【推荐1】A large number of people want to grow their own garden, but they simply do not have the room. Do not worry. There is a solution. Consider container gardening.

The great thing about container gardening is that you can use a variety of different containers. You simply have to use your imagination. You could create a beautiful garden with things such as cement blocks, hanging baskets, clay pots, or window boxes. There are so many options when it comes to container gardening; it is only limited by your imagination.

Of course, you will want to take the following into consideration when you are ready to begin container gardening, in order for it to be successful.

First, you should avoid any containers that have been used to store chemicals, as well as treated wood. This could lead to the sudden death of your flowers and lead to the failure of your container gardening.

With any container that you choose, you need to ensure that it allows the water in it to drain when necessary. So it may be important for you to create holes in the container to help this along. You should also make sure the containers are placed on a raised surface, not upon the floor, to ensure the best possible drainage.

Ensure that the containers you choose are appropriate (合适的) in size for the plants you choose. You need to prevent the roots from overgrowing the container.

If you like fresh veggies, you could consider container gardening with vegetables. This requires a process that differs from that of flower gardening. Talk to an employee at a supply store in your area. They can help you choose the right containers for the vegetables you are wishing to grow.

1. Which of the following may be improper materials for container gardening?

A．Cement blocks.	B．Treated wood.
C．Window boxes.	D．Clay pots.

2. What does the underlined word “drain” in Paragraph 5 mean?

A．To pick up.	B．To give up.
C．To flow away.	D．To gain popularity.

3. Compared to flower gardening, what do we know about vegetable gardening?

A．It needs special containers.	B．It requires more time.
C．It demands more water.	D．It seems much easier.

4. Who may be interested in the text?

A．People who have a big yard.

B．Citizens who enjoy gardening.

C．Farmers who are good at gardening.

D．Children who like outdoor activities.

【推荐2】How to prepare for a test

In your school, tests maybe an important part of your regular classroom work.     1     If taking a test worries you, the good news is that there are many easy ways for you to prepare before it. Here’s how to get started

Make a plan

    2     This might mean devoting yourself to studying for 30 minutes for a few afternoons the week before the test. Or maybe you have more time on the weekends and want to plan extra study time then. Whatever you decide, circle out the time on your calendar so you remember.

Be organized

Studying for a test will be easier if you organize your learning materials and notes ahead of time for each of your classes.     3     Consider using a separate folder (文件夹) for each subject. You can keep them at home, at school and in your backpack.

Focus on the right material

If you have learned a lot of material, first ask your teacher what information will be on the test. Use the study guide handed out by your teacher to help you figure out what you need to focus on most.     4     You may go through your notes and write key concepts on a flash card to test yourself. If there is something that confuses you, mark it and ask your teacher later.

Have enough sleep

Sleep is key to doing well on tests, as it improves memory recall and the ability to focus. It is also of great importance to store memories.     5     To maximize performance, you should try to get at 8 hours of sleep before a big exam, and no less than 6 hours. But what if you can’t fall asleep? To ensure a restful night before your exam, make sure you study the right way and eat and drink the correct things. If you still have trouble in falling asleep, try meditation （冥想） and relaxation techniques to help you deal with worries and get to sleep.

A．If you stay up late, you likely won’t remember much of what you studied.

B．However, working on easier questions in a later section is a good choice.

C．Next, decide how you want to review the material

D．You don’t want to lose focus during the test due to lack of sleep.

E．This way, the information will be there for you when you need to review it.

F．They are used to ensure students’ understanding of the material studied

G．Once you have a test date, schedule your study time.

【推荐3】Humans were made for walking. With our upright posture and strong leg muscles, our bodies were actually designed with walking in mind which makes it such perfect exercise. It’s kind to our bodies and great for our waistlines.     1    

Maybe you already love to walk, but you’re getting tired of tracing the same old route day after day, or maybe you’re new to walking and aren’t sure how to get started.     2    Ask yourself, what do you want to get out of walking aside from the health benefits? Do you want to meet other people? See new places? Get out into the countryside or explore a new city? Knowing your goals will help you decide on the type of walk you want to do.

If making friends and socializing is your goal, call up your friends and schedule walks with them.    3     Many malls have groups that come every day, or every weekend, to “walk the mall.” These groups are always happy to include one more walker!

    4    Many large cities have incredible gardens and parks that include quiet walking trails getting you off the beaten path. Thanks to the Rails to Trails program, railways across the country are being transformed into scenic walking paths that are a perfect way to seek calmness.

From the benefits to your heart to your overall happiness, walking is just plain good for you.    5    It’s a fantastic way to get to know a place by the power of your own two feet.

A．Headed to a new city?

B．This month, pick up a map and start walking.

C．Ask your friends where they like to walk and just go there.

D．Either way, it's time to accept the idea of walking with a purpose.

E．And best of all, it’s a great way to see new things and meet new people!

F．Recently, science has proved that walking is good for your body shape.

G．If you're after walking alone, ask about local hikes that get you out of town and into the countryside.

【推荐1】Until the 1990s coffee was rarely served in China except at luxury hotels aimed at foreigners. When Starbucks opened its first outlet there in 1999, it was far from clear that the country’s avid tea-drinkers would take to such a different-and usually more costly- source of caffeine. Starbucks tried to attract customers unused to coffee’s bitter taste by promoting milk and sugar-heavy concoctions(调和) such as Frappuccinos.

But coffee has become fashionable among the middle class in China. Starbucks now has about 3, 800 outlets in China- more than in any other country outside America. Statista, a business-intelligence portal(门户网站), says the roast coffee market in China is growing by more than 10 % a year. Starbucks and its rivals see big opportunities for expanding there.

So too, however, do home-grown competitors. A major new presence is Luckin Coffee, Beijing- based chain. Since its founding less than two years ago, it has opened more than 2,300 outlets. On May 17th Luckin’s initial public offering on the Nasdaq stockmarket raised more than $570m, giving it a value of about $4bn.

Luckin’s remarkable growth is sign of change. No longer do Chinese consumers see coffee as such a luxury. Most of Luckin’s outlets are merely kiosks where busy white-collar workers pick up their drinks, having ordered them online. Super-fast delivery can also be arranged through the company’s app. Independent coffee shops are springing up. The growth is striking given the country’s reputation for its tea-drinking culture where many residents like to relax in teahouses sipping tea served gracefully.

But the two markets are different. The teahouses tend to cater to older people who like to spend long hours playing mahjong and gossiping. At the coffee shops it is rare to see anyone over 40. Young people use them for socialising, but much of their interaction is online -sharing photos of their drinks and of the coffee-making equipment. An option on the Chinese rating app Dianping allows users to search for wanghong ("internet viral") coffee houses: ones with particularly photogenic decor(照片装饰) where better to sip and We Chat?

1. How did Starbucks try to appeal to Chinese consumers?

A．By reducing the price slightly.	B．By introducing the benefits of coffee.
C．By making coffee taste not so bitter.	D．By promoting its products effectively.

2. What does Luckin Coffee’s growth suggest?

A．People tend to like coffee’s bitter taste.

B．People’s views on coffee-drinking have changed.

C．People in China can afford coffee now.

D．Tea is no longer part of Chinese culture.

3. What does the underlined word “kiosks” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Places where people can drink beer.

B．Restaurants where food can be taken away.

C．Shops aimed at people who like drinking coffee.

D．Small shops or stores where newspapers and drinks are sold.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Coffee is taking off in China.

B．Tea-drinking is not popular.

C．Coffee or tea, which do you prefer?

D．Coffee has become people’s favorite in China.