【推荐2】Urban biking requires entirely different bikes than suburban biking does and therefore a Bike Design Project started where five design studios across five cities had to come up with a perfect urban bike. The winning bike will be produced for a limited run of 100 bikes and will be in stores next year. Industry, a Portland-based studio came up with     a very interesting bike: one that uses bluetooth and handlebars that tell you when to stop or turn.

Industry worked together with Ti Cycles to create a bike with a 3D printed frame. The bike is called Solid and can connect to a smartphone app: My Bike. This app alarms a user when a light needs replacement and if something gets wrong with one’s brakes. There is also software called Discover My City, which has a series of routes through Portland’s most trendy neighborhoods, with suggestions about where to eat and shop.

However, the idea with cycling is that you need to focus on the road and not on your smartphone. This bike therefore uses feedback(反馈) on handlebars. Those handlebars tell a user when to turn, as they will buzz when a turn appears. As you’re getting closer, they will buzz more frequently. And then there’s the possibility to control your light via built-in sensors and change the chain by pressing an electronic button. Yes, a bike for superman.

Although the bicycle looks highly interesting and can be seen as a piece of art for the designing world, we don’t know if we would like our bike to have an automatic buzz when we’re approaching a turn. On the other side: it could add some extra safety to traffic in general. Whether you like the bike or not, you have to admit the Portland-based studio brings the concept of urban biking to a whole new level.

1. What can we know about the Bike Design Project?

A．It only produced one hundred bikes.	B．It was to inspire people to cycle.
C．Its aim was to invent a kind of city bike.	D．It was a worldwide project.

2. How can the user change the chain?

A．By using the handlebar.	B．By looking at the feedback.
C．By controlling the light.	D．By pressing an electronic button.

3. What is the advantage of the new bike?

A．It is much safer.	B．It is lighter.
C．It moves faster.	D．It is low-cost.

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

A．Urban Biking Is Taking over the Road

B．This 3D Printed Bike Tells You Directions

C．The Smart Bike Will Change the Traffic

D．This 3D Printed Bike Is Changing Our Life

【推荐1】The Lifecycle of a T-shirt

We all probably have a lot of T-shirts, but do you ever stop and think about the influence of a T-shirt on the planet? You’d probably be surprised to learn what's involved in the lifecycle of just one T-shirt.

There are 5 major stages: material, production, shipping, use and disposal   The material stage involves farming, irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting and ginning（轧花）. While cotton is a natural fiber (纤维）and not as harmful to the environment as manmade fibers, it still takes a toll in the material and production stages. Commercial cotton farming uses a large amount of water, and the use of pesticides (杀虫剂）is widespread across the globe, especially in cotton farming. Studies have shown that farmers spend around $4.1 billion on pesticides annually, of which 25% was spent on cotton crops in the US.

Once the cotton is grown and harvested, so begins the production stage: spinning, knitting（编织）, bleaching, dyeing, cutting, sewing, etc.——these processes also use a great deal of water and energy. Commercial dyes and bleaches are harmful pollutants and can eventually pollute groundwater.

After the T-shirt is produced, it enters the transportation stage. This often involves overseas shipping. Take a look in your closet. Chances are that most of your cotton garments (衣服）are made in China or India. Garments can be shipped via plane, ship or truck…，all of which spill CO₂ into the atmosphere. Calculations show that CO₂ emissions from light trucks alone amount to 1.15 pounds per mile.

Once the T-shirt reaches the retail market, it is purchased. This stage may seem like the least environmentally damaging part. But consider the number of times you’ve washed and dried your favorite T-shirt. Washing machines are certainly becoming more efficient. However, the average American household does 400 loads of laundry per year, using about 40 gallons of water per load. Such excessive water use is combined with the large amount of energy used by dryers.

The final stage of life is disposal. This releases harmful emissions, or involves a landfill where cotton takes years to break down. Current US records show that an estimated 15% of clothes and shoes are recycled, which means that consumers send a shocking 85% of these materials to landfills.

We all need new clothes every once in a while, but let’s all try to keep in mind what goes into the production of clothing... It has a real impact on the planet.

There are a lot of things you can do to help reduce your impact. Reuse and recycle clothes. If they’re too worn out to wear, cut them up and use them as cleaning rags. Donate them to charity or another organization that recycles textiles. When possible, make an effort to buy organic cotton. Turn down the thermostat(恒温器) on your washer, and line dry your clothes when the weather will allow it.

1. The underlined phrase “takes a toll” probably means “      ”

A．wastes water	B．takes a lot of time
C．uses energy	D．has a bad effect

2. We can learn from the passage that in the US, .

A．pesticides in cotton farming cost over 4 billion dollars every year

B．C02 emissions of land transport amount to 1.15 pounds per mile

C．about 15% of the clothes and shoes are made of materials that are recycled

D．about 16, 000 gallons of water is used annually by an average family on laundry

3. What can be inferred from this passage?

A．The production process may affect water safety.

B．The clothing cost is relatively low in China and India.

C．Cotton clothes are buried because they are hard to break down.

D．The use stage is the least environmentally harmful of the five stages.

4. What is the purpose of this article?

A．To encourage people to donate clothes to charity.

B．To promote eco-friendly actions related to clothes.

C．To persuade people to purchase more organic cotton.

D．To introduce the five stages in the lifecycle of clothing.

【推荐3】For animals that spend most of their lives in the high trees, gaps in the forest might as well be the Grand Canyon. These gaps are especially hard on gibbons (长臂猴); although larger males can leap across some gaps, females and the young can be cut off from food, companions, and even potential mates. Now, a new study suggests a couple of strong ropes could really help bridge the gap.

Gibbons are at risk of extinction across Southeast Asia, largely because of habitat loss. With about 30 individuals left, the Hainan gibbon is considered the rarest primate (灵长类) on Earth. All of these animals live on the Hainan Baw angling National Nature Reserve. In July 2014, a typhoon caused landslides across the reserve, creating gaps in the forest that were difficult for these primates to cross.

To help reconnect the habitats, professional tree climbers set up an artificial “bridge” made of two mountaineering-grade ropes across a 15-meter-wide valley. Nearly 6 months later, the gibbons started to use the bridge to cross the gap, researchers report today in Scientific Reports. The team documented 52 crossings of a group of eight gibbons, with most walking along one rope while holding on to the second rope for support, which the scientists named “handrail”. The gibbons also shimmied underneath the ropes using all arms and legs to the opposite side.

Conservationists previously built artificial bridges to help other species such as the Bornean orangutan and the Javan slow loris. But this is the first example of the rare Hainan gibbon using them. The rope bridges could be a short-term solution to reconnect disjointed (脱节的) habitats, the researchers argue. Combined with efforts to provide enough natural forest cover.

1. Why were rope bridges constructed according to the text？

A．To aid all gibbons to cross gaps.

B．To increase gibbons’ habitats.

C．To save gibbons from being endangered.

D．To provide food and company for gibbons.

2. What do we know about gibbons from the second paragraph?

A．Rarely are gibbons seen for the population decline.

B．Habitat loss was to blame for gibbons’ dying out.

C．Gibbons couldn’t cross gaps caused by a typhoon.

D．The natural disaster may have posed a threat to gibbons.

3. What does the underlined “shimmied” likely mean?

A．Lifted.

B．Grabbed.

C．Swung.

D．Spread.

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the text?

A．The reasons for gibbons’ dying out	B．The importance of saving gibbons
C．The measures to save gibbons	D．The solution to gibbons’ habitat loss

【推荐1】Having your nose in a book might seem a little anti-social at times—but reading could actually make you a kinder, more considerate person, a study has found. Readers were more likely to act in a socially acceptable manner, while those who preferred watching television came across as less friendly and less understanding of others’ views, researchers said.

123 participants in the study were quizzed on their preferences for books, TV and plays at Kingston University, London. They were then tested on how much they considered people’s feelings and whether they acted to help others. Researchers told the British Psychological Society conference in Brighton yesterday that fiction fans showed more positive social behavior.

Readers of drama and romance novels were also empathetic, while lovers of experimental books showed the ability to see things from different directions. Comedy fans scored the highest for relating to others. The study suggested reading allows people to see different points of view enabling them to understand others better.

The researchers added, “Exposure to fiction relates to a range of empathetic abilities. Engaging with fictional prose and comedy in particular could be key to improving people’s empathetic abilities.”

However, the authors warned the study did not prove cause-and-effect. So it could be that reading causes positive behavior, or it could be that thoughtful, well-mannered people are more likely to prefer reading. So it is a good idea to pick up a book to begin your travel with the author. Each author will show how they would react to certain situations through their characters. Everyone can view the same situation differently, and from 1,001 different angles. The more you read, the much better you can understand other peoples’ opinions.

1. Why did the writer mention the result of watching television?

A．The writer is a anti-social reporter.	B．The writer shows benefits of reading.
C．The writer is a considerate person.	D．The writer becomes socially acceptable.

2. What were the participants tested on?

A．The skills of communicating.	B．The time of reading books.
C．The places of getting new books.	D．The ways of expressing feelings.

3. Who can observe differently?

A．Readers of drama.	B．Writers of romance novels.
C．Readers of comedy.	D．Readers of experiments.

【推荐2】The noble tree house—all natural materials, strong construction, aloof from the troubles of the world. In a more dangerous time in human history, their position above the ground would protect the inhabitant against environmental difficulties and possible predators. As modern construction has improved, these arboreal places have become less of a practical housing and more of a children’s fun—a secret place erected in many a back garden. But now, these fun shelters are appealing to adults too and many are booking themselves in for a few nights among the treetops.

These tree house hotels can be found From Europe to Australia. Best of all, they come in a variety of interesting designs! From the traditional four walls and a roof habitation, such as at TreeHouse Point, in Washington, North America, to the more artistic Nothofagus Hotel in Chilean Patagonia, whose twelve-sided walls make it look like a beehive. If that doesn’t appeal, how about a tree container? The Free Spirit Spheres resort on Vancouver Island in Canada allows guests to stay in one of three yellow spheres (圆球), which are suspended from trees. The company was founded in 1998 by Tom Chudleigh, who hand built the container from cedar wood and fibre glass, and then added fixtures and fittings. Not only are they as safe as houses, they’re popular! Visitor numbers have probably doubled in the past five years, Mr. Chudleigh tells the BBC.

And how about an office? Microsoft, hoping to give its employees thinking space, has commissioned (委托) a three-building structure from Pete Nelson, designer and builder of tree houses. “Studies show people can work better in nature. They are more productive,” says Mr. Nelson. If you’ve no head for heights, then maybe a tree house getaway isn’t going to be your home away from home. But the sense of adventure, the freshness of the setting and the opportunity to return to nature has given an increasing number of tree house-staying adults something to write home about.

1. The underlined word “arboreal” in paragraph one means “ ”.

A．relating to history	B．of or relating to trees
C．of danger	D．of secret

2. The Free Spirit Spheres resort is mentioned to prove .

A．the company has profited a lot from tree houses

B．tree houses come from interesting places

C．Tom Chudleigh has an eye for safety

D．tree houses are becoming fashionable

3. According to Pete Nelson, why is Microsoft building a tree house structure?

A．Because people are more productive working in nature.

B．Because the sense of adventure make people work harder.

C．Because the freshness of the setting make people cooperate well.

D．Because people need the opportunity to return to nature.

4. The passage is mainly about .

A．how a tree house is built	B．the trend for tree houses
C．peoples’ opinions about tree houses	D．the history of tree houses

【推荐3】        There have always been laws against copying other people’s ideas. However, when copying was only limited to copying something by hand, problems were solved easily. The solution was always the destruction or removal of the copy. Nowadays, the rise of the Internet has made the issue of intellectual property (知识产权) more complicated.
        Almost every bit of information can be cut and pasted (粘贴) with a few clicks of a mouse. Many art forms such as writings, films, and music need new protection to ensure that people do not simply transfer them for free. Online illegal copying has been blamed for a huge reduction in the sales of many records because it is hard to convince people to buy something that they can get for free. Even the ideas behind traditional games, such as Scrabble, have been used without the owners’ permission.
        Old laws have been struggling to keep up. While music companies have been successful in persuading courts that action should be taken against people who illegally download music, the law is difficult to carry out. Furthermore, intellectual property rights vary widely from country to country, so it’s up for debate which laws apply. Finally, there is the fact that many people simply do not see the act as theft (盗窃), since once the work has been digitized there is no clear physical object to steal in the first place.
        All of these issues mean that companies involved with intellectual property — ideas or easily digitized information — are fighting desperately to get people to pay for the information they use, rather than paying for an object like a CD that they use. While the companies have sometimes been successful, the practical barriers to full protection seem insurmountable.
        Finally, all that concerned parties can do is hope that their few successes scare off others and try to find new ways of making money.
1. Why do writings, films, and music need protection？

A．They are very expensive.

B．They are impossible to copy.

C．It is easy to make CDs, books, and movies.

D．They are easily able to be transferred when in digital form.

2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a problem of carrying out intellectual property rights?

A．Laws are not the same in all countries.

B．People do not see copying information as theft.

C．It is very hard to catch people who are breaking the law.

D．Internet service providers do not want to cooperate with the police.

3. The underlined word “insurmountable” in Paragraph 4 means “________”.

A．extremely expensive	B．impossible to overcome
C．against the law	D．hard to prove

4. What can be inferred from this passage?

A．Music and films will be unnecessary in the future.

B．New laws are necessary but difficult to put into practice.

C．The Internet is likely to become more important in the future.

D．Laws are just a way for greedy companies to control their products.