【推荐3】I visited Elba last June, joining Mary and John on a bicycling vacation. They made the arrangements for the car, hotel and bicycles. I studied the history of the island, which of course particularly features Napoleon.

Napoleon (now I know) picked Elba as a place for peace when he was forced to give up the throne (王权) as Emperor of France in 1814. Far from being a prison island, Elba is beautiful with towering mountains, thick forests and sweeping bays and beaches.

It is also an island filled with treasure. Very early on this island, locals discovered rich deposits of iron. Soon outsiders, too, discovered the iron and 150 other valuable minerals on this little piece of land. Long before Etruscans and other Greeks set foot on it, Dorians had moved in by the tenth century B. C. and were mining the island. The Romans ruled next, obtaining the minerals and building grand houses overlooking the sea. From the twelfth century until the nineteenth, the island was traded back and forth and was passed to France in 1802. Then came Napoleon, the new ruler of Elba.

I was eager to visit his house in Portoferraio. The Emperor lived with his court and his mother, but his wife, Marie Louise had ensconced herself in the splendid Viennese palace of her father, Emperor of Austria. She lived safely there and showed little interest in visiting her husband in his mini-kingdom. Apparently, Napoleon wasn’t troubled much by this. He was too busy riding everywhere on horseback, building roads, modernizing agriculture and, above all, sharpening his tiny army and navy into readiness for his escape.

In the formal gardens behind the house it seemed to me that I could imagine the exiled (流放的) conqueror’s anxious thoughts. He might gaze over where I stood now, toward the lighthouse of the Stella fort, the sandy bay, and across it, the green mountains of the Tuscan coast. Napoleon spent only ten months here before making his victorious return to France and the throne.

1. What did the author do for the visit to Elba?

A．He did research on its past.

B．He arranged transportation.

C．He planned bicycling routes.

D．He booked accommodation.

2. Who might be the earliest outsiders to Elba according to the text?

A．Napoleon and his army.	B．Etruscans and other Greeks.
C．Dorians.	D．Romans.

3. What does the underlined word “ensconced” probably mean?

A．Settled.	B．Locked.
C．Cured.	D．Controlled.

4. What came to the author’s mind during his visit to Napoleon’s gardens?

A．Beautiful views on Elba.

B．Terrible living conditions on Elba.

C．Napoleon’s ambition to regain power.

D．Hardship of Napoleon’s return to France.

【推荐2】Cruise and Waymo are two companies that have been developing self-driving taxis, sometimes called “robotaxis” (robot + taxi). Until recently, the cars have had a human in the driver’s seat, ready to take over if there was a problem. But the newest self-driving cars don’t have anyone in the driver’s seat. They are programmed to do everything on their own, including obeying the rules of the road, following speed limits, and avoiding people and other cars.

In early August, Waymo and Cruise were given full permission to operate their robotaxis. The companies were allowed to run as many driverless cars as they wanted, 24 hours a day. And the companies weren’t required to have safety drivers in their cars. The move was a big step for self-driving cars, and many people were excited about the change. The new rules also allowed the companies to charge for every ride, which meant that the robotaxis could finally start to earn money.

But almost immediately, there were problems. A Cruise car crashed into a fire truck, sending a person to the hospital. Later, a Cruise car stopped working in the middle of a crossroad, causing a traffic jam. As a result, Cruise was told to take half of its robotaxis off the roads.

In one recent example, a self-driving car got stuck in wet concrete because it didn’t know that wet concrete was different from a road. In another case, a robotaxi killed a dog. The self-driving system knew the dog was there, but didn’t know how to avoid it. One group that is upset about self-driving cars has found an unusual way to protest: putting traffic cones (圆锥体) on the robotaxis. The cone confuses the car’s driving system and leaves them unable to move.

In spite of the problems, both Waymo and Cruise are planning to expand their self-driving car service to other cities. Cruise has plans to bring their robotaxis to at least 15 cities. Waymo says its driverless system will soon be able to work “in any city, on any kind of vehicle”. Though the quality of self-driving cars is improving, it’s likely to be a while before most people view them as safe.

1. What was the latest change to the robotaxis recently?

A．They were able to really make money.

B．They could obey the traffic rules by itself.

C．They could run 24 hours on the road a day.

D．They didn’t have a human driver any more.

2. What problem did robotaxis have on the roads?

A．They killed a person in an accident.

B．They couldn’t avoid the traffic cones.

C．They sometimes broke down on the roads.

D．They couldn’t recognise the concrete road.

3. How do most people think robotaxis now?

A．It is very convenient to take robotaxis.

B．The safety of robotaxis is still a problem.

C．Robotaxis should be expanded in the cities.

D．The driverless system of robotaxis is perfect.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Robotaxis Will Expand to More Cities

B．Robotaxis Has a Perfect Self-driving System

C．Robotaxis Move Forward, but Face Problems

D．Robotaxis Cause Many Accidents on the Roads

【推荐3】A degree in what?

How many people in the world have a university degree in enigmatology? Well, not many. As a matter of fact, the number of enigmatology graduates in the whole world is just one: a man whose job it is to design puzzles for newspapers and magazines. American Will Shortz is an author and crossword editor. He has worked on over a hundred books, and he owns the world’s largest collection of puzzle books and magazines. The oldest title in his collection was published in 1545! And because his work is also his hobby, he has always been interested in learning as much as possible about the subject.

Obviously, because he is the only enigmatologist in the world, there were no university professors who could teach him an established course of studies. He did not go to lectures and classes like his fellow students. Shortz designed his own research programme, which the university accepted, and he completed his course and received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in 1974.

So the question remains, what exactly is enigmatology? It is the study of puzzles: their types, their history, and their popularity. It’s a mixture of history, maths, logic and cultural studies.

There were some people who criticized the university for offering a course in such a strange subject, and they were also critical of Shortz, claiming that he had taken advantage of Indiana University’s flexibility. But Shortz has his fans too, such as the former US president Bill Clinton. He sent Shortz a personal note on his 50th birthday because he loves the New York Times crossword, which Shortz edits. Shortz has also been a guest on several television shows, including an episode of the famous cartoon The Simpsons, and the comedy series How I Met Your Mother, where he played himself.

1. Which of the statement is true according to the text?

A．Shortz’s occupation is to write puzzles for university graduates.

B．Shortz has worked on all the titles in his collection.

C．Shortz did original research and graduated from an American university.

D．Bill Clinton sent Shortz a note on his birthday because they’re friends.

2. What is the author’s attitude towards Shortz?

A．Indifferent.	B．Neutral.
C．Praising.	D．Criticizing.

【推荐1】Four years into my Ph.D. program, my hands started to go numb each night as I slept. I didn't think much of it at the time. Then one night, while sound asleep, I somehow mistook my numb arm for a snake. I threw myself out of bed and woke in a panic. I later discovered that this nighttime event wasn't simply a strange dream.

At that time, I was working toward my Ph.D. and training to be a clinical psychologist. There was never enough time to occupy myself fully in my world. The exams constantly worried and even scared me.

Later that year, while discussing a patient's symptoms with a neurologist(神经学家), I realized that my anxiety could be the direct cause of the numbness in my hands. There was a certain irony(讽刺) in that realization. I'd spent years learning about psychological tools for dealing with stress and anxiety.But until then it never occurred to me that I, too, was experiencing an abnormal level of stress and anxiety.

Now, I specialize in helping take a healthier approach to dealing with the pressures of academics.I've seen firsthand how many of them possess inner voices demanding perfection and telling them that the sacrifices are necessary for success.

My message to those I work with is that being overworked and stressed-out is unhealthy.Achievements and health can be both gained. So, when your inner alarm bells send you a warning signal-or when snakes attack in the night-don't hesitate; take action.

1. What happened to the author?

A．A snake bit him when he was sleeping.

B．He frequently had strange dreams at night.

C．He could do whatever he wanted in a clinic.

D．Numbness in his arms attacked him due to huge stress.

2. The author's anxiety comes from      

A．his academic work	B．his lack of sleep
C．his social relationship	D．his demand for perfection

3. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．He now realizes academics is of no benefit.

B．A large number of people are forced to be perfect.

C．Warning signals mean it's time to stop being over-stressed.

D．Achievements make it impossible for people to keep healthy.

【推荐3】In July 2017, the American space agency（NASA）admitted to not having enough financial means to send man on Mars for the purpose of exploring it. The news had the effect of a bomb after five years of communication and development for this space exploration project. And yet, a few months before this announcement, the two houses of the US Congress voted a law to guide future NASA tasks. Among these tasks was an inhabited trip to Mars in 2033.

In the meantime, NASA is focusing on the Mars 2020 mission by building its rover （漫游者）, which will be equipped with a series of new scientific instruments. This new machine will also look a lot like Curiosity which landed on the red planet in 2012. The mission Mars 2020 aims to assess the livability of the planet and possibly identify potential tracks of life yesterday and today.

At a recent press conference, former US astronaut Tom Jones announced that NASA’s current budget could not solve some technical problems for 25 years. Thus, it postpones the first inhabited mission of the agency to Mars in 2043. The subject concerned mainly mentioned many damages that will affect the body of astronauts.

Indeed, the trip to Mars could be completed in nine months by considering the current technologies and the moment when the planets are closer to each other. However, periods of weightlessness that are too long may, in particular, cause a lack of calcium. In fact, it influences the bones of astronauts. In addition, this can lead to significant damage of vision.

A quarter of a century is needed to develop new technologies to solve these problems. For example, there is the question of developing nuclear propulsion（推进）systems. Indeed, it could reduce travel times. Finally, there is also the idea of designing something to allow astronauts to hibernate during the trip!

1. What made NASA put off its inhabited mission?

A．A shortage of funds.	B．The living conditions.
C．The damage to health.	D．Objection of scientists.

2. Which is right about the Mars 2020 Mission?

A．It has been put off.

B．Its aim is to send man to Mars.

C．It is to evaluate the possibility for our living.

D．Its purpose is for man to walk on Mars.

3. What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The update of new devices.	B．The accuracy of travel times.
C．The time to develop technologies.	D．The problems existing nowadays.

4. In which section of a newspaper may this text appear?

A．Entertainment.	B．Health.
C．Education.	D．Science.

【推荐1】Drivers who drive a little too close to cyclists on the road could soon be caught on the spot. A new technology adopted by legal departments in Ottawa could help carry out legal distance between bikers and cars on the road.

The device, which is fixed on a bicycle’s handlebars like a bike bell, uses sonar(声呐) technology to measure the distance between the bike and passing cars. The device will make a loud noise if the car is within one meter of the bike, the legal limit in the city of Ottawa, allowing the police rider to radio ahead to his colleagues so that the driver can be pulled over. “The safety of all road users is extremely vital, including cyclists. These cycling changes are directed at encouraging cycling, promoting road safety, and sharing the road,” said Rob Wilkinson, coordinator of the Safer Roads Ottawa Program.

The authorities started the program last week with a single sonar device. One police officer rode the bike bearing the device around the city on Tuesday to prove the effectiveness(有效性) of the technology. Within a few minutes of riding, the device was beeping, registering that two drivers had violated the one-meter distance requirement. The drivers were pulled over and given brochures informing them that they had broken the safe distance law.

Wilkinson noted that the device is not currently being used to issue fines, which can go up to $110, and that there are no plans to use it for enforcement(执法)in the future. At this point, its main use is to spread awareness about the safe distance law, which was passed last September in an effort to encourage rider safety and reduce deadly crashes.

1. What will happen if the safe distance is beyond the legal limit?

A．The cyclist will soon be caught on the spot.

B．The police will make the driver stop by the road.

C．The driver will be arrested for driving too fast.

D．The device will at once call the police of itself.

2. What’s the main purpose of using the device?

A．To make the bicycle attractive.	B．To encourage people to walk.
C．To guarantee road safety.	D．To warn drivers of danger.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined word “beeping” in paragraph 3?

A．Making a loud noise.	B．Receiving an urgent message.
C．Sending a stop signal.	D．Radioing the police rider.

4. What does Wilkinson say about the device?

A．It is being developed at present.	B．It still has room for improvement.
C．It may be used to fine drivers later.	D．It helps reduce traffic accidents.

【推荐2】Seattle on Sunday became the first major US city to ban drinking straws(吸管), an environmentally friendly move that leaders hope will spark a nationwide conversation about small, everyday changes that people can make to protect the planet.

A decade ago, the city adopted a law requiring that all one-time-use food-service items be compostable(可分解的) or recyclable. But straws were exempted from that law because there were not many good alternatives. So the straws stayed, along with the environmental problems they cause.

Most plastic straws aren’t heavy enough to make it through industrial recycling sorters, and can ruin an otherwise good load of recycling. Or they end up getting blown out of trash cans and car windows and eventually wind up in the oceans, where they can hurt wildlife.

Strawless Ocean estimates that 71 percent of seabirds and 30 percent of turtles have some kind of plastic in their stomachs. The organization says plastic can increase the death rate of marine life by 50 percent.

Now customers at grocery stores, restaurants, food trucks, even institutional cafeterias have to find another way to get liquid into their mouths. Compostable paper straws are allowed under the ban. People who have a medical need to use a straw are not included. 

Failure to obey may result in a US$250 fine, although city leaders said that the purpose of the law is more about raising awareness. In September, 150 businesses participated in Strawless in Seattle, an attempt to reduce the use of plastic straws. In that month alone, Strawless Ocean estimates, 2.3 million plastic straws were removed from the city.

“When you get your iced drink, you’re going to get a straw. When you get your wine, you’re probably going to get a straw,” said Dune Ives, executive director of the Lonely Whale Foundation, which led the campaign. “Imagine a world where we could stop consuming 500 million straws a day, just in America!” the campaign says. “Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic. That’s change we can start today!”

1. What does the underlined word “exempted” mean in the second paragraph？

A．To make something out of the list.	B．To make something better than before.
C．To include something in a special list.	D．To forgive someone who makes mistakes.

2. What the problem may the drinking straws cause according to the passage?

A．They may make the trash cans dirty.	B．They may destroy American recycling system.
C．They may cause much ocean wildlife in danger.	D．They may cause many companies get fined.

3. What is the attitude of the public towards the ban?

A．Many people are in favor of it.	B．Many people pay no attention to it.
C．Some people are strongly against it.	D．Only the government workers agree with it.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Seattle becomes first major US city to ban straws.

B．Seattle successfully bans people from using straws.

C．Seattle has been working hard to protect the environment.

D．Imagine a world that is less dependent on plastic.

【推荐3】In the animal kingdom, weakness can bring about aggression in other animal. This sometimes happens with humans also. But I have found that my weakness brings out the kindness in people. I see it every day when people hold doors for me, pour cream into my coffee, or help me to put on my coat. And I have discovered that it makes them happy.

From my wheelchair experience, I see the best in people, but sometimes I feel sad because those who appear independent miss the kindness I see daily. They don't get to see this soft side of others often; we try every way possible to avoid showing our weakness, which includes a lot of pretending. But only when we stop pretending we're brave or strong do we allow people to show the kindness that's in them.

Last month, when I was driving home on a busy highway, I began to feel unwell and drove more slowly than usual. People behind me began to get impatient and angry, with some speeding up alongside me, horning（按喇叭）or even shouting at me. At the moment I decided to do something I had never done in twenty-four years of driving. I put on the car flashlights and drove on at a really low speed.

No more angry shouts and no more horns!

When I put on my flashlights, I was saying to other drivers, "I have a problem here. I am weak and doing the best I can." And everyone understood. Several times, I saw drivers who wanted to pass. They couldn't get around me because of the stream of passing traffic. But instead of getting impatient and angry, they waited, knowing the driver in front of them was in some way weak.

Sometimes situations call for us to act strong and brave even when we don't feel that way. But those are few and far between. More often, it would be better if we don't pretend we feel strong when we feel weak or pretend that we are brave when we are scared.

1. The author feels sad sometimes because     .

A．he has a soft heart

B．he relies much on others

C．some people fail to see the kindness in others

D．some people pretend to be kind

2. What did the other drivers do when they saw the flashlights?

A．They waited with patience.	B．They speeded up to pass.
C．They tried their best to help.	D．They put on their flashlights too.

3. In this passage, the author advises us to      .                      .

A．handle problems by ourselves	B．admit our weakness
C．accept help from others	D．show our bravery

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Wheelchair Experience	B．A Driving Experience
C．Weakness and Strength	D．Weakness and Kindness