【推荐1】The search for beauty spans centuries and continents. Paintings of Egyptians dating back over
4,000 years show both men and women painting their nails and wearing makeup. In 18th-century France, wealthy noblemen wore large wigs (假发) of long, white hair to make themselves attractive. Today, people continue to devote a lot of time and money to their appearance.

There is at least one good reason for the desire to be attractive: beauty is power. Studies suggest that good-looking people make more money, get called on more often in class, and are regarded as friendlier.

But what exactly is beauty? It’s difficult to describe it clearly, and yet we know it when we see it. And our awareness of it may start at a very early age. In one set of studies, six-month-old babies were shown a series of photographs. The faces on the pictures had been rated for attractiveness by a group of college students. In the studies, the babies spent more time looking at the attractive faces than the unattractive ones.

The idea that even babies can judge appearance makes perfect sense to many researchers. In studies by psychologists, men consistently showed a preference for women with larger eyes, fuller lips, and a smaller nose and chin while women prefer men with large shoulders and a narrow waist. According to scientists, the mind unconsciously tells men and women that these traits—the full lips, clear skin, strong shoulders—equal health and genetic well-being.

Not everyone thinks the same way. What is considered attractive in one culture might not be in another. Look at most Western fashion magazines: the women on the pages are thin, but is this “perfect” body type for women worldwide? Scientists’ answer is no; what is considered beautiful is subjective and varies around the world. They found native peoples in southeast Peru preferred shapes regarded overweight in Western cultures.

For better or worse, beauty plays a role in our lives. But it is extremely difficult to describe exactly what makes one person attractive to another. Although there do seem to be certain physical traits considered universally appealing, it is also true that beauty does not always keep to a single, uniform standard. Beauty really is, as the saying goes, in the eye of the beholder (观看者).

1. People’s ideas about beauty__________.

A．can be easily described

B．are based upon strict criteria

C．have existed since ancient times

D．have little influence on a person’s success

2. In Paragraph 3,the babies in the study__________.

A．were rated for their appearance

B．showed a preference for women with larger eyes

C．were shown photos of a group of college students

D．were able to tell attractive faces from unattractive ones

3. We can learn from the passage that__________.

A．the ideas of beauty vary as people grow up

B．the standards for beauty are based on scientific researches

C．the search for beauty is the power to motivate the beholder

D．the understanding of beauty is rooted in cultural backgrounds

4. What can probably be the best title for this passage?

A．The History of Beauty

B．The Mystery of Beauty

C．The Standards for Beauty

D．The Attitudes toward Beauty

【推荐2】People feel good about recycling, maybe even more so when it comes to electronics. While electronics recycling isn't bad, making it a panacea(万能药) for the e-waste problem we currently have certainly is. Unfortunately, that's how we think of recycling — and companies to jump on that trend to appear more “green”.

A case in point: Apple. In 2016, there was lots of report on Liam, a robot able to dismantle(拆卸) an iPhone in just 11 seconds — a good way to recycle 1.2 million units a year. That sounds amazing until you take into account the fact that Apple had actually sold 231 million new iPhones the year before. Liam, actually, is the perfect symbol for recycling in the field of high-tech: a drop of green water in an ocean of pollution.

According to a recent UN report, the US produces about 6.3 million tons or 14% of the world's electronic waste. Worldwide, almost 45 million tons of electronic waste were produced in 2016. Among them, only 20% had been recycled in some shape or form. The remaining 80% made its way to a more environmentally damaging end at the landfill(垃圾填埋场).

Of course, we can say it's time to double our recycling efforts. However, the huge amount of e-waste is impossible to cope with. The UN report points out that while there is an increased focus on recycling today compared to the past, the effort to reuse used devices simply can't keep pace with the high consumption rates for new devices.

In their environmental responsibility report, Apple admits that 77% of the carbon footprint of their electronics comes from their manufacture, versus(相对于) 17% comes from its actual use. The environmental effect of replacing a device, even if it is recycled after, remains significant.

1. Which of the following can best describe Liam?

A．It's useful but can't make a big difference.

B．It's energy-saving but too expensive.

C．It's well-made but won't become popular.

D．It's advanced but impractical.

2. What caused the e-waste recycling problem?

A．Few high-tech companies.

B．Not enough recycling efforts.

C．High demand for new electronics.

D．Difficult recycling processes.

3. What does the author think of the electronics recycling?

A．It is very effective.

B．It is quite good.

C．It is environmentally damaging.

D．It is far from “green” recycling.

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

A．A Recent UN Report on E-Waste Problem

B．The Limitation of Electronics Recycling

C．A Good Way to Cope With E-Waste

D．The Responsibility for Apple to Decrease E-Waste

【推荐2】Environmental groups and rock climbers are always at loggerheads because of the effect of rock climbing on the environment. There have been many examples, wherein rock climbers are accused of going into natural reserves and treating the animals, plants and rocks there badly. However, with the changing times, rock climbers are conscious and carry out minimal climbing.

Rock climbers hammer bolts on climbing routes and in the process damage the nature of rocks. In addition, climbing activities also have an effect on the animals and plants situated near the climbing area. The plants growing near the base of rocks are trampled, and the animals living in the climbing area are forced out of their places, whenever humans are around. For example, during the summer climbing season, pregnant females of an endangered species of snake live in open areas like roadsides, exposed walls or rocks, where there is less canopy closure compared to areas occupied by non-pregnant females and males. According to climbers, these open areas are very suitable for climbing during summer.

Many rock climbers have understood the significance of wildlife plant and animal preservation and related issues, and therefore take measures to reduce effects on climbing areas. Considering the effect of climbing activities on natural reserves, various national parks and wildlife agencies have put forth certain regulations on climbers. There are seasonal closures of climbing areas to avoid illegal entrance of uninformed rock climbers.

Climbers are always expected to support wilderness preservation. Many environmental organizations have been formed to protect the environment and in the process draw up certain guidelines for rock climbers. Both sides have come to a common understanding of the effect of rock climbers on protected areas.

1. What does the underlined part “at loggerheads” in Paragraph 1 mean ________.

A．in support

B．in difficulty

C．in disagreement

D．in communication

2. Why is the example of snakes mentioned in Paragraph 2?

A．To show how special their living habits are.	B．To show rock climbing affects their lives.
C．To show climbers are exposed to great danger.	D．To show how to avoid wild animals in summer.

3. What do environmental organizations do to preserve wilderness?

A．Give guidelines to rock climbers.	B．Accuse climbers of their climbing.
C．Close some secured natural reserves.	D．Encourage climbers to choose open areas.

【推荐3】Acting is such an over-crowded profession that the only advice that should be given to a young person thinking of going on the stage is “Don’t!”. But it is useless to try to discourage someone who feels that he must act, though the chances of his becoming famous are slim. The normal way to begin is to go to a drama school. Usually only students who show promise and talent are accepted, and the course lasts two years. Then the young actor or actress takes up work with a repertory company, usually as an assistant stage manager. This means doing everything that there is to do in the theatre: painting scenery, looking after the furniture, taking care of the costumes, and even acting in very small parts. It is very hard work indeed. The hours are long and the salary is tiny. But young actors with the stage in their blood are happy, waiting for the chances of working with a better company, or perhaps in films or television.

Of course, some people have unusual chances which lead to fame and success without this long and dull training. Connie Pratt, for example, was just an ordinary girl working in a bicycle factory. A film producer happened to catch sight of her one morning waiting at a bus stop, as he drove past in his big car. He told the driver to stop, and he got out to speak to the girl. He asked her if she would like to go to the film studio to do a test, and at first she thought he was joking. Then she got angry and said she would call the police. It took the producer twenty minutes to tell Connie that he was serious. Then an appointment was made for her to go to the studio the next day. The test was successful. They gave her some necessary lessons and within a few weeks she was playing the leading part opposite one of the most famous actors of the day. Of Course, she was given a more dramatic name, which is now world-famous. But chances like this happen once in a blue moon!

1. According to the passage, the main reason why young people should be discouraged from becoming actors is ________.

A．actors are very unusual people	B．the course at the drama school lasts two years
C．acting is really a hard job	D．there are already too many actors

2. According to the context, the sentence “But young actors with the stage in their blood are happy” at the end of the first paragraph means ________.

A．they don’t care if their job is hard	B．they like the stage naturally
C．they are born happy	D．they are easily satisfied

3. Connie Pratt soon became a famous actress after ________.

A．learning some lessons about the art of speaking

B．playing her part in the “Blue Colored Moon”

C．successfully matching the most famous actors

D．acting a leading part with a most famous actor at that time

4. The phrase “once in a blue moon” in last line means ________.

A．all at once

B．once for a long time

C．once in a while

D．once and for all