【推荐2】This was something that I’d wanted to do since I turned 10 and began to consider myself grown-up.Deciding where to go was difficult.I had to pick somewhere small enough that I wouldn’t get too lost.This,and the fact that you can drink from age 16,made Venice a good choice for our trip.

The absence of cars meant that we were less likely to be run over,and the landmark of the Grand Canal made it easy to find our way around.Venice is small,so everything is within walking distance.My friend,Kat,had been there not long before,and knew the way around a bit.

I had planned to eat nothing but chocolate during the holiday.Instead I found myself living on spaghetti.We spent most of our days wandering around without much purpose—I have parents who like to see everything if they stay with me.

Our evenings were much the same,only colder.I had believed we would meet lots of new friends,and maybe even some Italian boys,but being unable to speak a word of the language made this difficult.We found a little square filled with Italian students,but soon realized that they came here not to meet people but to drink wine with their friends.We were less disappointed by this discovery than you would have thought—it turns out that cheap wine makes an excellent replacement for friends.By the close of the second day we paid $6 to go into a church and have a look around.We visited the Peggy Guggenheim Museum of Modern Art the next day.I was surprised to find myself enjoying the art—perhaps because for the first time I hadn’t been forced into it.

1. According to the writer,in Venice he thought he would 　　　.

A．eat only spaghetti

B．have some difficulty in finding the way

C．make a lot of new friends

D．not be permitted to drink wine there

2. Why did the writer choose to travel to Venice?

A．Because there was something he wanted to do.

B．Because Venice is small and he wouldn’t get lost there.

C．Because he began to consider himself grown-up.

D．Because he knew the language spoken there well.

3. From the article,we can know that 　　　.

A．the writer liked the art all the time

B．the writer didn’t like to go to the museum before

C．the writer went everywhere on foot

D．the writer did everything alone

4. The writer was disappointed because 　　　.

A．he wandered around without much purpose

B．he paid $6 to go into a church

C．the Italian boys were not interested in making new friends

D．the absence of cars made them less likely to be run over

【推荐3】

The Puffing Billy Railway, located about 40km east of Melbourne, was constructed in the early 1900s to open up remote areas. The present line between Belgrave and Gembrook travels through the forests and farmlands of the magnificent Dandenong Ranges. Today, this non-profit Railway operates almost daily thanks to the tireless efforts of more than 900 dedicated volunteers.

General Information: People with disabilities – can be accommodated on most excursion trains, including a limited number of wheelchairs. Please phone to check availability. Easy access toilets are at Belgrave, Lakeside and Gembrook. Refreshments and souvenirs – are available at most stations. Railway Tracks – standing and walking on the tracks is not permitted. Prams (婴儿车) – only folding or narrow type prams can be accommodated through the narrow carriage doors. Smoking – is not permitted on the train or under any roofed areas. Assistance Dogs certified by a registered authority – are the only dogs allowed on the train and must be kept on lead at all times. Alcohol – is not permitted on trains (except as provided in dining cars). Toilets – are located at each station. Parenting rooms are located at Belgrave, Lakeside & Gembrook. Photographs and videos – for personal use are permitted. Wedding photography and any use, re-use or reproduction for commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission.

1. The above information is mainly intended for _____.

A．international tourists in Australia	B．potential travellers of the steam trains
C．local residents in Dandenong Ranges	D．volunteers on the Puffing Billy Railway

2. People are not permitted to bring _____ onto the excursion trains.

A．prams	B．guide dogs
C．wheelchairs	D．alcohol

3. What can be learned from the above information?

A．Taking photos is forbidden on most excursion trains.

B．Toilets for the disabled are not available at all stations.

C．Foreign visitors to Australia can also get concession fares.

D．One can get tickets at a lower price as long as he books in advance.

【推荐1】Most foodies (吃货) agree that eating healthy food is important. But sometimes making good food choices can be tough. Now, there are apps that can help people learn about the food they eat to improve their diets and their dining out experience.
Open Table
Open Table helps people choose restaurants when they want to go out to eat. Open Table users can also make restaurant reservations directly through the app or website. Open Table gives userspoints when they make reservations. The points can add up to discounts on restaurant visits.
Cheese & Wine Pairing app
Wine and cheese can be a great combination. But which wines go best with which cheeses? Max McCalman’s cheese and wine app can help. It provides information about hundreds of different cheeses and suggests wines to pair with each. Max McCalman’s Cheese & Wine Pairing app is free for iPhone and iPad.
Calorific app
What does 200 calories look like? It can be hard to picture. Calorific provides images of 200 calories worth of food. The pictures can help people on a diet and those who just want to eat healthier. The app is free for iPad and iPhone. There is also a version that provides more information for a price.
HappyCow app
Vegetarians do not eat animal meat. Vegans do not eat any animal products. The HappyCow app is made for both groups. Users can search for vegetarian-vegan restaurants and stores around the world. A free version of HappyCow is available for Android that has ads and requires an Internet connection.
LocalEats app
Restaurant chains, like McDonalds, can be found almost anywhere a person might travel. But sometimes travelers want to eat like locals. The website and app LocalEats is designed for that. It lists locally owned restaurants so users can try foods from that area. The app costs about a dollar.
1. If people want to go on a diet, they need________.

A．Cheese & Wine Pairing app	B．LocalEats app
C．Calorific app	D．Open Table

2. Which of the following apps is NOT free for iPhone or Android?

A．HappyCow app.

B．LocalEats app.

C．Calorific app.

D．Cheese & Wine Pairing app.

3. What is the main purpose of this article?

A．To show the differences in food apps.

B．To advertise the best apps for iPhones.

C．To introduce some healthy eating habits.

D．To inform foodies of some useful apps.

【推荐1】Our planet was born billions of years ago. Ever since this planet developed, it has surprised us human beings. No matter how much we human beings have developed technologically, we cannot ever create this kind of natural planet. The human race can only discover some amazing facts about it. Let us find out what some of them are.

On September 13,1922 El Azizia, a place in Libya, recorded a temperature of 136 degrees Fahrenheit. This was the highest temperature ever measured on the planet Earth. The highest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela, which drops from an amazing height of 3,212 feet. The waterfall drops over the edge of Auyantepui in the Canaima National Park. The gravitational pull（万有引力）of the Earth can be escaped if someone moves at a speed of 6. 95 miles per second. At such a speed, one could travel from New York to Philadelphia in Just 20 seconds. If the entire water in the world’s oceans evaporated, the salt we got from these oceans could cover the entire planet with a 500-foot deep layer of salt. The deepest lake on Earth is Lake Baikal in Russia. Lake Baikal is the largest freshwater lake in the world, containing about 20% of the world’s unfrozen surface fresh water. The Andes in South America spreads over 4,525 miles. This is the longest mountain range in the world.

Did you know that the biggest valley in the world is the Grand Valley in Mesa County, Colorado and Grand County, Utah？It is about 30 miles（48 km）long and 5 miles（8 km）wide, along the Colorado River. The amazing facts about the earth are too many to be told completely above.

1. The underlined word “evaporated” in Paragraph 2 most probably means“     ”.

A．became salt gradually	B．became clear slowly
C．changed into warmer water	D．changed into gas or disappeared

2. Where is the longest mountain range in the world？

A．In Russia.	B．In Libya.
C．In South America.	D．At the Oregon-Idaho border.

3. We can learn from this passage that      .

A．Lake Baikal is the biggest lake in the world

B．the highest temperature ever measured was 136 ℃

C．the Angel Falls drops from a height of 3,212 metres

D．one end of the grand Valley is in Colorado and the other in Utah

【推荐2】Welcome To Thailand! Let us help you find your perfect day trips!

Phi Phi Island (by speed boat) Tour Includes: ☆2 way transfer by minibus ☆Diving ☆Soft drinks, fruit, biscuits ☆Lunch ☆Tour guide (speaking English) What To Bring: ☆Swimming suits ☆ Shorts & T-shirt ☆ Beach Towel ☆ Camera ☆ National Park Fee Price: $105 / adult, $60 / child (3-10 years) Tel: 076280856 Fax: 076280732 E-mail: siamseacanoe@hotmail.com

James Bond Island (by ferry) Tour Inclusive of: ☆ Land transfer (pick up and send back) ☆ Coffee, tea, fruit, soft drinks ☆ Lunch ☆ English speaking guide Don’t forget! ☆ Swimwear, shorts and T-shirt ☆ Sunglasses ☆ Camera and a little money Price: $100 / adult, $60 / child (3-10 years) Tel: 0864704502-3 Fax: 076610559 E-mail: amazingleo@hotmail.com

Song Preak Rafting Daytrip Includes: ☆ Pick up from hotel ☆Rafting training ☆White water rafting 5km ☆Thai food lunch, fresh fruits, drinks ☆Riding Elephant 30 min ☆Professional English speaking guide ☆ Transfer back to hotel What We Recommend To Bring ☆Camera ☆Bananas to feed elephants Please Note! ☆Alcohol is available with affordable price． Price: $103 / Adult, $95 / Child (3-12 years) Tel: 076510633 Fax: 076510611 E-mail: songpreakrafting@hotmail.com

City Tour Phuket Tour Includes: ☆ 2 way transfer ☆ Tour around seven places of interest in Phuket Town ☆ Soft drink ☆ English and Chinese speaking tour guide What To Bring: ☆ Camera ☆ Sunglasses Price: $45 / Adult, $30 / Child (4-11 years) Tel: 0824134883 Fax: 076381470 E-mail: sawasdee_phuket@yahoo.com

1. If Alex wants to go to Phi Phi Island, which telephone number should he dial?

A．076280856.	B．0824134883.
C．076280732.	D．076510633.

2. If Alice, aged 11, and her parents go to James Bond Island, how much will they pay for the trip?

A．$160.

B．$300.

C．$260.

D．$200.

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．All the four trips have 2 way transfer to hotel.

B．The transport in James Bond Island Tour is speed boat.

C．Alcohol is free of charge in the Song Preak Rafting Daytrip.

D．The cost of Phi Phi Island trip includes the National Park Fee.

4. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A tour brochure.	B．A guide to geography.
C．Science fiction.	D．A science report.

【推荐3】It doesn't take decades of life experience to have a great idea, as many of these young inventors have proved.

The Electronic Television

The electronic television was first designed by a 14-year-old kid in 1920. Philo Taylor Farnsworth shared his concept of an image transmitting (影像传送) device, an early design of the electronic television, with his science teacher, drawing diagrams on several blackboards in class.

By the age of 21 Farnsworth had a working model which served as a basis to all later development and versions of electronic televisions, After discovering a collection of technology magazines in the attic (阁楼) of his family's new home, he developed a passion and interest in electronics, which led him to explore inventions in the field of, specifically, the image transmission.

In 1927, a few years out of high school, Farnsworth was the first inventor to transmit a television image of a dollar sign, composed of 60 horizontal lines.

Braille Language

Louis Braille suffered a serious eye injury when he was just 3 years old. Not only did the accident cause him blindness on that side, but the infection spread and blinded the other eye as well. After more than a decade of struggling with the slow system of tracing his finger over raised letters, Braille was 12 when he learned of a method of silent communication originally created for the French military. He simplified it, and in 1824 the Braille language was born.

Popsicles (冰棍)

A lot of kids are easily distracted (分散注意力)—and thanks to the short attention span of 11-year-old Frank Epperson we now have popsicles. In 1905, Epperson, a San Francisco native, was stirring powdered drink mix into a cup of water when something else caught his attention. The mixture was forgotten outside the door, and when Epperson rediscovered the drink in the morning, it was a deliciously portable frozen popsicle. After years of making the frozen treats for friends, and eventually his own. children, Epperson filed for a patent in 1924.

1. Who contributed his intelligence to the invention of TV?

A．Philo Taylor Farnsworth

B．Farnsworth's science teacher.

C．Louis Braille.

D．Epperson.

2. Which invention was accidentally made because of poor concentration?

A．The Electronic Television.

B．The Braille Language.

C．Dollar Sign.

D．Popsicles.

3. What do the three inventions have in common?

A．They were all designed for the sake of kids.

B．They were all made by young boys.

C．They were all made in the 20th century.

D．They were all created within a few years.

【推荐1】Printed circuit boards are vital components of modern electronics. However, once they have served their purpose, they are often burned or buried in landfills, polluting the air, soil and water. Most concerning are the flame retardants （阻燃剂）added to printed circuit boards to keep them from catching fire. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering have developed a ball-milling method to break down these potentially harmful compounds enabling safer disposal （处理）.

Composed of 30% metallic and 70% nonmetallic particles, printed circuit boards support and connect all of the electrical components of a device. Metallic components can be recovered from circuit boards easily using traditional methods leaving behind nonmetallic particles including those flame retardants and other additives. Scientists have found that compounds in those flame retardants can do harm to people's health, especially to those women who are pregnant. Therefore researchers have been wanting to develop a new method to remove the flame retardants from waste printed circuit boards so that they wouldn't do harm to people and the environment.

The researchers broke down printed circuit boards and removed the metallic components. Then，they put the nonmetallic particles into a ball mill — a rotating （旋转的）machine that uses hard stone balls to make materials into very small pieces. They also added iron powder, which prior studies had shown was helpful for removing chemicals from organic compounds. After ball-milling, the harmful chemicals on the surface of the particles had decreased by 50%・ The researchers determined that during the ball-milling process, iron transferred electrons to flame retardant compounds causing the internal structure to stretch and break.

The authors acknowledge funding from the 111 Project, the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China and the Pearl River Star of Science and Technology.

1. People are concerned most about the flame retardants because

A．they are harmful and hard to remove	B．they keep circuit boards from catching fire
C．they make up the largest part in electronics	D．they are mixed up with other components

2. What is the function of the printed circuit board?

A．Making electronics small and light.	B．Preventing electronics catching fire.
C．Connecting all electrical components,	D．Allowing easy disposal after being used,

3. What does the author mainly intend to tell us in paragraph 3?

A．How to operate the ball milk	B．The ball-milling process and its result.
C．The high efficiency of the new method.	D．Why iron powder is added to the process.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．The authors are short of money.

B．Over 100 projects support the authors,

C．The researchers will make much money.

D．The ball-milling method is promising.

【推荐2】A BIG DAY OUT

Home to Scotland's national maritime (海事的) collection, the award winning Scottish Maritime Museum makes a great day out, with so much to do:

● Explore tools and tales across the big Linthouse, a former shipyard (造船厂) building.

● See historic ships such as Garnock & Carola, a steam boat built in 1898.

● Test a model boat on our indoor boating pond or sail your own on our outdoor boating pond.

● Learn about Scotland's importance to maritime history, and about the people that built and sailed Scottish ships around the world.

Irvine public tours

Leaving the Linthouse three times a day and lasting about 75 minutes, you will visit the 1920s Tenement Flat and take a step back in time in a typical (典型的) shipyard worker's home. Then, weather permitting, you can experience life at sea onboard MV Kyles, the oldest Clyde-built boat still in service in the UK.

Summer tour times	Winter tour times
After the third Sunday in April 11:00, 12:30, 14:30	After the second Saturday in October 10:30, 12:00, 14:00

Getting here:

By rail: five minutes’ walk from Irvine Railway Station

By road: From the A77, take the A71 and follow the brown signs to the Harbourside and   the Maritime Museum. (FREE PARKING)

By bus: No 11 from Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenson, Kilwinning, Irvine and Kilmarnock;

No 585 from Ayr, Irvine and Greenock;

X34 from Irvine, Beith and Glasgow;

14A Service from Troon all have convenient bus stops nearby.

By sea: We have our own spot in Irvine harbour that visitors can use. Pre-booking is needed by emailing visitorservices@scotmaritime.org.uk.

By bike: We have cycle spaces within our boat shop. We are located on Route 7 of the National Cycle Network.

Opening times and admission:

Open daily: 10 am – 5 pm Monday to Sunday

Adults: ￡7.50 (age 17+)

Concessions (优惠): ￡5.50 (Visitors aged 60+, registered disabled (已注册的残疾人士), or full time students aged 17+)

Children: Three go FREE (age 16 and under) with any paying adult or concession

EXTRA CHILD PRICE IS ￡2.

Registered carers: One free when accompanying (陪同) a paid disabled person

Group visits: Pre-booked groups of 10 or more receive special rates from ￡4 for a self-tour

1. What can you do during Irvine public tours?

A．Design a model ship.	B．Try sailing a boat.
C．See the latest ships.	D．Learn about the maritime history of England.

2. If you want to visit Linthouse in winter, at what time can you attend a tour?

A．10:00 am.	B．11:00 am.
C．12:00 pm.	D．14:30 pm.

3. Which bus can you take from Glasgow to visit the museum?

A．14A Service.	B．No 585.
C．X34.	D．No 11.

【推荐3】JUNIPER INSTITUTE FOR YOUNG WRITERS

Hosted by University of Massachusetts Amherst

June 20-28, 2019

The Juniper Institute for Young Writers（JYW）offers high school students a unique opportunity to participate in intensive creative writing workshops, craft sessions, and studio courses designed especially for young writers. We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting online applications for the 2019 session!

Eligibility（资格）

The Juniper Institute for Young Writers welcomes high school students. We operate on a rolling admissions basis, and we do our best to make admission decisions withinóweeks of receiving applications. Once your application is accepted, enrollment in the JYW is guaranteed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application Process Overview

Applications are accepted online. The application deadline is March 2, 2019. Early application is encouraged, as admission is competitive and the program fills quickly! Application materials include: $30 application fee a writing sample/ a personal statement.

Application Fee

A non-refundable application fee of $30 is required with each application. Applicants pay the fee by debit or credit card through a secure, site on the online application.

A Writing Sample

The writing sample should be 5-7 pages of fiction. Please include your name & email address as a header or footer in the writing sample

A Personal Statement

This statement of no more than 300 words should describe your interest in the Juniper Institute for Young Writers. Please explain why this would be a meaningful opportunity for you and what you think you can contribute to the institute.

Tuition & Housing

Tuition of $1,350 includes all institute activities（workshops, craft sessions, studio courses and field trips）. You will need to pay a $200 non-refundable tuition deposit in order to guarantee your space. Remaining tuition is due in full no later than May 15, 2019.

The cost of housing is 5216 for a shared room in our residence hall. Participant may opt（选择）to stay elsewhere off campus, but the immersive（沉浸式）nature of the program and residence life curriculum encourages on-campus residence.

1. The Juniper Institute for Young Writers program lasts____________.

A．5 days	B．9 days
C．12 days	D．15 days

2. Potential applicants are advised to__________.

A．apply as early as possible	B．live elsewhere off campus
C．inspect the residence hall	D．pay the tuition in full

3. Which if the following is acceptable as the writing sample?

A．News reports.	B．Personal experiences.
C．Short stories.	D．Business letters.

4. Which of the following is NOT included in the tuition?

A．Studio courses.	B．Craft sessions.
C．Field trips.	D．Daily meal

5. We can learn from the passage that____________.

A．the program doesn't accept online application

B．you can apply for this program before June 20, 2019

C．the program is targeted at senior middle school students

D．you can pay $216 to rent your own room in the residence hall