【推荐1】Many teachers believe frequent quizzes(小测验) help students better grasp classroom material. Crede, an associate professor of psychology, was skeptical that something as simple as a quiz could positively affect students’ academic performance. He decided to dig deeper and conduct an analytic study of existing research to see if there was any proof to the idea. What he discovered truly surprised him.

Crede analyzed data from previously published studies that examined 52 classes with almost 8,000 students, primarily college-level courses, to determine if frequent quizzes improved the students’ academic performance. Laboratory settings were kept out of the study because Crede wanted to observe whether similar studies from labs would apply to general classrooms.

Crede discovered that when students are quizzed over class material at least once a week, they tend to perform better on midterm and final exams compared to students who did not take quizzes. He also found that students who took frequent quizzes were less likely to fail the class, especially if they were struggling with the course content. Students who struggle the most in a class seem to benefit the greatest from frequent quizzes. The other surprising thing was how much quizzes helped reduce failure rates in classes. The chances of passing a class went through the roof where instructors used this. In addition to quiz frequency, another factor that seemed to positively affect students’ performance was immediate feedback from instructors. Also, quizzes that required students to answer with written responses proved more beneficial to their understanding of class material compared to multiple-choice questions.

Asking teachers to grade written quizzes daily or weekly may discourage some from carrying them out in their classes. Instead, it is recommended that instructors give online quizzes that can be automatically graded by a course management system. Quiz attributes(属性) proved insignificant in the study, including whether the tests were pop quizzes or planned, or if they were online or on paper.

1. What did Crede do to ensure his study’s accuracy?

A．He focused on what happened in classrooms.

B．He researched as many students as he could.

C．He made laboratory settings as real as possible.

D．He gave easy quizzes to make every student do well.

2. What did Crede discover in his study?

A．Frequent quizzes could remove students’ failure in classes.

B．Instructors’ feedback was more important than frequent quizzes.

C．Frequent quizzes were especially useful to the struggling students.

D．Multiple-choice questions shouldn’t be included in frequent quizzes.

3. What may be a disadvantage of frequent quizzes for teachers?

A．Accessing the Internet less frequently.

B．Having too many exam papers to mark.

C．Being unable to get appropriate test materials.

D．Finding it hard to choose the right type of quiz.

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

A．Quizzes Stimulate a Passion for Creation	B．Quizzes Improve Academic Performance
C．Quizzes Create a Heavy Burden	D．Quizzes Increase Boredom

【推荐2】In the past few decades, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people studying abroad. Although studying abroad can bring great benefits, I still take the view that the disadvantages for young people are greater.

To begin with, many students who study abroad face great economic pressure. That means studying abroad is just not possible for everyone. We should not ignore the fact that there are still many families who live from hand to mouth. Tuition fees and living expenses are much more expensive than at home and could end up costing most families an arm and a leg. Studying in China is much more convenient and can help save much money.

Another important factor which should be taken into consideration is the great pressure that comes with studying abroad. Students must learn how to live in an unfamiliar environment with limited language skills. Some may struggle and suffer from culture shock when learning how to behave in new surroundings. Being too young to live independently, other students are not mature enough to handle the challenges by themselves and may become depressed. Some students might even encounter problems with personal safety mainly in America where racism prevails(盛行). In addition, different approaches to teaching and learning may come as a shock to many students.

A final point to consider is that while studying abroad does have potential benefits, young people who study in China also have a great future to look forward to. As China has boomed, the educational environment has improved obviously, with many great universities now available. They have great facilities and outstanding professors, helping to educate young people who will contribute to the economy and further strengthen our country. Most importantly, it has been widely recognized that China has become the safest country in the world to resist COVID-2019.

To sum up, one cannot deny the fact that studying abroad has its unavoidable disadvantages, so when you think about studying abroad, you should consider these many real factors.

1. What’s the author’s attitude towards studying abroad on the whole?

A．He or She doesn’t care.	B．He or She is for it.
C．He or She is against it.	D．We can’t judge his or her attitude.

2. What does the underlined phrase probably mean according to paragraph 2? （原创）

A．Live a happy life.	B．Live a sad life.
C．Live a poor life.	D．Live a busy life.

3. Which sentence of the following is not true according to paragraph 3?

A．All students will suffer from culture shock when they are in new surroundings.

B．Some students may become depressed when they’re too young to handle challenges.

C．There exists racism in America

D．Foreign approaches to teaching and learning may come as a shock to many students.

4. What is the main idea of the last but one paragraph?

A．Studying in China is also a good choice now.

B．Studying in China is the impossible choice.

C．China should have many great universities.

D．Students should contribute to economy.

【推荐3】Do you sweat, bite your pencil, and feel butterflies in your stomach as your teacher hands out a test?     1     It’s natural to feel some stress about taking tests. In fact, sometimes a little stress is a good thing for you.

Here are some tips for taking tests:

Be sure you’ve studied properly. It sounds like a no-brainer (不用动脑的事), but if you’re sure of the information, you’ll have less reason to be worried.

    2     Your memory will be much better if you’ve had enough rest. In a scientific study, people who got enough sleep before taking a math test did better than those who stayed up all night studying.

Read the test through first. Once you have the test paper in front of you, read over the entire test, checking out how long it is.     3    . More importantly, ask the teacher any questions if necessary. Something seems unclear before you start, for example.

Relax. If you can’t think of anything, you will become so nervous.     4     Of course you can’t get up and move around in the middle of a test, but you can wiggle (扭动) your fingers and toes, take four or five deep breaths, or picture yourself on a beach or some calm place.

These tips should help most people,     5     If you’re one of them, you may need to talk to a parent or teacher for help.

A．Get enough sleep the night before the test.

B．It’s also a chance to decide how many parts you are expected to complete.

C．Yes, I often get anxious because I’m not a top student.

D．In this case you might need a small break.

E．A lot of people get upset before it.

F．and you will certainly benefit from them.

G．but some can get serious test taking error (错误).

【推荐1】This may be the 21st century but when it comes to information communication technology (ICT), the gender (性别) divide between boys and girls, shows no sign of closing.

This is bad news for the ICT industry where men outnumber women by over five to one; the industry needs at least an extra million recruits (新成员) over the next five years. Obviously, women as well as men are going to have to fill these recruitment gaps (空缺). The ICT companies are worried about the shortage of men and women to fill their gaps in the future.

It is believed that women are very well suited to working in ICT—they enjoy working in teams and like looking for creative connections. Many women have the kind of personal skills which are considered important to develop “new technology”. Professionals who work in Information Technology are constantly creating the world around us, and this can’t be done if you don’t know how people work and how they play.

In spite of the fact that ICT jobs are well paid and women are more likely to do well in them, findings show that girls’ opinions of the industry are uniformly negative. Only 5% would consider entering the ICT industry compared to 14% for law and 26% for medicine. Up to the age of 11 girls see ICT as entertaining and interesting but after that age negativity sets in; by the age of 13, this negative view of ICT is confirmed.

After school activities encourage some girls to use Information Technology, and getting ICT staff and other teachers together helps to develop imaginative use of ICT. Imaginative use of ICT especially in music, art, drama, geography and media studies, all helps to open girls’ eyes to the fact that careers in computing can cut across so many different areas.

Students complete the same class task by rote (死记硬背) in the ICT class. Although girls follow successfully, they will achieve enjoyment and excellence if allowed to diversify and be creative. For girls, just pressing buttons is not enough.

Another method is setting up computer clubs aimed at younger girls aged 8 to 14. This is known to inspire girls to develop their ICT skills and to show them that ICT can be both creative and interesting.

We can’t afford to have girls missing out.

1. What’s the problem facing the ICT industry according to the passage?

A．The high unemployment and the low incomes.

B．The serious imbalance between men and women in this industry.

C．Fewer and fewer people are working in the industry.

D．Many people think that the industry doesn’t look promising.

2. Why are girls fit for the job in information communication technology?

A．Because they prefer an independent and fresh working style.

B．Because they want to succeed and enjoy working with creative teammates.

C．Because they like cooperating with teammates and exploring new things.

D．Because they are interested in music, art, geography and media studies.

3. What is the attitude of girls to ICT by the time they become teenagers?

A．Positive.

B．Uninterested.

C．Serious.

D．Shocked.

4. What do you know about imaginative use of ICT?

A．It is beneficial to girls.

B．It can make girls tired of learning.

C．It makes the classes more attractive.

D．It helps girls open up and learn from others.

【推荐2】Tencent announced yesterday that it will limit the daily time for youngsters to play its popular King of Glory game after parents and schools in Shanghai and other areas complained their children had become addicted to playing it.

From tomorrow, children younger than 12 will only be allowed to play the game for a maximum (最大值) of one hour a day, and after 9 p.m., they will be banned from logging into it, said Tencent. Those older than 12 will be able to play a maximum two hours a day.

The game system will remind players the time they have been playing and young players will be forced to log out when the time is up.

Tencent claimed these were the strictest measures in China’s game industry to prevent addiction and the company expected they would ease parents’ anxiety.

The company also said it had updated its system for parents to keep tabs on their children using its games.

Since February, parents can receive messages when children log in and spend money on the game after they connect children’s game accounts with their mobile phone numbers.

Now, parents can connect phones, tablets or computers that their children use to play games, so that they can keep an eye on the children even if they have several game accounts, Tencent said.

Song Zhe, a father of a Shanghai high school student, welcomed the measures but was not sure if they would be sufficiently effective. “I like the system that could lock up the devices as children can register many accounts,” he said, “but children are so clever that they can always think out counter measures.”

1. What can we infer from Paragraph 2?

A．Kids under 11 could play the game for at most 7 hours in a week.

B．Girls under 8 are able to log in the game at 10 p.m.

C．Those older than 16 are able to play the game all the time.

D．Children over 13 can log in the game after playing 3 hours in a day.

2. The underlined phrase “keep tabs on” is closest in meaning to “_______”.

A．be related to

B．pay no attention to

C．have an eye on

D．keep contact with

3. What did Song Zhe’s father think of the game system?

A．The game system was absolutely welcomed by him.

B．Children were too dull to break out of the system.

C．He was uncertain about the effectiveness of the system.

D．Children could register lots of accounts to unlock the devices.

4. Where can we read this text?

A．In an advertisement.	B．In a history textbook.
C．In a technological magazine.	D．In a newspaper.

【推荐3】High school and college are periods of ever-expanding responsibility for students. You can get help from some practical apps. Check out these apps to get a head-start on being on top of your life!

Sleep Cycle alarm clock (free; iOS, Android)

Getting enough sleep is essential to getting a good education, but waking up rested isn’t just about how much you sleep; it’s about where you are in your sleep cycle when you wake up. Sleep Cycle uses your phone’s microphone and/or accelerometer to analyze your sleeping patterns and wake you up at the best time, when you’re in your lightest sleep state(within a window that you set, so that you’re not late). myHomework Student Planner(free; iOS, Android, Windows)

The myHomework Student Planner is available on wide variety of platforms so that you can stay organized wherever you are. You can keep track of your class schedule and homework, get reminders for upcoming tests, and sync it across all of your platforms. There’s also a premium version for $4.99 that takes away the ads, gives you more themes, lets you add file attachments, and integrates access to external calendars.

Circle of 6(free; iOS, Android)

Circle of 6 is an innovative safety app that connects you to six of your most trusted friends (your “circle”) and helps you keep track of each other. If you’re feeling scared about a situation you’re in you can send a per-programmed text to your circle with just two taps, and it will include your exact location. This could also be used by younger students to discreetly let their parents know that they’re in an uncomfortable situation and want to be picked up.

Goodbudget(free; iOS, Android)

Goodbudget can divide your money into virtual “envelopes” for things like Groceries, Transportation, Entertainment, Gas, and whatever else you need to budget for. The free version includes 10 regular envelopes plus syncing across two devices. Or you can move to a premium subscription(溢价认购)($5/month, $45/year)for more envelopes, five devices, and a five-year transaction history.

1. Which of the following is NOT true?

A．All of the four apps can be used free of charge

B．Sleep Cycle alarm clock can make you sleep as much as possible

C．myHomework Student Planner can be used on computers and cellphones

D．Goodbudget can help you use your money wisely

2. The app Goodbudge with a premium subscription for six months costs __________.

A．$5	B．$22.5
C．$30	D．$45

3. Which might be the most useful for a primary school student who walks to the school alone every day?

A．Sleep Cycle alarm clock(free; iOS, Android)

B．myHomework Student Planner(free; iOS, Android, Windows)

C．Circle of 6(free; iOS, Android)

D．Goodbudget(free; iOS, Android)

【推荐2】When it comes to thrilling places to travel to, the nation of Thailand has got to be at or near the top of the list. The beaches of Thailand are simply amazing. Here is a look at the four best beaches in all of Thailand.

Maya Bay

This small beach attracts some huge crowds, but it is still worth a visit thanks to what is widely regarded as some of the best sights in the whole country. The Maya Bay Beach is located on a small island and is only accessible(可进入的) via boat or passenger ferry.

Lamai Beach

For the traveler looking for a quite unforgettable beach experience during their visit to Thailand, a trip out to Lamai Beach in Samui is a must. The sandy areas are long and wide with plenty of room for everyone. The water is inviting and easy to access.

Patong Beach

Patong Beach is not only one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Thailand, but it is the largest beach on the popular island of Phuket. The soft white sand is a great place to relax. Some of the many great activities that travelers can join in during a visit to Patong Beach include jet skiing, kayaking, surfing, diving, snorkeling(浮潜) , swimming, and more.

Haad Rin

Haad Rin is one of the most popular party spots in the country, for both locals and travelers. All month long, during most parts of the year, there are some special entertainment(娱乐), eating, and socializing opportunities.

1. If you want to have a very impressive beach experience, which is highly recommended?

A．Maya Bay	B．Lamai Beach
C．Patong Beach	D．Haad Rin

2. Where will you go if you like underwater sports?

A．Maya Bay	B．Lamai Beach
C．Patong Beach	D．Haad Rin

3. What will travelers experience at Haad Rin?

A．Relax on the white soft sand.

B．Take part in adventurous activities.

C．Have a good time with the people living here.

D．Learn much culture and history about Thailand.

【推荐3】Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

This book based on Greg Hefley’s own “diary” lets kids express themselves in an exciting way. In the book, kids will be asked: What was the best dream you have ever had? The worst thing you have ever eaten? The best secret you have ever heard? This book is unique and special because it has blank pages for readers to write their own stories and keep their own diaries.

Author: Jeff Kinney

List Price: $10.95

Price: $6.57 Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save: $4.38（40%）

Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories

This volume of beloved Chinese stories contains a delightful selection from the store of Chinese legend. Discover many delightful animal characters as well as Chang’e and Guan Yin. Retold for an international audience, the stories with beautiful pictures will give children aged ix to ten in other countries a chance to learn about both the tradition and culture of China.

Author: Mingmei Yip

List Price: $18.95

Price: $12.89 Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save: $6.06（32%）

The Way Science Works

The perfect introduction to show how science explains the world around us! Eye-opening experiments and extraordinary photography bring science to life. It explains everyday facts to the theories behind the technology in today’s fast-moving world. Full of facts about famous scientists, technology news and more.

Author: Robin Kerrod

List Price: $24.99

Price: $16.49 Buy it on Amazon.com.

You save: $8.50（34%）

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-t-Yourself Book is different from other books because you can ______.

A．ask the author questions	B．write your own stories in the book
C．have a chance to see beautiful photos	D．read many interesting stories about the author

2. Chinese Children’s Favorite Stories is written for ______.

A．Chinese children aged 6 to 10	B．teenagers in other countries
C．junior students in other countries	D．foreign children aged 6 to 10

3. Whose book would you like to read if you are interested in science and technology?

A．Robin Kerrod’s.

B．Jeff Kinney’s.

C．Mingmei Yip’s.

D．Eve Bunting’s.