【推荐2】Every Bachelor of Arts major faces the dilemma about the language they have to take to meet the foreign language requirement. JMU offers a variety of languages, from French to Ancient Greek and Italian. Any of them would be great, but Spanish is the most beneficial language to learn.

Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, with around 460 million native speakers. It’s the official language of over 20 countries, and in the United States, there are 41 million speakers. These statistics give you the perfect reason to learn Spanish as an international language.

One of the best reasons to learn Spanish is that it makes one more employable. There’s a place for Spanish in every career field. Doctors will have patients that speak Spanish, financial traders will buy stocks from Latin American companies and journalists will provide content written in Spanish.

Spanish is known as the starting block for learning other Romance languages. Many of the words and phrases used in Italian, French and Latin are similar to each other. For example, the Italian word for "thank you" is "grazie". and the Spanish word for "thank you" is“gracias". The Portuguese word for "hello" is "ola "，and the Spanish word for "hello" is “hola”.

There are so many amazing resources available for learning Spanish. A popular method that most people use is the app Duolingo because it’s convenient and great. A similar method is listening to a podcast (播客)，like Coffee Break Spanish that tailors podcasts for different Spanish levels. Both of these options don't break the bank either because they' re free.

JMU also offers opportunities to practice Spanish speaking. The Spanish Club meets every week to discuss culture, practice speaking Spanish and plan events. The Foreign Language Department organizes language tables where students can practice conversational Spanish with other students. Sigma Delta Pi is a Spanish honor society for students who study Spanish.

1. What 's the difficulty for the Bachelor of Arts students?

A．Meeting all the requirements of their school.

B．Choosing the foreign language they should take.

C．Knowing about the benefits of learning Spanish.

D．Finding the best ways to learn a foreign language.

2. The author mentions different jobs in Paragraph 3 mainly to show ______.

A．good Spanish speakers can get better jobs

B．every career has strict rules for its workers

C．Spanish has wide applications in different fields

D．employable people are often multi-language speakers

3. We can know from Paragraph 4 that _____.

A．Romance languages are some ancient languages

B．a word has many different meanings in Spanish

C．there is quite much polite speech in Spanish

D．Italian speakers can learn Spanish easily

4. What do the last two paragraphs mainly talk about?

A．Popular customs in Spain.

B．Some online Spanish resources.

C．Some ways of learning Spanish.

D．The advantages of learning Spanish.

【推荐3】Speech students are often amazed at how easily their teacher can pick out a speaker’s main points. Of course, the teacher knows what to listen for and has had plenty of practice. But the next time you get an opportunity, watch your teacher during a speech.     1    .When note-taking is done properly, it is a great way to keep rack of a speaker’s ideas.

The key words here are when done properly.     2    . Some try to write down everything a speaker says. They view note-taking as a race. As the speaker starts to talk, the note-taker starts to write. But soon the speaker is winning the race. Some people go to the opposite extreme. They know they can’t write down everything.     3    . Every once in a while the speaker rewards them with a joke or a dramatic story. Then the note-taker seizes the pen, writes down a few words, and sits back to await the next exciting point. By the end of the lecture they have little or no record of the speaker’s important ideas.

As these examples show, most inefficient (效率低的) note-takers suffer from one or both of the two problems:     4     , and they don’t know how to record what they do listen for. The solution to the first problem is to focus on a speaker’s main points and evidence. But once you know what to listen for, you still need a sound method of note-taking.

Although there are a number of systems, most students find the key-word outline best for listening to classroom lectures and formal speeches.    5    .

Perfecting this system of note-taking requires practice.

A．Notice how brief the notes are

B．They don’t know what to listen for

C．Unfortunately, many people don't take notes effectively

D．Chances are she or he will be listening with pen and paper

E．The speaker pulls so far ahead that the note-taker can never catch up

F．Therefore, they wait for the speaker to say something that catches their attention

G．This method briefly notes a speaker’s main points and supporting evidence in rough outline form

【推荐1】In America, Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort(度假胜地): brilliant beaches, a lively boardwalk, plenty of restaurants and nightspots, and amusement rides sure to appeal to kids. Many believe Virginia Beach is at its best in the off-season, when the town is less crowded but the weather is still mild.
Meanwhile, some safety tips should be followed, to enjoy the happiness and excitement the beach offers.
The number one safety tip concerns ocean safety: pay attention to Flag conditions posted on the lifeguard stands. Lifeguard post a red flag to warn when the ocean water is dangerous. Take them seriously! Tourists from land-locked regions are particularly easily attracted by the magic of the waves. However, a calm ocean can become risky without warning. Make sure you swim near a lifeguard. Swimming without lifeguard protection is almost five times as great as drowning at a beach with lifeguards.
Never swim alone. Many drownings involved single swimmers. When you swim with someone else, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to get help, including signaling for assistance from others.
Don’t fight the current. The facts show that some 80% of rescues by lifeguards at ocean
beaches are caused by currents. These currents are formed by surf and gravity, because once surf pushes water up the slope of a beach, gravity pulls it back. This can create concentrated rivers of water moving offshore. If you are caught in a rip (撕裂的)current, don’t fight it by trying to swim directly to shore. Instead, swim parallel to shore until you feel the current relax, then swim to shore. Most rip current are narrow and a short swim parallel to shore will help bring you to safety.
1. When coming to Virginia Beach, children cannot enjoy the happiness of______.

A．walking on the road made of wood	B．joining the nightspots
C．Riding a horse or a pumper car	D．Skiing in the sea

2. Many people believe the best time to visit Virginia Beach may be____.

A．After autumn school term beginning

B．In the summer vacation

C．During the Christmas holiday

D．In the cold winter

3. From the passage we can know ____.

A．one in five persons swimming in the sea is drowned

B．if one with lifeguard were drowning, five persons without lifeguard would be

C．some 80% people drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards

D．some 20% drowning by the currents are rescued by lifeguards

4. The passage mainly tell us ____.

A．Virginia Beach has all the elements of a classic seaside resort

B．the happiness and excitement the beach offers

C．some safety tips when swimming in the sea

D．the dangers for tourists from land-locked regions to swim in the sea

【推荐2】Ecotourism has become increasingly popular in recent years.Travelers visit natural environments funding conservation efforts or promoting local economies.In many cases, ecotourism involves close interaction with wildlife.

Now, scientists have analyzed more than 100 research studies on how ecotourism affects wild animals.They find the presence of humans changes the way animals behave, and those changes may put them at risk.Therefore, they have concluded that such trips can be harmful to the animals.

When animals interact in seemingly kind ways with humans, they may let down their guard.As animals learn to relax in the presence of humans, they may become bolder in other situations.If this transfers to their interactions with predators (捕食者), they are more likely to be injured or killed.

The presence of humans can also discourage natural predators.It creates a kind of safe place for smaller animals that may make them bolder.For example, in Grand Teton National Park, elk and pronghorns in areas with more tourists are less watchful and spend more time eating.

Interacting with people can cause great changes in the characteristics of various species over time.“If animals become accustomed to tourists, we might create unintended consequences — affecting the behavior or population of a species and influencing the species’ function in its community,” the researchers write.

Ecotourism has effects similar to those of animal domestication (驯养) and urbanization.Research has shown that domesticated silver foxes become more obedient and less fearful.Fox squirrels and birds that live in urbanized areas are slower to flee from danger.The phenomena result from evolutionary changes, but also from regular interactions with humans.

Scientists hope the new analysis will encourage more research into the interactions between people and wildlife.It is essential to develop further understanding of how various species in various situations respond to human interaction and under what conditions human exposure may place them at risk.

1. We can learn from the passage that ___________.

A．ecotourism causes damage to the natural homes of wildlife

B．it is easy for eco-tourists to build up trust with wild animals

C．the effects brought by ecotourism may be harmful to the animals

D．wildlife interactions with humans strengthen their function in community

2. What does the underlined word “bolder” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．shyer

B．braver

C．wiser

D．swifter

3. The author mentions pronghorns in paragraph 4 as an example to show that ________.

A．wild animals become more relaxed due to evolution

B．animals’ reactions to humans vary from species to species

C．smaller animals tend to be in harmony with natural predators

D．the presence of humans reduces their awareness of potential danger

4. What might be the best title for the text?

A．Ecotourism Can Put Wild Animals at Risk

B．Ecotourism Has Become A Popular Trend

C．Wildlife’s Reactions to Human Activities

D．Latest Research Findings on Ecotourism

【推荐3】根据短文内容，回答问题，补全信息。

The Youngest Skier To The South Pole

On Friday December 9t"，a 16-year-old skier，Ameba Hempleman-Adams reached the South Pole with her father after skiing 97 miles and spending 17 nights on the ice. On the final day they skied 14 miles and afterwards Ameba said she felt“elated and tired" on reaching the South Pole.

“The biggest challenges were the freezing cold and eating only dried food.The best bit has been experiencing what Dad does on expeditions(探险).It's the first time I've been on a difficult long journey with him and now I know what it's like.The trip brought me closer to Dad，but I also had to put up with his snoring(鼾声)which was terrible.’， She added，“Would I do it again? I'm not sure. I'll have to think about that after a few nights' sleep!At times it's been really hard:I've got aching shoulders，and my back's been sore from pulling my sledge(雪橇)，I've got blisters(水泡)on my feet from the boots and I've got a cold burn on my nose from my sunglasses.     ____43___   ”

She said the most extraordinary part of the trip had been the breathtaking scenery and the sense of isolation in the Antarctic landscape.“I've really missed my friends while I've been away and want to thank them for all their messages of support.”

Friends and relatives who posted comments on Ameba's expedition website paid tribute(致敬)to her positive attitude which , they said ,would be an inspiration to others.

Her father，David，said“Ameba has done amazing well. I'm proud of her.She showed real determination. She was tough and she pulled her sledge the whole way. It was a special experience to share those 97 miles with her.”

1. Who is Ameba Hempleman-Adams?
2. What biggest challenges did she meet during the trip?
3. What kind of person do you think Ameba is?Give at least one reason.
4. Choose and copy the complete sentence that should be filled in the blank.
A Except for those，it's been a really good journey.
B As a result，I had to give it up to go any further.
C Therefore，the only person I could care about was my father.

【推荐2】My name is Alice. Early last year, I was troubled by an anxiety that crippled my ability to do anything. I felt like a storm cloud hung over me. For almost a year I struggled on, constantly staring at this wall that faced me. My perfectionist tendencies were the main root of this: I wanted to be perfect at whatever I did, which obviously in life is not possible, but it consumed me.

One day, I attended a presentation by wildlife conservationist Grant Brown at my high school. His presentation not only awed and inspired me, but also helped emerge an inner desire to make a difference in the world. I joined a pre-presentation dinner with him and that smaller setting allowed me to slowly build up my courage to speak one-on-one with him—an idea that had seemed completely impossible. This first contact was where my story began.

A month later, Brown invited me to attend the World Youth Wildlife Conference. Looking back, I now see that this would be the first in a series of timely opportunities that my old self would have let pass, but that this new and more confident Alice enthusiastically seized. Shortly after I received his invitation, applications to join the Youth for Nature and the Youth for Planet groups were sent around through my high school. I decided to commit to completing the applications, and soon I was a part of a growing global team of young people working to protect nature. Each of these new steps continued to grow my confidence.

I am writing this just six months since my journey began and I’ve realised that my biggest obstacle this whole time was myself. It was that voice in the back of my head telling me that one phrase that has stopped so many people from reaching their potential: I can’t. They say good things come to those who wait; I say: grab every opportunity with everything you have and be impatient. After all, nature does not require our patience, but our action.

1. What does the underlined word “crippled” probably mean in the first paragraph?

A．Created.

B．Defeated.

C．Enhanced.

D．Damaged.

2. What is the drive of Alice’s first contact with Brown?

A．Her inner desire for communication.	B．Her strong interest in wildlife.
C．Her newly-emerged will change the world.	D．Her urgent demand for courage.

3. How has Alice changed since the first contact?

A．She has gained courage and skills to make public presentations.

B．She has become confident enough to seize the opportunities.

C．She has topped all the team members in protecting nature.

D．She has become more patient to wait for the chances.

4. What has Alice learned from her experience?

A．No one is perfect.	B．Courage lightens the blow of fate.
C．Good things come to those who wait.	D．Action is worry’s worst enemy.

【推荐3】The Wolf at the Door

Russ Fee was asleep inside his tent last summer when a series of screams shocked him awake. Throwing on his shoes, he ran out to investigate. Fee and his wife were travelling through Canada’s Banff National Park to enjoy its breathtaking beauty and awesome wildlife. It was the latter he now experienced. Although it was dark, Fee could see a neighboring tent was in a mess. Backing out was a wolf, dragging something in his teeth. That thing was a man.

Moments earlier, Elisa and Matt Rispoli, from New Jersey, were asleep with their two young children when the wolf broke into their tent. “It was like something out of a horror movie,” Elisa posted on Facebook. “For three minutes, Matt threw his body in front of me and the boys and fought against the wolf. At one point, Matt got the upper hand, pinning (压住) the wolf to the ground. But the wolf held its jaw onto Matt’s arm tightly, set its powerful legs, and began dragging Matt outside while I was pulling on his legs trying to get him back,” Elisa wrote.

It was then that Fee entered the picture. He ran at the wolf, kicking it “like I was kicking in a door,” he told ABC New York. The wolf dropped Matt and emerged from the tent. “Wolves are large,” Fee told the radio show Calgary Eyeopener. “I felt like I had hit someone that was way out of my weight class.”

Before the wolf could turn its anger on Fee, Matt, his arms bloodied, flew out of the tent to continue the battle. The men threw rocks at the wolf, forcing it back, then the Fees and the Rispolis escaped to the shelter of the Fees, minivan and called an ambulance. Matt was taken to a local hospital suffering from open wounds. Luckily, he has fully recovered. The wolf was tracked down by park officials and killed in a painless way.

As for Fee, whom Elisa called their lifesaver, he does admit to a fleeting, if less-than-heroic, thought during the heat of battle. The moment the wolf locked eyes with him, Fee says, “I immediately regretted kicking it.”

1. What happened to the Rispolis one night last summer?

A．They were scared by a horror movie.	B．They were suddenly woken up by screams.
C．They suffered a surprise attack from a wolf	D．They got injured and taken to the hospital.

2. Russ Fee joined Matt Rispoli when           .

A．Matt was dropped down by the wolf	B．Matt gained the advantage over the wolf
C．the wolf broke into the tent of the Rispolis	D．the wolf was dragging Matt out of the tent

3. Matt Rispoli survived because           .

A．the wolf was killed by park officials	B．he took shelter in a neighboring tent
C．the wolf was driven away by Russ Fee	D．he got great help and timely treatment

4. What can we learn about Russ Fee from the last paragraph?

A．He feels regretful for what he did.	B．He enjoys being called a lifesaver.
C．He admits his fear during the fight.	D．He feels quite heroic about himself.