【推荐1】Do you have what it takes to survive in the desert in the event of an accident or emergency? If you’re thinking of traveling in the desert, you may consider studying up to learn some desert survival skills before you go. But you don’t have to be a survival expert to stay alive in the desert, as long as you can keep some important tips in mind.

Keep your head covered. It’s been said that the biggest dangers in desert survival are exposure and dehydration (脱水).     1     One of the best defenses against the sun is always having a big hat or other coverings for your head with you. If the top of your head is exposed to the direct sun, or even indirect sun for long periods, your body needs to work hard to keep itself cool.     2    

Cover the rest of your body as well.     3     Finding shade or constructing a shade shelter is one of the first ways for desert survival, as keeping out of the direct sun and not exposing yourself to the heat of the day will help to save water. The general idea is to stay out of the dehydrating rays of the sun during the day, and to travel during the cooler hours of the morning or evening.

    4     Actually, do drink the water, if you have it. Just don’t run out of it all at the first sign of thirst. A better way is to ration (定量供应) it for yourself, taking smaller sips throughout the day. If you do come across water in the desert, use extreme caution before you start drinking it down － it may not be safe for drinking.

    5     The more you eat, the thirstier you’ll get, so if you have food with you, take care to only nibble(小口吃) enough to keep the hunger pains away and your energy up. Your body can survive much longer without food than it can without water.

A．Stay hungry.

B．Don’t drink the water.

C．Drink as much water as possible.

D．Neither of these is to be taken lightly.

E．This goes hand in hand with the first tip.

F．So the first rule in desert travel is covering the head up.

G．And the last thing you want to do is increase your thirst.

【推荐2】This week my client asked me whether I will be working between Christmas and the New Year. I did not know. I had been charging full speed ahead and had not thought about it. I am grateful to my client for motivating me to look up from my computer and take a moment to reflect on 2020 ending and 2021 approaching.

The end of December is a time when people share their reflections on how the last year has gone, and set resolutions in the hope that they will do better in the New Year. However, considering the uncertainty of carrying out resolutions, I invite you to consider the idea of setting intentions now.

Take a moment to reflect on how resolutions work for you.

The Cambridge dictionary defines resolutions as ‘a promise to yourself to do or to not do something’. The first thing that comes to mind when I read this is: what happens when we break the promise to ourselves?

This is typically how it goes for me: Throughout January I am going strong with those resolutions. Then comes mid-February, the novelty (新鲜劲) of the resolutions fades, with the increased demands of life. At last, those resolutions start to take a backseat. This brings a frustration or disappointment at “not succeeding” and a gradual abandonment of the resolutions as though they were never really important. By the next New Year, I would have forgotten what my resolutions were in the first place.

If setting New Year resolutions works for you, then go tor it.

Setting intentions

What if we try setting intentions instead?

Intentions are based on what our values are, i.e., what is important to us in different areas of our life such as our physical health, mental health, career, hobbies and relationships with family, friends, partners and education. They have a broader focus on the present moment and on how we act now. They give us a direction and determination that empower us to achieve goals and meanwhile live a meaningful life in the present.

1. Why did the author mention his conversation with the client?

A．To summarize the whole text.

B．To introduce the topic he'll discuss.

C．To show what a busy life he lived.

D．To inform the New Year is coming.

2. What can we learn about the author's resolution?

A．He didn't make it.

B．He forgets it on purpose.

C．He likes to make it big.

D．He often fails to realize it.

3. Which can be seen as an example of setting intentions?

A．David determines to pass TOEFL next year.

B．Cathy hopes to be cheerful at the party today.

C．Tom aims to have his own car after graduation.

D．Elizabeth promises to lose weight in one year.

4. What does the underlined word “empower” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Enable.

B．Force.

C．Persuade

D．Order

5. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Reflecting On the Past, a Good Habit?

B．Setting New Year Resolutions, Difficult?

C．Carrying Out Resolutions, a Piece of Cake?

D．Setting New Year Resolutions or Living with Intentions Now?

【推荐1】The cost of living in countries like the United States, Britain, Australia or France has increased in recent years. But, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries having an extremely cheap and low cost of living. So, if you have the flexibility of living wherever you please, and want to live in a country the cost of living is the cheapest in the world, check out there 3 countries when planning you next move.

Cambodia

Cambodia may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of a tropical paradise, but it’s pretty close. The added bonus is that living here is insanely cheap, unlike some other tropical getaways. A luxury home with four bedrooms and a pool would only cost about $ 600 a month. A decent three-bedroom vacation home can be purchased here for just $ 20,000. And, for only about $ 2,000 a year, you can also hire a gardener and housekeeper to take care of your property.

Ecuador

Ecuador is similar to the United States in may ways, and a result, it has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on budget in the U.S. You can even buy a property for around 50,000 and hire someone to tend to it while you’re away.

Mexico

Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there are many wealthier areas that provide every amenity you might need. You can live off a mere $ 700 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, amenities, food, and any sights.

1. How much money do you need to pay to look after your property for a year in Cambodia?

A．$ 600.

B．$ 2,000.

C．$ 20,000.

D．$ 700.

2. What things will you be unable to enjoy in Mexico?

A．Any scenery.

B．Amenities.

C．A nice place.

D．Tropical climate.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A．The cost of living in countries like the United States, Britain, Australia or France has decreased in recent years.

B．Cambodia must be the first country that comes to mind when you think of a tropical paradise

C．The people in Ecuador even use the US Dollar for their currency.

D．Cambodia is known for its poverty ridden streets.

【推荐2】The New York Aquarium offers diverse sea animals and nice viewing experience for all our guests. Whether you’re observing penguins or swimming underwater to look at coral reefs (珊瑚礁) under the water, or cheering California sea lions on at the theater, you’ll find plenty to see and do during your visit. Your underwater adventure is waiting for you! This summer, go to Coney Island to learn about the underwater world at the New York Aquarium.

Just off the Coney Island in Brooklyn, the New York Aquarium features more than 300 marine (海生的) species, such as dolphins and seals. Meet some of our mammals and fish, and learn something useful about them.

Summer hours May 28—Sept.5	10：00 am—6：00 pm，Monday—Friday 10：00 am—7：00 pm，Weekends & Holidays
Fall hours Sept.6—Nov.6	10：00 am—5：00 pm，Monday—Friday 10：00 am—5：30 pm，Weekends & Holidays
Winter hours Nov.7—Mar.31	10：00 am—4：30 pm，Daily
Spring hours Apr.1—May 27	10：00 am—5：00 pm，Monday—Friday 10：00 am—5：30 pm，Weekends & Holidays

Total Experience Ticket

Adult　　 　$18.00

Child (Aged 3—12)   $14.00

Senior (65＋)   $15.00

Groups (at least ten visitors)   $8.00

*Includes admission to our 4­D Theater Plus General Admission.

*Children under 3 are free!

*To enjoy the group rate, you must make a reservation at least two weeks in advance of your group’s visit. Please call 718­741­1818.

A Special on Friday Afternoon

Admission on Fridays beginning at 3:00 pm is by donation. Suggested donation is $13 for adults, $9 for children, and $10 for seniors. Every dollar you give supports our work in caring for animals at the aquarium.

Aquarium Parking

Car $13.00

Bus $13.00

Please note：

*Due to rising costs, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reserves the right to change all fees without notice.

*All buildings and exhibitions in this aquarium are accessible by wheelchair.

*For further information, please call 718­265­3454.

1. Which animal can’t be probably seen by the visitors at the New York Aquarium?

A．Penguins.

B．Pandas.

C．Dolphins.

D．Seals.

2. Six adults (including a man of 68) and two children (aged 2 and 10) are going to visit the New York Aquarium on Sunday. They will have to pay________.

A．$144

B．$133

C．$64

D．$119

3. What is the donation used for?

A．To help the people in need.

B．To help the disabled visitors.

C．To care for animals at the aquarium.

D．To help to save the endangered animals in the world.

【推荐2】Auctions (拍卖) for fine art and decorative arts are everywhere, in New York and across the country. Here are just a few standouts and some of the areas they specialize in. All have brick-and-mortar sales rooms in addition to online buying.

DOYLE NEW YORK
Founded: 1962
Best bets: paintings, jewelry, single-owner collections

Doyle is particularly proud of bringing in excellent estates that include many kinds of works. The house will offer items from the estates of Lili and Norman Israel, including a pair of Chinese porcelain Fu Lions on ormolu bases (estimated at $7,000 to $10,000).

SWANN AUCTION GALLERIES
Headquarters: New York, NY
Founded: 1941
Best bets: books, works on paper, African-American art

Swann was the first auction house to sell old and precious photographs in 1952. The house has also had a department of African-American art for 12 years, setting records like the $965,000 paid in 2015 for a painting by the Abstract Expressionist Norman Lewis.

STAIR GALLERIES
Headquarters: Hudson, NY
Founded: 2001
Best bets: English and Continental furniture and paintings

Stair on Hudson’s main drag, is frequented by dealers and bargain hunters, and it’s a place to find interesting decorative arts like a George I carved walnut wing armchair estimated at $1,200 to $1.800. Stair will sell a large private collection that includes Fulvio Bianconi’s “Con Macchie Vase” with an estimate of $90,000 to $120,000.

HERITAGE AUCTIONS
Headquarters: Dallas, TX
Founded: 1983
Best bets: coins, sports memorabilia, comics, movie posters

Heritage earned $438 million last year in online sales alone, and the firm now conducts live auctions across the globe and many categories. But their bread and butter are items that the company president, Greg Rohan, calls “the kinds of things that everyone has”, like comic books, baseball cards and classic film posters.

1. Which auction house is a good place for furniture collectors?

A．Stair Galleries.	B．Swann Auction Galleries.
C．Doyle New York.	D．Heritage Auctions.

2. What is the feature of Heritage Auctions?

A．It only conducts online sales.

B．It sells items from ordinary life.

C．It has valuable items from the world.

D．It provides many kinds of bread and butter.

3. Which of the following items has the highest price?

A．Chinese porcelain Fu Lions.

B．A George I carved walnut wing armchair.

C．Fulvio Bianconi’s “Con Macchie Vase”.

D．An Abstract Expressionist painting by Norman Lewis.

【推荐1】If you shoo（赶走鸟时发出的声音）a pigeon, that bird is likely to remember you and know to stay out of your way the next time you cross paths, according to a new study. Researchers found that wild, untrained pigeons can recognize individual people’s faces and are not fooled by a change of clothes.

At a park in Paris, two researchers of similar build and skin colour, but wearing different-coloured lab coats, fed a group of pigeons.

One researcher ignored the pigeons after feeding them, allowing them to eat the food, while the other was hostile（充满敌意的）and chased them away. This was followed by second session when neither researcher chased away the pigeons.

The experiment was repeated several times, with the pigeons continuously recognizing the individuals and avoiding the researcher who had first chased them away even when the participant no longer did so. Exchanging lab coats during the experiments did not confuse the pigeons, and they continued to stay away from the researcher who had been initially hostile.

"It is very likely that the pigeons recognized the researchers by their faces, since the individuals were both female and of a similar age, build and skin colour," study researcher Dalila Bovet of the University of Paris Ouest Nanterre La Defense said in a statement.

"Interestingly, the pigeons, without training, spontaneously（自发的）used the most relevant characteristics of the individuals (probably facial traits）instead of the lab coats that covered 90 percent of the body, "Bovet added.

The researchers noted that the birds appear to be able to tell from humans and are aware that clothing colour is not a good way to tell humans apart. They theorize that this recognition ability may have come about over the long period of association with humans, from early domestication to many years of living in cities.

1. For the researchers, which of the following elements is not decisive to draw the conclusion of the experiment?

A．The similar build and skin color.	B．In the same park.
C．The same gender（性别）.	D．A change of different-colored lab clothes.

2. According to the researchers, why are birds aware that it is not a good way to tell humans by clothing colour?

A．It may be the result of the long period of association with humans.

B．Birds are very clever creatures.

C．Different clothes may have different colours.

D．Clothes can be exchanged, but faces can’t be changed easily.

3. Where can we most probably read this text?

A．In a travel handbook.	B．In history book.
C．In a science report.	D．In student textbook.

【推荐2】

Is geography important? Here's a question for you to answer.

What have the following countries got in common: Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Iceland and Madagascar?

Quite easy if you can picture them on the globe — they are all islands. All of these nations are surrounded by sea.

What have these five nations got in common? Hungary, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Paraguay and Liechtenstein. They are all landlocked. In other words, in contrast to the first five countries whose coastline forms their border, the second five have no coastline at all. If you are a Hungarian or a Paraguayan, you have to pass through somebody else's country if you want to go to the beach.

Liechtenstein is even more of a geographical phenomenon; it is ''doubly landlocked'' because the countries that surround it — Austria and Switzerland are also landlocked. There is only one other country in the world in a similar position, Uzbekistan, which is surrounded by five other landlocked countries. Go and have a look at the map if you want to know which.

So how do countries become landlocked? If you are Swiss or Nepalese, you have probably never thought things could be any other way. Switzerland's mountains, like the Himalayas, have formed a natural boundary for thousands of years. But there are borders. Where one country ends and another begins is not something that is fixed for all time.

There are countries like Ethiopia and Bolivia which did have a bit of coast but don't any more. Does it matter? The Ethiopians are not happy that the creation of Eritrea means they now have to use another country's port, when before they had a long coastline on the Red Sea.

But why does coastline matter so much? Throughout history people have preferred to live near the sea, and not just for the fish. Sea means trade, which means wealth. Think of the great successful cities like Singapore, New York or Hong Kong today. Russia has fought several wars over the centuries so that its ships could have access to the Baltic, the Black Sea and the Pacific.

________________

1. What have countries like Hungary, Botswana, Kazakhstan, Paraguay and Liechtenstein got in common?

A．They have no borders.

B．They have no coastline at all.

C．They are all surrounded by sea.

D．They had long coastlines before.

2. Which group of the following countries are doubly landlocked ones?

A．Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan.

B．Iceland and Madagascar.

C．Australia and the United Kingdom.

D．Austria and Switzerland.

3. Why does coastline matter so much?

A．Because sea means wealth.

B．Because people can eat fish.

C．Because borders are fixed all time.

D．Because people prefer to live near the sea.

4. What's the missing sentence at the end of the text?

A．Coastline is the main cause of wars.

B．Then what's the disadvantage of coastline?

C．Geography, it seems, can make a big difference.

D．Perhaps other means of transport can be improved.

【推荐3】“Every child has a great curiosity about something they love,” said Carolyn King, a doctor in Grand Rapids, Michigan. King, who once studied at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, is the co-founder of a yearly event called Reach Out to Youth (ROTY).

Wayne State has held the event since 1989, which lets kids ages 7 to 11 experience science and medicine in a fun way.

“We’re here to help identify future scientists and future physicians,” said Richard Baker, director of Medical Education at Wayne State.

Diamond Moore, a medical student and the leading organizer of ROTY, planned a special but interesting day for attendees. Exhibits included a room where you could see a brain, heart, and some other parts of our body, and a room where you could test your reflexes (反射动作). Wayne State teachers and medical students, including Moore, shared their knowledge of medical science with kids.

“This program wants kids to learn about science, arts, and the health care system,” Moore said, “so that hopefully, they’ll become interested in medicine.”

Some of the students were excited about the chance to tour the exhibits and learn more about medicine-related jobs. “A doctor would be a cool job,” said first-time attendee Desiree Anders, 9.

Jeremiah Tower, an 11-year-old from Detroit, said that learning about “science and things about the body” was what the program was all about. Still, he wasn’t excited about having to get up early on a Saturday morning.

This year’s theme (主题) was “Play It Safe: Brain Safety.” After seeing what a brain looks like up close, young attendees learned about the danger of concussions (脑震荡). A fun test was given about brain safety so that kids could see how much they had learned.

About 350 kids take part in the program each year. It’s a great way to get an idea of what it feels like to be a doctor.

1. What can we learn about ROTY?

A．It is open to kids of all ages.

B．It educates kids in a fun way.

C．It is held on a Saturday afternoon.

D．It helps kids learn more about others.

2. Which can take the place of the underlined word “identify” in Paragraph 3?

A．Care for.

B．Look for.

C．Pick up.

D．Cheer up.

3. How did Desiree Anders feel about medical science?

A．She felt a bit worried about it.

B．She thought it was hard to learn.

C．She showed an interest in it.

D．She believed it would have a bright future.