【推荐1】There’s been lots of concern recently about the potential dangers of microwave popcorn (爆米花), but is this concern founded, or just overmuch fear-spreading? The answer is that many of the chemicals that caused worry in earlier decades have been removed from microwave popcorn, but some critics still are not satisfied.

“You may consider popcorn to be a low-calorie, high-fiber snack, but microwave popcorn isn’t a healthy choice,” explains nutrition expert Dan DeFigio. That’s because microwave popcorn bags were coated with perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) to prevent oil substance from leaking out. One particular type of PFC, known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been linked to certain cancers, but the American Cancer Society says the evidence is unsure and more research is being done about this.

Nevertheless, in response to concerns about PFCs, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) worked with popcorn makers back in 2011 to remove PFOA from their packaging. Three more PFCs were banned in the next five years. So today’s microwave popcorn doesn’t have these chemicals, but critics say that the alternatives could cause problems as the old ones, but less is known about them.

That’s not the only problem, however. The chemical that for decades lent buttery deliciousness to popcorn has also been connected in rare cases with major lung damage. Known as diacetyl (二乙酰), it’s long been a documented problem with workers in popcorn making facilities, but also can be risky for people who just eat the snack a lot. A 2007 study published in the journal Critical Reviews found that more than 80 percent of chemical release happened when the bag was opened post-popping. Although diacetyl has been removed from most products, some critics claim that the alternative to diacetyl is also harmful.

Most of the exposure (接触) to diacetyl came from inbreathing rather than eating popcorn. Therefore, experts recommend at least waiting for the bag to cool before you open it to reduce potentially harmful chemical exposure. Better yet, make your own fresh at home with an air popper. If you like to flavor it, add organic butter or some cheese.

1. What can we know about PFOA from the text?

A．PFOA has been removed from PFCs.

B．PFOA can stop the leak of nutrition.

C．PFOA in popcorn bags leads to cancer.

D．PFOA doesn’t exist in Popcorn bags in America currently.

2. According to the text, who are most probably exposed to diacetyl?

A．Critics claiming diacetyl is harmful.

B．Workers making popcorn in factories.

C．People making popcorn with an air popper.

D．Consumers eating microwave popcorn occasionally.

3. What does the last paragraph intend to tell us?

A．How to flavor popcorn.

B．How to make popcorn safer.

C．How to make popcorn at home.

D．How to find alternatives to diacetyl.

4. What is the best title of the text?

A．Is Popcorn a Healthy Choice?

B．Should We Ban Microwave Popcorn?

C．Is Microwave Popcorn Really Dangerous?

D．Should PFCs Be Removed from Microwave Popcorn?

【推荐2】If it really is what’s on the inside that counts, then a lot of thin people might be in trouble.

Some doctors now think that the internal fat surrounding important organs like the heart liver could be as dangerous as the external fat which can be noticed more easily.

“Being thin doesn’t surely mean you are not fat”, said Dr Jimmy Bell at Imperial College.

Since 1994, Bell and his team have scanned nearly 800 people with MRI machines to create “fat maps” showing where people store fat.

According to the result, people who keep their weight through diet rather than exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat, even if they are slim.

Even people with normal Body Mass Index scores can have surprising levels of fat deposits inside. Of the women, as many as 45 percent of those with normal BMI scores (20 to 25) actually had too high levels of internal fat. Among men, the percentage was nearly 60 percent.

According to Bell, people who are fat on the inside are actually on the edge of being fat. They eat too many fatty and sugary foods, but they are not eating enough to be fat. Scientists believe we naturally store fat around the belly first, but at some point, the body may start storing it elsewhere.

Doctors are unsure about the exact dangers of internal fat, but some think it has something to do with heart disease and diabetes (糖尿病). They want to prove that internal fat damages the body's communication systems.

The good news is that internal fat can be easily burned off through exercise or even by improving your diet. “If you want to be healthy, there is no shortcut. Exercise has to be an important part of your lifestyle,” Bell said.

1. What is this passage mainly about?

A．Thin people may be fat inside.	B．Internal fat is of no importance.
C．Internal fat leads to many diseases.	D．Thin people don't have diabetes.

2. Doctors have found _____.

A．the exact dangers of internal fat

B．being slim is not dangerous at all

C．internal fat is the cause of heart disease

D．being slim doesn’t mean you are not fat inside

3. From the last paragraph, we can find that _____.

A．internal fat leading to disease has been proved

B．thin people usually have internal fat even if they are slim

C．it is easier to burn off internal fat than external fat

D．exercise plays an important role in people’s life for keeping healthy

4. The underlined part “shortcut” in the last paragraph means _____.

A．a long road	B．an easy way
C．a clear difference	D．a short distance

【推荐3】Just like other vitamins and minerals, vitamin D plays a key role in many important body functions.    1    Not getting enough vitamin D can lead to weak bones, muscle weakness, and even cancer.Besides getting 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure each day, consider including the following foods into your meal plan to help your vitamin D intake.

Dairy products

    2    Cow milk provides your body with about 50% of your vitamin D daily requirements.Apart from milk, consider having cheese, butter, yogurt, and buttermilk.Look for low-fat versions if you are on a diet.

Eggs

Eggs are a superfood.    3    They contain lots of protein, vitamin A,vitamin B12, vitamin B6, calcium and vitamin D.One egg provides your body with 11% of your daily recommended value of vitamin D.Isn‘t it a reason for having some eggs for breakfast or lunch?

Caviar(鱼子酱).

Caviar contains vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, iron, and protein. If you are a big caviar fan, why not make it a part of your weekly meal plan? There are many ways to eat caviar.    4    At the same time, avoid buying fake caviar.

Lacking vitamin D is a big problem these days since we tend to spend more time in the offices during the day.     5    Include these three foods in your meal plan to make sure your vitamin D intake is not low.

A．Eat your meals with enough vitamins.

B．But make sure you do not boil or bake it.

C．Cow‘s milk is an excellent provider of vitamin

D． That is the main reason why we lack vitamins.

E．This is because they contain so many vitamins and minerals.

F．Whenever possible, try to walk outdoors to get your vitamin D.

G．We need to meet our vitamin D needs to avoid serious health issues.

【推荐1】The National Council for the Traditional Arts (NCTA) is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to the presentation and documentation of folk and traditional arts in the United States. NCTA presents the nation’s very finest artists in festivals, tours, international cultural exchange, workshops, demonstrations and exhibitions, media productions, school programs, and other activities. It works in partnership with communities across America to establish new, sustainable traditional arts events that deliver lasting social and cultural benefits.

NCTA seeks Festival Support Staff for 2020 festival season to provide office and on-site support for three large-scale festivals. Positions available include:

Programming Administration Assistant

This is the perfect position for someone with an interest in history, arts management, cultural anthropology, and related fields.

Responsibilities include programming research, marketing and promotion, and event organization. The position may also be responsible for press and photo document management,   social media updates, and customer service.

Qualified applicants will be detail-oriented(细心的) and organized, with excellent people skills and a general interest in the traditional arts. Computer literacy is essential. Contract runs May 1 - December 15.

Festival Assistant

This is the perfect position for someone with an interest in arts, culture, and event logistics(后勤) who enjoys operating in a fast-paced, collegial small-office environment.

The position provides festival staff support. Responsibilities include document creation, travel purchase, logistics support, data entry, and database maintenance.

Qualified applicants will be outgoing and open-minded, with effective oral and written communication skills and computer literacy. Prior experience with festival planning is preferred. Contract runs May 18 - October 30.

Production Associate

The Production Associate is a key member of the production team who will work closely with the Production Manager on all festival audio, backline, and lighting needs, from planning through implementation(实施).

The role will contribute to the following key tasks: advancing technical needs with artists, making tech books, accurate record-keeping, and working with NCTA and Festival staff to insure smooth on-site operations.

Qualified applicants will be responsible and adaptable, with excellent people skills. Prior experience in concert production is preferred. Contract runs June 15 - October 30.

All Positions: Experience with database entry, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Acrobat is required. Must have a clean driving record, or reliable transportation. Some evenings, weekends, and travel required.

All positions are full time with contract. Deadline is April 20, 2020.

More details and how to apply at: http//ncta-America.com.

1. According to the passage, NCTA ____.

A．focuses on cultural and art education

B．keeps a record of American traditional arts

C．enjoys economic benefits from communities

D．aims to help the artists in art-related activities

2. The programming administration assistant will probably_____.

A．plan and design program

B．create social networking websites

C．deal with complaints from customers

D．photograph newspapers and documents

3. What is the requirement for all the three positions?

A．Driving skills.

B．Communication skills.

C．Working experience.

D．Knowledge on traditional arts.

4. Once employed, one will _________.

A．work full time

B．travel every week

C．start the job in May

D．learn database design

【推荐2】One of the most traditional British holidays is the seaside holiday. Typically, families travel to British seaside towns.

In the late 1970s, air travel became affordable for the average family, and more and more British people started travelling abroad for their summer holidays. After all, the British weather isn’t very good, even in summer.

In the 1980s and 1990s, British young people became wealthier. They started to go abroad in groups. Once at their destination they socialised with other young people and had one long party.

British holidaying habits have begun to change, however. The UK now has a warmer climate than before, so people don’t always feel they need to go overseas. Also, the world seems a less certain place as interconnected economies (经济) rise and fall, which means that the cost of foreign holidays is less predictable than before. The domestic (国内的) tourism industry — when people go on holiday in their own country — is healthier than it has been in decades. UK newspapers have even invented a new word: a “staycation”.

In some ways, therefore, the UK has come full circle. There is now an increased appreciation among Britons for the diversity of the UK. It is not just the geography, which ranges from the flat fens (沼泽) of East Anglia to the valleys of Wales to the mountains of Scotland, which is diverse. And it is not just the diversity of climate-based activities on offer, which range from surfing in the warm southwest of England, to hillwalking and skiing in the north, it is also the diversity of the cultures in the UK that is beginning to be of interest to domestic tourists. People forget sometimes that there are different accents, languages, traditions, cuisines and peoples across all the parts of the UK.

1. Why do more British people take their holidays in their own country?

A．The Internet makes them closer.

B．They are wealthier and more sociable.

C．The global climate is getting much warmer.

D．The expense on foreign holidays is unsteady.

2. What does the underlined word “staycation” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．A vacation spent at home.	B．A healthier style of living.
C．A new way to spend holiday.	D．A fashionable tourism industry.

3. Which is the best heading that matches Paragraph 5?

A．Flights of fancy.	B．Sun, sea and sand.
C．The length and width.	D．Footloose and fancy-free.

4. What’s the purpose of the author in writing the passage?

A．To prove the UK has diverse scenery.

B．To show the UK starts to discover itself.

C．To tell the development of the United Kingdom.

D．To explain why the British spend holidays inland.

【推荐3】September usually marks the start of a new season—but what you call that season depends on where you are and whom you ask.

In the UK, people will tell you it’s “autumn”. However, cross the Atlantic and you’ll find that people use both “fall” and “autumn” interchangeably when referring to this time of year. In the English language, the season has two widely accepted names. Why does it have to be so confusing?

According to Dictionary.com, “fall” isn’t a modern nickname (昵称) that followed the more traditional “autumn”. The two terms were actually first recorded within a few hundred years of each other.

Before either word appeared in the word list of English, the seasons separating the cold and warm months didn’t have common names. The main thing people did during the pre-winter period was gather and collect crops, so it was called “harvest” in Old English.

Then, in the 1600s, more and more people left their farmland and moved into cities. Without farming, the term “harvest” became less useful to city dwellers (居民). Some English speakers needed another name for the season. They knew leaves fell from trees during that season, so people called the season “the fall of the leaf”, or “fall” for short. But at the end of the 1600s, autumn, from the French word “autompne” and the Latin “autumnus”, was introduced in England and overtook (超过) “fall” as the standard term for the harvesting season.

At the same time, British settlers were making their first long journey to North America. They brought the words “fall” and “autumn” with them. Today, using both words to describe the season is a uniquely American phenomenon.

1. Which can best describe the feeling when “fall” and “autumn” are used?

A．Puzzling

B．Interesting

C．Shocking

D．Inspiring

2. Why a new word “Fall” was created?

A．A short name for autumn was wanted.

B．A normal name for the season was wanted.

C．A proper name to describe crops was needed.

D．A different name to replace harvest was needed.

3. What do we know about “Autumn”?

A．It is a French word.	B．Farmers like using it.
C．It means harvesting crops.	D．It appears later than “fall”.

4. Which can be the best title for the text?

A．Harvest and Fall	B．Falling for Autumn
C．The Season of September	D．Searching for the Origin