【推荐1】Sweden and its Nordic neighbors have some of the highest literacy(读写能力) rates in the world. The Swedes view equal access to education and knowledge as important to an individual’s future success. This is true regardless of economic background or geographic location.

Sweden has a floating library—the bokbaten—that brings thousands of books to people on dozens of distant islands in the Stockholm archipelago(群岛) twice a year. Every spring and fall since 1953, the Stockholm Library Service has rented a boat for a week, loaded it full of books, and set a course for about 23 islands. When the boat arrives, residents climb aboard to return books they borrowed during the last visit and check out the library’s newest offerings. The boat carries about 3000 books, and residents can put in requests ahead of time. The three or four volunteer librarians who take turns working on the ship say that, as you might expect, the latest bestsellers are in high demand.

There are tall wooden shelves, large tables displaying solid hardcovers, book carts on wheels, a long checkout table, and event notices taped to the wall. There are picture books for children, popular novels, large-print books, texts about history and science and cookbooks. Since island residents can order copies in advance, boxes of books are piled around the boat waiting to be delivered.

The boat started as a service for fishermen and island workers and even residents who prefer to read hard copies of books rather than e-books or audio(有声) books. But even in a nation of book lovers, the future of the floating library remains uncertain. If the Regional Library cuts funding for the boat, the bokbaten will be no more. Hopefully, Sweden’s bokbaten will continue to operate as a wonderful nod to past traditions while educating people for the future.

1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?

A．People in Sweden are equal in education.

B．Sweden’s economic success depends on education.

C．Sweden attaches great importance to education.

D．The Swedish are the most highly educated in the world.

2. What do we know about the bokbaten from Paragraph 2?

A．It brings books to islanders.

B．It works all the year around.

C．Seven volunteers run it aboard by turns.

D．People could read bestsellers for free in it.

3. What problem may the bokbaten be facing?

A．Bad weather.	B．A lack of money.
C．Books being stolen.	D．People poorly educated.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Sweden—a country of reading lovers

B．The bokbaten—a floating library

C．The feature of Sweden’s education

D．The history of Sweden’s bokbaten

【推荐2】Changes have been taking place in Philadelphia since 1984. One by one, graffiti-covered walls have been changed into outdoor art. So far, more than 1,800 murals (壁画) have been painted. Philadelphia now has more murals than any other American city.

The walls that were once ugly with graffiti are now covered with beautiful pictures of historical heroes and modern art, thanks to the Mural Arts Programme (MAP). Its work makes schools and public places attractive. The programme began as part of Philadelphia’s Anti-Graffiti Network. Jane Golden is the MAP’s artistic director. “When people ask me what our programme is about,” she says, “I answer them with one word: hope.” Each year, the MAP offers the youth art programmes and workshops. Some one-time graffiti writers even help paint MAP murals.

Golden says that the MAP’s work is all about developing a sense of community. When a neighbourhood requests a mural, the MAP works with the people there to develop a message. Some messages have been “Safe Streets”, “Love And Care”, and “Peace Walk”.

The MAP receives up to 50 requests for murals each week. Last year, the workers painted 140 murals.

“The making of a mural enters people’s collective memory as an extraordinary, pleasant moment in neighbourhood history,” says Golden, who began as a muralist in Los Angeles.

1. What is the MAP in Philadelphia aimed at?

A．Helping the young find jobs.	B．Protecting the neighbourhood.
C．Fighting against graffiti.	D．Attracting more visitors.

2. How does the MAP decide on messages for a mural?

A．By having discussions with people in the community.

B．By seeking advice from the city government.

C．By learning from the young graffiti writers.

D．By studying the history of the city.

3. Which of the following words best describes the work of the MAP?

A．Difficult.	B．Dangerous.
C．Experimental.	D．Successful.

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

A．Love, From Graffiti Writers to Muralists

B．MAP, a New Company in Philadelphia

C．Jane, an Excellent Mural Artist

D．Hope, One Wall at a Time

【推荐3】Four of the World’s Greatest National Parks

Komodo

Location: Indonesia; Area: 1,733 km²

Home to the world’s largest lizard (蜥蜴), the Komodo dragon, Komodo National Park is made up of 29 islands. The park’s three main islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar make ideal destinations for divers, as the coral reefs support an amount of oceanic diversity. With over 1,000 species of fish, 260 species of coral, and countless sea animals, this is an ideal spot to swim with whales, dolphins and more.

Namib-Naukluft

Location: Namibia; Area: 49,768 km²

In the world’s oldest desert, the landscape moves. The golden dunes (沙丘) shift as winds blow and seasons pass. Visitors come to explore the dunes and it can be a real adventure. You’ll need a permit and doctor’s letter to take on the longer hikes, but one-day hikes give anyone a chance to see more of the Namib.

Tongariro

Location: New Zealand; Area: 795 km²

As New Zealand’s oldest national park, Tongariro National Park is home to three active volcanoes. And here’s the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, a 19.4-kilometr e hike that takes you across beautiful landscapes. This park also draws in skiers during the winter seasons. The biggest ski area, Whakapapa, covers 5.5k m² 2 and has 15 lifts in all.

Teide

Location: Tenerife, Spain; Area: 190 km²

This park is home to Mount Teide, the highest peak in Spain. With a height of 3,718 metres, Mount Teide is also the third largest volcanic structure on the planet. Besides, Teide National Park possesses unique plants. The most unusual among the 139 recorded species is red bugloss.

1. What can visitors do in Komodo National Park?

A．Be surrounded by lizards.	B．Encounter ocean life closely.
C．Go diving on its 29 islands.	D．Play with the Komodo dragon.

2. Which of the following parks is the biggest?

A．Komodo National Park.	B．Namib-Naukluft National Park.
C．Tongariro National Park.	D．Teide National Park.

3. What do the last two parks have in common?

A．Both are perfect choices for skiers.

B．Both have the feature of golden dunes.

C．Both own more than 100 plant species.

D．Both are famous for their volcanoes.

【推荐1】I’m Grace, 13 years old and in seventh grade in Florida. This school year has been normal. However, my family and I spent my sixth-grade year driving all over Europe, seeing amazing places, meeting all kinds of people, and getting closer as a family in the process.
When my family decided to move to Europe, we were excited . But we had a problem. We couldn’t find a vehicle that had enough space to work for our five-member family, so my dad decided he’d just made one. No matter where we were , our new home took some getting used to (花时间适应). I had to leave a lot of my stuff behind because so little of it would fit into my tiny new room. We had to be careful to save our water. And we were doing home school, which worked out great.
No matter what, I made sure to look out my window every morning , because the view was different every day — England, then France, Italy,Greece... each special in its own way. In country after country, we touched around and tried to pick up little bits of the local language, but that didn’t help us much. Luckily we kept finding people who knew some English. Everywhere we went , we saw the most amazing things. I love reading about places in my textbooks and then getting out of our vehicle to look right at them . I can’t pick a favourite spot, because whichever one we were at seemed to be the best at the time.
After our trip ended , we moved to Florida. But it makes me happy that my family had this great year-long experience together. I’m thankful for that.
1. Compared with the seventh-grade school year, Grace’s sixth-grade year was ____

A．normal	B．painful
C．unusual	D．successful

2. How did Grace and her family travel in Europe?

A．By car	B．By taxi
C．By bike	D．By plane

3. Grace had to throw away many of her things because________

A．her parents didn’t allow her to keep them

B．there was not enough room to keep them

C．she had other similar things

D．they were out of style

4. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．Grace likes Italy very much

B．Grace prefers travelling to reading

C．Grace can speak different language s well

D．Grace enjoyed the experience with her family

5. Which one of the following phrases can best describe the whole passage?

A．Getting along with my family

B．Looking out of my window

C．My new moving home

D．My life on the road

【推荐3】A group trip is much more different from what one might expect with an organized tour or a solo holiday. It’s special both in its form and the unique experience it offers.     1     .

Going on holiday with a group of friends is all about having fun, creating memories and trying a new experience with a shared interest to travel. It means being inside jokes, great stories and plenty of laughs.     2    . Whether you decide to go in a large group of up to 10 people or more or go in a much smaller group of 4, group trips are a great way to bond and reconnect with one another. Besides, it doesn’t have to be a constant activity. It can happen periodically, perhaps once or twice a year.     3    , but the result will be satisfying. Choose a popularly known destination or an unknown destination.     4    . You will experience new or familiar destinations with close friends. This will give group members an idea of what they can expect for the next group trip.

The purpose of the group trip, for some, may be to escape from the city or their current busy schedules. For others, it may be to catch up with friends over a period of time.     5    , the main idea is that as a group they will be able to link their trip to the memories created.

A．Planning a group trip may be difficult

B．You will only enjoy such a trip once in a lifetime

C．It also helps you learn more about how to travel

D．Thus, it is certainly an experience to enjoy

E．Whether they will be positive or negative memories

F．They have been alone for too long a time and thus badly need a trip

G．This decision can actually set the foundation for the mood of the trip