【推荐1】Whether she loves wines, pets, books, coffees, or all of the above, there is a perfect gift for your number one mama.

Short Robe (袍)

If your mom likes nothing more than enjoying life in the early hours of the day with a cup of coffee, she will like this short robe. It has side pockets and an attached belt.

Short Robe, $128, NakedPrincess.com

Photos To Art

Nothing makes a super—proud mom happier than thinking about her children—they're so handsome! So smart! So sweet! Give this proud mom an opportunity to admire her handiwork every day with a photo of her children using Photos To Art feature. Photos To Art is an app which can transform your digital photo into a piece of art.

Photos To Art, starting at $3.99, Art.com

Library Card Cup

For the woman who took you to the library to get your very first card, show how much you appreciate her love of language and words with one of these book-themed cups. You can choose from an old—fashioned library card, a book's cover, or one of your favorite literary characters.

Library Card Cup, $18.49, Amazon.com

Florence Travel Dress

When she’s not busy teaching her children how to tie their shoes and mind their manners, the mom you love is flying across the country for an important meeting. She needs this dress—it dries quickly and prevents wrinkles (褶皱).

Florence Travel Dress by Orvis, $119, Amazon.com

1. Which of the following is a perfect gift to a mother who gets up early?

A．A loose robe.

B．A coffee cup.

C．A photo album.

D．A beautiful dress.

2. How much should you pay if you buy two book-themed cups at Amazon. com?

A．$7.98.

B．$ 18.49.

C．$36.98.

D．$119.

3. Which mother does the last gift attract?

A．The mother who follows the latest fashion.	B．The mother who is a frequent business traveler.
C．The mother who is looking for a special dress.	D．The mother who wants to look younger.

【推荐2】

237 West Palmdale Boulevard Fresno, California 93706 AmToy Corporation Suite 15 TransAm Building San Francisco, California 94115 November 20, 2008 Dear Sirs, As a concerned parent, I am writing to protest your recent advertisement for Electro-Robo seen in local media is California. Specifically, I am referring to newspaper and magazine ads (attached to this letter) published the week of November 15. Children respond to your type of advertising in an immature way; that is, they are unable to understand how expensive some toys are for middle-class parents. Further, you product is violent in nature. Youth advertisement gives children the impression that it’s fine to have “two guns and laser eyes.” You also suggest that children need your toy to protect them “when you go outside.” This is not a healthy attitude for children to have. I hope you will stop advertising your product in such a way that may harm our children. Sincerely yours, (Mrs.) Alma Hernandez President, Parents for Non-violent Toys Enc.

It’s here! Ready for You, Now! It’s Electro-Robo! Every boy dreams of being in control of a robot, and AmToy can make your dream come true! Electro-Roho is the world’s first fully automatic robot with radio control. Standing 80 centimeters tall, Electro-Robo is like a friend at home. He can walk, talk, and even shake your hand! He has two guns and laser eyes to help you defend yourself when you go outside with him. Every boy needs Electro-Robo! Ask your Mom and Dad to buy Electro-Robo for your birthday or for Christmas, which is coming up soon. Imagine that you are in control of your friend for life, Electro-Robo! Available at all toy stores and department stores NOW!

1. What is the purpose of the letter?

A．To complain about a broken toy.	B．To oppose the advertising.
C．To order a gift for Christmas.	D．To apply for a job in a toy company.

2. Why does the writer of the letter that Electro-Robo is violent?

A．It is controlled by radio water.	B．It is expensive to buy.
C．It is 80 centimeter tall.	D．It bears arms.

3. What dose “Enc.” at the end of the letter mean?

A．Something attached to the letter.	B．A complaint to the toy company.
C．A hidden message	D．An encouraging response.

4. Electro-Robo can do all the following EXCEPT ______.

A．sitting down

B．shaking hands

C．talking

D．walking

【推荐3】

Is veg food healthier than non-veg food? I feel this is a very common topic that people speak on．Please give me your opinions on this topic．
Rao 12-18-08	So far as veg food is concerned, it is also proved to be a healthy and nutritious diet, but has very few items which can provide us with proteins, but if you see non-veg food like eggs, chicken, and many more, such foods have a large content of proteins in them.
Sai 12-19-08	Man basically is herbivorous（食草的）. If we look at the animal kingdom We can see that all the herbivorous animals have the similar dental（牙齿的） structure, which clearly shows that the human being also ought to be vegetarian by birth. It is only the living conditions that make man carnivorous（食肉的）. The vegetarian foods are easily digestible.
Santos 12-20-08	Non-veg food items are better than veg items. A healthy person requires complete diet and veg + meat makes the diet complete. The only caution that needs to be taken is not to have non-veg items on a daily basis. Once in a week or couple of weeks will be best.
Krishna 01-03-09	When we eat non-veg, we are all veg by nature. The chicken that we eat feeds on grains, the mutton that we eat feeds on grass, and the fish that we eat feeds on simple plants. So non-veg food by logic（逻辑）is better and suited for hauman beings.
Khan 01-05-09	Non-veg food is equally important in our diet as it helps in many ways, especially fish and other seafood as fish contains omega 3 which makes our immune system（免疫系统）stronger. Do you know that most of the veg food put together does not contain as much omega 3 as fish alone contains!

1. According to Rao, what is the problem with veg food?

A．It damages our immune system.	B．It has few nutrients.
C．It contains too much omega 3.	D．It is lacking in protein.

2. In the opinion of Sai, humans are born vegetarian because humans        .

A．have the same teeth structure as plant-eating animals

B．believe that veg foods are good for their teeth

C．belong to the plant-eating animal family

D．can adapt to the living conditions like plant-eating animals

3. What advice is given by Santos?

A．To have a daily veg + meat diet.

B．Not to eat non-veg food every day.

C．To eat digestible food every day.

D．Not to eat food without protein.

【推荐1】Personal Robot

Make your parents and teachers happy！

Are you having problems finishing your homework on time？Do you avoid cleaning your room until your mom shouts at you？You don't need to worry if you buy a Mr. Helping Hand personal robot. Mr. H can be programmed to organize your homework. Your own personal robot will follow you around, putting away books and objects that you have left on the floor or bed.

Mr. H also has these features (特点)：

※ weighs only 500 grams

※ includes long-lasting batteries

※ comes with a 5-year guarantee

※ remembers simple instructions

Originally (最初) sold for ＄499

NOW ONLY ＄299

WATCH CONTROL

This is a watch that James Bond would be proud to wear!

This is NOT a watch for ordinary people!

Your electronic PENGO WATCH CONTROL

※ acts as a remote control for TVs and videos.

※ gives you a daily weather forecast.

※ reminds you when to hand in your homework.

※ sets off a silent warning alarm when parents or teachers are near.

Besides, your PENGO WATCH CONTROL will always tell you the time accurately!

Originally sold for ＄199

NOW ONLY ＄99

For further information, click here.

1. A PENGO WATCH CONTROL can help you to ______ .

A．repair your TV	B．organize your homework
C．be a James Bond	D．know what the weather is like

2. You can get your Mr. H for ______ .

A．＄499	B．＄299
C．＄199	D．＄99

3. Where would you be most likely to find the two texts？

A．On a notice board.	B．In a company brochure.
C．On a teenage website.	D．In a college newspaper.

【推荐2】

Is veg food healthier than non-veg food? I feel this is a very common topic that people speak on．Please give me your opinions on this topic．
Rao 12-18-08	So far as veg food is concerned, it is also proved to be a healthy and nutritious diet, but has very few items which can provide us with proteins, but if you see non-veg food like eggs, chicken, and many more, such foods have a large content of proteins in them.
Sai 12-19-08	Man basically is herbivorous（食草的）. If we look at the animal kingdom We can see that all the herbivorous animals have the similar dental（牙齿的） structure, which clearly shows that the human being also ought to be vegetarian by birth. It is only the living conditions that make man carnivorous（食肉的）. The vegetarian foods are easily digestible.
Santos 12-20-08	Non-veg food items are better than veg items. A healthy person requires complete diet and veg + meat makes the diet complete. The only caution that needs to be taken is not to have non-veg items on a daily basis. Once in a week or couple of weeks will be best.
Krishna 01-03-09	When we eat non-veg, we are all veg by nature. The chicken that we eat feeds on grains, the mutton that we eat feeds on grass, and the fish that we eat feeds on simple plants. So non-veg food by logic（逻辑）is better and suited for hauman beings.
Khan 01-05-09	Non-veg food is equally important in our diet as it helps in many ways, especially fish and other seafood as fish contains omega 3 which makes our immune system（免疫系统）stronger. Do you know that most of the veg food put together does not contain as much omega 3 as fish alone contains!

1. According to Rao, what is the problem with veg food?

A．It damages our immune system.	B．It has few nutrients.
C．It contains too much omega 3.	D．It is lacking in protein.

2. In the opinion of Sai, humans are born vegetarian because humans        .

A．have the same teeth structure as plant-eating animals

B．believe that veg foods are good for their teeth

C．belong to the plant-eating animal family

D．can adapt to the living conditions like plant-eating animals

3. What advice is given by Santos?

A．To have a daily veg + meat diet.

B．Not to eat non-veg food every day.

C．To eat digestible food every day.

D．Not to eat food without protein.

【推荐3】A company in San Francisco, California, has found a way to turn used plastic bottles into women’s shoes.

Every day, millions of Americans drink water and other liquids from plastic bottles. More than 60 million of them are thrown away each day. Many of the plastic bottles end up in landfills or are burned with other waste products.

A San Francisco start-up company called Rothy’s, however, turns this plastic waste into environmentally friendly shoes. Roth Martin is the company’s co-founder. He explains how they turn plastic into soft material for women’s feet. They take the plastic, clean it, and break it down into small pieces. Then they press them through a device that makes soft fibers. Those fibers are then combined together. This is done by a 3D machine. It is designed to reduce waste while making the shoes. The knitted stuff and the inner part of the shoe are then attached to the shoe’s outer part, called the sole (鞋底). This outer sole is also made from environmentally friendly material: responsibly sourced no-carbon rubber.

Rothy’s shoes are sold online. They are flat shoes, with either a rounded or pointed toe. They come in different colors and designs. They cost either $ 125 or $ 145 per pair, depending on the design. After American actress Gwyneth Paltrow discovered them last year, the demand for the shoes grew. Martin says there is no shortage of material to fill that demand. “We’re not going to run out of water bottles any time soon. So we have a limitless supply of material, and I think that is a good sign for our future.” When the environmentally friendly shoes wear out, customers can return them at no cost to a company that uses the recycled materials to make other products.

For now, the shoes are only available to be shipped in the United States. However, the company says it will add international shipping in the near future.

1. What does the underlined word knitted in the third paragraph mean?

A．attached	B．combined
C．fixed	D．repaired

2. Which of the following directly helped to increase the sales of Rothy’s shoes?

A．The design and color.	B．The reasonable price.
C．The star power of Gwyneth Paltrow.	D．The company’s advertisement.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To introduce a new way of recycling plastic waste.

B．To describe the process of making shoes.

C．To advertise a new kind of shoes.

D．To stress the importance of environmental protection.

【推荐2】D
The following is a timetable in Shanghai Pudong International Airport．

Airline	Flight Number	Destination	Departure	Gate
Air Canada	137	Beijing	10:12 a．m．	24
Japanese Airlines	320	Tokyo	10:30 a．m．	18
British Airways	405	Paris	11:00 a．m．	20
Pan American	226	London	11:20 a．m．	12
Pan American	12	Beijing	11:43 a．m．	15
Air Canada	178	Tokyo	12:32 a．m．	21
CAAC	289	Hong Kong	12:32 a．m．	14
CAAC	314	Moscow	12:45 a．m．	18
British Airways	230	New York	12:55 a．m．	23

1. man wants to take Flight 178 to Tokyo. Which gate should he go to?

A．14

B．28

C．21

D．18

2. Lisa is at gate 23. Where is she going?

A．Paris

B．Beijing

C．Tokyo

D．New York

3. Now it’s 10:40. Mary is at gate 20. Which airline’s plane will she take?

A．British Airways	B．Japanese Airlines
C．Pan American	D．Air Canada

4. Gate _______ is the busiest among all these gates.

A．23

B．18

C．24

D．15

5. Which airline’s flights cover the longest route(行程)?

A．CAAC	B．Pan American
C．British Airways	D．Air Canada

【推荐3】Below is a list of the most interesting UK writing competitions.

Flash 500 Short Story Competition.

Stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words are required for this story competition. Those who think no story is complete without a proper bedroom scene will be pleased to learn that adult material is acceptable here ＂providing the content fits the story＂. The rest of you will be relieved to learn that adult content is not compulsory.

Prizes: £500, £200, £100.

EntryFee: £22.

The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition.

If you have an original idea, a fresh voice and a story children will love, you could be in luck because that’s just what the organizers of this annual contest are looking for. With a suggested minimum of 30,000 words, your story should be suitable for a worldwide audience of children/young adults somewhere between the ages of 7 and 18 years.

Prize:£10,000.

EntryFee: £15.

Bath Children’s Novel Award.

This international contest is for novels of any length. To enter, you email the first 3,000 words of your story followed by a one page summary. The longlist(入围名单) is chosen by a group of children and young adults. The shortlist（候选人名单）judge is Julia Churchill from literary agents A.M. Heath.

Prize:£2,000.

EntryFee: £7 each, £12 for two, £16 for three, £20 for four.

The Caledonia Novel Award.

This international contest from Edinburgh, which is open to unpublished and self-published novelists, is for stories of at least 50,000 words. To enter, you email the first 20 pages of your novel followed by a 200-word summary. The judge is Richard Pike from literary agents Curtis Brown.

Prize: £1,000.

EntryFee: £20.

1. What do we know about Flash 500 Short Story Competition?

A．Its deadline.

B．Its sponsor.

C．Its judges.

D．Its award.

2. Which competition is intended for beginners?

A．The Caledonia Novel Award.

B．Bath Children’s Novel Award.

C．Flash 500 Short Story Competition.

D．The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition.

3. What do Bath Children’s Novel Award and The Caledonia Novel Award have in common?

A．They have the same judge.	B．Anyone in the world can take part in.
C．They charge no entry fees.	D．They only accept long novels.