【推荐3】Does this situation seem familiar to you? Your English is progressing well, the grammar is now familiar, the reading comprehension is no problem, and you are speaking quite fluently.    1    !

First of all, remember that you are not alone. Listening is probably the most difficult job for almost all learners of English as a foreign language.    2    . What you need to do is find listening resources. The Internet is really a useful tool for English students. You can download The RealPlayer from the Internet. The RealPlayer allows you to use the Internet like a radio station.

    3    , you might still be frustrated (受阻) by limited understanding. What should you do? Here is some of the advice I give my students:

▪Accept the fact that you are not going to understand everything.

▪Stay relaxed when you do not understand, and try listening to the material for more times.

▪Do not translate everything into your native language.

▪    4    . Don’t concentrate on details until you have understood the main ideas.

▪Listen to something you enjoy.

I remember the problems I had in understanding spoken German when I first went to Germany.    5    , I insisted on translating it in my mind. This method usually resulted in confusion. Then, after the first six months, I discovered two extremely important facts. Firstly, translating creates a barrier between the listener and the speaker. Secondly, most people repeat themselves constantly. By remaining calm, I noticed that even if I didn’t pay much attention I could usually understand what the speaker had said.

A．Once you have begun to listen on a regular basis

B．But listening is a problem for all the beginners

C．However, after several weeks, I got used to the grammar rules

D．The most important thing is to listen as often as possible

E．In the beginning, when I didn’t understand a word

F．Listen for the general idea of the conversation

G．But you can’t follow a native English speaker at all

【推荐1】C
The creative projects of World Food Program (WFP) focused on preventing hunger from taking hold in the future and breaking the cycle of hunger. Here are some of the ways in which we work to prevent hunger in the future:
School Meals
As well as directly addressing hunger, School Meals projects encourage families to keep their children in school and help them build better futures. If children aren’t hungry they will concentrate on their lessons. With a solid education growing children have a better chance of finding their own way out of hunger. These projects benefit girls especially. For more information: _____________
Food for Assets（有用的人）
WFP’s Food for Assets projects provide the hungry with food to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow. When poor farmers no longer have to worry about the next meal, they have the time and energy to build irrigation（灌溉） systems that can increase production. Similarly, Food for Training projects allow the poor to devote time to learning skills that will sustain（维持） them economically in the future. For more information: www.wfp.org/food-assets.
HIV/AIDS
WFP uses its food rations(配给) to reduce the blow of HIV and AIDS. The agency distributes its rations to people living with HIV and AIDS, so they can keep providing for their families for longer and have time to transfer vital knowledge and skills to the growing number of AIDS children--the next generation of food providers in developing countries. For more information: __________
Purchase for Progress
WFP buys large amounts of food in developing countries. It has this purchasing power and uses it to help poor farmers contact reliable markets where they can get competitive prices for their produce. With secure markets, farmers will be encouraged to produce more and innovate(创新).The knock-on effect is producing more food for everyone. For more information: _______________.
1. The text is written with the purpose of ____.

A．seeking solutions to some hot issues

B．introducing some of WFP’s projects

C．raising money for the people in need

D．calling readers’ attention to the poor

2. The farmers who want to receive some training should visit_____.

A．www.wfp.org/hiv-aids

B．www.wfp.org/food-asset

C．www.wfp.org/purchase-progress

D．www.wfp.org/school-meals

3. AIDS children can benefit from food rations in that_____.

A．they no longer go hungry

B．they can take care of their parents

C．they don’t have to worry about food

D．they can learn more skills from their parents

4. By buying large amounts of food in developing countries, WFP aims to ____.

A．help farmers to increase their income

B．encourage farmers to produce more food

C．introduce new ways of farming to farmers

D．motive farmers to plant different kind of crops.

【推荐2】Nowadays there is less and less contact between the old and the young. There are many reasons for this, but the result is the same: increasing numbers of children without grandparents and old people who have no contact with children. And more old people who are lonely and feel useless, along with more and more families with young children who desperately need more support. It's a major problem in many societies.

That's why intergenerational programs, designed to bring the old and the young together, are growing in popularity all over the world, supported by UNESCO and other local and international organizations. There are examples of successful initiatives all over the world. Using young people to teach IT skills to older people is one obvious example. Using old people as volunteer assistants in schools is another, perhaps reading with children who need extra attention.

One successful scheme in Franca is combining a residential home for the elderly with a nursery school in the same building. The children and the residents eat lunch together and share activities such as music, painting, gardening and caring for the pets which the residents are encouraged to keep. In the afternoons, the residents enjoy reading or telling stories to the children and, if a child is feeling sad or tired, there is always a kind lap to sit on and a cuddle(依偎). There are trips out and birthday parties too.

The advantages are enormous for everyone concerned. The children are happy because they get a lot more individual attention and respond well because someone has time for them. They also learn that old people are not different or frightening in any way. And of course, they see illness and death and learn to accept them. The residents are happy because they feel useful and needed. They are more active and more interested in life when the children are around and they take more interest in their appearance too. And the staff are happy because they see an improvement in the physical and psychological health of the residents and have an army of assistants to help with the children.

1. What is the social problem talked about in Paragraph 1?

A．A generation gap.	B．Caring for children.
C．Intergenerational contact.	D．The support for the aged.

2. What is special about the scheme France?

A．Joining an elderly house with a kindergarten.	B．Hiring old people as children- care workers.
C．Helping children face misfortunes bravely.	D．Using children to accompany the old.

3. In which aspect does the scheme benefit the old?

A．It builds up their strength.	B．They live a healthier life.
C．It creates a family atmosphere.	D．They are closer to their relatives.

【推荐3】Best Companies

Shine United(Madison，Wisconsin)

In the past five years，this Wisconsin­based advertising agency has shared more than$500,000 in profits with its employees through the company's ShineShares program.The agency partnered with the University of Wisconsin's oncology department to develop the Ride，a biking event that benefits cancer research.Employees also get snacks every day，“Beer Thirty”on Thursdays，and Summer Fridays，a program that lets employees leave at noon.

GroundFloor Media(Denver，Colorado)

The key for workers at this midsize public relations firm in Denver is that employees work anytime，anywhere.Headquarters are in a former warehouse downtown，near Coors Field.The offices are spread around the central space that doubles as a wet bar every Thursday when the company's   “beer club” brings in a new brew.

Ergodyne(St.Paul，Minnesota)

The St.Paul­based company has grown to operate out of a retired storehouse with plenty of natural light.Rules about dressing？“Wear something.” Its purpose? To create cool，comfortable, and tough safety workwear for those who need it to get the job done.Ergodyne has around 50 employees, who enjoy hot­dish cook­offs, tickets to sporting events, and at least one happy hour every quarter.

Southwest Michigan First(Kalamazoo，Michigan)

It's family first at this Michigan economic development advising agency.CEO Ron Kitchens says that in the past year，the company has made a push to go green，initially started by the millennial employees who make up half the agency's workforce.A new staff position was created for the purpose of making sure every employee is able to balance working and cheering at their kids' sporting events or going fishing.

1. What's the purpose of the ShineShares program?

A．To raise money for a research.

B．To let employees leave earlier.

C．To share the company's benefits.

D．To partner with a local university.

2. What does Southwest Michigan First encourage their employees to do?

A．To accompany their families.

B．To create new staff positions.

C．To join in cooking competitions.

D．To enjoy themselves in sporting events.

3. Which company allows its staff a flexible working time?

A．Shine United.

B．GroundFloor Media.

C．Southwest Michigan First.

D．Ergodyne.

4. What can we know about the companies mentioned in the text?

A．They offer employees financial support.

B．They care about employees' happiness.

C．They have strict rules about dressing.

D．They have training programs.