【推荐1】Britons are well known for the amount of tea that they drink. The average person in the UK consumes (消费) around 1.9kg of tea annually (每年). That’s around 876 cups of tea. Tea is drunk by all sections of society. But tea is not native to Britain. The vast majority of (大多数) tea is grown in India and China. So, how did it become an important part of British culture?

Tea arrived in London in the 1600s. At this time, British ships were exploring the world and came across the drink in China. It was not long before green tea was available to buy. However, this was only available to the richer sections of society.

At the beginning of the 1700s, the amount of tea arriving in Britain increased gradually (逐渐地). Black tea arrived at this time. At first people drank this tea exactly as it was in China. They soon discovered that it mixed really well with a little milk and sugar, giving the drink a special British characteristic (特色).

In the 1800s, tea was still a product enjoyed only by people with money. At this time they began to have “afternoon tea”. This involves drinking tea with a snack (甜点) around 4 pm to avoid feeling hungry between lunch and dinner. It is a still going today but has become less popular in recent times.

In the late 1800s, the price of tea decreased (下降) sharply as more tea began to arrive on ships from India and China. It was no longer a drink just for rich people. Tearooms—shops where you could buy and drink tea - started to appear across the country. People enjoyed drinking tea and socializing (社交)in these places. At the start of the 20th century, Britons began to make tea in their homes whenever they felt like it.

1. What can we learn about British tea culture from the article?

A．Most of the tea consumed in Britain is grown locally.

B．Tea was introduced to Britain from China centuries ago.

C．Black tea arrived in Britain long before green tea.

D．The British learned from Indians to add milk to tea.

2. According to the article, afternoon tea        in the UK.

A．first appeared in the 1700s

B．was originally enjoyed by the poor.

C．is usually served with a snack

D．has become more popular recently.

3. What is the article mainly about?

A．The history of tea drinking in the UK.

B．How to drink tea correctly in the UK.

C．Reasons behind British people’s love for tea

D．The development of tea products in the UK.

【推荐2】YOUR mom might cook a bowl of noodles for you on your birthday. But in the US, a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday.

Cupcakes are small, round cakes topped with frosting (糖霜). It has been an American tradition that moms bring cupcakes to the classroom to celebrate their child’s birthday.

But recently some doctors have called for this to be banned. They believe cupcakes contribute to child obesity.

Despite their good intentions, however, some people believe that experts are interfering (妨碍) with American culture. The cupcake is seen as American as apple pie — only prettier.

According to Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition at New York University, the cupcake is the most democratic (民主的) of desserts. As they are small enough for one person, you don’t have to share your cupcake with anyone — it’s all yours. They are also all the same size, so there can’t be any cries of “she got the bigger piece!”

Each bite can taste different depending on how much icing you have. It is a lesson in self-determination. Some people eat only a little of the frosting every time, others have it all in just one bite.

In recent years, eating a cupcake has become as trendy as having a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton jokingly promised on a talk show that if she was elected president, she would give everyone a cupcake on her birthday.

Ruth Reichl, editor-in-chief of Gourmet magazine, explains that the rise of the cupcake is very much about going back to American national identity in food, which is all about comfort. “People want to think about when they and their country were innocent,” she said.

1. According to the passage, it has been an American tradition that ___________.

A．a party for children on their birthday	B．a mom cooks a bowl of noodles for her children on their birthday
C．a mom makes a cupcake for her children on their birthday and brings it to the classroom	D．parents go travelling with their children on their birthday

2. Why do doctors ask people to ban cupcakes on children’s birthday?

A．Because they themselves don’t like cupcakes.

B．Because they think cupcakes are not so delicious.

C．Because they believe cupcakes will cause cries of “She got the bigger piece”.

D．Because they believe cupcakes are one of the causes to make children become fat.

3. Which of the following is Not true according to Marion Nestle?

A．The cupcake is more democratic than any other deserts in the US.

B．The cupcake is too small to share with others.

C．The sizes of cupcakes are the same so it’s equal to everyone.

D．Cupcakes will lead to child obesity so they should be banned.

4. The underlined word “trendy” in paragraph 7 probably means ________.

A．popular

B．gentle

C．delicious

D．different

5. Why did the writer mention Hillary Clinton and Ruth Reichl?

A．To arouse the readers’ attention.	B．To show that cupcakes are becoming a popular to show kindness and comfort.
C．To make a comparison between them.	D．To give readers a general idea of cupcakes.

【推荐3】Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.

A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half(53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half(46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.

“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know?” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.

Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.

1. What are the statistics in paragraph 2 about?

A．Food variety.

B．Eating habits.

C．Table manners.

D．Restaurant service.

2. Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?

A．To meet with her coworkers.

B．To catch up with her work.

C．To have some time on her own.

D．To collect data for her report.

3. What do we know about Mazoleny?

A．He makes videos for the bar.

B．He’s fond of the food at the bar.

C．He interviews customers at the bar.

D．He’s familiar with the barkeeper.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The trend of having meals alone.

B．The importance of self-reflection.

C．The stress from working overtime.

D．The advantage of wireless technology.

【推荐1】On the 1st of March Bulgarian people celebrate a traditional holiday called Baba Marta and it is related to welcoming the approaching spring. People all over the world meet spring with joy and new hopes but in Bulgaria it is saved as an ancient tradition.

On that day, Bulgarians exchange so-called "Martenitsa" and tell each other, "Chestita Baba Marta!"(Happy Grandma Marta! ). This custom is essentially to wish great health, good luck, and happiness to family and friends. The name "Martenitsa" is taken from the Bulgarian word for March, or, as a legend tells, an angry old lady called Grandma Marta-Baba Marta in Bulgarian.

In Bulgarian folklore Baba Marta is a grumpy old woman who changes her mood very rapidly and it reflects in the changeable March weather. When she is smiling the weather is sunny and warm, but if she gets angry the cold will stay for longer and it may even snow. By wearing the red and white colors of the Martenitsa, they hoped that it will make winter pass faster and bring spring.

The Martenitsa is made of twined red and white threads-woollen, silk, or cotton. The white is a symbol of strength, purity and happiness. The red is associated with health and blood.

When someone gives you a Martenitsa you should wear it either pinned on your clothes, on the hand tied around the wrist, or around your neck until you see, or a fruit tree in blossom for the first time in the season. After that you can tie it on a blossoming tree for fertility. Like kind of amulet, Martenitsa was regarded as a magic power believed to protect folks from "ill fortune", diseases and an evil eye.

The custom of wearing Martenitsa is probably one of the most interesting Bulgarian traditions and it is considered to be unique to Bulgaria. According to one of the many legends, this tradition is also related to the founding of the Bulgarian state in 681 AD.

1. What do we know about Martenitsa?

A．It marks a huge improvement on agriculture.

B．It is celebrated by Bulgarian people on May 1st.

C．It lasts from March 1st until around the end of May.

D．It is a traditional holiday connected with welcoming spring.

2. What does the underlined word "grumpy" in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Open-minded.

B．Ill-tempered.

C．Easy-going.

D．Cold-blooded.

3. How should a Martenitsa be worn correctly?

A．By pinning it on the head.	B．By drawing it on the body.
C．By tying it around the wrist.	D．By sticking it on the trousers.

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

A．To promote cultural research.	B．To tell people what to do in spring.
C．To introduce a Bulgarian tradition.	D．To show how to make the Martenitsa.

【推荐2】Table manners are important in Britain, even today.     1    . The following are some basic table manners you need to know.

Wait for the host to invite you to the table. He or she may arrange a seat for you. You'd better not take your seat before the host sits. If the elderly are around, you can help them into their seats before you take your seat.     2    . Then sit up straight, and keep your elbows off the table, too.

    3    Chew and swallow all the food in your mouth before taking more or taking a drink. It is impolite to talk with food in your mouth.

Learn to pass items. When someone says, "Please pass me the butter, reach for it only if you are the close stone to it. Take the item and place it next to your neighbour. And remember: always pass to the right.     4    

Never leave spoons in the bowl when you finish using them.     5    Never leave them in the bowl or cups.

A．Your table manners may influence people's judgment on you.

B．Never talk with your mouth full of food.

C．After you sit down, take your napkin from the table immediately, and place it neatly on your lap.

D．Never make a sound when chewing.

E．When you finish eating, soup spoons, coffee spoons and dessert spoons should be placed on the side of the plate.

F．Consider every action before you do it.

G．Continue passing the item in this manner until it reaches the person who asks for it.

【推荐3】In New York City, eating on the subway is controversial. No law bans the practice, but a Democratic state senator introduced one last week. The proposed law would ban eating on the subway system and fine first time violators $250, according to the New York Times. Supporters of the bill argue that eating on the subway attracts rates. Other say the broader target should be those who carelessly drop litter in public places, rather than those who carefully sip their coffee and eat their bread on the way to work. They also argue that “street food” is an important part of New York’s culture and history. Banning its consumption in public areas such as the subway would have negative effects.

Street food and eating in public places is along-established cultural practice in cities like New York, Beijing and Paris. But commonly, it has been traditionally thought of as what the lower classes would do. Eating in public was (and in some places, still is) associated with uncivilized, poorer people. In the 19th century, eating in public was seen as a threat to morality and public health. Putnam’s (a popular magazine at the time) stated, “Eating in public may lead to a certain freedom of manner in little ladies and gentlemen. It was something people in the Victorian era did not want to encourage. A recent New York Times article drew a link between this moral panic about street food and concern over the growing populations of Irish German, Italian and Jewish immigrants who ran food carts in the 1800s. “To Victorian society, immigrant street peddlers were called ‘hucksters’, a name that still has a bit of moral judgment to this day.”

In Australia, street food is not something you see every day. Carts selling tasty snacks only come out for festivals or market days. However, eating in public places such as parks is encouraged. Outdoor barbeques at the beach or picnics in the countryside are common. While eating on public transport is discourages, it would unlikely lead to any sort of conflict in Australia. From an Australian perspective, street food is an exciting and tasty new dining opportunity, and not one I would associate with being uncivilized.

China’s street food scene is similar to that of New York City’s: It is a culturally entrenched practice and one that adds a lot of color and flavor to the scene of streets. But whether you love eating street food, or have to eat your breakfast on the run, it’s best to be considerate when enjoying a bite in public.

1. Supporters of “street food” are against the bill, because ________.

A．eating on the subway may attract undesirable pests like mice

B．consuming food on the way to work proves their carefulness

C．banning litter-dropping is more important for the environment

D．enjoying a bite in public areas is a part of the city’s culture

2. According to paragraph 2, what can be inferred?

A．Only the uncivilized, poorer people were allowed to eat in public places.

B．Street food was seen as a threat in the 19th century because they were not heathy.

C．Eating in public was considered impolite for children in the Victorian era.

D．Immigrant street peddlers were encouraged and thus welcomed in the 1800s.

3. According to paragraph 3, what is true in Australia?

A．Eating in public like parks may be seen as ill-mannered.

B．Having food on the subway system may cause serious conflicts.

C．People may feel excited about being allowed to eat in public.

D．Tasting street food may bring much enjoyment whenever possible.

4. The word “entrenched” in paragraph 4 maybe closest in meaning to ________.

A．deep-rooted

B．eye-catching

C．well-known

D．far-reaching

【推荐1】Don’t just learn languages, fall in love with them! Language learning couldn’t be more fun and easy than with free mobile apps.

Google Translate

Most language learning apps teach you a language through exercises, while Google Translate simply tells you how to write and speak anything you run through it. This language learning app can also translate even when you don’t have an Internet connection (just be sure to download the language pack ahead of time).

Works With: iOS, Android, Web

AccellaStudy Essential Apps

AccellaStudy is extremely simple to use, and supports offline use. Different methods of learning are included in these apps, such as flash cards, audio quizzes, spaced repetition, and others. A hands-free mode is perfect if you’re driving, so you can learn without looking at your device.

Works With: iOS

Busuu

Busuu provides an app that’s easy to use and is convenient in how you work with the courses. Just choose a supported language you’d like to learn, log in, and then decide where in the course you’d like to start—Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper, or Travel.

Works With: iOS, Android, Web

Pimsleur

Interactive mobile apps are great when you can spare the attention of your eyeballs and fingers, but what if you have an idea of learning while driving or walking the dog? For that, there’s Pimsleur. It’s designed in a way that really makes you think and work hard to build your language skills.

Works With: iOS, Android, Web

Is this page helpful?

1. Which app might cost user’s money?

A．Busuu	B．Pimsleur
C．Google Translate	D．AccellaStudy Essential Apps

2. If you are a language beginner, you’d better choose to learn by ______.

A．translating anything you run through apps

B．downloading the language pack ahead of time

C．logging in Busuu and choosing the suitable course

D．keeping on learning while driving or walking the dog

3. Where can readers find the passage?

A．A language text book	B．A science magazine
C．An entertainment newspaper	D．An information website

【推荐2】See the Great Smoky Mountains in an amazing and unique way—from the air on a scenic helicopter tour! Passengers will get to fly over the Great Smoky Mountains for a birds eye view of the top sights in the area. These tours offer breathtaking views of your favorite Gatlinburg landmarks so be sure to pursue one!

Lake View Tour

Available Now until 12/21

Explore Douglas Lake as well as the Great Smoky Mountains on this 12 mile journey through the skies. Visitors will be treated to glorious views of the French Broad River and Douglas Lake. Other highlights on this tour include Smokies farmland and Douglas Dam, a World War II era dam. The experience lasts approximately 6 minutes.

Mountain Valley Tour

Available Now until 12/24

This 24 mile tour, is the perfect addition to your sightseeing adventures in the Smokies. During this flight, you’ll see the gorgeous Tennessee Valley, the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, and Bluff and Sugarloaf Mountains. This is the best flight to choose if you want to get amazing mountain views. The entire experience lasts approximately 12 minutes.

National Park Tour

Available Now until 12/28

This 50 mile National Park Tour which lasts approximately 25 minutes is an amazing adventure through the Great Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas. As for natural wonders, the tour is sure to impress and is a must-have!

Gatlinburg Tour

Available Now until 12/30

Gatlinburg, TN is one of the most gorgeous cities in the Smoky Mountain area. Take to the skies to get the best views of the beautiful city, Gatlinburg. The tour lasts for 40 miles and approximately 18 minutes.

1. What is the purpose of this text?

A．To introduce the Great Smoky Mountains’ amazing views.

B．To explain what you can see in Helicopter Tours.

C．To advertise Great Smoky Mountains Helicopter Tours.

D．To recommend some good travel destinations.

2. If you show special preference to city views, which tour should you choose?

A．Lake View Tour.	B．Mountain Valley Tour.
C．National Park Tour.	D．Gatlinburg Tour.

3. What can we infer about the tours from the text?

A．They are unforgettable for the tourists.	B．They last approximately equal time.
C．They can be taken on any day in December.	D．They cost more than common ones.