【推荐1】Running on the beach can certainly be a good thing. It’s definitely different from running on the pavement, a track or trails with soft surfaces.

For starters, sand can be a challenge because it has an uneven surface and constantly shifts under your feet. As you push off, you’re going to lose some of your energy as the sand moves. So, you’re not going to be able to push yourself forward as you are on a track or pavement. But this unevenness has an upside: It gives your body an extra workout, forcing you to engage muscles that don’t get as much use during runs on firm surfaces. For instance, your feet, ankles, lower back and the muscles around your hips might feel more painful and more tired than usual after a beach run just because the surface is constantly moving and changing step by step.

You also might feel painful afterward because beaches tend to slope（倾斜）downward, toward the water. If you’re going for a long run on the beach, you might notice that one side of your body — including your ankle, leg or knee — might feel more painful because you’re putting more pressure on it due to the slope.

Some beach runners tend to run barefoot. However, if you’re not used to barefoot running, start slowly and don’t run long distances at first. That’s because running barefoot uses different muscles compared with running with shoes, and it’s important to strengthen these muscles and adapt your feet. Moreover, because sand can be rough, you can get blisters（疱）pretty easily from running barefoot.

Despite these challenges, running on sand can be a smart choice for athletes because running on it can decrease the impact on their body during high-intensity workouts. This could potentially lead to reduced muscle damage and less pain. Women had less myoglobin（肌红蛋白） — a protein that can be a sign of muscle pain — in their blood after running on sand than they did after running on grass. This suggests running on softer ground surfaces, such as sand, may reduce muscle damage.

1. Why do starters have difficulty running on sand?

A．The smooth surface makes them fall over easily.

B．The moving surface makes them energetically costly.

C．The water surface puts more stress on their bodies.

D．The watery surface makes them wet through frequently.

2. Which of the following best explains “upside” underlined in Paragraph 2?

A．Advantage.	B．Reason.
C．Expectation.	D．Challenge.

3. What should you avoid if you want to try running barefoot on sand?

A．Starting slowly.	B．Adjusting your feet.
C．Strengthening some muscles.	D．Running long distances.

4. What’s the unique benefit of running on sand to women?

A．Reduced muscle damage.	B．Less challenges.
C．Increased workouts.	D．Less pain.

【推荐3】How to Overcome Your Fears

Here are five practical strategies that will help you overcome your fears and face a brighter future.

Identify your fears

Take a moment to explore inward and identify the specific sources of your fears. Recognize what it is that is holding you back. Ask yourself, “What are you genuinely afraid of?” Spend a few quiet moments observing your thoughts and emotions.     1    .

Understand the root cause

Spend some time exploring the nature of your fears. Begin reflective thinking by asking yourself, “Why am I experiencing fear?” and “What is causing me to feel anxious?”     2    , you will gain an understanding of the factors behind your fears. When you deeply understand the sources of your fears, you are in a better position to overcome them.

Practice acceptance

The journey of overcoming fear requires acceptance.     3    . Instead, it is a catalyst（催化剂） that guides you on the path of personal development. By recognizing that fear is a universal human emotion that everyone faces at certain times, you can employ its energy for positive purposes.

    4    

To overcome your fears effectively, you need to set clear and achievable goals. That’s because you can use a sense of purpose to drive you forward on your journey. In addition, breaking down your broader goals into smaller ones is important.

Take action

    5    . Start small by dealing with the least frightening aspect of your fear and gradually work your way up to more challenging steps. As you go through this journey of action, unexpected opportunities for personal growth will arise. Ultimately, you’ll strengthen your self-confidence as you reconsider your beliefs about life and yourself.

A．Establish clear goals

B．Remember all your goals

C．If you take action at once

D．When you answer these questions

E．Then write down in detail what comes up for you

F．Accepting fear is not a barrier to self-improvement

G．At this point on your journey to overcome fear, it’s time to take action

【推荐1】It is not rare in China that many seniors take advantage of their retirement years to please their grandchildren.

Some are good at sugar figure blowing art-the maker uses sugar as its basic material to boil and blow into various figures. Some can weave, using even the most unexpected materials such as leaves, and some excel in carpentry, using wood to carve lifelike dolls and toys.

Recently, in a small village in Fujian province, one — and — a — half — year — old Dandan became the most enviable child. His grandfather made a wooden " mantis cart （螳螂车）"for him. The wooden components on both sides of the cart would rise and fall with the metal wheels, resembling a mantis. This one-of-a-kind toy was filmed by the child's parents and posted online, immediately arousing curiosity.

The grandfather, Li Shishui, 70, who has been a carpenter for more than 50 years, retired in 2018. In his spare time, he picks up his old craftsmanship and uses the scrap （小块）wood from his old house to make the "mantis cart" with long legs. He also makes pure wooden toys such as robots , birds and even an   "Iron Man".

When Dandan goes out in the “ mantis cart"，   it never fails to turn heads and children of the neighbors next door shout and cry to their parents for one too.

Full of childlike fun, fatherly love and delicate design, the wooden toy, not merely catches the heart of children in his neighbourhood, some netizens also express their envy after watching online videos. "I want a grandpa like him too. " ^"Does grandpa want a granddaughter?" Some also recollect that although their grandfather is not a carpenter, these videos have brought back their fond memories when they were young — their grandfather also made some gadgets （小物件）for them.

Therefore, many believe, parents should stress the importance of the education of their children's interpersonal communication skills at an early age. Children who grow up in the love of their elders can expect to be more brave, positive, optimistic and confident than other children.

1. What does the author mean by the underlined part "This one-of-a-kind toy”?

A．The toy is hard-won.	B．The toy is specially made.
C．The toy is of high quality.	D．The toy is the only one made by Grandpa Li.

2. Which of the following is right about "mantis cart”?

A．All the components of it are made of wood.

B．Its online videos were not immediately accepted.

C．Its insect-like features attract both children and adults.

D．It was hand-made by Grandpa Li, a craftsman of sugar figures.

3. What can we learn from the passage?

A．Much importance should be attached to children's behavior.

B．Children under the care of their elders may have better personalities.

C．Some netizens envy Dandan as their grandparents are not carpenters.

D．Some children of the neighbors cry as Dandan doesn't share the toy with them.

4. Which section of a web page can this passage be taken from?

A．Fashion.	B．Entertainment・
C．Lifestyle.	D．Transportation.

【推荐2】Like many men at some point, I dream about opening a bar. I plan to call it Work Out. It will cater to married women in need of a little fun. On Friday nights, they will be able to come here and enjoy themselves.
See, I have a gift for business. I am, as my wife Zsa Zsa likes to note, “A man with a million ideas, none of them very good.” Speaking of Zsa Zsa, she is fed up with this plain little life I’ve made for us——too many kids, too many chores, mind – numbing debt. The other day, she said she thought we needed a new family car. “Sure. How about an 87 Lincoln?” I said, and saw my dear Zsa Zsa age about 20 years, and become her mother right before my eyes.
Yes, money is our madness. Last year, we thought we had found a little cushion when I published a book about the life here in suburban America. It sold 12 copies——six of them to my mother. Four other copies went to various aunts and uncles, who used them for martini coasters (杯垫), then sold them at yard sales. The two remaining copies went to perfect strangers. (I think I owe you dinner, whoever you are. Call me, OK? We’ll arrange something.)
When the book didn’t take off, I wrote a TV show. Then I penned a short novel based on the earlier TV idea that didn’t sell. Currently, I am at work on a set of encyclopedias(百科全书). In a month, I plan to sell them door-to-door.
Such is the life of a writer, sending off the most personal thoughts possible to his hard drive. I am a writer, but also the breadwinner in my family. I’m at the keyboard at 6 almost every morning, hoping to tap out one idea——just one——that will take us up the hill, to the mountain, to the top.
1. According to the passage, the author is leading a/an______ life.

A．enjoyable	B．wealthy
C．hard	D．comfortable

2. By saying “Sure. How about an 87 Lincoln?”, the author_______ .

A．promised it to his wife

B．was showing off their fortune

C．thought his wife would like it

D．was just joking

3. What was the result of the book the author mentioned in the 3rd paragraph?

A．It didn’t sell well at all

B．He sold it door – to – door.

C．He made a lot of money from it.

D．It was really a cushion for his family.

4. What does the underlined word “cushion” mean ?

A．Comfortable seat.	B．Financial help.
C．Unexpected success.	D．Best-selling book.

5. From the account above, which of the following statements is true?

A．He has a real gift for business.

B．He isn’t serious enough about life.

C．He is a hard – working writer.

D．His wife is satisfied with their plain life.

【推荐3】第二部分：阅读理解（共25小题；第一节
第一节 阅读下列短文，从每题后的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
A
Many children first learn the value of money by receiving an allowance(pocket money). The purpose is to let children learn from experiences at an age when finacial mistakes are not very costly.
The amount of money that parents give to their children to spend as they wish differs from family to family. Timing is another consideration. Some children get a weekly allowance. Others get a monthly allowance.
In any case, parents should make clear what, if anything, the child is expected to pay for with the money. At first, young children may spend all of their allowance soon after they receive it. If they do this, they will learn the hard way that spending must be done within a budget. Parents are usually advised not to offer more money until the next allowance.
The object is to show young people that a budget demands choices between spending and saving. Older children may be responsible enough to save money for larger costs, like clothing or electronics. Many people who have written on the subject of allowances say it is not a good idea to pay your child for work around the home. These jobs are a normal part of family life.
Paying children to do extra work around the house, however, can be useful. It can even provide an understanding of how a business works.
Allowances give children a chance to experience the three things they can do with money. They can share it in the form of gifts or giving to a good cause. They can spend it by buying things they want. Or they can save it.
Saving helps children understand that costly goals require sacrifice: you have to cut costs and plan for the future. Requiring children to save part of their allowance can also open the door to future saving and investing. Many banks offer services to help children and teenagers learn about personal finance.
A savings account is an excellent way to learn about the power of compound interest.
Compounding works by paying interest on interest. So, for example, one dollar invested at two percent interest for two years will earn two cents in the first year. The second year, the money will earn two percent of one dollar and two cents, and so on. That may not seem like a lot. But over time it adds up.
1. Giving an allowance, parents should consider all the following EXCEPT_______

A．how much the child should get each time

B．whether the child has made a budget

C．where the money really goes.

D．how often a child can get it

2. The author of the passage holds the opinion that__________

A．what children learn by handling allowances may be beneficial in the future

B．children can learn to set up their own business with their allowances

C．keeping allowances in the bank is the best choice for children

D．it is not a good idea to pay children for housework at home

3. The underlined words “compound interest” in the passage probably mean_______.

A．increasing curiosity to learn how to make more money

B．stronger power to hold one’s attention to saving money

C．money paid by the bank on your original money and the gain from it

D．the sum of money that you earn from keeping your money in the bank

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Be Generous to Pay Your Children.

B．Be Wise to Avoid Financial Mistakes.

C．Saving Allowances Does Good to Children.

D．Allowances Help Children Learn about Money.

【推荐2】Mexico and the USA share a common border on the northern side of Mexico. However, despite the close physical proximity(临近), there are a lot of differences between their social conduct.

Americans belong to diverse ethnic (种族) as well as national origins, despite which, all of them have mixed perfectly with the mainstream of American culture. Officially, six different races of people have been recognized by the government of the United States, which include White or European Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, Black or African-Americans, Asians, and the people of two or more races. White Americans form the majority, constituting about 75% of the total population of America.

Mexicans are a group of multi-ethnic people. Mexico shelters people of different races, religions and tribes. When the country achieved independence from the Spanish colonizers (殖民者), the population included people of native pre-Columbian ancestry as well as Europeans, who came there through the process of colonization. The fusion of these two, particularly diverse ethnicities, led to the formation of the special multi-ethnic character of the Mexican people.

Americans tend to give a lot of importance to their profession, sometimes more than their family. Children are brought up in a more independent manner. Parents expect their children to set up their independence households once they start earning. Americans feel that the practical application of knowledge is very important. So, their way of acquiring knowledge is based more on reasoning, analysis, and in-depth specialization of a subject.

However, family comes first for Mexicans. In most Mexican families, men work to earn money, while women take care of the housework. Children are brought up with a lot of parental care and attention. Mexicans love to settle down in one place, and prefer to stay with their families. They consider titles and positions as their status symbols. They believe in education based on repeated learning and so, their academic system emphasizes learning through memorization.

Despite so many differences in their cultures, some sort of integration (结合) binds the Mexicans and the Americans, in a way, promotes their co-existence.

1. Which of the following is true according to Paragraph 2?

A．American Indians and Alaska Natives are the largest ethnic group in the USA.

B．There are more Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders than Asians in the USA.

C．American Indians have not been recognized by the US government.

D．European Americans make up about three fourths of the USA’s population.

2. The underlined word “fusion” in Paragraph 3 means “         ”.

A．competition	B．mix
C．comparison	D．balance

3. Which of the following might Americans agree with?

A．Truth comes from practice.	B．Blood was thicker than water.
C．Rome was not built in a day.	D．Every dog has its day.

4. In Mexicans’ eyes, they           .

A．look at money as a status symbol	B．usually receive an all-round education
C．enjoy the company of family	D．husband and wife share the housework

【推荐3】The blue planet is going green. Since the 1980s, satellite images have shown that leafy cover across the globe has grown by 2.3 percent per decade. A new study, published on February 11 in Nature Sustainability, helps explain why. One main driver is the “fertilization (施肥) effect”, brought about by humans burning fossil fuels. As CO₂ increases in the atmosphere, this increases photosynthesis (光合作用) — as long as water, light, and nutrients are not limited. When plants take up more of the gas, they produce more food and new leaves.

But researchers also found another cause for the change in color: planting more crops and trees. China and India, the two most populous countries on Earth, have contributed about a third of the greening seen since 2000, mainly in the form of forests and farms.

In this most recent paper, scientists at Boston University took a closerlook at this greening trend. They used data from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (光谱辐射计), or MODIS, which uses advanced satellite technology to document the Earth’s surface on a near-daily basis. From 2000 to 2017, the researchers looked at the change in greenness in plant-covered regions, including croplands, forests, and grasslands.

The satellite data showed that globally, one-third of plant-covered areas are greening, while only five percent are browning. “Human land use management in many regions is more important than those indirect factors [ of climate change and CO₂ fertilization ],” says Chi Chen, lead author of the study. “China and India, two developing countries, contribute the most in the increase in leaf area.” According to the study, the two nations contributed more greening relative to their plant-covered area than other countries.

While only 6.6 percent of the world’s vegetated area is in China, the country is responsible for 25 percent of the increase in global greening. The study found that most of China’s greening occurred in its forests, with croplands also contributing.

1. How is the text mainly organized?

A．By listing facts and data.	B．By making contrast.
C．By giving examples.	D．By displaying time order.

2. What does Chi Chen think is the direct factor of the global greening?

A．H umans burning fossilfuels.	B．Humans planting.
C．The CO2 fertilization.	D．The climate change.

3. According to the study, what contributes most to the increase of global greening?

A．China’s forests and grasslands.

B．India’s forests and farmlands.

C．China’s and India’s grasslands and croplands.

D．China’s and India’s forests and croplands.

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

A．A New Study on Earth

B．The Change in Greeeness on Earth

C．Why Our Blue Planet Is Getting Greener?

D．Who Is Responsible for the Increase in Global Greening?