【推荐1】We’ve got two dogs, Roxie and Cosita. My childhood memories are full of the cats we’ve loved, from my dad’s cat, Bandit, to our beloved white cat Cecelia, whose gray fur formed a perfect heart shape across her stomach. But since our last cat friend, Sunny the orange cat, died too young, we’ve been cat-less. The sudden loss of Sunny was hard to move on from, especially for my mom.

This year, Mom finally thought she was ready for a new kitten. It was all she wanted for her birthday on June 16. “Roxie and Cosita need a new friend!” she said. In the week leading up to her birthday, something happened. She started to hear a kitten’s meow (喵叫声) in the garage. Every time she went in and out of the garage, she could hear the soft cries but couldn’t tell the exact position of the sound. She asked my dad if he heard it too. He only shrugged (耸肩). At last, Mom’s birthday was arriving. She kept her fingers crossed, hoping for a kitten.

Over the past week, my dad had heard the kitten’s meow every time he walked past my mom’s car. One day he opened the hood (车盖) of the car, and a yellow kitten stared back at him. How in the world did she get there? And where did she come from? Dad didn’t know, but he fed the kitten every day, waiting for the day he’d give her to Mom.

The little kitten was such a perfect birthday gift, and Dad even didn’t need to leave the house to find her for my mom’s happy birthday! When it came time to name our new furry friend, we took inspiration from a song famously performed by Wilson Pickett and called her “Sally”.

1. What was difficult for Mom to forget?

A．The young orange cat’s death.

B．The moving of one of her friends.

C．The sudden death of the cat Bandit.

D．The heart shape across Cecelia’s stomach.

2. What gift did Mom hope for?

A．A new car.	B．A little cat.
C．A little dog.	D．A new cassette.

3. What can we learn about Sally?

A．Dad hid her in Mom’s car.

B．Sally was bought for Mom.

C．Sally was named after a song.

D．Mom received her ahead of the birthday.

4. What would be the best title for the text?

A．A new home for Sally	B．My pet friends in memory
C．My mom’s happy birthday	D．An unexpected birthday gift

【推荐2】Some birds are masters of crime. That means these species steal food from other birds and get away with it. Scientists have long wondered what these birds have in common. A new study suggests that big body size does not predict bad behavior. Instead, it is the size of the birds' brains that matters most.

To learn more about what makes some birds tend towards a life of crime and how they steal food from other birds, scientists analyzed 856 published reports of thieves. Researcher Julie says she started the project after watching birds steal dry dog food out of unattended bowls. She read about some dramatic examples of thieves, including birds that steal food from others flying in midair or bending through the sky. She learned that members of some species disturb other birds until they spit up food in their mouth.

Families that steal also tend to eat fish, mice, and other vertebrates （脊椎动物） instead of just insects. These meatier （多肉的）meals are hard to catch, and they deliver lots of valuable calories, so they are attempting to steal.

Finally, birds that steal tend to have big brains in relation to their bodies. That may seem surprising, since human bullies （欺凌弱小者）are often thought to be stronger in size. But for birds, stealing isn't about strength. It takes a clever brain to get food out of another hungry bird's claws, especially if that bird is bigger than you are.

1. What is the key factor of the birds' stealing food?

A．Body size.	B．Living environment.
C．Brain size.	D．Strength.

2. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Stealing birds are often stronger.

B．For birds, stealing is about cleverness and tricks.

C．Birds steal food only from those that are smaller in size.

D．Birds that steal have small brains for their bodies.

3. The best title for the passage can be .

A．Diet Habits of a Feather

B．Hunting Skills of a Feather

C．Brains of a Feather

D．Thieves of a Feather

【推荐3】As they migrate(迁移), butterflies and moths(飞蛾) choose the winds they want to fly with, and they change their body positions if they start floating in the wrong direction. This new finding suggests that insects may employ some of the same methods that birds use for traveling long distances. Scientists have long thought that insects were simply at the mercy of the wind.
Fascinating as their skills of flight are, migrating behavior has been difficult to study in insects because many long distant trips happen thousands of feet above ground. Only recently have scientists developed technologies that can detect such little creatures at such great heights.
To their surprise, though, the insects weren’t passive but active travelers on the winds. In autumn, for example, most light winds blew from the east, but the insects somehow sought out ones that carried them south and they positioned themselves to navigate(导航) directly to their wintering homes.
Even in the spring, when most winds flowed northward, the insects didn’t always go with the flow. If breezes weren’t blowing in the exact direction they wanted to go, the insects changed their body positions to compensate(抵消). Many migrating birds do the same thing.
The study also found butterflies and moths actively flew within the air streams that pushed them along. By adding flight speeds to wind speeds, the scientists calculated that butterflies and moths can travel as fast as 100 kilometers an hour. The findings may have real-world applications.
With climate warming, migrating insects are growing in number. Knowing how and when these pests move could help when farmers decide when to spray their crops.
1. What’s the main idea of the text?

A．Insects migrate with the seasons

B．Wind helps insects greatly in migrating

C．insects have real direction

D．Scientists have trouble in observing insects

2. Scientists originally thought that .

A．insects always waited for their favorable winds

B．insects chose the winds they wanted to ride

C．insects were just blown about by the wind

D．insects positioned themselves in the winds

3. It is not easy to study the migrating behavior of the insects because .

A．the little creatures can fly very fast

B．their flight is long and high above ground

C．the wind’s direction is hard to foresee

D．they have no regular migrating courses

4. According to the passage, the findings can .

A．increase insects in number

B．instruct farmers when to spray

C．prevent climate warming

D．help protect insects

【推荐1】For those concerned about wrinkly old skin, it might be a creative solution: an elastic(有弹性的) “second skin” that can be smoothed on to make aged tissue look more youthful.

The wearable film, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), has shown promise in a series of small experiments where it was applied to wrinkles, under-eye bags and areas of dry skin. When applied to the face or body, the thin, transparent layer sticks to the skin and supports the tissue, making it look and behave like younger skin, its producers claim.

“What we’ve been able to do is create a cream that you can put on the skin, and then when it's on the skin it can actually form, essentially, an elastic second skin,” said Bob Langer, who led the research. Tests in the lab found that the polymer film (高分子膜), which is only 70 thousandths of a millimeter thick, reduced the appearance of wrinkles and under-eye bags, and helped keep moisture (水分) in areas of dry skin.

The layer is designed to be applied in the morning, then peeled off at night, In previous studies, the second skin withstood normal daily wear, and the stresses and strains of exercise and swimming, without falling off or causing irritation. It also survived exposure to rain.

“It's something you can wear for a whole day or longer, depending on the physical forces that get applied to the area where it is worn, "said Daniel Anderson, who helped develop the product at MIT. “You can't tell you're wearing it.”

While normal cosmetics can mask imperfections on the skin, the new coating changes the way skin behaves by giving it the elasticity of young skin. It was developed with help from two companies.

1. According to the text, the “second skin” ________.

A．was developed by two companies

B．has not been tested by scientists

C．is developed to remove under-eye bags

D．is a transparent covering for the skin

2. Compared with normal cosmetics, the new product ________.

A．can make the skin appear younger

B．can fully mask imperfections on the skin

C．doesn't cause any problems in the skin

D．must be used in a more complicated way

3. What can we learn from the Daniel’s words?

A．You can recognize if people wear the “second skin.”

B．The “second skin” should be peeled off at night.

C．How long people can wear the layer varies.

D．The product can provide skin with a lot of water.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．MIT has made a breakthrough in cosmetics.

B．The “second skin” helps renew one’s youth.

C．Masks will soon become a thing of the past.

D．How the “second skin” is used to improve skin.

【推荐2】Dogs have been man’s best friends for 30,000 years—and now scientists think they know why.

Dogs are usually not relaxed in a lab environment, but with a little petting and lots of treats, they can be trained to sit still even in an MRI (磁共振成像) scanner. That’s how researchers at Hungary’s ELTE University were able to get images of their brains at work.

Researcher Attila Andics said it helped them better understand the dogs’ relationship with humans. “We have known for a long time that dogs and humans share similar social environment, but now our results show that dogs and humans also have similar brain mechanisms (方法；机制) to process social information,” said Andics.

After training 11 dogs to stay motionless while their brains were scanned, the researchers checked their neurological (神经系统的) responses to about 200 emotionally significant sounds, from whining and crying to playful barking and laughing. They then compared the responses from human subjects. They found great similarities. Andics said it opened new possibilities for the research.

“It establishes a foundation of a new branch of comparative neuroscience, because until now it was not possible to measure the brain activities of a non-primate and a primate (灵长类) brain in a single experiment,” said Andies.

Evan Maclean, Professor in Duke University, said that the Hungarian results were an important step forward.

“We’ve known for a long time that dogs have a lot of behavioral similarities compared to humans. But we don’t know anything or very little at least about whether some of these behaviors are represented similarly inside the brain of the dog, so this research is providing a first glimpse into whether these behavioral similarities are underlined by similar neural processes,” said MacLean.

The Hungarian scientists tell ordinary dog owners to treat their dog companions as intelligent friends, not mere animals, because they evidently understand human feelings.

1. Why were treats used in the research?

A．To reduce dogs’ nervousness.

B．To help dogs live a still life.

C．To find out dogs’ favorite food.

D．To analyze dogs’ images of brains.

2. Through the new research, the scientists find that .

A．dogs are unlikely to understand human feelings

B．dogs eagerly accept human beings as their best friends

C．dogs tend to have different responses to different sounds

D．dogs are close to humans in processing social information

3. The researchers compare the neurological responses of the dogs with those of human subjects by .

A．analyzing their physical movements

B．observing their facial expressions

C．measuring brain activities through scanning

D．assessing their different vocalizations

4. How should we treat dogs according to the scientists?

A．Treating them as private property.

B．Considering them as smart creatures.

C．Regarding them as wild animals.

D．Viewing them as tools for specific tasks.

5. What is the value of the research?

A．To call on dog owners to treat dogs well.

B．To advance the research on dogs’ brains.

C．To establish comparative neuroscience.

D．To reveal why dogs are men’s best friends.

【推荐3】Facts about novel corona virus: Prevention and control

l Keep distance with people when talking

The novel corona virus can be transmitted via droplets and fly 1 to 2 meters in the air before falling to the ground. Droplets can be transmitted far longer when sneezing and coughing than speaking, so apart from keeping 1 to 2 meters of distance, also remember to wear a mask when you are close to someone else.

l Washing hands can reduce risk of getting infected

Please wash your hands promptly and properly after touching elevator buttons or using cash. Do not touch your nose or mouth or rub your eyes before washing your hands. Do not use smart phones while eating.

l Receiving delivered packages at home not dangerous

Though the virus might be attached to the packaging of delivered items, the possibility of transmission through express delivery is extremely low. Before going out to take your delivery, remember to wear a mask. After removing the packaging, please wash your hands.

l Sun exposure cannot kill the virus

The temperature of sun light cannot reach 56℃, and the ultraviolet rays in sunlight cannot reach the intensity of ultraviolet lamps, so the virus can’t be killed by the sunlight. If you want to go out to get some sun, please wear a mask and take other protective measures.

l Taking a hot bath or using air conditioning cannot kill the virus

Although the virus is vulnerable to heat. It can only be inactivated after exposure to a 56°C temperature for over 30 minutes.

l Woolen fabric doesn’t retain virus longer

It is believed that the virus prefers smooth, non-porous surfaces and stays on woolen fabrics for a shorter time. At home or before going out, it is not necessary to consider which kind of material has less chance to absorb the virus—choosing comfortable clothes is enough.

After returning home, please wash your hands, sterilize the clothes and dry the clothes.

1. What are you suggested to do when taking delivered packages?

A．Wear a mask.

B．Take a hot bath.

C．Open packages.

D．Dry the clothes.

2. According to the passage, the following sentences are right EXCEPT that _____.

A．the virus is vulnerable to heat

B．the virus can be transmitted via droplets

C．the virus prefers smooth, non-porous surfaces

D． the virus cannot be killed by the ultraviolet rays

3. We can probably read this passage from _____.

A．a textbook

B．an advertisement

C．a travel brochure

D．a science magazine

【推荐1】Satellites are an important part of our ordinary lives. For example, the information for weather forecasts is sent by satellite. Some satellites have cameras which take photographs of the Earth to show how clouds are moving. Satellites are also used to connect our international phone calls.

Computer connections of the World Wide Web and Internet also use satellites. Many of our TV programmes come to us through satellite. Airplane pilots sometimes also use a satellite to help them find their exact location.

We use satellites to send television pictures from one part of the world to another. They are usually 35,880 kilometres above the equator (赤道). Sometimes we can see a satellite in the sky and it seems to stay in the same place. This is because it is moving around the world at 11,000 kilometres an hour — exactly the same speed that the earth rotates (转动). A satellite must orbit the Earth with its antennae (天线) facing the earth. Sometimes, it moves away from its orbit, so there are little rockets on it which are used to put the satellite back in the right position. This usually happens about every five or six days.

Space is not empty! Every week, more and more satellites are sent into space to orbit the Earth. A satellite usually works for about 10-12 years. Satellites which are broken are sometimes repaired by astronauts or sometimes brought back to the Earth to be repaired. Often, very old or broken satellites are left in space to orbit the Earth for a very long time. This is very serious because some satellites use nuclear power and they can crash into each other.

1. What is the best title of the passage?

A．How computer connections benefit from satellites.

B．How we can get television pictures.

C．What astronauts do in space.

D．What satellites can do for us.

2. What’s the speed the earth rotates at?

A．35,880 kilometres per hour.

B．335,880 kilometres per hour.

C．11,000 kilometres per hour.

D．110,000 kilometres per hour.

3. What does the underlined word “This” in the 3rd paragraph refer to?

A．A satellite.

B．A little rocket.

C．A satellite seems to stay in the same place in the sky.

D．The satellite puts the rockets in the right position.

【推荐3】Have you ever considered the way you spend your money? What do you buy? When do you buy? It is important to use your money wisely. Then, you will have enough for the things you want. You can make smart decisions about your money. All it takes is some careful, smart thinking.

One way to be smart with your money is to shop around before you buy. Visit more than one store, check the prices at each store, and try not to be in a hurry to buy. You don’t have to buy at the first store you visit; another store might have what you want at a lower price. You can even check online and compare prices.

Another way to be smart with your money is to wait for a sale. Many stores offer special discounts. For example, suppose you want to buy a camera. Wait until a store has a sale. You can save 20 percent, 30 percent, or more on the price of the camera by waiting for a sale. Some stores also offer a discount if you buy more than one of an item. So, look for sales offering a lower price per item if you buy two of that item. You could save money.

You can also use your money wisely by buying larger sizes of things. For example, large bags of dog food usually cost less per pound than small bags cost. A large pack of pens usually costs less per pen than a small pack of pens. So, even though you may spend more on a large size, you are really saving money per item.

You can learn to be smart with your money. It takes some practice, and it takes patience. You cannot always have what you want right away. But if you are patient, you will save money. Then, you will have more money to spend on what you want.

1. Which is one way to save money?

A．By waiting for sales.	B．By shopping at only one store.
C．By shopping in a hurry.	D．By buying small packages of things.

2. What is the writer’s opinion?

A．Being careful with money is wise.	B．It is not important to save money.
C．Comparing prices takes careful thinking.	D．It isn’t a good idea to shop online.

3. Which word best describes the people who are smart with their money?

A．Mean.

B．Patient.

C．Wealthy.

D．Lazy.

4. What is the writer’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To share a personal story.	B．To explain how to do something.
C．To introduce the things on sale.	D．To show how to get somewhere.