【推荐1】Almost every day we come across situations in which we have to make decisions one way or another. Choice, we are given to believe, is a right. But for a good many people in the world, in rich and poor countries, choice is a luxury, something wonderful but hard to get, not a right. And for those who think they are exercising their right to make choices, the whole system is merely an illusion, a false idea created by companies and advertiser, hoping to sell their products.

The endless choice gives birth to anxiety in people’s lives. Buying something as basic as a coffee pot is not exactly simple. Easy access to a wide range of everyday goods leads to a sense of powerlessness in many people, ending in the shopper giving up and walking away, or just buying an unsuitable item that is not really wanted. Recent studies in England have shown that many electrical goods bought in almost every family are not really needed. More difficult decision-making is then either avoided or trusted into the hands of the professionals, lifestyle instructors, or advisors.

It is not just the availability of the goods that is the problem, but the speed at which new types of products come on the market. Advances in design and production help quicken the process. Products also need to have a short lifespan so that the public can be persuaded to replace them within a short time. The typical example is computers, which are almost out-of-date once they are bought. This indeed makes selection a problem. Gone are the days when one could just walk with ease into a shop and buy one thing; no choice, no anxiety.

1. What does the author try to argue in Paragraph 1?

A．The exercise of rights is a luxury.	B．The practice of choice is difficult.
C．The right of choice is given but at a price.	D．Choice and right exist at the same time.

2. Why do more choices of goods give rise to anxiety?

A．Professionals find it hard to decide on a suitable product.

B．People are likely to find themselves overcome by business persuasion.

C．Shoppers may find themselves lost in the broad range of items.

D．Companies and advertisers are often misleading about the rage of choice.

3. By using computers as an example, the author wants to prove that ________.

A．advanced products meet the needs of people	B．products of the latest design flood the market
C．competitions are fierce in high-tech industry	D．everyday goods need to be replaced often

4. What is this passage mainly about?

A．The variety of choices in modern society.

B．The opinions on people’s right in different countries

C．The problems about the availability of everyday goods.

D．The helplessness in purchasing decisions

【推荐3】Technology use seems to be the new wave of addiction hitting people of all ages. Its extreme use can be compared to the use of drugs, which is called Plug-in Heroin.

The next time you’re in a crowded public place, look at the people around you. It’s hard to find someone who isn’t glued to the tiny screen, fingers moving at lightning speeds, texting their friends, emailing co-workers or listening to music. It may seem ridiculous that someone is that addicted to such a small object. I’ve seen people who seem to be at their wits’ end (不知所措) if their phone or iPad has been taken away, lost or left at home.

Some people may ask, “What’s wrong with technology use? It’s a way for people to communicate.” While this is true, the overuse of technology isn’t always appropriate in certain settings. Schools are becoming stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms. Various workplaces have signs hanging on their walls warning employees that “Cell phone use is not permitted ”or “Cell phones are forbidden.”

Electronics may be a way for people to communicate and stay in touch with each other, but the disadvantages may outweigh the benefits. People are losing the ability to hold face-to-face conversations with others. However, it’s hard to avoid electronics in this day and age because almost everything is turning into an electronic format. Books, originally meant for paper design, are now being transferred (转存) to electronic forms. Photo albums, and even yearbooks, can now be viewed via the internet. With this growing trend, future generations are bound to become even more addicted to technology.

Is there a cure for electronic addiction? Simply turning electronics off for an hour or two a day may help to an extent, but it will not completely rid electronic addiction. There only seems to be one cure left, and it may be the hardest: self control.

1. What is Plug-in Heroin?

A．The growing popularity of electronics.

B．The serious consequences of technology use.

C．The future possibility of technology development.

D．The unreasonable dependence on electronics.

2. The second paragraph is intended to ________.

A．prove electronics are harmful to people	B．show people’s addiction to electronics
C．persuade people to quit electronics	D．tell people it is ridiculous to use electronics

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A．Cell phones can be used in all kinds of work situations.

B．Cell phones and iPads can be freely applied in schools.

C．Overuse of electronic products should be limited.

D．There’s nothing wrong with using technology, because it’s the only way people communicate.

4. In the author’s opinion, what is the best way to cure electronic addiction?

A．Turn off the electronics for an hour or two.

B．Cell phones are forbidden in the workplaces.

C．Be stricter about the use of cell phones, iPads and other electronics in classrooms.

D．Learn to control yourself.

【推荐1】Nearly two decades ago when the Google Books Project digitized and freely distributed more than 25 million works, book publishers argued that free digital distribution weakens the market for physical books. However, new research from Imke Reimers and Abhishek Nagaraj reveals that the opposite — increased demand for physical books, through online discovery — could be true.

The two researchers focused on a particular part of Google Books’ digitized works: those from Harvard University’s Widener Library, which helped seed the project in its early days. The condition that enabled their experiment: Harvard’s digitization effort only included out-of-copyright works, published before 1923 , which were made available to consumers in their entirety. The works from 1923 and later were still copyrighted and not digitized.

The researchers analyzed a total of 37,743 books scanned (扫描) between 2005 and2009. They looked at sales for the two years before this digitization period and the two years after , and found clear differences in the increased sales between digitized and non-digitized books. Approximately 40% of digitized titles saw a sales increase from 2003-2004 to 2010-2011, compared to less than 20% of titles that were not digitized. The increase in sales was also found to be stronger for less popular books.

“If a book is readily available online, people may decide that it’s a useful book and want to buy it,” Reimers said. “The ‘discovery effect’, which even increased the sales of a digitized author’s non-digitized works, is a strong driver of increased sales. It’s not a huge jump in sales , but it’s still good news for publishers.”

“And book lovers,” Reimers said, “are known for their preference for physical books, as opposed to digital versions, which could also play a role.” She added ,“Whenever I talk to people about my research on books, at some point they all say,’ I just love the feel of a digitized author’s non-digitized works, is a strong driver of increased sales. It’s not a huge jump in sales , but it’s still good news for publishers.”

“And book lovers,” Reimers said, “are known for their preference for physical books , as opposed to digital versions, which could also play a role.” She added, “Whenever I talk to people about my research on books, at some point they all say, ‘I just love the feel of a book in my hand.’”

1. Why did the researchers choose the publications before 1923 for their research?

A．They were all masterpieces.	B．They were mostly searchable.
C．They were not protected by copyright.	D．They were only partly downloaded for free.

2. How did the researchers obtain the research findings ?

A．By interviewing book users.	B．By comparing the sales data.
C．By classifying the book titles.	D．By referring to historical records.

3. Why does the author quote Reimers’ words in the last paragraph?

A．To point out the limitations of the study.	B．To stress people’s different reading tastes.
C．To tell another contributor to the sales rise.	D．To show a growing trend in reading books.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Consumers Are Enthusiastic About E-books.

B．Book Publishers Object to Digitizing Books.

C．Physical Bookstores Are Declining in Importance.

D．Digitizing Books Promotes Demand for Physical Copies.

【推荐2】Sixth formers are to be quizzed on whether they can cook five hot meals and how often they should change their sheets, as part of a government-backed scheme to prepare them for university.

Ministers are urging schools to put on special workshops for students aged 16―18 to ensure they feel comfortable with the prospect of leaving home. The course, designed by the university accommodation provider Unite Students, will teach pupils how to manage their finances and how to live independently.

According to the course materials, teachers should ask students questions which may not have occurred to them, such as “what is the price of a liter of milk?” and “list 5 hot meals you can cook from scratch” and “how often will you wash your sheets once you move out of home?”

Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, said, “We are all very conscious that moving away from home and going to university is one of the most exciting things that happens in your life but it can also be very daunting.” Mr. Hinds said that when he got to university, he discovered he had “relied on my mum more than I realized I did”, adding, “I wish I could have cooked better.”

Earlier this year, ministers set up a new task force called the Education Transitions Network, which includes representatives from Universities UK, UCAS and the National Union of Students. It is part of a drive by the Department for Education to address the rise in students who report mental health issues during their time at university.

Data released earlier this year showed that the number of students declaring mental health problems on arrival at university has surged. Figures obtained showed a 73 percent rise between 2014―2015 and 2017―2018 in students stating that they had a condition such as depression or anxiety before starting their courses.

1. What can we learn about the course?

A．It encourages students to leave home.

B．It is designed by the university students.

C．It helps students get ready for their college life.

D．It allows teachers to ask students familiar questions.

2. Why does the author mention Damian in Paragraph 4?

A．To show the joy of campus life.	B．To list the contents of the course.
C．To prove the necessity of the course.	D．To present the importance of college life.

3. Which of the following best explains “surged” underlined in the last paragraph?

A．Increased.

B．Dropped.

C．Doubled.

D．Remained.