【推荐1】We are busy talking about and using the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet?

Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer network didn’t work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way computer network system would keep on working on the time.

At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers became cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made “surfing” in the Internet more convenient.

Today it is easy to get on-line and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending e-mail is more and more popular among students.

The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people’s life.

1. A new network system was set up to _________.

A．make computers cheaper

B．make itself keep on working all the time

C．break down the whole network

D．make computers large and expensive

2. __________ made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

A．Computers	B．Hardware
C．Software	D．Information

3. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．In the 1960s, computer network worked well.

B．In the early 1970s, the Internet was easy to use.

C．Today it’s still not easy to get on-line.

D．Sending e-mail is now more popular among students than before.

【推荐3】People are being tricked into Facebook with the promise of a fun, free service without realizing they’re paying for it by giving up loads of personal information.
Most Facebook users don’t realize this is happening. Even if they know what the company is up to, they still have no idea what they’re paying for Facebook because people don’t really know what their personal data is worth.
The biggest problem, however, is that the company keeps changing the rules early on you keep everything private. That was the great thing about Facebook. You could create your own little private network. Last year. The company changed its privacy rules so that many things; your city, your photo, your friends’ names were set, by default (默认)to be shared with everyone on the Internet.
According to Facebook’s vice-president Elliot Schrage, the company is simply making changes to improve its service, and if people don’t share information. They have a “less satisfying experience.
Some critics think this is more about Facebook looking to make more money. In original business model, which involved selling ads and putting them. At the side of the pages totally, who wants to took at ads when they’re online connecting with their friends?
The privacy issue has already landed Facebook in hot water in Washington. In April. Senator Charles Schumer called on Facebook to change its privacy policy. He also urged the Federal Trade Commission to set guidelines for social networking sites. “I think the senator rightly communicated that we had not been clear about what the new products were and how people could choose to use them or not to use them,” Schrage admits.
I suspect that whatever Facebook has done so far to invade our privacy, it’s only the beginning，which is why I’m considering cancelling my account. Facebook is a handy site, but I’m upset by the idea that my information is in the hands of people I don’t know. That’s too high a price to pay.
1. What do we learn about Facebook from the first paragraph?

A．It is a website that sends messages to users who want to get married.

B．It earns money by putting on advertisements.

C．It makes money by selling its users’ personal data.

D．It provides loads of information to its users.

2. What does the author say about most Facebook users?

A．They are unwilling to give up their personal information.

B．They don’t identify themselves when using the website.

C．They don’t know their personal data enriches Facebook.

D．They care very little about their personal information.

3. Why does Facebook make changes to its rules according to Elliot Schrage?

A．To obey the Federal guidelines.

B．To provide better service to its users.

C．To improve its users’ connection

D．To expand its business.

4. Why does the author plan to cancel his Facebook account?

A．He is dissatisfied with its present service.

B．He finds many of its users untrustworthy.

C．He is upset by its frequent rule changes.

D．He doesn’t want his personal data badly used.

【推荐1】

Oct. 23rd is the beginning of Shuangjiang or “Frost’s Descent” in English, the 18th of 24 solar terms(节气) in the Chinese lunar calendar. It refers to the time when frost(霜) starts to fall across China, or “the dews(露水) were frozen into frost” because of the coldness, as recorded in ancient Chinese books.

By the time of Shuangjiang, most of the harvesting work is already completed in northern China, and farmers are now able to enjoy a period of rest. But in the south, the harvest is still on the go. Farmers have to take home the sweet potatoes before they are destroyed by the coming frost. After a year of farming, it is the time to plow the fields and prepare the soil for next year in both south and north.

Autumn might be the most colorful season in China with the leaves turning from golden yellow to red. Hiking has become popular since the ancient times as people can enjoy the special autumnal scenery. Du Mu, a well-known poet from the Tang Dynasty wrote the beautiful mountainous scenery in a poem: “I stopped the coach as charmed by the maple woods; Frosted autumn leaves outshine February flowers in redness.”

The Double Ninth Festival also falls during the season, a festival for the elders. Going hiking in the highlands is part of the celebrations practiced by the ancient Chinese people.

“Keeping warm” becomes a most important thing at this time of the year as the weather is getting colder. Persimmon(柿子) is the favored fruit in many areas. The Chinese believe that persimmons could not only keep off the coldness, but strengthen the muscles and bones. Also, chicken or mutton soup is believed to be good for the spleen and advised for the diet.

Shuangjiang brings the frost and freezing wind, and autumn has come to an end. But for most Chinese, it is not necessarily a sad time because in winter, they are able to have different but equally beautiful scenery.

1. The underlined phrase “on the go” in the 2nd paragraph probably means ________.

A．admirable

B．mild

C．active

D．widespread

2. What did the poet Du Mu describe in his famous poem?

A．Coldness of frost.	B．View of autumn.
C．Autumnal farming.	D．The Double Ninth Festival.

3. What is the main idea of the 5th paragraph?

A．Tell the differences of the harvest in China’s south and north.

B．Explain why Shuangjiang gets its name.

C．Advise some activities to enjoy the colorful season.

D．Introduce the ways to stay warm before the coming of winter.

4. Which of the following statement about Shuangjiang is TRUE according to the text?

A．People believe eating persimmons in Shuangjiang can help to get rid of coldness.

B．Shaungjiang is the best time for people who want to lose weight to take exercises.

C．Farmers in the south of China can enjoy a great rest during the time of Shuangjiang.

D．Shuangjiang is the end of summer and the beginning of autumn of a year.

5. The best title of this passage is _______.

A．What causes Frost’s Descent	B．Time to say goodbye to autumn
C．Enjoy the beautiful autumn	D．Prepare for a good harvest

【推荐2】The United States has more tornadoes (龙卷风) than any other country in the world. In normal year there are 800 to 1, 000 tornadoes. Most happen in the middle part of the country. Tornadoes form when warm and cool air meet. In the Midwest, the warm air from the Gulf of Mexico often meets the cold air from Canada.

The usual tornado season is March through May. Tornadoes form most often in the afternoon and early evening. There is often no warning of tornado. People who live in the Midwest know the signs (征兆) of tornado activity. The sky becomes dark, often a greenish color. Dark clouds appear in the sky and there is often large hail (冰雹) . Suddenly, there is loud sound, like train or jet plane. Sometimes, two, three, five, ten or more tornadoes can form over a large area.

This type of tornado activity hit Oklahoma and Kansas in May 1999. The day was stormy, with heavy thunderstorms in the afternoon. As the storms continued, tornadoes began to form. Dozens of tornadoes hit towns and neighborhoods in Oklahoma then in Kansas. Some stayed on the ground for several hours, destroying everything they touched. The tornadoes killed 43 people and injured 600 others. They destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. In some areas, not one home stood. In other areas, the tornadoes destroyed every home on the left side of the street, but didn't touch any homes on the right side. The tornadoes lifted people and cars into the air and then threw them back down to earth. So it is important to know where to hide and how to protect yourself in the face of a tornado.

1. What can we learn about tornadoes in America?

A．They may appear in groups.

B．They usually happen in the summer.

C．There are more tornadoes in the Eastern States.

D．There are more than 1, 000 tornadoes every year.

2. The tornadoes that hit Oklahoma and Kansas in May 1999 __________ .

A．took place at the same time	B．were the biggest in history
C．came and went quickly	D．brought death and destruction

3. What will the author most probably talk about next?

A．Tornado dangers and warning signs.	B．How to stay safe during a tornado.
C．Different kinds of tornadoes.	D．How a tornado forms.

【推荐3】What do you do when you need to look something up? Go to the library? Open an encyclopedia（百科全书）? Click onto the Internet? These days, most people go straight to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. But how reliable is it?

There’s no denying the popularity and usefulness of Wikipedia. It attracts as many as 78 million visitors every month, and the site is available in more than 270 different languages. It’s one of the most comprehensive resources available which includes almost all details, facts and information that may be concerned. It’s got much more information than an ordinary encyclopedia. The site is updated on a daily basis by thousands of people around the world. Anyone with an Internet connection can log on and edit the contents or add a new page. And you don’t need any formal training.

Of course, there are some controls. Wikipedia has a team of more than 1,500 administrators who check for false information. And main targets for harmful comments（such as politicians）are off-limits to public editing. But with more than 16 million articles to keep an eye on, it isn’t easy. So, while Wikipedia benefits from being constantly updated with information from all over the world, it’s also open to “vandals”（恣意破坏公共财物者）.

Some of the damage is easy to notice. One person drew devil horns and a moustache on Microsoft chairman Bill Gate’s photo, while another edited Greek philosopher Plato’s biography to say he was a “Hawaiian weather man who is widely believed to have been a student of ‘Barney the purple Dinosaur’”.

But other things are harder to spot. The most common form of vandalism（恣意破坏公共财物罪） involves adding tiny items of false information into the biography of a famous person. Unbelievably, some of this misinformation has appeared in newspapers, with The Daily Mail, The Guardian and The Independent all having fallen victim to the dirty tricks. For example, in an article about British comedian Sir Norman Wisdom, one newspaper claimed that he co-wrote Dame Vera Lynn’s wartime hit. There’ll be bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover. He did no such thing. And in other article, it was reported that TV Theme tune composer Ronnie Hazlehurst had written the S Club 7’s hit Reach again, not true. So, if you’re going to use any information from Wikipedia, make sure you double- check it first.

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements about Wikipedia is true?

A．The primary job of the administrators is to guarantee information conveyed is accurate.

B．Wikipedia is updated daily so it is the most comprehensive resources available.

C．Wikipedia is sure to be attacked because too many people are using it.

D．Whoever has access to the Internet can edit any contents of Wikipedia as they like.

2. The main idea of the last two paragraphs is that___________.

A．information about famous people is likely to be inaccurate.

B．all items of false information are not easy to get spotted.

C．however famous the papers are, they will be cheated.

D．you can never be careful enough while updating information online.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude to Wikipedia according to the text?

A．Objective.

B．Critical.

C．Satisfied

D．Supportive

4. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．The Most Reliable Online Encyclopedia

B．Why Is Wikipedia So Popular?

C．An Online Encyclopedia With Advantages And Disadvantages

D．How Dose Wikipedia Help You?