【推荐1】The New Balance company is a Boston­based shoe maker whose family of brands include New Balance, Dunham, PF Flyers, Warrior and Brine. They began in 1906, with a 33­year­old waiter named William J. Riley producing arch(弓形) supports to help his fellow waiters, police officers and others who spent hours on their feet. He designed his first running shoe in the 1920s and kept expanding his custom shoe(定制鞋) line. In the 1970s the company became an athletic shoe manufacturer. New Balance athletic shoe lines use a numbering system rather than a naming system, as developed by Arthur Heckler.

The New Balance athletic shoe lines serve runners, walkers and other “everyday hero” athletes. The athletic focus of the company has been on the average people rather than on top athletes. While not paying out millions to sports superstars, they sponsor(赞助) running and walking events and organizations to develop more everyday athletes.

New Balance has five US manufacturing plants and is based in Boston, Massachusetts. Some styles sold in the US bear the “Made in the USA” label. But they are also a global company with 2800 branches around the world and products in more than 120 countries.

New Balance shoes come in a variety of widths, from extra narrow to extra wide. This is uncommon for athletic shoes and shows the idea of serving a wide range of everyday athletes. New Balance running shoes are built on two different models to fit different shapes of feet. The SL­1 model has a typical forefoot and toe box design for normal to low arch foot types. The SL­2 model has more volume in the toe box, a higher instep and a narrower heel. It is designed for normal to high arch foot types.

1. New Balance athletic shoe lines use ________ for the different shoe designs.

A．a numbering system	B．a running system
C．a measuring system	D．a naming system

2. What does the New Balance company do to promote its idea?

A．Sponsor sports superstars to play in matches.

B．Design more varieties of shoes to meet customers' needs.

C．Expand its manufacturing factories around the world.

D．Sponsor sports events or organizations to develop athletes.

3. The SL­2 model is designed for those who have ________.

A．larger heels	B．high arch feet
C．low arch feet	D．lower insteps

4. The purpose of the passage is to ________.

A．describe the idea of the New Balance company

B．explain why New Balance shoes are so popular

C．give a brief introduction to the New Balance company

D．introduce some types of New Balance shoes

【推荐2】Freelance Writers Wanted

Associated Content(AC) is an online publishing platform that enables anyone to earn money by writing articles on the Web.

Writing for AC is a great work opportunity for students, stay-at-home parents and freelance writers—you can work in your own time and submit papers, reviews, essays, etc. on any topic that you have interest in. This is a job you can do anywhere---all you need is access to the Internet.

Here's how you get started:

1) Go to www.associatedcontent.com/join/hotjobs.

2) Follow the instructions to register.

3) Fill in your profile(简介), writing down your previous experiences (if any).

4) Start submitting articles. You'll begin earning money as soon as your articles are published and the amount is based on the pageviews your articles receive.

In addition to our own libraries of content, we have hundreds of partners (Partner Content Team). As such, there are lots of opportunities for our most talented and productive writers to accept Partner Assignments on an as-needed basis.

If you're interested in higher-paying Partner Assignments, send us a link of your AC profile once you have submitted at least five articles. We will review all submissions and pass them on to our Partner Content Team. If selected, you will start receiving special paid assignments from us on a regular basis, which you are free to accept or ignore.

NOTE: We pay our writers salaries via PayPal daily.

Any questions? Email us: dernel@ associatedcontent.com.

1. You can write for AC on condition that you _______.

A．have rich experience in writing	B．have access to the Internet
C．register	D．are free at home

2. How much you can earn for your published article depends on _____.

A．the space it covers	B．the subject it deals with
C．the opinion you voice in the article	D．the pageviews it receives

3. Partner Content Team is mentioned in the passage to ________.

A．encourage people to write more articles for AC

B．lay stress on the importance of cooperation

C．win more support of other business partners

D．show off its abundant libraries of content

【推荐3】Find Your Adventure at the Space and Aviation(航空) Center

If you’re looking for a unique adventure, the Space and Aviation Center (SAC) is the place to be. The center offers programs designed to challenge and inspire with hands-on tasks and lots of fun.

More than 750,000 have graduated from SAC, with many seeking employment in engineering, aviation, education, medicine and a wide variety of other professions. They come to camp, wanting to know what it is like to be an astronaut or a pilot, and they leave with real-world applications for what they’re studying in the classroom.

For the trainees, the programs also offer a great way to earn merit badges(荣誉徽章). At Space Camp, trainees can earn their Space Exploration badge as they build and fire model rockets, learn about space tasks and try simulated(模拟) flying to space with the crew from all over the world. The Aviation Challenge program gives trainees the chance to earn their Aviation badges. They learn the principles of flight and test their operating skills in the cockpit(驾驶舱) of a variety of flight simulators. Trainees also get a good start on their Wilderness Survival badge as they learn about water-and land-survival through designed tasks and their search and rescue of "downed" pilot.

With all the programs, teamwork is key as trainees learn the importance of leadership and being part of a bigger task.

All this fun is available for ages 9 to 18. Families can enjoy the experience together, too, with Family Camp programs for families with children as young as 7.

Stay an hour or stay a week — there is something here for everyone!

For more details, please visit us online at www.oursac.com.

1. How can trainees earn their Aviation badges?

A．By trying simulated flying to space.

B．By getting a Space Exploration badge first.

C．By studying the principles of flight and testing operating skills.

D．By learning about water-and land-survival skills.

2. What is the most important for trainees?

A．Leadership.	B．Communication skill.
C．Task planning.	D．Team spirit.

3. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce the center.	B．To attract people to attend the center.
C．To provide employment opportunities.	D．To reward the talents.

【推荐1】Christmas is still a few weeks away. But in Holland, Germany and other parts of central Europe, man dressed in red with a big white beard will already be flying from house to house with a big sack and presents for children. “Sinterklaas komt!” as Dutch children say-Saint Nicholas is coming!

It’s obvious from the name that “Santa Claus” comes from “Sinterklaas”. Saint Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6, but there are many things about the saint and his festival that are similar to Christmas. Just as Santa has reindeer, so Sinterklaas has a white horse. Dutch and German children put their shoes out in front of the chimney just like children hang up their stockings on Christmas Eve, hoping that in the morning they will be full of presents. With Sinterklaas, however, you’re also expected to put a carrot in your shoe as a present to his horse.

Like Santa, Sinterklaas also judges whether children have been “naughty or nice” in the past year to help him decide whether they deserve presents. But while good children get sweets, the consequences of being bad are far worse than they are with Father Christmas. Naughty children are given a stick so their parents can beat them. If you are really, really bad, Sinterklaas will put you into a sack and take you away.

In parts of Germany and Austria, people also celebrate December 5, but it is a celebration of naughtiness rather than niceness. On “Krampus Day”, bizarre, horned demons (or rather boys dressed in costumes) run around causing havoc and hitting girls with sticks. Authorities have struggled for years to ban the tradition, but have not been successful. Luckily Saint Nicholas always comes next day to put things right.

1. What is the main focus of the article?

A．The history of Christmas Day.

B．The traditions of Saint Nicholas Day.

C．The differences between Christmas Day and Saint Nicholas Day.

D．The connection between Saint Nicholas Day and Krampus Day.

2. Which of the following statements about Saint Nicholas is TRUE?

A．The festival falls on December 5 in most European countries.

B．On the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, people usually eat carrots.

C．In Germany, children expect to get gifts in their shoes on Saint Nicholas Day.

D．Like Santa, Sinterklaas is believed to ride his reindeer from house to house to give gifts to children.

3. What can we conclude from Paragraph 3?

A．Naughty children don’t get anything from Sinterklaas.

B．As well as children, Sinterklaas also brings gifts for adults.

C．Sinterklaas is more generous than Father Christmas.

D．Sinterklaas treats good children better than naughty children.

4. What is the attitude of authorities towards Krampus Day traditions, according to the article?

A．They don’t like some of the traditions and want to stop them.

B．They organize various activities to entertain people.

C．They respect the way people celebrate the traditions.

D．They regard it as an important tradition and try to make it popular.

【推荐2】Teachers’ Day is, interestingly, not celebrated on the same day all over the world. In some countries it is marked by a holiday, in others it is a working day.

International Teachers’ Day is celebrated on October 5. Being held ever since 1994, it is in honor of teachers’ organizations worldwide. Its aim is to encourage supports for teachers and to meet the needs of students.

China ― In 1939, Teachers’ Day was set for August 27, Confucius’ birthday. In1951, the celebration was stopped. However, it was founded again in 1985, and the day was changed to September 10.

India ― Teachers’ Day is celebrated on September 5 in honour of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the second president of India, whose birthday falls on that day.

Russia ― In Russia, Teachers’ Day was celebrated on the first Sunday of October between 1965 and 1994. Since 1994, the day is observed on the October 5, just the same day as World Teachers’ Day.

The US ― In the US, Teachers’ Day is non-official holiday. It is celebrated on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. A number of activities are organized in schools to honor teachers. The celebrations can continue for the whole week of May.

Thailand ― In Thailand, National Teachers’ Day is celebrated every year on January 16. The first Teachers’ Day was held in 1957. The day is a holiday in schools.

1. Which country celebrates Teachers’ Day in October?

A．India.	B．Russia.
C．Thailand	D．The US.

2. Which of the following has the same meaning as the underlined word “observed”?

A．stopped	B．held
C．celebrated	D．fell

3. Which of the following is possibly true?

A．China has celebrated Teachers’ Day since the year 1931.

B．Teachers’ Day is an official holiday in the United States.

C．Teachers’ Day is a working day in schools of Thailand.

D．Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday is in September.

4. From the passage we can learn that ________.

A．The first Teachers’ Day was held in 1965 in Thailand

B．Teachers’ Day falls on Confucius’ birthday in China

C．International Teachers’ Day aims to benefit teachers and students

D．A lot of activities are held on Teachers’ Day across the world

【推荐3】Every March, the US celebrates the accomplishments of women in American history. Even though these accomplishments go back a long way, most schools didn’t start focusing on women pioneers and their achievements until recently. Today, most colleges offer classes in women’s history and most schools teach kids about the many contributions women have made to the country. How did this change come about?

On March 19, 1911, a German woman named Clara Zetkin organized the very first International Women’s Day. Inspired by American working women, the annual event took on the causes of peace to end World War I as well as gain women’s rights. Over the years, interest in International Women’s Day decreased. It gained development again in the 1960s? when the women’s movement caused women to wonder why they weren’t included in the history books. By the 1970s, more female historians began to look back at the contributions of women in history. In 1978, a California school district started Women’s History Week to promote the teaching of women’s history. School officials picked the week of March 8 to include International Women’s Day. It was so popular that, in 1981, Congress passed a resolution making the week a celebration for the entire country. The concept of studying women’s history continued to grow in popularity. In 1987, a group of women, supported by people working in museums, schools and libraries, asked Congress to expand the celebration. That same year, Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.

Today, schools and communities across the country celebrate the month with special lessons and activities designed to teach the ways women have helped shape the US. The women who have worked hard to make Women’s History Month a reality would like to see women’s history studied all year, not just every March. In 1996, the National Women’s History Museum was founded. It is a non-profit organization devoted to preserving and celebrating the various historic contributions of women. The organization is working with Congress to open a permanent museum site in Washington, D.C.

1. According to the first paragraph, women pioneers in the past ________.

A．were heroines in schools

B．struggled for peace of the world

C．were greatly respected in schools

D．rarely became the focus in schools

2. Why did Clara Zetkin organize the very first International Women’s Day?

A．To struggle for peace and gain women’s rights.

B．To be supported by American working women.

C．To gain popularity among American working women.

D．To develop more interests in the first International Women’s Day.

3. What is the right order of the following events?
a. The very first International Women’s Day was organized.
b. A California school district promoted the teaching of women’s history.
c. Congress declared the entire month of March National Women’s History Month.
d. International Women’s Day regained development after the decline in people’s attention.
e. The idea of researching on women’s history became increasingly popular among the public.

A．aebcd

B．baced

C．adbec

D．dacbe

4. What was the purpose of founding the National Women’s History Museum?

A．To make it a permanent museum site.

B．To keep and observe the historic achievements of women.

C．To teach students the ways women have helped shape the USA.

D．To earn money and help those women who had made contributions.

【推荐1】Our Library uses the Dewey Decimal Classification system(Dewey for short) to arrange books and other resources on the shelves so you can locate them easily. We’re going to show you how to use Dewey to find a book at any Library site.

Once you’ve searched for your item on Library Search, you’ll see something like this:

Globalization and education: critical perspectives Nicholas C Burbules; Carlos Alberto Torres 2000; ISBN0415920485(hbk); ISBNO41520477(pbk); ISBN97804 15920483; ISBN9780415920476 ◆Available at Main Library Blue Area Floor 1(370. 193 B174) Find in Library     Details       Reviews and tags

The part in the brackets is the bit we’re interested in. What do these numbers next to the book’s location mean? The numbers shown are a “shelfmark”. You’ll find one of these on every book in the Library—a lot of customers find this confusing at first but if you break down the information into three sections, it’s easier to understand.

1. The numbers in front of the decimal point indicate the subject area(in this case 370). Look for this number first.

2. Next, look for the number after the decimal point(in this case 193).

3. Now look for the letter(s)and number(s). Letters are usually the initial letter(s)of the author’s name(in this case, Burbules).

Sometimes, you will see extra letters before the shelfmark. This shows that a book is part of a collection within the Library. For example: M. E. 279. 32R29 is part of the Middle Eastern collection. Find the collection first, before looking for the number.

1. What can help us find a book at the Library site easily on Library Search?

A．Its title.

B．Its shelfmark.

C．Its publication time.

D．Its author’s name.

2. What does the letter “R” in “M. E. 279. 32R29” stand for?

A．The book’s location area.	B．The name of a collection.
C．The author’s family name.	D．The shelf’s alphabetical order.

3. How can “M. E. 279. 32R29” be broken down according to the passage?

A．M. E. /279/32R/29	B．M. /E. /279. 32/R29
C．M. E. /279. 32/R/29	D．M. E. /279/32/R29