【推荐1】Travelers to a new city are often encouraged to take a bus tour. The thinking is that they can later return to the places that attracted them，but that’s nonsense! What you see from the inside of a fast-moving bus is sanitized(净化过的)and unreal, entirely removed from the real sights, sounds, and smells outside．

The best way to experience any destination is on foot, without an itinerary, wandering where your spirit leads you．Even in the largest cities, the savvy(资深的) traveler plunges into the very center of town and walks down the nearest street, experiencing the actual life of the people while looking into the grocery stores and courtyard. You eventually get to many of the same sites that are on the bus route—the museums, the monuments, the city hall—but you will have witnessed so much more because you will have felt the contemporary life of the city you’re visiting.

“But what if I get lost?”people ask. No one ever gets permanently lost in a major city. Eventually, a trolley or a bus passes with the words “Central Station” on its front and you can easily return to the center of town. Besides, the most wonderful things can happen if you do get lost, such as stopping at a sidewalk cafe to sit and relax and then asking directions from the locals at the next table. Hopefully, your trip may be attractive by this encounter. Here are a few ways to make the most of your travels：

Know before you go. Before you depart, spend time in a library or bookstore, learning about the history and culture of your destination so you will better understand the place you’re visiting.

Move around like a local．Use the local subways, trams and buses. You’ll not only save money, but also learn how people live there, and you’ll gain a realistic perspective of the city.

Check the bulletin board. Bulletin boards list free lectures, concerts, workshops and social gatherings, giving you a chance to join or meet the area’s most dynamic residents．

Take a walking tour. If you must book a guided tour, select the nonstandard, inexpensive kinds conducted on foot.

So, the next time you feel lured by a sightseeing bus tour, save your money and instead, wander around on your own. I promise you a time you’ll remember fondly．

1. What does the author think of a bus tour?

A．It is reasonable．

B．It is fast．

C．You can’t be exposed to the outside world．

D．It is noisy

2. What does the underlined word in Para. 2 mean?

A．A guidebook for travelers．	B．A car
C．A bag.	D．Something to eat．

3. Why is traveling on foot one of the best choices to experience the city?

A．Because you can buy anything you like．

B．Because you can get to the same destination as the bus tour．

C．Because you can experience the real life in person．

D．Because you can go to museums and city halls where the bus doesn’t get．

4. What’s the main idea of this passage?

A．How to avoid getting lost．	B．How to make the most of your travel．
C．Bus tour is not as good as we think．	D．How to travel on a budget．

【推荐2】Air travel can be annoying. But research now suggests global warming could make it much worse. To get off the ground in really hot weather, planes may be forced to carry fewer passengers. That might mean a little more space, which would be good. However, it also would make the passengers pay more.

Average air temperatures around the world are rising because people are polluting the air with an increasing number of greenhouse gases, which, such as carbon dioxide, are a byproduct (副产品) of burning fuels. Those warmer temperatures can influence an airplane’s ability to fly because air molecules (分子) spread out more as the air warms. This produces less lift under a plane’s wings, so a plane must be lighter to take off in hot weather than on cooler days.

It can even prove too dangerous for some planes to attempt a take-off. A record of June heat wave in the American Southwest, for instance, caused flight cancellations in Phoenix, Ariz. One airline’s planes were cleared to operate only up to 47.8 degree Celsius. On June 20, Phoenix reached 48.3°C!

Radley Horton is a climate scientist at Columbia University. Two years ago, he and his graduate student Ethan David Coffel studied the impact of warming at four U.S. airports and found that warming of track could triple(使成三倍) the number of days when planes face weight restrictions. Later, they explored the impact of rising temperatures on live types of commercial planes flying out of 19 of the world’s busiest airports. In the coming decades, as many as one to three out of every 10 flights that take off during the hottest time of day could face weight. That would be equal to taking a dozen people off the plane, the researchers calculated.

1. How would global warming affect air travel according to the first paragraph?

A．It’ll add to the danger of flying.

B．It’ll increase passengers’ travel cost.

C．It’ll make flying much more comfortable.

D．It’ll encourage more people to travel by plane.

2. What is the second paragraph actually intended to explain?

A．How global warming is happening.

B．What decides a plane’s ability to fly.

C．Why global warming affects flying.

D．Where greenhouse gases are created.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．Reasons for flight cancellation.

B．The findings of a weight-related research.

C．The tendency of temperature change.

D．Effects of hot air on financial growth.

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

A．Air Travel Isn’t Recommended during Hot Weather

B．Rising Temperatures May Reduce the Number of Flights

C．Weight Restrictions Are More Common in More Airports

D．Hotter Air May Lead to Planes Carrying Fewer Passengers

【推荐1】Cloning has the potential to change society. For some，it’s a welcome development designed to make our lives easier. For others，it represents a threat to the health and balance of society，especially from a moral perspective(角度). Looking at these cloning pros and cons，it’s important to consider the scientific，financial，and social aspects of cloning processes.

From a scientific perspective，cloning can be considered major progress. Scientists aren’t limited by population. It’s also possible to clone pieces of living things.

However，cloning changes the natural order of life and death. Why should scientists have to treat an animal well in the lab if they can just make more? As a result，scientists may become lazy or careless with the living things they work on.

Cloning is a major business. Medical research groups have invested millions of dollars in making cloning possible. As a result，they can make big profits from selling cloning services to hospitals and the public. However，the wealth they achieve doesn’t mean that cloning itself is a profitable trial. For example，while a company may clone an organ，its price may be too high to afford. As a result，only rich people and governments could use cloning products.

As a whole，cloning for society can be debated for hours. On one hand，you have religious groups，who say that cloning is wrong. On the other hand，you have many people who are looking forward to making clones of themselves so that the clone can serve as a worker and leave the original person to enjoy a life of relaxation and wealth.

1. We can conclude from the first paragraph that ________.

A．opinions about cloning vary from person to person

B．more people think little of the benefits of cloning

C．cloning has the potential to change society for better

D．people should think of cloning in a more scientific way

2. Why do some people think cloning has a bad effect on scientific experiments?

A．More money may be spent on cloning other living things.

B．Scientists will become careless with their experiments.

C．Cloning may disturb the balance of nature and wildlife.

D．Scientists may ignore the living things they work on.

3. What is the disadvantage of cloning products put into the market?

A．More fake cloning products will crowd into the market soon.

B．Only a limited group would have access to cloning products.

C．Patients have to buy cloning products from hospitals or governments.

D．Scientists may pay attention to quantity of cloning products rather than quality.

【推荐3】For years, the U. S. has experienced a shortage of registered nurses. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that while the number of nurses will increase by 19 percent by 2022, demand will grow faster than supply, and that there will be over one million unfilled nursing jobs by then. So what's the solution? Robots.

Japan is ahead of the curve when it comes to this trend. Toyohashi University of Technology has developed Terapio, a robotic medical cart that can make hospital rounds, deliver medications and other items, and retrieve records. It follows a specific individual, such as a doctor or nurse, who can use it to record and access patient data. This type of robot will likely be one of the first to be implemented in hospitals because it has fairly minimal patient contact.

Robots capable of social engagement help with loneliness as well as cognitive functioning, but the robot itself doesn't have to engage directly - it can serve as an intermediary for human communication. Telepresence robots such as MantaroBot, Vgo, and Giraff can be controlled through a computer, smart-phone, or tablet, allowing family members or doctors to remotely monitor patients or Skype them, often via a screen where the robot's 'face' would be. If you can't got to the nursing home to visit grandma, you can use a telepresence robot to hang out with her. A 2016 study found that users and a 'consistently positive attitude" about the Giraff robot's ability to enhance communication and decrease feelings of loneliness.

A robot's appearance affects its ability to successfully interact with humans, which is why the R1KEN-TR1 Collaboration Center for Human-Interactive Robot Research decided to develop a robotic nurse that looks like a huge teddy bear. RTBA (Robot for Interactive Body Assistance), also known as 'Robear' , can help patients into and out of wheelchairs and beds with its strong arms.

On the less cute and more scary side there is Actroid F, which is so human-like that sonic patients may not know the difference. This conversational robot companion has cameras in its eyes, which allow it io track patients and use appropriate facial expressions and body language in its interactions. During a month- long hospital trial, researchers asked 70 patients how they felt being around the robot and "only three or four said they didn't like having it around."   

It's important to note that robotic nurses don't decide courses of treatment or make diagnoses (though robot doctors and surgeons may not be far oil). Instead, they perform routine and laborious tasks, freeing nurses up to attend to patients with immediate needs. This is one industry where it seems the integration of robots will lead to collaboration, not replacement.

1. What does the author say about Japan?

A．It delivers the best medications for the elderly.

B．It takes the lead in providing robotic care.

C．It provides retraining for registered nurses.

D．It sets the trend in future robotics technology.

2. What do we learn about the robot Terapio?

A．It was been put to use in many Japanese hospitals.

B．It provides specific individualized care to patients.

C．It does not have much direct contact with patients.

D．It has not revolutionized medical service in Japan.

3. What are telepresence robots designed to do?

A．Directly interact with patients to prevent them from feeling lonely.

B．Cater to the needs of patients for recovering their cognitive capacity.

C．Closely monitor the patients' movements and conditions around the clock.

D．Assist communication between patients and doctors or family members.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Doctors and surgeons will soon be laid off.

B．The robotics industry will soon take off.

C．Robots will not make nurses unemployed.

D．Collaboration will not replace competition.

【推荐1】How do you relax after a stressful day in the office? There are many ways to help you get relaxed, but the best solution, according to some experts, lies in the great outdoors. It takes a little effort to get there but the benefits can be a perfect tonic for our stressed-out lives. I am talking about the activity of forest bathing.

The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku – or forest bathing – originates from the 1980s, when it was introduced as a national health program by the country’s government. Stressed Japanese workers are today still relaxing and reconnecting with nature. The Forest Therapy(治疗) Society has certified 62 forest therapy sites in the country and the forest bathing movement is also gathering momentum in other parts of the world. It says: "Just as bathing in a hot spring helps to soak your cares away, going for a walk in the woods is said to have a soothing effect."

If you’re worried that bathing involves stripping off your clothes, don’t be! This is about taking time to wander through woodland with no fixed plan or route and just immerse yourself in the forest atmosphere. Some health experts have said that having this exposure to nature seems to promote well-being and that’s particularly good for people with mental health issues. A study conducted in 24 forests across Japan found that walking among trees lowered blood pressure, the pulse rate, and the levels of the hormone cortisol, which is released in response to stress. It also found phytoncides – chemicals emitted by trees – have an anti-microbial effect on humans, improving our immune systems.

Another study carried out a few years ago by Stanford University in the US, found similar benefits. Brain scans showed reduced activity in an area of the brain linked to the risk of mental illness in participants who took a 90-minute walk among oaks, birds and squirrels. One of the researchers, Gregory Bratman, told the BBC: "There's an increasing body of evidence showing that natural versus urban areas benefit us at least emotionally with our mood and possibly also our cognitive(认知的) development too.” The evidence seems clear that forest bathing is a shot in the arm for stressed-out workers, so now is the time to get out and lose yourself in the natural environment – you could even hug a tree as it could be your new best friend!

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The benefits of forest bathing

B．The present situation of the forest bathing therapy globally

C．The origin and development of forest bathing in Japan

D．The preparations it needs to go forest bathing

2. Which is Not true about forest bathing according to the passage?

A．It is a casual walk without focus in the woodland.

B．It was first intended for those stressed-out office workers.

C．It involves nothing special but complete exposure to the environment.

D．It originated as a national health program to improve people’s health in Japan.

3. What can we learn from the two studies?

A．Some chemicals released by trees harm our immune system.

B．Forest walking is particularly good for those with mental illnesses.

C．How forest bathing benefits people physically and mentally.

D．The hormone cortisol is released to deal with stress.

4. What does the last paragraph tell us?

A．Being in nature for a while helps people get refreshed.

B．The brain would become less active after a 90-minute walk in forest.

C．Forest bathing absolutely improves people’s cognitive development.

D．Both natural and urban areas are mentally beneficial to people.

【推荐2】If you’ve ever started a sentence with, “If I were you...” or found yourself scratching your head at a colleague’s headache over a decision when the answer is clear, there’s a scientific reason behind it. Our own decision-making abilities can become declined over the course of the day causing indecision or poor choices, but choosing on behalf of someone else is an enjoyable task that doesn’t suffer the same trouble.

The problem is “decision fatigue”, a psychological phenomenon that greatly damages the quality of your choices after a long day of decision making says Evan Polman, a leading psychologist.

Physicians who have been on the job for several hours, for example, are more likely to prescribe antibiotics (抗生素) to patients when it’s unwise to do so. “Presumably it’s because it’s simple and easy to write a prescription and consider a patient case closed rather than investigate further,” Polman says.

But decision fatigue goes away when you are making the decision for someone else. When people imagine themselves as advisers and imagine their own choices as belonging to someone else, they feel less tired and rely less on decision shortcuts to make those choices. “By taking upon the role of adviser rather than decision maker, one does not suffer the consequences of decision fatigue,” he says. “It’s as if there’s something fun and liberating about making someone else’s choice.”

Getting input from others not only offers a fresh perspective and thought process; it often also includes riskier choices. While this sounds undesirable, it can be quite good, says Polman. “When people experience decision fatigue — when they are tired of making choices — they have a tendency to choose to go with the status quo,” he says. “But it can be problematic, since a change in the course of action can sometimes be important and lead to a positive outcome.”

1. What does the author say about people making decisions?

A．They become less efficient in making decisions as the day progresses.

B．They show considerable variations in their decision-making competence.

C．They are more cautious in making decisions for others than for themselves.

D．They are more likely to make decisions in the way advantageous to themselves.

2. Why does the author mention “physicians” in paragraph 3?

A．To explain a principle.	B．To indicate a fact.
C．To clarify a concept.	D．To illustrate a prediction.

3. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The shortcuts to decision-making.

B．The consequences of decision fatigue.

C．The process of being a decision maker.

D．The psychology of making decisions for others.

4. What does the underlined phrase “the status quo” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．The decision fatigue.	B．The existing situation.
C．The different choice.	D．The positive outcome.

【推荐3】Reading is a complex and crucial skill that impacts the youth’s ability to perform as students. Therefore, it’s important to develop reading skills during childhood. A team of researchers focused on the effect of whole-body learning in instruction, known as embodied learning.

The research included 149 children, aged 5 to 6, who had just started school. They were divided into three groups: one that stood up and used their whole bodies to shape letter sounds; a seated group that shaped letter sounds with their hands and arms; and a control group that received traditional, seated instruction during which they wrote letters by hand.

“Our research showed that children who used their whole bodies to shape the sounds of letters became twice as proficient at letter sounds that are more difficult to learn as those who received traditional instruction” says PhD student Linn Damsgaard of UCPH’s Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports.

With regard to difficult letter sounds, she adds, “There are many difficult letter sounds in Danish. These sounds are particularly important because once children become skilled at them, they will be better readers.

Associate professor Jacob Wienecke, who led the study, explains, the primary goal is to learn more about which methods can be used to give beginner readers a good start. The idea is that if, through play and movement, we can learn where their strengths truly lie, we’ll create a form of learning that combines reading with play, and that’s truly positive.”

Previously, the researchers showed that the children felt more motivated by teaching methods which included physical movement. Jacob Wienecke hopes this will provide an opportunity to inspire teachers and school managers to prioritize movement across subjects.

The study also investigated whether a direct effect of embodied learning could be found on children’s reading of words. This was not possible, which might be due to the fact that the children were at such an early stage of their literacy development that they could not yet use their knowledge of letter sounds to read words.

1. What were the participants required to do in the study?

A．To pick out difficult letter sounds in Danish.

B．To learn new letters through repeated writing.

C．To learn letter sounds using different approaches.

D．To memorize some letter sounds as soon as possible.

2. How can embodied learning get children actively involved?

A．By combining learning with games.

B．By offering them chances to cooperate.

C．By inspiring them to overcome difficulties.

D．By explaining instructions to them patiently.

3. What does the underlined word “proficient” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．terrible.	B．skilled.
C．delighted.	D．fascinated.

4. What does Jacob expect of the research finding?

A．Encouraging educators to apply it to teaching.

B．Enabling researchers to carry out further studies.

C．Urging schools to pay attention to physical exercise.

D．Promoting harmonious teacher-student relationships.

5. What does the last paragraph intend to tell us?

A．Children prefer learning step by step.

B．Children are too little to use their knowledge smartly.

C．Children lack enough practice to get fully improved.

D．Children’s learning still relies on adults’ instruction.