【推荐1】The Age of Information is bulging: if you tried to download all the data available today, you’d need more than 180 million years to do so. But you are wrong to assume that all information would stimulate a boost of innovation to match the output of data. Indeed, the last time we found ourselves in a period of significant innovation was over 120 years ago, called the Age of Insight.

Innovations, big or small, start with a new idea. Often, these ideas occur as a moment of insight — the result of a novel connection in our brains made between existing and new information. Studies show insights involve quiet signals deep in the brain. Anything that helps us notice quiet signals can increase the chance of insights. However, it’s becoming more challenging to find those signals today, every moment filled with an endless supply of content.

Besides, we also want to increase the quality of them to sort through big new ideas and find the really valuable ones that can be hard to measure. Launched in 2015, the Eureka Scale (尤里卡量表) allows us to assess the strength of our insight experiences on a five-point scale, namely, intense emotions, motivation, memory advantage, aftershocks, and following ideas. The Scale combines these five variables into a single value to define the importance of a new idea and has broad applications for measuring and improving individual and organizational performance. Even it can be used to measure the impact of different kinds of work environments and learning approaches on participants’ growth. The level-5 insight, involving the richest emotion, motivation, and lasting impact, holds the greatest significance.

In order for organizations to benefit from another age of insight, it’s not enough to try to access more data or increase the number of insights we generate. Instead, it’s about making space for the biggest ideas to emerge from all the information. Using the Scale as a way to measure how important ideas are will enable better decision-making toward practical and competitive outcomes. If we’re to enter a new age of insight, we must make timely and necessary changes to design our environments for the best insight possible to surface.

1. What does the underlined word “bulging” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?

A．Approaching.

B．Exploding.

C．Shifting.

D．Updating.

2. According to the passage, which of the following cases can increase the chance of insights?

A．By engaging in ongoing social media interactions.

B．By relying on technology to receive regular notices.

C．By stepping away from computers between meetings.

D．By participating in additional training and coaching sessions.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The Eureka Scale controls the influence of our insights.

B．One with a level-5 insight has minimal emotional responses.

C．Both the quantity and quality of insights are essential to innovation.

D．A breakthrough has been made in innovation due to a wealth of information.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the current environment for innovations?

A．Uncertain.

B．Optimistic.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Dissatisfied.

【推荐2】Electric cars with heavy batteries should face higher taxes due to harmful particles(小颗粒) released by their tyres and their impact on the road surface, experts have recommended.

It is known that switching to electric cars will remove pollutants from exhausts(废气). However, models with large batteries capable of travelling 300 miles between charges emit(排放）up to 8 percent more particles from tyres and road wear than petrol cars, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It says electric vehicles should also be charged tolls(过路费) aimed at reducing emissions.

Drivers could also be encouraged to buy lighter electric cars by linking vehicle taxes to weight, the Paris-based think tank(专家组) adds. It calls for a “reevaluation of the net environmental benefits” of electric cars and suggests that they should not be given “blanket support”. “Road traffic regulations should consider both exhaust and non - exhaust emissions from all vehicles and should take into account factors like vehicle weight and tyre composition, it says. “While exhaust emissions are heavily regulated, there are no limits on the pollution a car can cause from tyres, brakes and road surfaces. With strict controls on tailpipe emissions and rapid development of electric vehicles, non — exhaust emissions are quickly becoming the major source of particles from road transport,” the think tank says.

Electric cars are almost £90 cheaper to insure than petrol cars due to electric cars having fewer moving parts, which makes them less likely to break down, according to a study by Compare the market, the price comparison website.

1. Why should electric cars with heavy batteries face higher taxes?

A．Because they are more expensive.

B．Because they release more exhausts.

C．Because their tyres threaten the environment.

D．Because their batteries need charging frequently.

2. What can we learn about electric cars from Paragraph 2?

A．Their drivers don’t pay tolls at present.

B．They emit 8 percent less particles than petrol cars.

C．They can remove pollutants from exhausts and batteries.

D．Their power can be switched between electricity and petrol.

3. Which of the following will the think tank support?

A．Electric vehicle taxes should be decided by its cost.

B．The pollution caused from car brakes can be ignored.

C．Tailpipe emissions are still the major source of particles.

D．The benefits of electric cars to the environment are over estimated.

4. What accounts for cheaper insurance of electric cars?

A．Fewer vehicle failures.	B．Better tyre composition.
C．Lower vehicle weight.	D．More advanced functions.

【推荐3】Adolescents refer to boys and girls at high-school level—more specifically the second, third and forth years of high schools. In dealing with students at this level, we must bear in mind that to some degree they are at the difficult stage, generally called adolescence.

Students at this level are likely to be confused mentally. They usually find it hard to concentrate on what they intend to do and often have romantic dreams.     1     They lack frankness and are usually very easily affected by their own emotions but hate to admit it. They are driven either by greater ambition, probably beyond their capability, or by extreme laziness caused by the fear of not succeeding or achieving objectives.     2    . They are willing to work, but they hate to work without obtaining the result they think they should obtain.

Regarding school issues, although they seldom say so, they really want to be consulted and given an opportunity to direct their own affairs, but they need a good amount of guidance. They seldom admit that they need this guidance and they frequently rebel against it. But if it’s intelligently offered they accept it with enthusiasm. As to personal beliefs, most of adolescents are trying to form political ideals and they have a tendency to be sometimes extremely idealistic, and at other times conventional, blindly accepting what their fathers and grandfathers believed in.     3    . On the one hand they are too modest and on the other hand unreasonably boastful. They tend to be influenced more by a strong character than by great intelligence.

    4    . Having a better understanding of the characteristics and needs of young people at this age is a task that falls both on educators and other people involved. It may also help the young go through this difficult and critical stage of life in a more constructive manner.

A．The critical abilities are beginning to develop in adolescence.

B．Their view on life usually falls on two extremes.

C．Of all periods of life, this is what may best be called the “plastic age”.

D．They are basically timid or self-conscious.

E．Despite that, it is also in this period that strong ties between teachers and students develop.

F．Fundamentally they want to be kept busy but they refuse to admit it.

【推荐1】阅读下面短文，并按照题目要求用英语回答问题。

A year ago August, Dave Fuss lost his job driving a truck for a small company in west Michigan. His wife, Gerrie, was still working in the local school cafeteria, but work for Dave was scarce, and the price of everything was rising. The Fusses were at risk of joining the millions of Americans who had lost their homes in recent years. Then Dave and Gerrie received a timely gift—$7000, a legacy (遗产) from their neighbors Ish and Arlene Hatch, who died in an accident. “It really made a difference when we were going under financially.” says Dave.   

But the Fusses weren’t the only folks in Alto and the neighboring town of Lowell to receive unexpected legacy from the Hatches. Dozens of other families were touched by the Hatches’ generosity. In some cases, it was a few thousand dollars; in other, it was more than $100,000.   

It surprised nearly everyone that the Hatches had so much money, more than $3 million—they were an elderly couple who lived in an old house on what was left of the family farm.   

Children of the Great Depression, Ish and Arlene were known for their habit of saving. They thrived on (喜欢) comparison shopping and would routinely go from store to store, checking prices before making a new purchase.

Through the years, the Hatches paid for local children to attend summer camp when their parents couldn’t afford it. “Ish and Arlene never asked if you needed anything,” says their friend Sand Van Weelden, “They could see things they could do to make you happier, and they would do them.”

Even more extraordinary was that the Hatches had their farmland distributed. It was the Hatches’ wish that their legacy—a legacy of kindness as much as one of dollars and cents —should enrich the whole community and last for generations to come. Neighbors helping neighbors—that was Ish and Arlene Hatch’s story .

1. Why did the Fusses almost lose their home a year ago? (no more than 15 words)
________________
2. What does the underlined phrase “going under financially” mean? (no more than 10 words)
________________
3. Why were people surprised to know that the Hatches had more than $3 million? (no more than 15 words)
________________
4. What was their purpose of doing so many things for other people? (no more than 10 words)
________________
5. What do you think of Ish and Arlene? Give your reasons. (no more than 25 words)
________________

【推荐3】Mary had her own special kind of joy, and she knew exactly how to spread it around. She lifted children from loneliness into laughter and love.    1    

One evening, Mary was hosting a meeting for a group of new adoptive parents. One of the new fathers stood up.     2     Then he explained.

“Twenty years ago, I felt alone and worthless. I felt like I didn’t deserve to have the things that others have. Then Mary brought two wonderful people into my life.    3     They opened a world of possibilities that I didn’t know existed. Today I’m proud to be giving that chance to a child who starts out like me.

My mother gave me this rose. By now, all of you know where she got it. This rose reminds me of the beautiful times I was given. Just yesterday Mary sent me a new rose. The new rose symbolizes a beautiful new beginning for my own little girl.     4    

Thank you, Mary, for the special little things like roses that tie our lives together!”

Are you looking for a special kind of significance, a special purpose that you can’t quite reach? Take a look at your “roses”, the little things that are all yours, things that make your heart sing. What are they?    5    

When the answers become clear, you’ll find that your “roses” can make a difference. They can bring joy and even a new beginning to you and many other people.

A．They loved me unconditionally.

B．However, I lived an unhappy life at that time.

C．Each time she found a new home for a child, she gave that family a paper rose.

D．He reached into his pocket and held up a paper rose.

E．Nowhere in this world can you get the answer.

F．How can you share them with someone?

G．It reminds me to show her what unconditional love is.