【推荐2】A young Mexican-born stood up for her community and fought for a cause that many thought was worthless because of whom she was going up against. Her name is Erica Fernandez.

Erica was born and raised in Michoacán, Mexico until the age of 12. At that time, her family migrated to the United States to the agricultural city of Oxnard, California. After a few years of living there, she developed a strong sense of community through familiar experiences and relationships with the people in Oxnard.

One clay. Erica got word of the proposal of BHP Billiton, the richest mining corporation in the world, to build a natural liquefied gas facility off the Coast of Ventura County. This proposal would have had a 36-inch pipeline routed through low-income neighborhoods in Oxnard. The proposal was first presented to richer communities but was rejected. The company then added 1 0 miles to the project so that it can go around the richer communities and only affect Oxnard. This pipeline, had it gone through, would have caused 280 tons of air pollution each year, not only affecting the health of Oxnard residents, but also causing their crops and farmland to be affected largely.

Seeing that her community was going to be taken advantage of, Erica decided to do something about it. Erica joined forces with local community organizations to stand up to BHP Billiton and stop this proposal from going through, organized protests at the BHP Billiton offices, led marches through the neighborhoods that were going to be affected the most, and reached out to the media to get coverage on this injustice.

All of Erica's efforts became worthwhile after her passionate speech before the California State Lands Commission. The project was asked to be vetoed and the Commission urged the Governor to do the same. It also led to the creation of SB41 2 , a bill introduced in the California Senate that entitles（给 予权利） communities to have a say in coastal construction proposals.

1. Why was Erica against the proposal of BHP Billiton?

A．She wanted her neighborhood protected.

B．She wanted rich neighborhoods influenced.

C．She wanted a sense of community developed.

D．She wanted a natural liquefied gas facility built.

2. What made Erica's efforts pay off finally?

A．Delivering a speech.	B．Reporting the proposal.
C．Leading marches.	D．Organizing protests.

3. What does the underlined word “vetoed" in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Allowed.

B．Refused.

C．Completed.

D．Created.

4. Which of the following best describes Erica?

A．Ambitious and careful.	B．Humorous and considerate.
C．Courageous and determined.	D．Responsible and easy-going.

【推荐3】Much like beauty, art is in the eve of the beholder. The artwork we are attracted to can give insight into our personality, such as whether we are too quick or too slow, calm or moody. Studies into art preferences date back to the 1930s-most of them examining the degree to which people like or dislike different paintings. Research shows that a person’s interest in art is more strongly related to certain personality traits (特征) than to social class, age, or gender.

In particular, a personality trait called “openness” is the best predictor of whether individuals are interested in art. On the other side, those who identify as “conscientious” (一丝不苟的) , are often less drawn to the arts. These traits are part of the Big Five, a widely accepted personality theory based on nearly a century of research.

The model claims that each personality is made up of a combination of five core traits: openness, conscientiousness, extroversion (enjoying being with other people), agreeableness (being pleasant) and neuroticism (feeling worried and nervous). Rather than stating a person as being either thy or outgoing, the Big Five Model believes that everyone lies somewhere between the two extremes.

Personality traits may also affect the way people visually scan art. A 2018 study tracked participants’ eye movements as they studied abstract (抽象的) artwork. The majority of participants concentrated on the upper-right part. This makes sense, as the right half of the brain is specialized for visual and spatial processing, and also plays a significant role in processing the emotions that art draws out. However, participants who tended toward neuroticism focused on the left side of the picture, and those with mental disease paid more attention to the bottom of the picture.

Even with the impressive amount of research into the relationship between people’s personality traits end their love for art, there are still holes in the theories. For instance, some scientists claim that the Big Five Model doesn’t translate across cultures and is mainly targeted toward those living in developed nations. Also, most studies have focused on two-dimensional art, like paintings, and haven’t yet described differing preferences for the variety of media that exist around the world. Then there’s the fact that our art preferences change over time and are informed by our ages, relationships and life experiences.

People’s preferences for art are nearly as complicated as art itself. But if you’re looking for a quick test of someone’s general personality traits, it doesn’t hurt to glance at what’s hanging on their walls.

1. What does the underlined part “art is in the eye of the beholder” in Paragraph 1 imply?

A．The value of an artwork depends on its quality and price.

B．Whether an artwork is attractive is based on personal opinions.

C．The preference for art is mostly influenced by one’s social status.

D．We judge an artwork based on whether it is considered beautiful.

2. The shadowed area in each of the following pictures is the part a person focuses on when enjoying an abstract painting. According to the 2018 study, which of the following best shows how a person who feels worried sees the painting?

A．

B．

C．

D．

3. What can be inferred from the passage about the Big Five Model?

A．It is a system developed nearly a century ago.

B．It may not apply to people from some countries.

C．It strictly classifies everyone into one of the five traits.

D．It can explain the change in our art preference overtime.

4. What does the passage focus on?

A．Why one likes an artwork better than others.

B．How to discover one’s art preference.

C．How to reveal one’s personality traits.

D．What one’s taste in art says about him/her.

【推荐1】In England and Wales, motorists will face stronger punishments for driving under the influence of drugs as new laws take effect on Monday.

Drivers will be accused if they are caught going over the new legal limits for eight illegal drugs and eight prescription drugs.

Police will use ‘drugalysers’ to screen for cannabis and cocaine at the roadside, and they will be able to test for other drugs including ecstasy, LSD, ketamine and heroin at a police station. The Department of Transport (DoT) hopes to roll out more comprehensive roadside drugalysers at a later date.

People using prescription drugs, including morphine and methadone, will not be punished as long as levels are below those defined by the new law. The levels for illegal drugs are set much lower, with even a small amount leading to accusation.

The new law will complement existing rules, which make it an offence to drive when influenced by any drug.

A crime for drug-driving will lead to a minimum one-year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000 ($7,700, 6,860 euros), up to six months in prison and a criminal record, the DoT said.

The offender’s driving licence will also highlight the drug-driving crime for 11 years.

1. What’s the function of drugalysers ?

A．To examine the cannabis and cocaine .	B．To help the police to arrest the criminals.
C．To show how dangerous drug-driving is.	D．To help the drivers drive within the limits.

2. What can we know from paragraph 4?

A．Which drivers should be fined.	B．Prescription drugs are used legally.
C．How long a driver may be stopped driving.	D．In which situation drivers can not be punished.

3. What kind of punishment will be given to the drivers for drug driving?

A．They need record the criminal.	B．They can get as much as £5,000.
C．They must stop driving for at least one year .	D．They must work in the prison up to six months.

4. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．The laws in England and wales.	B．The drugalysers along the roadside.
C．New drug-driving laws have taken effect.	D．The reasons why the drivers will be punished.

【推荐2】The Superme Court is the highest court in the United States. Let’s meet some of the great women who have left their mark one in the country’s highest court. Margaret Brent

In the early years women were prevented from practicing law. However, Margaret Brent, a wealthy landlord living in Maryland, was an exception. She appeared before courts several times to file lawsuits（诉讼）against people who owed her money.

Lucy Prince

Lucy was well-known for her skills as a public speaker, and in 1976 she became the first black woman in America to argue before a Supreme Court justice. The case arose from a land conflict, and Lucy argued against two leading lawyers. Chief Justice Samuel Chase, said that Lucy “ made a better argument than he had ever heard from a lawyer in Vermont.”

Ruth Ginsburg

Born in Brooklyn, Ginsburg graduated from Cornell University and Columbia Law School. Between 1972 and 1978, Ginsburg argued six cases before the Supreme Court concerning laws that kept women out of certain occupations. She won five of them. Later she was appointed to hold an important post in the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton.

Myra Bradwell

In 1872, the Illinois Supreme Court denied Myra Bradwell’s admission to the Illinois Bar despite the fact that she had passed the state bar exam. Bradwell then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the Illinois court’s decision. Unfortunately for Bradwell, the tables weren’t turned.The Supreme Court claimed that there was nothing illegal about   denying   a woman the chance to practice as a lawyer.

1. What was Samuel Chase’s attitude to Lucy’s argument?

A．Uncaring.	B．Approving
C．Doubtful.	D．Grateful.

2. Who is concerned about equal rights for women according to the text?

A．Margaret Brent	B．Lucy Prince
C．Ruth Ginsburg	D．Myra Bradwell

3. What does the underlined sentence mean in the text?

A．Bradwell’s request was illegal.

B．Bradwell failed the state bar exam.

C．The Supreme Court broke the law.

D．The Supreme Court ruled against Bradwell.

【推荐3】Smoking in your own home in Thailand may now be considered a crime, if the smoke is considered harmful to other people in the house.

The new law, Family Protection and Development Promotion Act, aiming at controlling smoking at home which might be hazardous for others’ health living under the same roof, was initiated by the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and was announced in the Royal Gazette on May 22, 2019. It came into force on August 20.

According to the center for research and knowledge management for tobacco control, at the Faculty of Medical Science of Mahidol University, there are about 4.9 million households where one or more family members smoke. An average of 10.3 million people have unwittingly (不知不觉地) become passive smokers because they’ve been breathing smoke at home. Scientific studies show that passive smokers are at greater risk of being affected by cancer. Of 75 child patients from houses where smoking is practiced, 76% of them were found to have nicotine traces in their urine (尿液), with 43% of them having nicotine content exceeding (超过) permissible levels.

Smoking at home also “may lead to physical or emotional violence” because of aggressiveness when there is a lack of smoking, and might as well ruin relationships between smokers and non­smoking family members.

According to the new law, anyone who thinks they are affected by domestic smoking can report to government departments concerned so that officials will be sent to investigate and take legal action against the smokers. Once convicted (证明有罪的), the court may order a person to receive treatment to quit smoking in an attempt to protect the person’s family.

1. What does the underlined word “hazardous” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Guilty.	B．Beneficial.
C．Influential.	D．Dangerous.

2. How does the author organize Paragraph 3?

A．By listing figures.

B．By giving examples.

C．By comparing the differences.

D．By explaining the reasons.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Smoking anywhere in Thailand is considered a crime.

B．Passive smokers are more likely to have lung cancer.

C．76% of the children in Thailand have nicotine traces in their urine.

D．Smoking at home may hurt other family members both physically and emotionally.

4. What may be true according to the new law?

A．Anybody must report to the officials once they are affected.

B．Officials will take legal action against all the people concerned.

C．Smoking in one’s own home in Thailand may now be considered a crime.

D．The court may order a smoker to stop smoking to protect all non­smokers.

【推荐2】You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim (受害者) or a creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing (内化) your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are individuals who might like to control their lives, but they don't let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choices in the matter. They believe their dance with each sacred moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for emotional and spiritual growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish (沉溺) in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others---and even themselves---to feel like victims, too. Creators consciously choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have the choice to determine the direction of their lives.

In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the grief, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

In every moment and every situation, you can choose to have a fuller, richer life by setting a clear intention to transform the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

1. According to Paragraph 2, creators ________.

A．handle ups and downs of life wisely

B．possess the ability to predict future life

C．seem willing to experience failure in life

D．have the potential to create something new

2. The examples mentioned in Paragraph 4 show that ________.

A．people may become victims if they care too much about sufferings

B．people need family support to deal with challenges in life

C．it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains

D．one’s experiences determine his attitude towards life

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To define victims and creators.

B．To evaluate victims against creators.

C．To explain the relationship between victims and creators.

D．To suggest the transformation from victims to creators.

【推荐3】Zoos divide opinion: there are those who think it is cruel to keep animals locked up while others believe zoos are essential for the survival of endangered species （濒危物种）.

To argue that zoos imprison（囚禁） animals is to misunderstand what zoos are about. Without zoos many of the creatures we love and admire would no longer survive. Every single day, over one hundred animal species disappear. Scientists predict that as early as 2050 one quarter of the Earth’s species will become extinct.

Some animals are in danger because they are hunted. The population of tigers has already fallen by ninety-five percent. Other species are in danger because of a lack of food. For example, there are fewer than 1300 giant pandas left in the wild.

Zoos have special breeding programmes（育种计划）to help those animals at risk. These breeding programmes are proving extremely successful. As Irene Shapiro from Zoo and Wildlife Support says, “the Puerto Rican Parrot has grown in numbers from just thirteen to about eighty-five and the Golden Lion Tamarin Monkey, which has almost stopped to exist（存在）twenty years ago, has been reintroduced back into the wild.”

Unfortunately, not everyone understands this important role zoos play. For example, Brian Featherstone from the Anti-Zoo Forum says, “I can’t believe we take animals from the wild and put them in cages for the entertainment of the public! We should view them on film or TV in their natural environment.”

However, this misses the point. A zoo does more than display animals to the public. It ensures their survival. Without zoos you would not be able to see many of these animals on TV or anywhere else!

1. What’s the writer’s attitude towards zoos?

A．He shows no opinion either for or against them.

B．He thinks that they are unnecessary and cruel.

C．He believes they play an important environmental role.

D．He expresses a desire that more of them be built.

2. According to the passage the world’s tiger population ______.

A．will rise by 5% next year	B．is relatively stable
C．is 95% smaller than in the past	D．has fallen to 95%

3. According to the passage some people do not agree with zoos because they ______

A．are too expensive to run	B．put animals in danger
C．do not provide enough food	D．keep animals locked up

4. According to the writer, the most important function of the zoo is to ______.

A．make a lot of money	B．entertain visitors
C．ensure animals’ survival	D．educate the public

【推荐1】The “back garden” of Europeans: Dubrovnik

The first time we went to Dubrovnik, Croatia, I knew it wouldn’t be our last. It was October 2006 and for our first wedding anniversary, we decided to get away from it all and head off to what was then a country that few of our friends or family knew much about, except the news of war that had dominated (支配) in the previous decade.

We were met by the friendliest people, so passionate and fiercely proud of their country. The weather was a perfect 20℃, which warmed our souls as we had escaped the autumnal blues in the UK for a week. And the sea was the cleanest and bluest I had ever seen. This was our first of many stays at the Dubrovnik Palace Hotel where every room has never-ending sea view and you feel as though you could be the only ones there. It has a spa and a pool, and it offers blissful privacy that we longed for as newlyweds back then.

Every time we return we find something new, even in the beautiful UNESCO site of the old city. I think it took us a few walks up, down and around the walls before we finally found the little hole-in-the-wall bars of Buza I and Buza II.

Even now, my husband and I often talk of our first visit where the cable car up to Mount Srd lay in ruins and we walked up the 412 meters peak which stands proud behind the whole city. It was so hot that I drank and drank, but having reached the top to take in the stunning view of the Elaphiti Islands, I was quick to discover there were no toilets for this western visitor at that time, I think it was the fastest walk down back to the town we have ever had! Luckily, the visitors of today looking to find the locations of their favourite TV show (Game of Thrones) can use the cable car, which was fully restored back in 2010.

1. Why did the author go to Dubrovnik, Croatia?

A．To date with her boyfriend.

B．To enjoy privacy of her own.

C．To celebrate her wedding anniversary.

D．To meet some passionate and friendly people.

2. What’s the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The traditions about Croatia.

B．The author’s longing for privacy.

C．The author’s impression of Croatia.

D．The differences between UK and Croatia.

3. What can we know about Buza I according to the text?

A．It is a hotel.

B．It is a toilet.

C．It is a town.

D．It is a bar.

4. What can be learned from the last paragraph?

A．The author thought badly of Mount Srd.

B．The cable car up to Mount Srd could be used in 2010.

C．The author walked down from Mount Srd to drink water.

D．The toilets on the top of Mount Srd seemed impractical.

【推荐2】To develop one's taste in English, the most effective way is to read English books extensively. Yet one may be at a loss to choose the appropriate books, especially as a beginner. As a native Spanish, I would like to share some of my experience.

My first English novel was Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, recommended by many English teachers and professors as an ideal book for English learners. But my experience was somewhat disastrous. I had great difficulty in understanding the novel, let alone enjoying it. It's not the vocabulary that troubled me, but rather the way Austen constructs sentences, and her way of thinking, which seemed too remote to me at that time. My fading enthusiasm was much recovered after reading Hemingway's novel A Farewell to Arms. No long and complicated sentences. And I particularly liked his brief and straightforward (简洁的) style. So my first suggestion is, as a beginner, you'd better choose contemporary novels instead of classical ones.

However, if you restrict yourself to novels you will miss a lot of treasures. English essays can at once inform you, entertain you, and improve your taste in English. The best example is Bertrand Russell's work. Its language is plain, yet you cannot help feeling the elegance and the peculiar sense of humor. His simple language enables his philosophy within the reach of ordinary people. Here comes my second suggestion — essays are indispensable.

Never follow others' recommendations and opinions blindly, however famous or influential (有很大影响的) the person might be. We should be open to various ideas, but always think and determine for ourselves. As a saying goes, one man's meat is another man's poison. With that in mind, we are bound to find out our favorite writers through reading and develop our fine taste in English.

1. What made the first English novel that the author read hard to understand?

A．Complicated conversations.

B．Sentences and Austen's thinking pattern.

C．The old-fashioned vocabulary.

D．Not knowing the social background.

2. Which can best replace the underlined word "indispensable"?

A．Necessary

B．Challenging

C．Relevant

D．Inspirational

3. What advice does the author give in the last paragraph?

A．Choose books that challenge us most.

B．Read books that are instructive.

C．Don't be affected by others' choices.

D．Compare books before buying.

4. What is the author's purpose of writing the passage?

A．Give comments on literature works.

B．Tell beginners how to choose English books.

C．Encourage people to read more English books.

D．Recommend first class books to English learners.

【推荐3】For years，the giant squid (大王乌贼) had remained a modern mystery.Living in the dark depths of the ocean，the creature is difficult for scientists to observe directly.It had also managed to avoid all attempts to film it.That changed last July：for the first time ever，scientists were able to catch the giant squid on video in its natural habitat.They were amazed by what they saw.The scientists filmed the squid in the North Pacific Ocean，south of Tokyo，Japan.They followed it down to a depth of 2，952 feet.They shot more than 23 minutes of video before the squid swam off into even darker depths.The video footage will be released to the public later this month on The Discovery Channel.

Tsunemi Kubodera，a zoologist at Japan's National Museum of Nature and Science，led the team that filmed the squid.The team went into the ocean in a small submarine with lights invisible to both humans and squid.Since giant squid eat smaller squid，the scientists released a small squid as bait (诱饵)．Then the scientists waited in the pitch black for the giant squid to approach.

The color video shows the creature floating vertically，eating the bait squid.The giant squid is 9 to 10 feet long and is missing its two longest tentacles (触须)．With those tentacles，it could have measured up to 26 feet long.It has huge black eyes，the size of dinner plates，“It was shining and so beautiful，” Kubodera said.

Because the deep ocean is so unfriendly to humans，little is known about the giant squid.Scientists say catching the mysterious creature on video is an important step toward understanding it.For centuries，sailors had reported seeing a huge，ocean－dwelling beast，thought to be the giant squid.The creature is also believed to be the subject of the Nordic myth of the kraken，a sea creature that supposedly attacked ships in Scandinavian waters over the past thousands of years.

1. Why is it difficult to film the giant squid?

A．Because it is illegal to film the giant squid.

B．Because it is too expensive to make such a film.

C．Because the giant squid lives in the dark deep ocean.

D．Because the giant squid is dangerous to humans.

2. We can learn from the first paragraph that scientists   ________．

A．first saw the giant squid in the ocean

B．discovered a new sea creature in the ocean

C．have the ocean bottom secretly recorded on video

D．have first caught the legendary giant squid on video

3. According to the passage，the giant squid's longest tentacles can be   ________．

A．16 to 17 feet long

B．9 to 10 feet long

C．more than 26 feet long

D．about 36 feet long

4. The scientists released a small squid in the ocean to   ________．

A．increase the number of the giant squid

B．trick the giant squid into coming out

C．make an educational film about it

D．show concern for the giant squid