【推荐1】Public Speaking

Public speaking can be defined as the act of making a speech in front of a group of listeners.

The types of public speaking are deliberately structured with three general purposes: to inform, to persuade and to entertain. An informative speech has a purpose to inform, or give knowledge to its audience.     1    For persuasive speech, the speaker would try to change the mindset, perception, or behavior of the audience for their own good. Thus, the speaker needs to look for common ground with the audience and try to relate to what they might agree on. The last type is a ceremonial speech. It tends to be less formal and more personal than the other types of speeches. No matter how well you know the person you are giving speech about, try not to say bad things about them, even if it is meant to be a joke.

    2    Sparing some time to practice will help build confidence and help determine how long the presentation will last. Aside from it, knowing who the audience will be is quite necessary. Try to get as much information as possible regarding this particular area related to the audience. Knowing the “battlefield” in advance will give the speakers a huge advantage.

Language is the main aspect a speaker needs to pay attention to while giving a speech.

    3    A speaker needs to choose their words carefully and make it clear to the audience what they mean. Often, when given a speech, the audience look up to the speaker to give them something new and useful.       4    Language and delivery alone will not be sufficient if the speaker does not have the body language. The movement and gesture of a speaker also affect the audience. While closing the speech or presentation, speakers can restate their main points, just to remind the audience of the important things that have been said.     5    

A．It needs to be used clearly.

B．These speeches mark special occasions.

C．The important thing to watch about is not to put in too much information.

D．The key of perfecting anything is through practice, including public speaking.

E．They can also end it with a special message and encourage the audience to ask questions.

F．Knowing how public speaking is done is a key part in understanding the importance of it.

G．Thus, the speaker needs to know how to deliver their speech to fulfill the audience‟s expectation.

【推荐2】Expert tips on how to spend less time on your phone in 2018

This year has seen a variety of studies show that too much screen time is bad for our health. Here are some expert tips to help you spend less time on smart phones.

Reduce the time spent checking your phone

Set times and guidelines allowing yourself to be on the phone only at certain times of the day says Baylor College of Medicine's Dr. Jin Han.

If you do not set some exercise guidelines for yourself, then it can lead to a sedentary（久坐的）life.       1     If you are on your phone excessively, it is not healthy.

Another way to use your phone less is to delete all the apps you don't need.

Break your reliance

"     2     And we know our phones have gone from just regular cell phones to smart phones that allow you to multitask all with one device," notes Dr. Han. "You use your phone now to receive emails, to chat and to access social media platforms." To help break this reliance, Dr. Han says "ask yourself what you need your phone for at that moment. If you don't need to be on your phone, then don't use it."

Another way to do this is to replace smart phone feature with real objects.     3    

Break up with Facebook

If asked where we spend most of our time online, many of us would say Facebook.     4     For those who want to try kicking the Facebook habit but need some extra support, the team behind the Dutch project, 99 Days of Freedom are here to help.

Limit nighttime use

Being on your phone late into the night can make it harder for you to fall asleep and wake up the next day, with many studies also suggesting that it reduced the quality of your sleep.

Restricting your phone use at night can help you accomplish a healthy sleep hygiene behavior, says Dr. Han. Many experts advise no phones for two hours before bed.     5    

A．Quitting the site would mean less screen time.

B．There has been an evolution in technology.

C．Smart device use is the same problem.

D．If this is difficult for you, aim for at least 30 minutes.

E．Checking smart phone less has been one's New Year's resolutions.

F．You can write your appointments on a desk calendar instead of in your phone.

G．Turning off push notifications(通知) helps reduce the time checking your smart phone.

【推荐3】Are you new to experiencing relationships? Fortunately, there’s always some advice on how to have a healthy relationship with your partners.

    1     Don’t hide things from them, nor lie to them. Don’t be afraid to say things that aren’t very flattering about yourself. Getting them to trust you is the most important element in any relationship. If there’s no trust, there’s nothing there. Honesty is always the best policy.

Show respect to them. Respect isn’t just simply treating them nicely.     2     You have to learn to adjust to their liking. Basically, learn to study your partners’ moods, wants and needs. Don’t just think about yourself, but think about what your partners need out of it as well.

Try to be encouraging to your partners. Always be willing to help them and give them honesty and positive energy at the same time. Make them feel you are someone they can really count on and build a future with.     3    

Equip yourself with a good sense of humor. Laughter may seem silly, but it’s the secret to a lot in life.     4     It is the key to happiness and it will keep the sparks alive. So laugh a lot with them, and joke with them.

Make sure to communicate well with them. This usually goes along with trust, so always communicate how you feel even if it’s something that upsets you.     5     If they did something that made you unhappy, tell them about it in a respectful manner. It’s important to communicate this to them, not to keep it bottled up.

A．Show them your personality.

B．Be honest with your partners.

C．There is certainly a lot more to it.

D．Have a talk with them instead of screaming.

E．Don’t ignore them and make them feel unwanted.

F．Laughter keeps the relationship strong and lasting.

G．Then they will be able to count on you when necessary.

【推荐2】In December of l 992．I was a happy husband and father of two young children．A month later，I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia(急性白血病)．
After two years of chemo(化疗)that helped control the disease，my body was weak and lifeless．I felt as if I were a puppet who needed help to lift his arms or hold up his head．
I began to run．After six months my strength had come back．On one of my runs，one where I felt I could run forever，I decided I was going to try to run a marathon．
After telling my Dad about my plan，he told me of a program that trains people to run a marathon，while raising funds for Leukemia research at the same time．So that summer，through the Leukemia Society’s Team in Training program，I started to train for the Marine Corps Marathon．During mile after mile of uncertainty，the day finally came to run the marathon．
On October 27，1996，at 8 A．M．，along with l9,000 other brave souls I started on a 26.2-mile journey that I will never forget．
I first saw my wife Patty at the six-mile mark . She seemed happy that I was still looking as if I knew what I was doing，and having a good time doing it．At Mile l7，my mind was going back to those two horrible years that tried to bring my family and me down．I saw her again．The concern in her face told me she knew I was starting to struggle．I felt as if we were thinking the same，nine more miles and these last few years will be behind us．
That thought alone pulled me forward．Mile 22，23，slowing but going，24，25，then there it was．The Iwo Jima War Memorial．I have seen nothing so grand and inspiring in my life．Three hours and forty-one minutes after I started，I crossed what I think has to be the most fitting finish line in all of road racing!
That night the Leukemia Society gave me a pin at a post-race party that simply says，“Leukemia 26.2”．
If God wills，my cancer may once again take away my hair and my strength，maybe even my life．But it can never take away my pin，or the fact that I am a marathoner .
1. The writer decided to run a marathon because __________ .

A．he wanted to raise money for Leukemia research

B．he believed he was able to take the challenge

C．he hoped to recover his strength through training

D．his dad knew about the race and made the suggestion

2. Which statement is RIGHT about the writer?

A．He has always been dreaming of becoming a marathoner．

B．The training he took that summer well prepared him for the race．

C．Those running in the race were mostly Leukemia patients like him .

D．His wife was with him during the marathon to give him support．

3. Why does the writer think the finish line is the most fitting?

A．Because running a marathon is the most suitable sport for him．

B．Because the memorial is the most powerful construction he has seen．

C．Because he considers it a victory over his disease to finish the race．

D．Because 26.2 miles is the most reasonable distance for road racing．

4. Which of the following can best describe the writer?

A．Optimistic and outspoken	B．Strong-willed and determined
C．Generous and easy-going	D．Brave and warm-hearted

【推荐3】Handball(手球)is a hugely popular sport in Europe and Asia, and it is one of the fastest and most exciting sports in the world．It combines basketball and soccer with the attracting saves of water polo．
Handball is played on an indoor court(the size of two basketball courts)and there are goals at each end．There are twelve players on each team，two goal keepers and ten field players，but there is a maximum of one goalkeeper and six field players from each team allowed on the court at any one time．The idea is simple：score more goals than the other team．
The ball is made of leather or synthetic material and it must be round．The surface must not be shiny or slippery．The size and weight of the ball varies for male and female teams，and adult and junior teams．
Handball has the same free-ranging play as basketball，with all players except the goalkeeper constantly moving from attack to defence．The goalkeeper uses hands, feet，head and body to keep out the other team’s shots．The origins of handball are unclear．Many people believe that it developed as a training game for soccer，to be played in the off season，or when it snowing．Now，in countries where handball is popular，players can earn large sums of money，and indoor stadiums seating over ten thousand people sell out regularly．Handball has been played at the Olympics since 1972．
1. The passage states that handball was most probably developed__________．

A．as a replacement for basketball

B．by supporters of water polo

C．as a training game

D．for the 1972 Olympics

2. The statement，“The idea is simple”，emphasizes that in handball the _____ ．

A．game has only one purpose

B．court is clearly marked

C．players can change positions

D．goalkeeper is the last defense

3. It is clear that the writer believes the sport of handball __________.

A．is more popular for men than for women

B．is great fun for the audience

C．requires an unusually shaped ball

D．should only be played in winter

4. In which order does the information appear in the passage?
a．type of ball                 b．court size
c．beginning of the sport   d．team members

A．c—a—b—d	B．b—a—d—c
C．c—d—a—b	D．b—d—a—c