Book 1
In Factfulness, Professor Hans Roslingasks simple questions like ‘How many girls finish school?’ and ‘What percentage of the world’s population is poor?’ It turns out that the majority of us get the answers to these questions completely wrong. Why does this happen? Factfulness sets out to explain why, showing that there are several instincts humans have that distort (扭曲) our perspective. Yes, there are real concerns. But we should adopt a mindset of factfulness – only carrying opinions that are supported by strong facts. This book focuses on our instinctive biases (偏见), offering practical advice to help us see the good as well as the bad in the world.
Book 2
Are things getting worse every day? Is progress an impossible goal? In Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker looks at the big picture of human progress and finds good news. We are living longer, healthier, freer and happier lives. Pinker asks us to stop paying so much attention to negative headlines and news that declares the end of the world. Instead, he shows us some carefully selected data. In 75 surprising graphs, we see that safety, peace, knowledge and health are getting better all over the world. Economic inequality, he claims, is not really a problem, because it is not actually that important for human well-being.
Book 3
For more than two hundred years those who hold negative thoughts have been winning the public debate. They tell us that things are getting worse. But as a matter of fact, life is getting better. Income, food availability and lifespan are rising; disease, violence and child mortality are falling. Best-selling author Matt Ridley doesn’t only explain how things are getting better; he gives us reasons why as well. He shows us how human culture evolves in a positive direction thanks to the exchange of ideas and specialization. This bold book looks at the entirety of human history – from the Stone Age to the 21st century – and changes the concept that it’s all going downhill.
Book 4
The majority of people believe that developing countries are in a terrible situation: suffering from incredible poverty and wars. The reality is that a great transformation is occurring. Over the past 20 years, more than 700 million people have increased their income and come out of poverty. This is happening across developing countries around the world. The end of the Cold War, the development of new technologies and brave new leadership have helped to improve the lives of hundreds of millions of people in poor countries. In his book The Great Surge, Stevens Radelet describes how all of this is happening and, more importantly, it shows us how we can speed up the process.
1. What is the common feature of the four books?| A．They focus on the present situations concerning developing countries. |
| B．They emphasize the importance of dealing with problems in poor countries. |
| C．They try to direct readers to a positive path in terms of human development. |
| D．They appeal to show more sympathy and understanding for poor countries. |
| A．Hans Roslingasks | B．Steven Pinker |
| C．Matt Ridley | D．Stevens Radelet |
| A．The Rational Optimist | B．Human History: Where Are We |
| C．A Public Debate | D．Out of Poverty: What and How |
相似题推荐
【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. |
| A．By interviewing book users. | B．By comparing the sales data. |
| C．By classifying the book titles. | D．By referring to historical records. |
| 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. |
| 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】The way to read more and learn more
These days, sending and receiving messages on the phone is becoming more and more popular among Chinese people. It can not only help them to get the latest news but also help them to communicate with friends. But I think I should read more books besides the textbooks, the more, the better. It can broaden my mind and improve my language skills.
Clear your purpose for reading.
No matter what you are reading, it is important to enjoy what you read. Your friends give you the books they love, but those books might not necessarily be the ones you enjoy.
Give up books that you don’t enjoy.
You may have chosen books that you are interested in, and they are right purpose. But while you are reading them, there may still be some books that you don’t enjoy reading. Whenever you realize that you aren’t enjoying the book you are reading, give it up.
Set a reading goal.
It is interesting that I read the books borrowed from libraries faster than those I bought. The reason is the books I bought don’t have a due date! I don’t need to return those books.
| A．Remember reading shouldn’t be a chore (令人厌烦的工作). |
| B．Read the books borrowed from others. |
| C．Read only what you are interested in. |
| D．Before you start reading, ask yourself why you are reading this book. |
| E．We need to get the latest news and communicate with friends. |
| F．Of course, it also can help me to get good grades. |
| G．Having a reading goal helps you work out how much reading you need to do in a week or even a day. |
【推荐3】
Biography
When Salinger learned that a car park was to be built on the land, the middle-aged writer was shocked and quickly bought the neighboring area to protect it…
J D. Salinger: A Life by Kenneth Slawenski (Random House, $27)
Mystery
“You’re a smart boy.
A thought suddenly occurred to Annika, “You recognized the man in the car, didn’t you?”
The boy hesitated, twisting his fingers, “Maybe,” he said quietly.
Red Wolf by Liza Marklund (Atria Books, $25.99)
Short Stories
She wants to say to him what she has learned, none of it in class: Some women are born stupid, and some women are too smart for their own good. Some women are born to give, and some women only know how to take.
You Are Free by Danzy Senna (Riverhead Books, $15)
Humor
Do your kids like to have fun?
Happy: And Other Bad Thoughts by Larry Doyle (Ecco, $14.99)
| A．Come to Fun Times |
| B．Mini Book Excerpts |
| C．They are more like gymnastics |
| D．She didn’t know which direction was up |
| E．Some women learn who they want to be from their mothers |
| F．Benny’s death was no accident, and you’re the only one who saw it happen |
| G．The townspeople never forgot the rescue and came to help their most famous neighbor |
【推荐1】There are many famous lakes in China. The following are some of them.
West Lake, Hangzhou
West Lake is a gift of nature. Located in the west part of Hangzhou and surrounded (围绕) by green hills, this lake is famous for beautiful scenery, a lot of historical sites and native products. In addition, West Lake can always be seen in paintings.
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang
Kanas Lake is one of the deepest lakes in China. It is home to about 800 kinds of plants and more than 100 kinds of birds. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and thick forest, the lake takes on different colors in different seasons. Kanas Lake is also a mysterious (神秘的) place, and it’s said that large creatures have been seen in it.
Erhai Lake, Yunnan
Located in the northwest part of Dali City, Yunnan Province, Erhai Lake is a plateau (高原) lake. As the lake has a shape of an ear, it gets the name Erhai. Called “the pearl on plat-eau” for its beautiful scenery, it is also one of the most attractive places in Yunnan.
Yamdrok Lake, Tibet
Surrounded by beautiful snow-capped mountains, this lake is fed by many small streams.
With an area of 675 square kilometers, this lake has large lakeside grassland, which serves as highland pastures (牧场). There are lots of fish living in the lake, which are caught by local people. From April to October, fish caught in this lake are sold at the market in Lhasa.
1. Which lake is preferred by painters according to the text?| A．Yamdrok Lake. | B．Kanas Lake. | C．Erhai Lake. | D．West Lake. |
| A．They are fed by many small rivers. |
| B．They can serve as highland pastures. |
| C．They are surrounded by snow-capped mountains. |
| D．They are famous for a lot of strange animals. |
| A．It looks like an ear. | B．It is very beautiful. |
| C．It is a plateau lake. | D．It has many stories. |
【推荐2】Four People Pushing Anamorphic (变形) Art to New Limits
Adry del Rocio
Mexican street artist Adry del Rocio creates 3D murals (壁画). In a piece for Den Helder City in the Netherlands, a playful seal intertwines (缠绕) between impossible column structures that reminds people of the mind-bending imaginings of the classic modernist artist MC Escher. In 2019, she created the award-winning “Swimming in red” for the International Street Art Festival in Brande, Denmark. The killing of whales in the Faroe Islands is marked by her work, where these beautiful mammals jump and play out of a sea of crimson, their tails changing into flowers.
Jonty Hurwitz
Using a variety of materials, the London artist/scientist performs a number of computer calculations, enabling him to warp (扭曲), say, an endangered frog or horse or even, basketball players into unrecognizable objects.
James Nizam
James Nizam works with light to transform a space. In 2016’s “Frieze”, a single beam of sunlight enters a common room through a carefully made hole. The resulting flood of light into the space creates an almost dreamlike feel, with the shining beams creating captivating lines and divisions in what cannot now be described as an empty room. Nizam is also known for transforming rooms by removing walls and floorboards to create anamorphic effects like in “Orthodrome”.
John Pugh
In a career extending over 30 years, world-famous American artist John Pugh has been creating show-stopping trompe L’oeil murals ( French for “deceiving the eye”) on a grand scale, whether it be giant snakes crashing through solid walls or revealing hidden temples and buildings by “peeling away” completely flat surfaces.
1. Who created the work “Frieze”?| A．Adry del Rocio. | B．Jonty Hurwitz. | C．James Nizam. | D．John Pugh. |
| A．He is French. | B．He is American. | C．He is Mexican. | D．He is British. |
| A．Their works won many awards. | B．They are fond of creating 3D murals. |
| C．Their works have reached a new height. | D．They are famous for transforming rooms. |
【推荐3】We are looking for energetic and enthusiastic employees to join our team. The candidates with previous work experience will be preferable. Successful candidates for these positions are expected to work quickly and efficiently, ensuring all safety and operational guidelines are followed during every service provided. You are reliable, punctual and friendly to your co-workers.
Minimum Qualifications And Skills:
Must be at least 18 years of age
Speak and understand English
Valid driver's license for at least 1 full year with a clean driving record
Positions Available:
Aircraft Seat Cover Change—$17.00/hr.—Part Time —Overnight, includes weekends and holidays.
Aircraft Exterior Wash—$17. 00/hr.—Part Time-Overnight, includes weekends and holidays.
Laundry Attendant—$13.00/hr.—Part Time —9:00 am —1:00 pm, includes holidays.
Airfield Supervisor-$17. 00/hr.—Part Time —Overnight, includes weekends and holidays.
Benefits:
Competitive salary
Paid training
Personal & professional development program
Free uniforms/Personal protective equipment
Work Description:
The Aircraft Seat Cover Change Agent: This position requires the employees to remove and replace seat covers from aircraft seats. Seat covers will require pressure/ force to be used when removing and replacing. Brush and wipe leather seat covers with a towel.
Aircraft Exterior Wash Agent: This position requires the employees to wet wash or dry wash the outside of an aircraft while working from the ground or an aerial lift.
Laundry Attendant: This position requires operating the dry-cleaning machines, including inspecting, sorting, cleaning, pressing, bagging, and documenting work on forms. The employee will also be responsible for cleaning the equipment.
Airfield Supervisor: He/ She oversees a department/service line and is responsible for the production, safety, and performance of employees within that department. Coordinate (协调) day-to- day activities of the crew, observe work procedures, and inspect completed work to ensure to meet quality, efficiency, and safety standards.
1. Which position is suitable for a candidate who dislikes working at night?| A．Airfield Supervisor. | B．Laundry Attendant. |
| C．Aircraft Exterior Wash. | D．Aircraft Seat Cover Change. |
| A．Communicating with others. | B．Doing heavy physical work. |
| C．Operating various machines. | D．Making working standards. |
| A．An airport cleaner who can only speak Spanish. |
| B．A manager who has just passed the driving test. |
| C．An experienced British driver who used to work at a laundry. |
| D．A 17-year-old student who wants to take a part-time job. |
