【推荐1】As the days get shorter and the cold weather rolls in, we all want to curl up in a blanket and sleep until spring rolls around. But making time to get outside in the sun, even when it's cold out, could have bigger mood benefits than you might realize. New research finds that sunlight exposure is by far the greatest weather-related factor determining mental health. In other words, more sunshine, more happiness.

For the study, a psychologist, a physicist and a statistician from BYU teamed up to compare daily environmental data from the university's Physics and Astronomy Weather Station with emotional health dataarchivedby day for 16,452 adult patients who were being treated at the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services. Other weather variables(可变因素) including temperature, pollution and rain were not found to have an impact on mental health.

“We were surprised that many of the weather and pollution variables we included in the study were not significantly related to patients' scores once we had accounted for sun time," said Dr. Mark Beecher, a professor of psychology at the university and the study's lead author.

Exposure to sunlight is a significant factor in seasonal affective disorder. Research has shown that the brain produces more of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin on sunny days than it does on darker days. What's more, lack of sunlight is linked with lower vitamin D levels, which in turn has been correlated with depression and low energy.

In addition to seeking professional help if you need it, taking a walk in the sun can help. Walking in nature is known to reduce stress, improve cognitive function, lighten the mood and even put the brain into a peaceful state.

1. According to the new research, what can make people happier?

A．Less pollution.	B．Fewer rainy days.
C．More cold weather.	D．More exposure to sunlight.

2. The underlined word “archived” in the second paragraph means______

A．composed	B．discussed
C．recorded	D．adjusted

3. What did the researchers think of the findings of the research?

A．They were as expected.

B．They were surprising.

C．They needed professional proof.

D．They were not inclusive enough.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To inform readers of a new study.

B．To tell people a piece of good news.

C．To introduce a new way to gain happiness.

D．To explain the benefits of walking in nature.

【推荐2】Courtesy in English

Courtesy (礼貌) is an art form that shows our moral character. China's history is one of a civilization (文明) with a highly developed sense of etiquette (礼仪) ; therefore, we should speak English as politely as possible when we go abroad.

Ordering meals

    1     Beginning your request with “May I...?” “Could I...?” is considered polite. For example, “May I have a latte?” It is also politer to say, “I’ll have...” or “I’d like...” instead of “I want...” because it will be considered as less direct.

Asking for help

If we need to ask someone for help, we should say, “Excuse me, or Do you mind if I ask you something?”    2     Instead, for example, we should say, “Could you tell me where the rest rooms are?”

    3    

Local people in other countries sometimes speak really fast, so it can be hard for us to catch all the words. In such a situation, we can say, “Pardon me?” to ask them to repeat what they said. In my opinion, saying “Can you please repeat that? I didn't follow.” is the politest way.

Refusing an invitation

    4    If we really can't make it, we can first say, “I’d like to ...” and then say, “but I have to work late”, for example. Or “I’m afraid I can't...”, or even, “That sounds great, but ...”

Expressing disagreement

We can use sentences like “I see what you're saying, but I think...”,or “You could be right, but don't forget that...” or even, “Yes, that's true, but I'm not sure that...”    5    

A．Can't catch what's been said?

B．We should not ask our questions directly.

C．Being polite when you order something is very important.

D．Do you know some basic rules of answering the telephone?

E．It is also important to know how to refuse someone’s invitation.

F．“Please” and “thank you” go a long way when we speak to each other.

G．These are great ways to express disagreement politely by being less direct.

【推荐1】In any family with more than one child, children seem to naturally compete for their parents’ love and attention. Parents say they love every child equally. But is that true?
Susan, founder of a consulting firm in Chicago, interviewed 216 women and found that even though none of her questions asked directly about a parent favoring one child over another, about two-thirds of the women said there was a favored child. And             they also remembered their experience when they were young. One of the women said, “My mother always liked my brother better, and he got to go to summer camp in 1968 and I didn’t.”
Plumez, who interviewed parents with both biological children and adoptive children for an adoption book in 2008, found that what matters most is whether your temperaments(性情) are pleasing. “In some cases, parents would say they felt closer to their adopted children,” she says, “Some parents like the children with characters similar to theirs. Two people who are shy and withdrawn might get along well, unless the shy parent doesn’t like that aspect of themselves and they try to push the naturally withdrawn child to be more extroverted.”
It could be a result of gender, birth order or how easy or difficult a child’s temperament may be, but a parent’s different treatment has far-reaching effects. Students have found that less-favored children may suffer emotionally, with decreased self-esteem             and behavioral problems in childhood. Favoritism is a reason for the next generation not to like each other.
Experts say it is not realistic to say everyone should be treated equally, because no two people are the same and they relate differently to others.
“It does not mean that parent loves or likes one child more. It has to do with which one of them is independent,” says psychologist Laurie Kramer of the University of Illinois.
1. The study carried out by Susan shows that ______.

A．showing favoritism is common in many families

B．most mothers like their sons better than their daughters

C．only two-thirds of the women interviewed have more than a child

D．it is a favoritism that leads to absence of harmony in most families

2. The underlined word “extroverted” in the third paragraph means _______.

A．independent

B．outgoing

C．clever

D．brave

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Favoritism is not beneficial to the development of children

B．Parents’ favoritism to a certain child can’t be avoided in families

C．Parents may be favoring one of their children and don’t realize it

D．People are very much shaped by how they were treated by their parents

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Parents’ favoritism can affect children deeply

B．Why do parents show favoritism to children?

C．Parents should give attention to all their children

D．Building a harmonious family is important to children

【推荐3】In choosing a friend, one should be very careful. A good friend can help you study. You can have fun together and make each other happy. Sometimes you will meet fair­weather friends. They will be with you as long as you have money or luck，but when you are down, they will run away. How do I know when I have found a good friend? I look for certain qualities of character，especially understanding, honesty and reliability(可靠)．

Above all else, I look for understanding in a friend. A good friend tries to understand how another person is feeling. He is not quick to judge. Instead, he tries to learn from others. He puts himself in the other person’s place, and he tries to think of ways to be helpful. He is also a good listener.

At the same time, however, a good friend is honest. He does not look for faults in others. He notices their good points. In short, a friend will try to understand me and accept me.

Another quality of a friend is reliability. I can always depend on a good friend. If he tells me he will meet me somewhere at a certain time, I can be sure that he will be there. If I need a favor，he will do his best to help me. If I am in trouble, he will not run away from me.

There is a fourth quality that makes a friend special. A special friend is someone with whom we can have fun. We should enjoy our lives, and we would enjoy our friendship. That is why I especially like friends who are fun to be with. A good friend likes the same things I like. We share experience and learn from each other. A good friend has a good sense of humor too. He likes to laugh with me. That is how we share in the joy of being friends. And I know that he is looking for the same quality in me.

When I meet someone who is reliable, honest, and understanding，I know I’ve found a friend!

1. Which of the following qualities the writer thinks is the most important in choosing a friend?

A．Understanding.

B．Honesty.

C．Reliability.

D．A sense of humor.

2. If you have fair­weather friends, ________.

A．they will give you all that they have when you need help

B．you will be refused when you get into trouble

C．you can be sure that you get real friends

D．you will become rich

3. This passage mainly discusses ________.

A．the qualities of a friend

B．where to choose friends

C．how to get along with friends

D．the importance of having a friend

4. How many qualities does the writer mention in the passage?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

D．Six.

【推荐1】The Garden of Dreams was the peaceful site in Kathmandu, Nepal. The four-acre Garden of Dreams was designed by landscape architect Kishore Narshingh. Most especially, the site was characterized by six pavilions, which symbolized the “six seasons” of Nepal: spring, early summer, the summer monsoon season, early autumn, late autumn, and winter. In its most powerful time, the garden was considered one of the most remarkable feats of landscape design in the country.

Today, visitors will only find three pavilions on just over an acre of land, but the 74,000 square-foot space remains a fresh and green attraction. Through the garden’s original gates are pretty and old-fashioned fountains and ponds, isolated gardens of varying sizes, and the Kaiser Café Restaurant & Bar. Pathways are lined with grass, trees, and flowers from all over the world.

While the Garden of Dreams has been transformed into a public space, it remains a quiet and peaceful escape in the center of Kathmandu, and a popular hangout for sunbathers, wanderers, residents, and tourists alike.

Know Before You Go

The Garden of Dreams is open daily from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. It’s located in the Kaiser Mahal complex in the busy Thamel neighborhood of Kathmandu. Admission to the garden costs Rs. 200 per person for tourists and Rs. 100 for Nepali residents. Wifi is available throughout the garden for Rs. 50 an hour.

1. Which item can tourists enjoy in the Garden of Dreams now?

A．Six seasons there.

B．A feast with plentiful meals.

C．Beautiful gardens of different sizes.

D．Fishing in the pretty and old-fashioned ponds.

2. What is the admission for a local of Nepal and a foreign tourist?

A．Rs.350.

B．Rs.300.

C．Rs.200.

D．Rs.100.

3. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．A Trip to Nepal

B．The Garden of Dreams

C．Nepal, A Beautiful Country

D．A Country with Six Seasons

【推荐2】As a result of pollution, Lake Erie, on the borders of the USA and Canada, is now without any living things.

Pollution in water is not simply a matter of “poisons” killing large numbers of fish overnight, Very often the effects of pollution are not noticed for many months or years because the first organisms（生物体）to be affected are either plants or plankton. But these organisms are the food of fish and birds and other creatures. When this food disappears, the fish and birds die too. In this way a whole food chain can be wiped out, and it’s not until dead fish and water birds are seen at the river’s edge or on the seashore that people realize what is happening.

Where do the substances which pollute the water come from? There are two main sources of sewage（污水）and industrial waste . As more detergent（洗涤剂）is used in the home, so more of it is finally put into our rivers, lakes and seas . Detergents harm water birds, dissolving the natural substances which keep their feathers water - proof. Sewage itself, if not properly treated, makes the water dirty and prevents all forms of life in rivers and the sea from receiving the oxygen they need. Industrial waste is even more harmful as there are many highly poisonous things in it, such as copper and lead（铅）.

So, if we want to stop this pollution, the answer is simple: sewage and industrial waste must be made clear before flowing into the water . It may already be too late to save some rivers and　lakes, but others can still be saved if the correct action is taken at once.

1. Pollution of water is noticed________.

A．when the first organisms are affected

B．when a good many fish and birds die

C．when poisonous things are poured into water

D．as soon as the balance of nature is destroyed

2. The living things die because there is no ________in the lake or river.

A．water	B．fish
C．poison	D．oxygen

3. Which of the following is harmful according to the passage?

A．Organisms

B．Plants and plankton in the water

C．Waste water from cities

D．Industrial waste made clear before flowing into the water.

4. The way to stop water pollution is to________.

A．realize the serious situation clearly

B．put oxygen into the river

C．make the waste material harmless before flowing into the water

D．make special room in the sea for our rubbish

【推荐3】The Olympic Games are seen as the greatest test of an athlete’s ability and are supposed to celebrate the spirit of fair play. But in fact, sportsmen have been using drugs to cheat their way to victory since the Games first began.

In the early years, athletes ate mushrooms(蘑菇)and plant seeds to improve their performance. Nowadays, this kind of cheating has a name doping(服用兴奋剂).

Just last month, Britain’s top sprinter(赛跑选手) Dwain Chambers and several American athletes tested positive(呈阳性)for the drug THG. Until a coach secretly gave a sample of THG to scientists, no one knew how to test for it.

“We’re like cops(警察)chasing criminals—athletes are always adapting and looking for areas we haven’t investigated,” said Jacquew de Ceaurriz, a French anti-doping expert.

Since the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City, many cheats have been caught out. The most famous case in history is that of Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson. He broke the 100 meters world record in winning gold at the 1988 Seoul(汉城)Olympics. But days later, he tested positive for drug use, lost his gold medal and was banned from the sport. Five years later, he returned to action—only to be found positive again and banned forever.

China has also had problems with drug cheats. At the 1994 Asian Games, 11 Chinese athletes—seven of them swimmers—tested positive for banned drugs. Sports organizations promised that cheating on this scale would not happen again.

Experts are also worried that doping can damage a person’s health. It is believed to increase the risk of liver and kidney(肝肾)diseases, and women may experience reproductive(生育) problems. As long as they can stay ahead of the scientists, it is unlikely the cheats will stop. But experts say there is a limit to what can be achieved and that athletes will not be able to change their bodies using gene(基因)technology.

“For the moment, genetic doping does not exist,” said de Ceaurriz. “Even in 10 or 15 years it will not be done easily—the scientific community(界)will not let it happen.”

1. Which of the following is not the way that some athletes cheat to their better sports achievements?

A．Eating mushrooms.	B．Taking drug THG.
C．Taking genetic doping.	D．Eating plant seeds.

2. How many countries are mentioned in the passage in which there were athletes doping?

A．Two.	B．Four.
C．Six.	D．Eight.

3. We can infer from the passage that ____.

A．scientists get a lot of information about drugs before the athletes take doping

B．taking doping will never happen again because of the serious test

C．few athletes used drug cheats before the first drugs test was carried out at the 1968 Olympics

D．problems with drug cheats are still serious though they are severely tested

4. Which statement of the following is true?

A．Many police are sent to chase criminals of taking doping during the Olympic Games.

B．The drug test was carried out until the 1968 Olympics.

C．There is the possibility that women athletes taking doping will give no birth to a child.

D．Ben Johnson was banned from sports forever for being tested positive for drug use at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

【推荐1】Tall, taller, tallest. For much of the 20th century, New York City and Chicago competed to build the world’s tallest skyscrapers. Other cities around the world watched the race between these two cities. From 1913 to 1930 New York’s Woolworth Building was the tallest (241m). From 1931 to 1972, the Empire State Building in New York was the tallest building in the world (381m). Then Chicago built its own Sears Tower, which stood as the tallest building in the world (442m) for 24 years. Until the 1990s, the United States chimed the tallest structures on earth. That is no longer true. Today the tallest buildings are in Asia.

Skyscrapers were originally built by wealthy companies as symbols of their success and power. That is still true today. But skyscrapers are also symbols of local and national pride. Countries compete to build the tallest structure. Since 1998, the race to be the tallest has progressed quickly. Petronas Twin Towers was completed in Kuala, Lumpur in 1997 (452m).   Just one year later, Shanghai completed the Jin Mao Tower (421m). On September 14, 2007, the Shanghai World Financial Center was topped out and is 492m, making it the 8th tallest building in the world. And then Dubai in the Middle East has entered the race. Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the tallest building in the world, standing at 829. 8m.

1. In 1920, the world’s tallest building was the         ?

A．Sears Tower.	B．Woolworth Building.
C．Empire State Building.	D．Petronas Twin Towers.

2. Why did wealthy companies build skyscrapers?

A．Because they want to be known by the world.

B．Because they’re symbols of their success and power.

C．Because they want to make money by building them.

D．Because they can represent the spirits of the companies.

3. What can be inferred from the second paragraph?

A．Skyscrapers are a source of pride.

B．All cities want to have the tallest buildings.

C．Asian cities can afford to build skyscrapers.

D．People are eager to have a better living condition.

4. What is the main topic of the passage?

A．Designing skyscrapers.	B．Finding jobs for architects.
C．Comparing American and Asian cities.	D．Competing to build the tallest skyscrapers.

【推荐2】BIG BUS TOURS-HOP-ON HOP-OFF TOURS

Big Bus Welcome Center 7127th Ave. Between 47th & 48th St.

TELEPHONE

212-685-8687

FREE ENTRY WITH THE NEW YORK PASS **SAVE﹩59.00

Normal Entry Price: Adult﹩59.00

Normal Entry Price: Child﹩49.00

The open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most enjoyable and convenient way to see New York! You’ll see famous landmarks such as the iconic Empire State Building to the new One World Trade Center. Throughout the tour, you can learn about the city’s history from our entertaining and informative live guides and recorded commentary. You can hop-on and hop-off at any of the Big Bus stops to explore and visit NYC’s tourist attractions such as the American Museum of Natural History and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The New York Pass grants you a free Classic Ticket valid (有效) for 1 day on the Uptown, Downtown & Midtown Loops. Tickets must be collected from one of the Big Bus Centers, and tickets cannot be issued on the bus. All tickets redeemed (补换) or purchased after 3 pm are extended into the next day.

TOUR HOURS：

Downtown Loop has daily departures from 8 am to 5 pm from November to March and 8 am to 6 pm from April to October.

Uptown Loop has daily departures from 9 am to 5 pm from November to March and 9 am to 6 pm from April to October.

Get the Big Bus Hop on Hop off Route Map — CLICK HERE

Click herefor more information about Big Bus Tours.

It really is that easy — See for yourself how this works.

Or check out all 90+ New York City Attractionswhere you get free entry with New York Pass.

1. Who helps tourists with the city’s history during the trip?

A．Bus drivers.

B．Policemen.

C．Volunteers.

D．Live guides.

2. We can learn from the passage that ______ .

A．tourists can get on and off the bus with ease

B．the open-top Big Bus sightseeing tour is the most expensive way to see New York

C．Big Bus Welcome Center is Between 37th & 38th St.

D．free Classic Ticket can be issued on the bus

3. What is the advantage of New York Pass?

A．Staying wherever the tourist likes.

B．Choosing different restaurants to eat.

C．Getting a free Classic Ticket.

D．Saving much time for buying stuff.

4. The passage is probably taken from ______ .

A．an application form	B．a history book
C．a newspaper	D．a website

【推荐3】The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale in an illegal website.

Websites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care.

Online shoppers who enter their credit-card information may never receive the goods they thought they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number-or sell the information over the Internet. Computers hackers have broken down security, systems, raising questions about the safety of cardholder information. Several months ago, 25,000 customers of CD Universe, an on-line music retailer (零售商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit card numbers were posted on a website after the retailer refused to pay US $157,828 to get back the information.

Credit card firms are now fighting against online fraud. Mastercard is working on plans for web-only credit card, with a lower credit limit. The card could be used only for shopping online. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.

Ask about your credit card firm’s online rules: under British law, cardholders have to pay the first US $78 of any fraudulent spending.

And shop only at secure sites; send your credit card information only if the website offers advanced secure system.

If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The website address may also start https://-the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit card information over the telephone.

Keep your password safe: Most online sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.

1. What is the meaning of “fraud”?

A．Cheating.

B．Sale.

C．Payment.

D．Safety.

2. How many pieces of advice does the passage give to you?

A．Four

B．Three

C．Five.

D．Six.

3. You are shopping on the site: http://www.Shopping.com, and you want to buy a TV set, what does this article suggest to do?

A．Order the TV set at once.	B．Tell the site your password and buy the TV set for you.
C．Do not buy the TV set on this site.	D．E-mail the site your credit card information.