【推荐2】Each country has its own secret to happiness. If “pyt”, which means “don’t worry about it and stuff happens”, explains the relaxed attitude of Danish people, “niksen” will reveal how Dutch people combat (对抗) stress and burnout (倦怠) in a fast-paced lifestyle.

The term “niksen” origins from the Dutch word “niks”, which refers to “nothing”. Mindfulness, another welcome subject to help people have a peaceful mind. But unlike mindfulness, niksen is not about concentrating on the present moment. It’s about letting yourself do nothing, and allowing your mind to run free without expectation.

In practice, this means “hanging around, looking at your surroundings, or listening to music as long as it’s without purpose,” according to Time Magazine.

Niksen sounds contrary (矛盾的) to the advice we were all given as kids. Nowadays, we’re constantly told to stay busy and work harder than everyone else. But niksen opposes that mentality (心态). It offers the chance to “deliciously do nothing”, as Carolien Hamming, a coach at CSR Centrum, an organization devoted to fighting stress and burnout in the Netherlands, told Time.

She thinks that niksen is essential (重要的) to staying healthy, since it’s a form of mental relaxation and healing (治愈). Just as a wild animal lies in wait for their prey (猎物), niksen seems to be a natural state of being.

For some people, niksen can mean more than just stress reduction. It’s also a way to imagine new ideas or plans. As an early adopter of niksen, Jenny Holden, a communications expert in the UK, adds it to her daily lunch breaks.   “Within 10 minutes of doing nothing – just staring and listening to myself – my head began to clear and sort out my work and home to-do lists,” she told the MetroUK.

Above all, niksen is a suggestion for balancing work and rest. As Dutch-born writer Ogla Mecking wrote in US-based Whoolly Magazine, niksen is the “thorough enjoyment of life’s pauses”.

Everyone is encouraged to embrace your niksen moments. They revitalize (使恢复元气) you and give you the strength needed to face everyday challenges.

1. What does niksen means?

A．Living in the moment.

B．Being free and doing nothing.

C．Using your wildest imagination.

D．Leading a healthy lifestyle.

2. Holden’s example is to show _____.

A．niksen can shorten the distance between people

B．how niksen improves one’s mental health

C．niksen is closely related to stress reduction

D．niksen helps people come up with new thoughts

3. The underlined word “thorough” is closest in meaning to _____.

A．long

B．full

C．unexpected

D．quiet

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．An introduction to the Dutch lifestyle.

B．Suggestions on how to balance work and rest.

C．The importance of allowing time to pause life.

D．An explanation of some Danish words about life attitudes.

【推荐3】I used to believe courtesy was a thing of the past. Very seldom have I encountered a courteous human being in this modern era.
Recently, I had to change my thinking, when I came face to face with just such a human being in a coffee place, with my two daughters. The place was crowded as usual and we had to climb steep(陡峭)stairs in order to find an empty table. After enjoying coffee and snacks, we went down the narrow stairs, where there was hardly any space for another person to either climb up or come down.
Just as I was in the middle of the stairs, a gentleman entered the main entrance of the restaurant which was right in front of the staircase(楼梯). I was sure I would be pushed roughly by this man going up. I kept coming down as fast as I could. My daughters were already down, looking up at me worriedly, hoping I would reach them before the stranger started walking up the stairs, knowing I was a nervous sort.
Nearly reaching them, I noticed the man still standing near the door. I reached my daughters and passed the stranger at the entrance door which he kept holding open. I looked back thinking he was still at the door, deciding whether to go in or find another less crowded place. I saw him going up the stairs, two at a time. I told my daughters about it and all three of us felt bad that we did not even thank the courteous gentleman who was actually holding the door open for us ladies to pass through before going up.
Such well mannered people are hard to find these days, when pushing is very common in our advanced but aggressive society. We applauded for his chivalry(骑士精神).
1. What is the meaning of the underlined word “courtesy” in Paragraph 1?

A．A brave action	B．Sacrifice spirit
C．A considerate action	D．Selfish behavior

2. What did the author think of the man at the first sight of him?

A．He was in a hurry

B．He would wait for her

C．He would cross her rudely

D．He was a man with good manners

3. Why did the author’s daughters worry about her?

A．She was easy to be nervious

B．She took up too much space

C．She was too old to walk fast

D．She focused too much on the man

4. What can we learn about the man from Paragraph 4?

A．He might be a waiter of the café

B．He might have an urgent business to do

C．He loved a daughter of the author

D．He would hold the door open for all

【推荐1】University-the best days of my life!I made lots of friends in my student dorm，went to great parties，joined the debating society…and，well，I did some work too--but I must admit my lecturers were very patient with my tardiness（拖拉）．

It's easy to look back at our university days through rose-tinted spectacles but the truth is that when we first arrived on campus，most of us were out of our comfort zone．

In fact，a survey of students at Imperial College London has revealed that 3out of 4students experience high levels of stress，or a mental health condition，during their time at college．The survey，completed by over a thousand students，also found that 70% of those that experience stress do so at least once a week，and 9% of students feel stressed constantly．

Kirsty，a student at Exeter University，didn't enjoy her first days in college．She says："When I first got to university I don't think I'd realized that I'd forgotten how to make friends．I'd been with the same school friends for seven years，and so I was trying to balance social success with academic success while learning how to look after myself at quite a young age．"

Dr Ruth Caleb of the counseling service at Brunel University in London has some tips that should make life easier for students before they set off for university．She says："Certain things that I think it would be very helpful for students to have put in place are an ability to do the practical things of life--to do the washing，to do the cleaning and so on-being able to cook．Budgeting is extremely important in university life．"And Caleb adds："You should learn how to spend time on your own comfortably．"

I graduated and learnt how to take care of myself the hard way．I hope that new students these days remember to acquire some life skills before they make the big jump．

1. What did Kirsty find most difficult to do during her first days in college？

A．Not knowing how to make new friends．	B．Not realizing the importance of making friends．
C．Looking after herself at quite an early age．	D．Trying to achieve academic success．

2. Which of the following tips are helpful or important EXCEPT ______ according to Dr．Ruth Caleb？

A．having the ability to cook	B．being able to do the cleaning
C．learning how to spend money on one's own	D．balancing social success and academic success

3. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage？

A．During the first few days at college for new students，most of them felt comfortable．

B．According to a survey，most students at Imperial College London suffered from stress at college．

C．The lecturers are always tolerant of college students' improper behavior．

D．Acquiring some life skills isn't that important to new students．

4. What does the author probably mean by saying"I graduated and learnt how to take care of myself the hard way"？

A．He quickly adapted to the new environment when he first arrived on campus．

B．He graduated from college with many achievements．

C．It might have taken him some time to get used to college life．

D．It might have made him proud by leading an independent life at college．

【推荐3】Confused by the dizzying array of restaurants? Here are some recommendations.

Yin Man Dou Hot Pot

Yin Man Dou Hot Pot is very famous restaurant in Zhangjiajie, and it is popular among tourists. You can bring your own drinks.

A verage price per person: 30 yuan

Address: Nanzhunngping Market, Yongding District, Zhangjiajie

TEL: 0744-8519991

Business Hours: 10:00-22:00 Monday to Sunday

Recommend Dishes: Fish Hot Pot, Sanxiaguo, Fried Tofu, Eggplant stewed with bean

Xiang Jian Local restaurant

Xiang Jian Local restaurant is an ordinary restaurant, which is clean, simple and tidy. Waiters treat customers with care and patience. More importantly, they are always willing to listen to advice.

Average price per person: 43yuan

Address: opposite to Xiang Xi Ming Zhu Hotel, Weiyang Road

TEL: 13762180678

Business Hours 10:00-00:00 Monday to Sunday

Recommend Dishes: Tujia Three Pot Hot Pot, Stone Pot Fish, Griddle Cooked Chicken with Pepper

Wu Long Shan Zhai

Wu long Shan Zhai is characterized by "the Xiangxi folk culture", which embodies the new concept of health, and shows the new trend of the development of catering industry.

Average price per person: 58 yuan

Address: Baofeng Bridge, Xibu Street, Tianzi Road

TEL: 0744-5956666

Business Hours: 09:00-21:00 Monday to Sunday

Recommend Dishes: Stir-fried beef, Tujia sausage, Braised pork in brown sauce, Steamed Chinese Bacon

Hushifu Sanxiaguo

This dish cannot be found in ordinary restaurants but only in some local restaurants. This restaurant is a time-honored brand with high popularity. If you can't eat spicy food, you rest should inform the waiter in advance.

Average price per person: 42 yuan

Address: Sanjiaoping, Yongding District

TEL: 0744-6988588

Business Hours: 10:30-21:30 Monday to Sunday

Recommend Dishes: Stir-fried pork intestine, Stir-fried pork stomach

1. Where would tourists go if they arrived at 11:00 pm?

A．Yin Man Dou Hot Pot.	B．Xiang Jian Local restaurant.
C．Wu Long Shan Zhai.	D．Hushifu Sanxiaguo.

2. Which phone number should you call first to avoid peppers?

A．0744-8519991

B．13762180678

C．0744-5956666

D．0744-6988588

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．All the restaurants serve spicy food only.

B．All the restaurants are open all year round.

C．Tourists could give advice and will be replied immediately.

D．Tourists can enjoy hot pot at any restaurant mentioned above.

【推荐1】The nine woman of Bella Mondo win over yet another audience. The group is one of just a handful of all-women ensembles (乐队) in Ivory Coast.

It all started in 2007. Prisca Allou was a music student. A music producer came to see her. He said he wanted to make an all-female ensemble to keep a promise to his late mother.

Allou got on board and was charged with recruiting (招募) other members. “It wasn’t easy at first. Some parents were against it. You know, in Africa, the place of women is often seen as being either in an office or at home. That was the fixed image.” Allou spread the word and took out ads in local papers. Most of the girls she found were not professional players. “I just played some tamtam. I learned to play drums when I joined Bella Mondo.” The girls spent the next four years learning to play their instruments. Many gave up along the way, but eight of them soldiered on with Allou, and Bella Mondo was founded.

The band plays original songs and covers. Their music spans a wide range of styles: funk, reggae, pop music. They released their first album in 2013... and have performed in Paris, Dakar, Cotonou and, of course, here at home in Abidjan.

You can see them nearly every Thursday at this bar, the same place that gave the band its start years ago. “Oh yes, I was surprised at first. A woman singing, you see that every day, but an entire band, playing all the instruments and everything? It was extraordinary. I was dumbstruck. Bella Mondo is a great band.”

The women are now working on their second album.

1. Why did the music producer want to form a female ensemble?

A．To sponsor music students.	B．To comfort his mother.
C．To carry out his promise.	D．To win over an audience.

2. Which of the following made it hard for Allou to recruit band members?

A．The band charged too much.

B．A number of parents didn’t support it.

C．Most women prefer to work in a government office.

D．African women are not allowed to leave their homes.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

A．What Allou experienced.

B．How Bella Mondo was born.

C．Why most girls gave up halfway.

D．How the girls learned to play instruments.

4. What does the underlined word “dumbstruck” probably mean in paragraph 5?

A．Astonished.

B．Amused.

C．Determined.

D．Satisfied.

【推荐2】Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.

In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.

The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.

Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the countryside. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.

For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”

1. According to the passage, nowadays British people ______.

A．cook less at home than the French every day.

B．no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables.

C．are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods.

D．buy more cookbooks than French people do.

2. What can we infer from the fourth paragraph?

A．French women cook less often now.

B．The French prefer ready-made dishes.

C．French women seldom cook on the weekend.

D．Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris.

3. What is Bernard’s attitude towards British food?

A．He would love to try it.	B．He shows no interest in it.
C．He considers it worse than before.	D．He considers it better than before.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The history of British food.	B．The history of French food.
C．The change in British food.	D．The change in French food.

【推荐3】Printed circuit boards are vital components of modern electronics. However, once they have served their purpose, they are often burned or buried in landfills, polluting the air, soil and water. Most concerning are the flame retardants （阻燃剂）added to printed circuit boards to keep them from catching fire. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have developed a ball-milling method to break down these potentially harmful compounds enabling safer disposal （处理）.

Composed of 30% metallic and 70% nonmetallic particles, printed circuit boards support and connect all of the electrical components of a device. Metallic components can be recovered from circuit boards easily using traditional methods leaving behind nonmetallic particles including those flame retardants and other additives. Scientists have found that compounds in those flame retardants can do harm to people's health, especially to those women who are pregnant. Therefore researchers have been wanting to develop a new method to remove the flame retardants from waste printed circuit boards so that they wouldn't do harm to people and the environment.

The researchers broke down printed circuit boards and removed the metallic components. Then，they put the nonmetallic particles into a ball mill — a rotating （旋转的）machine that uses hard stone balls to make materials into very small pieces. They also added iron powder, which prior studies had shown was helpful for removing chemicals from organic compounds. After ball-milling, the harmful chemicals on the surface of the particles had decreased by 50%・ The researchers determined that during the ball-milling process, iron transferred electrons to flame retardant compounds causing the internal structure to stretch and break.

The authors acknowledge funding from the 111 Project, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China and the Pearl River Star of Science and Technology.

1. People are concerned most about the flame retardants because

A．they are harmful and hard to remove	B．they keep circuit boards from catching fire
C．they make up the largest part in electronics	D．they are mixed up with other components

2. What is the function of the printed circuit board?

A．Making electronics small and light.	B．Preventing electronics catching fire.
C．Connecting all electrical components,	D．Allowing easy disposal after being used,

3. What does the author mainly intend to tell us in paragraph 3?

A．How to operate the ball milk	B．The ball-milling process and its result.
C．The high efficiency of the new method.	D．Why iron powder is added to the process.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．The authors are short of money.

B．Over 100 projects support the authors,

C．The researchers will make much money.

D．The ball-milling method is promising.

【推荐1】Recently, I said something like this to my 13-year-old son: “I've told you a thousand times, just do your work and we can stop fighting. Why don't you just listen to me? I hate having to shout to get you to pay attention.”

Creating a peaceful relationship with our children is a huge test of emotional intelligence-and particularly empathy. In the above example, there are a number of emotional intelligence failures. I was angry, so I was reacting unconsciously instead of responding intentionally. Under my anger was a feeling of powerlessness and fear. I was scared that he is not self-motivated and won't do well. I reacted to the fear by attacking. I was trying to use my force of will to make him obey.

The first rule of emotional intelligence: When people feel pushed, they resist. I was blaming him, interpreting his lack of interest in homework as a kind of personal attack on me and implying that he was making me behave the way that I behaved. I was focused on what I wanted and my perspective.

I'd like to focus on this last point, because it turns out that this lack of perspective-taking—this lack of empathy—is the key to easing parent-child tension.

When I increase empathy and relook at the situation with compassion, I see a different story. Perhaps he was afraid, too. Perhaps he felt powerless, too. Perhaps he's learned the exact same pattern I've modeled: When you're afraid, attack.

That moment of curiosity is the doorway to empathy, and it's a game changer. Empathy is not actually a complex skill. It's a basic part of the social brain. That little pause of curiosity is a way to step out of the stress reaction, and step into being the person we choose to be.

Hopefully, I'll remember to take that all-important pause and ask myself :I wonder what's really going on for him right now.

1. What phenomenon is described in paragraph 1?

A．The parent-child tension.	B．The poor emotional intelligence of parents.
C．The peaceful communication.	D．The silent resistance from children.

2. What emotional intelligence failures did the writer make in the relationship with his/her son?

A．Lacking a sense of fear.	B．Forcing his/her son to give in.
C．Making personal attacks.	D．Making intentional responses quickly.

3. What's the best title for the text?

A．Parent-Child Conflicts	B．The Test of Emotional Intelligence
C．The Doorway to Empathy	D．The Key to Easing Parent-Child Tension

【推荐2】Most people hate change, which is sad since We often go through intense changes in life. And for some of us, even the smallest changes can upset our day. So the question is: Why do most of us find making adjustments to our lives so hard?

Fear of change is nothing new. Over a century ago, the Parisians were unhappy over a particular addition to their city: the Eiffel Tower. In fact, the citizens were so angry about the plans for the tower that they protested its construction. As strange as it may seem, their anger was completely natural. They were given no choice about the huge change that was going to be made, so they became angry.

But we get upset over changes even when we do have a say in the matter and think about them carefully. Changes are brought about every day by the decisions we make: which school to attend, which job to take, whom to marry. Voluntary changes also make most of us uneasy because we don't know how those changes will affect our future.

People have discovered that the key to overcoming the fear and anger associated with change is to be flexible. When they are flexible, people can adapt to new situations more easily. Being flexible is especially important in the 21st century as technology makes change occur faster than ever before. Those who oppose change, especially with technology in the workplace, may find themselves out of a job.

When change comes, and you have no choice but to face it, embrace it. A positive attitude helps a lot. In fact, the change may turn out to be the best thing for you. That new job you got may end up being much better than your old one. You may make the best friends of your life in the new city you moved to. Don't merely focus on how you feel about change; instead decide to accept the change. The change is the reality, and it's up to you whether the change will be a success or a failure. You never know—your next change may be your life's Eiffel Tower!

1. Why did the building of the Eiffel Tower make the Parisians unhappy?

A．Because they didn't like the design of the Eiffel Tower.

B．Because they couldn't avoid accepting the Eiffel Tower.

C．Because it was no use building the Eiffel Tower.

D．Because the Eiffel Tower seemed strange.

2. How should we overcome negative emotions that the changes bring?

A．We are not supposed to face the changes and let them alone.

B．We should actively accustom ourselves to the new circumstance.

C．We should not take the changes seriously and avoid them as much as possible.

D．We should know that the changes merely bring us bad influence.

3. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．The change will probably make you fail like the Eiffel Tower.

B．The change is like the Eiffel Tower which is not good for our future life.

C．Your future life is never known just like the Eiffel Tower unknown to the Parisians.

D．Your future life is likely to be a great achievement due to the change.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．The Psychology of Change

B．The ways to Overcome the Fear

C．Changes That Disturb Us

D．The Bad Effect of Changes

【推荐3】Bumblebees are in rapid decline (下降) across Europe and North America due to hotter and more frequent extremes in temperatures, scientists say. A study suggests the possibility of a bumblebee population surviving in any given place has declined by 30% within a single human generation.

Peter Soroye, a PhD student at the University of Ottawa and the study’s lead author, said, “We found that populations were disappearing in areas where the temperatures had gotten hotter. If declines continue at this pace, many of these species could disappear forever within a few decades.”

Dr. Tim Newbold, of London’s Centre for Biodiversity Environment Research, said, “We were surprised by how much climate change has already caused bumblebee declines. Our findings suggest that much larger declines are likely if climate change speeds up in the coming years, showing that we need great efforts to reduce climate change if we are to preserve bumblebee diversity.”

Bumblebees pollinate (授粉) plants such as cucumber, tomatoes and berries, and they are among the best pollinators we have in the wild life. Plants and crops that rely on pollination from bumblebees are likely to suffer if bumblebee population continues to drop, which could result in terrible results for the ecosystem.

Prof Jeremy Kerr, of the University of Ottawa and the study’s senior author, said, “It’s high time to prevent climate change worsening for bumblebees and others by keeping habitats (栖息地) that offer shelter, like trees, shrubs or slopes, that could let bumblebees get out of the heat.”

“Most importantly, we must deal with climate change itself and every effective action we take will help in the long run.”

1. What leads bumblebee population to decrease?

A．Competition of various species.	B．More and better habitats.
C．Increase of human populations.	D．Hotter and extreme weather.

2. How does Peter Soroye feel about the future of bumblebees?

A．Hopeful.

B．Worried.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Positive.

3. What’s Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The shelters of bumblebees.	B．The drop of bumblebees.
C．The importance of bumblebees.	D．The change of climate.

4. What is suggested to preserve bumblebees in the long term?

A．Reducing climate change.	B．Keeping nature balance.
C．Decreasing other lives.	D．Preserving bumblebees diversity.