【推荐2】Magic is a form of entertainment that is based on pretending to do things that are impossible. The magician is a specially trained actor. He tries to make the audience believe that he has the power to do things which are against the laws of nature.

Magic shows are entertaining as long as the audience does not discover how the tricks are done. The magician usually depends on his skill with his hands, on his knowledge of psychology, and, sometimes, on mechanical devices(机械装置). Since magic performance is meant to trick people, the use of psychology is important. The magician must keep people from noticing all the movements of his hands and from thinking about the secret parts of his equipment. He must also lead the audience to draw false conclusions. The magician's success depends on the fact that many things seen by the eye are not the things that matter.

Two basic magic tricks are making objects seem to appear and making objects seem to disappear. A combination of these two tricks makes for some interesting effects. For example, the magician puts a small ball under one of several cups. The ball then seems to jump from one cup to another or to change colour. What actually happens is that the magician, employing quick hand movements or a mechanical device, hides one ball. While doing this he talks to the audience and waves a brightly coloured cloth with one hand. The audience is too busy watching the cloth and listening to the magician's words to notice that his other hand is hiding the ball.

Another favourite trick is to cut or burn something, and then make it appear whole again. What actually happens is that the magician makes the cut or burned object disappear by quickly hiding it while the audience watches something else. Then he “magically” makes it appear whole again by displaying(展示)another object that has not been cut or burned.

1. What is the author's main purpose in writing the text?

A．To promote a magic show.	B．To teach people to be magicians.
C．To explain the art of magic.	D．To praise the talents of magicians.

2. Which of the following is important for a successful magic trick?

A．Moving stage equipment.	B．Directing the audience's attention.
C．Applying high technology.	D．Keeping the performance in secret.

3. What does the author focus on in the last two paragraphs?

A．Providing examples.	B．Making a summary.
C．Drawing comparisons.	D．Explaining a concept.

4. What can we infer from the text?

A．Mechanical devices are expensive.	B．Most magicians employ assistants.
C．It takes practice to perform magic.	D．Small objects are magicians' favourite.

【推荐3】Are you looking for some new and exciting places to take your kids(孩子) to? Try some of these places:

Visit art museums. They offer a variety of activities to excite your kids’ interest. Many offer workshops(研习班) for making land-made pieces, traveling exhibits, book signings by children’s favorite writer, and even musical performances and other arts.

Head to a natural history museum. This is where kids can discover the past from dinosaur(恐龙) models to rock collections and pictures of stars in the sky. Also, ask what kind of workshops and educational programs are prepared for kids and any special events that are coming up.

Go to a Youtheater. Look for one in your area offering plays for child and family visitors. Pre-show play shops are conducted by area artists and educators where kids can discover the secret about performing arts-Puppet(木偶) making and stage make-up are just a couple of the special offerings you might find.

Try hands-on(亲身实践的) science. Visit one of the many hands-on science museums around the country. These science play-lands are great fun for kids and grown-ups alike. They’ll keep your child mentally and physically active the whole day through while pushing buttons, experimenting, and building. When everyone is tired, enjoy a fun family science show, commonly found in these museums.

1. If a child is interested in the universe, he probably will visit     .

A．an art museum	B．a natural history museum
C．a Youtheater	D．a hands-on science museum

2. What can kids do at a Youtheater?

A．Look at rock collections	B．Give performances
C．See dinosaur models	D．Watch puppet making

3. Where does this text probably come from?

A．A tourist map	B．A museum guide
C．A science textbook	D．A news report

【推荐1】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. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.

Just two seats over, 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 with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward 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 Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics 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. What do we know about Mazoleny?

A．He makes videos for the bar.	B．He’s fond of the food at the bar.
C．He interviews customers at the bar.	D．He’s familiar with the barkeeper.

3. What is the text mainly about?

A．The trend of having meals alone.	B．The importance of self-reflection.
C．The stress from working overtime.	D．The advantage of wireless technology.

【推荐2】The government of Singapore has created a highly developed system that turns wastewater into drinking water. The system involves a network of tunnels and high technology treatment centers.

The system helps reduce ocean pollution, as only a small amount of the treated water is sent into the sea. The United Nations estimates that 80 percent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the oceans without being treated or reused.

Singapore has few natural water sources. The island nation has long had to depend mostly on supplies from neighboring Malaysia.

Low Pei Chin, an expert, told reporters, “Singapore lacks natural resources, and it is limited in space, which is why we are always looking for ways to explore water sources and stretch our water supply. One major plan is to collect every drop and reuse endlessly.”

Parts of the water treatment center are underground. Wastewater enters the center through a 48- kilometer tunnel that is linked to sewers. The center contains a large system of steel pipes, tubes, tanks, cleaning systems and other machinery. It can treat up to 900 million liters of wastewater a day.

In one building, a network of air flow systems has been put in place to keep the air smelling as fresh as possible. Waste that arrives at the plant goes through a cleaning process before powerful pumps send it flowing to areas above ground for more treatment. There, the treated water receives additional cleaning. Bacteria and viruses are removed through highly developed cleaning processes and then disinfected with ultraviolet radiation (紫外线).

Singapore is also in the process of expanding its recycling system. The country will add another underground tunnel and a major water treatment center to serve the western half of the island. Officials expect work on the center to be completed by 2025. By the time the expansion is finished, Singapore will have spent about $7.4 billion on its water treatment systems.

1. What can we infer from the second paragraph?

A．The world’s oceans are polluted by wastewater.

B．Only a small amount of the treated water is suitable to drink.

C．Wastewater is usually treated before being sent into the oceans.

D．80 percent of the water in the oceans can be used as drinking water.

2. What can we know from the passage?

A．Singapore plans to get help from Malaysia.

B．The wastewater is cleaned underground in the whole process.

C．900 million liters of wastewater can be cleaned in the center a day.

D．The recycled water enters the sea through a highly developed system.

3. How are bacteria and viruses of treated water removed?

A．Purifying water by itself.

B．Through a special kind of chemical.

C．With ultraviolet radiation.

D．Through cleaning processes and disinfection.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Singapore turns wastewater into drinking water.

B．Collect and rescue: the future of Singapore.

C．The importance of sea water in Singapore.

D．Water source protection matters.

【推荐3】We now think of chocolate as sweet, but once it was bitter. We think of it as a candy, but once it was a medicine. Today, chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or just a snack. Sometimes it’s an ingredient(配料) in the main course of a meal. Mexicans make a hot chocolate sauce called mole and pour it over chicken. The Mexicans also eat chocolate with spices like chili peppers.
Chocolate is a product of the tropical cacao tree. The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys say “Ugh!” and run away. Workers must first dry and then roast the beans. This removes the bitter taste.
The word “chocolate” comes from a Mayan word. The Mayas were an ancient people who once lived in Mexico. They valued the cacao tree. Some used the beans for money, while others crushed them to make a drink.
When the Spaniards came to Mexico in the sixteenth century, they started drinking cacao too. Because the drink was strong and bitter, they thought it was a medicine. No one had the idea of adding sugar. The Spaniards took some beans back to Europe and opened cafes. Wealthy people drank cacao and said it was good for the digestion.
In the 1800s, the owner of a chocolate factory in England discovered that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao. It quickly became a cheap and popular drink. Soon afterwards, a factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate. Later on, another factory mixed milk and chocolate together. People liked the taste of milk chocolate even better.
Besides the chocolate candy bar, one of the most popular American snacks is the chocolate chip cookie. Favorite desserts are chocolate cream pie and, of course, an ice cream sundae with hot fudge sauce.
1. It was ________that discovered sugar could remove the bitter taste of cacao.

A．The workers in the chocolate factory	B．The Spaniards
C．The people in England	D．The owner of a chocolate factory

2. According to the passage which of the following statements is true?

A．Nobody had the idea of adding sugar until the sixteenth century.

B．The word “chocolate” comes from a Mexican word.

C．The beans taste so bitter that even the monkeys like them.

D．Workers must dry and roast the beans to remove the bitter taste.

3. The Spaniards think that cacao was a medicine because________

A．it was strong and bitter.	B．it was good for digestion.
C．it cured man’s diseases.	D．it was a kind of drink for good health.

4. Which is the right time order of the events regarding chocolate?
a. Chocolate became a cheap and popular drink in England.
b. A factory made the first solid block of sweetened chocolate.
c. The Spaniards started drinking cacao.
d. It was found that sugar removed the bitter taste of cacao.
e. A factory mixed milk and chocolate together.

A．a-b-c-d-e

B．c-d-e-b-a

C．c-d-a-b-e

D．c-d-b-e-a

5. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．chocolate can be a hot drink, a frozen dessert, or a candy bar

B．Mexicans like chocolate very much

C．chocolate is a product of the cacao tree

D．people liked the taste of chocolate mixed with milk