【推荐1】Don’t you think robots are a part of your life? In factories, robots put together everything from toys to cars. Some homes have robots that sweep floors or mow the lawn (剪草坪). And more robots are soon to come.

	Like a Human Robots don’t expect any thanks for all the work they do for us. After all, they don’t have feelings. But that may be changing with Nexi, a robot created by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nexi can move its face to show anger, happiness, or sadness. It can also raise its eyebrows to show surprise.
	________ How would you like a robot to help clean up your toys, or one that plays hide - and - seek with you? Nao can be programmed to do both those activities, and more. A two - foot - tall robot, Nao was designed by a company in France to be a helper and companion. It can talk, walk and even remember faces, voices, and places. Also, it can be programmed to assist with daily tasks, such as checking e - mails.
	Robots at Work Need a lift out of bed? RIBA, short for “Robot for Interactive Body Assistance”, will lend its helpful arms! Some patients at hospitals and nursing homes have a hard time getting in and out of bed. RIBA can gently lift a patient out of bed and help him or her into a wheelchair. The robot can safely pick up and carry people weighing 135 pounds.
	Water Bots Robots that work in water - and look like familiar sea creatures - are making news lately. One of them is a robotic fish. Researchers built the robo - fish to swim in water to detect pollution. There’s even a robotic penguin called the AP, which uses flippers (鱼鳍) to paddle and can move in all directions.

Experts predict that by 2025 we could have robots in every household! You might be living or working with one of them every day!

1. If a patient needs assistance out of bed, which may be a good helper?

A．Nexi

B．AP

C．Nao

D．RIBA

2. According to the passage, a robotic fish might be used for ________.

A．discovering fish

B．picking up rubbish

C．studying sea creatures

D．finding out pollution

3. Which subtitle can be filled in the blank?

A．Household Helpers

B．Programme Designers

C．Hotel Cleaners

D．Game Players

【推荐3】You can’t always predict a heavy rain or remember to take your umbrella. But designer Mikhail Belyaev doesn’t think that forgetting to check the weather forecast before heading out should result in you getting wet. That’s why he created Lampbrella, a lamp post with its own rain sensing umbrella.

The designer says he comes up with the idea after watching people get wet on streets in Russia. “Once, I was driving on a central Saint Petersburg street and saw the street lamps lighting up people trying to hide from the rain. I thought it would be all right to have a canopy (伞蓬) built into a street lamp.” he said.

The Lampbrella is a standard-looking street lamp fitted with an umbrella canopy. It has a built-in electric motor which can open or close the umbrella in need. Sensors then ensure that the umbrella offers the pedestrians (行人) shelter whenever it starts raining.

In addition to the rain sensor, there’s also a 360° motion sensor on the street lamp which detects whether anyone’s using the Lampbrella. After three minutes of not being used the canopy is closed.

According to the designer, the Lampbrella would move at a relatively low speed, so as not to cause harm to the pedestrians. Besides, it would be grounded to protect from possible lightning strike. Each Lampbrella would offer enough protection for several people. Being installed (安装) at 2 meters off the ground, it would only be a danger for the tallest of pedestrians.

While there are no plans to take Lampbrella into production, Belyaev says he recently introduced his creation to one Moscow Department, and insists this creation could be fixed on any street where a lot of people walk but there are no canopies.

1. For what purpose did Belyaev create the Lampbrella?

A．To predict a heavy rain.	B．To check the weather forecast.
C．To protect people from the rain.	D．To remind people to take an umbrella.

2. What do we know from Belyaev’s words in Paragraph 2?

A．His creation was inspired by an experience.

B．It rains a lot in the city of Saint Petersburg.

C．Street lamps are protected by canopies.

D．He enjoyed taking walks in the rain.

3. What does Paragraph 5 mainly tell us about the Lampbrella?

A．Its moving speed.

B．Its appearance.

C．Its installation.

D．Its safety.

4. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．The designer will open a company to promote his product.

B．The Lampbrella could be put into immediate production.

C．The designer is confident that his creation is practical.

D．The Lampbrella would be put on show in Moscow.

【推荐1】
Glynis Davis:

I first piled on the pounds when I was in the family way and I couldn’t lose them afterwards. Then I joined a slimming club. My target was 140 pounds and I lost 30 pounds in six months. I felt great and people kept saying how good I looked. But Christmas came and I started to slip back into my old eating habits. I told myself I’d lose the weight at slimming classes in the new year…but it didn’t happen. Instead of losing the pounds, I put them on. I’d lost willpower and tried to believe that the old bag of fish and chips didn’t make any difference but the scales don’t lie.

Roz Jumab:

To be honest, I never weigh myself any more. I’ve learnt to be happy with myself. It seemed to me that I would feel sorry about every spoonful of tasty food that passed my lips. My idea is simple. You shouldn’t be too much thinking about food and dieting. Instead, you should get on with life and stop dreaming of a super thin body. This is obviously the size I’m meant to be and, most of all, I’m happy with it.

Lesley Codwin:

I was very happy at winning Young Slimmer of the year. I’d look into the mirror unable to believe this slim lady was me! That might have been my problem—perhaps from then on I didn’t pay any attention to myself. Winning a national competition makes everything worse, though, because you feel the eyes of the world are fixed upon you. I feel a complete failure because I’ve put on weight again.

Ros Landfod:

Before moving in with my husband Gavin, I’d always been about 110 pounds, but the pleasant housework went straight to my waist and I put on 15 pounds in a year. Every so often I try to go on a diet…I’m really good on a few days, then end up having the children’s leftovers or eating happily chocolate—my weakness. I’d like to be slim, but right now my duty is the children and home. I might take more exercise when my kids are older.

1. What do you think the four women were all talking about?

A．Their own slimming matter.	B．Their life after marriage.
C．Their work as a housewife.	D．Different diets they prefer.

2. Where are these short passage most likely to be taken from?

A．Talks on the air.	B．Advertisements on the wall.
C．Book in a library.	D．Magazines for housewives.

3. What does the underlined word “scales” possibly mean?

A．The coach in the slimming club.	B．Some tool to measure weight.
C．Glynis Davis’ dear husband.	D．The salesperson in a food shop.

4. What can we infer from Roz Jumab’s words?

A．Losing weight is a painful process which is unbearable.

B．Being thin can also be harmful.

C．It is necessary to force ourselves to lose weight.

D．We should learn to live comfortably with the way we look.

5. Which of the following best describes each of the four women’s attitudes towards slimming?
1．Glynis Davis       2．Roz Jumab     3．Lesley Codwinc     4．Ros Langfodd
a．I put on weight soon after I got married.        b．Fame doesn’t necessarily mean success.
c．Facts speak much louder than words.             d．I like myself as I am, and to be what you are.

A．1- a; 2 – d; 3 – b; 4 – c	B．1 – c; 2 – b; 3 – d; 4 – a
C．1 - c; 2 – d; 3 – b; 4 – a	D．1 – a; 2 – b; 3 – c; 4 –d

【推荐2】Sunstroke is a condition that can quickly go from dangerous to deadly, especially if proper care isn’t given immediately.

Sunstroke, sometimes called heatstroke, is a result of the body temperature rising above safe limits. This causes the body’s necessary functions to stop working.

It’s usually pretty easy to avoid sunstroke, as long as proper action is taken. In that case, you need to act as quickly as possible to return that person’s body to a safe temperature. Here are a few tips to help treat sunstroke.

Call for help

Call to get an ambulance as quickly as possible. This should be the first thing you do, especially if the sunstroked person has fainted (昏迷). Also, call for help from anyone nearby if you’re in a public place. If there’s no one around, call someone nearby if they can get there sooner than an ambulance. Ask everyone to bring you as much water as possible, if there isn’t much nearby.

Get the person to a cooler area

If there’s a building nearby, aim for that. Anywhere with plenty of air conditioning and water is perfect. If a building isn’t available, bring the person to a well shaded area.

Get the water flowing

If the person is still conscious, get him or her to drink water. If there’s a bathtub available, fill it with cool water and put the person in it.

If your water supply is limited, you have to save it. Dampen a towel or shirt and put it on the person’s body. Focus on the face, neck, and chest.

Fan the person

Getting moving air over the person cools him or her down. Use anything, a towel or sheet, a shirt, your hands, or a piece of board. This is where having many people around really helps, as they can combine to fan the entire body.

1. When does a person get sunstrok?

A．When the body doesn’t function.

B．When proper care is given immediately.

C．When someone is exposed to the sun too long.

D．When the body temperature goes up beyond what one can bear.

2. What is mainly discussed in the passage?

A．The first aid for sunstroke.

B．The cause of sunstroke.

C．The chief symptoms of sunstroke.

D．The essential preventions of sunstroke.

3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the text?

A．To call for assistance from others.

B．To leave the sunstroked person in the shade.

C．To apply a wet towel to the person’s face.

D．To help the person take some medicine.

4. The text probably comes from       .

A．a guide book	B．a book review
C．a medical magazine	D．an official document

【推荐1】Since his students began using Quizlet, the English teacher Tristan Thorne has noticed an improvement in their ability to learn and use new words. Quizlet is a learning app, a computer program you use on your mobile phone. It can help users build and test their knowledge of English words. Quizlet has words set for millions of subjects. And, it is quickly becoming a useful mobile tool for language learners.

Thorne teachers at Columbia University in New York City. Thanks to learning apps, Jeff Strack, another English teachers, has also noticed the improvement in his students’ ability to remember information. He teachers at Hostos Community College, also in New York. He and Thorne are part of a growing number of language educators adding mobile apps to their classes.

Strack and Thorne seem to agree that the days when teachers would not permit(允许) the use of mobile phones are gone. When they use apps, language learner communicate more differently than in a traditional classroom. Users act on or respond to something, instead of just listening to new information.

Thorne believes that apps can help learners become more active in learning. For example, each week, his students are required to add vocabularies to Quizlet for others to use. He says some apps also make it easy for students to know their language strengths and weaknesses.

The biggest improvement Strack has seen in his students is that they are much more active in whole-class or small-group discussions. “Apps let all students take part in the activity, whether it’s a game, quiz or practice activity.” he says.

Many existing learning apps are designed for students of all ages and levels. Some are designed for group activities. Some support independent learning. Still some are good for homework. Thorne says he especially likes Quizlet and three other apps: QR Codes, Socrative and Evernote.

1. What do Strack and Thorne do to improve their teaching?

A．They design learning apps for their students

B．They allow their students to use apps to study

C．They don’t allow their students to use apps after class

D．They order their students not to use mobile phones in class.

2. According to the text, how do the apps help the language learners?

A．They help language learners save much time and money

B．The help language learners remember their weaknesses

C．The help language learners improve their weakness

D．They help language learners take an active part in Learning

3. What can we learn about the exiting learning apps?

A．They have three types in total	B．There are too few to choose from
C．They are designed for different uses	D．They are only designed for homework

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

A．Better Language Learning with Mobile Apps

B．Great changes in Science and Technology

C．The Use of Mobile Phones Will Be Gone

D．Ways to Choose from Different Mobile Apps

【推荐2】It was Christmas Eve 1949. I was 15 and feeling sad because there was not enough money to buy the dress I wanted. After supper, I was still feeling sorry for myself. It was a cold, clear night, and Pa came in. "Come on, Elizabeth,” he said. "Get dressed. It's cold out. " Pa was dragging me out in the cold. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door.

Outside, I asked, "Pa, what are you doing?” Have you met Mrs. Clark lately?" he asked. Mrs. Clark lived about two miles down the road from us. Her husband had died the year before, leaving her with three children to raise on her own." Yeah, " I said. "Why?” "I rode by just today, " Pa said. Little Jake was trying to find a few woodchips. They're out of wood. " That was all he said. Pa then loaded the truck with a big ham, a sack of flour and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. "What's in the smaller sack?" I asked. "Shoes. They're out of shoes. I got the children a little candy too."

We rode the two miles to the Clarks' place in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. I knew we didn't have much money. The Clarks had closer neighbors than us. Why was it our concern?

When Mrs. Clark realized what was happening, she bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling as tears ran down her cheeks. She looked at Pa as if she wanted to say something, but it wouldn't come out. I wasn't the same person when I got the wood unloaded. We gave each of the kids a hug and said goodbye. Thank you, Brother Cotton,"   Mrs. Clark said.

On the way back, Pa explained that he and Ma had saved all year long to buy me a dress for Christmas. 441 spent that money on some shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand, he said. I understood very well. My father had given me a gift much greater than a dress.

1. I felt sorry for myself because ______

A．I didn't get the present I desired

B．Pa forced me to go out in the cold

C．Pa didn't have money for Christmas

D．I did a lot of housework after supper

2. What can we learn about Mrs. Clark?

A．She lived on others' help.

B．She was our closest neighbor.

C．She led a hard life that winter.

D．She was a warm-hearted woman.

3. What does the underlined sentence "I wasn't the same person..." in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．I understood what Pa was doing then.

B．I helped with unloading the wood.

C．Mrs. Clark didn't recognize me.

D．Mrs. Clark noticed my change.

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

A．Christmas Gifts from Heart	B．A Cold Christmas Eve
C．Helping Our Neighbors	D．Clark and Her Children

【推荐3】Last night was the last game for my eight-year-old son’s soccer team. It was the final quarter. The score was two to one, my son’s team in the lead. Parents surrounded the playground, offering encouragement.

With less than ten seconds remaining, the ball suddenly rolled in front of my son’s teammate Mickey O’Donnel. With shouts of “Kick it!” echoing across the playground, Mickey turned around and gave it everything he had. All around me the crowd erupted (沸腾). O’Donnel had scored!

Then there was silence. Mickey had scored all right, but in the wrong goal, ending the game in a tie. For a moment there was a total hush. You see, Mickey has Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) and for him there is no such thing as a wrong goal. All goals were celebrated by a joyous hug from Mickey. He had even been known to hug the opposing players when they scored.

The silence was finally broken when Mickey, his face filled with joy, hugged my son tightly and shouted, “I scored! I scored. Everybody won! Everybody won!” For a moment I held my breath, not sure how my son would react. I need not have worried. I watched, through tears, as my son threw up his hand in the classic high-five salute and started chanting, “Way to go Mickey! Way to go Mickey!” Within moments both teams surrounded Mickey, joining in the chant and congratulating him on his goal.

Later that night, when my daughter asked who had won, I smiled as I replied. “It was a tie. Everybody won.”

1. What was the result of the soccer match?

A．Two to two, equal to both the teams.

B．Three to one in Mickey’s team’s favor.

C．Two to one in the opposite team’s favor.

D．Nobody won because of Mickey’s goal.

2. The underlined word “hush” in paragraph 3 means “________”.

A．cheer	B．silence
C．laughter	D．cry

3. What did the author worry about when Mickey scored and hugged his son?

A．The result would disappoint his son.

B．His son would shout at Mickey for his goal.

C．Mickey would again hug the opposing players.

D．The opposite team would laugh at Mickey’s goal.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．both teams liked and respected Mickey

B．both teams were thankful for Mickey’s goal

C．Mickey didn’t mind though his goal was wrong

D．Mickey was a kind-hearted boy and hoped everybody won

5. The purpose of the author in writing the passage is ________.

A．to tell a joke to make readers laugh

B．to suggest we should not mind losing

C．to show enjoying a game is more than winning a game

D．to present his son’s fine qualities of understanding others

【推荐1】In a cold winter,a couple had to move out from the expensive house because of bankruptcy. The husband worked day and night to support the family but with no care of his wife. So she thought“he doesn't love me anymore,he just cares his business.. not me.”

One day she began to take a bath, he stopped her at the door. "Let me take it first, OK?" “Why not let me shower first," she asked. “I was tired, sweetie, you take it later, OK?” She was totally depressed.

On a morose(郁闷的) day , she found nothing to do and turned on his computer,a few words blurred her eyes. It was his diary.

Today,I was quite sad,she asked me why I was always taking the bath first,and I said to her,I was exhausted. She was unhappy ,in her mind,I treated her not as well as usual,but how can I do? I wasn't as rich as before! We moved to the small apartment, there was only a shower in such a freezing winter. But I found that if one person took the shower first,the room could get a little warmer,so every time I rushed to the bathroom first. I was thinking that, when she took the shower, the room would get warmer,at least1℃,2℃ or 3℃.

Now I can't give her comfortable life,bring her the luxury restaurant, buy expensive dresses for her,but at least,I can give her 1℃ love.

1. Why was the husband always taking the bath first?

A．Because he was tired from work.

B．Because he didn't love her anymore.

C．Because he treated his wife not as well as usual.

D．Because he wanted to get the bathroom warmer.

2. Why did the wife feel depressed?

A．Her husband didn't love her.

B．She thought her husband didn't love her any longer.

C．They had no money.

D．She couldn't have a bath first.

3. What does the underlined word "bankruptcy”in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Crash.

B．Moving.

C．Disease.

D．Failure.

4. How did the wife feel when she saw her husband's words in the computer?

A．Surprised.

B．Angry.

C．Moved.

D．Disappointed.

5. The best title of the passage may be___.

A．A Trouble

B．1℃Love

C．Husband and Wife

D．A Romantic Story

【推荐2】California has lost half its big trees since the 1930s, according to a study to be published Tuesday and climate change seems to be a major factor（因素）.

The number of trees larger than two feet across has declined by 50 percent on more than 46, 000 square miles of California forests, the new study finds. No area was spared or unaffected, from the foggy northern coast to the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the San Gabriels above Los Angeles. In the Sierra high country, the number of big trees has fallen by more than 55 percent; in parts of southern California the decline was nearly 75 percent.

Many factors contributed to the decline, said Patrick Mclntyre, an ecologist who was the lead author of the study. Woodcutters targeted big trees. Housing development pushed into the woods. Aggressive wildfire control has left California forests crowded with small trees that compete with big trees for resources（资源）.

But in comparing a study of California forests done in the 1920s and 1930s with another one between 2001 and 2010, Mclntyre and his colleagues documented a widespread death of big trees that was evident even in wildlands protected from woodcutting or development.

The loss of big trees was greatest in areas where trees had suffered the greatest water shortage. The researchers figured out water stress with a computer model that calculated how much water trees were getting in comparison with how much they needed, taking into account such things as rainfall, air temperature, dampness of soil, and the timing of snowmelt（融雪）.

Since the 1930s, Mclntyre said, the biggest factors driving up water stress in the state have been rising temperatures, which cause trees to lose more water to the air, and earlier snowmelt, which reduces the water supply available to trees during the dry season.

1. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The seriousness of big-tree loss in California.

B．The increasing variety of California big trees.

C．The distribution of big trees in California forests.

D．The influence of farming on big trees in California.

2. Which of the following is well-intentioned（出于好心的） but may be bad for big trees?

A．Ecological studies of forests.	B．Banning woodcutting.
C．Limiting housing development.	D．Fire control measures.

3. What is a major cause of the water shortage according to Mclntyre?

A．Not enough snowmelt.	B．A longer dry season.
C．A warmer climate.	D．Dampness of the air.

【推荐3】3D printing is becoming more and more popular. We are now able to create things we need very quickly and easily using 3D printers. But can you imagine printing food?

Some scientists are trying to revolutionize the dining experience by doing this. They hope that having a 3D printer in the kitchen will be as common as the microwave oven or blender.

Scientists say that it’ll be quite easy: you simply have to select a recipe and put the raw food ‘inks’ into the printer. You can also modify the instructions to make the food exactly how you want it. This means that it would be very quick and easy to create tasty and nutritious meals.

Using 3D printers to create your meals would also be saving the environment. There would be less need for traditional growing, transporting and packaging processes as food production would be a lot more efficient. For example, alternative ingredients (原料) such as proteins from algae, beetroot leaves and insects could be converted into tasty products.

Printing food could also help people who suffer from dysphasia (a swallowing disorder). They could program the printer to print softer versions of their favorite foods so that they would not have trouble in swallowing them.

However, some people think that a future of 3D food printing would be a disaster. It could take away many jobs, including those from growing, transporting and packaging food. Imagine a world where there was no need for farming or growing crops and the same tastes could be printed from a raw “food ink”. Likewise, traditional cafes and restaurants might lose business. Also, there are concerns about the nutritional value of printed food: is it really possible to be get the nutrients we need from food-based inks and gels (凝胶)?

What’s more, cooking and eating together with family and friends has long been a traditional and enjoyable activity. It is hard to imagine a world where the pleasure of cooking is dead and meals can be created at the touch of a button.

1. Which of the following best describes 3D food printing?

A．Quick and popular.

B．Easy and efficient.

C．Nutritious and tasty.

D．Soft and convenient.

2. Why do some think that 3D food printing would be a disaster?

A．Traditional food would disappear.	B．Many people could lose their jobs.
C．It would affect the people’s health.	D．We could all eat the same food.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．3D food printing will replace traditional cooking.	B．The future of 3D food printing is uncertain.
C．It would hurt our tradition of food culture.	D．3D food printing would be a failure.