【推荐1】The word science is heard so often in modern times that almost everybody has an idea of its meaning. However, its definition is difficult for many people. The meaning of the term is confusing, but everyone should understand its meaning and objectives (目标). Just to make the explanation as simple as possible, suppose science is defined as classified knowledge or facts.

Even in the true science, distinguishing fact from fiction is not always easy. For this reason great care should be taken to distinguish between beliefs and truths. There is no danger as long as a clear difference is made between temporary and proved explanations. For example, hypotheses(假设) and theories are attempts to explain natural phenomena. From these positions the scientist continues to experiment and observe until they are proved or discredited. The exact status of any explanation should be clearly labeled to avoid confusion.

The objectives of science are primarily the discovery and later the understanding of the unknown. Man cannot be satisfied with recognizing that secrets exist in nature of that questions are unanswerable; he must solve them. Toward that end, specialists in the field of biology and related fields of interest are directing much of their time and energy.

Actually, two basic approaches lead to the discovery of new information. One, aimed at satisfying curiosity, is referred to as pure science. Sometimes practical-minded people miss the point of pure science in thinking only of its immediate application for economic rewards.   However, one should remember that the construction of the microscope had to come before the discovery of the cell. The host of scientists devoting their lives to pure science are not apologetic about ignoring the practical side of their discoveries; they know from experience that most knowledge is eventually applied.

The other is aimed at using knowledge for specific purposes--for instance, improving health, raising standards of living, or creating new consumer products. In this case knowledge is put to economic use. Such an approach is referred to as applied science.

The     1     of science
2     of science		● To define science, we may     3     call it classified knowledge or facts.
		● It is essential, though not     4    , for us to distinguish fact from fiction.
Objectives of science		Science is     5     at discovering and understanding the unknown.
Two basic     6     to new discovery	Pure science	Scientists, who may be blamed for     7     the practical side of their work, make discoveries out of     8     .
	9     science	Knowledge is put to economic     10     , for example, improving health, raising living standards and creating new products.

【推荐2】Your smart phone may have hurt you before you realize it. Don't be addicted to it. Put your phone away, OK?1.Cyber SicknessAlso called “digital motion sickness”, symptoms that range from headaches to woozy feelings can occur when you quickly scroll on your smart phone or watch action packed video on your screen.    1    Your sense of balance is different from other senses in that it has lots of inputs. When those inputs don’t agree, that’s when you feel dizziness and sickness.2. Text ClawIt is the unofficial term for soreness and muscle contraction felt in the finger, wrist and forearm after heavy smart phone use.    2    So if you’re always on your phone, it makes sense to feel discomfort in your hands and forearms.3. Eye StrainDo you stare at a screen for hours on end? If you’re reading this, you very well might.    3    Staring at your digital devices for a long time can lead to dry eyes, headaches and tiredness, which can decrease your productivity. Experts suggest taking screen breaks every 20 minutes.4. Text NeckSimilar to the claw, text neck---discomfort in the neck and spine happens when you spend a long time looking down at your smart phone.    4    Being mindful of how far your neck bends when you’re on your phone---- and bending it back to an upright position can help reduce the risk of text neck.5. Pedestrian safetyPedestrian deaths are on the rise because too many smart phone users engage in distracted walking. While focused on the cyber world, many of us can lose reality of the physical one. Elemental pedestrian safety knowledge is compromised by technology, and the risks are scary.    5    

A．We should taking breaks for a while.

B．The sensation results from a mismatch between sensory inputs.

C．Remember that pedestrian safety is more important than smart phone.

D．The habit may lead to people requiring medical spine care at a younger age.

E．To avoid injury or worse, put your phone away until you’ve reached a safe spot.

F．Any specific motor activity can cause pain in the tendons (筋) and muscles when done repeatedly.

G．Any activity that requires active use of your eyes---driving and reading included---can cause eye tiredness.

【推荐3】A new report says living in a city makes it harder for people to concentrate(集中) on some tasks. The research found that people who live in rural areas can focus better than people in urban areas. The study is from Goldsmiths College, which is part of the University of London.   Head researcher Dr. Karina Linnell and her team made great contributions. They studied how two groups of people did the same "thinking tasks". The team went to a remote(偏远的) part of Namibia, southwest Africa, to study the Himba tribe. Himba people live a very basic life in the desert. They are still doing traditional farming. The team also studied members of the same tribe who had moved to the nearest town. Dr. Linnell said the tribe who lived in the desert did much better on the tests than those in the town. It's really interesting and shocking.

Dr. Linnell said their research may lead to changes in the way companies operate. In the future, workers may move from cities to live and work in the countryside. Linnell said there are too many things around us in the city that stop us from thinking about one thing for a long time.   This means we do not work at our best. She asked, "What if, for example, companies realized certain tasks would be better carried out by employees based outside of the urban environment? There their concentration ability is better. "The past century has seen billions of people move from the countryside to big cities. In the future, the trend may not continue. If Dr. Linnell's research is true, this century might see many of those people return to the great outdoors. Let's wait to see what will happen.

1. What did Dr. Linnell and her team conclude from the study on the Himba tribe?

A．Himba people are cleverer than others.

B．Himba people aren't used to the life in city.

C．Himba people focus better in the desert

D．Himba people give up traditional farming.

2. What happened in the past one hundred years?

A．Many people returned to the countryside.

B．Big cities attracted many people to live and work.

C．Many people couldn't concentrate on one task.

D．The way companies operate changed a great deal.

3. The underlined word "outdoors" in the last paragraph probably refers to "______".

A．villages	B．cities
C．towns	D．countries

4. What is the main purpose of the text ?

A．to remind people to focus better.

B．to advise people to live in countryside.

C．to share a recent study with readers.

D．to show the bright future to readers.

【推荐2】The human body is designed to move. But modern lifestyles and office jobs rarely give us the chance to move around. As we know, we’re while we’re eating; we sit in the car and we sit while we watch TV. And many of us sit for many hours at work.

New research shows that sitting less than three hours a day might extend your life by two years. Peter Smith, a scientist at the University of Louisiana in the southern United States, says that sitting is ubiquitous in our lives, meaning it is something we do all the time, everywhere.

However, Mr. Smith says that does not mean you can sit for the rest of your waking hours. He also says you may exercise often, “We can’t throw away physical activity. It’s extremely important. We have 60 years of research showing us that.”

Mr. Smith and his colleagues are part of a new generation of researchers studying how sitting all day affects length of life. “Studies that have assessed the relationship between sitting and mortality(死亡率)or television viewing and mortality are very rare. There’s only been a few of them, actually five or six now, in the last four or five years.” They found that cutting television time to less than two hours a day could add one－point four years to life.

Luckily, change is already coming to some offices, especially in the design of desks. A “standing desk” lets people stand while they work. Another new design is called the “treadmill desk”. A treadmill is an exercise machine that lets you walk in one place. Even some U.S. schools are beginning to experiment with desks that are part bicycle to keep children moving. That’s one of the strategies that many companies are using now.

Mr. Smith also says studying this problem has inspired his team to make a few changes in their own lives.

1. The underlined word “ubiquitous” is closest in meaning to________．

A．dangerous	B．awkward
C．comfortable	D．common

2. Which view agrees with the opinion of Mr. Smith?

A．Sitting too long may help increase one’s life.

B．Exercise is important and don't sit too long.

C．Watching TV is bad, but can broaden one’s horizons.

D．Stopping watching TV is a necessary but hard task.

3. What does Mr. Smith think of his study in Paragraph 4?

A．It’s a relatively new area of study.

B．It’s a hot subject studied by experts.

C．It’s a study that begins too late.

D．It’s not ignored by many experts.

4. Why are the desks of all kinds designed for those who sit more?

A．To give them more comfort.

B．To improve their work efficiency.

C．To offer them the chance to exercise.

D．To seek pleasure while working.

【推荐3】Many teenagers feel that the most important people in their lives are their friends. They believe that their family members, especially their parents, don’t know them as well as their friends do. In large families, it is often for brothers and sisters to fight with each other and then they can only go to their friends for advice. It is very important for teenagers to have one good friend or many friends. Even when they are not with their friends, they usually spend a lot of time talking among themselves on the phone. This communication is very important in children’s growing up, because friends can discuss something difficult to say to their family members.

However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them. Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends. The question of “choice” is an interesting one. Have you ever thought of the following questions?

Who choose your friends?

Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?

Have you got good friends your parents don’t like?

1. Many teenagers think their ___________know them better than their parents do.

A．friends

B．teachers

C．brothers and sisters

D．classmates

2. When teenagers stay alone, the usual way of communication is to ___________.

A．go to their friends	B．talk with their parents
C．have a discussion with their family	D．talk with their friends on the phone

3. Which of the following sentences is TRUE?

A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy.

B．In all families, children can choose everything they like.

C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better.

D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help.

4. The m idea of this passage is that ___________.

A．Teenagers need friends

B．Friends can give good advice

C．Parents often choose their children’s friends for them

D．Good friends can communicate with each other