【推荐2】It's natural to think about what goes into producing the food in your daily lunch bag. But have you ever stopped to consider the production techniques behind the bag itself? At the center of it is a woman named Margaret Knight.

From her earliest years, Knight was a restless creator. In the article titled " The Evolution of the Grocery Bag", its writer mentions a few of her childhood projects. She was “famous for her kites", and "her sleds were the envy of the town’s boys.”

To support her mother, she took a job at a cotton factory when she was 12. That same year she invented a shuttle system which helped to prevent injury. At the time, she had no concept of patenting(得到……的专利权) her idea. What strengthened her place in history was her working experience at the Columbia Paper Bag Company. Here, instead of folding every paper bag by hand, Knight wondered if she might be able to make them cleanly and rapidly via an automated machine. The result was a working model of her elegant paper-folding machine. But this time: she wanted to go to the extra step and secure a patent on her creation, a brave move for a woman in the 19th century, when an extremely small percentage of patents were held by women.

Not only did Knight file for a patent, she bravely defended her owner ship of the bag machine idea. A man named Charles Annan said the creation was his own, arguing no woman could be able to design such a machine. Knight fought a legal battle against him and handed Anna a courtroom(法庭)defeat by presenting her detailed hand-drawn blueprints. Finally，Knight received her rightful patent in 1871.

After making the machine, she continued to invent many other things like a paper feeding machine and a skirt protector. Knight, at the age of seventy, worked twenty hours a day on 89th invention.

1. Why does the writer mention Knight's childhood projects?

A．To introduce a book to reader

B．To tell us young Knight liked sports.

C．To show Knight was envied by other girls

D．To show Knight was creative as a child

2. Which words can best describe Knight?

A．Intelligent and generous.

B．Courageous and hardworking

C．Considerate and optimistic

D．Independent and determined.

3. What do we know about the paper folding machine?

A．It turned to be slower but safer

B．It was co invented by Knight and Annan

C．It proved Knight's position as an inventor.

D．It was the first machine to be patented by a woman

4. How is the text mainly developed?

A．By following the order of time

B．By making some comments.

C．By making a comparison

D．By listing examples

【推荐3】The Roman Colosseum is a giant amphitheater built two thousand years ago. Despite its age and an earthquake that knocked down its south side, most of the 150-some-foot building is still standing. Like many ancient Roman structures, parts of it were constructed using a specific type of concrete. Scientists and engineers have long suspected the key to these buildings’ strength is their use of this Roman concrete. But exactly how this strong concrete has contributed to the architecture’s durability (耐用) has been a mystery to researchers worldwide.

A team of interdisciplinary (跨学科的) researchers recently discovered a potential answer to why these ancient Roman buildings have been able to weather the test of time while many modern, concrete structures seem to collapse after a few decades. The answer: self-healing concrete. The material has three components: limestone. volcanic material and water. For years, architects and historians have guessed the volcanic material is what makes it strong — which it does. But it does not explain the material’s self-healing ability.

What the researchers found was that the self-healing properties might simply be a result of chemistry. The limestone in the concrete is likely the secret. When the ancient Romans made mortar (砂浆), they heated up the lime to turn it into a substance called “quicklime” — a very reactive chemical sibling to limestone. And, because they introduced water to the quickli me during mixing, the heat it produced set up a chemical foundation that could strengthen the concrete later. When tiny cracks start to form later, the quicklime stops them from becoming bigger. When it rains, the lime quickly fills the crack or reacts with the volcanic ash to“heal”the material.

For materials scientist Ainissa Ramirez, this new understanding of ancient Roman con crete is a welcome discovery. “This is one way that the material can be greener,” says Ramirez. “It’s sort of like a message in a bottle. The Romans made the material. We had to kind of figure out how they did it so that we can make better materials — and then in turn, attend to our environment better.”

1. Why is the Roman Colosseum mentioned in paragraph 1?

A．To show many wonderful ancient Roman structures.

B．To provide a clue for studying ancient Roman structures.

C．To disclose to the world the mystery of ancient Roman structures.

D．To start the introduction of the durability of ancient Roman structures.

2. What does the underlined word “weather” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Change.

B．Prove.

C．Stand.

D．Suffer

3. What might account for the architecture’ s self-healing ability?

A．A material called quicklime.	B．A chemical foundation.
C．The volcanic material.	D．The water in the crack.

4. What is implied in Ainissa Ramirez’s words?

A．Roman concrete was made like a message in a bottle.

B．Roman concrete was aimed at protecting the environment.

C．Further study of Roman material will be carried out soon.

D．The way to make Roman material can be practical nowadays.

【推荐1】The Parthenon（帕特农神庙）in Athens is a building with a long and complex history. Built nearly 2，500 years ago as a temple celebrating the Greek goddess Athena，it was for thousands of years the church of the Virgin Mary of the Athenians，then a mosque（清真寺），and finally a ruin. The building was changed and the sculptures were much damaged over the centuries. By 1800 only about half of the original sculptural decorations remained.

Between 1801 and 1805，Lord Elgin，the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire（奥斯曼帝国），who controlled Athens，acting with the full knowledge and permission of the Ottoman authorities，removed about half of the remaining sculptures from the fallen ruins and from the building itself. Lord Elgin loved Greek history and carried the sculptures back to Britain. The arrival of the sculptures in London had a huge effect on the European public，greatly increasing interest in ancient Greek culture and influencing the present artistic tendency. These sculptures were gained from Lord Elgin by the British Museum in 1816 and since then they have all been on show to the public，free of charge.

Since the early 1980s，however，the Greek government has argued for the return of all the Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum. They have also challenged the Board of Trustees of the British Museum's legal（合法的）title to the sculptures.

The British Museum，however，insists that it exists to tell the story of cultural achievement throughout the world，from the dawn of human history over two million years ago to the present day. The museum considers itself an important resource for the world: the breadth and depth of its collection allow the world public to reexamine cultural identities（身份）and explore the complex network of interconnected world cultures.

It also says that，within the context of this unparalleled collection，the Parthenon sculptures are an important representation of ancient Athenian civilization. Each year millions of visitors admire the artistry of the sculptures and gain insights on how ancient Greece influenced — and was influenced by — the other civilizations that it came across.

1. What can we infer from the passage？

A．The sculptures introduced ancient Greek culture to the west.

B．Ancient Greek culture has greatly influenced world culture.

C．The British Museum has made much money from the Parthenon sculptures.

D．The British Museum is the most suitable place to protect these sculptures.

2. What can we learn about Lord Elgin from the passage?

A．He is greatly admired in Greece.

B．He worked for the Ottoman Empire.

C．He saved the Parthenon sculptures from being destroyed.

D．He had a deep interest in Greek culture.

3. What's the author's main purpose in writing this passage?

A．To tell the history of the Parthenon and its sculptures.

B．To tell what people can see in the British Museum.

C．To tell why the British Museum refuses to return the sculptures.

D．To tell the influence of Greece on British culture.

【推荐2】Built during the Hellenisic period (希腊化时代), sometime between 324 and 246 BCE, the Great Library of Alexandria is said to be an architectural wonder of ancient Egypt. More importantly, the library housed a vast collection of works from all across the ancient world and was a major center of scholarship. The library was charged with an important task of collecting all of the world’s books, and employed many methods to acquire new works. A well-funded acquisitions department searched the book fairs of Rhodes and Athens, buying individual texts or even whole libraries. Ships that landed at the harbor of Alexandria were searched for books to add to the library’s collection. The library also employed a number of scholars who produced original works on subjects such as astronomy, mathematics, and physics.

In addition, the workers and scholars of the Great Library translated texts from around the world into Greek. Some of the first translations of Biblical texts into Greek may have taken place at the library in the time of Ptolemy I. Much work was done to edit authoritative versions (权威版) of the Homeric myths (荷马时代的神话) for which the Greeks are so well known today, and these were only a few of the great works of translation and editing that took place in Alexandria in the Hellenistic period.

It is ironic (讽刺的) that the fate of the Great Library — an institution devoted to the collection and preservation of knowledge — is covered in myth and mystery. Many sources say the library burned down, but the date is uncertain. It may have burned down more than once, either by accident, or design. Smaller sister institutions may have survived the original library, only to be destroyed later. The Great Library, or some version of it, could have survived for anywhere between 300 and 1,000 years. However it ended, there can be little doubt that the scholarship of the Great Library had a great and lasting effect on history, and the works that were kept, translated, or created there have had a great influence on our culture even to the present day.

1. What can be inferred from the text about the Great Library?

A．It was mainly financed by Ptolemy I.

B．Some works of it survive to the present day.

C．Most Greek myths were originally created at it.

D．It aimed to become the world’s knowledge center.

2. How does the author explain the translation and editing work of the Great Library?

A．By giving examples.	B．By following space order.
C．By describing the difference.	D．By analyzing cause and effect.

3. What does the author think of the Great Library?

A．It was too mysterious to be true.	B．It was influential and valuable.
C．It inspired modern libraries.	D．It wasted too much money.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The Great Library’s brief history.

B．The Great Library’s disappearance.

C．The effect of two ancient civilizations.

D．The role of libraries throughout history.

【推荐3】In 1996, John Jones made an unusual discovery. He had just enlarged a piece of paper money for a friend — a Confederate bank note, money issued (发行) by banks in Southern States of America during the Civil War. When he was face to face with the picture, he couldn’t believe his eyes: slaves happily picking cotton in their master’s fields.

Jones grew up in South Carolina. He had heard painful stories of slavery from his great­grandmother. The picture on the money did not match the history of African American slaves that he’d heard all his life. ＂I had never seen that type of picture on money before,＂ he said.

Jones wondered why slaves looked so happy. He started doing research.

Searching for and finding the answers to his questions changed his life. During two years’ search, Jones found more than 120 different bills. He discovered that the bills had several things in common. They showed slaves working in jobs related to farming. Many of them showed healthy and smiling slaves at work. None of the bills showed the hardships of slavery.

Jones wanted to share what he had learned. ＂I wanted other people to see what I had seen,＂ he said. He decided to make large paintings of the pictures on the money. After three years of work, Jones had painted more than 80 slavery scenes (场景). He paired each painting with the money on which the picture appeared. ＂The Color of Money＂ — an exhibit (展览) of his work — has toured the country.

Jones’ paintings tell an important story about the South 150 years ago. He likes to repeat the saying ＂The story is on the money.＂ In this case, the saying happens to be true.

1. How did Jones feel when he saw the picture on the money?

A．Angry.	B．Painful.
C．Excited.	D．Surprised.

2. Why did Jones do research on the money?

A．He had never heard of Confederate money.

B．He wanted to learn about American history through it.

C．It showed slaves quite different from those in his mind.

D．His great­grandmother told him some unusual stories about it.

3. What did Jones find?

A．About 120 different bills were issued during the Civil War.

B．The difficulty of slaves was never shown on the bills.

C．Slaves lived a harder life than he thought.

D．Slaves worked long hours on farms.

4. What’s the best title for the text?

A．Confederate Money

B．Money Tells a Story

C．African American Slaves

D．John Jones Changes America

【推荐1】

Students from Florida International University in Miami walked on water Thursday for a class assignment. To do it, they wore aquatic (水上的) shoes they designed and created.

Alex Quinones was the first to make it to the other side of a 175-foot lake on campus in record time—just over a minute. Quinones, who wore big boat-like shoes, also won last year and will receive $500.

Students had to wear the aquatic shoes and make it across the lake in order to earn an “A” on the assignment for a special course.“It’s traditional in a school of architecture to do boats out of cardboard (硬纸板) for a boat race. I thought our students were a little bit more special than that,” Canaves said.“We decided to do the walk on water event to take it to the next level.”

A total of 79 students competed in the race this year in 41 teams. Only 10 teams failed to cross the lake. Others who fell got back up and made it to the end. The race is open to all students and anyone in the neighborhood. The youngest person to ever took part was a 9-year-old girl who competed in place of her mother, while the oldest was a 67-year-old woman. A large crowd on campus joined Canaves as he cheered on the racers. He shouted encouraging words, but also laughed as some unsteadily made their way to the end.

“A part of this is for them to have more understanding of designing and make it work better,” he said. It is also a lesson in life for the students.

       “Anything, including walking on water, is possible, if you do the research, test it and go through the design process seriously.
1. What can we learn about Alex Quinones?

A．He finished the race in less than a minute.

B．He won the race with the help of 2 boats.

C．He failed the race last year.

D．He set a new record this year.

2. For what purpose did the students join in the race?

A．To go across the lake to school.

B．To test their balance on the water.

C．To earn a good grade for a course.

D．To win the prize money of $500.

3. What can we learn according to the fourth paragraph?

A．More than 20 teams failed to cross the lake.

B．The students who fell into the water had to quit.

C．The students kept silent when the other racers competed.

D．The youngest competitor competed instead of her mother.

4. According to Canaves, this race can help the students ________.

A．understand designing better

B．achieve almost everything

C．work together and unite as one

D．walk on the surface of water

【推荐2】Experts note that an unhealthy lifestyle can put you at great risk of heart disease and stroke. So doctors urge us to eat healthy foods, get exercise, stop smoking and limit our alcohol intake. But there is something else you can do. And it is free and easy. Smile!

Dr. Chockalingam, a heart disease specialist in Columbia, advises his patients to smile. He says a smile may be one way to help your heart. “When we smile, the brain wiring changes. The chemicals that are released are more positive.” He says smiling is the first step in fighting physical and emotional stress and its sometimes harmful effects on human health. This is not just New Age advice. Several studies support his opinion.

When you feel stressed or under pressure, your body releases many natural hormones (荷尔蒙) including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Cortisol is the body’s main stress hormone. It increases sugar in the bloodstream. If you are truly in danger, these hormones can help you. They are part of what we call our fight-or-flight response.

However, when we are stressed for a long period, these stress hormones are ever-present in our bodies. And that, medical researchers warn, may lead to health problems.

Researchers say the connection between stress and heart disease is still unclear. However, they claim that when people are stressed for long periods of time, they may have an unhealthy lifestyle, which can lead to health problems.

Dr. Chockalingam says a smile may be one way to help. He tells his patients to smile 20 times an hour. To some, that might seem like a lot of smiling. Or some might even feel foolish ... smiling for seemingly no reason. But a smile does not involve drugs. It is not invasive like a surgical operation. It is free and it has no bad side effects.

“Once people smile, they are relaxing. This relaxation directly lowers blood pressure, improves sugar levels in the blood. If we are smiling, we are breaking that link between stress and health.” And it just may provide a little extra protection to everyone’s heart health.

1. Which of the following agrees with Dr. Chockalingam’s opinion?

A．Smile has the same effects as laughter.

B．Smile can be used to take the place of medicine.

C．Smile is better than any healthy lifestyle to health.

D．Smile can make our body produce beneficial chemicals.

2. What can we know about the mentioned stress hormones?

A．They can lower our blood pressure.

B．They will surely lead to heart diseases.

C．They can benefit us when we are in danger.

D．They will make us live an unhealthy lifestyle.

3. Why does Dr. Chockalingam think smiling is helpful to our health?

A．It can make us relax.	B．It increases sugar levels.
C．It has little bad side effects.	D．It can happen for no reason.

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

A．A Thorough Analysis of the Causes of Heart Diseases

B．One Thing You Can Do Right Now to Help Your Heart

C．One Thing That Is Closely Connected with Stress Hormones

D．The Clear Connection Between Unhealthy Lifestyles and Heart Diseases

【推荐3】In 2020, Pink launched the World Regret Survey, the largest survey on the topic ever undertaken. With his research team, Pink asked more than 15, 000 people in 105 countries, “How often do you look back on your life and wish you had done things differently?” Most of them said regret was at least an occasional part of their life. About 21 percent said they felt regretful all the time. Only 1 percent said they never felt regretful.

If you are of the “no regrets” school of life, you may think that all this regret is a recipe for unhappiness. But that isn’t the case. Letting yourself be overwhelmed by regret is indeed bad for you. But going to the other extreme may be even worse. To extinguish your regrets doesn’t free you from shame or sorrow but causes you to make the same mistakes again and again. To truly get over our guilt requires that we put regret in its proper place.

Uncomfortable as it is, regret is an amazing cognitive(认知的) feature. It requires that you go back to a past scene. Imagine that you acted differently to change it, and with that new scene in mind, arrive at a different present-and then, compare that fictional present with the one you are experiencing in reality. Not all regrets are the same, of course. Pink says they come in four basic types, and an instance of regret may involve just one combination.

Many connection regrets overlap (重叠) with moral regrets, which can come about after you go against your own values. For example, you may pride yourself on being a loving person, and thus regret not living up to this image in the relationship you harmed. Moral regrets can also involve just yourself. Maybe you regret not living up to your promise to your health when you ate a whole pizza or skipped the gym.

If not analyzed(分析) and managed, any kind of regret can be harmful to your well-being. Regret is linked to depression and anxiety, and too much regret can negatively affect your immune system. But regret doesn’t have to be put aside and ignored.

1. What could be concluded from Pink’s research?

A．Half of the people felt regretful.	B．Most people lived without regrets.
C．None could live a life without regrets.	D．Most of the people had regrets.

2. What does the underlined word “extinguish” in paragraph 2 mean?

A．Destroy.

B．Admit.

C．Treasure.

D．Experience.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The harm of moral regrets.

B．The importance of promise.

C．The relationship between regrets and values.

D．The connection between reality and imagination.

4. What might the author continue talking about?

A．Types of regrets.	B．Causes of regrets.
C．Benefits of experiencing regrets.	D．Ways of dealing with regrets.