【推荐2】The Art Institute of Chicago

Visiting time:

The museum is open daily 10:30 a. m.-5:00 p. m. and Thursdays until 8;00 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Highlights of the Art Institute

●American Art

Discover how artists have expressed many aspects of the American experience through the rich variety of this collection. This tour might include the works of artists like Paul Revere, Winslow Homer and Georgia O’Keeffe, or follow the path of immigrant craftsmen as they created designs for everyday life.

● Impressionism: Monet, Degas, Renoir and More

Drop in the color and excitement of late 19th-century life as you view one of the most admired collections of French Impressionism in the world.

●Hidden Histories

Hear stories about artists and their artworks that may be overlooked or underappreciated for one reason or another. These could be very small works, quiet or out-of-the-way objects.

● Mindfulness Tours

Slow down and take in just a few artworks. This experience includes guided meditation exercises and close, mindful looking exercises to allow participants to be contemplative(沉思的)，collaborative and present with all of their senses.

For families with children

With free admission for kids under 14 and Chicago teens under 18, the Art Institute is the perfect place for a creative outing with the whole family.

Visit the Family Room in the Ryan Education Center, open daily from 10:30 a. m.—5:00 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day and introduce your children to the museum’s collections with a variety of activities. Assemble(组装) puzzles based on masterpieces in the museum, build architectural wonders with colorful blocks, and learn about art through stories and games. Food is available at an on-site cafe. (Outside food is not allowed in. )

1. On which day can one visit The Art Institute of Chicago?

A．Thanksgiving Day.	B．Independence Day.
C．Christmas Day.	D．New Year’s Day.

2. What can visitors learn in Hidden Histories?

A．The early stories of some big artists.	B．The artworks of some potential artists.
C．Some stories about lesser-known artists.	D．Some artworks whose creators are unclear.

3. What can children do in the Family Room?

A．Practice storytelling skills.	B．Decorate some masterpieces.
C．Enjoy their home-made food.	D．Take part in hands-on activities.

【推荐3】Mobility challenges? Help is at hand

Experiencing diminished (减弱的) mobility can be extremely difficult. When people talk about it, a lot of the focus is on the physical consequences, but coping with its emotional impact-the loss of freedom, the knock to your confidence and the feelings of frustration are just as significant as the physical.

Mobility scooters

There are various resources and mobility aids out there that can help-wheelchair, mobility scooter or walking aid, etc. If you struggle to walk, but need to travel long distances, a mobility scooter might be a better choice. One that you should consider is the eFOLDi Lite scooter, the World’s lightest folding mobility scooter from SunTech.

Making travel easier

It can be transported easily in a car or on a plane so you no longer have to face travel restrictions and you can enjoy your freedom much more as it is extremely portable, easy to use and super lightweight — at only 15kg — it’s the perfect travel and mobility companion.

Users can unfold the scooter in seconds and it’s packed full of beneficial features that will improve your day to day journeys and make travelling more accessible for you.

Pre-order Supporters of the campaign can pre-order an eFOLDi Lite on Kickstarter for a super early bird price of £1200 which is 50% of the future retail price, plus a £80 shipping cost.

The campaign ends on 11th February 2021. For more information about eFOLDi Lite, visit http://reservefold. com/?scooter=exclusive.

1. Why are the psychological effects of diminished mobility mentioned at the beginning?

A．To introduce the topic of diminished mobility.

B．To provide more knowledge about eFOLDi Lite.

C．To draw people’s attention to psychological health.

D．To attract more potential customers of eFOLDi Lite.

2. Which of the following is the advantage of eFOLDi Lite?

A．It can be unfolded with certain help.

B．It can rid you of travel restrictions.

C．It can be charged quickly and easily.

D．It is more suitable for a long journey.

3. How much will you pay at least when ordering the product on the Internet?

A．£1280.

B．£600.

C．£2480.

D．£1240.

【推荐1】KING LEAR Act 3

NARRATOR: As soon as Goneril has got all she can from her father, she begins treating him disrespectfully. When Lear wants to speak to her, Goneril tells her servant, Oswald, to say she is sick. She encourages her staff to be disrespectful towards Lear and begins complaining about the hundred soldiers Lear has brought with him. However, King Lear soon has a friend by his side. The Duke of Kent, who Lear ordered to leave Britain, cannot abandon his king. He therefore comes to Lear disguised（伪装） as a servant called Caius and asks for a job.

(Enter Lear, several of Lear's soldiers and Kent disguised as a servant.)

LEAR: OK, Caius. I'll give you a trial. And if you prove to be good at your job, I'll keep you on as my servant. (Oswald enters.) Hey, you there. Where's my daughter? (Oswald ignores the king and hurries out of the room.) Hey. What's going on? Call him back. Is he deaf? (A Soldier rushes out after Oswald.) It's as though the whole world has gone to sleep. (Soldier reenters.) Where's that servant? Why didn’t he come back when I called?

SOLDIER: Sir, he answered me very rudely and said he would not come back. LEAR: I don’t believe it!

SOLDIER: Sir, I am sorry, to tell you this, but it seems to me that you are not being treated with the respect due to a king. Everyone here, including your daughter, is behaving very coldly towards you.

LEAR:Mmm. I suspected the same, but I kept telling myself it was my imagination. Please tell my daughter I wish to speak with her. (Soldier bows and leaves. Oswald enters.) Ah, come here my man and answer me. Who am I?

OSWALD: My lady's father.

LEAR: Your lady's father? Is that all I am to you, you dog, you slave! (Lear raises his arm as though to strike Oswald.)

OSWALD: I'll not be hit, my Lord.

KENT: (Kent kicks Oswald's feet out from under him.) And you won't be laid flat on your back either, I suppose. Now get up and get out of here. (Oswald leaves.)

LEAR: My thanks, Caius. I can see you will be a most valuable servant.

(Enter Goneril.) What's up, daughter? You always seem to be frowning lately.

GONERIL: Is it any wonder that I frown when your soldiers are continually drinking and fighting? I thought when I told you about their behaviour you would make them behave, but now I hear you have insulted（侮辱）Oswald. I do believe you are encouraging your soldiers in their bad behaviour.

LEAR: Is this my daughter scolding me?

GONERIL:     I have had enough of your soldiers. They are expensive to keep and you don't need them. Besides, their drunken behaviour and bad manners are disgusting. You will send half of them away. And unless you want me to get rid of the rest of them too, I suggest you teach them how to behave properly.

LEAR: That's a lie. My soldiers are good men who know how to behave properly. I won't stay here to be insulted. I still have one more daughter. She'll scratch out your eyes when she hears how you've treated me. Men! Get my horses ready and collect my baggage. I'll leave immediately. I won't stay where I'm not welcome. (Lear and companions leave.)

NARRATOR: Lear sends Kent on ahead to the castle of his other daughter, Regan, to tell her that he will soon be arriving. Goneril sends her servant Oswald to Regan to tell her side of the story.

1. Why did the Duke of Kent disguise himself as a servant?

A．To find a chance to meet Goneril.	B．To share some of the king’s wealth.
C．To find a job in the court.	D．To serve and help his king Lear.

2. Why does Oswald behave coldly to King Lear?

A．Because he doesn’t know he is the king.

B．Because King Lear raises his arm to strike him.

C．Because King Lear’s soldiers don’t behave properly.

D．Because his master treats King Lear disrespectfully.

3. According to the passage which of the following can BEST describe King Lear?

A．Selfish.	B．Cautious.
C．Greedy.	D．Stupid.

【推荐3】Teenagers in England do much the same as those in America do. They enjoy sending messages by their mobile phones and they also like swimming, listening to the latest music, watching TV and surfing the Internet.

How do teenagers in England spend their free time and holidays? Let’s follow Sally, a British teenager, and spend five days with her during her school holiday.

Day One

After breakfast, Sally’s mother went out and left her alone at home. She checked her mobile phone during lunch—one of her friends sent her a message early in the morning. Dinner was at 6:30 p. m. After that, she finished her English homework. Then she surfed the Internet.

Day Two

Sally and her mother paid a visit to their friends and went swimming together. Later, they went shopping for clothes and books, and had dinner in a restaurant.

Day Three

She went to the supermarket with her mother to buy fish and chips for lunch as well as some pens. After she got back home, she spent the next few hours surfing the Internet and watching TV.

Day Four

She surfed the Internet. Her mother took her out for lunch before she went to work. Sally then read stories after lunch.

Day Five

She woke up at 2 p. m., and so did her mother. They went to a park. Her mother met some friends there. When they got home, it was already time for dinner. Afterwards, she did her homework until 10 p. m.

1. When did Sally do her homework?

A．In the morning.	B．In the evening.
C．At lunch time.	D．In the afternoon.

2. Sally and her mother went shopping for the second time to buy 　　　.

A．some fish and clothes	B．some books and pens
C．food for lunch and pens	D．food and books

3. Which of the following things did Sally do on Day Four?

A．She went swimming.	B．She went out for breakfast.
C．She went shopping.	D．She read books.

4. According to the passage, it can be inferred that 　　　.

A．parents shouldn’t leave teenagers alone at home

B．surfing the Internet has become an important part of teenagers’ lives

C．teenagers don’t usually do their homework during their school holidays

D．a park is the best place to meet a friend

【推荐1】Shows that are all about movies.

“Filmspotting”

“Film spotting” has been producing weekly programs of insightful film analysis since 2005. Episodes typically begin with an in-depth discussion of one major new theatrical release. A reliable highlights is a Massacre Theater, in which the hosts gamely re-enact(重演) a scene and invite listeners to guess which movie it is from.

“How did these get made?”

The actors Paul Scheer , June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas host this discussion that doesn’t aim to pile hate on bad films so much as make detailed fun of them but try to figure out how they came to be. The hosts are so attractive that the commentary doesn’t come off as negative; even when they discuss true duds, their real love of movies shines through.

“The Rewatchables “

“The Rewatchables “ taps into the universal joy of revisiting a favorite movie-and the less universal joy of doing it with a bunch of deeply knowledgeable friends. Each episode finds Bill Simmons, host of the show, and a cast of guests examining a movie that may not be an obvious classic, but is a culturally significant film that you have likely seen at least once.

“Scripetnotes”

Billed as a show about “ screenwriting and things that are interesting to screen writers”,   “Scripetnotes” offers specific advice on screenwriting. The show’s regular Three Page Challenge, in which the two hosts, Craig Mazin and John August, comment on the sample of an audience- submitted screenplay, is invaluable whether you are an ambitious screenwriter or a curious film fan.

1. What is the most interesting part of the “FilmSpotting”?

A．Re-enacting a new theoretical release

B．Involving people in guessing movies

C．Reviewing culturally significant films

D．Acting with the audience-submitted screenplay

2. What does the show hosted by Bill Simmons focus on.

A．Revisiting popular films

B．Making remarks on bad films

C．Recommending worth-watching classics

D．Exploring the way the film business works.m

3. Which show will be especially attractive to film writers.

A．”Scripetnotes”	B．”Film spotting”
C．”The Rewatchables “	D．“How did these get made”

【推荐2】Agriculture plays an essential role in the rise of the human civilization. Even though agriculture is contributing to employment of a significant part of the population in majority nations, over the years, the percentage of workers has witnessed a steep decline. According to world-wide estimations, not even five percentage of the population in rich nations is employed in the agricultural sector.

Agriculture is still the backbone of the economy in several nations of Africa. According to data released by the World Bank in 2017, the top ten countries where agriculture plays a vital role in employment are in Africa. Burundi, the landlocked nation on the eastern side of the continent, has 91% of its population dependent on it. However, only 15% of the total agricultural production goes to the market. Sweet potatoes, beans, bananas and corn, are some major crops produced on the land.

The second largest employment in agriculture was also registered in an African country； Chad with 87% population working on the field. Other nations which follow on the list are： Somalia, Central African Republic, Malawi, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger, Mauritania, Madagascar and Mozambique. Amid the developing countries of BRICS, it is India where more people are employed by agriculture. The agriculture in India can be traced back to the era of Indus Valley Civilization. By 2017, 43 % of the Indian population is dependent on the agriculture sector for employment.

Meanwhile, many developed countries witness less than 15 percent of their population engaged in the agriculture sector. These nations include Greece, Malaysia, Russia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and many others. At the bottom of the list stand United Arab Emirates , Singapore and Hong Kong, with 0 % of its people employed in agriculture.

1. What does the writer want to highlight in the first paragraph?

A．Agriculture is the foundation of civilization.

B．Agriculture is the main sector of employment.

C．Agriculture is the backbone of the economy.

D．The agricultural population is in sharp decline.

2. Most part of the agricultural produce in Burundi ________.

A．is for family use	B．goes to the market
C．is used for export	D．goes to the government

3. Where does Central African Republic rank in employment in agriculture in the world?

A．Second.	B．Third.
C．Fourth.	D．Fifth.

4. We can infer from the text that the larger population in agriculture ________.

A．the more developed the country	B．the less developed the economy
C．the more advanced the civilization	D．the longer the history of a country

【推荐3】A new Japanese research has suggested that regularly eating mushrooms could help lower the risk of cancer. The researchers found that the men who consumed mushrooms once or twice a week had an 8 percent lower risk of developing cancer, regardless of how much fruit and vegetables, or meat and dairy products they ate—compared to those who ate mushrooms less than once per week. Eating mushrooms more often appeared to bring even bigger benefits, with those who consumed mushrooms three or more times per week showing a 17 percent lower risk than those who ate mushrooms less than once a week.

Eating mushrooms also appeared to be particularly beneficial among those who ate a large amount of meat and dairy products, little fruit and few vegetables. The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, are the first to suggest that there may be an association between eating mushrooms and a lower risk of cancer.

“Test-tube studies and studies conducted on living organisms have shown that mushrooms have the potential to prevent cancer” said lead researcher Shu Zhang. “To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study indicating the cancer-preventive potential of mushrooms at a population level.” Zhang added that, “mushrooms are a good source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, especially L-ergothioneine,” which is believed to help fight against stress, and that is cell imbalance caused by lifestyle choices such as poor diets and exposure to environmental poisons. This imbalance can lead to chronic inflammation, resulting in chronic diseases such as cancer.

“Considering the average American consumes less than 5 grams of mushrooms per day, which is lower than that consumed by the participants in this study (7.6 g/day), one would expect that even a small increase in mushroom consumption can offer potential health benefits,” said Zhang. However, Zhang added that, “Although our study suggests regular consumption of mushrooms may reduce the risk of cancer, we also want to emphasize that eating a healthy and balanced diet is much more important than filling your shopping basket with mushrooms.”

1. What is the new Japanese research about?

A．Healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of cancer.

B．Often eating mushrooms reduces the risk of cancer.

C．Drinking dairy products is good for our health.

D．Eating fruit and vegetables makes us healthier.

2. Who seem to especially benefit from eating mushrooms?

A．People who are over fat and having a poor diet.

B．People who are feeling over stressed.

C．People who consume much meat but few vegetables and little fruit.

D．People who consume many dairy products and suffer cancer.

3. Why can the mushroom help reduce the risk of cancer?

A．It avoids the stress from a disease.

B．It reduces environmental poisons.

C．It hell helps reduce weight.

D．It has a source of cancer-preventive.

4. What does the underlined word “inflammation” probably means?

A．A state of being physically healthy.

B．A state of keeping body balance.

C．A physical condition that someone needs to be on a diet.

D．A condition that a part of the body becomes red, sore and swollen.

【推荐1】Dramatized Thoughts on Public Speaking

As the crowd gathered, I could feel my heart beating. I wondered if they could hear it. Against my will,   I could feel my face turning hot and knew that I was blushing. Even if they cannot hear my heart thumping with every beat, I thought, they can surely see it in my eyes. My eyes are always a dead give-away. They well up with fear and often even hot with tears, every time I get nervous. That and my stupid old face   turning a bright shade of red… I knew that by now I probably looked like a sunburned tomato. They would never take me seriously.

I began to wish that I was more like my sister. She is always so confident and proud of herself. It   seemed like she hardly ever gets nervous when it really counts. Either that or she hid it better than I. I   wished I had never even thought of this stupid idea of running for student body president. That was a month ago, before I found out that I would have to speak in front of the entire school. It was too late to back out now pretty soon the speeches would begin. It would only be a few hours before the embarrassing results would come out, and that wasn't even the worst of my worries. What would everyone say? What would my parents think when I told them that I lost the election? They were so proud of me; I would never be able to tell them. Everyone was counting on me, my teachers, my friends, even the principal. I was sure that I would fail miserably now that I had gotten myself into such a negative state of mind. I reread my speech. All the great hopes and ideas I had, all written on that awful piece of paper. I realized why I had written those words and an air of anticipation (预感) ran through my body. Just in time, too.

I heard my name only seconds later. Those few feet to the podium ( 讲 台 ) felt like a mile. My knees were shaking, but somehow I managed to keep my ground. Although I knew that I probably wouldn't need it, I placed my well-rehearsed speech on the podium. Then, like a gymnast about to plunge into a tumbling pass, I looked up at the audience. And as I delivered that speech, a new and strange realization came to me. I had captured their attention and for a moment---they belonged to me.

1. Why did the author think it stupid to attend the election?

A．People wouldn’t take her seriously.	B．Her sister was much better than her.
C．She didn’t expect such a large audience.	D．There wasn’t enough time for her to prepare.

2. What was the author’s worst worry?

A．Her efforts would be in vain.	B．She would disappoint others.
C．The results would come out soon.	D．She would suffer from stage fright.

3. What can we learn from the author’s experience?

A．Great efforts pay off.

B．Always look on the bright side.

C．Never lose heart when you fail.

D．Things may not be as bad as you think.

【推荐3】A tiny Alaska village has experienced a boom in tourism in recent years as polar bears spend more time on land than on Arctic sea ice.

More than 2,000 people visited the northern Alaska village of Kaktovik in 2018 to see polar bears in the wild. The far north community lies in an area where increasingly higher temperature has sped up the movement of sea ice, the primary habitat(栖息地)of polar bears. As ice has gradually moved to deep water beyond the continental shelft more bears are remaining on land to look for food.

Polar bears have always been a common sight on sea ice near Kaktovik, but villagers started noticing a change in the mid-1990s and reported to the local government. More bears seemed to stay on land, and researchers began taking note of more female bears making homes in the snow on land instead of on the ice to raise their babies. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists began hearing reports of the increasing number of polar bears in the area in the early 2000s. As more attention was given to the plight (困境)of polar bears about a decade ago, more tourists started heading to Kaktovik.

The village had fewer than 50 visitors annually before 2011, said Jennifer Reed, of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. "Today we're talking about hundreds and hundreds of visitors, many from around the world each year," Reed said. Most tourists visit in the fall, when bears are forced toward land because sea ice is farthest away from the shore, Bruce Inglangasak, a local hunter who sometimes offers wildlife-viewing tours, said he had been offering polar bear tours since 2004. Most of his clients(客户)are from China and Europe, as well as from the lower 48 U. S. states. Many tourists stay several days in the village, which has two small hotels. The villagers have benefited a lot from that. In turn, they provide more effective protection for polar bears with financial support from tourism development.

1. What causes more polar bears to stay on land in Kaktovik?

A．Food shortage.	B．Climate change.
C．Habitats' movement to shore.	D．Their preference for land.

2. How did villagers feel about more sights of bears on land?

A．Excited.

B．Indifferent.

C．Concerned.

D．Doubtful.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Hotels in Kaktovik are in demand in autumn.

B．Kaktovik has about 50 visitors annually.

C．Inglangasak makes a living as a tour guide.

D．Tourism affects the balance of nature.

4. Which saying can describe the text?

A．The fittest can survive.	B．After a storm comes a calm.
C．A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.	D．Every coin has two sides.