【推荐2】You can deposit money in a building society and obtain yearly interest at a certain rate.You can also borrow money from a building society. What, then, is difference between a bank and a building society? In fact, a building society does not seem to be very different from a savings bank.Many people regularly save money by depositing small amounts monthly in a building society, just as other people regularly save money by depositing small amounts monthly in a savings bank. Some people deposit large amounts in a building society as an investment. They receive higher interest than they would receive from a savings bank; their money can be invested either in building society shares or in loans to the society.

These societies are controlled by law, but they are not government organizations. They were originally started to enable people to buy houses.One of their main purposes is to provide loans for buying or building houses. Many people prefer buying a house to paying rent, but some of them cannot afford to buy a house.To cover the cost they borrow the money from a building society. The loan plus the interest is paid back in monthly amounts over an agreed number of years. Probably the payments made in this way are no more than the rent of a rented house. But at the end of the stated period, when the debt is paid, the borrower becomes the owner of the house. To protect the building society from “bad debts” he must sign a statement to say that the house belongs to the society until the debt is paid.

A building society invests the savings of its shareholders in houses and property. Unlike a bank, it does not serve as a general clearing house (清算所) for every kind of exchange or business operation. Its activities are limited compared with those of a bank.

1. A building society is different from a bank in that ____.

A．the former is limited in its activities

B．the latter is limited in function compared with the former

C．a bank doesn’t serve as a general clearing house

D．a building society can protect itself from “bad debt”

2. Some people put large amounts of money in the building society because _______.

A．they can get more profit than they do in a bank.

B．they may choose between the form of building society shares and that of loans for their investment

C．they may enjoy shares and loans at the same time

D．they like the society

3. If you borrow money from the society to buy a house, ____.

A．you have to return the money to the building society the moment it is needed.

B．you have to sign an agreement to repay the loan after a number of years

C．what you pay back monthly for the loan would be less than the rent

D．the house doesn’t belong to you unless you have repaid all the debt

【推荐3】Micah’s House is a home trying to change generational cycles of poverty. We are not looking for a temporary fix or to giving these men some donations. We teach them skills most of us learned in our teen years.

·Mission:

Micah’s House equips young men who have aged out of foster care (寄养) or who are experiencing homelessness to find hope, identity and a place to belong.

·Services provided:

When a young man comes to live with us, he is provided with a private bedroom and everything from furniture, sheets and towels to food and clothes. We have weekly Thrive Nights where our guys are taught life skills. We invite members of the community to teach everything from sewing on a button to an overview of insurance to pet care and what it really involves to own a dog.

·Who is qualified?

Any young man, 18-25, who is experiencing homelessness.

·Where can you register?

Young men can fill out an application at http://www.micahshousenwa.org/program-application.

·What are your organization’s most pressing needs?

Covid-19 has forced us to cancel our two major fundraisers for 2020, so we are looking to fill an expected shortfall of about $50,000. Families in Northwest Arkansas that can commit to investing a monthly gift can visit our website (www.michashousenwa.org) or our Facebook page (Facebook.com/michashousenwa) to make a commitment to our community.

·Are there volunteer opportunities in your organization?

Our volunteers keep Micah’s House running! Volunteer opportunities range from providing a one-time meal to walking with a young man as a mentor (导师). Right now we need mentor families to come alongside our men and help create a community that these guys can turn to.

·What other ways may people help?

We always have one-time projects like hanging outdoor lights. Our most up-to-date volunteer opportunities can be found at MicahsHouseNWA.org/get-involved

·Why do you work for a nonprofit organization? Do you have a personal connection to the mission?

I want to help create a community that I am proud to live in. These young men will become husbands, fathers, skilled tradesmen, businessmen and community members. I want them to have the same support and opportunities that my three children have. I believe they might be gaining these skills a little later than some, but I know they’re worthy of our investment.

1. Who is qualified for Micah’s House?

A．An abused child.	B．A poor school girl.
C．A homeless 20-year-old man.	D．A game-addicted child.

2. How does Micah’s House offer help?

A．By finding foster families.	B．By providing life skills.
C．By sending donations.	D．By giving a lot of money.

3. At which website can you register for Micah’s House?

A．http://www.micahshousenwa.org/program-application.

B．www.michashousenwa.org

C．Facebook.com/michashousenwa

D．MicahsHouseNWA.org/get-involved

4. The most urgent need for Micah’s House comes from lack of ________.

A．mentors

B．volunteers

C．food

D．funds

5. From the last paragraph we can conclude the author is ________.

A．generous and humorous	B．stubborn and selfish
C．thoughtful and forward-looking	D．cautious and enthusiastic

【推荐1】We have the most friends at the age of 26 after having spent the first quarter of our lives building up our friendship circle, a new research has claimed.

The research into friendship shows that our social circle peaks at 26 years and 7 months, at which we typically have five close friends. Women are the most popular at 25 years and 10 months, with men hitting the highest friendship point a little later at 27 years and 3 months.

The research, by Forever Friends, shows that about a third of adults meet their closest friends while at school, with about a fifth saying they meet them at work.

Social networks such as Facebook and Twitter now also play a major role in building new friendship. The research points out that 25 to 34-year-olds make 22 friends via Facebook, compared to 18 to 24-year-olds who make 12, and 35 to 44-year-olds who make just four.

Forever Friends’ relationship coach Sam Owen says, “It is no coincidence that over a third of us meet our best friends at school. It is a key time in our lives when friendship is growing through sharing notes, giving gifts, seeing each other regularly and laughing a lot. As adults we can often forget how powerful these small things are and how the little things can make a difference. ”

Later in life we find ourselves losing friends. Over half of us lose friendship through moving, while 36% say that over time they grow apart from close pals. Having children also causes 19% to drift away from childhood friends.

With growing pressures being put on friendship these days, it’s important to make time for our friendship.

1. How many friends can a 20-year-old college student make via Facebook?

A．4.	B．18.
C．12.	D．22.

2. In Paragraph 5, the author is trying to tell the readers ______.

A．how important making friends is

B．that friendship is not easy to keep

C．how much has been done to keep friendship

D．that friendship at school is important

3. The underlined phrase “drift away from” in Paragraph 6 means______.

A．make sense of	B．lose contact with
C．feel sorry for	D．make up with

4. This passage is most probably taken from______.

A．a brochure	B．an advertisement
C．a textbook	D．a newspaper

【推荐2】Learning English as the second language for non­native English speakers is not an easy task. It needs to spend a considerable time before you could speak or write the English language. There are only two ways to learn the English language or any other language you prefer.

The first one needs a lot of money because of the requirements needed. If you notice, a person migrated(移民) to another country and stayed there for a couple of years and then going back to his home non­native speaking country, the person became so familiar in speaking English. This is the most effective way of learning to speak and write a language unfamiliar to you.

The learner learns the language because he/she is forced to do so because there is no other language being used. Not to mention that the learner should adapt to the environment. It is all started from listening. This is the process how language is acquired if you will stay long in a foreign country.

The second one is the traditional way. You go to school or learning center specialized in teaching English as the second language. Obviously, this is cheaper than the first, but it needs a considerable time before you will learn to familiarize the language. Today, there are different language centers offering their services for people to learn the language in your own country. They brought all the materials needed because, compared to the first one, they’re affordable and reasonable.

Nowadays, learning English as the second language is one of the global trends. Since the English language is used in most of the business transactions, you should be on it too. Otherwise you will not go along with the future trends that will arise.

1. Now an affordable way to learn a foreign language but not to go abroad is to__．

A．go to a foreign language school	B．study in a language center
C．communicate with more people	D．invite a foreigner as a teacher

2. The last paragraph mainly tells us ________．

A．the global trends of the present world

B．the difficulty of learning a second language

C．the most important way of learning a second language

D．the importance of learning a second language

3. From the passage we can learn________．

A．learning foreign languages is easy

B．there is only one way to learn foreign languages

C．family environment is very helpful for learning foreign languages

D．learning foreign languages is good for your future career

【推荐3】Heart disease is one of the major killers in the world today. Many who suffer from it must have heart transplants. However, it’s difficult to get a suitable heart donation, and even if a patient survives the wait, his or her body often rejects the heart.

But there is now new hope for sufferers of heart disease. According to a study published in the journal Advanced Science, researchers from Israel’s Tel Aviv University printed a 3D human heart on April 15.

“This is the first time anyone anywhere has successfully engineered and printed an entire heart,” professor Tal Dvir told CNN. Unlike the previous 3D-printed heart structure, the new heart is complete with cells, blood vessels, chambers and other structures a heart needs to function normally. But scientists still have more to figure out before the 3D-printed heart can be fitted into the body. For one thing, the experimental heart is only the size of a thumb. And, although it can contract like a muscle, it cannot pump out blood like a real one. At present, the heart prototype is like a tiny airplane that has all of the right parts, but can’t fly.

However, the development is still regarded as a major breakthrough in medicine.

In the experiment, the researchers turned human fat tissue into human heart tissue with stem cell technology. The tissue was then turned into “bio-ink” for a 3D printer to ensure that tissue in the heart came from the patients themselves. So ideally, if it were to be placed in the body of someone in need of a transplant, there would be less risk of organ rejection. “Patients will no longer have to wait for transplants or take medications to prevent their rejection,” researchers told USA Today. “Instead, the needed heart   will be printed, fully personalized for every patient.”

But the scientists think that 3D printing can be used to create other human organs. They foresee a time when the 3D printing of organs will be an everyday medical practice. “Maybe, in 10 years, there will be organ printers in the finest hospitals around the world and these procedures will be conducted routinely,” Dvir said.

1. Why do scientists have to do further research before fitting the 3D-printed heart into the body?

A．Because the heart is incomplete.

B．Because the heart can’t pump out blood.

C．Because the heart is an airplane that can’t fly.

D．Because the heart can’t contract like a muscle.

2. What can we infer from the last two paragraphs?

A．The needed heart will be printed to meet every patient’s need.

B．The 3D printing of organs will be an unusual medical practice.

C．Dvir has a negative attitude towards the future of organ printers.

D．Patients will need medicines to stop their rejection for their heart transplant.

3. What can serve as the best title for the passage?

A．Organ printers in the hospitals.

B．How to get a suitable heart donation.

C．Heart disease: one of the major killers.

D．A 3D-printed heart: new hope for heart disease sufferers.

【推荐1】Four Excellent American Universities Princeton University

Princeton University is a private institution founded in 1746. Located in Princeton, New Jersey, it offers various events, activities and organizations. Famous alumni include the 28th US President Woodrow Wilson and former first lady Michelle Obama.

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private institution founded in 1636. Located outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts, it is made up of more than 10 schools and institutes. Eight US presidents graduated from Harvard, including Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

MIT is a private institution founded in 1861. Located outside Boston in Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT focuses on scientific and technological research. Famous alumni include Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Yale University

Yale University is a private institution founded in 1701. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, it is known for its excellent drama and music programs. Famous alumni include five US presidents and actress Meryl Streep.

1. Which university has the longest history?

A．Princeton University.	B．Harvard University.
C．Massachusetts Institute of Technology.	D．Yale University.

2. What do we know about Yale University?

A．It provides various events, activities and organizations.

B．It concentrates on scientific and technological research.

C．It is the university that John F. Kennedy graduated from.

D．It is known for its excellent drama and music programs.

3. What do the four universities have in common?

A．They are all private institutions.	B．They are all named after cities.
C．They are all located in Cambridge.	D．They all have more than 10 schools.

【推荐2】If you are looking for something fun and educational to do in Maryland, why not visit the Maryland Science Center? It is located at 601 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 2. The ticket prices vary depending on ages, groups and the exhibits you choose.

Introduction

The Maryland Science Center is basically a museum, but it gives everyone a chance to learn through experience and play, rather than just glance at an exhibit.

Activities

You can learn about various topics, including outer space, the human body, dinosaurs, electricity, marine(海洋的) biology, energy, and much more. You can also take part in the interactive activities, such as racing bubbles, digging for dinosaur fossils, using puzzle pieces to construct cars, and so much more.

The Davis Planetarium(天文馆)

At the Davis Planetarium, you can lie back in a chair and look at the stars while still inside the Science Center. The stars will appear on the ceiling of the theatre as you watch them.

There are different shows to catch at the Davis Planetarium. You can learn about the galaxy and astronomy during the Dark Matters show. Learn about the stars and planets during the Sky Live show. The One World One Sky show allows children to explore the stars. The Live from the Sun show will teach you all about the hot sun.

The Kids Room

For children, they can’t miss the Kids Room. They will be able to play in a water area, construct dams and water towers, push buttons, ring doorbells, build with blocks, and more, and definitely they will learn a lot. In addition, there is also an area for kids of two years old and under, where they can crawl, walk and explore safely with soft toys.

1. What do we know about the Maryland Science Center?

A．It charges different prices for parents and Children.

B．It is regarded as the most popular museum in Maryland.

C．It is a museum where there are many famous exhibitions.

D．It is mainly designed for children and their families to play together.

2. If you want to know why the sun shines, which show should you choose?

A．Dark Matters.	B．Live from the Sun.
C．One World One Sky.	D．Sky Live.

3. What can we learn about the Kids Room from the passage?

A．It is designed for parents who have children.

B．It provides a good opportunity for parents to relax.

C．Children there need to be accompanied by their parents.

D．It is a good place for children to learn and play at the same time.

【推荐3】When you are travelling, whether on business or for pleasure, you often need to stay in a hotel. The kind of hotel you choose probably is decided above all according to how much money you want to spend. There are small hotels with very few services,where the prices are low, or there are large hotels with all the very latest comforts,where you could spend all the money you have in the bank for one very comfortable night.

There are several different kinds of people who go to hotels. Some want to live, rather than just stay in a hotel. The hotels which are designed to meet their needs are called residential hotels(公寓旅馆). However, most people who stay in hotels are either business people or tourists on holiday.

In most hotels, there are two kinds of rooms: single rooms, for the use of one person, and double rooms, for the use of two people. In addition, in large hotels, there are also suites (套房) , which include two or more rooms connected together - perhaps a bed-room and a living room. They are for people who are very rich or very important.

1. One's choice of a particular hotel is made mainly according to ____.

A．how much one is willing to pay for a night

B．whether one is travelling on business or for pleasure

C．whether the hotel is in the central part of a city

D．how good the services of the hotel are

2. If the president of a certain country comes, he will ____ .

A．live in a new hotel with a suite

B．stay in a single room of a hotel

C．stay in a double room of a hotel

D．stay in a suite of a modern hotel

3. If a person stays in a modern hotel with latest comforts for a night ____.

A．he will become poor

B．he has to pay a lot of money

C．he has to spend all the money he was in the bank

D．he has to pay some money