【推荐2】【课本原文】

After Twenty Years

The short story “After Twenty Years” is set in New York on a cold, dark night. Most people have left work to go home, and this part of the city is now quiet. A policeman who is checking the area sees a man outside a shop. He goes up to the man and finds he has a scar on his face. They have a chat and the man starts to tell his story.

“Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I dined here at ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s with Jimmy Wells, my best chum, and the finest chap in the world. He and I were raised here in New York, just like two brothers, together. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West to make my fortune. You couldn’t have dragged Jimmy out of New York; he thought it was the only place on earth. Well, we agreed that night that we would meet here again exactly twenty years from that date and time, no matter what our conditions might be or from what distance we might have to come. We figured that in twenty years each of us ought to have our destiny worked out and our fortunes made, whatever they were going to be.”

“It sounds pretty interesting,” said the policeman. “Rather a long time between meets, though, it seems to me. Haven’t you heard from your friend since you left？”

“Well, yes, for a time we corresponded,” said the other. “But after a year or two we lost track of each other. You see, the West is a pretty big proposition, and I kept hustling around over it pretty lively. But I know Jimmy will meet me here if he’s alive, for he always was the truest, staunchest old chap in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand in this door tonight, and it’s worth it if my old partner turns up.”

(Excerpts from “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry)

1. What was the man doing when the police found him?

A．He was waiting to dine.

B．He was wandering aimlessly.

C．He was waiting for a person.

D．He was going shopping nearby.

2. Why did the man decide to go to the West?

A．To see the world.

B．To make money.

C．To avoid a debt.

D．To hide himself.

3. Why did Jimmy remain in New York?

A．Their friendship broke up.

B．Jimmy didn't want to leave.

C．He had a lot to do in New York.

D．He wanted to wait for his friend.

4. What happened to their friendship after they said goodbye?

A．They kept in touch for at least 20 years.

B．They met now and then after saying bye.

C．Their friendship came to an end after that.

D．They had been out of touch for many years.

【推荐3】I was raised on a farm in the Fraser Valley along with five sisters and one brother. When I was 15, I got addicted to drinking at weekends and then dropped out of school. By the time I was 17, I continued to drink heavily. I couldn't find a job to support myself. So, I had no other choice but to join the army. I retired and went back home three years later, still a heavy drinker. When I was 22, I met Sue whose father was also a heavy drinker, so my behavior didn't surprise her. We were soon married and later had two daughters.
I started my first business when I was in my mid-twenties. A few years later, I bought a large chicken farm. Even with this success, though, my drinking was always a problem. It affected my marriage and family so much that I knew I had to make up my mind to stop drinking. So I tried great efforts. But two years later, I began drinking again.
When I was in my mid-thirties, I sold both of my businesses, and bought the big house on the hill. I was not at all happy, although I had everything that was supposed to make me happy. I sold our big house on the hill and bought a large land, where I built a new house. Our marriage was in big trouble, and my finances would _________ For the first time in many years, I had to go to work for someone as an employee. I took a job as a heavy equipment operator in a road building camp.
My marriage still came apart when I was 38, and my kids had to go through our divorce. I spent 6 months in giving up drinking on a school camp. Nearly a year later, I met my childhood neighbor girl, June. We were married not long afterwards. My kids learned to trust me again and I have two stepchildren that also love me.
Happy life continued about ten years. Everything was going so well when I felt there was something wrong with my body. I went to see a doctor, and the medical examination came out that I had ALS(肌肉萎缩症). Record shows that people with ALS generally survive between two to five years after symptoms appear. I've probably had the symptoms for one-and-a-half years already, so I don't know how much time I have left.…God knows…
1. Which of the following is the right order for the author’s experience?
a. He married June.
b. He married Sue
c. He bought the big house on the hill.
d. He bought a large chicken farm.
e. He succeeded in giving up drinking.
f. He tried but failed to get rid of drinking.

A．a, d, c, b, f, e	B．b, d, f, c, e, a
C．b, c, d, a, f, e	D．f, b, d, c, e , a

2. The underlined phrase “go down the drain”(in Paragraph 3) is closest in meaning to “__”.

A．be out of expectation	B．be totally successful
C．become worse and worse	D．be safe in one’s pocket

3. What can we know about the author?

A．He began drinking at the age of 17.

B．He ended his army life at the age of 19.

C．He was not happy, although he lived in the big house at the age of 35.

D．He bought the big house on the hill when he was 25.

4. What can we infer about the author’s marriage?

A．His two kids didn’t trust him before he remarried.

B．His finance was the first thing that led to the failure of his first marriage.

C．His first wife didn’t know about his drinking before marriage.

D．He gave birth to two children in his 40s.

5. What is true according to the last paragraph?

A．The author is hopeless because he will be dead in a few years because of ALS.

B．The author has hope because the doctor concluded that he had 2-5 years left.

C．The author is uncertain whether the symptoms of ALS have appeared or not.

D．The author will ask God whether the disease is curable or not.

【推荐1】Livestreaming (直 播 ) through platforms such as Amazon Live and TikTok is an increasingly popular way to sell goods online. It usually lasts between 5 and 10 minutes, and someone promotes a product. Viewers can then readily buy it by just clicking on a link.

We analyzed ( 分析 ) 99,451 sales cases on a livestream selling platform and matched them with actual sales cases. In terms of time, that is equal to over 2 million 30-second television advertisements.

To determine the emotional ( 情绪的 ) expression of the salesperson, we used two deep learning models: a face model and an emotion model. The face model discovers the presence or absence of a face in a frame of a video stream. The emotion model then determines the probability that a face is exhibiting any of the six basic human emotions: happiness, sadness, surprise, anger, fear or disgust. For example, smiling signals a high probability of happiness, while an off-putting expression usually points toward anger.

We wanted to see the effect of emotions expressed at different times in the sales cases so we counted probabilities for each emotion for all 62 million frames in our database. We then combined these probabilities with other possible aspects that might drive sales — such as price and product characteristics — to judge the effect of emotion.

We found that, perhaps unsurprisingly, when salespeople show more negative emotions — such as anger and disgust — the volume of sales went down. But we also found that a similar thing happened when the salespeople show high levels of positive emotions, such as happiness or surprise.

A likely explanation, based on our research, is that smiling can be disgusting because it lacks true feelings and can reduce trust in the seller. A seller’s happiness may be taken as a sign that the seller is gaining interests at the customer’s expense.

1. What does Paragraph 1 tell about livestreaming sales?

A．It increases the prices of products.

B．It helps sellers save money on ad.

C．It makes shopping convenient for buyers.

D．It promotes better buyer-seller relationship.

2. What does the underlined word “off-putting” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Uneasy.	B．Unpleasant.
C．Lively.	D．Strange.

3. How do customers feel about the seller’s smiling?

A．They feel respected.	B．They feel satisfied.
C．They feel cheated.	D．They feel trusted.

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

A．Livestreamers Sell Products Successfully

B．Expressions Influence Online Product Sales

C．Emotions: Means of Communication

D．Smiling: A Way to Increase Sales

【推荐2】Daniel Lamplugh remembers going shopping with his dad on Black Friday." Waking up at 6 a.m. the day after Thanksgiving is what I grew up doing," says the University of New Orleans film student.

A lot has changed since those childhood days. Online retailers(零售商)have forced many chains out of business. Consumers are increasingly shopping with their smart-phones. But a funny thing happened on the way to the future: Most shoppers are not going all-digital. Surveys show they're eager for good experiences at retail stores.

This November and December, for the first time ever retailer websites will get more traffic from mobile users than computer users, predicts Adobe Digital In sights." We live our lives with a combination of the physical and the digital." says Kit Yarrow, author of book Decoding the New Consumer Mind. Retailers have to understand it's not a question of either/or. It's a question of combining the two.

Heather Howe, an MBA student, said," Consumers like shopping on their phones and online because it's more convenient and because there are more options. I went to the Vans store to try on shoes and then I actually purchased them online while I was in the store.

While mobile sales are growing, the widest use smart-phones in stores is researching products or looking up product information(58 percent), closely followed checking or comparing prices(54 percent), according to a survey.

"My phone plays a huge role in online shopping, because I am on the email list for all of my favorite brand. so I get many emails daily informing me of sales, "s Rachel Lynch, who works at a Boston public-relation agency." Also, a store has an app that allows me to chat with other users about the products, and read reviews Online reviews are one of the first things I look at when I am about to buy a new product.”

“Electronics and kitchen equipment are definitely online purchases for me, since they're heavy to get home on the subway and often cheaper online," says Michael Miller-Ernest, a manager in Brooklyn,N.Y.

1. What do most shoppers tend to do now?

A．Do shopping all-digitally.

B．Use computers to do online shopping.

C．Do window shopping in shopping malls.

D．Go to physical stores with their smart-phones.

2. What's Kit Yarrow's suggestion for retailers?

A．Reaching both online and offline consumers.

B．Focusing on either the physical or the digital.

C．Encouraging consumers to use smart-phones.

D．Providing more convenience for computer users.

3. What does Heather Howe think of online stores?

A．They offer wider choices.

B．They sell high quality goods.

C．They will replace physical stores.

D．They are burning shoppers' patience.

4. What can be inferred about Rachel Lynch's habits?

A．She buys heavy goods online.

B．She often writes users' reviews.

C．She is fond of sending producers emails.

D．She tries to learn about other users' experience.

【推荐3】Have you ever been on social media and seen your favorite celebrity talking about a product? These promotions might not be totally random, and are actually seen as a vital part of the marketing process. The question is: How do social media influencers ‘influence’ what you buy?

Human desire for status and making friends, combined with our need to belong to a group, makes us receptive to being ‘socially influenced’. Companies often use that desire to have a similar lifestyle to a celebrity we admire to sell or launch a product. So, what do these promotions actually do?

Firstly, they can be used to build brand awareness. A social media influencer should have a strong understanding of the platform they operate on, and therefore can create appealing content that not only sticks to the brand image, but sparks their followers’ interests in a product they might never have seen before.

Secondly, influencers can improve a company or product’s relationship with their customer base. According to InMoment’s 2018 US Retail CX Trends Report on customer loyalty, 77% of buyers have been brand loyal for more than ten years. This is also true of 60% of millennials. A popular celebrity can target key customers and talk or blog about a product, which can create an instant and lasting bond with them.

Lastly, influencers can improve customer buying habits with seemingly ‘unbiased opinions’. We are more likely to respond to ‘peer recommendation’ than traditional ads, meaning the fact we see an influencer as a ‘friend’ can make us less likely to be doubtful about what we are seeing.

So, the next time you see a celebrity talking about a product, you might want to consider that this could be a carefully worked-out marketing strategy designed to target your core needs. If you find yourself examining a product you’ve seen on social media, you may well have been influenced.

1. Why do companies invite celebrities to launch products?

A．Because celebrities can improve the companies’ public images.

B．Because consumers like to share similarity with celebrities.

C．Because celebrities want to make more money.

D．Because consumers can make friends with celebrities.

2. According to the passage, which strategy is often used by influencers?

A．Setting up operation platforms.	B．Sending gifts to customers.
C．Improving relationship with the company.	D．Taking advantage of their popularity.

3. To customers, the recommendations of influencers seem to be ________.

A．offensive

B．subjective

C．objective

D．misleading

4. The passage is mainly about ________.

A．how social media make ads	B．how social media influence our lifestyle
C．how social influencers affect our buying	D．how celebrities earn fame

【推荐1】Guo Qilin, 24, an actor and comedian, has been trending on Weibo for his response about love relations on the reality show Heart Signal 3（《心动的信号3》）. "The right time to establish a relationship with a romantic partner should be at a moment when I fear being lonely, and I really need someone to accompany me," he explained.

Qilin's clarity and self-knowledge at such a young age surprised viewers. This has played a key role in Qilin's career as he knows who he is and what he wants.

His father, Guo Degang, 47, is a famous Chinese crosstalk artist. Influenced by his father, Qilin became interested in crosstalk. At the age of 14, he dropped out of school and decided to learn crosstalk instead. Led by his father, Qilin read many books and grasped the basic skills of crosstalk, which laid a solid foundation for his career.

Qilin climbed the ladder to success by working on his self-control and tenacity（韧性）. In order to look better on stage, he lost almost 35kg within one year. "Losing weight is a presentation for actors with good virtues," he said in an interview.

Qilin once ranked first with Yue Yunpeng in the fifth season of Top Funny Comedian. However, it caused much criticism. Viewers thought his achievement should result from his father's fame and Yue's performance. Even so, Qilin has always stayed humble and has been trying to distance himself professionally from his father.

Qilin's turning point came with the drama Joy of Life（《庆余年》）, in which Qilin plays a supporting role as Fan Sizhe, transforming from a god-for-nothing young man from a wealthy family into accomplished businessman. This role earned him a place and respect from professionals as well as the audience.

Now, Qilin's new drama Мy Heroic Husband is set to release this month. It is the first time that Qilin has played a leading role. To make a name for himself and escape his father's shadow, Qilin is diligent on the right track.

1. What played a key role in Guo Qilin's career?

A．Tenacity.

B．Self-control.

C．Father's influence.

D．Self-knowledge.

2. Which is NOT the foundation of Qilin's career?

A．He has read a lot of books.

B．He has got his father's guidance.

C．He has made a lot of popular plays.

D．He has mastered the basic skills of crosstalk.

3. Why did Guo Qilin want to lose weight?

A．To seek for fame.	B．To make himself happy.
C．To get a role in a new drama.	D．To show respect for the audience.

4. Which words can be used to describe Guo Qilin?

A．Modest and hardworking.	B．Caring and childish.
C．Smart and generous.	D．Playful and adventurous.

【推荐2】It is August 1939 and a group of frightened children are boarding a train at Prague’s Wilson Station. Their heartbroken parents do not join them. Indeed, they fear they may never see their children again. But they know that their children will live. These are among the 669 children that Nicholas Winton will go on to save from death.

In December 1938, a friend asked Winton to come to Prague to help people. In Prague, Winton saw people living in terrible conditions and whose lives were in danger. He decided to help transport children to safety in Britain. He established an office to keep records of the children and then returned to Britain to find temporary homes for them. He used donated funds and his own money to pay the 50 pounds per child that the British government required. By August 1939, Winton had saved 669 children.

During World War II, Winton served as an officer in Britain’s Royal Air Force. He left the army in 1954. He then worked for international charities and for various companies. For the most part, he did not mention the children he saved and his actions soon disappeared from people’s memories. That’s all changed in 1988 when his wife Grete found a forgotten journal at home. The journal contained photos and names of the children and addresses of the families that took them in. She sent the journal to a newspaper, and that year Winton was seen on the British television program That’s Life. At one point, the host asked people in the audience to stand up if Nicholas Winton had saved their lives. A shocked Winton watched as the majority of people rose to their feet. The program brought-his actions to public attention and Winton became a respected figure around the world.

Nicholas Winton passed away on 1 July 2015, at the age of 106. As the Chinese saying goes, “a kind-hearted person lives a long life.”

1. Why did Winton decide to help the children out?

A．He was forced by a friend.

B．He came to Prague for business.

C．He pitied their heartbroken parents.

D．He saw their dangerous living conditions.

2. What can we learn about Winton from paragraph 3?

A．He became a businessman after leaving the army.

B．He became a respected figure during World War II.

C．He sent the journal with pictures and names to a newspaper.

D．He was invited onto the British television program That’s Life.

3. Which of the following can best describe Winton?

A．Positive.	B．Independent.
C．Warm-hearted.	D．Adventurous.

4. Which can be a suitable title for the text?

A．A frightening rescue.	B．The power of good.
C．A meaningful business.	D．The power of friendship.

【推荐3】Li Jianguo, a 49-year-old teacher at the Tianjin Vocational Institute, is set to be named as one of the “2022 most beautiful teachers”—an annual public award sponsored by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Ministry of Education.

Li has stood out by taking the lead in the training of students in vocational skills, gaining a number of honors including being named as a national role model teacher. He has mentored(指导) seven national-level technique experts and a team of 14 technique masters. One of his students, Guo Jinpeng, who graduated from the institute in 2007, became a college teacher at the Chengdu Auto Vocational and Technical School and was named as a national role model teacher in 2019.

Li’s nomination as one of the “2022 most beautiful teachers” reflects that China is focusing on the importance of vocational education and aims to foster(培养) more leading personnel with the spirit of craftsmanship in the manufacturing industry.

At an international vocational and technical education conference in Tianjin last month, Li noted that there is no difference between vocational education and ordinary education, and vocational education is not secondary nor should it ever be treated as less than ordinary education. “Vocational education has the mission of fostering a quality workforce and technical experts for the country. The hardworking spirit is the key to building any ordinary people into leading personnel,” he said.

Li joined the institute in 1993 and later founded a machinery engineering practice center, providing free training t0 7,500 people a week. In 2015, he led a team of teachers to work for 40 days to repair 124 machine tools in the center. Li has devoted himself to building the country’s first additive manufacturing technique and application center at the institute to satisfy the thirst for the country’s human resources in 3D printing.

1. Why does the author mention Guo Jinpeng in paragraph 2?

A．To show the achievements of Li Jianguo.	B．To make a comparison with Li Jianguo.
C．To publicize national role model teachers.	D．To praise national-level technique expert

2. What is Li’s opinion about vocational education?

A．It is secondary to ordinary education.

B．It has nothing to do with hardworking spirit.

C．It is more important than ordinary education.

D．It should develop qualified and skilled talents.

3. Which of the following best describes Li’s job at the institute?

A．Boring.

B．Productive.

C．Challenging.

D．Well-paid.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．China Sponsoring Annual Award for Teachers

B．China Aiming to Develop More Leading Personnel

C．Different Education Training Different Kinds of Students

D．A Vocational Teacher to Be Awarded as One of the “Most Beautiful Teachers”