Born in 1954, Oprah Winfrey is best known for her multi-award-winning talk show as the most influential woman in the world. It's no surprise that her recognition can bring overnight sales fortune that defeats most, if not all, marketing campaigns. The star features about 20 products each year on her "Favorite Things" show. There's even a term for it: the Oprah Effect.
Her television career began unexpectedly. When she was 16 years old, she had the idea of being a journalist to tell other people's stories in a way that made a difference in their lives and the world. She was on television by the time she was 19 years old. And in 1986 she started her own television show with a continuous determination to succeed at first.
TIME magazine wrote, "People would have doubted Oprah Winfrey's swift rise to host of the most popular talk show on TV. In a field dominated by white males, she is a black female of big size. As interviewers go, she is no match for Phil Donahue. What she lacks in journalistic toughness, she makes up for in plainspoken curiosity, rich humor and, above all understanding. Guests with sad stories to tell tend to bring out a tear in Oprah's eye. They, in turn, often find themselves exposing things they would not imagine telling anyone, much less a national TV audience."
"I was nervous about the competition and then I became my own competition raising the bar every year, pushing, pushing, pushing myself as hard as I knew. It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point you are likely to fall if you' re constantly doing what we do, raising the bar. If you' re constantly pushing yourself higher, higher the law of averages, you will at some point fall. And when you do, I want you to know this, remember this: there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction" as Oprah addressed graduates at Harvard on May 30.
1. What does the Oprah Effect refer to in the first paragraph?| A．the influence on talk show hosts | B．the power of Oprah's opinions. |
| C．the effect on a business. | D．the audience of Oprah's talk show. |
| A．She must have been challenged a lot | B．She gained fame as planned. |
| C．It lives up to her parents' expectation. | D．She once gave up on her choice. |
| A．Success comes after failure. | B．Pushing physical limits makes no sense |
| C．Aiming higher hurts | D．Failure is part of life. |
| A．Friendly. | B．Humorous |
| C．Determined. | D．Patient |
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【推荐1】A couple of weeks ago my parents came to visit me in the southwest of France during my break. As a little surprise for them I planned a trip to a small village in the Pyrenees Mountains called Niaux to seethe famous “Grotte de Niaux”. My dad told me so many stories about the famous “grottes” of Southern France: Lascaux, Font-de-Gaume and the Cave of Niaux. These caves contain paintings drawn between17,000 and 11,000 years ago! Advances in science and technology have enabled scientists and historians to date the paintings accurately by carbon dating （碳定年法）and discover the tools with which people used to draw the paintings, as well as the materials they used. My dad studied these caves when he was a college student, but he didn't have the chance to see one personally. Therefore, I decided to change it!
Many caves that contain prehistoric paintings are no longer accessible to the public. The carbon dioxide that we breathe out and the harsh artificial lights quickly degrade the quality of the paintings, and for many caves, now visitors can only see reconstructions of the original paintings. However, Niaux is an exception. By limiting the number of people allowed in the cave at a time and limiting the artificial lights used to light the paintings, the paintings in Niaux have been well protected so that visitors can see the originals. They were unbelievable! We saw paintings of bison（北美野牛），mountain goats and deer carved on the walls as though they had been done yesterday. They were actually drawn around14,000 years ago!
Many people believe that these paintings were drawn as part of an almost religious ritual(仪式），while others believe they represent the life experiences of the men and women who lived in these caves many years ago. Maybe we will never know for sure why the paintings were drawn, but one thing is for certain - those cavemen were far better at drawing than I am!
1. Why did the author's father tell him many stories about the “grottes”？| A．The author asked him to do so. |
| B．It was his father's duty. |
| C．His father was interested in them. |
| D．They weren't known to the author. |
| A．Shadows. | B．Copies. |
| C．Models. | D．Introductions. |
| A．Good protection. | B．Great skill. |
| C．Good quality. | D．Dark light. |
| A．this was the second time that the author' s father had visited Niaux. |
| B．visitors don't know the material used to draw the pictures in Niaux. |
| C．only the carbon dioxide people breathe out degraded the quality of the paintings. |
| D．visitors don't know clearly why the paintings were drawn. |
【推荐2】Amazon wants to be able to answer the troublesome question: Did I leave the stove on? The latest home security tool by Ring, a home security company owned by Amazon, is the Always Home Cam, a flying drone that can help homeowners check their apartments whenever they’re not in.
The Always Home Cam is a lightweight, self-docking, flying indoor camera that can take a predetermined path set by its user. When used with Ring’s proprietary home alarms systems like the Ring Alarm, the Always Home Cam will take flight and check the house for any potential disturbances. The drone unit can also be controlled remotely and manually. After a flight, the Always Home Cam automatically returns to its station itself for charging. It only records while in flight, too.
You can ask it to fly to check the stove while you’re out, or to see if you left the windows open. It’s also great for checking on naughty pets. The drone has obstacle avoidance technology built-in, and hidden propellers(螺旋桨) to mitigate any damage to household furnishing in the event of a collision. Amazon says the drone will automatically take flight if there’s movement in the house to show you what’s going on.
The device was one of several that Amazon unveiled Thursday as part of its annual appliance event. Due to the pandemic, this year’s version was held online instead of at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters.
The indoor flying camera, called the Ring Always Home Cam, still needs approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, but Amazon said it expects to sell it next year at $250. It will also launch a camera and alarm system for cars next year under its Ring brand.
Critics have raised privacy concerns about Ring, which is best known for its doorbell cameras, citing the company’s close relationship with police departments. Amazon said the drone only records when it is in the air, and that it makes a sound when it flies so any people in the house knows its recording.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?| A．The Always Home Cam can ensure your safety. |
| B．Always Home Cam can guard your house while you out. |
| C．Critics raised privacy concerns about the Always Home Cam. |
| D．New devices were unveiled on Amazon’ annual appliance event. |
| A．It can take a path set by computer. | B．It can record when you are out. |
| C．It can get charged by itself. | D．It can take flight at any time. |
| A．It was unveiled at Amazon’s Seattle headquarters. |
| B．It will be sold at $250 next year. |
| C．It can lessen damage to furniture for its obstacle avoidance technology. |
| D．It records in the air, not found by anyone. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Critical. | C．Doubtful. | D．Objective. |
【推荐3】The Environmental Film Festival has become one of the world's grandest supporters of the environmental film. To offer fresh views on global environmental issues, this year's festival will include a record of 190 films from 50 countries. including 110 premieres(首映). Here are just a few of the highlights.
1. Hot Water
Featured among the festival's opening night films is the highly expected "Hot Water," a look 2 the depressing destructive effects of uranium铀) mining in the American West. Former US. Rep Denis Kucinich. who ran for president in 2004 and 2008, is featured in the film,along with filmmakers Elizabeth Kucinich and Lizabeth Rogers Directed by Kevin Flint and
2. To the Wonder
To the Wonder is the latest film by will-known American Director Trrence Malick. The film, "an exploration of love set against the power of nature," stars Ben Aleck, Olga Kurylenko.Rachel McAdams and Javier Bardem The film premiered in competition at the 2012 Venice Film Festival and is making is Washington D.C premiere during the festival.
3. Revolution
This Washington D.C. premiere presents the Canadian filmmaker and environmental activist, Rob Stewart's new work, "Revolution" an urging cry to today' s youth to change the planet before it's too late. The award-winning documentary takes Stewart through 15 countries over four years, in an effort to find the secret to save the ecosystems we rely on for survival.
4. The Fifth Season
Beautiful and mystery, Jessica Woodworth's latest feature, "The Fifth Season", is a poetic meditation (EA) on nature in battle against humans." The dramatic narrative takes place in Belgium's secret Ardennes, where the locals rely on the land, but nature takes a turn and seems to go on mysterious strike, In French and Flemish with English subtitles. Directed and produced by Woodworth and Peter Brosens.
1. Revolution is intended to____________.| A．help Rob Stewart to be an activist |
| B．change the young generation |
| C．appeal to the young to save the earth |
| D．take Stewart through 15 countries |
| A．Hot Water | B．To the Wonder. |
| C．Revolution. | D．The Fifth Season. |
| A．They tell something new about environment problems |
| B．Environmental Film has become the grandest film |
| C．They are all, about humans' negative frets on the ecosystem |
| D．They will be firstly shown on this year’s festival |
【推荐1】“I still cannot believe it!” said the newest Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, Diébédo Francis Kéré, who had already received numerous accolades in his field, including the Aga Khan Award and the Thomas Jefferson medal. But he was still as surprised as anyone else to be selected for the field’s most famous prize.
Most of the architects and critics had openly supposed that 2022 would be Sir David Adjaye’s year, who is best known for designing such notable buildings as the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. Kéré, who is based in Berlin but centers much of his practice in Africa, has been far lesser known, with signature buildings that include primary schools and a health care clinic.
Kéré said his architectural practice was inspired by his own experience attending school with around 100 other children in a region where temperatures were regularly higher than 38℃.
“It’s very hot inside and there was no light, while outside, the sunlight was abundant. So I dreamed of making it better one day,” he said.
When he was twenty, in 1985, Kéré earned a scholarship to study carpentry (木工) in Berlin. While studying roofing and furniture making, he also attended night school and was admitted to Technische Universität Berlin, from which he graduated in 2004 with an advanced degree in architecture. He was still a student when he designed and built the Gando Primary School. The recognition it earned helped Kéré open his own office in Berlin.
In his designs for Gando Primary School and Naaba Belem Goumma Secondary School in Burkina Faso, Kéré drew on traditional building materials such as local clay mixed with concrete, and emphasized shade and shadows with well-aired spaces that reduce the need for air conditioning.
1. What does the word “accolades” underlined in paragraph 1 mean?| A．Prizes. | B．Projects. | C．Experts. | D．Scholarships. |
| A．Disapproving. | B．Unconcerned. | C．Overjoyed. | D．Surprised. |
| A．Kéré got a scholarship from Technische Universität Berlin. |
| B．Kéré studied roofing and furniture making at a night school. |
| C．Kéré was recognized in his field when he was still a student. |
| D．Kéré was inspired by his own experience at Gando Primary School. |
| A．hot and dark inside | B．environmentally friendly |
| C．built with high-tech materials | D．designed by Sir David Adjaye |
【推荐2】Florence Nightingale was born in a rich family. When she was young, she took lessons in music and drawing, and read great books. She also traveled a great deal with her mother and father.
As a child, she felt that visiting sick people was both a duty and a pleasure. She enjoyed helping them. At last, her mind was made up. “I’m going to be a nurse,” she decided. “Nursing isn’t the right work for a lady,” her father told her…
“Then I will make it so,” she smiled. And she went to learn nursing in Germany and France. When she returned to England, Florence started a nursing home for women.
During the Crimean War in 1854, she went with a group of thirty-eight nurses to the front hospitals. What they saw there was terrible. Dirt and death were everywhere to be seen and smelled. The officer there did not want any woman to tell him how to run a hospital, either. But the brave nurses went to work.
Florence used her own money and some from friends to buy clothes, beds, medicines and food for the men. Her only pay was the smiles from the lips of dying soldiers. But they were more than enough for this kind woman.
After war, she returned to England and was honored for her services by Queen Victoria. But Florence said that her work had just begun. She raised money to build the Nightingale Home for Nurses in London.
She also wrote a book on public health, which was printed in several countries. Florence Nightingale died at the age of ninety, still trying to serve others through her work as a nurse. Indeed, it is because of her that we honour nurses today.
1. When she was a child, Florence ________.| A．loved to help the sick people |
| B．knew what her duty in life was |
| C．wrote a book on public health |
| D．was most interested in music and drawing |
| A．Her father’s support. |
| B．Her desire to help the sick. |
| C．Her education in Germany and France. |
| D．Her knowledge from reading great books. |
| A．she earned a lot of money |
| B．work was very difficult |
| C．few soldiers died because of her work |
| D．she didn’t have enough food and clothes |
| A．Because she built the Nightingale Home for Nurses. : |
| B．Because of her old age. |
| C．Because she worked as a nurse all her life. |
| D．Because she did a great deal of work during the Crimean-War. |
In 1880，fourteen-year-old Matthew Henson loved to hear sailors tell tales of their exciting lives at sea．The travel，the adventure，the danger，and the steady pay were all attracting young Henson．One day，he found a job as a cabin boy on a beautiful ship called the Katie Hinds．For the next five years，Henson sailed around the world．With the help of the ship’s captain and other members of the crew，Henson learned mathematics，navigation，history，geography，and many other subjects．By the time he left the Katie Hinds in 1885，Henson was well educated and had become an excellent seaman．
Unable to find work anywhere else，Henson took a job in a hat shop in Washington，D．C．One day in 1887，a man came in to buy a hat．The man，Robert Peary，asked the owner if he knew anyone with experience at sea．Peary would soon travel to South America for the U．S．government．He needed experienced men to accompany him．The shop owner knew about his young employee’s skills and experience on ocean journeys，so he introduced Peary to Henson．
Using his map-reading and sailing skills，Henson proved himself to be a worthy and smart seaman．Peary soon made Henson his assistant，and they became close friends．One day Peary told Henson about his real dream：to be the first man to stand on“the top of the world”at the North Pole．He asked Henson to help him make his dream come true．Over the next five years，the two explorers made two trips together to the Arctic．However，they were not able to reach the pole either time．The cold，wind，and ice were worse than either of them had ever imagined．
In 1908，Peary and Henson were ready to make their final attempt at reaching the North Pole．Both men were over forty years old．The years of hardship in the arctic cold had made them suffer a lot．This would be their last chance．With four Inuit guides，they made a mad rush straight across the ice toward the pole．Peary’s feet were injured and he had to be pulled on a dogsled．In April 1909，Henson’s instruments showed they were standing at the North Pole．Together Henson and Peary planted the American flag in the snow．
In later years，Robert Peary and Henson were greatly honored for their achievements．Today，the two friends and fellow explorers lie in heroes’graves not far apart in the Arlington National Cemetery．
1. What happened to Henson according to Paragraph 1?
| A．He became a skilled seaman． |
| B．He became a highly educated captain． |
| C．He was employed in a restaurant． |
| D．He was interested in helping others． |
| A．How Matthew Henson met Robert Peary． |
| B．Why Matthew Henson went to the hat shop． |
| C．Why Matthew Henson stopped working on the Katie Hinds． |
| D．How Robert Peary knew that Matthew Henson had sea experience． |
| A．Hunters running after wolves． |
| B．Generals seeking power over another country． |
| C．Soldiers going to war to fight for their freedom． |
| D．Fighters performing a task in an unknown land． |
| A．By cause and effect． |
| B．By comparing and contrasting． |
| C．In the order that the events happened． |
| D．With main ideas and supporting examples． |
