【推荐1】The USA is a society formed by many different immigrant cultures that produced a new and mixed culture. Most Americans celebrate different customs which started in other countries and start several new traditions and cultures.     1    

    2     They tend to live independently, and communicate directly, honestly and informally with their families, friends and colleagues.

Americans always keep advancing with the times.     3     In America, it is relatively common for both parents to work, and American women are equal partners in marriage.

In the USA, the most common family unit consists of the parents and children living under one roof. Most American children are taught to compete, through organized sports and education, as well as speak out their minds and have confidence to stand up for what they believe in.     4     Many immigrant families also feature several generations living under one roof, with younger family members respecting the elders’ needs and valuing their opinions.

When people from different cultures get married and have children, they may have issues when it comes to maintaining their unique traditions and mixing shared customs at the same time.     5     However, with a little effort, children in these families can benefit from having both outlooks and traditions. Children who are raised bilingually can also benefit in future careers and learn to make decisions better than monolingual kids.

A．Many Americans find happy life is important.

B．They are also taught to respect their parents at all costs.

C．It can be a challenge to find the perfect balance between cultures.

D．According to socialists, the American family culture has many unique aspects.

E．American children refuse to follow their parents’ advice and always argue with them.

F．Changing rather than sticking to tradition is considered by many Americans as improvement.

G．The difference is easy to deal with if parents can meet halfway and stand in the other’s shoes.

【推荐2】In every British town, large and small, you will find shops that sell secondhand goods. Sometimes such shops deal mostly in furniture, sometimes in books, sometimes in ornaments(装饰物) and household goods, sometimes even in clothes．

   The furniture may often be “antique”(古董), and it may well have changed hands many times. It may also be very valuable, although the most valuable piece will usually go to the London salesroom, where one piece might well be so1d for hundreds of thousands of pounds. As you look around these shops and see the polished wood of chests and tables, you cannot help thinking of those long dead hands which polished that wood, of those now—closed eyes which once 1ooked at these pieces with love.

   The books, too, may be antique and very precious; some may be rare first printings. Often when someone dies or has to move house, his books may all be sold, so that sometimes you may find whole libraries in one shop. On the border between England and Wales, there is a town which has become a huge bookshop as well. Even the cinema and castle have been taken over, and now books have replaced sheep as the town’s main trade.

   There are also much more humble shops, sometimes simply called “junk shops”, where you can buy small household pieces very cheaply. Sometimes the profits from these shops go to charity. Even these pieces, though, can make you feel sad; you think of those people who once treasured them, but who have moved on, to another country or to death.

   Although the British do not worship their ancestors(祖先), they do treasure the past and the things of the past. This is true of houses as well. These days no one knocks them down. They are restored until they are often better than new. In Britain, people do not buy something just because it is new. Old things are treasured for their proven worth; new things have to prove themselves before they are accepted.

1. What is the small town on the border between England and Wales famous for?

A．Its sheep.

B．Its bookshops.

C．Its cinema.

D．Its castle

2. Secondhand goods sometimes fill you with sadness because _______.

A．they are too expensive for average buyers

B．they remind you of the original owner

C．they are now neglected

D．they are sold for charity

3. What does the underlined word “them” (Paragraph 4) refer to _____?

A．Junk shops	B．Profits from shops
C．Small household pieces	D．Old houses

【推荐3】Ready to take a gap year？ A "Gap Year" is a period of time when a student takes a break before going to university. It is often spent travelling or working．    1    

Gap years are popular with European and Australian students, but remain less popular in America. However, in recent years, more and more American students are preparing for college by taking a gap year. The advantages of taking a gap year are as follows：

    2    

Although you don't have to go abroad to experience gap years, most gap year students catch the chance to travel abroad. You are able to work out who you are and what you are for. The experiences of different cultures offer you interesting lessons. You can learn more about the world and get to know yourself better．

Face challenges and have fun

A gap year is not only a time to take a vacation, but also a time to face challenges. Gap year students usually work, volunteer or take service projects. You have to learn how to get along in the real world. This process isn't always easy, but it is an important part of growing up．    3    

Save money and improve your college admission chances

There's a common thought that gap years are only for rich students, but it's not true. Actually, taking a gap year can save your money. Gap year students often take a part-time job. Besides, at the end of a gap year, students are much more likely to know what to study in college.     4    

    5    Both of them are excellent and have high grades. However, one student has much practical experience or has volunteered in his vacation. Who do you think the admission officer will choose？

A．Learn about the world and yourself

B．Only in this way can you enjoy life and have fun．

C．Check out your gap year choices before making the right decision．

D．It can give young people useful learning experiences and new skills．

E．Imagine an admission officer trying to admit only one between two students．

F．More students than ever before are taking a gap year before going to university．

G．Clear learning goals can keep the students working hard instead of wasting time and money playing．