notice if you say something wrong or if you are too shy.

■Enjoy yourself!

You are learning another language for a reason, so go ahead, have fun, make mistakes and even invent new words!     5    

A．Ask for help.

B．Try to be curious.

C．It’s all part of the process.

D．This fear of speaking makes us nervous.

E．This can be the biggest problem for a lot of people.

F．Once you have made a mistake, correct it and carry on.

G．Overcoming this fear of speaking our new language is extremely important

【推荐1】March 21 has been declared World Sleep Day, a time to recognize and celebrate the value of sleep. Many sleep experts hope it will be a wake-up call.
According to a poll (民意调查）by the National Sleep Foundation, nearly 4 in 5 Americans don’t get as much sleep as they should during the workweek. On average, adults are thought to need at least eight hours of sleep a night, although some can manage with less and some won’t do well without more. But the survey found that, on workdays, only 21% of Americans actually get a full eight hours of sleep, and another 21% get less than six.
To many of us, the thought of spending more time sleeping is, well, a big yawn. On the other hand, the thought of being smarter, thinner, healthier and more cheerful has a certain appeal. And those are just a few of the advantages that can be ours if we consistently get enough sleep, researchers say. Also on the plus side: We’re likely to have better skin, better memories, better judgment, and, oh, yes, longer lives.
“When you lose even one hour of sleep for any reason, it influences your performance the next day,” says Dr. Alon Avidan, director of the UCLA Sleep Disorders Center.
A study published last year found the same to be true even of children. When kids aged 8 to 12 slept for just one hour less for four nights, they didn’t function as well during the day.
But sleeping has an image problem. “We see napping or sleeping as lazy,” says Jennifer Vriend, a clinical psychologist in Ottawa, Canada, and the leading author of the study with children. “We put so much emphasis on diet, nutrition and exercise. Sleep is in the back seat.” In fact, she adds, no matter how much we work out, no matter how well we eat, we can’t be in top physical shape unless we also get plenty of sleep.
1. The underlined part in Paragraph 1 means _____.

A．To wake up the sleepers

B．To draw people’s attention

C．To serve as a morning call

D．To declare the special day

2. From Paragraph 3 we can infer that _______

A．Being healthier is one of the advantages for us

B．Sleeping has nothing to do with one’s expectations

C．Spending more time on sleeping is a waste of time

D．Enough sleep is the guarantee of the appealing things

3. What Jennifer Vriend said in the last paragraph implies that _______.

A．Sleeping is an image problem

B．People care little about sleeping

C．Lazy people tend to sleep long

D．Sleeping is only part of our life

4. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To talk about people’s sleeping problems.

B．To provide an investigation result of sleeping.

C．To arouse the awareness of enough sleeping.

D．To stress the function of sleeping at night.

【推荐2】Cross-cultural misunderstandings occur when people from one culture do not understand the actions and behavior of people from another culture. Everyone has experienced that feeling of being socially or culturally “off balance” at some stage. It happens when we enter unfamiliar cultural environments and find that things are strange or different. For example, it can occur when a person begins a new job. Until an employee can operate comfortably and successfully within the social and cultural environment of a new workplace, he cannot be fully effective.

Knowing about the diversity of traditional and cultural backgrounds of our customers and colleagues will not automatically rule out misunderstandings. However, if we do know something about it, we can often take steps to prevent misunderstandings from occurring. It is a matter of being aware of when, where and why a misunderstanding may occur.

There may be a language barrier that can make clear communication difficult. The way we communicate is a common cause of misunderstanding. For example, jokes often rely on a creative use of language and sometimes these can be interpreted in many ways, which may be confusing or even offensive.

Non-verbal behavior and body language can be a source of misunderstanding. For example, eye contact can be considered by some people as overly long and therefore rude.

Addressing customers by their first names may not always be inappropriate. Check with your customers how they like to be addressed.

People from different religious or cultural backgrounds or with personal preferences may have specific dietary requirements. Check their requirements when determining any food menus. Offering alcohol to guests whose religion doesn’t allow them to enjoy can create a tense situation at the beginning of a meal.

1. If a new employee doesn’t perform highly effective, which can be a reason?

A．He can’t understand the working rules well.

B．He is not satisfied with his new occupation.

C．He is not familiar with the new working environment.

D．He usually fails to operate the equipment successfully.

2. What can a knowledge of the diversity of traditional and cultural backgrounds do?

A．Clear up misunderstandings.

B．Help prevent misunderstandings.

C．Tell us how to predict misunderstandings.

D．Remind us of the existence of misunderstandings.

3. What would make jokes confusing or even offensive?

A．Rude words used.	B．Poor translation.
C．Different understanding.	D．Creative thought in them.

4. Which of the following is a proper way to avoid cultural misunderstanding?

A．Use as little body language as possible.

B．Avoid making eye contact when talking.

C．Address customers always by their first names.

D．Offer your guests food according to their requirements.

【推荐1】Two blocks. Two very, very long blocks beyond in deep darkness. It is 1953, and I have walked these blocks many times on my way to the room I rent off campus. I get off the bus after leaving the library at ten o’clock in the evening clutching books in my arms, with a purse hanging from a strap on my shoulder.

My landlady works the night shift at the hospital, so at this hour, the house will be as dark and blank as the others on this street. Everything is quiet and closed. Far ahead is a streetlight. I am thinking about a paper due in a few days. What theme should I explore? Will the professor admire or dismiss it? Why are we reading Dreiser anyway?

I notice headlights coming toward me. A car is driving slowly down the street on the other side. As it passes, I glance at the driver—male, blond. I keep walking. The car slows down and stops. I hear its door slam shut. A few seconds later, I hear footsteps behind me. I keep walking; I do not speed up, because I don’t want to call attention to myself. The walker may be going to a house nearby, visiting a friend. Besides, what would be the point of hurrying, running?

I still have to get my door key from my purse. When I reach my house, I will have to walk upstairs to the porch, and fumble in the dark for my key. Then he will climb the steps behind me, put his right hand over my mouth, knock me down on the porch floor, scattering my books and the contents of my purse. There is no one to see. He will hold me down with one hand squeezing my throat, search my body for any valuables with the other, and say, “Don’t fight me; don’t fight.”

I am exhausted. The scene I have imagined is detailed, brutal, and unbearable. I cannot live through what I expect.

I stop. I turn around and wait for him. I wait and wait until he catches up to where I stand, with nothing to defend myself but the urgency to escape not what might happen but what has already happened in my mind.

He comes close, closer. I can see his eyes (or I think I can).

“Will you please leave me alone.” It is neither a question nor a scream. My voice is low, conversational. Nothing can be worse than what I have imagined.

He pauses. “I’m not going to bother you,” he whispers, then turns around and walks back to his car.

1. What is on the author’s mind before she notices the car?

A．The long way home.	B．The dark and blank street.
C．Her landlady’s absence.	D．The theme of her paper.

2. The underlined word “fumble” is closest to ___________ in meaning.

A．reach

B．search

C．find

D．touch

3. Why does the author turn around and wait for the man?

A．She tries to escape what has happened in her mind.

B．She wants to ask him whether he will leave her alone.

C．She knows she will be safe after talking with him.

D．She is so terrified of what is going to happen later.

【推荐2】London is a real treat for museum lovers and museums are a popular destination among London’s many attractions. Below is a list of London’s top museums.

◆   The London Transport Museum

This is a great, child-friendly museum which combines education with activities. Housed in huge iron and glass structure, the museum possesses a wonderful and colorful collection of more than 80 vehicles spanning 200 years of London’s history, including a red Routemaster bus and the world’s first Underground steam train. There are some great posters and artworks too! Tickets from ￡16.

◆   The Science Museum

From the future of space travel to asking that difficult question: “Who am I?”, the Science Museum makes your brain perform Olympic-standard mental gymnastics. See, touch and experience the major scientific advances of the last 300 years; and don’t forget the awesome IMAX cinema. Free entry.

◆   The Natural History Museum

As well as the permanent (and permanently fascinating!) dinosaur exhibition,   the   Natural History Museum boasts a collection of the biggest, tallest and rarest animals in the world.See a life-sized blue whale, a 40-million-year-old spider, and the beautiful Central Hall. Free entry.

◆   The Museum of London

The Museum of London is one the world’s largest urban museum, packed with historic objects and exhibitions telling the story of London’s past. Discover prehistoric London, the city under Roman rule, and the grandeur of medieval London. Don’t miss the new Galleries of Modern London, from 1666 to the present. Free entry.

1. What does London Transport museum look like?

A．An old castle.	B．An old church.
C．A modern building.	D．A big cottage.

2. Which museum will you visit if you are interested in the history of London?

A．The London Transport Museum	B．The Science Museum
C．The Natural History Museum	D．The Museum of London

3. What does the Science Museum offer kids?

A．Chances to make films.	B．Hands-on experience.
C．Some Olympic events.	D．Great posters and artworks.

【推荐3】It’s not new for labs to use robots. But earlier robots usually stayed in one place.

The UL robot, which scientists at the University of Liverpool (UL) have developed, is the opposite of that. The 1.75-meter robot is similar in size to a human. Though it weighs much more than most people, it’s able to easily move about in the same sort of space as humans do.

It uses a special laser system called LIDAR to guide itself—even in the dark. Once it’s close to a work station, it can move into a more exact position through its touch sensors. With one long arm which can turn in almost any direction, the robot is able to use several different kinds of lab equipment to run its own experiments. Some of the equipment has been changed slightly to make it easier for the robot, but basically and most impressively, it’s the same equipment a human would use. The robot was built and programmed by Benjamin Burger, a PhD student at the university, who says it took a lot of effort to program the robot so that it can do things without making mistakes.

Over the next 8 days, the robot ran 688 experiments, always choosing its next experiment based on the results of the last one.

Andrew Cooper, who led the program says, “The robot ran for 172 hours, stopping for only a couple of hours each day to recharge its batteries. To do the same amount of work would have taken a human several months. It isn’t cheap—it cost around $125,000 and took years to program. But the scientists compare that to the cost of other laboratory equipment which they say can also be quite expensive. The fact that the robot can be used for many different purposes is a huge advantage. It is meant to help scientists, rather than replace them, and it frees up time for the human researchers to think creatively.”

1. What does the underlined word “that” refer to in paragraph 2?

A．Earlier robots are smaller and lighter.

B．Labs don’t give up the earlier robots.

C．Earlier robots can’t move around.

D．Labs use robots more commonly.

2. What attracts people most when the UL robot is working?

A．It moves its touch sensors frequently.

B．It spreads its long arms automatically.

C．It is equipped with a special laser system.

D．It uses the same equipment as humans do.

3. What is Andrew Cooper’s opinion about the UL robot?

A．It’s inconvenient to get recharged.

B．It’s worth the money and the time.

C．It helps other robots perform tasks.

D．It can inspire scientists’ creativity.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Robot Runs Experiments on Its Own

B．The UL Robot Finishes Its Experiment

C．Robots Replace Scientists Very Soon

D．The UL Robot Develeps Its Advantages

【推荐1】There is no better way to broaden your horizons and open your mind than traveling around the world. Here are a couple of tips to get you started.

Get Insurance

Make sure that youget right travel insurance for your trip. What you get covered depends on your own values, but there is a lot out there to consider. Medical, lost luggage, the list goes on. Another thing to look into is where to get your insurane from. Banks and other institutions (机构) can provide it, but so can credit cards, so check and see if you may already be covered.

Online Booking

There are a lot of online booking sites you can check out to book your vacation. Because there is so much competition, you can often get good deals on packages. This is especially true if you are flexible on dates. Expedia.com is one website that can be trusted to get a good deal. One tip: if you find a deal that is too good to be sure, do a search on the company to make sure it is a legal offer.

Packing

Pack clothes that can dress up or dress down. Also, very important: make sure you bring good shoes for your destination.

Diary

Your vacation is going to the filled with amazing experiences that will be so vivid at the time, but will slowly disappear after you return home. Try to keep a diary at regular intervals to think back your experiences. This is the best gift you can give yourself.

So have fun planning your first trip and keep these tips in mind. Happy travels!

1. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To give some tips on a trip.	B．To explain how to travel across the world.
C．To plan your first trip.	D．To know how to start your holiday.

2. What do we learn from the passage?

A．You can only book your vacation online.	B．Expedia.com is the most popular site.
C．You should be careful with any deal.	D．Your fixed time is good for you.

3. Why are you advised to keep a diary?

A．You can send it to your friends as a gift.

B．You have enough time to do so.

C．You may forget to bring your good shoes.

D．It can help remember your travel experiences.

【推荐2】In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. “How much is an ice cream sundae?” “Fifty cents,” replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. “How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he required. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. “Thirty-five cents,” she said rudely. The little boy again counted the coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the bill and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed nearly beside the empty dish, were two five-cent coins and five one-cent coins—her tip.

1. In the days, an ice cream is ______________.

A．dearer than usual	B．as dear as usual
C．much cheaper than usual	D．as cheap as usual

2. How much money did the boy probably have in his pocket?

A．thirty-five cents.	B．More than fifty cents.
C．only fifty cents.	D．Less than fifty cents.

3. Why did the little boy have only a dish of plain ice cream?

A．The plain ice cream cost him much less.

B．He enjoyed the cheaper ice cream better.

C．The coins were not enough for an ice cream sundae.

D．He wanted to save some coins to tip the waitress.

4. We can infer that the waitress might have felt _____ when she got the tip.

A．very surprised.

B．a bit of shame

C．quite pleased

D．a little worried

【推荐3】Parker Stewart, a 16-year-old from Sayre School, a college preparatory school in the United States, knew last year that he wanted his independent study on the environment to have a broad impact on the community. In order to "reduce the carbon footprint," Stewart planned to produce enough solar energy to power the school's science labs. Now his plan is set to happen. The installation of 30 solar panels is scheduled for late January.

As he began his research on solar energy, he discovered a useful phone app. By entering an address, he could find out how much sunlight the location receives each day. Based on how much sunlight it receives, Stewart found that his school building was the desired position.

At the suggestion of his science teacher, Debbie Wheeler, Parker first performed an energy audit（测算）of the science lab to see how much energy a typical lab uses per day. Then, he started his research, contacting a local installer of solar panels, Synergy Home, to do the job.

Parker lacked money for launching the project, so he convinced Sayre's head of school to fund him after explaining the benefits of solar power for the school and community. Since Sayre provided the initial seed money to provide supplies and the purchase of one panel, the project has grown to include a total of 30 panels. They are expected to generate enough energy to run all four of the science labs on campus.

"It feels like a dream to think that an idea I had resulted from my AP Environmental class would have this kind of impact," said Stewart, expressing gratitude for Wheeler's help.

Wheeler said the success of the project was due to Parker's efforts and willingness to follow through on the project from start to finish.

“I've had other students talk about environmental initiatives on campus, but Parker had the persistence to make it happen," she said.

1. How did the app help Stewart start his project?

A．To find an ideal location.	B．To conduct an energy audit.
C．To look up specific information.	D．To introduce financial aids.

2. Who invested in Stewart's project at the beginning?

A．Sayre School.	B．His parents.
C．Synergy Home.	D．His community.

3. What inspired Stewart to do his solar power project?

A．The phone app he discovered.

B．The air pollution in his community.

C．A suggestion from his science teacher.

D．An idea from his Environmental class.

4. What contributed to Stewart's success according to Wheeler?

A．His wisdom.	B．His bravery.
C．His willpower.	D．His independence.