【推荐1】At the beginning of the 21st century China had no high-speed railways. Slow and often uncomfortable trains plodded across this vast country, making journeys a test of travel endurance.

Today, it’s a completely different picture. The world’s most populous nation has — by some distance — the world’s largest network of high-speed railways. Half of that total has been completed in the last five years alone. By 2020, 75% of Chinese cities with a population of 500,000 or more had a high-speed rail ink. With maximum speeds of 350 kph (217 mph) on many lines, intercity travel has been transformed.

In contrast, the UK currently has just 107 kilometers while the United States has only one rail route that (just about) qualifies for high-speed status with top speed at 240 kph.

The size of China and its tremendous variations in terrain (地形), geology and climate have presented the country’s railway engineers with incredible challenges. From sometimes frozen Harbin in the far north to the near-tropical humidity of the Pearl River Delta megalopolis (特大都市), to the 1,776-km Lanzhou-Urumqi line crossing the Gobi Desert, China’s engineers have quickly developed extensive expertise in driving railways over, under and through whatever terrain lies in their path using overpasses, tunnels and bridges.

Chinese companies are among the first in the world to introduce new technology. The driverless “bullet trains” connecting Beijing and Zhangjiakou in northern Hebei province are capable of hitting speeds up to 350 kph, making them the world’s fastest autonomous trains. These trains are equipped with seats with 5G touchscreen control panels, intelligent lighting, thousands of safety sensors and removable seats for passengers in wheelchairs. Facial-recognition technology and robots are used in stations to assist travelers with navigation, luggage and check-in.

These new railways are a symbol of the country’s economic power, rapid modernization, growing technological prowess (高超造诣) and increasing prosperity. Moreover, they are also a powerful tool for social cohesion, political influence and the integration of disparate regions with distinct cultures into the mainstream.

1. Which of the following is true about Chinese railways?

A．By 2020, high-speed trains had reached 3/4 of Chinese cities.

B．Most Chinese trains run at an average speed of 350 kph.

C．China has the world’s fastest driverless train.

D．Robots are aboard the train on Beijing-Zhangjiakou line.

2. Why are Harbin and Gobi Dessert mentioned in Paragraph 4?

A．To illustrate the vast area China covers.

B．To show the challenges to build the rail network.

C．To display the variation of Chinese terrain.

D．To praise Chinese engineers’ intelligence.

3. What does “disparate” in the last paragraph mean?

A．Undeveloped.	B．Crowded.
C．Large.	D．Different.

4. Which one is the best title of the passage?

A．The Incredible High Speed of Chinese Trains

B．The Development of Chinese High-speed Railway

C．The Technology in the High-speed Rail

D．The Great Achievement of China

【推荐2】A new study has found that many drivers using driver assistance (辅助) tools often treat their vehicles like they are fully self-driving. The study warns that drivers who put too much trust in driver assistance technologies are putting themselves at risk for serious accidents.

The research involved drivers of three vehicles that offer advanced driver assistance systems. Each vehicle came from one of three companies: Cadillac, Nissan / Infiniti and Tesla

The study was led by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a nonprofit group. The group carries out research and crash tests and seeks to persuade car makers to design safer vehicles.

Cadillac’s driver assistance tool is called Super Cruise. The study found that 53 percent of active users of that system said “they were comfortable treating their vehicles as fully self-driving.” Tesla’s driver assistance system is called Autopilot.

The results come even as car makers have repeatedly warmed drivers that they must never fully depend on driver assistance for full operation of the vehicle. Users are asked to be fully prepared to regulate driving at any time. There have also been highly publicized accidents involving cars with driver assistance programming.

Both Super Cruise and Autopilot have a feature that the vehicle’s advanced driver assistance system will be turned off if users do not appear to be attentive (专心的) while driving. The study found that about 40 percent of the users of Autopilot and Super Cruise reported the systems had at some point turned off while they were driving and would not reactivate.

The study comes as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) examines a series of crashes involving Tesla’s Autopilot. Since 2016, the NHTSA has opened 37 special investigations into 18 crash deaths involving Tesla vehicles where systems like Autopilot were suspected of use.

Tesla has said that Autopilot is meant for use with a fully careful driver who is prepared to take control of vehicle operation. General Motors, which produces Cadillac models, said it “believes driver engagement is very important.”

1. What’s the problem with some drivers according to the study?

A．They drive with too much tension.	B．They refuse to accept high technology.
C．They rely too much on driver assistance tools.	D．They have caused many traffic accidents

2. What’s the purpose of IIHS’ research?

A．To watch over car making in the world.	B．To develop advanced vehicle technology
C．To judge various cars based on their quality.	D．To push car makers to improve vehicle safety.

3. What does the underlined word “regulate” mean in paragraph 5?

A．Enjoy.

B．Stop.

C．Control.

D．Ignore.

4. What do Tesla and General Motors have in common according to the last paragraph?

A．They praised their self-driving technology.

B．They stressed the importance of human driving.

C．They admitted the disadvantages of self-driving.

D．They promised to improve their self-driving technology

【推荐3】The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZM Bridge) will connect Hong Kong on the east bank of the Pearl River Delta to Zhuhai and Macao on the west bank, based on the planning of the national highway network. It will provide a significant part of the Pearl River Delta regional transportation loop—being a key new highway transport corridor crossing the Lingdingyang and connecting the east and west banks of the Pearl River.

The Pearl River Delta is seen as a pioneering region for China’s Reform and Opening-up Policy and an economic center of great importance. Taking advantage of the proximity (邻近) of Hong Kong and Macao, the Pearl River Delta plays a leading role and has a significant strategic status in China’s Reform and Opening-up as well as its economic and social development. The development gap between the east and west coasts of the Pearl River has widened during the recent period of rapid development of the Pearl River Delta, with the economic development of the west coast evidently lagging behind that of the east coast. The lack of convenient transportation with Hong Kong is an important reason. Obstructed (阻隔) by the Pearl River, overland transport has to detour through the Humen Bridge, while the transportation by water takes a lot of time and it is vulnerable to weather conditions. The current transport infrastructure (设施) cannot meet the demands of the economic and social development and transportation between the east and west banks of the Pearl River.

To sum up, the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is both essential and urgent in order to coordinate, fully develop and interlink the national comprehensive transportation expressway network with the networks of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao.

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

A．Plan.

B．Route.

C．Policy.

D．Construction.

2. According to paragraph 2. what makes the economic development of the west coast slower?

A．The complex transportation of the Pearl River Delta.

B．Making use of the proximity of Hong Kong and Macao.

C．Being short of convenient transportation with Hong Kong.

D．Not performing the China’s Reform and Opening-up Policy properly.

3. What is the limitation of the transportation by water?

A．It is not convenient to take.	B．It takes less passengers at a time.
C．It takes more money and more time.	D．It is time-consuming and dependent on weather.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The importance of the Pearl River Delta.

B．The fancy design and the function of HZM Bridge.

C．The development of Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao.

D．The significance and necessity of the construction of HZM Bridge.

【推荐1】Anger and sadness are important in life. New research shows that experiencing and accepting such feelings is good.

Positive (积极的) thoughts and feelings are, of course, good for our health. But unpleasant feelings are just as important as the enjoyable ones in helping us understand life’s ups and downs. Negative (消极的) feelings are important because they can tell us that we may have a health problem, or we need to pay attention to other important matters such as friendship.

Instead of avoiding negative feelings, we should accept them. Many people find it helpful to breathe slowly and deeply while learning to accept negative feelings or imagine the feelings as clouds to remind them that they will pass.

If the feelings are very strong, you may want to express how you feel in a diary or to other persons. You may want to tell the friend that her words hurt you or take steps to leave the job that makes you unhappy.

You should pay attention to your breathing and simply acknowledge (承认) any bad thoughts or feelings. This may make it easier to accept unpleasant thoughts.

It is impossible to avoid negative feelings fully, because to live is to experience losing and pain. Therefore, learning how to deal with those feelings is very important.

1. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 2?

A．What positive and negative thoughts and feelings are.

B．How positive and negative thoughts and feelings influence people.

C．What we can do to keep negative feelings away.

D．Both positive and negative thoughts and feelings are important.

2. What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Clouds.	B．Negative feelings.
C．Positive thoughts.	D．Important matters.

3. What ways does the writer tell us to deal with negative feelings?
① Breath deeply.   ② Talk to others.   ③ Write a diary.   ④ Avoid the feelings.

A．①②③

B．②③④

C．①③④

D．①②④

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph of the passage?

A．We will experience more bad feelings than the good ones.

B．Some people will only experience losing and pain in their lives.

C．We can avoid bad feelings because we can choose to forget them.

D．Everyone will experience anger and sadness during his lifetime.

5. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Anger and Sadness	B．Ups and Downs
C．Positive and Negative Ideas	D．Activities in People’s Life

【推荐2】Satellites are already in use for so many purposes today — from weather forecasting to communications, GPS, and more.

Since the late 1970s, satellites such as the European Space Agency’s (ESA) CryoSat-2 and the US Space Agency’s ICESat-2, have also been used to monitor changes in the Arctic sea ice.

Data suggests that sea ice is thinning over time due to climate change. Over the last 40 years, the extent of Arctic ice cover has been declining at a rate of 13% per decade. However, existing ways of measurement do not provide a clear and continuous picture of the state of sea ice.

These satellites use special radar or laser-based altimeter instruments (雷达或激光测高仪). Sea ice thickness is then calculated as the difference between the height of the ice and the top of the water (ice level—sea level). This method works well during the winter months.

Unfortunately, satellite-based sea ice thickness measurements are inaccurate during the summer months: the time of the year with the greatest melting. This melting creates a pool of liquid water on the surface. As a result, the simple calculation (ice level—sea level) does not work as radar systems are unable to differentiate between ocean water and ice, thus making measurements inaccurate.

Last September, scientists developed a new method to tackle this age-old issue. The new method combined computer modeling and satellite data to predict ice thickness — all year round. The research team led by Jack Landy, a scientist at the University of Tromsø (The Arctic University of Norway), used the new method to distinguish between seawater and ice.

The researchers built a model of the radar system’s predicted data and cross-referenced these values to those collected by a satellite. This model allows the researchers to obtain accurate, year-round Arctic sea ice thickness data.

According to Dr. Michel Tsamados from University College London, the new advanced climate model “will improve both the short-term forecasts for the weather at the mid-latitudes (中纬度地区) and the long-term forecasts that show what climate we will have in the future.”

1. What does the satellite data tell us?

A．The Arctic ice will no longer exist in four decades.

B．Sea ice cover is melting at a rate of 13% per year.

C．The ESA’s satellites provide clearer pictures.

D．Sea ice is becoming increasingly thinner.

2. What makes the ice level to sea level measurements inaccurate?

A．Inaction of the laser-based altimeter instruments in summer.

B．Radar systems’ inability to distinguish seawater from ice.

C．There being technical difficulty calculating the height of the ice.

D．There being no way to consistently detect melt pools on ice.

3. What does the new method aim to do?

A．Provide accurate forecasts for the weather.

B．Replace satellites in monitoring sea ice changes.

C．Get a reliable summertime record of sea ice thickness.

D．Test the efficiency of machine learning in climate change.

4. What does Dr. Michel Tsamados think of the new model?

A．It will be useful in different ways.

B．It will prove environmentally friendly.

C．It has a short-term impact on climate research.

D．It needs improvement to predict the Arctic’s future.

【推荐3】It came as no surprise that being interrupted by other people can have negative effects, like lowered productivity. But a new study shows an upside to these interruptions at work: increased feelings of belonging.

Researchers led by Harshad Puranik at the University of Illinois at Chicago looked at this common workplace phenomenon from two aspects. First, interruptions get in the way of completing assignments and require employees to repeatedly switch attention between tasks. That's where the negative effects of interruptions happen. However, beyond the task-based aspect, the group found that being interrupted by others has a social component to it — social interaction with the interrupter that can have a positive effect on the interrupted employees. "If the past year of social distancing and separation has shown us anything, it is that humans are social beings who have an inherent (内在的) need for interacting with others," said Puranik.

Building on previous research on work interruptions, the researchers surveyed 111 full-time employees twice a day once at lunch and once at the end of their workday for three weeks. While there were downsides to interruptions al work, like raising levels of stress and lowering people’s energy, there was an upside, the researchers found. Employees felt more like they belonged, which eventually allowed them to get more pleasure from their work routines.

The study found something else on top of this. The social aspect of work interruptions also weakened the negative impact that the switching of tasks during interruptions had on employees job satisfaction. This means that, intend of the negative experience, being interrupted at work can be "a net positive for the well-being of employees, "according to Puranik. Therefore, the researchers urge managers to better manage rather than completely prohibit work interruptions.

1. Why does the author mention Puranik's words in Paragraph 2?

A．To introduce a new argument.	B．To make his points more persuasive.
C．To summarize the whole paragraph.	D．To provide some advice for the readers.

2. What did researchers find about work interruptions in social aspect?

A．They caused more anxiety.	B．They improved work-life balance.
C．They lowered labor productivity.	D．They led to higher job satisfaction.

3. Who is the text intended for?

A．Employers.

B．Employees.

C．Job seekers.

D．Interviewers.

4. What's the best title of the text?

A．Scientific Management Counts	B．Ways of Staying Focused at Work
C．Interruptions at Work Bring Positive Sides	D．Reasons for Avoiding Interruptions at Work

【推荐3】With a few minor exceptions, there are really only two ways to say “tea” in the world. One is like the English term—té in Spanish and tee in Afrikaans are two examples. The other is some variation of cha, like chay in Hindi.

Both forms come from China. How they spread around the world offers a clear picture of how globalization worked. The words that sound like “cha” spread across land, along the Silk Road. The “tea”—like phrasings spread over water, by Dutch traders bringing the novel leaves back to Europe.

The term cha is Sinitic (汉语语系), meaning it is common to many varieties of Chinese. It began in China and made its way through central Asia, eventually becoming “chay” in Persian. That is no doubt due to the trade routes of the Silk Road, along which, according to a Cha discovery, tea was traded over 2,000 years ago. The Japanese and Korean terms for tea are also based on the Chinese cha, though those languages likely adopted the word even before its westward spread into Persia.

But that doesn’t account for “tea.” The Chinese character for tea, is pronounced differently by different varieties of Chinese, though it is written the same in them all. But in the Minnan variety of Chinese, spoken in the coastal province of Fujian, the character is pronounced “te”. The key word here is “coastal.”

The “te” form used in coastal-Chinese languages spread to Europe via the Dutch, who became the primary traders of tea between Europe and Asia in the 17th century. The main Dutch ports in east Asia were in Fujian and Taiwan, both places where people used the “te” pronunciation. The Dutch East India Company’s expansive tea importation into Europe gave us the French “thé”, the German “Tee”, and the English “tea”.

Yet the Dutch were not the first to Asia. That honor belongs to the Portuguese. And the Portuguese traded not through Fujian but Macao, where “chá” is used. That’s why Portugal is a pink dot in a sea of blue.

1. Which statement about the term of “cha” is correct according to the passage?

A．It is a variation of té in Spanish.

B．It is used in coastal-Chinese languages.

C．It is based on the Japanese and Korean terms for tea

D．The spread of the version is an example of globalization.

2. The “te” form spread to Europe by __________.

A．the German

B．the British

C．the Dutch

D．the Portuguese

3. How does the author mainly develop the text?

A．By giving examples.	B．By rising questions.
C．By drawing conclusions.	D．By presenting research findings.

4. Where is the passage probably from?

A．A guide book.

B．A novel.

C．A magazine.

D．A book review.