【推荐1】When you set a foot outside of your door to drop trash, go to a social event or go for a walk, thoughts like “I hope I don’t see anyone I know” or “please don’t talk to me” may run through your mind. I’ve also said such things to myself. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is to talk with someone, especially someone new.

Why do we go out of our ways to avoid people? Do we think meeting new people is a waste of time? Or are we just lazy, thinking that meeting someone new really is a trouble?

Communication is the key to life. We have been told that many times. Take the past generations, like our parents, for example. They seem to take full advantage of that whole “communication” idea because they grew up talking face to face while Generation-Y grew up staring at screens. We spend hours of our days sitting on Facebook. We send messages to our friends and think about all of the things we want to say to certain people that we don’t have the courage to actually do in reality.

Nowadays, we are so caught up in our little circle of friends — our comfort zone. We love it that they laugh at our jokes, understand our feelings and can read our minds. Most importantly, they know when we want to be alone. They just get us.

Holding a conversation with someone new means agreeing with things that you don’t actually believe and being someone you think they want you to be — it is, as I said before, a trouble. It takes up so much energy, and at some point or another, it is too tiring.

But meeting new people is important. Life is too short, so meet all the people you can meet, make the effort to go out and laugh. Remember, every “hello” leads to a smile — and a smile is worth a lot.

1. What do we learn about the author?

A．He likes to be alone.	B．He feels nervous lately.
C．He’s afraid of talking to others at times.	D．He’s active in attending social events.

2. What’s the problem of Generation-Y in the author’s eyes?

A．They rely on the Internet to socialize.

B．They are less confident in themselves.

C．They have difficulty in communicating.

D．They are unwilling to make new friends.

3. Why do many young people avoid meeting new people?

A．They fear to disappoint their old friends.

B．They want to take time to do meaningful work

C．They are busy with their study.

D．They think it troublesome.

4. Why does the author write the text?

A．To tell about the importance of friends.

B．To encourage people to meet new people.

C．To give tips on how to meet new people.

D．To introduce the disadvantages of Generation-Y.

【推荐1】One of the most popular street food found in China is no doubt the barbecue. A new series, called Chinese Barbecue, tells the story of this popular food cooked over hot coals on just about every street corner in cities and towns across the country. Barbecued meat is an important part of people’s nightlife.

Shown on June 20, the series has had more than 25 million clicks on the video site bilibili.com. To find the most popular barbecue stalls, the production team travelled to more than 500 locations in 30 cities across the country. Some viewers compare Chinese Barbecue to Midnight Diner, a Japanese TV series telling stories from late night informal Japanese bars.

“I’m happy to hear this comparison because Midnight Diner is a good program, and we share the same topic―night food,” Chinese Barbecue’s director Chen Yingjie said. “However, in terms of the tone, they are quite different.” He said that Midnight Diner focused more on food itself, though there was some conversation while people were eating. In contrast, the night food scene of Chinese people means joy and a more lively spirit. People eating these barbecue snacks develop a feeling of connection, which can be a cure for loneliness.

The barbecue, regarded as the most ordinary and common night street snack, is different from home-made food by mothers as that is a symbol of family and kinship. The barbecue is where you go to become connected to people in society. And unlike official business lunches, during which people are rather reserved and polite, the barbecue lets people relax with old friends and new friends, leaving a lasting impression of friendship.

The world, as a whole, holds deep-rooted good feelings toward the barbecue, either for the taste or the warmth produced by fire. “What we should do is to present the Chinese barbecue just the way it is because with its special ingredients, ways of cooking, and more importantly, the special environment and people, the world will recognize it and might fall in love with it just as we do,” said Chen.

1. What do we know about Chinese Barbecue?

A．It mainly talks about the most famous Chinese food.

B．It is thought highly of by most of the foreign tourists.

C．It has been becoming very popular on the Internet.

D．It shows the colorful nightlife in large cities of China.

2. In which way was Chinese Barbecue different from Midnight Diner?

A．It focused more on the diners.	B．It showed more kinds of food.
C．It showed the eating habits.	D．It was less popular than Midnight Diner.

3. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The importance of the barbecue to family.

B．The role of the barbecue in people’s relationship.

C．The influence of the barbecue on people’s lifestyle.

D．The influence of the barbecue on people’s manners.

4. Why did Chen Yingjie choose the barbecue as the topic of the series?

A．To help the world understand China.	B．To research a special way of cooking.
C．To show the feature of Chinese food.	D．To introduce the history of the barbecue.

【推荐2】Nowadays, Chinese love to consume TV shows, particularly American TV shows. Some shows have become especially popular for certain reasons. When you meet Chinese people, try to mention these shows to strike up a conversation with them, as it is likely that they are fans of these shows.
1. The Big Bang Theory
Talk to any young Chinese person, and chances are that they are crazy about the lives of Sheldon, Raj, Howard, and Leonard. Many viewers describe themselves as in love with Sheldon, and they appreciate the science jokes and content on the show. People admire the young geniuses on the show and the large amount of funny jokes, but also recognizes the show’s message that being smart isn’t everything in life. The university lifestyle depicted on the show and the friendships and witty arguments between the main characters are especially attractive to Chinese audiences.
2. House of Cards
China is ridding itself of corruption(腐败) today. It’s no surprise, then, that a thrilling and brilliant drama about political corruption currently catches on in China. China is the top country where the show is being wildly pirated(盗版) on Chinese websites. The Chinese government has also featured prominently on the show. Even high-ranking Chinese political officials have been known to watch religiously this show and keep up with the exploits of Frank Underwood. Some Chinese politicians consider Underwood as a role model, fans create special videos to honor the show, and many viewers like to learn about American politics and society from the show, even though what they learn from the show may not be totally accurate. It’s interesting to wonder what a Chinese version of this show would be like.
3. Gossip Girl
China has become much wealthier in the last several decades, and people across the world always like to observe rich people’s lives and imagine themselves being rich as well. Like the Chinese movie series Tiny Times, Gossip Girl rose to fame in China because Chinese viewers enjoyed watching the lives of rich Westerners and living wealthily through the characters. Many Chinese fans also admired the romance between Chuck and Blair, and strongly supported them getting married. The show is full of passionate love affairs, pleasant young people, and brilliant drama that fascinated Chinese audiences.
4. Two Broke Girls
Many young Chinese viewers like following the struggles of Max and Caroline as they attempt to earn money and build their own cupcake business. This show has become extremely popular in China and is frequently downloaded online. One reason why this sitcom has been successful in China is that for many Chinese who are young like Max and Caroline, they must deal with the same problems in life. Finding work and earning enough money to join the middle class is difficult for many Chinese people today. The Chinese TV show WoJu (蜗居) shows a family working to save money for an apartment and dealing with many situations caused by poverty, wealth, and greed. Young Chinese work extremely hard to earn enough money to buy cars, homes, and find someone to marry, and they can easily sympathize with characters living in poverty and working towards similar goals.
1. Para 1 suggests that ________.

A．China has been open to America

B．American movie industry develops well

C．American shows are very popular in China

D．Chinese enjoy talking about American shows

2. Viewers struggling for life probably sympathize with characters by watching ________.

A．The Big Bang Theory	B．House of Cards
C．Gossip Girl	D．Two Broke Girls

3. Which of the following is NOT right?

A．The Big Bang Theory tries to convey that being smart means everything.

B．House of Cards is pirated more in China than other countries.

C．Gossip Girl and Tiny Times have a similar theme.

D．Two Broke Girls tells about a story of struggling for a better life.

4. The underlined word “depicted” means ________.

A．learned	B．described
C．made	D．accepted

【推荐3】During the outbreak, watching TV shows has become the most popular activity, according to a survey by Chinese market research company Guideline Research. The survey also points out that people have many ways to watch shows apart from cable TV. They include smartphones, computers, and tablets.

It’s true that TV is not usually watched on an actual TV anymore. Technology has not only changed where but also how we watch TV.

Streaming (流媒体) networks, rather than live TV, have helped viewers watch their favorite shows when it’s most convenient for them. In the US, content providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime keep people entertained. Users can choose which services offer the shows and movies they like.

Binge-watching (刷剧) has become a new trend due to some companies releasing entire seasons at once. Without having to wait for next week’s episode (集), viewers can watch the whole season in a day, or at whatever pace (速度) they choose. Netflix has also released a choose-your-own-adventure movie, where your choices can affect how the story ends, an idea not possible before with traditional TV.

User-generated (用户创造的) content apps like TikTok are also blurring (模糊)the lines of what is considered TV. This may be the biggest change to the TV landscape, as anyone can compete with professional, big-budget (大制作的) TV shows. This trend shows no sign of slowing down.

1. What does “They” refer to in Paragraph 1?

A．Research companies.	B．Means of watching shows
C．People.	D．TV shows.

2. What has changed the way we watch TV?

A．Cable TV.	B．TV shows.
C．Technology.	D．Tablets.

3. Which is the advantage of streaming networks over TV?

A．Users can watch shows free.

B．Users can change the content of a movie.

C．Users can enjoy a whole season at once.

D．Users can enjoy clearer pictures.

4. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A diary.	B．A guidebook.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

【推荐1】Most people find sugar hard to resist. Our brains need lots of energy and sugary foods provide plenty of it. But when calories are too readily available, it is easy to overdo it. There has been no shortage of research on sugar replacements without the calories, but evidence from animal and human studies has linked some to weight gain. One promising alternative is found in the fruit of Synsepalum dulcificum (奇迹果), a plant native to West Africa. These so-called miracle berries don’t taste sugary themselves, but if you try something sour afterwards it will taste unusually sweet.

In Benin, the fruit is eaten fresh and is mostly used as a sweetener to have with sour foods and drinks, says Dedeou from a university in Benin. The berry with miraculin(奇迹果蛋白)is very appreciated by local consumers, especially the kids and people with diabetes (糖尿病).

Despite the miracle berry’s promise as a sugar replacement, it is only produced on a limited scale and isn’t available worldwide. The berries don’t travel well and the plant is slow to grow.

To create an alternative source of miraculin, researchers at the University of Tsukuba in Japan have genetically engineered tomatoes to produce the protein, but this isn’t necessary, says Tchokponhoue whose team is working to help enlarge the production of miracle berries in West Africa. Earlier this year, a team at Hainan University in China published the genome(基因图谱)of Synsepalum dulcificum, which may help.

Spanish start-up Baia Food has plans to promote sustainable growth of the plant in Ghana and market the dried berries. You can order tablets of freeze-dried miracle berries online but they are pricey, costing around £18 for a pack of 10. If you can afford it, the berry’s taste-twisting power is fun to try at home. Let the tablet melt on your tongue, then try tasting acidic foods such as lemons. The effect should last between 15 and 60 minutes.

1. What do we know about Synsepalum dulcificum?

A．It contains high calories.

B．It is related to weight gain.

C．It tastes unusually sweet.

D．It serves as a sugar replacement

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．Efforts made to obtain more miraculin.

B．Genome published to help do the research

C．Creation advocated to produce miracle berries.

D．Transformations performed to engineer tomatoes

3. What can we say about tablets of freeze-dried miracle berries?

A．They are sour.	B．They are inexpensive
C．They are accessible	D．They are productive.

4. What is the author’s attitude to getting the sugar alternative?

A．Doubtful.

B．Optimistic.

C．Defensive.

D．Conservative.

【推荐3】Language teachers, learners and other professionals across the USA are celebrating National Grammar Day on March 4. The holiday, created by Martha Brockenbrough in 2008, celebrates the rules and best practices for the English language. Brockenbrough is the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, or SPOGG, which operates a website where Brockenbrough writes about different language issues.

Mignon Fogarty, who is organizing National Grammar Day celebrations this year, wrote the book “Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.” Fogarty appeared on the NBC television program “Today” on Wednesday. She discussed new additions to the English language. “People think that dictionaries choose new words because they are proper, she said.” But mostly they choose words because people use them.”

The American Dialect Society chooses a word every year that is new or used in a new way .The choice for 2015 Word of the Year was “they,” used to refer to “he” or “she”. The Oxford English Dictionary adds new words after finding evidence people are using the words often. Researchers for the dictionary also look for evidence the words will be used well into the future.

Grammarly is a software application, or app, which can study writing and find grammar mistakes. In preparation for National Grammar Day, Grammarly studied the writing on the Twitter accounts of the 50 people with the most followers in the world and counted the average number of mistakes in their writing. Then the top 10 accounts with the fewest mistakes were listed.

Comedian Conan O’Brien had the best grammar. He averaged 0.21 mistakes for every 100 words he wrote. Businessman Bill Gates had the second best grammar, with an average of 0.22 mistakes. President Barack Obama came third with an average of 0.26 mistakes.

The National Grammar Day website has many resources for language learners. You can celebrate the day by reading our weekly series “Everyday Grammar.”

1. National Grammar Day is created to ________.

A．celebrate the birth of English grammar

B．improve the standard use of English

C．found the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar

D．publish different language issues

2. From the passage, we know new words are added in dictionaries mainly because they are ________.

A．properly used	B．frequently used
C．newly used	D．hardly used

3. Using Grammarly, we can ________.

A．read articles online	B．correct errors in spelling
C．find grammar mistakes in writings	D．check accounts of famous people

4. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．Grammar is important to language learners.

B．Grammarly is a useful software application.

C．Famous people make fewer grammar mistakes.

D．National Grammar Day is celebrated in some way.

【推荐1】Scientists have long known a reliable way to lose weight in lab animals; Cut the amount of calories(卡路里) by 10 percent to 40 percent. A new study suggests that in young and middle-aged adults, taking in 300 caloric less every day can also have a big influence on their body weight and health.

In the new study published this month in the Lancet, researchers looked at a group of 143 healthy men and women aging from 21 to 50. They could eat the foods they wanted as long as they cut about 12 percent of their total calories, or roughly 300 calories a day.

The group saw their health improve. For example, their blood pressure fell, and they had better blood sugar control.

“The benefits came from the fact that they lost about 16 pounds over the two years of the study,” said William Kraus, the lead author of the study and a professor of medicine at Duke University.

“We were surprised by these changes,” he added. “In a disease population, there aren't five drugs in combination(组合) that would get such a big improvement.”

Calories cut may be useful for better health and weight loss, said Frank Hu, the chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health. But he questioned whether caloric cut would be possible for most people since we are living in an environment with so many energy-rich, nutrient-poor foods that are cheap, and heavily advertised.

He suggested, however, that some people might find calorie cut possible if they combined it with other popular diets like the Mediterranean diet.

Dr. Kraus said, “It’s not that hard to cut as little as 300 calories a day from their diets. It just takes an after-dinner snack.”

1. How much calories does a middle-aged adult usually take in each day?

A．About 300.

B．About 750.

C．About 2,500.

D．About3,000.

2. What led to the health benefits in the new study according to William Kraus?

A．The combination of five drugs.	B．The weight loss.
C．The energy-rich snacks.	D．The delicious foods.

3. What is Frank Hu’s attitude toward the advice in the new study?

A．Doubtful.

B．Favorable.

C．Uncaring.

D．Curious.

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

A．Hot Debate on Different Weight-losing Diets

B．New Health Guidelines Published for the Adults

C．The Easiest Way to Stay Fit and Healthy Ever Found

D．Cutting 300 Calories a Day to Stay Healthy Every Day

【推荐3】Perhaps you have ever heard the saying: Change is the only constant. Everyone, without doubt, goes through changes in their life, whether it is a physical state of aging or a mental state of emotional maturity. However, some are afraid to make the conscious decision to move or they think it's too late to have a fresh start.

I have a friend named Jack. At the age of 37, he is a Senior Manager at one of the Big Four. He has a great salary, owns his own apartment and enjoys the fine things in life, but not without the heavy burdens that his job brings. On the surface, it looks like he has got life figured out. Yet when I once asked if he was happy with his work, he answered that he some- times wished to quit his job to do something less stressful. But he’d become accustomed to this lifestyle and felt that it would be too late to give it up to achieve a new ambition.

For him, the risks are too high, so whether he can't abide his present job or not, he has to choose to suck it up. You might have come to a similar situation as Jack’s or you might be a Jack. You're now facing a wall. No matter what it is—the stress of your job or the terrible feeling, it’s time that you had to decide whether you'll tear down that wall or continue to let it enclose you. I suggest pushing back the boundaries and breaking the fixed patterns. Why do you feel it's too late to start over? That is simply because you're comparing yourself with others—younger or more successful individuals. In fact, you should compare yourself with the older version of you.

Don't become that person who lets life pass by only to regret it when you are making your way into old age. Don't let your life plateau（停滞不前）and waste away in the daily chores. Don't give up the potential you still have hidden and be locked away by your current state. Now, you’d better bravely start going after the things you want to do, without abandoning your dreams, ambitions and responsibilities.

1. What kind of people does Jack represent according to the author?

A．Those leading a happy life.

B．Those having an easeful career.

C．Those thinking it's too late to change.

D．Those having a high ambition to work.

2. What does the underlined word “abide” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Value.

B．Recommend.

C．Understand.

D．Tolerate.

3. What does the author advise us not to do?

A．Let life stand still.

B．Enjoy the present job.

C．Have a small goal in life.

D．Consider ourselves as a failure.

4. Which is the best title for the text?

A．Everyone Can Meet a Jack

B．Don't Try to Control Yourself

C．Never Think Change Is Too Late

D．You Should Make Alteration Earlier