【推荐1】Imagine a small group of people with a shared passion for the same craft. They all have different skills and approaches, but they come together to share skills, share stories, and share in the joy of making something.

Modern maker culture is filling headlines and lab spaces all over the world. The way makers communicate with each other has changed over time. In the past, skills mainly came from personal sit-downs with members of the group. But sometimes a teacher wasn’t available, or the one available didn' t know how to do the skill others wanted to learn.

Today a teacher doesn' t even have to be in the same country or occupy the same decade as the students. Thanks to the work of people who take the time to break down and share the details of their craft, an interested individual can learn anything. Guides may range from videos to diagrams and text. Regardless of the media, maker resources are meant to be shared.

One of the features of the maker movement is the crossover between different interests. Perhaps a passion for cars and for leathercraft can result in a truly custom interior （定制的内饰）. Perhaps a love of knitting （编织）and robotics will result in a tiny ——but very mobile ——robotic furry cat.

And once you have started your creation, finding a community to share with is no longer limited to the people nearby. Modern makers have been sharing videos of their progress online for years, contributing greatly to the rapid spread of the maker movement. As different as the participants might be, they share enthusiasm, support, and a willingness to try.

Imagine making a ping-pong table together with your makers' team. One group builds the basic frame. Another group takes on the responsibility of painting. You knit the net. There is joy in just giving it a try. It will remind you of childhood creations. Whether you are an experienced programmer or just picking up a hammer for the first time, it is never a bad time to come up with an idea, try something, and share the results.

1. How did makers communicate with each other in the past?

A．By meeting face to face.

B．By asking personal questions.

C．By visiting a teacher together.

D．By sitting together in a classroom.

2. What does the underlined word " crossover" in Paragraph 4 mean?

A．Exchange.	B．Difference.
C．Combination.	D．Independence.

3. What greatly speeds up the spread of modern maker culture?

A．The sharing of videos on the Internet.

B．The development of education.

C．The increasing willingness to share.

D．The increasing number of participants.

4. Why does the author mention making a ping-pong table in the last paragraph?

A．To advise us to start small.

B．To inspire some creative ideas.

C．To stress the importance of childhood creations.

D．To encourage us to join in the maker movement.

【推荐3】We often share images or thoughts on social networks. Now, researchers at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) have developed an algorithm (算法) that can analyse the content people post online.

According to William Glasser’s Choice Theory, there are five basic needs: Survival, Power, Freedom, Belonging and Fun. “These needs even have an influence on the images we choose to upload to our Instagram page,” explained Mohammad Mahdi Dehshibi, a researcher at the UOC.

The research team has spent two years working on a deep-learning model that identifies the five needs described by Glasser. For the study, which has been published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, the researchers analyzed 86 Instagram profiles, in both Spanish and Persian (波斯语), and developed an algorithm to identify the content of the images and categorize textual content by assigning different labels.

Glasser’s theory argues that each choice users make on social media does not respond to just one basic need — the multi-label approach of this study helps to clear it up. Dehshibi uses an example to explain this: “Imagine that a cyclist is riding up a mountain, and at the top, he can choose between sharing a selfie (自拍照) and a group photo. If he chooses the selfie, we perceive a need for Power, but if he chooses the other option, we can conclude that the person is not only looking for Fun but also a way to satisfy his need for Belonging.”

“Studying data from social networks that belong to non-English-speaking users could help build inclusive and diverse tools and models for addressing mental health problems in people with diverse cultural backgrounds,” Dehshibi adds.

The research team believe that their study can help improve preventive measures, ranging from identification to improved treatment when a person has been diagnosed (诊断) with a mental health disorder.

Back in 2019, University of Vermont researchers developed an artificial-intelligence-based system that can detect signs of anxiety in the speech patterns of young children. Meanwhile, computer scientists from the University of Alberta, Canada, have developed algorithms that can detect and identify depression through people’s voices.

1. What can the algorithm be used to do?

A．Introducing William Glasser’s Choice Theory.

B．Creating different databases for the research team.

C．Identifying users’ basic needs from the content they share online.

D．Giving people a tool to post images or thoughts on social networks.

2. How does Dehshibi present his idea in Paragraph 4?

A．By providing data.	B．By making comparisons.
C．By quoting sayings.	D．By giving examples.

3. What does the research team think of their study?

A．It can suggest ways to improve social networks.

B．It is useful in handling mental health problems.

C．It is helpful in changing online users’ bad habits.

D．It can link people with diverse cultural backgrounds together.

4. What does the author intend to do in the last paragraph?

A．Summarize the previous paragraphs.	B．Provide some advice for the readers.
C．Add some background information.	D．Introduce a new topic for discussion.

【推荐1】A study from 1976 tells us how and why relationships with our neighbors can be so good for us. Surprisingly to scientists at that time, results showed that connection with family members-even one's own children—had little influence on feelings of well-being or willpower. Meanwhile, friendships, especially those with neighbors, predicted lower levels of loneliness and worry, higher levels of feelings of usefulness and respect within the community.

The study suggests that acquaintance and friendship with neighbors are more effective at increasing well-being since they are based on nearness, common interests and lifestyle choices. The neighborhood relationships are also developed voluntarily. Family ties, on the other hand, are often characterized by a sense of responsibility, physical distance, and personal disharmony. Later studies confirm the importance of close friendships for people over 65, highlighting the particular importance of frequent connection.

More recent studies show that neighborly support is associated with better well-being for individuals in mid- to-late life. Data about neighborly relationships and general well-being from 1,071 adults aged 40-70 from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the US was collected in 1995, and again from the same individuals in 2005.

The study found that those who had little connection with neighbors at the time of both samples, as well as those who experienced a reduction in connection with neighbors over the years, experienced downward trends in well-being, as indicated by feelings of sadness, nervousness. restlessness, hopelessness and worthlessness.

It is important to note here the difference between friendship and neighboring or relationships with neighbors. While friendships are based on common affection, neighboring, at its core is an instrumental relationship that is catalyzed by nearness. But it doesn't have to be this way. Where neighbors are also close friends? the potential benefits are clear. While both friendship and neighboring are beneficial to well-being, they are most effective when the types of support and assistance from both coincide.

1. What does the 1976 study tell us?

A．The friendships between neighbors can last forever.

B．People ignore neighbors more than family members.

C．Neighbors influence people as much as their own children do.

D．Neighbors are more influential to people than family members.

2. How does the author mainly develop paragraph 2?

A．By analyzing data.	B．By giving instructions.
C．By making comparisons.	D．By following the order of time.

3. What determines neighborly relationships according to the text?

A．Nearness.

B．Responsibility.

C．Physical distance.

D．A common life goal.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Why neighbors always help us.	B．Why our neighbors are so important.
C．How neighborly support is available.	D．How neighborly relationships develop well.

【推荐2】With severe mental challenges and amblyopia (弱视), Xu Haofang’s idea of the world was limited to her home. Apart from her parents, interacting with others often proved to be a painful experience.

But Xu’s reality was changed when she started receiving help from the Zhang Xinya Rehabilitation (康复) Center in Shanghai. “She used to be totally dependent on us and barely spoke. Now, she has learned how to write in Chinese, how to wash the dishes and how to do the laundry herself,” says Yan Ping, Xu’s mother.

Founded in 2012 by Zhang Xinya, the center since its establishment has helped dozens of individuals like Xu with 21 of them eventually securing a job. Besides those having challenges, the center also provides assistance to those who are visually or hearing impaired (受损的). “We can unearth their potential and teach them the ability to take care of themselves,” says the 73-year-old, “By doing this, I also hope that their parents can be hopeful of their children’s future.”

Zhang Xinya herself is also a mother to a girl with mental challenges. To help her daughter build meaningful connections with society, Zhang took her to a government-funded center to learn physical exercises that would improve her motor sills Zhang later decided to volunteer at the center, which eventually inspired her to open her own rehabilitation facility (场所).

The center provides various classes conducted by professional teachers and psychological counselors and everyday skills are included in the syllabus (教学大纲). More than 400 lawyers, public health professionals and doctors have been invited to the station to give lectures. These individuals with special needs also receive heath checks at Zhang’s center.

“Many of the individuals could not take care of themselves when they first came, but now they can hold chopstick or spoon and eat by themselves. Some used to remain silent all the time but they can now sing and dance,” says Zhang. “Seeing them make progress is what makes this all worthwhile. This is what drives me to keep going.”

1. What’s the challenge in her life before Xu Haofang went to the center?

A．Her unemployment.	B．The pressure from the society.
C．Her disability and dependence.	D．Lack of trust in others.

2. Which word can explain the underlined word “unearth” in paragraph 3?

A．discover	B．remove
C．change	D．admire

3. What inspires Zhang Xinya to set up the rehabilitation center?

A．Her desire to see the disabled make progress in daily work.

B．Her experience as a volunteer in a government-funded center.

C．The encouragement she got from parents of those with special needs.

D．Her intention to help her daughter build meaningful connections with society.

4. According to the passage, we can conclude that _________.

A．the center mainly helps those who have mental challenges

B．all of the classes in the center are given by professional teachers

C．the center will secure jobs for the individuals with special needs

D．many individuals in the center have made progress in many aspects

【推荐3】Today’s students have a problem. They were born into a world where technology, smartphones, and immediate access to the Internet are hurting their ability to focus and changing the way they think.

Now teachers have a problem too. They find it particularly exhausting to ask students to read complex or long texts without taking regular breaks. Smartphones have clearly affected the younger generation, but how education should evolve for digital-native students?

A common idea among teachers is that short is good. When students can’t seem to pay attention to long lectures, many teachers simply hack lessons into smaller patterns. In fact, students need time to engage with a topic once the teacher introduces it before moving on. Switching between small lessons too quickly could rob them of valuable comprehension.

There are also teachers who begin classes with meditation exercises to help their students focus. However, it turns out that any sort of “tech breaks” could counteract strong desires to multi task.

A 2018 study found that students aged between 10 and 24 tend to stay away from physical books. They prefer video as a source of information second only to teachers. Therefore, some tech-forward teachers choose platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Asha Choksi, vice-president of global research at Pearson, gives the example of a teacher who films himself performing a science experiment and posts it to YouTube. When it is time for class, he uses the video to illustrate material in the textbook, which can seem boring to students.

Still, while those educators are embracing technology in the classroom to meet student’s needs, they also find value in traditional methods, and so suggest a “blended learning” approach. Direct instruction from them will never be replaced in their classes. Technology will be favored only when it improves a lesson in ways that are impossible offline.

Digital natives will continue to eagerly adopt new media. Teachers have no choice but to evolve. They are making an effort not only to ensure that students can take advantage of new technologies, but to teach students valuable skills that can help them think in a world constantly trying to distract them. Think of the Zuckerbergs, the Gates, the Jobs and all those pioneers in the tech world. They became successful not because they could code; it was because they could think.

1. What is the best title of this passage?

A．Students’ Distracting from a Digital World.	B．Teachers’ Learning for a Distracted Generation.
C．Students’ Learning for a Digital World.	D．Education’s Evolving for a Distracted Generation.

2. According to the passage, which of the following statement is NOT TRUE?

A．Teachers adopt short lectures, small lessons, which could be hard to understand sometimes.

B．Teachers employ meditation exercises to help students concentrate on class, which is of few effects.

C．Students aged between 10 and 24 don’t prefer physical books, so YouTube and Instagram may be a good choice.

D．Students aged between 10 and 24 prefer videos to teachers, so using video to explain textbooks is a popular way.

3. According to the article, a “blended learning” approach is suggested mainly because_______.
(1). the teacher’s authority remains unchallenged.
(2). technology is a useful supplement to textbooks.
(3). material in the textbook is too boring to most students.
(4). teachers want to change their traditional teaching methods.

A．(1)、(2)

B．(2)、(3)

C．(3)、(4)

D．(1)、(4)

4. According to the author, a teacher’s top priority is ________.

A．to share as much knowledge with students as possible.

B．to encourage students to make full use of new technologies.

C．to help students develop their ability to think critically and creatively.

D．to instruct students to limit their use of smart phones and social media.

【推荐1】Plastic surgery (整形手术) is not only popular in the US, but is also spreading across Asia. It is reported that South Korea is now the world’s largest market for plastic surgery.

In order to change their looks, 20 percent of women aged between 19 and 49 in Seoul said they had gone under the knife. The growth of South Korea’s pop music industry increases the popularity. Many patients visit clinics with photos of singers, asking doctors to copy their noses or eyes.

Joo Kwon, who founded one of the largest clinics in Seoul, recently opened a hotel to better serve customers. People will spend about $ 17,675 in a single visit. An increasing number of customers are non-Koreans, from China, Japan, the Middle East and even Africa. Leaders in South Korea say that this will help the Korean economy.

However, Mr. Kwon warned that young people should be careful when taking such operations. “I think South Korea doesn’t understand the word ‘beauty’, because everyone looks pretty much the same. It is also related to low self-confidence. I think the situation will somewhat become better in the future as the society becomes more different. But it will take quite a bit of time until we get there,” he told reporters.

Last year, a booklet (小册子) was given out to Korean high school students by the government. There was a story that a local woman who was crazy about plastic surgery ended up with an ugly face.

1. What is the main cause of the increase in plastic surgery in South Korea?

A．The increasing understanding of beauty.	B．The increasing number of clinics.
C．The rise of the pop music industry.	D．The rise of the Korean economy.

2. What is Mr. Kwon’s attitude toward plastic surgery?

A．He feels it is worth a try.	B．He is strongly against it.
C．He is not interested in it.	D．He is objective about it.

3. We can learn from the last paragraph that ________.

A．plastic surgery is supported by the government

B．high school students are encouraged to have plastic surgery

C．high school students in South Korea are fond of plastic surgery

D．plastic surgery is bad for people’s health

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．How to have plastic surgery.

B．Why women have plastic surgery.

C．The famous singers in South Korea.

D．Rapid growth of plastic surgery in South Korea.

【推荐2】Each time Chinese New Year is approaching, preparations are underway around the world. Here are some Chinatowns for those outside of China wishing to mark the day.

London

Although it may not be as large or as long-built as others, having only become a center for the Chinese community during the 1950s, London’s Chinatown is perfectly formed little firework that knows how to see in the year with a bang. Decorated with red lanterns, previous years have seen shows with acrobatics（杂技）, martial arts（武术）,dance and opera nearby.

San Francisco

San Francisco’s Chinatown is perhaps the most famous in the United States. The city was the main entry-point for Chinese who had crossed the Pacific to the USA during the early 19th century. Between the Grant Avenue and the Stockton Street, this historic area is a local treasure, attracting more visitors per year than the Golden Gate Bridge.

Bangkok

With an about 100-year-old history, the Thai capital’s Chinatown contains complex streets offering all kinds of tasty treats, clothes, toys and antiques. Sunday market days are such a good time to get the full atmosphere of the neighborhood. The area is also known for its gold dealers, whose shops line the road.

Mauritius

Found in Port Louis, this Mauritian Chinatown shows the island nation’s rich multicultural diversity. Established in the early years of the 20^th century by settlers from China, its tiny shops and restaurants serve locals and visitors. During the Chinese Spring Festival, the most exciting sight is the Dragon Dances on Rue Royale when Chinese musicians and dancers perform the traditional lion dances through the streets.

1. According to the text, which of the following has the longest history?

A．London’s Chinatown.	B．San Francisco’s Chinatown.
C．Mauritius’s Chinatown.	D．Bangkok’s Chinatown.

2. What’s special about Bangkok’s Chinatown?

A．It is crowded with Chinese restaurants.	B．It is the major entrance for the Chinese.
C．It is well-known for its gold business.	D．It is when you can enjoy fireworks.

3. If you want to enjoy the Dragon Dances, you can go to ______.

A．Rue Royale in Port Louis, Mauritius	B．the Sunday market in Bangkok
C．the Grant Avenue in San Francisco	D．the Chinese community in London

【推荐3】In an attempt to win back old customers, restaurants and companies often introduce new menu items or new flavors. Most of these are successful with customers because they have always been researched and tested by companies before they meet the public. However, there are still some that are so unpopular with customers and they fail so badly as a product that they become infamous.

One of the most well-known marketing failures happened in 1985 with New Coke, a soft drink created to replace the original Coca-Cola flavor. The Coca-Cola Company tested several new flavors and found that people always preferred a sweeter soda. As a result, the CEO decided that the sweeter soda would replace the original Coca-Cola drink.

Many customers, however, soon started to express their dissatisfaction with the new drink. The Coca-Cola Company received over 1,500 angry telephone calls every day. The Coca-Cola Company actually employed special experts to talk to customers because they were so angry and sad about the change. Some Americans were buying old Coca-Cola drinks from overseas where the new drink had not yet been introduced. And in some parts of America people were so angry that they emptied bottles of New Coke into the street.

So many people were unhappy with Coca-Cola’s new drink that the company decided only three months later to return to the old Coca-Cola drink. On July 10,1985, the Coca-Cola Company said that it would bring back the old Coke and rename the drink “Coca-Cola Classic” or “Coke Classic”. Thousands of customers phoned the company to express their support.

Even today, business experts are interested in this case. Even though the Coca-Cola Company had carefully tested and experimented with New Coke before introducing it to customers, the New drink was still very unpopular. So, what did Coca-Cola do wrong? It seems the company simply did not understand customers’ deep historical and emotional attachment to the drink.

1. Why do companies usually introduce new menu items?

A．To attract past customers.

B．To attract new customers.

C．To attract elderly customers.

D．To attract customers with special needs.

2. What is the difference between New Coke and the original one?

A．New Coke is sweeter.

B．New Coke is more acidic.

C．New Coke’s color is lighter.

D．New Coke’s bottle is bigger.

3. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Why New Coke failed in America.

B．The harm New Coke did to people’ s health.

C．How customers acted in answer to the introduction of New Coke.

D．The comparison between sales of New Coke and the original one.

4. When was New Coke put on the market?

A．In May 1985.	B．In April 1985.
C．In June 1985.	D．In July 1985.

5. What is most likely to be discussed in the paragraph that follows?

A．The reasons why New Coke succeeded overseas.

B．The history of the Coca-Cola Company in the 1990s.

C．The difference between New Coke and Coke Classic.

D．The importance of people’s feelings about old products.