【推荐1】There is a kind of woman in the world who has the ability to accomplish the difficult challenges of their own life and to inspire others to achieve great things. They’re strong and independent, wise and successful, talented and brave, and can teach all of us a lot.

Still Alice

In this film, we can catch a glimpse of a family’s relationships, fears, concerns and struggles. The film’s main character Alice, aged 50, copes bravely with Alzheimer’s disease: she’s the perfect example of an iron-willed woman.

Julianne Moore’s amazing performance adds extra charm to this character.

Erin Brockovich

The film is about Erin Brockovich, a strong yet easily-hurt woman, but ordinary weakness is not allowed in her situation. She may not be a genius, but her persistence and concern for others allow her to achieve the impossible: a victory over a powerful and major corporation that is literally poisoning people.

When you are about to give up on something, simply watch this movie for motivation.

The Devil Wears Prada

As assistant to impossibly demanding New York fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, young Andy Sachs has landed a job that “a million girls would die for.” Unfortunately, her heaven-sent appointment as Miranda’s assistant just might be the death of her!

There’s a very classic line in the film: Let me know when your whole life goes up in smoke. That means it’s time for a promotion.

Mona Lisa Smile

This movie teaches you about dignity, courage and persistence, and the central theme is learning to have a mind of your own.

Katherine Watson is a recent UCLA graduate hired to teach art history at the all-female Wellesley College, in 1953. Determined to face up to the outdated customs of society, Katherine inspires her traditional students to challenge the lives they are expected to lead.

1. Which film would you recommend to your grandmother if she were seriously ill?

A．Erin Brockovich.

B．Still Alice.

C．Mona Lisa Smile.

D．The Devil Wears Prada.

2. What does the film Erin Brockovich convey?

A．Never ever compromise.	B．Many hands make light work.
C．Cross the bridge when you come to it.	D．Don’t put the cart before the horse.

3. What do the four films have in common?

A．Winning a number of film awards.	B．Singing high praise for great women.
C．Naming all these films after women.	D．Fighting for women’s social status.

【推荐2】Di Renjie, a judge and administrator of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), is called “China’s Sherlock Holmes” in the West. It all started in the 1950s, when Dutch sinologist (汉学家) and diplomat Robert Hans van Gulik created his own historical mystery tales featuring Judge Dee, collectively known as Judge Dee’s Mystery in the West. Since then, Van Gulik’s works have captured the imagination of audiences across Europe and the Americas.

The new TV series Judge Dee’s Mystery chronicles the life of Judge Dee. While solving various criminal cases in different places, Dee also uncovers the mystery surrounding his own birth.

Unlike traditional Chinese detective fiction which features a lot of supernatural elements, the new series values logic, reason and realism. For instance, in the case of “The Chinese Gold Murders”, a ghost ship adrift at sea with no survivors hides a “Golden Mystery”. As Judge Dee investigates, more intertwined mysteries surface.

“I was most impressed by the plot design of this case, taking pleasure in peeling back the layers to find the truth,” said actor Zhou Yiwei, who portrays Judge Dee in the series.

However, Judge Dee’s Mystery is more than a mere detective drama. Li Yunliang, the director of the series said he believes that embracing AI technology is an inevitable trend in the film and television industries. The busy streets of ancient Chang’an, for example, are brought to life using AI-generated imagery.

1. Where did the nickname “China’s Sherlock Holmes” originate from?

A．A Tang Dynasty judge.	B．A TV series in the 1950s.
C．Audiences across Europe and the Americas.	D．Historical mystery tales created by a scholar.

2. What does the word “chronicles” underlined in the second paragraph mean?

A．Describes in detail.	B．Summarizes briefly.
C．Predicts the future.	D．Compares with other events.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the new TV series Judge Dee’s Mystery?

A．It focuses entirely on Judge Dee’s criminal cases.	B．It is set in the Tang Dynasty.
C．It highlights historical accuracy rather than plot.	D．It contains a lot of supernatural elements.

4. What does Zhou Yiwei think about the plot design of the case in the series Judge Dee’s Mystery?

A．Impressive and influential.	B．Fascinating but contradictory.
C．Complex and appealing.	D．Inspiring but illogical.

【推荐3】The 4 movies released in April

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore

In the third of five planned Fantastic Beasts films, Albus Dumbledore and New Scamander fight with the dark forces of Gellert Grindelwald in the 1930s. Several scenes are set at Hogwarts, so they could reproduce some of the old magic.

It was released on 15 April in the US and Canada.

Petite Maman

The heroine of Petite Maman is eight-year-old Nelly. After her grandmother’s death, Nelly plays in the woods near her mother’s childhood home, and meets Marion. They play together every day. This astonishingly insightful and heartbreakingly hopeful cinematic poem will pierce your heart, broaden your mind and delight your soul, even as you wipe away tears.

It was released on 22 April in the US.

Downton Abbey: A New Era

BBC Culture’s Caryn James enjoyed the “elegance and glittering production values” of the first Downton Abbey film, which was released in 2019. This film is the sequel (续集) of it.

It was released on 29 April in the UK and Ireland.

Operation Mincemeat

This stranger-than-fiction film tells the story which happened during World War Ⅱ. It sounds like the plot of a far fetched espionage (间谍) novel rather than a real-life story, because one of the officers behind the plan was Lieutenant Commander Ian Fleming, later the author of the James Bond novels.

It was released on 15 April in the UK and Ireland.

1. How many Fantastic Beasts movies were scheduled to release?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

D．Six.

2. What can we infer about Nelly?

A．She has lost her mother.	B．She finds her father in the woods.
C．She has made friends with Marion.	D．She lives alone in her grandmother’s house.

3. Which movie is based on a true story?

A．Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.	B．Petite Maman.
C．Downton Abbey: A New Era.	D．Operation Mincemeat.

【推荐1】

Hi, Fred! It’s been a while since the last email. How has your semester been? I wanted to send you an email update to let you know how things have been going during my semester abroad here in Málaga, Spain. I’ve already been here for six weeks, and I feel like I am finally adapting to the culture. I’m also speaking the language more fluently. I arrived during the first week of September. The weather has been very nice. Even though it’s October, it’s still rather sunny and warm. In fact, I went to the beach and swam in the Mediterranean Sea earlier today. I am living with a very welcoming host family. I have my own private bedroom, but eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. On Sundays, we eat a big home-cooked paella for lunch. In Spain, lunch is usually the biggest meal of the day. On weekdays, I take classes at the local university. There, I met several native Spanish speakers. They have been very kind and patient with me. They have said that my Spanish has improved a lot since we first met. Now, I am more confident to use the language in other places like stores and restaurants. We have an extended weekend coming up, so a group of my friends and I are going to travel to France for four days. It’s so easy and inexpensive to travel internationally in Europe. I love it! I look forward to hearing from you soon. Like I said, don’t hesitate to stay in touch more often. Perhaps you could even come to visit! What do you think? Best -wishes, Patrick

1. What problem did Patrick meet during the first six weeks?

A．Different eating habits.	B．Getting used to the climate.
C．Adapting to a new culture.	D．Communicating with the host family.

2. What does Patrick plan to do for the coming weekend?

A．Visit new friends.	B．Take a short trip.
C．Take extra classes.	D．Stay with the host family.

3. How does Patrick feel about his stay in Spain?

A．Disappointed	B．Proud.
C．Regretful.	D．Satisfied.

4. Why is Patrick writing to Fred?

A．To invite Fred to visit Spain.	B．To get advice from Fred
C．To share how to learn Spanish.	D．To update Fred on life abroad.

【推荐2】Channel One News

ChannelOne.com is by far the most comprehensive and informative site for teens. Not only does it keep them up with the latest world news, but it offers homework help, fun quizzes, music videos and movie reviews. Channel One News also covers sports and includes a section where teens can write their own blogs,

Teens Health

This great website covers anything to do with teens’ health. It approaches teen health in a non-clinical way concerning physical, mental and emotional well-being. The “body” section discusses skin and body art, and the “mind” section deals with depression and families among other issues. Diets and recipes are offered as well as discussions about school, jobs and alcohol.

Driving Rules Network

Getting ready to drive a car is usually on the minds of teens. Driving Rules Network is a good place to start. It is part of the Online Study Guide for Student Drivers, which is an interactive site with practice questions and quizzes. Driving Rules Network covers driving laws including state by state laws and study guides. Teens can be well prepared when taking the drivers’ test or applying for their learner’s permit by making use of this site.

Science News

Science News is designed as a science news site for young teens though the information they provide is interesting enough for anyone. Articles covering space, fossils, physics, weather, environment and many other things are offered. It’s a great place for science project ideas. Also on hand are brain teasers, inventing puzzles and science fiction composition exercises.

1. Which website can teenagers turn to if they have difficulty in doing their homework?

A．Channel One News.	B．Teens Health.
C．Driving Rules Network.	D．Science News.

2. What can users do on Teens Health?

A．Write a blog.	B．Consult a doctor.
C．Discuss about school.	D．Learn some driving laws.

3. What do the four websites have in common?

A．They provide puzzles.

B．They are for teenagers.

C．They concern teens’ safety.

D．They benefit teens’ physical health.

【推荐3】Here are some of the interesting inventions in 2021. Which one are you most excited about?

Purrble

It comes to the rescue for anxious kids. This toy has seven sensors that respond to touch. Purrble’s heartbeat speeds up when you play with the toy. Then you comfort it by petting it, which slows its heartbeat down. It calms you too. In a study of 20 families, 19 parents said Purrble helped their kids calm down.

Revolve Air

Andrea Mocellin is a former sports-car designer, who is using his skills to build a wheelchair called Revolve Air that has wheels with a hexagon (六边形) structure. And they fold up, which allows the chair to take up 600 less space than a standard folding wheelchair. Mocellin aims to get it out by mid-2022. He has nearly 12,000 customers on his waiting list.

OrCam Read

Reading is a challenge for millions of people who may struggle with poor eyesight or other problems. But with computer vision and artificial intelligence, OrCam Read can read any piece of text aloud.Users aim its laser frame (激光框) at a page of a book, a menu, an advertisement, or a screen. Then press a button. After that it instantly starts reading aloud, and can also read text in multiple languages.

Robin the Robot

A girl, a pneumonia patient, in a clinic had barely eaten for two days. The staff took it into her room. After chatting and playing games, Robin said goodbye, promising to return only if the girl agreed to eat. Sure enough, she dug in. With big eyes and a cheerful personality, Robin is designed to help kids in hospitals and clinics.
1. What’s the advantage of Revolve Air?

A．It’s impressive in shape.	B．It’s fit for use in a car.
C．It’s been widely used.	D．It’s convenient to carry.

2. What should the users do first before OrCam Read starts to read?

A．Test their eyesight.	B．Scan the text.
C．Use their cell phones.	D．Speak their mother tongue.

3. Which can communicate with their users?

A．Purrble and OrCam Read.	B．Revolve Air and Purrble.
C．Purrble and Robin the Robot.	D．OrCam Read and Revolve Air.