【推荐1】Have you ever wished you could solve complex math problems without thinking? What about learning to play the piano in just three days? Or mastering several foreign languages within a month?

Eddie Morra, the main character in the movieLimitlesscan do all these things. But he isn’t Superman or Harry Potter. Eddie has taken pills called NZT.

ThrillerLimitless came out in China on October 13. In the movie, Eddie is faced with “writer’s block”. He hasn’t written a single word of a novel, and his deadline has passed. And there’s more bad news: his girlfriend breaks up with him. By chance, Eddie runs into a relative who is a drug dealer. He gives Eddie some pills called NZT that allow people to make use of 100 percent of their brains. With the magic pills, Eddie’s life changes completely. He can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard. He gains a sixth sense that allows him to predict future events. He even becomes a kungfu master by simply memorizing actions in Bruce Lee’s movie.

Before long he has finished his novel, won back his girlfriend and stepped into the financial world. He becomes rich incredibly quickly and is soon employed by a powerful Wall Street company. However, bad side effects are just around the corner. The effects of the pill last for only one or two days, and Eddie has to find more supplies of the pills. Meanwhile, the pills start to have other effects on him. Eddies’ mind loses the ability to control the actions of his body. What does destiny hold for him? Will he be able to go back to his normal life?

“Eddie’s fate turns out to be a barbed （讽刺的） joke… a sharp-eyed comic fable for an age of greed (贪婪)and speed.” writes A. O. Scott, a movie critic with the New York Times.

The drug isn’t real-----yet, some researchers say such memory-enhancing drugs might not be far off. Would you take such a pill despite its side effects? Is the ability to remember everything a blessing or a curse?

1. Which of the following happened to Eddie after he took the pill?

A．He can easily call everyone in the world.

B．He can expect what will happen next with his sixth sense.

C．He can control a powerful Wall Street company and becomes rich.

D．He can make a special pill to improve his own memory.

2. What’s A. O. Scott’s opinion of the movie?

A．The movie can help slow our pace in life.

B．The movie turned out to be only a joke.

C．The movie can help invent a memory-enhancing drug.

D．The movie aims to show something is wrong with our society.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Memory-enhancing is sure to do good to us.

B．More people will take pills to enhance their memory.

C．People are soon likely to remember everything.

D．Such a pill to enhance memories may soon be invented.

4. What is writer’s purpose of writing the passage?

A．To give us the information of a new movie.

B．To inform us of a new research on a new drug.

C．To suggest a good way to improve memory.

D．To tell us something about a new drug to enhance our memory.

【推荐2】I first met Paul Newman in 1968, when George Roy Hill, the director of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, introduced us in New York City. When the studio didn’t want me for the film - it wanted somebody as well known as Paul — he stood up for me. I don’t know how many people would have done that; they would have listened to their agents or the studio powers.

The friendship that grew out of the experience of making that film and The Sting four years later had its root in the fact that although there was an age difference, we both came from a tradition of theater and live TV. We were respectful of craft(技艺) and focused on digging into the characters we were going to play. Both of us had the qualities and virtues that are typical of American actors: humorous, aggressive, and making fun of each other — but always with an underlying affection. Those were also at the core(核心) of our relationship off the screen.

We shared the belief that if you’re fortunate enough to have success, you should put something back — he with his Newman’s Own food and his Hole in the Wall camps for kids who are seriously ill, and me with Sundance and the institute and the festival. Paul and I didn’t see each other all that regularly, but sharing that brought us together. We supported each other financially and by showing up at events.

I last saw him a few months ago. He’d been in and out of the hospital. He and I both knew what the deal was, and we didn’t talk about it. Ours was a relationship that didn’t need a lot of words.

1. Why was the studio unwilling to give the role to author at first?

A．Paul Newman wanted it.

B．The studio powers didn’t like his agent.

C．He wasn’t famous enough.

D．The director recommended someone else.

2. Why did Paul and the author have a lasting friendship?

A．They were of the same age.

B．They worked in the same theater.

C．They were both good actors.

D．They han similar charactertics.

3. What does the underlined word “that” in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Their belief.

B．Their care for children.

C．Their success.

D．Their support for each other.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the test?

A．To show his love of films.

B．To remember a friend.

C．To introduce a new movie.

D．To share his acting experience.

【推荐1】You may have seen a lot of frogs, but if you haven't, you must have heard about frogs. However, have you heard about a frog that can kill a person?
These small brightly colored amphibians (两栖动物) live in the tropical   rain forests of Central and South America. They are best known for their ability to kill persons even though they are no more than 2 inches long. If we touch their poisonous skin without proper protection (such as gloves), we may die! For animals of this size that can be so deadly, they are certainly one of the world's most poisonous animals! Who are they? They are poison arrow frogs or, simply, poison frogs.
Poison frogs acquired their name from the Indians. The Indians catch and kill many of these frogs before hanging them upside down over a campfire. As the frogs get hot, the poison drips out of their skin. The Indians collect the poisonous liquid in a bottle and dip(蘸) the tips of their arrows into the bottle. Once the tips are dried, they are ready to be used for their arrows for hunting.
There are about 170 different types of poison arrow frogs in the world. Though most species have bright markings, either in stripes or patches, on their black bodies, some just wear noticeable single-colored coats. Their shocking skin colors-usually in yellow, red, green, blue or orange-serve as a warning sign to other animals. The sign simply says,” Stay away or pay with your life!” They certainly do not bluff.
1. We can infer that the Indians may kill poison frogs in order to______.

A．treat diseases	B．avoid being bitten
C．hunt animals	D．eat their meat

2. According to the passage,   poison frogs______.
A can grow to several meters long

A．like to change colors on the back

B．have bright-colored skin or markings

C．are on the edge of dying out

3. Which of the following best explains the last sentence of the passage?

A．Poison frogs don't want to kill others.

B．Poison frogs do not just scare others.

C．Poison frogs want to stop others from coming near.

D．Poison frogs just pretend to be dangerous animals.

【推荐2】A mythical creature is a creature that only exists in stories and myths. Many people say that they have seen creatures such as the Loch Ness Monster, yetis and mermaids. However, the existence of these creatures has never been proven. Despite this, these creatures frequently appear as characters in literature, films and television programmes. Below are some of the most well-known mythical creatures.

Yetis: There are many stories about sightings of a large, hairy creature that lives in the snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas. It is said to resemble a giant ape and walk like a man. Many scientists have visited the Himalayas in search of this giant creature, and though they have never seen a yeti, many people claim to have seen huge footprints in the snow. Due to the cold and dangerous conditions in the mountains, it is impossible for humans to explore there for long, so it is difficult to know what creatures may live there. See also Bigfoot, a similar creature from North America.

Unicorns: Old stories depict the unicorn as a horse with a long, sharp horn growing from the centre of its head. The unicorn was said to be a magical beast, with its horn able to cure any illness. The origin of myths concerning the unicorn is uncertain, though they have been mentioned in accounts of natural history and depicted in art for more than two thousand years in various cultures. See also Qilin, a similar creature from China.

Phoenixes: The phoenix is a bird that is said to be the size of an eagle and to have colourful feathers. Many stories report that the phoenix lives a long life, and that once it grows old it will make a nest and set itself on fire. After the phoenix’s body has been consumed by the flames, it will be born again from the ashes. It is thought to represent the Sun, which sets every evening and rises again each morning. Stories of the phoenix are found in countries throughout Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

There are thousands of other mythical creatures. Stories about these strange creatures will continue to be found wherever there are people to tell them.

1. The following statements are TRUE according to stories of “Yetis” except.

A．they are said to live in snow-covered mountains of the Himalayas

B．they are said to look like a big monkey and walk like a man

C．they are said to be different from Bigfoot

D．they are said to be large and hairy

2. The unicorns have been depicted as________.

A．magical beasts, with its horn able to cure any illness

B．cows with a long, sharp horn growing from the centre of its head

C．creatures that are similar to dragons from China

D．humans who turn into wolves whenever there is a full moon

3. The phoenix represents the sun, because both________.

A．set things on fire with their power	B．always rise again after they disappear
C．help people fight against evil things	D．appear in the sky every day

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Creatures in Literature	B．Strange Creatures
C．Animals in Cultures	D．Mythical Creatures

【推荐3】A long-term American study shows the importance of early education for poor children. The study is known as the Abecedarian Project. It involved more than one-hundred young children from poor families in North Carolina.

Half of the children attended an all-day program at a high-quality child-care center. The center offered educational, health and social programs. Children took part in games and activities to increase their thinking and language skills and social and emotional development. The program also included health foods for the children.

The children attended the program from when they were a few weeks old until the age of five years. The other group of children did not attend the child-care center. After the age of five, both groups attended public school.

Researchers compared the two groups of children. When they were babies, both groups had similar results in tests for mental and physical skills. However, from the age of eighteen months, the children in the educational child-care program did much better in tests.

The researchers tested the children again when they were twelve and fifteen years old. The tests found that the children who had been in the child-care center continued to have higher average test results. These children did much better on tests of reading and mathematics.

A few years ago, organizers of the Abecedarian Project tested the students again. At the time, each student was twenty-one years old. They were tested for thinking and educational ability, employment, parenting and social skills. The researchers found that the young adults who had the early education still did better in reading and mathematics tests. They were more than two times as likely to be attending college or to have completed college. In addition, the children who received early education were older on average, when their first child was born.

The study offers more evidence that learning during the first months and years of life is important for all later development.

The researchers of the Abecedarian Project believe their study shows a need for lawmakers to spend money on public early education. They believe these kinds of programs could reduce the number of children who do not complete school and are unemployed.

1. The Abecedarian Project has lasted _____.

A．almost one year

B．about five years

C．more than 20 years

D．no more than 15 years

2. Those who had been in the child-care center _____ compared with those who hadn't.

A．have their children at later ages

B．get more help from other people

C．have no parenting or social skills

D．are poorer at reading and mathematics

3. What don't we know about the Abecedarian Project after reading the text?

A．What the children learned at the child-care center.

B．How important early education is for poor children.

C．How many children are involved in the Abecedarian Project.

D．Whether lawmakers will spend money on public early education.