【推荐1】Kung fu is one of a number of Chinese martial arts designed to improve the body and the mind. It is perhaps one of the most widely known martial arts, because many films include its techniques. There are hundreds of styles taught all over the world, although they can be loosely divided into two camps: Shaolin style kung fu, and other techniques, some of which have a history that outdates the Shaolin order.

Shaolin kung fix has its origins in the fifth century. Like some other martial arts, it began in religious temples, where the monks sought a mind and body discipline (训练方法). In addition to the fighting style, it also includes mental exercises and religious practices designed to balance the whole body.

Shaolin temples resembled universities, integrating a wide range of subjects of study. Therefore, traditional Shaolin styles such as Wing Chun, Crane, Praying Mantis, and Hung Gar took knowledge from fields outside martial arts, such as the healing arts and meditation. Supporters for Shaolin styles believe that they are more rounded martial arts styles, and that learners will benefit from them on a whole body level.

Other fighting styles, some of which predate the Shaolin style, are also lumped under the kung fu umbrella. They include Pa-Kua, Eagle Claw, and Eight Drunken Immortals styles. These disciplines are not considered to be Shaolin style because they did not originate in temples and are focused primarily on fighting techniques.

Whether Shaolin or otherwise, kung fu is characterized by self defense strategies that turn the energy of an attacker against him or her. Although the techniques may vary, most styles teach throws, kicks, punches, and the use of weapons. In addition to the physical discipline, most place a great importance on respect, honor, and living a balanced life.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The reason why kung fu is important.

B．The different styles of Shaolin kung fu.

C．The functions and branches of kung fu.

D．The differences between Shaolin style and others.

2. We can learn from the first paragraph that kung fu       .

A．is good for people physically and mentally

B．has the longest history in Shaolin temples

C．is something that are taught in many films

D．has only two important styles left at present

3. Which of the following is true about Shaolin kung fu according to the text?

A．Shaolin kung fu was invented earlier than other styles.

B．Some Shaolin styles are connected with healing arts.

C．Wing Chun is not included in Shaolin Style kung fu,

D．Pa-Kua and Eagle Claw are under Shaolin Style umbrella.

4. What do most styles of kung fu have in common?

A．They all began in religious temples in China.

B．They teach physical skills instead of use of weapons.

C．They focus on attacking the enemy first with your energy.

D．They require learners to be respectful and honor themselves.

【推荐3】In China, jade (玉) serves as one of the nation’s oldest symbols of virtue and nobility. For years, jade carvers have produced beautiful artworks, because of their exquisite skills and complicated techniques passed down from generation to generation. Among China’s wide-ranging styles of jade carving, Beijing’s is one of the most famous and recognized worldwide for its use of imperial (皇家的) elements.

Jade carving originated in the Yuan Dynasty. In the succeeding dynasty, the Ming, the court gathered skilled jade carvers from all over the nation to create the finest of products for the imperial family, lifting the art to new heights. During the Qing Dynasty, jade became especially popular in Beijing, and the carving skill reached its peak. After the Qing, the craft continued to flourish, with thousands of people pouring their creativity into the jade carving industry. In 2008, Beijing’s particular practices were listed as national intangible cultural heritage.

Zhang Tiecheng is a third-generation Beijing jade carving inheritor (继承人). In 1983, when the technical school attached to the Beijing Jade Factory began to enroll students, Zhang decided to try his luck. After four years of training, he graduated and started working at the factory. Through pure diligence and perseverance, he gradually became a master of the carving art. The year 2008 was a significant one for Zhang. Chinese jade art was introduced internationally through the “Chinese Seal” Olympic symbol and the jade-carved medals. Zhang participated in the design of both. They combined white jade with gold, a light greenish jade with silver, and a gray shade of jade with bronze to make the medals present that perfect combination of truthfulness and virtue.

Following his Olympic work, Zhang was invited to restore (修复) the jade decorations in the Palace Museum. During this assignment, Zhang couldn’t help but feel sad as he realized how the once successful jade artistry was slowly disappearing from its once celebrated stage. As an inheritor of Beijing jade carving, Zhang has added modern artistic elements into this traditional skill. He now hopes more young people can take up the craftsmanship so it can continue to flourish (繁荣)) for many years to come.

1. What is special about Beijing jade carving?

A．It involves many royal elements.

B．It shows the life of people in Beijing.

C．It is the most popular jade carving in the world.

D．It covers all the styles of jade carving in China.

2. What does paragraph 2 mainly tell us about jade carving?

A．Its role in China.	B．Its value of appreciation.
C．Its carving process.	D．Its history.

3. What can we infer from paragraph 3?

A．Master Zhang has great talent for jade carving.

B．Chinese jade culture has been combined with modern sports events.

C．Zhang’s design of Olympic medals won lots of awards.

D．The jade-carved medals were greatly admired by foreign athletes.

4. What does Zhang Tiecheng worry about?

A．The design of art forms.	B．The inheritance of the traditional skill.
C．The benefits of the jade industry.	D．The restoration of jade works.

【推荐1】A news release (释放，发布）is a tool of communication，through which information is passed to even the farthest end of the world.It keeps us well informed of the happenings of the world which would otherwise remain unknown.
When writing a news release，keep in mind that the media receive hundreds of releases every day.Try to follow these guidelines：Keep it short and professional.Come up with a ____headline that will grasp someone's attention.Sometimes the title will take more time to come up with than writing the release.That's okay－the headline could be critical for getting an event covered!
Cover the 5 W's in your first paragraph.Those are who you are; what you are doing；where，when you are doing；why you are doing it，which help us understand the details about the event.Besides，any opinions in the news release should be put in quotations from your designated spokesperson.Include things that the media finds newsworthy，which is the most essential.
Make the time on your news release at least half an hour later than the time you have told activists to show up at an event.This will ensure that activists are prepared and in place by the time the media arrive.
Choose a spokesperson for the event who can be quoted in the release and will be available for calls at that number the day before the event.
Have someone proof the release for spelling，grammar and content (determine whether what you are trying to relay is clear and right)．Sometimes the person who writes the release may not notice mistakes that a fresh pair of eyes will catch.
Accuracy is the last but not least important in terms of your content and the location and time that you tell the media.If you do make a mistake，it is critical that you call and notify the media of the correction.
1. What's the main purpose of the passage?

A．To tell us the importance of the news release.

B．To tell us how to avoid mistakes in the news release.

C．To make us know how to make the news release.

D．To ask us to read news release on the latest events.

2. What does the underlined word “catchy” in Para 2 probably mean?

A．Tricky.	B．Attractive.
C．Imaginary.	D．Funny.

3. What is the most important for a news release according to the passage?

A．Make sure the 5 W's in your first paragraph.

B．Choose a proper spokesperson for the event.

C．Make the news release newsworthy and accuracy.

D．Ensure activists are prepared for the events in advance.

【推荐2】More students than ever before are taking a gap year (间隔年) before going to university. It used to be called the “year off” between school and university. The gap-year phenomenon originated (起源) with the months left over to Oxbridge applicants between entrance exams in November and the start of the next academic year.

This year, 25,310 students who have accepted places in higher education institutions have put off their entry until next year, according to statistics on university entrance provided by the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS).

That is a record 14.7% increase in the number of students taking a gap year. Tony Higgins from UCAS said that the statistics are good news for everyone in higher education. “Students who take a well-planned year out are more likely to be satisfied with, and complete, their chosen course. Students who take a gap year are often more mature and responsible.” he said.

But not everyone is happy. Owain James, the president of the National Union of Students (NUS), argued that the increase is evidence of student hardship—young people are being forced into earning money before finishing their education. “New students are now aware that they are likely to leave university up to £ 15,000 in debt. It is not surprising that more and more students are taking a gap year to earn money to support their study for the degree. NUS statistics show that over 40% of students are forced to work during term time and the figure increases to 90% during vacation periods,” he said.

1. What do we learn about the gap year from the text?

A．It is flexible in length.	B．It is a time for relaxation.
C．It is increasingly popular.	D．It is required by universities.

2. According to Tony Higgins, students taking a gap year       .

A．are better prepared for college studies

B．know a lot more about their future jobs

C．are more likely to leave university in debt

D．have a better chance to enter top universities

3. How does Owain James feel about the gap-year phenomenon?

A．He’s puzzled.	B．He’s worried.
C．He’s surprised.	D．He’s annoyed.

4. What would most students do on their vacation according to NUS statistics?

A．Attend additional courses.	B．Make plans for the new term.
C．Earn money for their education.	D．Prepare for their graduate studies.

【推荐3】Dogs greet other dogs nose-first, as it were sniffing each other from fore to (especially) aft. People are not quite so open about the process of sniffing each other out. But there is also evidence that human beings can infer kinship (亲属关系), deduce emotional states and even detect disease via the sense of smell.

Now, Inbal Ravreby, Kobi Snitz and Noam Sobel of the Weizmann Institute of Science, in Israel, have gone a step further.

They have shown, admittedly in a fairly small sample of individuals, that friends actually smell alike. They have also shown that people pick friends at least partly on the basis of body odour (气味).

As they report in Science Advances, Dr Ravreby, Dr Snitz and Dr Sobel started their research by testing the odours of 20 pairs of established, non-romantic, same-sex friends. They employed an electronic nose (e-nose) and two groups of specially recruited (招聘的) human “smellers”. The e-nose used a set of metal-oxide gas sensors to assess t-shirts worn by participants.

One group of human smellers were given pairs of these shirts and asked to rate how similar they smelt. Those in the other group were asked to rate the odours of individual t-shirts on five subjective dimensions: pleasantness, intensity, sexual attractiveness, competence and warmth. All three approaches yielded the same result. The t-shirts of friends smelt more similar to each other than did the t-shirts of strangers.

Friends, in other words, do indeed smell alike.

To further understand whether friendship causes similarity of smell, or similarity of smell causes friendship, Dr Ravreby, Dr Snitz and Dr Sobel investigated whether e-nose measurements could predict positive interactions between strangers to develop a new friendship.

They gathered another 17 volunteers, gave them t-shirts to wear to collect their body odours, ran those odours past the e-nose, and then asked the participants to play a game.

Participants were paired up at random and their reactions recorded. After each interaction, they demonstrated how close they felt to their fellow game   by overlapping (重叠) two circles (one representing themselves, the other their partner) on a screen. It showed that the more similar the two electronic smell signatures were, the greater the overlap.

1. What is the author’s purpose in mentioning dogs at the beginning of the passage?

A．To raise some doubts.	B．To illustrate a point.
C．To introduce the topic.	D．To impress the readers.

2. How did the researchers carry out the first experiment?

A．By analyzing the charts	B．By describing the details.
C．By comparing the results.	D．By explaining the theories.

3. Which is the right order of the events according to the second study?
a. Participants were paired randomly.
b. Seventeen volunteers wore t-shirts.
c. Participants overlapped two circles.
d. The researchers ran smells past the e-nose.

A．b-c-d-a.

B．c-d-a-b.

C．d-c-b-a.

D．b-d-a-c.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Pleasant body odours attract friends.

B．Similar smells strengthen friendship.

C．Friendship is based on same interests.

D．Friends tend to have similar body odours.

【推荐1】Museums are cathedrals to science and understanding, but not all science museums are equal. The following 4 examples are all well worth visiting in the future.

The Natural History Museum in London

It is one of the best science museums in the world. With exceptional exhibits all wrapped up in a masterpiece of architectural design, this museum is a must visit for anyone who travels to London. As the name suggests the main theme of the museum is natural history and it features collections about animals, plants, human biology, minerals, and natural resources.

The Exploratorium in San Francisco

The museum, full of engaging and educational exhibits, truly lives up to its nickname" The Scientific Fun House" and offers a very different museum visiting experience. The design team challenged themselves to create a space to display the strangest, most amazing and most exciting aspects of science possible to amaze and inspire young minds. Its main mission is to create young scientists by letting them see just how exciting science can be.

The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne

It is located in Lucerne in Switzerland and is filled with different modes of transport. Most of the exhibits are Swiss car models from the early 1900s onwards but it also includes planes, trains, shops, and some communication technology. It's not all about science and technology - there is also a large collection of the works of Hans Erni, a well-respected local artist.

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington D. C.

The museums in the world. Exhibits within the museum take you on a visual feast of a tour, from the first attempt to fly right through to the incredible achievements of the explorations into space.

1. Which city are you most likely to visit if you're into dinosaurs?

A．Lucerne	B．San Francisco.
C．Washington	D．London

2. Which museum offers works of an artist?

A．The Exploratorium in San Francisco.

B．The Natural History Museum in London.

C．The Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.

D．The National Air and Space Museum in Washington D. C.

3. The Exploratorium in San Francisco is mainly designed to _________.

A．introduce the human flight history	B．present the wonder of science
C．display different car models	D．show great architecture worldwide

【推荐2】Bright blue Citi Bikes are becoming a fine sight in the New Yorker street. New Yorkers are gradually getting used to more pedaling（骑车的) passengers on those blue Citi Bikes. But what about local bike shops ? Is City Bike booming at their expense? At Gotham Bikes in Tribeca, a manager who gave his name as "Ben W." said the shop has seen an increase in its overall sales due to the bike-share program. "It's getting more people on the road, more people learning about the sport and getting involved," he said. An employee at Danny's Cycles in Gramercy said Citi Bike is a good option for people in a city famed for its traffic jams and aggressive drivers. "They can try out a bike without buying one:' James Ryan said.
Rentals are not a big part of the business at either Gotham Bikes or Danny's Cycles. But for Frank's Bike Shop, a small business on Grand St., the bike-share program has been bad news. Owner Frank Arroyo said that his rental business has decreased by 90% since Citi Bike was launched last month. Arroyo's main rental customers are European tourists, who have since been drawn away by Citi Bikes.
However, Ben said the bike-share is good for bike sales at his shop. "People have used the bike-share and realized how great it is to bike in the city, then decide that they want something nicer for themselves," he noted.
Christian Farrell of Waterfront Bicycle Shop, on West St. said at first he was concerned about bike-share, though, he admitted, "I was happy to see people on bikes."
Farrell's early concerns were repeated by Andrew Crooks, owner of NYC Velo, at 64 Second Ave. "It seemed like a great idea, but one that would be difficult to put into use:' Crooks said of Citi Bike. He said he worried about inexperienced riders' lack of awareness of biking rules and strong negative reaction from non-cyclists. However, he said, it's still too early to tell if his business has been impacted (影响) .
While it's possible bike-share will cause a drop in business, Crooks agreed that the idea is a positive step forward for New York City.
1. What is the author's chief concern about the increasing use of Citi Bikes in New York?

A．Whether local bike shops will suffer.

B．How non-cyclists will respond to it.

C．Whether local bike businesses will oppose it.

D．How the safety of bike riders can be ensured.

2. What happened to Gotham Bikes as a result of the bike-share program?

A．It found its bike sales unaffected.

B．It changed its business to rentals.

C．It saw its bike sales on the rise.

D．It rented more bikes to tourists.

3. Why is the bike-share program bad news for Frank's Bike Shop?

A．Its customers have been drawn away by Citi Bikes.

B．It cannot meet the demand of the bike-share program.

C．Its bike prices have to be lowered again and again.

D．It has to compete with the city's bike rental shops.

4. What is the general attitude of the local bike shops towards Citi Bike?

A．Doubtful.	B．Negative.
C．Uninterested.	D．Approving.

【推荐3】Why elephants rarely get cancer is a mystery that has confused scientists for decades. A study led by researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), at the University of Utah and Arizona State University may have found the answer.   

According to the results, elephants have 38 additional modified copies of a gene that encodes p53, a definite tumor suppressor, as compared to humans, who have only two. Further, elephants may have a more powerful mechanism for killing damaged cells that are at risk for becoming cancerous. In isolated elephant cells, this activity is doubled compared to healthy human cells, and five times that of cells from patients with Li-Fraumeni Syndrome, who have only one working copy of p53 and more than a 90 percent lifetime cancer risk in children and adults. The results suggest extra p53 could explain elephants’ increased resistance to cancer.

“Nature has already figured out how to prevent cancer. It’s up to us to learn how different animals overcome the problem so we can adapt those strategies to prevent cancer in people,” says co-senior author Joshua Schiffman, M.D., pediatric oncologist (儿科肿瘤医生) at Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine.

But Prof Mel Greaves, from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, says we should focus on why humans have such high levels of cancer. He pointed to the rise of unhealthy, cancer-causing behaviors, such as obesity and sunbathing. “You’ve never seen an elephant smoke!” he added.

According to Schiffman, elephants have long been considered a walking problem. Because they have 100 times as many cells as people, they should be 100 times more likely to have a cell slip into a cancerous state and cause the disease over their long life span of 50 to 70 years. And yet analysis of a large database of elephant deaths estimates a cancer death rate of less than 5 percent compared to 11 to 25 percent in people.

1. Why are elephants less likely to get cancer than humans?

A．Elephants are bigger than humans.

B．Elephants have more p53 genes and mechanism killing damaged cells.

C．Elephants are not as clever as humans in walking.

D．Elephants eat more than humans.

2. Which of the following can be the equivalent of the underlined word “suppressor”?

A．multiplier

B．complex

C．restrainer

D．coordinator

3. What’s Prof Mel Greaves’ attitude towards the discovery?

A．Doubtful.

B．Neutral.

C．Critical.

D．Favorable.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Elephants have longer life than people.

B．There is no chance that elephants die from cancer.

C．The rate of elephants dying from cancer is increasing.

D．It was thought theoretically that elephants could get cancer more easily.

【推荐1】Best Cookbooks for Kids

Best Overall: Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!)

◎Buy on Amazon
◎Buy on Walmart

With the help of this best-selling cookbook, your kids will become masters in the kitchen! Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat !) is ideal for children aged 6 to 12, as it includes detailed explanations of basic cooking techniques, plus more than 50 kid-friendly recipes. This award-winning cookbook is a comprehensive guide for cooking novices, explaining skills and recipes in kid-friendly language.

Best for Basic Learner: Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook

◎Buy on Amazon
◎Buy on Walmart

If you want to teach your kids cooking terms, tools and techniques, you need the Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook. This 128-page cookbook has more than 65 kid-friendly recipes, and it’s perfect for introducing kids aged 5 to 12 to the wonderful world of cooking. It includes a detailed section on cooking terms, kitchen safety, tools (including pictures), and healthy cooking. It also addresses how to measure ingredients and how to read recipes.

Best Classic: Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys and Girls

◎Buy on Amazon
◎Buy on Target
◎Buy on Walmart

The first edition of this classic kids’ cookbook was published more than 60 years ago, and the Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys and Girls is still a favorite for kids and adults alike. The recipes are ideal for children aged 8 to 12. This cookbook is an authentic reproduction of the original 1957 edition, which many baby boomers learned from themselves! Many older buyers write that they had the same cookbook growing up and love sharing the classic recipes with the next generation.

Best Vegetarian: The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids

◎Buy on Amazon
◎Buy on Walmart

This vegan cookbook is best for children aged 6 to 12, and its aim is to teach kids about healthy eating by involving them in the cooking process. The book features 60 plant-based recipes for you to make with your family, including meals, snacks, drinks and desserts.

1. Which cookbook can be purchased on Target?

A．Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat!).

B．Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook.

C．Betty Crocker’s Cookbook for Boys and Girls.

D．The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids.

2. What can we know about Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook?

A．It is an award-winning cookbook.

B．It teaches the kids about kitchen safety.

C．It includes 60 plant-based recipes.

D．It was published more than 60 years ago.

3. What is the similarity between Cooking Class: 57 Fun Recipes Kids Will Love to Make (and Eat !) and The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids?

A．They are both designed for kids aged 6-12.

B．They have recipes based on plants.

C．They have recipes for whatever you want.

D．They explain how to measure ingredients.

【推荐2】Severe plantar fasciitis (足底筋膜炎) meant I’d been a full-time wheelchair user since I was 12. By the time I was 16, I just wanted my leg off. It took six years for the doctors to operate as they insisted on waiting until I was older and in a good enough place mentally. I held off until I finished my degree. Afterward, with an artificial leg fitted, the world felt like a different place. I’d not walked in years. Suddenly I was a lot taller and no longer in any pain.

When I was in a wheelchair I discovered a real love for sport. I started to compete in wheelchair racing, and soon found I was good at discus (铁饼) throwing. I started competing in Tough Mudder (an endurance event series), progressing from walking with crutches to blade (小腿假肢) running. I now compete in sports internationally and have won the silver medal for adaptive judo at the World Judo Games.

At the time of the surgery I worked as an accountant, but I soon realized I didn’t want to be sitting in an office all day as I’d been in a wheelchair for so long. Therefore, as soon as the revision surgery was complete, I handed in my notice.

My career took a different path after I was asked to be a guest presenter for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards. Now I speak to schools, colleges and organizations about a wide range of subjects such as disability, discrimination, disability in sport, and perseverance. I share my own personal stories, whether that’s how I lost my leg and what I learned from it, my perseverance, and how I followed my dream.

Now most of my income comes from working as a motivational speaker, which I’ve been doing full time for a year. I love what I do, and if I continue to inspire others to do what they want to in life, then I’m happy.

1. How did the author probably feel after his leg was cut off?

A．Anxious.

B．Relieved.

C．Hopeless.

D．Annoyed.

2. What is the second paragraph mainly about?

A．The author’s passion for sports.

B．Awards the author won playing sports.

C．What sports the author is good at.

D．How the author prepared for Tough Mudder.

3. What do the underlined words “handed in my notice” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Quit the job.

B．Asked for leave.

C．Got promoted.

D．Spread the news to others.

4. What’s the main reason for him to be a motivational speaker?

A．It was his dream during childhood.

B．He enjoys the fame it brings him.

C．It brings him money and a sense of fulfillment.

D．He wants more people to care about the disabled.

【推荐3】There is a popular saying (格言) in the English language: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

Well, that is not true. Unkind words, name calling or even the so-called “the silent treatment” can hurt children as much as being physically hit, sometimes even more so.

Martin Teicher and his team studied young adults aged 18 to 25. The researchers asked the young people to assess their childhood exposure to verbal abuse (辱骂) from both parents and other children. Then the researchers performed imaging (成像) tests on these young adults.

The images showed that the individuals who reported suffering verbal abuse from their peers (同龄人) in middle school had poorly developed connections between the left side and the right side of the brain. The researchers tested the mental and emotional condition of all the young people in the study. The tests showed that this same group of individuals had higher levels of fear, depression, anger and drug abuse than others in the study.

The middle school years are a time when the brain connections are developing. We cannot control what other people say to our children, but we can prepare them. A website called CreativeWithKids.com offers 60 things that all children need to hear.

Here are the top 5.

1. I am curious to know what you think.

2. You are creative. I believe in you.

3. You can ask for help. I’ll always be there.

4. You are a good friend.You make me smile.

5. You are imperfect. So am I.

Share one or more of these statements with a child in your life. Actually, maybe we all need to hear some of these statements.

1. Why is the saying mentioned in Paragraph 1?

A．To introduce the topic.	B．To support the argument.
C．To summarize the main idea.	D．To share the author’s opinion.

2. What can we learn from the study?

A．Bad words have less effect on kids.	B．Verbal abuse leads to bad habits later in life.
C．The brain develops fast in high school years.	D．Verbal abuse in middle school years hurts more.

3. What is suggested in the text?

A．Not blaming young adults.	B．Preventing kids from verbal abuse.
C．Saying positive words to young children.	D．Helping kids get familiar with unkind words.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．Say no to verbal abuse.	B．Unkind words hurt the brain.
C．Share your love with others.	D．Silence speaks louder than words.