【推荐1】We all have a different approach to money — some of us like to spend it as soon as we have it, while some of us like to hold on to it and spend it carefully. But for people who are very savvy (精明的) about their cash, there are a number of interesting ways to invest it and, if things go well, make a tidy profit.

Buying stamps, wine, coins and books are all different ways of investing your money. It comes with risks but can be thrilling as, hopefully, you watch the value of your investment rise. However, you need to know what you’re doing and making your fortune is not guaranteed.

If you’re happy to take a risk, then one of the most well-known ways of investing is by buying artwork. By purchasing a painting and holding on to it, its value can increase by a handsome sum, but of course, only when you sell it do you feel the financial benefit. Some people get quite lucky, particularly when they don’t expect to make any money. There are stories of people buying a painting in an antique shop for peanuts only to find out it’s actually worth thousands of pounds.

Of course investing in artwork is not a guarantee to make you a millionaire. Patrick Connolly, a financial adviser, says investing in art is too risky and he recommends their clients not to invest in it because the downsides outweigh the upsides.

But if you’re still keen, there are art fairs, such as The Affordable Art Fair, and websites aimed at buyers with a modest budget. Patrick Connolly says the best approach here is to buy something you like and can afford and “if it goes up in value, that should be just an added bonus.”

If this has spoilt your plans for your investment, maybe there’s more chance of winning big money by buying a lottery ticket (彩票)!

1. What does the underlined words in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Going to antique shops to buy peanuts.

B．Purchasing a painting for its financial benefit.

C．Spending a small amount of money on artwork.

D．Exchanging artwork for peanuts in an antique shop.

2. Which of the following view may Patrick Connolly agree with?

A．Artistic investments don’t necessarily result in the rise in value.

B．Generally, people can earn more money by buying a lottery ticket.

C．Buying stamps and coins is much safer than buying a painting.

D．People will definitely gain financial benefits if they invest wisely.

3. What’s mainly discussed in the text?

A．What investments guarantee a big fortune.

B．Whether it’s profitable to invest in artwork.

C．Where valuable works of art are available.

D．How investments influence people’s daily life.

【推荐2】Environmental experts warn that our planet is drowning in plastic.

The world’s cities produce 2 billion tons of trash every year. By the year 2050 that number is expected to rise to 3 billion tons. The World Bank estimates that the largest amount of trash today, about 44 percent, is plastic. But we often have to buy packaged goods. And often that packaging is made of plastic.

Now, that may be changing. A new environmentally-friendly shopping model was recently launched at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This shopping model, called Loop, aims to replace throwaway containers with reusable ones.

Loop is the idea of Terra Cycle, an American-based recycling company. Its chief, Tom Szaky, told the Associated Press (AP) that “removing plastics from the ocean is not enough. ” He said the point is to get away from single-use packages. Szaky said that Loop is the future of shopping. But it comes from an idea of the past.

He compared it to the “milkman model” of the 1950s in the United States. Back then, someone brought milk to your doorstep in glass bottles and then left with empty bottles. These could be cleaned and used again. The result is zero-waste.

Jennifer Morgan from the environmental non-profit organization Greenpeace also joined in the discussion about Loop at Davos. She said that “Greenpeace welcomes the aim of the Loop Alliance to move away from throwaway culture and disposability”. But Morgan questioned whether companies worldwide are ready to change their business models.

Loop is set to launch later 2019 in three eastern U. S. states, and also in Paris, France and some of the surrounding areas. Then Loop plans to expand to the U. S. West Coast, Toronto, Canada and Britain by the end of this year or 2020.

1. What does the author intend to do in Paragraph 2?

A．Provide background information.

B．Advocate zero-waste lifestyle.

C．Explain the reason for trash.

D．Introduce a new topic.

2. Where does the idea “Loop” come from?

A．The World Economic Forum.

B．Demand of some companies.

C．Zero-waste model.

D．Jennifer Morgan.

3. Which countries is Loop expected to expand to by 2020?

A．United States and Switzerland.

B．Switzerland and Britain.

C．Canada and Britain.

D．France and Canada.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．A new shopping model.

B．The development of future city.

C．The world’s environmental issue.

D．The concerns of future shopping.

【推荐1】Noise-cancelling audio instruments have been around for a while now，but one Berlin-based designer believes that blocking “visual noise” is as important，if not more so，as cancelling out unwanted sounds．To this end he has created a simple accessory called the Focus Cap．

Open work spaces definitely have their benefits，but they come with the drawback of offering employees little to no control over visual distractions(干扰)．With so many people around and so much going on，some of us can easily get disturbed by this information overload and lose focus in what’s really important．That’s where the Focus Cap comes into play．

“As we are still cavemen or mammals kept in an unnatural environment，I believe that only by reclaiming(收回) the normal，stress-free human state through simple tools and techniques can we finally release our actual creative potential and create our meaningful work for a brighter future，”says German designer Hannes Greblin，inventor of the Focus Cap．

After looking at other products designed at minimizing visual distractions，Greblin decided that most of them were either too expensive or too uncomfortable to become mainstream，so he decided to go with something much simpler —a simple cap with a retractable visor(可伸缩的帽沿)．

Greblin’s Focus Cap is really straightforward．You just wear it like a regular cap’ with the sides of the visor retracted，and just collapse the sides whenever you need to focus on what’s ahead of you．Whether you’re trying to focus on a task in an open work office．Trying to study at university，or practicing yoga in a park and trying to ignore stares from strangers，the Focus Cap can help．

To be honest，this whole project sounds like a joke，but the Focus Cap does have its own website where people interested in this unusual accessory can actually sign up for updates on when it will go on sale．Greblin claims it will cost 30 euros($37)plus shipping．

1. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．When to use the Focus Cap

B．How to operate the Focus Cap

C．The Focus Cap—an ordinary accessory

D．The Focus Cap—a visual-cancelling accessory

2. Why did Greblin create the Focus Cap?

A．To help people focus．	B．To develop intelligence．
C．To make people comfortable．	D．To release creative potential．

3. What do we know about the Focus Cap?

A．It’s expensive．	B．It’s simple．
C．It’s delicate．	D．It’s complex．

4. From the text we can infer that ________．

A．The Focus Cap simply blocks unwanted sounds

B．The Focus Cap can only be used in the office

C．Greblin is confident about the future of his product

D．The Focus Cap has been on sale in quantity

【推荐2】From Japantown to Union Square in San Francisco, here are four fantastic hotels with atmosphere to spare.

Sir Francis Drake Hotel Location: Union Square, the city’s tourist-friendly shopping district(区) First impression: Despite some changes, the hotel has kept much of its attraction, and doormen still wear beefeater uniforms（英王卫士制服）. Rooms: Many of the 417 rooms are small, but they have features like curved(弧形的) walls. There includes a pet-friendly floor and yoga kits you can borrow. Plus: The Sunday meal features an exciting show. Info: 450 Powell St, 800/795-7129, sirfrancisdrake.com, from $139

Orchard Garden Hotel Location: Steps from Chinatown and North Beach, a historically Italian area. First impression: Everything is earth-friendly, from the energy-saving bulbs（电灯泡） in the hall ways to the soy ink used to print your bill. Rooms: The 86 rooms are done in greens and yellows. Even the toilet paper is recycled paper. Plus: High-tech amenities(设施) include Wi-Fi, and key cards that turn on the electricity when you enter a room. Info: 466 Bush St, 888/717-28881, theorchardgarden-hotel.com, from$189

Hotel Beresford Location: Near the theater(剧院) district, but bordering the Tenderloin area. First impression: The Beresford is one of the city’s oldest buildings--it was built in 1911--with original woodwork and period furniture, such as a writing desk. Rooms: Several of the 114 rooms were just repainted, adding old style door frames（框架）. Hallways are lined with photos of popular city sights. Plus: The White Horse Bar& Restaurant, known for its steaks, is a favorite with theatergoers. Info: 635 Sutter St, 800/533-6533, baresford.com, from $89

Galleria Park Hotel Location: Where the Financial District meets Union Square. First impression: Renovated(翻修) in March, the hotel’s large lobby（门厅） is a mix of styles with an art fireplace, 1930s’ portraits（画像） in pearly frames, and Victorian crystal skylights（水晶天窗）. Rooms: The 177 rooms feel great, with silk curtains, leather headboards（皮革床头靠背）, and clocks with MP3 players. Minus: The hotel’s restaurant is under construction. Walk one block north to Belden Place instead. Info: 191 Sutter St, 800/792-9639, galleriapark.com, form $149

1. George, an environmentalist, is now at San Francisco to attend a meeting, he would prefer to live in _______

A．Galleria Park Hotel	B．Hotel Beresford
C．Sir Francis Drake Hotel	D．Orchard Garden Hotel

2. About Sir Francis Drake Hotel, which of the following statements is NOT true?

A．The hotel lies in the district where tourist goods are sold.

B．The restaurant of the hotel is being built at present.

C．On Sunday tourists can have a chance to watch a show .

D．The hotel has kept its own attractive style for many years.

3. Suppose you are a play lover and will travel to San Francisco in a few days, which number will you call to book a hotel?

A．800/795-7129

B．800/533-6533

C．888/717-2881

D．800/792-9639

4. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To teach us how to choose the best hotel in San Francisco

B．To compare the differences of four hotels in San Francisco

C．To introduce four hot hotels in San Francisco

D．To tell us the advantages of four hotels in San Francisco

【推荐3】SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Captain Good Fellow
Do your children enjoy interesting stories, funny games, and exciting dances? Captain Good Fellow will be ready to teach all these things to children of all ages at the City Theatre on Saturday morning at 10:00, Free.
Walking Tour of the Town
Forget your worries on Saturday morning. Take a beautiful walk and learn about local history. Meet at the front entrance of City Hall at 9:30. Wear comfortable shoes!
Films at the Museum
Two European films will be shown Saturday afternoon at the Museum Theatre. See Broken Window at 1:30. The workers will be at 3:45. For further information, call 4987898.
International Picnic
Are you tired of eating the same food every day? Come to Central Park on Saturday and enjoy food from all over the world. Delicious and not expensive. Noon to 5:00 pm.
Take Me out to the Ballgame
It’s October, and tonight is your last chance to see the Redbirds this year. Get your tickets at the gate. It might be cold, don’t forget sweaters and jackets.
Do You Want to Hear “The Zoo”
“The Zoo”, a popular rock group from Australia, will give their first US concert tomorrow night at 8:00 at Rose Hall, City College.
1. You can probably eat Chinese, Italian, and Arab food____.

A．at the front entrance of City Hall

B．at the Ballgame

C．at 5:00 pm

D．at Central Park on Saturday

2. The Redbirds ballgame_____.

A．is in the afternoon	B．is outside
C．is at the gate	D．might be cold

3. “The Zoo” is _____.

A．a park with lots of animals

B．US concert

C．a music group

D．going to give the concert at 8:00 am

【推荐1】阅读下面的短文，请根据短文后的要求答题。
Rock climbing requires not only physical strength, but also complete mental concentration. So it is not an easy sport. But this may not be true for 20-year-old Sasha diGuilian. This fearless girl who has been dominating the sport ever since she entered this field is just getting warmed up.
The youngster who is also studying for a creative writing degree at Columbia University says that she began climbing even before she could walk. As a baby, she constantly escaped from her bed and led her friends to the nearest rocks or hills. Then at the age of seven she attended brother’s birthday party at a local rock climbing gym and found her gift for it.
Soon after, she joined the local center in her hometown of Alexandria, Virginia and began climbing— first once a week, then twice and soon, almost every day. At the age of nine, she won her first climbing competition by participating in an event that she hadn’t even been aware of, until she went to the gym for her normal climbing routine. Her competitive nature and love for the sport immediately reached the peak and she began training seriously, but this time outside the gym—climbing real mountains.
As a youngster, she dominated the Junior Continental Championships from 2004 to 2010. Then she went on to catch the Pan American Championship and the US National Championship as soon as she was old enough. And in 2011, at just 18 years old, she was crowned(加冕)Female Overall World Champion in Arco, Italy in her first attempt.
Sasha diGuilian is also the youngest woman who has completed the 5.14d graded climb in which climbers must climb rocks that are vertical. The 5.14d graded climb is regarded as the most difficult climb and it is something that even the most experienced climbers are a little afraid to take on, because a small slip could result in a severe injury or even death.
1. What does the underlined word “dominating” (Paragraph 1) mean?
(1 word)
________________________________________________________________________
2. Where and when did Sasha diGuilian find she had the talent for rock climbing? (No more than 12 words)
________________________________________________________________________
3. What made Sasha diGuilian begin training seriously to climb real mountains? (No more than 10 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Why is the 5.14d graded climb considered the most difficult climb?
(No more than 7 words)
_________________________________________________________________________
5. Please explain how you are inspired by Sasha diGuilian.(No more than25 words)
_________________________________________________________________________

【推荐2】These days, football is one of the most popular sports in the world. Given that Neil Armstrong wanted to take a football to the Moon, we could even say that it is also the most popular sport out of this world! The history of the game goes back over two thousand years to Ancient China. It was then known as cuju (kick ball), a game using a ball of animal skins with hair inside. Goals were hung in the air. Football as we know it today started in Great Britain, where the game was given new rules.

That football is such a simple game to play is perhaps the basis of its popularity. It is also a game that is very cheap to play. You don’t need expensive equipment; even the ball doesn’t have to cost much money. All over the world you can see kids playing to their hearts’ content with a ball made of plastic bags.

Another factor behind football’s global popularity is the creativity and excitement on the field. It is fun enough to attract millions of people. You do not have to be a fan to recognize the skill of professional players or to feel the excitement of a game ending with a surprising twist.

What’s more, football has become one of the best ways for people to communicate: it does not require words, but everyone understands it. It breaks down walls and brings people together on and off the field.

“Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, ...” said Bill Shankly, the famous footballer and manager. “I can tell you with certainty it is much, much more important than that.” This might sound funny, but one only has to think about the Earth to realize that our planet is shaped like a football.

1. What can we know from paragraph one?

A．Some people like to play football on the Moon.

B．The game called cuju was given new rules today.

C．Cuju is different from football as we know it today.

D．Many people like playing a ball made of plastic bags.

2. According to the author, there are ________ reasons why football became so popular in the world.

A．3

B．4

C．5

D．6

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Football is round.	B．Football is more than just a sport.
C．Our planet is shaped like a football.	D．What Bill Shankly said sounds funny.

4. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To talk about the history of football.

B．To express his/her love of football.

C．To explain why football is such a popular game.

D．To prove that he/she is a professional football fan.

【推荐3】

Over 27-hundred volunteers, dubbed(授予称号)the“New Generation at the Bird’s Nest”, are activated among different posts at the IAAF Championships.

Xie Junyan heads a group of 72 volunteers. His team is dealing with security. “Our volunteers are here as an important force to ensure people’s safety and security. If there were no volunteers, there wouldn’t be enough security, which would allow people to come in without tickets. It could be chaos without us. ”

Others, including Wang Sijia, a volunteer from China University of Mining and Technology, are less concerned about safety, and more about making those at the event feel welcome.

“I’m a girl who loves smiling. Being able to convey happiness to others makes me feel great. ”

Wang Sijia’s fellow volunteer, Deng Yupei, is hoping to gain a little bit more practical experience from his time at the event.

“I’ve never had an experience like this before. Coming to such a big event, I’m really excited because it’s a whole new experience to me. I also think my time here has helped me improve my English. I’ve also made a lot of friends here. ”

Two-in-five of the volunteers at the IAAF event have been put there specifically to help the international delegations. Chinese visitors to this year’s event say the volunteers are just as helpful.

“They are very considerate. We didn’t know where our seats were when we first arrived. They directed us to the seats. They’re very good. ”

Outgoing IAAF President Lamine Diack has taken time to pay tribute to the volunteers, calling them“the true spirit of athletics”.

1. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．All volunteers were dubbed the“New Generation at the Bird’s Nest”.

B．Wang Sijia works to ensure people’s safety and security.

C．Being a volunteer helps Deng Yupei gain more practical experience.

D．Xie Junyan can allow people to come in without tickets.

2. What’s the meaning of the underlined phrase?

A．Contribute.	B．Praise.
C．Consider.	D．Arrange.

3. What can be inferred from the last but one paragraph?

A．Chinese visitors are very considerate.

B．Visitors are pleased with the work of volunteers at the IAAF event.

C．Visitors didn’t know where their seats were.

D．Visitors offer some suggestions to volunteers.