【推荐1】Mr. Brown was going away for a week. Before he left, he said to his son, “ If anyone asks for me, you can tell him that your father has been out for doing something, and will be back in a week, then be sure to ask him to sit down for a cup of tea.”

“OK, Dad,” said his son. But he was afraid his son couldn’t remember this, he wrote these words down on a piece of paper and gave it to him. His son put it into his small pocket, took it out and looked at it every now and then.

Four days passed, but no one came to see his father. The boy thought that there was no man to come and that the piece of paper was of no more use for him, so he burnt it that evening.

The next afternoon, someone knocked at the door. The boy opened it. A man was standing at the door and said, “Where is your father?” The boy put his hand into his pocket at once and looked for the piece of paper. He could not find it. He suddenly remembered he had burnt it, so he shouted, “No more.”

The man was very surprised. He asked, “No more? I met your father last week. When did it happen?”

"Burnt yesterday evening."

1. A man came to visit the boy's father on ________.

A．the second day

B．the third day

C．the fourth day

D．the fifth day

2. The man was very surprised because _________.

A．he couldn't find that piece of paper	B．the child didn't ask him to sit down
C．the child gave him a cup of tea	D．he thought the child's father was dead

3. What was burnt? ___________.

A．The piece of paper

B．Mr Smith

C．The visitor

D．The boy

【推荐2】When you go on a trip to America, you will see the word Motel on signs and notice boards. It is made up of “motor” and “hotel” and it is really a hotel for people who arrive by car (however, you don’t a need a car to stay at one). You have to pay when you arrive for your room, which usually has a bath. Meals are not provided but there will certainly be a cafeteria (自助餐馆). Americans eat a lot of salads and sandwiches. Along the main roads there are a lot of motels. Each tries to offer more than the others. Some provide television in every bedroom; others have swimming pools and so on. Motels are especially useful when you are in the country, far from a town or city. You will also find them in big national parks.

In these great national parks, you may meet guests you don’t expect to see. An American friend told me a short story. In the middle of a moonless night, she heard strange noises outside her motel window in the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. Thinking it might be a thief, she jumped out of bed, opened the door and crept towards a dark shadow. As she got close, she saw the thief. She was dreadfully frightened: it wasn’t a human thief — it was a big black bear. The bear was turning over some empty tins with its paws, looking for tasty bits of food. My friend decided to leave that particular thief alone!

There are also, of course, places called “rooming houses”, where they provide lodges (客房). You will see such signs as Tourists or Rooms Rent, and you could try one of these. A word of warning — looking for a room in New York during the tourist season is like looking for gold on the moon!

1. Motels provide all the following EXCEPT ______.

A．Bath

B．swimming pools

C．TV

D．meals

2. The underlined word “crept” in Paragraph 2 probably means “______”.

A．moved slowly

B．rushed out

C．threw away

D．ran fast

3. Paragraph 2 mainly tells us ______.

A．an interesting story	B．bears usually look for food at night
C．the experience of the author’s friend	D．we may meet animals in national parks

4. From the last paragraph, we can learn that in New York during the tourist season ______.

A．tourists can find gold there	B．it is difficult to find a room there
C．tourists can have a sweet dream there	D．there is a warning for tourists to New York

【推荐3】A smart phone’s low battery warning is the only warning that most people take seriously. Try the following steps and you will improve your battery life.
1. Let there be less light
For larger smart phones, the longer the screen is on and the brighter it is, the faster your battery goes. Try making the screen as dark as you can bear it and still read a text. Darkening the screen is common among teenagers, but it may be hard for Mom and Dad to see what’s showing on their phone.
2. Turn off the signals
Your smart phone does a lot of communicating in the background. They’re checking for things like new emails, text messages, Wi-Fi signals, Bluetooth signals, your location and more. These activities do drain your battery life, so you should turn off whatever you aren’t using. Location Services is also another feature that burns up your battery, so you can use GPS and Wi-Fi to find out which apps have access to Location Services and turn them off.
3. Turn off notifications (通告)
Another way to improve battery life is to stop the constant flow of notifications and updates from Facebook, email, games and sites. Your phone will automatically pick up these notifications when it’s connected to the Internet, and they can have a noticeable impact on battery life.
4. Use battery saving mode (模式)
For a quick way to improve your battery, simply put your smart phone in Airplane Mode. If Airplane Mode is too limiting, some phones have a specific battery saver mode. This shuts down unimportant functions and apps like Wi-Fi, some updates and more.
If used properly, these tips above will improve your battery life up to 30 percent.
1. The underlined word “drain” means “       ”.

A．light up	B．use up
C．pick up	D．make up

2. If you want to improve your battery life, you are advised to use a       .

A．small screen	B．large screen
C．bright screen	D．round screen

3. We can infer that aged people tend to       .

A．email family members	B．use Location Services
C．darken the screen	D．brighten the screen

4. We can learn that Airplane Mode can       .

A．improve signals	B．waste energy
C．affect health	D．save power

【推荐1】Last Saturday on the way to the mall, two children, a boy and a girl, came running towards me with bottles on their hands, asking if I wanted bottled water. It was a surprising gesture. I was wondering if they were doing fund-raising. I knelt and asked them where their parents were and how much a bottle of water cost. Then two adult women came up to me explaining what the children were doing. “We are teaching the children to give without anything in return. We are teaching people to accept without giving in return. ”
Two mothers had bought bottled water and placed a sticker(小贴纸)on all bottles with five different quotes(引述):
1. Smile at everyone. You’ll never know when someone may need it.
2. If Plan A does not work, there are 25 more letters in the alphabets.
3. Have a thirst for life. Every day is filled with possibilities.
4. In your thirst for knowledge, be sure you don’t drown in all the information.
5. Dig your well before you’re thirsty.
The bottle I have has quoted No.5. A sudden change of attitude opened up between me, the mothers and the children. We are no longer strangers to each other. We were having such a great time chatting and I ended up helping them give away the rest of the bottled water.
One young lady was so thankful that she happily accepted the water and said it was the best thing that happened to her all day since she had a bad day at work. A man refused and walked away saying “no thanks”. A couple kept on bowing to us in gratitude. When it was all done, the children and I were giving each other high-five. It was so much fun. I think I had more fun doing this than the mothers and the children.
1. How did the author feel when he was offered bottled water?

A．Embarrassed	B．Surprised
C．Excited	D．Disappointed

2. Different quotes were placed on the bottles to ________.

A．inspire others to think positively.

B．show how rich and colorful our life is.

C．encourage people to get more bottled water.

D．explain why at times abandonment is necessary facing trouble.

3. What did the author do after chatting with them?

A．Buy the rest of the bottled water.

B．Give away some money for charity.

C．Decide to meet with them regularly.

D．Join them in being kind to strangers.

4. What do we know from the last paragraph?

A．Children had more fun from this than adults.

B．This random act of kindness is warmly welcomed.

C．People responded quite differently to this activity.

D．The author learned a lot from this random act of kindness.

【推荐2】Twenty-five years ago on July 1, 1997, I woke up very late in my apartment in Singapore. I jumped out of bed in a little bit of panic. I woke up my 8-year-old daughter Avy, who was not exactly in a hurry to get out of bed. “We’re late for school,” I half-yelled at her, I finally got her into the shower, dressed her hurriedly and made it to the nearby bus stop in time. Thankfully, the school was only two stops away. We got in, rubbing our eyes as the sunlight streamed into the bus.

Her mom had flown to Hong Kong several days earlier on assignment for a newspaper to cover the handover of the city’s return to China. I had taken off from work for a week to help look after our daughter. I would pick up my daughter from school around midday. At the end of the day, I would watch the news on TV, which had led the entire week with the historic events happening in Hong Kong. I would wonder where my wife was in the crowd that was gathered to witness the handover.

The year, 1997, was tense because the Asian financial crisis began. The Thai baht (泰铢) was hit, followed by the South Korean won (韩元) and, like a contagious virus which spreads rapidly, the financial system seized up. For that week though, that was the least of my worries. I just made sure we did not have a repeat of July 1, when we were nearly late for school. My wife was very busy during the handover, chasing down stories in Hong Kong as the British flag was lowered for the last time.

I later spent a few years working in Hong Kong, but my enduring memory of the days surrounding its return to China was the time I spent as a babysitter, although it is kind of hard to call an 8-year-old a baby. The whole thing was a lifetime ago. But it is a good memory.

1. What was the author’s day like on July 1, 1997?

A．It was his first babysitting day.	B．He barely got his daughter on time.
C．He and his daughter woke up in panic.	D．His daughter went to school energetically.

2. Why did the author ask for a leave?

A．He needed to take care of his daughter.

B．He wanted to witness the historic events.

C．He was asked to drive his daughter to school.

D．He needed to accompany his daughter to find her mother.

3. Which of the following caused the nervousness in 1997?

A．The events happening in Hong Kong.	B．The spread of the Asian financial crisis.
C．The crowd gathered to see the handover.	D．The 8-year-old daughter the author was babysitting.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The historic events in 1997.	B．Life of a journalist’s husband.
C．Bitter sweet memory with daughter alone.	D．A working dad’s way of babysitting children.

【推荐3】I was quite angry with my professor last week when he gave us an assignment to “tell someone we love them”. It has to be someone we have never said those words to before or at least haven’t shared those words with for a long time.

But as I began driving home my conscience started talking to me. It was telling me that I knew exactly who I needed to say I love you to. You see, five years ago, my father and I had a disagreement and really never settled it since that time. We avoided seeing each other unless we absolutely had to at Christmas or other family gatherings.

So last Tuesday by the time I got home I had convinced myself I was going to tell my father I loved him. The next morning I was up bright and early. I could hardly sleep with excitement, nor did my wife.

At 9:00, I called my dad to see if I could come over after work. When he answered the phone, I just said, “Dad, can I come over after work tonight? I have something to tell you.” My dad responded with a grumpy face, “Now what?” I assured him it wouldn’t take long, so he finally agreed.

At 5:30, I was at my parents’ house ringing the doorbell, praying that Dad would answer the door. Dad did answer the door. I didn’t waste any time and took one step in the door and said, “Dad, I just came over to tell you that I love you.” His face softened and he began to cry. He reached out and hugged me and said, “I love you too, son.” Mom walked by with tears in her eyes.

Two days after that visit, my dad became unconscious. I don’t know if he’ll make it. What if I had waited to tell my dad? Maybe I will never get the chance again!

1. What problem did the author decide to solve?

A．His heavy office work load.	B．His hardly-finished assignment.
C．His disagreement with his father.	D．His unpleasant family gatherings.

2. What does the underlined phrase “a grumpy face” in Paragraph 4 most probably mean?

A．Soft tone.	B．Bad temper.
C．Good mood.	D．Great doubt.

3. How did the father feel when the author said “I love you” to him?

A．Confused.	B．Shocked.
C．Moved.	D．Indifferent.

4. Which sentence may be the best ending for the text?

A．So don’t wait to do the things that you know ought to be done.

B．So don’t believe there will be a problem without a solution.

C．So don’t complain when your teacher gives you assignments.

D．So don’t forget to visit your family even if you are very busy.

【推荐1】Kyle Cassidy and three other members of the Annenberg Running Group were stretching on the grounds of the University of Pennsylvania, waiting for a few latecomers. The Penn colleagues and other community members meet three days a week for a roughly 30-minute jog and an occasional lecture. That's right—during some runs, one of them delivers a talk. Topics range from the brain to Bitcoin.

But on this day last January, it would not be their normal run. The first clue that something was off was the man who sprinted past them. "Running at an amazing pace," Cassidy told Runner's World admiringly. Cassidy discovered why the sprinter was so fleet of foot when another man ran by, yelling, “Help! He took my phone and laptop!”

At that, the group did what running clubs do: They ran, trailing the suspect down the streets of Philadelphia until he ducked into a construction site. The runners split up. Cassidy ran around to the far side of the site to cut the thief off while the others wandered the neighborhood hoping he had dumped the loot in a backyard.

No luck. So they decided to ask residents whether they'd seen the guy. When they knocked on the door of one row house, they were in for a surprise. Unknown to them, he had already emerged from the construction site-and was hiding behind a bush by that very house. As the owner opened the door, the suspect darted out from behind the bush… and right into the arms of campus police, who'd joined the chase shortly behind the runners.

The members of this running group are not hard-core athletes. But they do understand the benefit of a little exercise. "Running is typically a useless sport where you turn fat cells into heat," Cassidy told The Philadelphia Inquirer. "But occasionally it can be useful, and here was one of those opportunities.

1. Why do the group members gather together?

A．To deliver a lecture	B．To have a regular run.
C．To do some stretching.	D．To cover some topics.

2. We can tell that the success of the chase is mainly due to________.

A．the campus police on duty	B．the owner of the row house
C．the assistance of the runners	D．the joint efforts of the people

3. Which of the following best describes Cassidy?

A．Athletic and generous	B．Modest and considerate.
C．Helpful and humorous.	D．Courageous and ambitious

【推荐2】Language and culture are connected to each other in so many ways: language names and explains important events and people. When the Fourth Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792) ordered a lunch (so that he didn’t have to leave the gaming tables) there was no word to refer to the bread-and-butter-encased food that has ever since borne his name. Another example is grog, a drink of rum(朗姆酒)mixed with water. The word was coined from the nickname(绰号)of Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757)—Old Grog. The nickname came from the cloak(披风)of “ grogram ” which he habitually wore, and it provided the word for watered-down rum which he gave to sailors. In Australia it has become the word for alcoholic(含酒精的)drink of any kind. Both sandwich and grog are known throughout the English-speaking world, and have been borrowed into other European languages—sandwich into French, and grog into German.

In Australia some rather more specialised foods go by the names of local heroes and heroines. The lamington owes its name to Charles Wallace Alexander Napier Cochrane-Baillie, Second Baron of Lamington, who was governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901. He was well-known for his concern for the treatment of local workers in northern Qucensland. Another sweet, Peach Melba, was invented in 1892 or 1893 by the French cook Auguste Escoffier at the Savoy Hotel, London, to respect the Australian singer Nellie Melba.

Some words have their origin in the sports world. The boxer Larry Foley (1849-1917) stopped boxing at the age of 30, having developed a training school for young boxers. His name is probably the one behind the expression “give someone Larry Dooley". Also a sporting hero was the footballer Roy Cazaly (1893-1963), who is the person in “ Up There Cazaly ” , used well beyond football as an expression of encouragement. He became a great footballer by taking amazingly high marks for the St Kilda and South Melbourne clubs.

1. What's the origin of the word"grog"?

A．It was first used by Vernon.

B．It was borrowed from German.

C．It dates back to the late 18th century.

D．It has some relationship with clothes.

2. Which of the following is related to an Australian singer?

A．Sandwich.	B．Grog.
C．Lamington.	D．Peach Melba.

3. What is the possible meaning of "give someone Larry Dooley"?

A．Give up somebody.	B．Encourage somebody.
C．Give somebody a beating.	D．Teach somebody to fight.

4. What similarity do the words and expressions mentioned in the text share?

A．They are difficult to understand.	B．They come from people’s names.
C．They have been used for centuries.	D．They are mainly used in Australia.

【推荐3】Runners need to move 15 per cent faster on a treadmill(跑步机) to burn the same number of calories as jogging outdoors, research reveals.

Researchers from Milan University analyzed the difference between running outdoors and on a treadmill in 15 physically fit males with an average age of 21. The participants completed a sprint(短距离快速跑) for 30 seconds followed by 30 seconds of recovery for a total of 15 minutes both outdoors and on a treadmill. Oxygen use and exercise intensity were measured after both types of running.

The findings were published in the journal of Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. Results revealed that when on a treadmill, runners use significantly lower amounts of oxygen, suggesting less effort is required. Therefore runners must move 15 percent faster on a treadmill to burn the same amount of calories as exercising outdoors, the study stated. The study authors wrote, "A 15 per cent increase in running speed during a period of stopping and starting often in high intensity treadmill training session is the best possible solution to reaching the same physiological responses as an outdoor training session.

Although the study did not speculate why treadmill running appears to be needing less effort and energy, previous research suggests the moving belt of a treadmill moves joggers forward, causing them to move faster. Exercising indoors also means gym-goers do not have to fight with steep hills or wind resistance.

Michael Silverman, director of rehabilitation and wellness(康复科) at Northern Westchester Hospital in New York, said, “Outdoors, you are changing surfaces constantly, fighting the wind, and making quick and sudden starts and stops, which will lead to increased caloric burn.” Shake magazine reported. "And while we don't recommend running in extreme temperatures, it is worth noting that your body burns extra calories to regulate your body temperature," he says.

1. Where can you find the specific findings of the study?

A．In Paragraph 2

B．In Paragraph 3

C．In Paragraph 4

D．In Paragraph 5

2. What can we know about the study?

A．Its participants were all 21 years old .

B．Michael is one of the researchers.

C．It revealed why treadmill running consumes less calories .

D．It took oxygen use and exercise intensity into consideration .

3. Why does running on a treadmill seem easier according to the study ?

A．The runners need less energy.

B．The runners can usually get enough oxygen .

C．The moving belt pushes joggers forward .

D．The intensity of running on the treadmill is more stable .

4. What does the underlined word “speculate” mean ?

A．conclude

B．research

C．oppose

D．doubt

【推荐1】When it comes to modern communication, security is a big concern. It seems like we’re forever hearing about hackers leaking emails, passwords and other important personal information.

But thanks to a breakthrough by Chinese scientists, who won the 2018 Newcomb Cleveland Prize in February, we may soon never have to worry about our data again. With the cutting-edge technology, a revolutionary satellite called Micius makes the information sent and received safer than ever.

So what exactly makes the information sent to and from Micius so secure？Micius is the first satellite of its kind to use quantum key distribution（量子密匙分发）, which uses particles（粒子）that transmit（传输）light to deliver information from one point to another. Currently, it can communicate with two base stations, both of which are located high up in the mountains in two different areas of Tibet, around 1, 200kilometers apart. Data is sent between the satellite and one of the base stations in the form of a ray of light.

This makes it almost impossible for data sent and received using quantum satellite technology to be stolen, as the connection will be broken if someone tries to hack it. “Any eavesdropper（偷听者）on the quantum channel attempting to gain information can be found by the communicating users, "the scientists wrote in the paper.

However, the technology does have a few limitations. For example, the process only works at night, as the information isn’t able to pass through sunlight. And there’s currently only a 10-minute window each day during which Micius can communicate with each of the base stations, according to Xinhua. This is because the satellite and base station need to be close enough to each other for the information to successfully make it to and from outer space.

Despite these small issues, the scientific community across the world has reacted positively to China’s achievements in this groundbreaking project. "This Chinese experiment is a quite remarkable technological achievement, "Artur Ekert, a professor of quantum physics at the University of Oxford, told BBC News.

And Karl Ziemelis, an editor for Nature, told Xinhua, "It’s a witness to China’s investments（投资）and significant efforts in the physical sciences that this group has been able to push research in practical quantum communication technologies to such an astronomical height. ”

1. Why it is safe to use quantum key distribution to transfer information？

A．The connection will fail if it is hacked.

B．It makes the base stations close enough.

C．It transfers data too fast for it to be stolen.

D．The process often takes place at night.

2. According to the text, what’s the attitude of the scientific community towards the satellite Micius？

A．It remains unclear whether it will be beneficial or not.

B．It is really an impressive technological breakthrough.

C．It will promote the investment in quantum-related technologies.

D．It doesn’t deserve a lot of attention given its limitations.

3. What is the main idea of the text？

A．The latest security problems of modern communication.

B．Micius’ effect on the development of modern technology.

C．The wide applications of quantum key distribution in data transition.

D．How Micius works to ensure secure communication and its limitations.

【推荐2】

Building a better tree house — TREEHOTEL HARADS, SWEDEN Tree houses aren’t generally equal to splendor(壮丽). But the seven cabins at Sweden’s Treehotel could easily give The Swiss Family Robinson a run for its money. To begin with, the outside is extraordinary: one resembles a UFO, another resembles a bird’s nest, and the bottom of the latest cabin — named the 7th Room     — features a life –size photograph of the canopy(天蓬似的树荫) view. Inside, the cabins are equipped with fashionable, minimalist furniture and comfortable lounge areas. Although some guests may have to travel to a separate facility to shower, fans argue that that’s a small sacrifice to make for a one-of-a-kind camping experience.

An ancient forest reborn — AMANYANGYUN, SHANGHAI When Chinese businessman Ma Dadong discovered that a forest of ancient camphor trees would be destroyed in China’s Jiangxi Province, he undertook a mission to relocate thousands of them to the outskirts of Shanghai — 700 km away — where they now surround 24 Ming Dynasty style suites and several villas (别墅) at Amanyangyun, which opened in January, 2018. It also nods to the past, making use of recycled wood and brick from centuries –old homes. Facilities include a club lounge, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa and a variety of luxurious dining spaces, including a 200 – seat banquet hall. Calligraphy (书法) lessons and tea ceremonies are available to help guests feel part of “this monumental story”.

1. What does the author say about the Treehotel?

A．It is a seven-story building.	B．It has an in-built shower.
C．It has unique design features.	D．It is expensively decorated inside.

2. What can guests do in Amanyangyun?

A．Attend a fitness class.	B．Pick tea leaves themselves.
C．Learn the history of the Ming Dynasty.	D．Admire ancient Chinese architecture.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．An exhibition review	B．A travel website.
C．A hotel comment.	D．An official report.

【推荐3】Concern for the environment plays a big part in British hotel bookings, with research showing one in five are more likely to stay somewhere if it uses renewable energy sources.

In a new survey halt of travelers said that the sustainability and energy use of a hotel is important to them. And 19 percent said they would choose to stay in a recommended bed and breakfast (B&B) or a hotel that showed a willingness to look after the environment. Perhaps unsurprisingly, 50 percent said they would be willing to be an "eco-customer" if they got a 10-percent discount for adopting environmentally friendly behavior such as using one towel throughout their visit and using a limited supply of hot water. Almost a third of guests say that hotels should be judged on how sustainable they are.

The research was carried out by an energy company called E. ON, and 2,000 travelers were polled（做民意调查）. Phil Gilbert, head of business energy solutions at E. ON, said, "Consumers are demanding more and more from their hotels. They want to stay in a hotel that uses renewable energy sources. It's therefore more important than ever that hotels are in control of their energy use. Most hotels redecorate every 7-10years, and this provides a significant opportunity to meet guest preferences as well as adapting to make energy savings. According to the Carbon Trust, some businesses have seen energy costs reduce by as much as 40 percent if energy efficiency opportunities are maximized during redecoration."

In order to prove its point. E. ON mentioned the case of Pat and Anthony Greenwood, owners of luxury B&B Seaflowers, in South Devon. They adopted a number of renewable energy sources and carried out many energy efficiency measures to be sustainable. They said. “Our guests are impressed by the energy efficiency of our home and frequently comment on our policies of using locally sourced ingredients, our own eggs, fruit and home-made bread for breakfasts. We have achieved the highest level of greenness, and it gives us great pleasure to promote our business as sustainable and efficient.”

1. What can be inferred from the second paragraph?

A．All travelers want to be "eco-customers".

B．Hotels will be judged on how sustainable they are in the future.

C．Many travelers tend to choose green hotels.

D．A hotel that looks after the environment is the best choice for travelers.

2. What's not the intention of the hotel redecoration from the passage?

A．Saving energy costs.

B．Making energy savings.

C．Improving energy efficiency.

D．Changing luxury styles.

3. What is the attitude of the owners of B&B Seaflowers to their work?

A．Unsatisfied.	B．Positive.
C．Indifferent.	D．Uncertain.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Try to Be an Eco-Customer

B．Sustainable Hotels in Britain

C．Research into Renewable Energy Sources

D．Travelers to Britain Are Going Green