【推荐1】“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
You probably heard those lines in grammar school, but do you really agree that harsh(严厉的) or negative words do not harm us? Words have power. Surely we all have had our feelings hurt by something someone said.
We may not say words to hurt others, but the way we interpret (解释) them and how we say them may cause great harm. Here’s an example:
An ancient king dreamed all his teeth had fallen out. He sent for a wise man to explain his dream to him: the dream means that all your relatives will die and you will be left alone! The king was very angry and threw the interpreter into prison. He then sent for another interpreter who said, “Congratulations! King! You will live many more years. In fact, you will survive all your relatives. Long Live the King!”
Both interpreters gave the same interpretation, but there was a huge difference in the way they said it.
Our speech must be understood by those who hear our words, but the way we say things and the intention behind them have as much power as the words themselves. Words can cause anger or appreciation. Which would you rather receive?
People who say harsh and negative things may not mean to harm, but have you ever known anyone who is a naysayer? They often look at the dark sides of things. They always see the glass as half empty rather than half full. How do you feel when you are around this type of person? Remember: words have power. Use them wisely.
1. The author mentions the story of the ancient king to show that _____.

A．one dream sometimes has different explanations

B．good words can bring good luck to people

C．people should be careful when talking to a king

D．different ways of saying things have different effects

2. The underlined word “naysayer” in the last paragraph refers to a person who always _____.

A．has a negative attitude

B．likes to be praised

C．talks big

D．likes to repeat what others say

3. According to the text, how can people understand each other better?

A．By sharing different life experiences

B．By accepting different habits.

C．By properly using words

D．By recognizing different values.

4. The passage mainly talks about ______.

A．the power of words

B．the cruelty of the king

C．how to understand others

D．how to build good relationships

【推荐2】Speaking, writing and reading are necessary to everyday life, where language is the major tool for expression and communication. Studying how people use language — what words they unconsciously choose and combine — can help us better understand ourselves and why we behave the way we do.

Linguists try to decide what is unique and universal about the language we use, how it is learned and the ways it changes over time. They consider language as a cultural, social and psychological phenomenon.

“Understanding why and how languages differ tells us about the range of what is human,” said Dan Jurafsky, chair of the Department of Linguistics at Stanford.

Standford linguists and psychologists study how language is interpreted by people. Even the slightest differences in language use may show the biased beliefs of the speakers, according to research.

For example, a relatively harmless sentence, such as “girls are as good as boys at math,” because of the statement’s grammatical structure, suggests that being good at math is more common or natural for boys than girls, the researchers said. Language can play a big role in how we and others see the world, and linguists work to discover how words and phrases can influence us, unknowingly.

People speak about 7,000 languages worldwide. Although there is a lot in common among languages, each one is unique. Jurafsky said it’s important to study languages besides our own and how they develop over time because it can help linguists understand what lies at the foundation of humans’ unique way of communicating with one another.

Linguists analyze how certain speech patterns influence particular behaviors, including how language can influence people’s buying decisions. Jurafsky said. “Understanding what different groups of people say and why is the first step in determining how we can help bring people together.”

1. How does the author start the text?

A．By giving examples.	B．By raising questions.
C．By referring to studies.	D．By stating the main points.

2. What does the example mentioned in Paragraph 5 show?

A．Misunderstanding is common in daily life.

B．People should avoid using harmful sentences.

C．Speech patterns can show people’s biased beliefs.

D．Some grammatical structures are difficult to understand.

3. What does Jurafsky suggest in Paragraph 6?

A．Researching languages.	B．Learning from linguists.
C．Developing good learning habits.	D．Communicating with others frequently.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To show the power of language.	B．To give an introduction to Jurafsky.
C．To teach readers how to learn a language.	D．To call on readers to learn more languages.

【推荐3】Nonverbal communication is a broad term used to describe any method of conveying information without words. Whether intentional, based on societal cues, or completely unconscious, common forms of nonverbal communication include body language and facial cues, fashion and personal clothing, hand gesture, as well as graphical signs and design.

It is important to note that nonverbal communication is really about a lack of words, rather than a lack of speech sounds. That means writing would be considered verbal communication while sounds like grunts would not.

Nonverbal communication can be broadly divided into relatively universal forms and culturally dependent forms of fear, joy, or anger. On the other hand, nonverbal cues like bowing, shaking hands, or flashing a peace sign are culturally characteristic, and therefore have little meaning outside of cultures that understand them.

Fashion is form of nonverbal communication, and in many modern cultures is a hugely important way in which people telegraph things about themselves.

Gestures also act as a form of nonverbal communication. A wide range of hand gestures can be found in most cultures and in the west, there are some almost universal gestures, such as a wave goodbye, a thumb-up to show everything is okay, or hands outspread to signify offerings.

Body language is one of the most studied forms of nonverbal communication, and deals with how the body rests, how it is situated in relation to other bodies, and the special distance between bodies. For example, turning towards a person when seated and speaking to them is a nonverbal cue showing interest, while turning away shows a lack of interest. Tipping your head slightly is a form of nonverbal communication to show curiosity or express that you are listening closely or what they are saying. While constantly looking away would show a lack of attention.

1. What is the purpose of the author in writing the text?

A．To compare nonverbal cues and verbal ones.	B．To introduce some universal body languages.
C．To explain what nonverbal communication is.	D．To discuss the cultural shock of communication.

2. According to the author, the meaning of ____________ differs across cultures.

A．smiling

B．grunting

C．screaming

D．bowing

3. What is Paragraph 6 mainly about?

A．Body language relies on body movements to convey messages.

B．Body language is the most frequently studied by scientists.

C．Body language can be used to express your different meanings.

D．Body language varies very slightly from one country to another.

【推荐1】Nothing is “new and improved” anymore. It's all about the plus.

“Something exciting is happening in March,” flowed out an email from CBS All Access, alerting subscribers that the streaming service is being renamed Paramount + . The company seeks to keep pace with Apple TV+, ESPN +, Disney +, BET +, AMC + and others.

Video services didn't start this. The Apple II + came out in 1979 and Crest + toothpaste in 2002, But TV streaming companies now apparently must be branded plus, for fear that consumers perceive their offerings as a minus. Much of this has to do with justifying a monthly charge for television-which used to be free. A more complete name would be “Paramount + a Bill.”

Hulu used to have a "plus" service, which was a misnomer since what customers got with it was the absence of ads. "We've had fun with our old friend Plus, the company explained in a 2015 email, “but it's time to move on. We just wanted to let you know that we are retiring the Hulu Plus name. From now on, we will just be known as Hulu. No Plus.

Yet other streaming services have been drawn to the plus, thanks in large part to the success of Disney+, which added 86 million subscribers during its first year. Disney also operates ESPN + and , outside the U. S. ,Star + .

A funny thing about marketing: A plus is always a plus but a minus is never a minus—even though more products are notable for what they cut down. Budweiser wouldn't call its lower- calorie beer Bud-. There are fat-free potato chips and cookies, but Pringles- or Oreos- is abandoned.

Americans have a fondness for plus-size portions, plus-size clothing and media that have plus signs in their names. Mercifully, the plus thing hasn't yet reached more important aspects of our lives.

1. What does the underlined word "this" in paragraph 3 refer to?

A．Apple service.

B．Video service.

C．Plus service.

D．Streaming service.

2. What can we learn about Hulu?

A．Hulu has no ads put in.	B．Hulu no longer follows suit.
C．Hulu suffered a great loss.	D．Hulu cheated its subscribers.

3. Why wouldn't Budweiser call its lower-calorie beer Bud- ?

A．To avoid misunderstandings	B．To improve the beer's quality.
C．To keep pace with other companies.	D．To protect the consumers' interests.

4. What's the author's attitude towards the trend?

A．Objective.

B．Critical.

C．Tolerant.

D．Skeptical.

【推荐2】Video conferencing has been around for more than 20 years. Until the COVID-19 pandemic, though, you would find that many people needing to attend a meeting remotely would be call g from a real conference room full of their teammates. Today, were routinely holding videoconferences that are 100% virtual. And this is creating a problem that technology can’t fix.

The problem is us, specifically the fact that we haven’t evolved socially to the point where we can bear much separation. So much of our well-being and work productivity is decided on how close we are physically. The removal of that for any period of time can be severely damaging. One surprising victim of social distancing is laughter.

Normally people laugh about 18 times per day. And 97% of that time we’re laughing with others -we are 30 times more likely to laugh with others than to laugh alone. Think about it: how often when you and your friends laugh at something that is actually funny? Research shows that 80% of what people laugh at is really not that funny. They laugh in order to laugh with others. Just as everyone starts yawning (打哈欠) when just one person yawns, most people can’t help but laugh when those around them do. This is why TV comedy shows often use prerecorded laugh tracks.

Laughing in response to other people’s laughing is not just a behavioral phenomenon. When we laugh, our body produces two key chemicals: endorphin which helps relieve pain and sets off feelings of pleasure, and dopamine which can improve learning, motivation and attention. In fact, studies show that people can stand 15% more pain simply by laughing for a few minutes beforehand. Laughter is also associated with higher motivation and productivity at work.

In today’s home-alone, virtual-team world, this is exactly what you as a team leader should be doing: for your team members to stay healthy and productive, you need to get them to laugh more and stress less.

1. What is the problem mentioned in the first two paragraphs?

A．A distant relationship.	B．Unexpected social evolution.
C．Decreased laughter.	D．Removed social distance.

2. According to Para.3, what can we learn about laughing?

A．Laughing alone is common.	B．Laughing is for fun.
C．Laughing starts with yawning	D．Laughing comes more in groups.

3. What is Paragraph 4 mainly about?

A．The motivation behind laughter.	B．The chemicals regarding laughter.
C．The working system of laughter	D．The significance of laughter

4. What would the author most probably discuss next?

A．How to boost laughter.	B．How to better a team.
C．How to reduce stress	D．How to increase productivity.

【推荐3】My wife and I were at a crowded grocery store not long ago. It was a weekday evening, cold and wet and tense. People were carelessly blocking aisles, complaining and cutting one another of with their carts. At one point, two women quarreled for several minutes after colliding in the freezer section.

Things got worse at the checkout line. The cashier scanned a man’s discount card, but he misread the savings on her screen as an additional charge. He decided she was acting intentionally and began to argue.

Other customers looked away as the cashier tried to reason with him. She called a manager, who took him to customer service. Shaken, she moved to the next customer in line.

We’ve all witnessed uncomfortable scenes like this in public places. My reaction when I see them is both personal and professional. I am a data analyst and sociologist who studies how and why people interact with one another--or why they choose not to. To me, the grocery scene was another example of how our trust in others has eroded. But it was also a teachable moment on how we can rebuild our faith —— starting with just one person.

Therefore, my wife and I reached the disturbed cashier. I grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby cooler and handed it to her. We learned her name was Beth

“We felt bad about how that man treated you and wanted to buy this for you.” I said.

Beth’s face lit up, and we talked as she scanned our items. She told us she had been working that evening through severe foot pain and would be having surgery later that week. We wished her well in her recovery, and she thanked us as we left.

That is the balancing act, the moment of countering social and emotional pain with healing, that will add up to restore trust across the United States. You can start that pattern in someone else’s life, even in a place as ordinary as the neighborhood grocery store.

1. Why did the man the checkout line argue with the cashier?

A．He believed the cashier charged him more on purpose.

B．There was something wrong with his discount card.

C．Someone jumped the queue waiting to check out.

D．The cashier called a manager to help her.

2. The underlined word “eroded” in Paragraph 4 means ________.

A．increased

B．changed

C．formed

D．faded

3. The author bought a bottle of water for the cashier because ________.

A．he wanted to restore the trust between hr and the man

B．he wanted to comfort her after the terrible experience just now

C．he thought the cashier might feel a little bit thirsty

D．he knew she had gone through much trouble recently

4. The last paragraph in the passage is intended to________.

A．make a suggestion	B．add a warming
C．present an argument	D．introduce a topic

【推荐1】The first great agricultural revolution happened 10,000 years ago, when humans settled on farms. The second was the “green revolution” from the 1930s to the 1960s, in which advances in fertilization, mechanization, and irrigation dramatically increased global food production. The third is likely to come from information, as digital technology and big data help farmers make better decisions and drive up crop production.

Michael Stern, president and chief executive officer of Climate Corp., said that the ability to gather detailed information about farmers’ fields, coupled with advances in weather forecasting, computing power, and artificial intelligence, will change farming from a business that often reacts to the past—applying insecticide this year because of a disease outbreak last year—to one that uses real-time data and weather forecasts to make more accurate decisions for the season to come.

Over the course of a growing season, farmers make 40 to 50 key decisions that affect crop performance. Recent trends that have swept other areas of society—such as cheap data storage, the ability to transfer data witlessly, and dramatic increases in computing power—have the potential to transform the farm.

Stem offered the example of a farmer preparing for the regular fall fertilizing of his fields who delays the application after being informed of a coming storm. That decision reduces runoff, keeps fertilizer on the field, and helps controls farmer’s costs. As data gathers season after season, computer models will help farmers better manage fertilizer and other additions to optimize production and minimize runoff.

Remote sensing is another way that modern technology can help farmers know what’s going on in their fields. Many farmers drive around to monitor growth and watch for pests and diseases. But these surveys are typically random and don’t cover more than 2 percent of a field. Remote sensing can provide accurate data that covers an entire field and cables recommendations tailored to what’s going on in the stricken area.

1. What may the third agricultural revolution help farmers do in the future?

A．Make reasonable decisions.	B．Grasp computing ability.
C．Deal with big data.	D．Develop business potentials.

2. Why did the author give an example in Paragraph 4 according to the text?

A．To confirm the coming of a storm.	B．To explain the reason of fertilizer runoff.
C．To stress the effect of information application.	D．To show the use of computer models.

3. What is the advantage of the remote sensing technology?

A．It can show typical random.	B．It can drive up crop production
C．It can remove pests and diseases.	D．It can offer exact statistics.

4. What is the author’s attitude to the coming agriculture revolution?

A．Opposed.

B．Neutral.

C．Positive.

D．Unclear.

【推荐2】If you’ve ever emerged from the shower or returned from your walk with a clever idea or a solution to a problem you had been struggling with, it may not be a surprise. Rather than constantly concentrating on a problem, research from the last 15 years suggests that people may be more likely to have creative breakthroughs when they’re doing a habitual task that doesn’t require much thought.

“People always get surprised when they realize they get interesting, novel ideas at unexpected times,” says Kalina Christoff, a scientist at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, “because our culture tells us that we should do it through hard work.”

Now researchers begin to understand why these clever thoughts occur during more passive activities and what’s happening in the brain. They have found that the key is a series of brain activities—within what’s called the default mode (DM) network—that occur while an individual is resting or performing habitual tasks that don’t require much attention.

“Simply put, it is a state that your brain returns to when you’re relaxed,” explains Christoff. “By contrast, when you’re working on a demanding task, the brain’s executive control (EC) systems keep your thinking focused, analytical, and logical.”

Researchers find that the DM network is also involved in the early stages of idea generation, drawing from past experiences and knowledge about the world. When your mind wanders, you’re allowing thoughts to playfully cross your mind, which helps you combine information and ideas in new ways and something clicks.

“A cautionary note: While the DM network plays a key role in the creative process, it is the EC systems that help you to evaluate and apply the creative ideas effectively to your problems in the real world,” Christoff says. “So it’s unwise to place blind faith in the discovery that creative ideas can be generated in the shower or during any other kinds of mind wandering. Instead, you have to do the work to set the groundwork for creative ideas to emerge in the first place.”

1. What is the most unlikely function of the EC systems?

A．To start your thinking process.	B．To help you analyze.
C．To let you get novel ideas	D．To keep you focused.

2. What do the underlined words “something clicks” in paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．A clever idea occurs.	B．Something drops down.
C．A memory disappears.	D．A funny thought happens.

3. What is Kalina Christoff’s attitude to the culture of hard work?

A．Disapproving.

B．Positive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Unconcerned.

4. Which statement might the author agree with?

A．Practice makes perfect.

B．Where there is a will, there is a way.

C．Everything comes to him who waits.

D．All work and no break makes Jack a dull boy.