【推荐1】A few years ago, I stood in a small classroom just outside of New York City, watching a high schooler named Serena Stevenson answer math questions. An instructor read outnumbers — 74,470, 70,809, 98,402 — and Stevenson added them in her head. For each question, she closed her eyes, and then the fingers of her right hand began to move. She answered most of the problems correctly.

The key to her success was an ancient technology called the abacus. Stevenson used a practice called “mental abacus”, imagining the abacus in her mind and then using her fingers to work through the problems.

From watching Stevenson, I knew that gaining skill at the abacus was more than a matter of counting beads, so I decided to sign up for an abacus course with my two daughters to see if we could also improve our math skills. I was one of the many who had some math doubts and I felt a touch of fear. My typical solution was avoidance, and if I had to calculate something like a percentage change, I would go online.

Then after a few abacus classes and a good amount of practice, math seemed a little less frightening. I didn’t become Euclid, the founder of geometry. But the practice brought my numerical fears down. This is a time-tested power of the abacus. Confidence grows easily in the device, and abacus students are less likely to be nervous about an upcoming math test, according to one study. Part of the reason, it seems, is that practice and outcomes appear to move in step.

My kids gained much as well. My youngest daughter could work out those math problems that once baffled her, while my older child brought her abacus to school to show it to her classmates and teacher. These were just small successes for them, but that was how they finally developed confidence.

1. What is the main purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To prove the difficulty of math.	B．To introduce the topic of the abacus.
C．To show the high intelligence of Stevenson.	D．To stress the importance of abacus learning.

2. What do we know about the author from paragraph 3?

A．He was weak in math.	B．He was good at computer.
C．He regarded math as useful.	D．He had a close relationship with kids.

3. What does the author realize from his learning experience?

A．Knowledge starts with practice.	B．It’s never too late to learn.
C．Faith can move mountains.	D．Practice makes perfect.

4. What does the underlined word “baffled” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Bored.

B．Inspired.

C．Defeated.

D．Interested.

【推荐3】

Learn With Homer Price: Free                                        Skill: Comprehension, Phonics(拼读法) Grade level : Pre-K, K                       Device: iPad It’s a learn-to-read app for kids aged 3 to 6 that includes drawing, voice recording , stories ,songs, and more , along with more traditional phonics exercises. This app can be helpful for kids who have speech production problems and language organization problems.

Aesop’s Quest Price:$0.99                                      Skill:   Comprehension, Grade level : 2nd, 3rd,4th                      Device: iPad,iPhone, iPod Touch Aesop’s Quest, based on Aesop’s Fables, is a learning game where the student must remember parts of a story to complete a level. At the end of each story level, the student is rewarded with tests. After solving the tests, the story is complete and the child can continue to the next story. Developed together with the Virginia Department of Education.

LightSail Price: Free                                                               Skill: Comprehension Grade level: Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd ,4th, and above          Device: iPad LightSail is an e-reading platform that helps teachers support their students’ independent reading. Students can use LightSail to check out texts from their schools’ online libraries and read the books directly on their iPad. As students progress through a book, questions appear to check their comprehension. As students complete assessments (评定) , they earn prizes.

1. The app Learn With Homer can help users who have difficulty in ____.

A．singing songs	B．reading stories
C．making speeches	D．learning foreign language

2. What do we know about the app LightSail?

A．It is developed mainly for teachers.

B．It is connected to school libraries.

C．It helps users complete school assessments.

D．It develops users’ comprehension through games.

3. What do the three apps have in common?

A．They try to improve kids’ comprehension ability.

B．They are developed for high-school students.

C．They can be downloaded onto iPhones.

D．They are free of charge.

【推荐1】A century ago in the United States, when an individual brought suit against a company, public opinion tended to protect that company. But perhaps this phenomenon was most striking in the case of the railroads. Nearly half of all negligence cases decided through 1896 involved railroads. And the railroads usually won.

Most of the cases were decided in sate courts, when the railroads had the climate of the times on their sides. Government supported the railroad industry; the progress railroads represented was not to be slowed down by requiring them often to pay damages to those unlucky enough to be hurt working for them.

Court decisions always went against railroad workers. A Mr. Farwell, an engineer, lost his right hand when a switchman’s negligence ran his engine off the track. The court reasoned that since Farwell had taken the job of an engineer voluntarily at good pay, he had accepted the risk. Therefore the accident, though avoidable had the switchmen acted carefully, was a “pure accident”. In effect a railroad could never be held responsible for injury to one employee caused by the mistake of another.

In one case where a Pennsylvania Railroad worker had started a fire at a warehouse and the fire had spread several blocks, causing widespread damage, a jury found the company responsible for all the damage. But the court overturned the jury’s decision because it argued that the railroad’s negligence was the immediate cause of damage only to the nearest buildings. Beyond them the connection was too remote to consider.

As the century wore on, public sentiment began to turn against the railroads—against their economic and political power and high fares as well as against their callousness toward individuals.

1. Which of the following is NOT true in Farwell’s case?

A．Farwell was injured because he negligently ran his engine off the track.

B．Farwell would not have been injured if the switchman had been more careful.

C．The court argued that the victim had accepted the risk since he had willingly taken his job.

D．The court decided that the railroad should not be held responsible.

2. What must have happened after the fire case was settled in court?

A．The railroad compensated for the damage to the immediate buildings.

B．The railroad compensated for all the damage by the fire.

C．The railroad paid nothing for the damaged building.

D．The railroad worker paid for the property damage himself.

3. The following aroused public resentment EXCEPT _____.

A．political power

B．high fares

C．economic loss

D．indifference

4. What s the passage mainly discuss?

A．Railroad oppressing individuals in the US.

B．History of the US railroads.

C．Railroad workers’ working rights.

D．Law cases concerning the railroads.

【推荐2】When American students graduate from college, they must find jobs for themselves. But often they get help from their college and university. Every college has a career counseling office. The people who work there help students learn about different kinds of jobs and the chances for employment. Students can discuss their first year of college. Some use the information a counselor gives them when deciding what subjects to study.

For example, a girl student wants to be an engineer, but she does not know what kind. The counselor can tell the girl that, when she graduates in four years, there will be more jobs for structural engineers than for chemical engineers. Therefore, the student may study structural engineering.

The career counseling office also communicates with local and national companies. Company officials often visit the university to talk to students who want to work for them. The career counseling offices arrange these meetings for the company and the students. They also have classes for students. They teach the students how to find a job such as what to say to company officials and how to write letters telling about themselves.

Experts say that American students who are employed when they finish college usually find jobs in their own field of study. Those who must search for months after graduation usually take lower paid jobs, and their jobs are not connected to what they studied in college. The experts foretell that in coming years there will be more jobs for healthy workers, financial experts, teachers and computer scientists.

1. According to the passage, a career counselor______.

A．helps students pass the examinations successfully

B．helps student find well-paid jobs

C．provides students with information about various opportunities

D．helps students find full-time jobs

2. A career counseling office does all the following jobs except______.

A．providing jobs information for college graduates

B．communicating with local and national companies

C．arranging meetings between companies and universities

D．teaching students special skills

3. Those who spend months hunting jobs after graduation usually______.

A．can find well-paid jobs

B．have to take part-time jobs

C．find lower-paid jobs in the fields not connected to his own

D．can find jobs in their own fields of study

4. What's the best title for this passage?

A．American University Graduates.	B．Finding Jobs after Graduation.
C．Well-paid Jobs for University Graduates.	D．Future Jobs.

【推荐3】阅读理解。

Having good etiquette (礼节) at the workplace is very important to be a favorite in an office. However, it’s observed that many people aren’t aware of the workplace etiquette and this creates a very bad impression in the office. So it’s important to know some workplace etiquette tips.

Among all the workplace etiquette guidelines, the most important is to be punctual to your office. Though going late due to an emergency is okay, habitual late comers are never appreciated in any organization. By arriving at your office on time, you show that you’re aware of your responsibilities and have respect for the organization. In case you feel that you would be late, call the concerned authority and report the matter to him or her.

Also, a proper knowledge of the workplace email etiquette is a must. In the official emails, you need to mention the subject concisely, while at the same time include all the important details which are to be shared. You should use good and grammatically correct language while writing emails.

A knowledge of telephone etiquette in the workplace is very important as well. While talking on the telephone, be polite and listen to what they’re saying carefully. Only then should you say what you feel. Speak in a voice which would be heard clearly at the other end.

The workplace guidelines are important even while you’re dining or celebrating with your co­workers. If you get a call in between, receive it after you’re permitted by the others by saying “excuse me”. Don’t talk loudly while eating. Greet people well and try to make them feel comfortable while being in your company.

These guidelines will help you become the best employee of a company. All the best!

1. Why should you try to be punctual?

A．To prove you are not a habitual late comer.

B．To respect the rules of the organization.

C．To show that you are a responsible worker.

D．To win other workers’ respect.

2. How should you write an official email?

A．Write the subject clearly and simply.

B．Include all the details in the email.

C．Make the language as beautiful as possible.

D．Make emails as brief as possible.

3. Which of the following is considered NOT acceptable about making phone calls in the workplace?

A．Using polite language.

B．Listening with patience and care.

C．Speaking clearly.

D．Answering a call whenever it comes in.

4. In the writer’s opinion, workplace etiquette________.

A．is easy to master

B．is considered important by all employees

C．can be helpful in doing your work well

D．will bring you good luck and good salaries