【推荐1】Shamarr Allen was sleeping at home one evening last July when he was shocked awake by a TV news item. There had been a shooting among a group of children in the 7th Ward of New Orleans, only a few miles from Allen’s home, and a nine-year-old boy named Devante Bryant had been killed. Allen was horrified and heartbroken. He thought of his own nine-year-old son.

Originally from the city’s rough Lower 9th Ward, Allen is one of the most celebrated jazz trumpeters (小号手) in a city. His band has released three albums, and he is a regular on local television and a street performer. After seeing the tragic news that morning, it didn’t take long for Allen to hit on a possible way out. He had a few spare trumpets lying around. Maybe he could offer them to kids in exchange for their guns.

“What saved me and redirected my path was a trumpet, the music and culture of the city that it connected me with,” Allen says. “It showed me that success, connections and differences can be managed through self-expression.”

“Just to see that they actually want to give up their guns, that’s the cool part about it,” says Allen, who has collected seven guns so far, a small but symbolically important start.

But he doesn’t stop with the exchange of gun for instrument. After the exchanges, Allen connects the children with local musicians who give them free virtual trumpet lessons. He also started a GoFundMe page to buy more instruments to give away. So far, he has collected over $45,000. More importantly, he has fostered hope for his city and young people looking for a better life.

“I just say, ”Look, I come from where you come from, and I can show you the way that got me out,’“ says Allen. ”And music may not be the way for you, but it will at least open your mind to see what’s out there. “

1. What might be the reasons pushing Shammarr Allen to work out such a solution EXCEPT ________.

A．his nine-year-old boy	B．his life experiences
C．his educational background	D．his spare trumpets

2. Which of the following can best describe Shamarr Allen?

A．Caring and helpful.

B．Kind and famous.

C．Curious and brave.

D．Determined and honest.

3. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To introduce an admirable hero.

B．To promote Shamarr Allen’s new albums.

C．To appeal to the government to control the guns.

D．To inform the readers of a tragic shooting in New Orleans.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Hope Is at Your Hand

B．Music Is the Way Out

C．The Trumpet Is His Weapon

D．Shooting Is Under Control

【推荐2】Christmas is perhaps the most important holiday in American culture. On Christmas Eve, children sit out with parents in the living room hanging stockings, setting up a Christmas tree, eating candy canes, and setting up milk and cookies for Santa Claus. Perhaps the most beloved figure in American history, Santa Claus has become an important icon for Christmas.

I remember believing in Santa when I was a very young girl. However, as I grew older, I learned many facts that “proved” his existence as false. Always inquisitive by nature and very keen on the scientific method of experimentation, I was determined to use tests and observations to determine whether Santa Claus was real.

The first year of tests happened when I was 5. I decided that if I stayed up all night on Christmas Eve, I could see if Santa really did come down the chimney. However, that was a futile attempt, I fell asleep that year. The next year, I was able to test if location was an issue with Santa’s deliveries. That year, my family spent Christmas with the family of one of my mother’s friends. At the time, I decided that if Santa was all-knowing he would know I wasn’t home. Sure enough, there was a pretty pink package waiting for me the next morning. At age 7, I came up with my ultimate test to see if Santa was real. That year, I didn’t send out my Christmas letter to Santa. On Christmas Eve, my mother dragged me to our local Wal-Mart and led me around the toy section. I refused to say a word, but did let my eye linger on a ballet set. I figured that “Santa” wouldn’t know what to get me because he shouldn’t be able to read my mind. However, mother would know everything that caught my eye in the store. If I got the ballet set the next morning, I would have my evidence. Christmas morning, there was the ballet set, sitting under the tree. As I didn’t use it much, mother ended up returning it a few days later. She claimed Santa was generous enough to leave a receipt. That was the end to my mission to discover the existence of Santa.

Now, I can look back on all of these with fond nostalgia(怀旧). The magic and mystery of it all made Christmas a fun time. Santa was a big part of my childhood.

1. Children do all the things on Christmas Eve except______

A．set up a Christmas tree

B．hang stockings and eat candy canes

C．prepare milk and cookies for Santa Claus

D．wait for Santa Claus with their parents

2. The underlined word “futile” means____.

A．unreal	B．unusual
C．unsuccessful	D．unreasonable

3. How did the writer prove the existence of Santa Claus as false?

A．He stayed up all night on Christmas Eve and saw Santa come down the chimney.

B．He found that Santa was all-knowing and could make the deliveries accurate.

C．He didn’t send out his Christmas letter but still got his Christmas present.

D．He used the receipt left by Santa to return his present.

4. The writer wants to tell us that_____.

A．he proved the existence of Santa Claus as false

B．Christmas and Santa is a part of his life as well as his child

C．Christmas plays an important role in American culture

D．Santa Claus is the most popular figure in American history

【推荐3】Living abroad requires a small adjustment and balancing of cultures.Moving from Scotland to Austria, the differences aren’t so great, perhaps, as moving to Asia or Africa. But things are still different enough to be unsettling (使人不安的)．

One of the first differences I noticed was the opening hours of shops here.During the week，supermarkets close at 7：30 p.m., at the latest. On Sundays, they aren’t open at all. On my first weekend here, I wasn’t at all prepared for this. I planned to go into town to pick up things I’d forgotten to bring. I wanted to get some groceries, too, after a few days of eating out. A friend had warned me that nothing was open on Sundays, but I didn’t realize she was serious. So, I wandered around town, coming across shop after shop with doors closed.

I ate out again that Sunday, and I learned my lesson.To begin with, I thought it was highly inconvenient.What if I ran out of milk in the evening, or wanted to buy biscuits before bed? In the UK, I was so used to large supermarkets, which stayed open until at least 10 p.m., if not for twenty­four hours. But now, I have to buy food every Saturday. “What do people do here on Sundays?” I asked my flatmate.She just looked at me. “Nothing .” she replied.

If it’s inconvenient, then there’s also something nice about it.Who needs to be able to buy soup or soap or bread twenty four hours a day? No one really needs to of course. But it’s nice, too, to have Sundays completely free from material worries. Sundays here are all about relaxing for hours in coffee shops and spending time with friends. Sunday is a day of rest.

People in the UK often complain, “I thought Sundays were meant to be a day of rest!”, while rushing to work, doing chores(家庭杂务) or standing in queues in shops. Well, here in Austria, it really is a day of rest. It’s different, but it’s a difference I can definitely get used to.

1. Where does the writer probably come from?

A．Austria.	B．Britain.
C．Asia.	D．Africa.

2. How did the writer feel when he was told shops didn’t open on Sundays?

A．Unhappy.	B．Bored.
C．Delighted.	D．Unbelievable.

3. What do Austrians usually do on Sundays?

A．Do nothing but rest.	B．Eat out with families.
C．Work hard at home.	D．Do some shopping.

4. What’s the writer’s final attitude towards no shop being open on Sundays?

A．critical

B．doubtful

C．supportive

D．opposed

【推荐1】When Ariel Cordova-Rojas rode her bike to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York, last November, she planned to go hiking and bird-watching. A mile into her walk, she found a female mute swan (疣鼻天鹅) near the water’s edge. Cordova-Rojas, 30, who had worked at the Wild Bird Fund rehabilitation centre in Manhattan, knew that mute swans can be angry and ready to attack. But as she approached this one, it didn’t move.

She was certain that the bird needed medical attention. Cordova-Rojas put her jacket over the bird’s head to keep it calm, carefully picked it up, and held it in her arms. And then a thought struck her: What do I do now?

Her best hope was the rehab (康复) centre, but that was across the East River and clear on the other side of town. How was she going to transport a 17-pound swan on her bike all that way? Luckily, some strangers driving by offered her, her bike, and the swan a lift to a nearby subway station.

On the subway, no one seemed particularly frightened by the feathered passenger. One guy, says Cordova-Rojas, was “sitting right in front of me on his phone. I don’t know if he noticed there was a swan in front of him.”

Cordova-Rojas called the rehab centre on the road, and Tristan Higgin-botham, an animal-care manager, picked her up at the subway station and drove the bird, the bike, and the rescuer to the centre. There, staff members determined that the swan might have lead poisoning (中毒), caused by taking weights used on fishing lines.

The staff got the swan back up on her feet. Sadly, even with all that care, the swan got a serious infection (感染). Two months after Cordova-Rojas came to her rescue, she passed away.

It’s a disappointing ending, but the real story is just how far some people are willing to go to save a swan in the big city-literally. In all, Cordova-Rojas travelled two hours by foot, car, and subway while honking (按喇叭) her bike. Says Higgin-botham, “That’s the perfect summary of who she is,”
1. Why did Cordova-Rojas put her jacket over the bird’s head?

A．To catch the swan.	B．To calm the swan down.
C．To keep the swan warm.	D．To block the swan’s sight.

2. How did Cordova-Rojas get to the subway station with the swan?

A．She rode her bike.	B．She got there on foot.
C．She took a bus.	D．She was offered a lift.

3. What was wrong with the swan?

A．She had lead poisoning.	B．She was injured on her feet.
C．She was trapped by a fishing net.	D．She nearly died from hunger.

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

A．How to Protect Birds	B．Strangers Kind Action
C．Honk If You Love Birds	D．The Last Song of the Swan

【推荐1】Book lovers all over the world have read, enjoyed, and appreciated some of the most famous writers of all times. And today compiling them in a list is a great pleasure.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Fondly known as The Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare has been perhaps the most revered British poet, playwright, and author in English literature, who has been a great influence on the literature, art culture, films and theatre since time immemorial. Some of his famous works include, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello and King Lear.

Jane Austen (1775-1817): Jane Austen, a romantic fiction writer from British, published many of her books anonymously (匿名地). Her books usually revolved round women, family, and marriage and through her books she highlighted the fact that if a woman wants to feel secure emotionally, socially and financially she needs to find the right man in her life. Her books are termed as classic today with some of them finding a place in the school syllabus as well. Some of her famous works include Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Mansfield Park.

Charles Dickens (1812-1870): Who can forget Charles Dickens while compiling the list of most famous British writers? An author of the Victorian Era, Dickens wrote fiction and non-fiction novels, short stories, poems and plays and some of his famous works include, A tale of two cities, Great expectations, David Copperfield, and The Adventures of Oliver Twist.

J. K. Rowling (1965): A list of famous British authors will be incomplete without the mention of the contemporary author J.K., Rowling, who has brought the youth and the children "back to reading” in this day and age of computers and Internet. She has become a rage the world over with the Harry Potter Series, which have sold more than four hundred million copies, the world over.

1. Which of the following is true of William Shakespeare?

A．He was good at writing short stories.	B．He made a great contribution to movies.
C．David Copperfield is one of his works.	D．He was born in the 17th century.

2. One of Charles Dickens’ well-known books is __________.

A．The Adventures of Oliver Twist	B．A Midsummer Night's Dream
C．Harry Potter Series	D．Pride and Prejudice

3. Who are skilled in writing poems according to this passage?

A．Jane Austen and J. K. Rowling	B．William Shakespeare and Jane Austen
C．Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare	D．J. K. Rowling and Charles Dickens

4. All the authors mentioned in the passage are mostly likely to come from __________.

A．England	B．America
C．German	D．France

【推荐2】If you believe that scientists and artists are most creative when they're young, you are missing an important part of the story. A new study published in De Economist looked at Nobel Prize winners in the field of economics. It found there are two different peaks of creativity. One comes early in a person's career, while another comes later.

The research supports previous work by the authors that found similar patterns in the arts and other sciences.

"We believe what we found in this study isn't limited to economics, but could apply to creativity more generally," said Bruce Weinberg, lead author of the study and professor of economics at The Ohio State University.

"Many people believe that creativity is exclusively associated with youth, but it really depends on what kind of creativity you're talking about."

In the study, those who did their most groundbreaking work early in their careers tended to be "conceptual" innovators（创新者）.

These type of innovators "think outside the box", challenging conventional wisdom and suddenly coming up with new ideas. Conceptual innovators are not yet immersed（沉浸于）in the accepted theories of their field, Weinberg said.

But there is another kind of creativity, he said, which is found among "experimental" innovators. These innovators accumulate knowledge through their careers and find new ways to understand it.

The long periods of trial and error for important experimental innovations come later in a Nobel laureate's（荣誉获得者的）career.

"Whether you hit your creative peak early or late in your career depends on whether you have a conceptual or experimental approach," Weinberg said.

The researchers took a novel, empirical（经验主义的）approach to the study, which involved 31 laureates. They arranged the laureates on a list from the most experimental to most conceptual.

This ranking was based on the laureates' most important work, classifying them into "conceptual" or "experimental".

After classifying the laureates, the researchers determined the age at which each laureate made his most important contribution to economics and could be considered at his creative peak.

They found that conceptual laureates peaked between ages 25 and 29. Experimental laureates peaked when they were roughly twice as old, in their mid-50s.

"Our research suggests that when you're most creative is more about how you approach your work."

1. What does the underlined phrase "think outside the box" mean?

A．Follow rules strictly.	B．Experiment on boxes.
C．Break old thought patterns.	D．Figure out how to escape from a box.

2. What do we know about "experimental" innovators?

A．They usually come up with new ideas all of a sudden.

B．They make discoveries through constant trial and error.

C．The majority of them reach their creative peak in their twenties.

D．They make more contributions than "conceptual" innovators.

3. Which of the following statements about the study published in De Economist is false?

A．The study is not the first of its kind.

B．The conclusion can be applied to other areas.

C．The laureates' most important work decides whether they are "conceptual" or "experimental".

D．The "conceptual" won their Nobel Prizes between ages 25 and 29.

4. What do the researchers believe determines someone's creative peak?

A．One's personality type.	B．What kind of job one takes.
C．How one handles their work.	D．One's attitude toward their work.

5. What's the main idea of this passage?

A．Creativity comes at any age, young or old.

B．Creativity tends to decrease as people get older.

C．Economists, artists and other scientists have much in common.

D．Economists are more creative than artists and other scientists.

【推荐3】A cartoon cat, sick of the annoying mouse living in his home, plots to take him out with a trap loaded with cheese. The mouse, wise to his plan, safely removes the snack and walks away with a full belly.

You can probably guess what happens next. The story ends as it almost always does: with the cat yelling out in pain as yet another plan backfires.

The duo(二人组)was dreamt up from a place of desperation. MGM's animation department, where creators William and Joseph Barbera worked, had struggled to compete with other studios who had hit characters like Porky Pig and Mickey Mouse.

Out of boredom, the animators began thinking up their own ideas. Barbera said he loved the simple concept of a cat and mouse cartoon, with conflict and chase, even though it had been done countless times before.

Puss(猫咪)Gets the Boot was the first they released, in 1940. It was a hit and won the studio an Oscar nomination for best animated short. Jasper and Jinx, as they were first known, became Tom and Jerry.

According to Barbera there was no real discussion about the characters not speaking, but having grown up with silent films starring Charlie Chaplin, the creators knew they could be funny without dialogue.

Tom and Jerry, with its slapstick(闹剧) violence and dark comedy, remains extremely popular around the world today.

In the 80 years since their creation, the cat and mouse have appeared in everything from a “kids” version to a 1992 musical movie where they sang and spoke. Warner Brothers, who now own the rights to Tom and Jerry, will release a new live-action film just before Christmas this year.

1. What are the first two paragraphs used as?

A．A hook.	B．The background.
C．An example.	D．The proof.

2. Why was the mouse and cat duo made up?

A．Because they were the creators' favorite.

B．Because of Porky Pig and Mickey Mouse.

C．Because of MGM's competition with other studios.

D．Because of the conflict of enemy animals.

3. What were the characters originally called?

A．William and Joseph.	B．Jasper and Jinx.
C．Puss and Boot.	D．Tom and Jerry.

4. What does the writer feel about this silent cartoon?

A．Rejective.

B．Sympathetic.

C．Cautious.

D．Fond.

【推荐1】            Serving only adults, Ramsey House offers you professional hotel standards of accommodation and food service coupled with the friendly, relaxed atmosphere of a high-class non-smoking guest house.

Situated within walking distance of St David's, the smallest city in Europe, the house stands in its own attractive gardens and has private off-road parking. In the opposite direction, there is easy access to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. where you can see some of Britain's most spectacular coastal scenery with its abundant bird life and wild flowers.

We have three double and three twin rooms. Each is individually furnished and decorated to 4-star standard with comfortable beds, central heating, remote control color TV, hair dryers and plenty of mirrors. All the rooms have a modern, well-lit en-suite bathroom with WC, shaver socket and electric shower.

All first-floor rooms have views of either the sea, the Cathedral or open country, and there are three ground-floor rooms with garden views, ideal for guests unable to climb stairs.

Our full Welsh breakfast offers you a great start to the day with homemade bread, cookies and preserves. We can also prepare fresh picnic lunches for your day out walking the Coast Path or on the beaches.

There is comfortable lounge with lots of books and leaflets about Pembrokeshire to help you plan your trips. Weather permitting, guests may enjoy the peace and quiet of our gardens and watch the birds feeding. Drinks are served in both the garden and lounge.

We also have secure bicycle storage, a drying room and light laundry facilities.

Nearby are some of the safest and cleanest beaches in Europe offering a variety of water sports including sailing, surfing, wind-surfing and sea angling. Visitors are welcome at St. David's City Golf Club and several other Pembrokeshire clubs. We are also conveniently situated for easy access to the bird sanctuary islands of Ramsey, Skomer and Skokholm.

A warm welcome awaits you at Ramsey House all year round. You will find it the ideal touring center in all seasons.

House Owners: Ceri & Elaine Morgan 01437 7202121.

1. According to the passage, St. David's is the name of _________.

A．a Bed & Breakfast hotel	B．the Coast Path
C．a Welsh town	D．Ramsey House

2. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Guests may come to this house by car or by bike without parking problems.

B．Guests have to eat their lunches out on the Coast Path or the beaches.

C．Guests staying in the lowest-level rooms have a good view of the sea.

D．On the Coast Path guests can enjoy water sports and play golf.

3. Which of the following tourists may not be interested in this ad?

A．Ana, a wheelchair user, who enjoys holidays by the coast.

B．A married couple with two young children showing interest in Penbrokeshire.

C．Tony, a Ph. D graduate, who attaches great importance to travel safety.

D．Xavier, a bird-watching enthusiast, who knows little about the local area.

【推荐2】

Kitzbühel, Austria For anyone who is passionate about alpine skiing, in terms of both watching and participating, the legendary Kitzbühel is a ski resort worth experiencing. Not only is it perfect for following the prestigious downhill race every February, skiers of all ability levels can even test your own skills on these amazing slopes.

Val Thorens, France You’ll get to enjoy 600 kilometres of interconnected runs at an altitude of 2,300 metres, making it the highest in Europe. Val Thorens is fantastic for advanced skiers. Enjoying your time going down the snow-covered slopes, or trying your hand at snowboarding tricks on the most challenging ones, you are to experience skiing in its purest, some would say its best, form.

Saas-Fee, Switzerland Saas-Fee offers some fantastic scenery and slopes for ski-lovers, amateurs in particular. The snow reliability and the fantastic cosy atmosphere make it one of the best resorts that is well suited to holiday-goers looking to get away from the busy urban life.

Val Gardena, Italy Small as the resort is, with only one lift in operation, there are designated areas and shared slopes and routes for everything from snowboarding to cross-country skiing. If you are not an enthusiastic skier, the region, with its beautiful climate, has plenty to do off the slopes as well from tasty restaurants to lively bars.

1. Which is NOT be an ideal ski destination for first-timers?

A．Kitzbühel, Austria.	B．Val Thorens, France.
C．Val Gardena, Italy.	D．Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

2. What can you learn about Val Gardena, Italy?

A．It is the smallest ski resort in Europe.

B．Non-skiers can enjoy themselves too.

C．Skiers can do anything by lift on the routes.

D．Slopes are specially designed for individuals.

3. Where can you read this passage?

A．A travel diary.	B．A comic book.
C．A school notice.	D．A holiday brochure.