【推荐1】Take a Break from Technology

In today's world we are constantly surrounded by technology. It’s true to say that technology makes our lives easier.     1    Otherwise we put ourselves at risk of developing hundreds of health problems. Over the summer the days are longer, sunnier and free from school. With all this free time, why not put it to good use and do something that doesn't involve technology?

    2    There are hundreds of possibilities: crafts, cooking, learning a musical instrument or a new sport. Maybe you’ve always wanted to try out that recipe, but haven't had time? Perhaps you fancy learning how to knit, so you can have a new sweater for the autumn? You could use your free time to learn something new.     3    

If you just fancy relaxing, why not head to a beach? Take along your favourite book and relax on the sand or go for a walk along the coastline (just make sure you're aware of the tides!). If you don't live near a beach, you could go to your local park.     4    

Whatever you choose to do with your summer, try something new!    5    Also, you might make new friends along the way. Next time you find yourself aimlessly channel -hopping, have a think at what else you could spend your time doing.

A．To start with, you could learn a new skill.

B．Technology has become an important part of our lives.

C．And perhaps it’ll lead to an exciting opportunity in the future.

D．You might surprise yourself and find a hidden talent within you.

E．Why not take along a picnic, or try and identify some of the local wildlife?

F．However, increasingly scientists are saying that we need to give ourselves a break.

G．In our increasingly technology-driven world, have we become addicted to technology?

【推荐2】A nice bunch of flowers on the kitchen table can lighten up any cloudy day, don’t you agree? Unfortunately, flowers are pretty expensive, especially when you consider you’ll have to throw them in the bin after a couple of days already.     1    

Everybody loves flowers

Flowers are beautiful and they provide your home with a cosy and welcoming atmosphere.     2    . However, buying plants can be pretty pricey. So growing them yourself in your garden might be a good alternative. It doesn’t just look pretty; it’s also good for your mental health!

Green thumb (园艺达人)

    3     Luckily, we’ve got an amazing tip for you that will make sure you can have your own roses before you know it! No need for a green thumb at all and you’ll never be without a bunch of flowers again. Everybody loves a good bunch of roses and this trick will make sure you can have a garden full of them. All you need is one rose, a potato, a plastic bottle, potting soil and a pot.

This is how you do it:

Pick a rose you like, remove all of the leaves and diagonally (斜对角的) cut off the head of the rose (approximately 3 centimeters from the flower).     4    

Take the potato and drill in a hole the width of the stem. Make the stem steady within the hole. Cover the bottom of the pot with 5 centimeters of potting soil, and place the potato on top.     5     Cut off the bottom of your plastic bottle and carefully place it over the stem sticking out of the soil. Occasionally water the rose (around the bottle) and watch how your roses grow like never before!

A．Plus, they smell amazing!

B．Fill the rest of the pot with potting soil.

C．Turn one rose into an entire rose bush in no time at all!

D．If the flower is still pretty, you can put it in a tiny vase.

E．This trick is going to sound really strange, but it does work.

F．Not all of us have enough of a green thumb to maintain an entire flower garden, though.

G．But with this trick we’ve got for you today, you can grow your own beautiful bunch of roses!

【推荐3】If you are thinking about asking for a raise in salary, there are several things to keep in mind. First, consider whether you deserve a higher salary.     1     Sit down and make a list of your job accomplishments. Be as specific as possible. For example, think about important projects you have worked on, things you have done to improve the organization of work in your department, or how your efforts have brought more money to the company. Also include any professional development opportunities you have taken advantage of recently and be ready to explain how they have improved your performance on the job.       2       Bear in mind that salary levels are based not only on performance but also on the market for your particular skills. Before you ask for a raise, you need to do some research. You should investigate the industry standards for salaries for people in similar positions with similar levels of experience.     3     Your initial request should actually be slightly higher than the amount you want in order to leave some room for negotiation. Then, if you have to go lower than this amount, you still end up with something close to what you want.

    4     If you have recently been given new responsibilities, it makes sense to ask for a higher level of compensation. On the other hand, if the company is going through financial difficulties, a request for more money will probably not be met with a favorable response. It would be better to wait until the company is in a better financial position. Finally, never give personal reasons for wanting a higher salary. Your need to pay your child's college tuition or buy a bigger house is of no concern to your boss.     5     That is where you need to keep the conversation.

A．This will help you determine what would be a reasonable amount of money to ask for.

B．Skills play a key role in your salary level.

C．A crucial point is the timing of your request.

D．Everyone is eager for a raise in salary.

E．You probably do, but you should be able to explain exactly why to your boss.

F．Your salary level should be based on professional considerations alone.

G．Then you will be better prepared when you meet with your boss.

【推荐1】Across Europe, where visitors can outnumber residents in the summer months, the complaints have started. Last week, in Barcelona, an open-top bus was spray-painted across its windscreen with the words “Tourism Kills Neighbourhoods”. The message is clear: such cities are under pressure. In tourists and residents’ battle for shared spaces, local authorities are uncomfortably in the middle. The tourism is one of the largest employers in the world, with one new job created for every 30 new visitors to a destination—but at what cost to locals’ quality of life?

More people are travelling than ever before, and lower barriers to entry and falling costs mean they are doing so for shorter periods. The rise of “city breaks”—48-hour bursts of foreign cultures—has increased tourist numbers. “Too many people do the same thing at the exact same time,” says Xavier Font, a professor at the University of Surrey, “For locals, the city no longer belongs to them.”

Compounding the problem is Airbnb, which has made tourists more casual in their approach to international travel, but added to residents’ headaches. Those permanent citizens who share their apartment blocks with Airbnb hosts have lost their patience, “No longer do we have to share the streets with tourists, we have to share our own buildings!” To ease the congestion around the main attractions, many cities are taking immediate action. Venice is proposing a new concept of “ detourism”: sustainable travel tips and alternative routes for exploring a different Venice. A greater variety of guidance for future visitors—ideas for what to do in off-peak seasons, for example, —can guide them from overcrowded landmarks. Repeat visitors have a better sense of the culture and it is much easier to integrate their behaviour with residents of the cities.

“But the locals should learn to take tourists as a part of urban life. Tourists do not have to be considered passive players, but rather as visitors with rights and duties,” says Font, “Everyone has a part to play in promoting that change.”

1. What problem do the local authorities often have in a tourist city?

A．The challenge creating more business for local people.

B．The conflict taking place among tourists from different countries.

C．The dilemma between tourism and living quality of the locals.

D．The competitions among the most popular attractions.

2. Why do the local residents reject “city break” according to Paragraph Two?

A．Too many visitors have damaged the quality of life.

B．The locals fail to benefit from the city break economically.

C．The local authorities lack adequate operation guidance.

D．They are reluctant to share anything with coming tourists.

3. What is Airbnb most probably?

A．A new travelling map with more street information.

B．A solution by Font to improve the local living quality.

C．A small town having the same complaints about tourism.

D．A website to help travellers find a homestay.

4. Under the concept of Detourism, which of the following should be encouraged?

A．Developing a city break during on-seasons.

B．Shifting visitors from busy attractions.

C．Attracting more first-time visitors.

D．Taking tourism as a passive part of urban life.