【推荐1】When it comes to popular symbols of marriage, one can not look past the wedding ring. The wedding ring serves as a perfect symbol of everlasting love — a ring is a circle and thus has no beginning or end, representing the never-ending union of marriage. Wedding rings have long and rich histories.

Evidence suggests that wedding rings were used in ancient Egypt around 6,000 years ago. However, unlike the metals and gemstones used today, they were crafted from materials such as reeds, leather or bone. In the centuries that followed, the wedding ring tradition was picked up in the West, where it spread first in ancient Rome and Greece, subsequently throughout Europe during the Middle Ages and eventually to Eastern culture. Throughout history, the circular shape of the ring has endured, and so has the tradition of wearing it on the fourth finger of the left hand. The latter practice stemmed from an ancient belief that a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. Although this belief has since been proved false, the custom has persisted.

Regarding customs surrounding wedding rings, there was a time when only the bride wore a wedding ring. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that the practice of grooms wearing rings gained popularity. This change was influenced by soldiers going off to war, who wore rings as reminders of their loved ones waiting for them at home. Today, the exchange of wedding rings remains an integral part of the wedding ceremony, symbolizing the commitment and love shared between two individuals embarking on a life together.

Wedding rings hold a symbolic significance that binds the two members of a married couple. In an ever-changing world, the wedding ring stands as an ancient tradition that is likely to continue for generations to come, reflecting the timeless and eternal love celebrated through marriage.

1. What is the main reason wedding rings are considered symbols of marriage?

A．They are made of precious materials.	B．They have profound histories.
C．They are worn on left hands.	D．They have circular shapes.

2. According to the passage, what is an example of a common myth instead of a fact?

A．Women were wearing wedding rings long before men were.

B．One finger on the left hand contains a vein leading to the heart.

C．Both ancient Romans and Egyptians wore the ring on the same finger.

D．The wedding ring tradition began in Egypt thousands of years ago.

3. Which of the following aspects of a wedding ring is NOT discussed in the passage?

A．How the tradition of it spread around the world.

B．What couples do with their wedding rings.

C．How to choose suitable wedding rings.

D．Materials used to make early rings.

4. How does the author feel about the tradition of wedding rings?

A．It will most likely last forever.	B．It has already fallen out of date.
C．It should be taken more seriously.	D．It holds no significance in modern society.

【推荐3】Scientists in Michigan have developed a forest fire alarm system, known as MC-TENG, This battery-free device hangs like a decoration from a tree and harvests all the energy it needs from the natural swinging of branches. It not only can detect when a blaze begins but also call for help. “Such a sensor could watch the woods for a decade without human attention,” said Changyong Cao, lead author and engineer at Michigan State University, who led the team behind the new device.

For Cao and his team. the disastrous forest fires in recent years across the American West, Brazil and Australia were driving forces behind this new technology. Cao believes that early and quick response to forest fires will make the task of putting them out easier, significantly reducing the damage and loss of property and life.

Traditional forest fire detection methods include satellite monitoring and watch towers, among others, which have high labor and financial costs in return for low efficiency. Current remote sensor technologies are becoming more common, but primarily rely on battery technology for power. “Although solar cells have been widely used for portable electronics or self-powered systems, it is challenging to equip these in a forest because of the shading or covering of thick leaves,” said Yaokun Pang, co-author at Cao's lab.

The simplest version of the TENG device consists of two cylindrical sleeves of unique material that fit within one another. The main sleeve is anchored from above while the bottom sleeve is free to slide up and down and move side to side. When a tree branch swings, the top and bottom cylinders move together and apart, producing a current. That current is small, yet easily enough to power temperature sensors to detect the temperature changes signaling a fire.

Cao says his team's new model has been tested over long time periods in the real world, and the device is ready. All he needs now, he says, “is just the money to build more of them.”

1. What does the underlined word “blaze” mean in paragraph 1?

A．Flame.

B．Smoke alarm.

C．Disaster.

D．Lightning strike.

2. What advantage does the TENG device have over the traditional detection technologies?

A．It costs more.	B．It is better protected.
C．It uses more labor.	D．It is more adaptable

3. What does paragraph 4 mainly tell us about the TENG device?

A．How it works.	B．What it consists of
C．Where it is anchored	D．How it produces electricity.

4. How did Cao feel about the practical function of the TENG device?

A．Cautious.

B．Confident.

C．Worried.

D．Doubtful.

【推荐3】How to Teach Your Kids to Enjoy Hiking

Hiking is one of my family’s favorite things to do. Ever since my kids were babies, we’ve been getting out of the house on most weekends to explore and get exercise and fresh air.

A good, long family hike gives us a sense of accomplishment.     1     It brings us closer with shared memories and experiences. And it is also a great way to pass time without spending money.

But how do we do it?     2     They express surprise at my small children’s ability to walk 10-mile trail (崎岖小路) or their willingness to climb 2, 800-foot mountains. Their children don’t even want to walk to school, let alone walk for hours in rough conditions. So what’s the secret?

I’ve put together a list of the things that work. Not every family’s list will look the same, but for anyone starting out hiking with kids, I recommend you to keep these suggestions in mind.

Eat before you leave and carry food. It’s common for us to have a quick bite before we strike out on a trail. I always pack snacks (零食) like nuts, fruit, chocolate, and cookies.     3    

Pack lots of water. There is nothing more miserable (痛苦的) than hiking while thirsty. I let my kids drink as much as they want because they can always stop to relieve themselves along the way.

Show kids a route map.     4     Maps are perfect for them to understand that. I always take some time before we leave, to show them where we are, where we’re headed, and what the journey will look like. Point out landmarks that they will see. We talk about how long it will take so they don’t ask me, “Are we there yet?”

    5    It’s about steady progress. The last thing you want is a burnt-out child who can barely continue. So set a slow, comfortable pace, and have fun!

A．I’d like to say it is not an easy question.

B．Remember, it’s not about the speed.

C．It creates opportunities for conversation.

D．Give them encouragement along the way.

E．Kids like knowing where they are on the earth.

F．I often get this question from friends and strangers.

G．But these are served at official stops, not just handed out freely.

【推荐1】Basketball, baseball and soccer are classic sports that people will always enjoy. And yet we keep changing popular games like these in new ways to keep them fresh.

Underwater hockey

This game is played in swimming pools with two teams of six players. Each player wears flippers (蛙鞋) and uses a stick to hit a puck (圆盘). Each team earns points by hitting the puck into its underwater goal. Other team members must be ready to take the puck when a team member goes up for air. That makes underwater hockey a true team sport.

Cycleball

Another fun game to watch, cycleball is like indoor soccer on wheels but with only two male players for each team. Each player rides a special bike designed for the game. Like soccer, a team must put the ball in a goal. However, there is a catch. The ball can only be touched with the bikes’ wheels or the players’ heads. This game requires a lot of practice to learn the skills needed.

Chessboxing

A sport can also be revised by mixing it with another game. In chessboxing, two players compete with each other on the chess board and in the ring. First, their minds are tested in a game of chess. Then they use their strength in a round of boxing. They repeat this for 11 rounds. The winner beats the loser in chess, knocks him out while boxing or gets more boxing points.

Bossaball

This exciting sport is part volleyball and part soccer. But unlike both of those sports, players jump up and down throughout the game. That’s because it’s played on an inflatable (可充气的) volleyball court with a trampoline on either side of the net. One player bounce on the trampoline while up to four others stand around it. A team can touch the ball six times before sending it back across the net. Each player may touch the ball once with arms or twice with other body parts.

Though these sports may not be common, give them a look or even a try.

1. What can we learn about Cycleball according to the text?

A．Cycleball has nothing in common with soccer.

B．Male or female players cooperate with each other to earn scores.

C．The players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or feet.

D．Cycleball is designed for disabled players as they have to ride special bikes.

2. According to the text, at most how many players in all can take part in a Bossaball match?

A．10.

B．8.

C．6.

D．4.

3. Which of the four sports is NOT a team game?

A．Underwater hockey.	B．Cycleball.
C．Chessboxing.	D．Bossaball.

【推荐2】When Miss Lyons finished typing the rules, it was almost class time, and I was anxious to get down to the gym. I took the rules and made my way down the stairs. Just inside the door there was a bulletin board for notices. With thumb tacks (图钉) I fastened the rules to this board and then walked across the gym. I was sure in my own mind that the game was good, but it needed a real test. I felt that its success or failure depended largely on the way that the class received it.

The first member of the class to arrive was Frank Mahan. He was a southerner from North Carolina, had played tackle (阻截队员) on the football team, and was the ringleader of the group. He saw me standing with a ball in my hand, and perhaps guessed that another experiment was to be tried. He looked up at the basket on one end of the gallery, and then his eyes turned to me. He stared at me for an instant, and then looked towards the other end of the gym. Perhaps he was nervous, because his cry sounded like a death knell (丧钟) as he said, “Huh! Another new game!”

When the class arrived, I called the roll and told them that I had another game, which I felt sure would be good. I promised them that if this was a failure, I would not try any more experiments. I then read the rules from the bulletin board and proceeded to organize the game. There were eighteen men in the class; I selected two captains and had them choose sides. When the teams were chosen, I placed the men on the floor. There were three forwards, three centers, and three backs on each team. I chose two of the center men to jump, then threw the ball between them. It was the start of the first basketball game and the finish of the trouble with that class.

1. What was the author’s goal in introducing a new game to the class?

A．To popularize a new sport.	B．To test the success of the game.
C．To occupy the class during gym time.	D．To impress the students with his skills.

2. Who was the ringleader of the group?

A．Miss Lyons.	B．Frank Mahan.
C．A center man.	D．The author himself.

3. What was the initial reaction of Frank Mahan towards the game?

A．Doubtful.	B．Excited.
C．Indifferent.	D．Supportive.

4. What was the outcome of the author’s new basketball game?

A．It was satisfactory.	B．It was a failure.
C．It received mixed reviews.	D．It remained to be seen.

【推荐3】Ping-pong is also known as table tennis.     1     And this sport uses a ball and paddles(乒乓球拍). When doing the sport, players, either one or two per team, stand at each end of the table. And they need to serve(发)the ball and hit it over the net using the paddle.

    2     It may be simply held with a hand around only the handle. The ping-pong paddle can also be held with three fingers around the handle. When holding it this way, a player will put one of the three fingers behind the face of the paddle, for controlling and supporting it.

The ping-pong table is usually about 2.7 meters long, 1.53 meters wide, and 0.76 meters high.    3    Whatever the size, there is a net dividing the table. And the table has a surface often either green or blue in color.

During the game, a player first serves the ping-pong ball across the net. The ball, golf-ball sized but very light, has to be returned.    4     In each round of the game, who first gets 11 points wins that round. In doubles and singles table tennis, the rules are the same.

Ping-pong was invented in England near the end of the 19th century. This sport has become an international game since the 1950s. It reached the level of the Olympics in 1988.    5    

A．It’s a sport played on a table.

B．The 2021 Olympics were held in July.

C．The paddle can be used in different ways.

D．It is suitable for those without high athletic skills.

E．And it has been played in the Olympics ever since.

F．But there are also smaller ones designed for little kids.

G．One side may score a point when the other fails to return the ball.