【推荐1】Ways to Stop Doubting Yourself

What if I don't pass this test? Are my friends just hanging out with me because they feel bad for me?     1     Stop! The self-doubt stops right here. Here are some ways to beat the negative self-talk and start believing in yourself.

●Be Aware.

The first step towards overcoming anything is to become aware of it. By becoming aware that we are doubting ourselves, we can sooner confirm it and put a stop to it. As we realize our self-doubt, we will get quicker at confirming and stopping it. See?     2    

●Take a Break.

Sometimes it is our mind that goes against us. Whenever you find yourself having doubts, take a break.

    3     Ask yourself what made you get into this goal. It will get you to realize why you started it in the first place.

●    4    

Too often we determine how we feel about ourselves according to what other people feel about us. Our self-worth is just dependent upon what we think of ourselves .So we must break free of the chains that tell us our self-worth is recognized by other people.

●Find Support.

    5     Find support through friends and read other inspirational websites. Sometimes we all need to hear something that will get us moving again. We just need to reach out to others who understand us.

A．Take It Slow.

B．Free Yourself.

C．Give yourself time to think.

D．It’s not always easy doing things alone.

E．This is already a step in the right direction.

F．What if I never figure out my life’s purpose?

G．Because once you give up, no one can help you.

【推荐3】Ever step off the plane, and realize that you left something behind?     1     Here is a way to get your item back from the plane.

If you are still in the terminal (航站楼) near the plane you get off and time allows, return to the gate and find an agent. Show your boarding pass to one of the agents.     2     Since gate agents can get in touch with the workers who are still on the plane, this is the most direct way to get back your lost item.     3     If not, you have to wait for it to be returned in the mail.

If you have already left security by the time you realize your item is still on the plane, don’t worry. In this situation, you need to head over to your airline’s baggage department.     4     You can ask the workers there to call your gate to see if your item has been returned somewhere. If your plane is still at the airport, the workers on board are likely to help.

You may not even realize that you’ve left something on the plane until you return home. If this is the case, the first thing to do is get on the phone. Call the airport’s baggage department to see if the item has been turned in to the airport’s Lost and Found. Next, call your airline to make a missing item report.     5     And you’ll be reunited with your belongings in no time.

A．Don’t lose hope yet.

B．There you can fill out a claim form.

C．There you can turn to the workers for help.

D．Tell him exactly about what you left and where it is.

E．Hopefully, one of these two calls will lead to success.

F．The gate agent might be too busy boarding the next plane to help you.

G．Dealing with the situation at the gate also means you can walk off with your item.

【推荐1】The town of Paradise has suffered a camp fire, which lasted 17 days and caused a damage of $16.5 billion. As a result, the beautifully named place lost its beauty.

Shane Grammer, a creative director for Disney’s theme parks in Los Angeles, paid close attention to the news of the fire. He felt quite helpless when seeing the pictures shared by his childhood friend Shane Edwards in the town, in which Shane photographed his white chimney, the only part of his house left after the fire.

“I’ve got to paint that chimney,” he said to Inside Edition. “I’m not trying to say anything. And it was an opportunity for me to express and be an artist, isn’t it?”

Grammer spent three hours spray-painting the image of a woman on the chimney, which is strikingly mysterious black and white, in the ruins. Perhaps it serves as a reminder of the beauty of life or just life itself. Then Grammer put the picture on Instagram. On seeing it, the victims of the fire could not contain themselves. “Beautiful and haunting,” one of them commented. And another said, “You bring beauty and hope.”

At this time, Grammer became aware that something deeper had been transformed by a purely artistic expression. “When the first mural (壁画) moved so many people, I knew I had to come back up,” he said to KRCR-TV. Grammer returned to Paradise eight times in three months, during which he completed 17 paintings of victims and Biblical figures, pickups and parts of buildings on walls.

Today, Grammer’s efforts have developed into a movement. He has also painted murals in dark places that seriously need some light around the world.

Ironically, the first painting, on the chimney in Paradise, existed for just several months, since the bulldozer (推土机) is a merciless art critic. But Grammer couldn’t be more pleased about it, which means the spirit of Paradise is rising again.

1. How did Grammer come up with the idea of painting the chimney?

A．From Disney’s theme parks.

B．From his friend’s description of the fire.

C．By looking at a picture of Shane Edward’s remaining chimney after the fire.

D．After learning about the news of the fire.

2. Why did Grammer tell Inside Edition that he wasn’t trying to say anything?

A．Because he had nothing to say.

B．Because he felt it difficult to express himself.

C．Because he had his way to express himself.

D．Because he had no opportunity to express himself.

3. What does the underlined part “something deeper” in Paragraph 5 refer to?

A．People’s inner feelings.

B．People’s words.

C．The meaning of the mural.

D．The background situation.

4. What do Grammer’s murals mean to people?

A．They are mysteries.

B．They are entertaining.

C．They are artistic expressions.

D．They are inspiring.

5. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．The people in Paradise are in high spirits now.

B．Paradise is recovering from the disaster in a short time.

C．Grammer is not happy for the destruction of his mural.

D．The bulldozer was so cruel that it destroyed Grammer’s mural.

【推荐3】Photography has opened our eyes to a multitude of beauties, things we literally could not have seen before the invention of the frozen image. It has greatly expanded our notion of what is beautiful, what is aesthetically(审美上) pleasing. Items formerly considered trivial, and not worth an artist's paint, have been revealed and honored by the photograph: things as ordinary as a fence post, a chair, a vegetable. And as technology has developed, photographers have explored completely new points of view: those of the microscope, the eagle, the cosmos.

What is it that delights the human eye and allows us to claim that a photograph is beautiful? Photography depends on the trinity of light, composition, and moment. Light literally makes the recording of an image possible, but in the right hands, light in a photograph can make the image soar. The same is true with composition. What the photographer chooses to keep in or out of the frame is all that we will ever see - but that combination is vital. And the moment that the shutter is pressed, when an instant is frozen in time, provides the whole image with meaning. When the three - light, composition, and moment - are in balance, there is visual magic.

Light, composition, and moment come together in a photograph to bring us the ultimate reality: a view of the world unknown prior to the invention of the camera. Before photography, the basic artistic rules of painting were rarely broken. Images were made to please, not to capture reality. But as photography evolved, painterly rules were often reacted in the pursuit of fresh vision. Photographers became interested in the real world, good and bad, and it was the accidental detail that was celebrated. Photography invited the world to see with new eyes - to see photographically - and all of the arts have drawn new inspiration from this change.

With these basic aesthetic tools, photographers have evolved from scientists longing to “fix” an image — any image — to artistic revolutionaries. Photographs have created a new way of seeing, changed our ideas of beauty and, most importantly, made art more democratic. They have given us visual proof that the world is grander than we imagined, and that there is beauty, often overlooked,

in nearly everything.
1. Before the invention of photography, which of the following was least likely to appear in an artistic work?

A．A great person.

B．A lovely insect.

C．A grand building.

D．A beautiful landscape.

2. What is the function of paragraph 2?

A．To argue that photographic beauty is subjective.

B．To explain the evolution of the concept of beauty.

C．To describe the elements that make a successful photo.

D．To illustrate different types of photographic techniques.

3. How has photography affected other art forms?

A．It has reduced their popularity.

B．It has forced them to change their rules.

C．It has changed their methods of composition.

D．It has provided them with new points of view.

4. What does the author mean by saying photography has “made art more democratic" ?

A．It has expanded the concept of artistic beauty.

B．It has challenged the status of traditional art forms.

C．It has enabled the development of new artistic tools.

D．It has allowed more people to take part in creative activities.

【推荐1】Spotify can tell if you’re sad. Here’s why that should scare you. Want to figure out if someone is a patient with a mental disability? Ask them what their favorite song is. A New York University study last year found that people who loved Eminem’s Lose Yourself and Justin Bieber’s What Do You Mean? were more likely to have trouble with mental disabilities than people who were into Dire Straits.

Over the past few years, Spotify has been improving the ability to analyze information to help businessmen target consumers with advertisements made specially for their needs. They conclude this from the sort of music you’re listening to, combined with where and when you’re listening to it, along with third-party data that might be available.

Now, to be clear, there’s nothing significantly illegal about what Spotify is doing with your information. I certainly don’t think that they are working with consulting firms to serve you relevant ads while you’re listening to music that suggests you might be in a terrible situation. However, I find it disappointing that our private moments with music are increasingly being turned into information points and offered to advertisers.

You can see where this could go, can’t you? As ad targeting gets even more accurate, businessmen will have the ability to target our feelings in potentially improper ways. According to one study, you are more likely to spend more on a product if you’re feeling sad. You can imagine some companies might take advantage of that. And on that note, I’m feeling a little down about all this. Head off to treat myself to something expensive.

1. What’s the purpose of the first paragraph?

A．To introduce a new song.	B．To draw readers’ attention.
C．To help more patients.	D．To promote a new medium.

2. Spotify improves its ability to analyze information to ________.

A．provide services for the government	B．work with consulting firms
C．get listeners’ personal information	D．help businessmen attract consumers

3. Who is the text probably designed for?

A．Internet users.

B．Officials.

C．Researchers.

D．Managers.

【推荐2】Flying has shrunk the world! It's now possible to travel around the globe quickly and easily. Jumping on a plane and jetting off on holiday or a business trip is the norm for many of us, and with the rise of budget airlines, the number of people taking to the skies is increasing. But while air travel is costing us less, the cost to the environment is going up.

Climate change is something we're all aware of now, and aviation (航空)companies know that some of the blame for this is being pointed at them.

While we could think twice about taking a flight in the first place, particularly a short-haul trip that could be made by train, technology might be the answer to reducing emissions and minimising the environmental damage.

Recent developments have focused on reducing the amount of fuel airliners bum. Making flying green and sustainable was the hot topic at the recent Dubai Air Show. There was talk of advances in engine technology, making them more efficient, and possibly using bio-fuel to power aircraft.

Alejandro Rios Galvan, a bio-energy professor at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi, told the BBC that "these have the capacity to reduce the carbon footprint anywhere between 50-80 percent when you compare them to fossil fuels."

Phil Curnock, chief engineer of the civil future programme at Rolls-Royce, also suggested that electric hybrid engines could play a part for smaller aircraft, covering shorter distances, which offers the possibility of a carbon-neutral flight for a limited range.

Of course, aircraft manufacturers are constantly looking at ways to make their planes more fuel efficient. Boeing's Dreamliner, for example, is already in operation and uses 25 percent less fuel per passenger compared with aircraft of a similar size. Other improvements include better aircraft aerodynamics (空气动力),changes to ways aircraft taxi on runways, and the use of lighter materials.

If we can't kick the flying habit, it seems these are the developments we need to make in order to ensure air travel is as green as possible. But aviation experts agree it’s going to take time.

1. What idea was presented in the recent Dubai Air Show?

A．Reducing budget airlines globally.

B．Replacing fossil fuels with bio-fuels.

C．Employing hybrid engines in aircraft.

D．Reducing carbon footprint via technology.

2. Why did the author mention Boeing's Dreamliner?

A．To show improvements in reducing fuel airliners bum.

B．To compare different aircraft of a similar size.

C．To prove the efficient use of lighter materials.

D．To inform the readers of an advanced aircraft.

3. Which is practical for us to do according to the text?

A．Cut down on our travel by plane.

B．Ensure our own air travel is green.

C．Look forward to technological development.

D．Call on aviation companies to reduce emissions.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Making flying greener for the environment.

B．Reducing the carbon footprint anywhere.

C．Blaming aviation companies for pollution.

D．Seeking answers to technological problems.

【推荐3】While most TV stations try to attract viewers by producing reality shows, Henan TV has become famous by promoting (推广) traditional culture through Chinese dance. Henan TV produced seven dance pieces introducing traditional culture for traditional festivals, such as “Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess (《洛神水赋》)”, a two-minute underwater dance for the Dragon Boat Festival. “Guardian Warriors of Longmen (《龙门金刚 》)”, a dance piece supported by AR technology against the backdrop of the Longmen Grottoes(石窟).

“These pieces have gotten nearly 30 billion hits,“ said Yao Wei, director of the TV station. “It’s a huge success for Henan TV.”

On Nov 1, 2021, Yao was invited to talk about how the TV station had produced the hit dance pieces at a three-day forum (论坛) centering on the research of Chinese dance.

The pieces were popular with audiences, most of whom are members of Gen Z, (people born between 1995 and 2009), Yao said.

“It’s been over forty years since the country’s reform(改革) and opening-up and the younger generations have grown up with open minds. They love Chinese culture and are proud of it,” said Yao. “What we need to do is present Chinese culture and tradition in interesting ways for those young people.”

Yao added that Henan TV has been producing shows promoting traditional culture, such as traditional operas and kung Fu, for nearly 30 years.

“To allure younger audiences, we are also changing our shows. One of the keys is to produce them with creativity,” Yao said. “For example, the latest technology and special stage settings, like underwater scenes, have become our new ways of telling stories about traditional Chinese culture.”

Another key to successfully reaching younger audiences is using social media to promote their shows.

“Social media is being shaped and driven by young people. It’s a powerful form of communication. When they watch short videos, they easily become interested in an eye-catching video,” Yao said.

1. What can we learn about the seven dance pieces produced by Henan TV?

A．They were performed by famous stars.

B．They were presented in creative ways.

C．They were about the reform and opening-up.

D．They were produced by AR technology.

2. What’s Gen Z’s attitude toward the seven dance pieces?

A．Interested.

B．Hopeful.

C．Puzzled.

D．Disappointed.

3. What does the underlined word “allure” in the third-to-last paragraph probably mean?

A．Greet.

B．Support.

C．Attract.

D．Interview.

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To report on the features of traditional Chinese dance.

B．To tell the traditional stories of the seven dance pieces.

C．To explain how technology helps promote traditional Chinese culture.

D．To introduce the success of the dance series produced by Henan TV.