【推荐1】Educational authorities have asked schools to make sure students have 10-minute breaks between classes after hearing complaints that some school students are not allowed to leave classrooms during breaks-unless they need to go to the toilet-- to ensure their safety.

Some students said teachers often overrun by a few minutes, and that some start their classes a few minutes before the breaks are scheduled to end. In these cases students do not even have time to go to the toilet.

A mother of a primary school student in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province said her child’s school does not allow students to leave the classroom building during breaks. They are also forbidden to jump, run around or speak loudly.

The issue has caused a heated discussion on social media platforms.

“Teachers do not want to supervise students during class breaks. However, if students have accidents, some parents will still hold schools accountable,” said one netizen in a comment that received more than 10,000 likes. Another said, “Teachers are also tired, but the school makes such a requirement, and they have to follow.”

An official from the Ministry of Education said that it is important for schools to ensure students have time to rest during class breaks, which can help students relax, be healthy and avoid myopia (近视).

The ministry attaches great importance to class breaks, the official said. Apart from breaks between classes, schools should also make sure students have a 30-minute break each day for exercise. The ministry will urge local authorities and schools to implement the policies and prevent the practice of restricting class breaks in the name of “ensuring students safety”, the official said.

1. According to some parents, who is to blame if students have accidents during class breaks?

A．The children.	B．The schools.
C．Educational authorities.	D．The parents.

2. Why are students not allowed to leave classrooms during 10-minute breaks between classes?

A．Because they have a lot of homework to do.

B．Because the teachers often end the classes late than scheduled.

C．Because schools want to ensure the students’ safety.

D．Because the students are told to do so by their parents.

3. What is NOT the advantage of having a rest during classes for the students?

A．relaxation for students.	B．avoid being short-sighted.
C．wellness of the students.	D．playing happily.

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Schools will be urged to ensure students to have moderate class breaks.

B．Although tired, teachers are willing to supervise students during class breaks.

C．Students do not have time to go to the toilet because teachers often overrun by a few minutes.

D．Parents are in favor of not allowing the students to leave classrooms.

【推荐2】With his feet six inches apart, toes straight ahead, knees slightly bent, arms out at his sides, eyes forward, and his weight evenly distributed between your skates, Richard Epstein, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, has gone popular online thanks to a video his daughter Rebekah Bastian shared on social media.

In a post on Twitter, Rebekah uploaded a clip of her dad taking part in an ice skating performance with his teacher. She captioned the tweet, writing: “My father is 77 years old and has stage 4 cancer. He decided to learn how to ice skate a few years ago, and just did this performance with his teacher last month. For anyone that thinks it’s too late to try something new.”

Speaking to The Mirror, Rebakah explained how her dad, a retired astrophysicist and applied physicist, first started trying ice skating about 10 years ago. He then suspended it for several years, before deciding to commit to learning and enrolling in lessons with a teacher named Teri Moellenberg, three years ago. Richard now practices twice a week and is “really enjoying it”, with plans to keep on taking lessons. He was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) about 2.5 years ago. That got under control with some medication. So far he’s still feeling good and is on some medications to slow that down. He’s a great example of keeping learning and making a new start and he’s certainly inspired that within her daughter.

Rebekah also added: “The company that I founded, OwnTrail, is all about there not being one right path through life, and embracing our ever-changing journeys. My father’s energy has definitely inspired that belief in me.”

1. What mainly led to the popularity of Richard Epstein’s video online?

A．His excellence at ice skating.	B．The daughter’s sharing in real time.
C．The changes brought by the cancer.	D．His trying new things at the age of 77.

2. What does the underlined word “suspended” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Mixed.

B．Stopped.

C．Posted.

D．Improved.

3. What do we know about Rebekah?

A．She advocated choosing the right path through life.

B．She gained inspiration from his father to found a company.

C．Her efforts contributed to his father’s improved condition.

D．She found it difficult to adapt to the ever-changing life.

4. What can we learn from Richard Epstein’s story?

A．Ever-changing journeys are in store for us.	B．Lost time comes between life and us.
C．It’s never too old to learn.	D．Well begun is half done.

【推荐2】For many years, scientists saw trees as independent living things. Each tree in the forest was trying to get light, water and nutrients. Trees competed for resources.     1     They cooperate with each other with the help of fungi (真菌).

In forests, fungi connect trees through underground networks. Trees’ roots branch out in all directions. The same soil is home to fungi, which can grow on and around tree roots. The fungi grow in thin threads (线状物). As they grow, the threads can link to numerous trees. The fungi create webs between trees known as mycorrhizal (菌根) networks.     2     The trees give sugars to the fungi and the fungi get mineral nutrients from the soil. They share them with the trees.

The fungi in a mycorrhizal network link the trees together.     3     For example, if a young plant is growing in a shaded area, it may not get enough sunlight. However, larger trees growing around it can send sugars to the young tree’s roots through the fungi. Similarly, if a tree is dying, it might give its nutrients to the healthy trees growing around it.

Mycorrhizal networks are not always cooperative. Some plants will use the networks to take nutrients from their neighbors. Some flowers will steal food from other plants.     4     They want to harm plants that are competing for sunlight and water.

    5     They can send chemical or electrical signals through the wood wide web. If a tree is being eaten by insects, it will send out signals for help. Similarly, when diseases attack trees, they can send out chemicals.

A．Trees also send messages through the networks.

B．Networks can even connect different species of plants.

C．Scientists think the fungi are important for healthy forests.

D．Trees can share sugars, nutrients and water with one another.

E．However, scientists are discovering that trees may actually work together.

F．There are also plants that send poisonous substances through the networks.

G．In these networks, scientists think the trees and the fungi help one another.

【推荐3】Four Best Plants to Give as Gifts

Choosing a gift for someone is always a challenge. Giving plants is one way to try if the recipient is already a plant-lover. Here are some sure to impress as thoughtful gifts.

Jade Plant

The jade plant is a large succulent (肉质植物) that makes a perfect gift for someone who’s mastered parenting succulents. With a woody stem (茎), it looks like a tree once growing tall enough. Besides occasional watering and a bright window, the jade plant has few other requirements. A good challenge for ambitious owners is to regularly cut off its heavy leaves to reduce weight.

Christmas Cactus

This is a succulent with eye-catching flowers that appear in winter. You might assume it a picky plant, but nothing could be further than the truth. It prefers bright, indirect light and grows well in average potting soil. This plant prefers a steady watering schedule, especially in winter. To encourage more growth, plant it in a hanging container that allows its branches to hang down.

Paperwhite

Some people just aren’t interested in keeping houseplants around long-term, and paperwhite flowers are an excellent gift for anyone you know who fits this mould. Paperwhites grow from bulbs (鳞茎) and will produce flowers out of season. The roots need to be kept relatively damp, but once they are blooming (开花), there’s not much that can go wrong. They can be replanted outside after they have run their course.

Corn Plant

The corn plant is forgiving of variable light conditions and watering routines. It grows slowly, but can reach a height of four to six feet, and can make an impressive floor plant. Its leaves turn paler in direct sunlight to reflect the extra light, and darker green in shady conditions to maximize sunlight absorption.

1. Which plant requires practised gardening experience?

A．Jade plant.

B．Christmas cactus.

C．Paperwhite.

D．Corn plant.

2. How can we help a Christmas cactus grow well?

A．By replanting it outside before blooming.	B．By watering it regularly during blooming.
C．By cutting off most of its heavy leaves.	D．By making its branches grow upwards.

3. What affects the colour of leaves of a corn plant?

A．The frequency of watering.	B．Its flowering time.
C．Its rate of growing.	D．The amount of sunlight.