【推荐1】In all our lives we must make choices. You make choices from the time you get out of bed in the morning until you go to sleep at night. What time to get up? What to wear? What to eat? You also make more significant choices when you graduate from high school.     1     College? Technical training?

No matter the size of the decision, the common thread in all of them is that they involve an opportunity cost. Opportunity cost is your next best alternative—your second choice. For example, it’s a Saturday night, and you are trying to decide among going to the movies, hanging out at a friend s house or going to the football game.     2     What is your second choice? If it is the football game, then that is your opportunity cost.

Opportunity cost is important. When you make a certain choice, it forces you to think more critically about ail of the abandoned choices. By recognizing opportunity cost, you can decide whether your decision is worth it.

    3     As a high school senior, you face several options, including going to college, going to technical school, or going to the work force. If you choose college, the opportunity cost is losing what could have been purchased or saved with the money spent on tuition（学费）, housing, books, etc. for four years.     4     You would also lose four years’ worth of income and experience that you could have earned if you had gone straight to work.

However, it is still the case that college graduates earn more than high school graduates. And the unemployment rate among college graduates is less than that of high school graduates.     5     But, like

all decisions, it is one that should be arrived at only after looking at the costs—including the opportunity cost一and considering the follow-up question: is it worth it?

A．Will you go straight to work?

B．What causes opportunity cost?

C．But that’s not the end of the costs.

D．Suppose you decide to go to the movies.

E．If you give up college, what do you lose?

F．A perfect example is the decision to go to college.

G．For many students, going on to college is a wise decision.

【推荐2】There is something to be said for being a generalist, even if you are a specialist. Knowing a little about a lot of things that interest you can add to the richness of a whole, well-lived life.

Society pushes us to specialize, to become experts. This requires commitment to a particular occupation, branch of study or research. The drawback to being specialists is we often come to know more and more about less and less. There is a great deal of pressure to master one’s field. You may pursue training, degrees, or increasing levels of responsibility at work. Then you discover the pressure of having to keep up.

Some people seem willing to work around the clock in their narrow specialty. But such commitment can also weaken a sense of freedom. These specialists could work at the office until ten each night, then look back and realize they would have loved to have gone home and enjoyed the sweetness of their family and friends, or traveled to exciting places, meeting interesting people. Mastering one thing to the exclusion (排除) of others can hold back your true spirit.

Generalists, on the other hand, know a lot about a wide range of subjects and view the whole with all its connections. They are people of ability, talent, and enthusiasm who can bring their broad perspective (视角) into specific fields of expertise (专长). The doctor who is also a poet and philosopher is a superior doctor, one who can give so much more to his patients than just good medical skills.

Things are connected. Let your expertise in one field fuel your passions in all related areas. Some of your interests may not appear to be connected but, once you explore their depths, you discover that they are. My editor Toni, who is also a writer, has edited several history books. She has decided to study Chinese history. Fascinated by the structural beauty of the Forbidden City as a painter, she is equally interested to learn more about Chinese philosophy. “I don’t know where it will lead, but I’m excited I’m on this pursuit.”

These expansions into new worlds help us by giving us new perspectives. We begin to see the interconnectedness of one thing to another in all aspects of our life, of ourselves and the universe. Develop broad, general knowledge and experience. The universe is all yours to explore and enjoy.

1. To become a specialist, one may have to       .

A．narrow his range of knowledge

B．avoid responsibilities at work

C．know more about the society

D．broaden his perspective on life

2. The specialists mentioned in paragraph 3 tend to         .

A．treasure their freedom

B．travel around the world

C．spend most time working

D．enjoy meeting funny people

3. According to the author, a superior doctor is one who         .

A．is fully aware of his talent and ability

B．is a pure specialist in medicine

C．should love poetry and philosophy

D．brings knowledge of other fields to work

4. What could be the best title for the passage?

A．Be More a Generalist Than a Specialist

B．Specialist or Generalist: Hard to Decide

C．Turn a Generalist into a Specialist

D．Ways to Become a Generalist

【推荐1】During the first COVID-19 outbreak, Dr. Kirby White struggled to get enough disposable gowns (一次性罩衣), so she and her colleague Dr. Nicole Lowe decided to act. In March2020, they developed a gown that could be laundered and reused, allowing them to keep seeing patients at their Bendigo’s clinic.

“The second COVID-19 wave made it impossible for anyone to purchase disposable gowns, says Kirby, who explains one reusable gown lasts as long as 130 single-use gowns. “It was important to have a reusable gown. We didn’t know how long the pandemic would last so we needed a sustainable solution.”

Two weeks later, Gowns for Doctors was created. Taking to social media, Kirby, 36, shared the initiative (新方案) in a local Facebook group. Overnight, hundreds of volunteers put up their hands to sew (缝), donate fabric and distribute the gowns. She was blown away by the unbelievable response. “We had400 emails overnight! “Kirby says. “It’s the spirit that allowed us to send out so many gowns to people in need. Months later, Gowns for Doctors still has a lot of gowns if medical staff are in need of them. We are continuing to help those who need them.”

The success of the initiative has now gone global, after a company contacted Kirby to create a Barbie doll (芭比娃娃) in her image, celebrating all the healthcare heroes globally. “Seeing my one-of-a-kind Barbie doll for the first time was a heart-skip moment. There were tears of joy. She looks just like me! ”

After hand-packing every order, Dr. White loves seeing happy healthcare workers wearing their donated gowns. “We’ve been sent photos of medical staff wearing their gowns with big smiles,” she says. “Everyone has been so appreciative; we are inundated with thank-you cards. It’s so nice to see them.”

1. Why did Kirby start to make reusable gowns?

A．There was a lack of gowns’ materials.

B．The number of the patients was large.

C．There weren’t enough disposable gowns.

D．The quality of the disposable gowns was poor.

2. What did the volunteers do for the initiative?

A．They wrote a lot of emails.	B．They helped make the gowns.
C．They bought many new gowns.	D．They called some medical staff.

3. How did Kirby feel when she saw the Barbie doll for the first time?

A．Annoyed.

B．Curious.

C．Upset.

D．Touched.

4. What does the underlined word “inundated” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Flooded.

B．Competed.

C．Compared.

D．Equipped.

【推荐3】When Allison Winn was eight and her family adopted a dog named Coco, they had no idea how much the little creature would change her life. "Coco helped me feel better," says Allison, who was recovering from 14 months of treatment for a brain cancer at the time. ^“She would cuddle （偎依）with me when I didn't want to play." Allison loved Coco so much that she told her parents she wanted to help other sick kids find the same kind of comfort.

She started small, raising money by selling lemonade and homemade dog biscuits in front of her house. Her first customer was the mailman. By the end of that summer, she had raised nearly $1,000, enough to adopt and train two dogs and give them to children with cancer. Now, a little more than two years later, some groups gather to make dog treats for Allison's cause.

Her organization, the Stink Bug Project, named after a picture she drew in memory of the end of her treatment, is run and managed in partnership with the Morgan Adams Foundation. Stink Bug helps families adopt pets from the Trained K9 Companion Program, where the rescued dogs are taught commands. Allison's mother, Dianna Litvak, who helps run Stink Bug, hopes to extend the pet-adoption program statewide and continue donating some of the money to help fund children's cancer research.

"Allison has figured out how to help — in a way that no one else has," Litvak says. "We involve her younger sister, Emily, her friends, the adopting families, and some others. It took the love of a little girl to wrap all that together into one amazing package."

Go to stinkbugproject, org to donate or to buy Allison's dog biscuits.

1. At the beginning, Allison's family _____.

A．didn't expect a dog could change her so much

B．didn't know the sufferings of fighting a cancer

C．thought a dog's company would harm her health

D．wanted other sick children to get the same comfort

2. How did Allison start her cause?

A．She helped advertise lemonade and homemade dog biscuits.

B．A mailman donated some money to her.

C．She earned some money by doing small business.

D．Some groups gave her a hand.

3. The name of Allison's organization, the Stink Bug Project, is from _____.

A．one of her drawings	B．her dog
C．her homemade biscuits	D．her friend

4. According to Paragraph 4, Allison's mother feels _____.

A．calm	B．proud
C．embarrassed	D．worried

5. What's the passage mainly about ?

A．Helping to make dog treats.	B．Adopting a dog for your child.
C．Giving dogs and love to kids with cancer.	D．Raising money to train pets.

【推荐1】【课文原文】

“WELCOME, XIE LEI!”

BUSINESS STUDENT BUILDING BRIDGES

Six months ago, 19-year-old Xie Lei said goodbye to her family and friends and boarded a plane for London. It was the first time that she had left China. “I was very excited but also quite nervous. I didn’t know what to expect,” Xie Lei recalled.

Xie Lei is studying for a business qualification at a university in China and has come to our university on a year-long exchange programme. “I chose the exchange programme because I wanted to learn about global business and improve my English. My ambition is to set up a business in China after graduation,” she explained.

At first, Xie Lei had to adapt to life in a different country. “You have to get used to a whole new1ife,” she said. “I had to learn how to use public transport and how to ask for things I didn’t know the English names for. When I got lost, I had to ask passers-by for help, but people here speak fast and use words l’m not familiar with. I ask them to repeat themselves a lot!”

Although some foreign students live in campus accommodation, Xie Lei chose to live with a host family, who can help with her adaptation to the new culture. “When I miss home, I feel comforted to have a second family,” XieLei said. “When there’s something I don’t know or understand, I can ask them. They are also keen to learn about China. Laura, the daughter of my host family, wants to study in China in the future. We take turns to cook each evening. They really love my stir-fried tomatoes and eggs! Laura says she always feels hungry when she smells it, so I taught her how to cook it, too.”

Another challenge for Xie Lei is the academic requirements. The first time that she had to write an essay, her tutor explained that she must acknowledge what other people had said if she cited their ideas, but that he mainly wanted to know what she thought! Xie Lei was confused because she thought she knew less than other people. Her tutor advised her to read lots of information in order to form a wise opinion of her own.

Xie Lei also found many courses included students’ participation in class as part of the final result. Students need to generate ideas, offer examples, apply concepts, and raise questions, as well as give presentations. At first, Xie Lei had no idea what she should say but what surprised her was that she found herself speaking up in class after just a few weeks. “My presentation on traditional Chinese art was a great success, which boosted my confidence,” she said. “I’ll use these skills back home for presentations. They’ll help me build a strong business in the future.”

Now halfway through her exchange year, Xie Lei feels much more at home in the UK. What seemed strange before now appears quite normal to her. “Engaging in British culture has helped,” she said. “As well as studying hard, I’ve been involved in social activities. British people are fascinated by our culture and eager to learn more about it, so I’m keen to share my culture with them. While I’m learning about business, I’m also acting as a cultural messenger building a bridge between us.”

We will follow Xie Lei’s progress in later editions, but for now, we wish her all the best.

1. 快速阅读文章，总结文章段落主旨大意并填空。

Para.1	Leaving China for _____________.
Para.2	Her _________ to set up a business in China.
Para.3-4	Her ____________ to the new culture.
Para.5-6	__________ requirements in the new school.
Para.7	Feeling much more __________.
Para.8	Best _______ from the newspaper.

2. 精读文章，根据所提供的信息，完成下面表格。

	Challenges	What Xie Lei did
Daily life	adaptation to a whole new life	learnt to __________ learnt to __________ asked for __________
	loneliness	lived with __________
Academic requirements	writing an essay	got help from __________; __________ a lot to prepare
	participating in __________ and giving __________	gave presentawtion on __________
	participating in and giving	gave presentawtion on

3. 根据文章填写下面导图，介绍说明谢蕾在不同阶段的不同感受以及原因。

______   _______   _______     ________     ________     _________     ________   ______

【推荐2】Ms. McIntyre, 38, worked as a publisher. She suffered brain cancer (癌) and her health got worse despite some medical treatment. But she realized that in a way, she was luckier than some other people. She had insurance (保险) to help pay for her medical care. But Ms. McIntyre and her husband, Mr. Gregory, knew that many people with cancer face tough decisions because of the costs of medical care and wind up owing far more than they can pay.

Though her health was failing, Ms. McIntyre decided to help pay off the medical debts of as many people as she possibly could. The couple began donating money to a group called RIP Medical Debt, which is committed to working to pay off the unpaid medical debts of others. The group can pay off medical bills for about 100 times less money than they cost. In other words, for every 100 donated, the group can pay off 10,000 in unpaid medical bills.

Unfortunately, Ms. McIntyre passed away before long. Mr. Gregory posted a message for Ms. McIntyre on her social media accounts. “If you’re reading this, I have passed away,” the post began. Then the post explained, “To celebrate my life, I’ve arranged to buy up others’ medical debts and then destroy the debts.”

The couple had set up a page on a website to raise money for this purpose. They had hoped to raise about $20,000. Nevertheless, Ms. McIntyre’s last post attracted a lot of attention. The donations on her web page quickly passed the total goal. In less than a week, the site had raised 10 times more than expected and the donations are still coming in. By November 22, 2023, Ms. McIntyre’s web page had raised over $627,000, or enough money to pay off about $60 million in medical debts.

Mr. Gregory planned a special event in December to celebrate Ms. McIntyre’s life and to announce how many millions of dollars of medical debts her efforts had paid for.

1. Why did Ms. McIntyre feel luckier than some other people?

A．The doctors eventually cured her.

B．Her disease didn’t become worse.

C．She had a job before being ill.

D．She had payment protection about medical care.

2. What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The public involvement.	B．The couple’s commitment.
C．The operation of a website.	D．The increase of medical debts.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Ms. McIntyre?

A．Humorous and elegant.	B．Influential and understanding.
C．Cautious and promising.	D．Enthusiastic and adaptable.

【推荐3】Bill and his family has been living in the six－family building for years. All the neighbours got along fairly well with each other until recently.
An old man and his wife used to live on the second floor. Bill’s mother and the old lady were good friends. Unfortunately the lady died last month. Her husband could not live alone, so he had his grandson move over and live with him.
The grandson has become a problem to all the neighbours, especially to Bill’s family. The walls of the building are thin and he is noisy. Bill is used to peace and quiet but the young man likes to listen to the radio late at night. Sometimes friends of his visit make a lot of noise. That is too much for Bill’s family.
Bill’s mother once asked the old man politely if he was able to sleep well at night, but obviously the man didn’t understand what she meant. If he did and spoke to his grandson, the young man obviously didn’t listen, since things haven’t changed any. Everyone in Bill’s family agrees that something must be done though they don’t want to hurt the kind old man.
1. Bill’ s family got angry because ________.

A．the old lady had died

B．a young man moved in

C．the old man could not live alone

D．the grandson made a lot of noise

2. Which of the following statements is true?

A．The old man could not live without his wife’s help.

B．The old man and his wife were sometimes making trouble too.

C．Bill’s mother was kind to her neighbours.

D．Bill’s mother was the only one who likes the young man.

3. The grandson makes a lot of noise mainly becasue ________.

A．he never thinks other people might not be happy with so much noise around

B．the walls of the building are thin

C．he likes to listen to the radio at night

D．friends of his visit

4. The best title of the passage is ________.

A．Good Neighbours	B．An Old Man’s Sad Story
C．New Problem with Neighbours	D．Bill’s House