【推荐1】When my old dog developed major health problems, I knew that watching him fail would be painful, but I wasn’t prepared for the powerful lessons he’d offer in the last year of his life.

Chance was 14 when the problems started. First, he developed a cancer that left him whistling for breath. Then came cataracts（白内障）in both eyes, arthritis（关节炎）in his legs, and a series of mini-strokes（小中风）that threw off his balance. Any one of these misfortunes would have left me begging for relief, but Chance became calmer as the disabilities piled up.

When leg pain left him frozen on the floor, unable to rise for a quick pat as I came home, he didn’t complain. He just lay there patiently, signaling me with his hammering tail, each movement spelling out the value of waiting for the things you want. When his cataracts made steering impossible after dark, he’d stand calmly until I could guide him inside, proving how easy it is to find happiness if you let go of your pride and insecurities and learn to lean on those who love you. When mini-strokes had him walk unsteadily like a drunk, he taught the value of persistence. For days after each attack, he’d fall as he moved about. Yet again and again he’d try to walk, each day moving a few more steps until finally he was able to get outside and back by himself.

There were lessons in so much of what he did, but the key one surely was the importance of obtaining all the joy possible from each experience whether it’s a day lazing under a warm sun or a few minutes appreciating a favorite meal.

For most of our life together, Chance was always rushing ahead, searching out new adventures, then circling back to let me know what lay around the next turn. As an old dog, he did the same thing, using his attitude, instead of his once - fast legs, to show the way.

1. Chance suffered very much from all the diseases he had except for _______.

A．having problem with breath	B．walking around awkwardly
C．having trouble drinking	D．losing his eyesight in darkness

2. _______ is the most important lesson the author learned from Chance.

A．Living in the present and enjoying what we have

B．Learning to depend on those who we love and trust

C．That we should expect good things to happen patiently

D．That we should persevere in what we believe is worth trying

3. It is implied in the passage that _______.

A．people might suffer from different diseases when they grow old

B．people could face aging with courage and dignity

C．pets would become calmer for lack of energy in their last days

D．pets and masters should stick together helping each other in difficulty

4. Which of the following words best describes the author’s feelings to Chance?

A．Bitter.	B．Appreciative.
C．Proud.	D．Sympathetic.

【推荐2】Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy.

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory (领域).

Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male (雄性), claims (声称) as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species (物种) are welcome. Your house is your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten (威胁) you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

1. Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually ________.

A．a way of greeting	B．a way of warning
C．an expression of anger	D．an expression of happiness

2. Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A．Because they want to invite more friends.

B．Because they want to find outsiders around.

C．Because their singing helps get rid of their ears.

D．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

3. How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A．By telling a bird’s story.	B．By describing (描述) birds’ daily life.
C．By reporting experiment results.	D．By comparing (比较) birds with human beings.

【推荐3】The American Robin (知更鸟)

Characteristics

The American robin is 8 to 11 inches in length and 12 to 16 inches in width when its wings are spread. The male American robins have dark gray or brown back and wing feathers and reddish－orange chest feathers. The females have the same pattern, but they are a little duller in color.

Range

The American robins can be found in all of the United States and Canada except for Hawaii and the northernmost parts of Alaska and Canada. They can also be found in parts of Mexico and Central America. The American robins are migratory and populations move south in winter, although some populations stay in place.

Life Cycle

Robins mate (交配) in the spring from April through to July. A female robin may breed two or three times a season. A female robin builds a cup－shaped nest with soft tree branches, grass and feathers. She spreads mud on the inside of the nest with her breast. After she lines the nest with the mud, she will add grass and other soft materials. Sometimes a male robin helps to collect materials for the nest. The nest is built five to fifteen feet above the ground in a tree or bush. Sometimes a robin builds its nest on a window ledge. A female robin will lay three to five eggs at a time and it will take about two weeks before the baby robins are born.

1. What is the color of male American robins' chest feathers?

A．Dark gray.	B．Brown
C．Gray.	D．Reddish－orange.

2. What do we know about American robins' life cycle，according to the last paragraph?

A．Robins only mate in April and July.

B．Male robins help to spread mud on the inside of the nest.

C．A robin's nest may be found on a window ledge.

D．A female robin may lay two or three eggs at a time.

3. The passage is most likely to be taken from ________．

A．a news report	B．a nature magazine
C．a history book	D．a learning website

【推荐1】You are walking over the tan-colored（棕褐色的）sand of the empty desert when a rattlesnake appears out of the sand in front of you. Luckily it had warned you of its presence. Imagine if that same snake were moved to a green leafy rainforest. The colors that helped the snake blend into（融合）the desert would make it stand out against the green environment.

This just goes to show you that camouflage（保护色）doesn't work everywhere. Let's take a look at one animal species that is famous for changing over time to stay camouflaged: the peppered moth. Moth collectors in England noted that most peppered moths collected in the early 1800s were light gray peppered with bits of black. Many years later most of the moths collected were almost completely black. What could have caused the more common light colored moth to become rare?

During the 1800s, Europe and America experienced the Industrial Revolution. One of the new fuel sources that were heavily used during this time period was coal. As the trees darkened with soot（煤烟）, the light-colored moths were easier to see. They were eaten by birds more and more, while the rare dark colored moths blended in better on the darker trees. This made them have a higher survival rate and thus they were more likely to pass their dark colored genes onto their children. Over time, the dark colored moths became the more common of the two color forms. Natural selection favored the dark moths, so they were more successful after the trees changed.

Sound a little hard to believe? Well, more changes have come about since these conditions started to reverse（转变）, starting in the 1950s. Then, a Clean Air Act was introduced. Since that time, technology and cleaner burning fuels have started to decrease pollution in the areas where the peppered moth lives. The black soot no longer settles on the trees. As expected, the light peppered moth has recently been more common in the population. This is because it is better camouflaged.

1. What do we know about the rattlesnake in a desert?

A．It almost has no enemies.

B．It attacks travelers often.

C．It stands out against the environment.

D．It is good at making its presence unknown.

2. The underlined word "This" in Paragraph 3 refers "      "

A．the soot-darkened tree

B．the Industrial Revolution

C．dark-colored moths staying camouflaged

D．light-colored moths facing more enemies

3. What did the Clean Air Act bring about?

A．Damage to local ecology.	B．More observations of moths.
C．An increase in the variety of moth species.	D．A decrease in the number of dark-colored moths.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Camouflage in the animal world.	B．The battle between two moth species.
C．The influence of the Industrial Revolution.	D．An excellent example of environmental adaptation.

【推荐2】Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.

A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half（53 percent）have breakfast alone and nearly half（46 percent）have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.

“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know? “Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “I prefer to go out and be out . Today I just wanted some time to myself.” she said.

Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper. “It’s a chance for self-reflection(自我反思). You return to work energetic and with a plan.” said he.

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt uncomfortable about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demerit, whose company provided the statistics(数据)for the report.

1. What are the statistics in Paragraph 2 about?

A．Food variety.	B．Eating habits.
C．Table manners.	D．Restaurant service.

2. Why does Bechtel prefer to go out for lunch?

A．To meet with her coworkers.

B．To catch up with her work.

C．To have some time on her own.

D．To collect data for her report.

3. What is the text mainly about?

A．The advantage of wireless technology.

B．The importance of self-reflection.

C．The stress from working overtime.

D．The popularity of having meals alone.