【推荐1】Some people learn a second language easily. Other people have trouble learning a new language. How can you help yourself learn a new language, such as English? There are several ways to make learning English a little easier and more interesting.

The first step is to feel positive about learning English. If you believe that you can learn, you will learn. Be patient. You do not have to understand everything all at once. It is natural to make mistakes when you learn something new. We can learn from our mistakes. In other words, do not worry about taking risks.

The second step is to practice your English. For example, write in a journal, or diary, every day. You will get used to writing in English, and you will feel comfortable expressing your ideas in English. After several weeks, you will see that your writing is improving. In addition, you must speak English every day. You can practice with your classmates outside class. You will all make mistakes, but gradually you will become comfortable communicating in English.

The third step is to keep a record of your language learning. You can write this in your journal. After each class, think about what you did. Did you answer a question correctly? Did you understand something the teacher explained? Perhaps the lesson was difficult, but you tried to understand it. Write these accomplishments in your journal.

You must be positive about, learning English and believe that you can do it. It is important to practice every day and make a record of your achievements. You will enjoy learning English, and you will have more confidence in yourself.

1. When you learn English, you don’t need to       .

A．be patient

B．make mistakes

C．express your ideas in English

D．understand everything all at once

2. Which is NOT helpful for you to enjoy learning English?

A．To communicate in English.

B．To worry about making mistakes.

C．To think about what has been done after classes.

D．To make a record of your achievements.

3. What is the main idea of this passage?

A．It is very important to learn a second language.

B．Some people learn a second language easily while other people do not.

C．There are ways to help you learn a second language more easily.

D．Don’t worry about making mistakes when learning a second language.

【推荐2】How to Sleep Better

If you’re having trouble getting good sleep through the night (turning, waking up more than once, for example), this text will tell you what you can do to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep.

1. Get up on time. Changing your sleeping time by more than an hour can severely disturb (干扰) your sleep quality.     1     For example, if you normally wake up at 6 am on weekdays to get to work, you might go to bed around 10 pm, because that’s when you start to feel sleepy, and it’s also a good time to ensure 8 hours of sleep. If, on the weekend, you sleep until 9 am, you probably won’t be able to fall asleep that night until 1 am.

2.     2     Wait at least three hours after dinner before going to sleep. Digestion(消化) slows down while asleep, and a full stomach may interrupt(打搅) sleep. Similarly, you should avoid going to bed on an empty stomach, as a completely empty stomach may equally disturb your sleeping patterns(模式).

3.     3     Exposure(暴露) to light during the time when you’re supposed to be sleeping can disrupt(扰乱) your body’s internal clock. Turn your light off, or use a very dim night light.     4    They include windows, LED clocks, computer lights and cable boxes.

4. Change your sleeping position. You may think that it’s impossible to control what position you sleep in since you don’t fully understand what you are doing, but it is possible and it can make a big difference.     5    

A．Try to avoid all sources of light.

B．Keep the room as dark as possible.

C．Make note of unusual circumstances (状况).

D．Be mindful of what you eat or drink before bed.

E．Sleep is considered to be adequate only when there is no daytime sleepiness.

F．In other words, sudden change of sleeping time will affect your “biological(生物的) clock”.

G．If you wake up in the middle of the night, make an effort to have a comfortable position.

【推荐1】How to make friends at a new school

Starting with a new school can be difficult. Everything seems to be different, and you don’t even know where to go for your own classes.    1    However, if you use these skills, you can quickly turn some of those strangers into friends.

Be yourself.

    2    If some people don’t accept you, they’re not the kind of friends you need. People often stay together because they have similar interests. For example, someone who does a lot of sport may make friends with those who also run or swim a lot.

    3    

Remember to be nice to the people you meet at your new school. If you think that you will say something that may make them feel sad, do not anything and just nod your head if they talk to you. Also, remember to be as helpful as possible!

Believe in yourself.

A smile goes a long way. When you walk in the halls, don’t keep your eyes on the floor. Raise your head and make eye contact（目光接触）with other people.    4    Introduce yourself. Tell them your name and where you’re from.

Remember people’s names.

You like it when people use your name, and so do other people. People may become angry if you just begin by saying "Hey" each time. Besides, ask them in a kind way if they have a nickname（绰号）.    5    

A．Be friendly to others.

B．Making new friends can be hard, too.

C．Join in after-school activities you like.

D．Never change who you are in order to fit in.

E．If you see someone you know, smile or say "Hi".

F．You'd be surprised how often this might be useful.

G．Don t sit at the back of the classroom where other people cannot notice you.

【推荐3】Friendship is something that everyone needs. Success is nothing without friends. You share life, happiness and sadness. A friend is someone you can depend on in a time of need and that can trust you with every secret he or she has.

So, what happens when a friendship of eight years is broken over something out of their control? Does that mean it was never a true friendship to begin with?

My friend and I met in high school and have known each other for nearly eight years. What happened recently broke our lifelong friendship.

This makes me think about what friendship really means. I always thought my friend and I could get through any argument, fight, or the sadness of life. We promised each other we’d always be friends, through thick and thin. We even joked about how we would sit in a circle and laugh at some jokes when we had grandchildren. We always laughed at every little thing.

But then her grandfather passed away (去世) and suddenly our friendship was nothing. It happened so suddenly that I never found out about it until I discovered a note she had written on the Internet. I was sad and hurt that she would post (发帖子) what I told her for other people to see. I understand that she was sad and wanted to vent (发泄) her sadness, but I wish she’d kept everything between us.

I don’t understand why she broke our friendship, and I don’t think I ever will. I think friendship means we’ll always forgive each other for our mistakes. I hope that finally I’ll find that true friend who will always be there for me, and I there for her.

1. In Paragraph 1, the author mainly talks about ________

A．how to make friends	B．the importance of success
C．what to share with friends	D．the importance of friendship

2. What broke the author’s friendship with her friend?

A．The internet.	B．The death of her friend’s grandfather.
C．Something unhappy between them.	D．Their jokes.

3. What is the passage mainly about?

A．A true friendship.	B．An unsuccessful friend.
C．The author’s idea of friendship.	D．Sharing success with friends.

【推荐2】Everyone needs friends. We all like to feel close to someone. It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with. Surely, there are times when we need to be alone. We don't always want people around. But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same. Sometimes friends don't get along well, which doesn't mean that they no longer like each other. Most of the time they will go on being friends. Sometimes friends move away, then we feel very sad. We miss them much, but we can call them and write to them. Maybe we would never see them again, and we can make new friends. It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them. Families sometimes name their children after a close friend. Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town. Some libraries are named this way. So are some schools. We think of these people when we go to these places.
There's more good news for people, if they have friends. These people live longer than those people if those don't have friends. Why? It could be that they are happier. Being happy helps you stay well. Or it could be just knowing that someone cares, if someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
1. The first paragraph tells us __________.

A．none needs friends

B．we always need friends around us

C．making friends is the need in people's life

D．we need to be alone

2. Which of the following is what the writer doesn't say in the passage?

A．People are happy when their friends leave them.

B．People may never see their friends after their friends move away.

C．People can know their friends in different ways.

D．People like their friends very much if they get to know them.

3. Which of the following is the most probable place people name after friendly people?

A．A house.	B．A room.
C．A library.	D．A village.

4. If people have friends, they would live longer, because __________.

A．they feel happier and healthier

B．they get a lot of help from their friends

C．they take better care of themselves

D．both A and C

5. This passage tells us __________.

A．that people are all friends

B．that people need friends

C．how to get to know friends

D．how to name a place

【推荐3】The Chinese word “Shanzhai” means a small mountain village, but now it becomes an accepted name for fakes, after “Shanzhai Cell-phones” produced by small workshops in southern China became popular in the mainland market over the past two years. Besides “Shanzhai” electronic products, there are “Shanzhai” movies, “Shanzhai” stars and even a “Shanzhai” Spring Festival Gala, a copy of the 25-year-old traditional show presented by CCTV on Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve.

“Shanzhai” has become a culture of its own, meaning anything that imitates something famous. In Chongging, “Shanzhai” version “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube” woven by farmers with bamboo attracts wide attention from tourists. Both are copies of the famous Olympic buildings in Beijing.

A literature critic said that taking the “Shanzhai” Gala as an example, when the traditional CCTV program becomes less and less attractive to the audience, the “Shanzhai” version appears timely to attract people. “Although it is often connected with poor techniques and operation, ‘Shanzhai’ culture meets the psychological needs of common people and could be a comfort to their minds,” he said.

To the mainstream culture, the rise of “Shanzhai” culture is a challenge and a motivation. People believe different kinds of cultures developing together is a perfect way and it is for the public to choose.

1. The Chinese word “Shanzhai” may have started with ________.

A．fake (假的) cell-phones	B．electronic products
C．Spring Festival Gala	D．Olympic buildings

2. According to the passage, “Shanzhai” culture means ________.

A．the action that a person imitates famous people

B．products with poor techniques and quality

C．anything that are copies of something famous

D．those similar names to famous brands

3. We can infer that the mainstream culture ________.

A．is held back by “Shanzhai” culture

B．is the challenge of “Shanzhai” culture

C．will be replaced by “Shanzhai” culture

D．may develop faster because of the challenge of “Shanzhai” culture