【推荐1】I needed to pay my internet and television providers bills and normally, I use my cellphone to pay them or I'd also get on my bicycle and ride up to their office to pay them. But on this day, I'd walk there to have lunch with my mom.

On my return route,¨ Miles, it's Trevor, "a rider called. He was a teammate I had played floor hockey with a few years back. He told me he was just out testing motorcycle, as later that day he was going to take a trip down to Salt Lake City by“. Trevor was going to a conference about a rare disease. This rare disease had taken his own six-year-old daughter and he needed to learn more, to advocate, and to help others here in Canada.

We hugged and then went on our separate ways. As l was shaking up my drink of health, I ran into Grant - another one of my floor hockey team mates. He was out for his daily six-mile run on his lunch break.

“Man, you are Miles !”he replied. He hadn't seen me in a few months and my shoulders, arms, and chest were larger and far more detailed, thanks to the help of my personal trainer. And now they matched my biking legs. I was also eight pounds lighter at 170 pounds.

After a visit there I returned home. And I was lost in thought. It is easy to pay a bill online but I would have missed so much, including my beautiful moment with Trevor. Take the step. Go the extra mile in your life. You'll never know what is waiting for you along the way, or what you will discover of yourself, of others.

1. On that day the writer paid the bills ______

A．by bicycle	B．on a bus
C．by cellphone	D．on foot

2. Why was Trevor testing his motor?

A．He was ready to raise money for his sick daughter.

B．He practised riding a motorcycle to cure his disease.

C．He was to attend a meeting in Slat Lake City.

D．He intended to travel around America.

3. What surprised Grant at the sight of the writer?

A．The writer's well-shaped body.

B．The writer's slow walking pace.

C．The writer's personal training.

D．The writer's loss of weight.

4. By telling his walking experience, the writer expects people to

A．make life easier by using technology

B．go out to experience their life

C．meet teammates more often in life

D．return home to visit their parents

【推荐2】Are you preparing for a big test? If so, you may want to go playing some basketball in between hitting the books. Doctors are starting to find more and more information that suggests a connection between exercise and brain development. Judy Cameron, a scientist at Oregon Health and Science University, studies brain development. According to her research,   it seems that exercise can make blood vessels (血管),   including those in the brain, stronger and more fully developed. Dr Cameron is sure that this allows people who exercise to think better. As she says, “while we already know that exercise is good for the heart, exercise can actually cause physical changes in the   brain.”

The effects of exercise on brain development can even be seen in babies. Babies who do activities that require a lot of movement and physical activity show greater brain development than babies who are less physically active. Even a little movement can show big results. Margaret Barnes, a scientist, also believes in the importance of exercise. She thinks that many learning disabilities that children have in primary school or high school can result from a lack of movement as babies. “Babies need movement that encourages and excites their five senses. They need to set up a connection between motion and memory. In this way, as they get older, children will begin to connect physical activity with higher learning，” says Margaret.

Older people can develop their brains as well. Cornell University studied a group of seniors who have a short­term memory increase of up to 40 percent after exercising just three hours a week. The exercise does not have to be very difficult, but it does have to increase the heart rate. Also, just like the motion for babies   exercise for older people should not be too simple. Learning some new skills or actions, such as with yoga or tai­chi helps to open up memory paths in the brain that may not have been used for a long time. For most people, any type of physical activity that increases the heart rate is helpful. The main aim is to increase the brain’s flow of blood. And your brain can benefit from as little as two to three hours of exercise a week.

1. What is the connection between exercise and brain   development?

A．Exercise helps make our blood vessels.

B．Physical exercise helps us think better.

C．Exercise prevents us having brain diseases.

D．More physical exercises enlarge our brains.

2. How can exercise affect babies?

A．Whether they are excited or not depends on movements.

B．A lack of movement results from their learning disabilities.

C．The more frequently they move, the cleverer they become.

D．The more activities they do, the greater their brains develop.

3. Why is yoga suggested for seniors?

A．It helps them memorise quicker.

B．It decreases the heart rate.

C．It includes learning new actions.

D．It can be done in groups.

4. What is the smallest amount of exercise required to gain any benefit?

A．3 hours per week.	B．4.2 hours per week.
C．1 hour per day.	D．40 hours per month.

【推荐3】There are many ways to travel within a city. We can walk, cycle, or take a bus. But no matter which way we travel, we have to stick to the route(线路) the city planners laid down for us.

Parkour practitioners (跑酷爱好者), however, see the city in a completely different way. To them, there are no fixed routes. There are no walls and no stairs—since they jump, climb, roll and crawl to move across, through, over and under anything that they find in their path. The city is their playground.

The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has noticed that this activity is drawing more and more people to it—there are 100,000 people taking part in parkour today in the UK alone, according to the Guardian—and how it is helpful for people to be much stronger: It trains coordination(协调性) and balance. So the organization is thinking about recognizing parkour as a new sport and adding it to the Olympics by 2024.

But parkour practitioners themselves don’t seem to be happy with the idea. They see parkour as “a lifestyle”, wrote the website NextSportStar. “It’s a competition against the conditions rather than just a sport.”

Indeed, many do parkour just to “escape the daily routine(事务) and experience the city in different ways”, wrote reporter Oli Mould on The Conversation. They see parkour as a way to express themselves through relaxing moves and creative routes while freeing themselves from the pressure.

It’s great that the FIG wants to develop new sport and stay close to a new cultural form. But it would be greater if they knew that not everything in life is a competition.

1. How do the parkour practitioners do parkour?

A．They move on as they wish.	B．They choose the routes the city planners laid down.
C．They run faster than others.	D．They stick to certain routes.

2. Why does the FIG want to add parkour to the Olympics?

A．It’s a special way of life.	B．It draws their attention.
C．It’s good for people to keep healthy.	D．It needs some rules and instructions.

3. What is the author’s idea on parkour?

A．It is more formal than other sports.	B．It helps people to be creative.
C．It’s worth adding to the sporting event.	D．It calls on people to work as a team.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．A new sports competition	B．Parkour practitioners
C．Training in a different way	D．Making the city their own

【推荐2】According to a team of researchers, an animal’s ability to perceive (感知) time is linked to their pace of life.

“Our results lend support to the importance of time perception in the animal kingdom where the ability to perceive time in a very short time may cause the difference between life and death for fast moving creatures,” commented the lead author Kevin Healy from Trinity College Dublin.

The study was conducted with a variety of animals using phenomena based on the maximum speed of flashes of light an individual can see before the light source is seen as a constant. Dogs, for example, have eyes with a refresh rate higher than humans.

“One example of this phenomenon at work,” the authors said, “is the housefly and its ability to avoid being hit.” The research showed “flies observe motion within a shorter time than our own eyes do”, which allows them to avoid being hit.

Professor Graeme Ruxton of the University of St Andrews in Scotland, who worked jointly on the research project, said in a statement, “Having eyes that send updates to the brain at much higher frequencies than our eyes do is of no value if the brain cannot process that information equally quickly. Thus, this work highlights the perceptual abilities of even the smallest animal brains. Flies might not be deep thinkers,   but they can make good decisions very quickly.”

In comparison, the tiger beetle (虎甲虫) runs faster than its eyes can keep up, basically becoming blind, which requires it to stop periodically to reevaluate its prey’s (猎物) position.

1. What is the research mentioned in the passage mainly about?

A．The pace of life of animals.

B．The impressive abilities of animals.

C．The lifetime of small animals.

D．The time perception of animals.

2. What does Kevin Healy’s comment mean in Paragraph 2?

A．The survival of fast moving animals relies on their ability to perceive time.

B．Animals with quicker pace of life have better perception of time.

C．The ability of animals to perceive time depends on their high moving speed.

D．Animals with the poor ability to perceive time have a shorter life.

3. Why can houseflies avoid being hit?

A．They can think very deeply before they act.

B．They can process the information as quickly as they receive it.

C．They can fly much faster than their eyes can keep up.

D．They can send information to the brain more quickly.

4. What will a tiger beetle have to do to catch a moving prey (猎物)?

A．Slow down to gain its time perception.

B．Prevent itself from becoming blind.

C．Stop occasionally to spot the prey again.

D．Try to run as fast as it can.

【推荐3】Faced with a declining population and shrinking workforce, Japan has been increasingly turning to robots for help. Over the years, the androids have been employed to perform a large number of human tasks, including building products and providing care and companionship for the elderly. The latest addition to the Japanese “workforce” may be Model-T. Designed by Telexistence Inc., this seven-foot- tall robot is currently undergoing trials restocking sandwiches, drinks, and ready meals on shelves at select locations of local convenience store chains Lawson and FamilyMart.

Telexistence has received funding from technology investment company Softbank Group and cell phone service operator KDDI in Japan, with overseas investors including European passenger aircraft maker Airbus Ventures. It named its robot Model-T, a nod to the Ford Motor car that began the age of mass motoring a century ago.

Model-T, whose face somewhat resembles that of a kangaroo, is certainly not the first restocking robot. However, the warehouse robots currently being used by companies, like Walmart and Amazon, are only able to accomplish single, repetitive tasks, such as carrying boxes. Model-T, on the other hand, has a wide range of movement and can be used to restock objects of various sizes, making it ideal for convenience and grocery stores, which sell a large variety of items.

“It is able to grasp or pick and place objects of several different shapes and sizes into different locations, ” Matt Satsuma, head of business development and operations at Telexistence Inc., told CNN Business. However, Model-T is not autonomous. Instead, it is operated by human “pilots” wearing a virtual reality(VR) headset and special gloves, which allow them to feel the product the robot is holding in their hands and guide it to the right shelf. Since the video connection between the robot and the human operator has a mere 50 milliseconds delay, the navigation process is seamless. Telexistence says the VR-controlled androids are easier to develop and maintain. They are also ten times cheaper than autonomous robots, which require complex programming.

Though Model-T appears to have passed the trials, it is not quite ready to enter the labor force. Besides being a lot slower than human labour, it is also only capable of lifting packaged items, and cannot grasp loose items such as fruits and vegetables. Telexistence hopes to introduce a faster Model- T within the next two years.

1. What is the main driving factor for the invention of Model-T?

A．The demands of senior citizens.	B．The development of technology.
C．The shortage of labour force.	D．The appeal of convenience stores.

2. What’s the hidden message behind the name Model-T?

A．It is an updated version of Ford Motor.	B．It may create a new age like Ford Motor.
C．Its bond with Ford Motor is inseparable.	D．Its design is as fashionable as Ford Motor.

3. What can we learn about Model-T according to Paragraph 4?

A．It doesn’t need maintenance.	B．It performs tasks automatically.
C．It requires complex programming.	D．It depends largely on human’s operation.

4. What is mainly discussed about Model-T in the last paragraph?

A．Its limitations.	B．Its working principle.
C．Its applications.	D．Its exciting prospect.

【推荐1】Dear Editor(编辑),
I used to be a doctor in a children’s hospital. Sometimes I treated children who had been poisoned（中毒）by medicines for older family members. The children didn’t know the medicine was dangerous; they just knew it tasted sweet. Children easily opened the bottle that we now use in China.
Some days ago I talked about medicine with an American. He showed me a kind of plastic bottle. The design was very quite simple and I’m sure our Chinese factories could produce these bottles. The top of the bottle locks but can be opened by pressing down on it while turning. This is difficult for most young children to do, though grown-ups can open these bottles very easily.
I’m certain that the price of making such tops would be very low. As a doctor, I’d love to see this done. And most parents would be grateful.
Yours,
Li Hua
1. The writer’s job in the hospital was mainly to________.

A．treat sick children	B．treat poisoned children
C．give medicine to people	D．give medicine to children

2. The doctor seems to be ________.

A．happy about China’s hospital

B．angry with what has happened

C．anxious to solve the problem

D．pleased with his invention

3. The doctor thinks that we should ________.

A．study the Americans

B．buy that kind of bottle

C．produce this kind of plastic bottle

D．turn to Americans for help

4. The letter was written to the editor to ask for______.

A．money from the newspaper

B．the plastic bottles from the readers

C．medicine from the editor

D．support from the Chinese factories

【推荐3】下面文章中有3处需要添加小标题。请从以下选项中选出符合各段意思的小标题，并在答题卡上将相应选项的标号涂黑。选项中有一项是多余选项。

How to Survive a Stampede (蜂拥)

At least 154 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a stampede accident that occurred in Korea, during a Halloween gathering, local authorities said early Sunday morning. What should we do in case of similar crowding and trampling (踩踏) accidents? Here are a few tips to increase the chances of survival in an incident.

    1    

If you are in a crowd, a first and most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings and mentally notice alternate exits. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out.

Keep an eye on the crowd.

Be aware of the general atmosphere of the crowd, as panic situations can often be expected. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference, giving you the possibility of taking advantage of your escaping route.

    2    

If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down, because you could easily get trampled. Move in the same direction of the crowd, keeping your hands up by your chest like a boxer — it gives you movement and protects your chest.

    3    

If you fall, get up quickly. If you can’t keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd, or if that is not possible, then cover your head with your arms and curl up. Do not lay on your stomach or back, as this dangerously exposes your lungs.

A. Look for exits.
B. Protect your head.
C. Avoid any choke points.
D. Keep pace with the crowd.

【推荐1】Mallory Haske surfs nearly every day in the summer, and it really annoys her to see trash in the water or on the beach. So when her high school English teacher assigned a passion project, Haske came up with a creative idea that connected surfing and trash.

She collected litter on the beach and used it to create a surf board in an effort to raise awareness about ocean pollution. “The feeling of catching a wave is fantastic. It’s such a mental release,” said Haske, standing on the beach waxing(上蜡) her newly finished trash board. “I really hope it floats.”

Her teacher assigned the project months ago and was surprised to see how Haske’s enthusiasm about it grew throughout the school year. “Not every student found her passion, but she did,” said the teacher. “I’m super proud of her.”

Over the winter, Haske, who would graduate soon, collected litter including cigarette butts, bottle caps, fast-food containers and masks along the resort area beach. “It was definitely a unique challenge,”Haske said.

She landed a sponsor and raised money from friends to create the surf board, which cost about $1,000. Haske took custom orders and helped people build their own surf boards. Making one out of trash was a first for her. Nearly the entire board was made from recycled material and litter.

On Tuesday after school, Haske went out and attempted to ride a wave on her new board, but the mostly flat conditions made it difficult. The nose of the surfboard made by herself kept going under the water, but Haske stayed upbeat. “It’s pretty heavy up front, but it’s going to be my best friend,” Haske said after coming out of the water. “It’s made for large waves.”

1. Why did Haske make the surf board?

A．To put trash to the best use.	B．To take a surfing competition.
C．To pursue her passion for surfing.	D．To draw attention to ocean pollution.

2. Which of the following can best describe Haske?

A．Proud and reliable.	B．Responsible and innovative.
C．Tough and faithful.	D．Imaginative and desperate.

3. How did Haske make the surfboard?

A．With the help of environmentalists.

B．By cooperating with her parents.

C．By using the trash collected from the beach.

D．Under the guidance of her teacher.

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

A．Optimistic.

B．Cautious.

C．Peaceful.

D．Discouraged.

【推荐3】I have been lucky enough to be right next to dolphins playing in perfect surf, using the power of the waves to travel even faster than they normally swim.     1     Though I can’t swim like a dolphin, I can experience this same fun when bodysurfing.

Bodysurfing involves riding on a wave with no help from any buoyant device such as a surfboard, which makes it the “purest” form of surfing.     2    

Nevertheless, it is more enjoyable-and safer if you use flippers (large flat rubber shoes). This is because they enable you to swim faster, and so catch waves and surf along them more easily. A wetsuit is also advisable unless you are bodysurfing in tropical seas. Another aid is a handboard, a mini-surf board about the size of an iron, held in one hand to generate more speed along the wave.     3    

To catch a wave, swim to where the waves break and as one approaches, start swimming towards the beach.     4     If you do it correctly, you will feel the wave lifting you and pushing you forwards. Then try and cut along the surface of the wave.

    5     However, it does have its own unofficial world championship-the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic held each year at the legendary Banzai Pipeline in Hawaii. Local bodysurfers compete against athletes from places such as Australia, Brazil, Japan or France, in terrifying walls of water above the razor-sharp coral reef. Famous bodyboarder Mike Stewart has won the event no fewer than 12 times, and Kelly Slater, the greatest surfer in history has also competed.

For me no other sport is as much fun as bodysurfing. There’s a good reason why dolphins choose not to use surfboards!

A．Bodysurfing is not a professional sport.

B．These are frowned on by purists, however.

C．There is no doubt they are enjoying themselves.

D．You must try to travel at the same speed as the wave.

E．For quicker rides, search for peaky waves that break easily and effectively

F．By bodysurfing, you’ll come to comprehend waves on an unheard-of level.

G．In fact, it is one of very few extreme sports that can be practised using nothing but the human body.