【推荐1】At one time or another most farmers have problems with mice. This is especially true for grain farmers. Mice eat a lot of grain. They also carry diseases(疾病), which people can get from eating or touching grain the mice have made dirty. Farmers can use special grain storage buildings or they can kill the mice. However, both methods can be costly. Farmers must buy materials to build the special grain storage buildings or chemical poisons to kill the mice．
Here is a way to kill mice without spending a lot of money. It is a simple but effective kind of mouse trap. The method is first used by some farmers in the west African country of Mali. An agricultural expert in Mali reported about the Mali mouse trap in a magazine. The expert reported that his gardener caught 150 mice in just one night. The gardener used four traps. The trap is easy to make. First, remove the top from a 20 liter metal or plastic container(容器). Put it in a hole in the ground. The top edge of the container should be the level with the surface of the ground. Fill the container with water to within eight centimeters of the top. Add tiny pieces of grain wastes. They should float on the water. Also put some wastes on the ground near the trap. During the night, mice will come out to eat the grain wastes. They will fall into the container and drown. Replace the food in the trap every night．
1. According to the passage，_____ used the mouse trap first.

A．an agricultural expert in the west Africa

B．farmers in the United States

C．all American gardener

D．farmers in Mali

2. What does the passage mainly tell us?

A．A simple and effective method used by farmers to kill mice

B．How to kill mice

C．Methods used by farmers to kill mice

D．Farmers have problems with mice

3. Which of the following can’t protect grain from being eaten by mice?

A．A special grain storage building

B．Chemical poisons

C．A mouse trap

D．A hole in the ground

4. Which is probably the trap mentioned in the passage?

A．	B．
C．	D．

【推荐2】Imagine that while walking through a park one day, you begin to notice strange things all around you. People in colorful clothes from centuries ago walk on the paths. A magician is doing amazing tricks. Musicians play strange music on strange instruments. Knights on horseback show their skills in riding competitions. The smell of roasting meat begins to make your mouth water. A pleasant voice shouts, “Good morrow!”

What is going on? Have you traveled back in time? In a way, yes. You have found yourself in the midst of a Renaissance fair(文艺复兴节）！Since the 1960s, Renaissance fairs have grown in popularity in the US and Canada. Communities in at least 44 states and two Canadian provinces now hold annual Renaissance fairs. Over 200 fairs are held every year, with 40 in California alone. The first Renaissance fair was started in the 1960s by a school teacher in Southern California named Phyllis Patterson. She wanted to give her students a real-life history experience, so she created the “Renaissance Fair” in her backyard. The rest, as they say, is history.

Since Renaissance fairs are “living history”, you might think they are designed to be mainly educational. It’s true that some people try to make the fairs as genuine as possible. However, for many others, the key word is entertainment. With all the musicians and magicians walking about, you will definitely be entertained. A renaissance fair will be a feast for your eyes and your ears, not to mention your stomach.

You can enjoy sampling the food and drink while watching parades and live animal displays. Browse through the booths(摊位) and admire the artwork and handcrafts. You are sure to be both educated and entertained. If you’re wondering how to dress to attend a Renaissance fair, that’s up to you. Some people go all out and dress up in costumes. Others just go in their normal, everyday clothes. However you dress, you’re sure to be overwhelmed by the sights and sounds and smells of a Renaissance fair. And if you have ever wanted to travel back in time, here’s your chance.

1. What is the first paragraph about?

A．A chapter of a war novel.	B．A sight of the local market.
C．A scene of Renaissance fairs.	D．A slow walking in the park.

2. Why did Phyllis start a Renaissance fair?

A．To help her students become the master of history.

B．To allow her students to pay in her backyard.

C．To give her students an experience of life.

D．To make her students experience history.

3. The last paragraph suggests that ________.

A．you are taught to make art work	B．you are free to dress for the fairs
C．you have to look after live animals	D．you can enjoy food free of charge

4. The main idea of the passage is that ________.

A．Americans and Canadians like fairs more	B．Attending Renaissance fairs is to be educated
C．Renaissance fairs are more popular than ever	D．California is where modern fairs were born

【推荐3】Animals in Odd Places

Tree Goats

These goats will do a lot for their favorite snacks-including climbing to the top of a 9-m-tall tree! Every summer the argan trees in southwest Morocco produce bitter-tasting fruit that the local goats can’t resist. And these peckish goats are doing us humans a favour — when they spit (for sometimes poo!) out the indigestible nut inside the argan fruit, the nuts can be collected to make an oil that’s used in hair products and food!

City Whales

They’re not visiting the Empire State Building — they’re on the lookout for food! Humpback whales are swimming back in the waters off the coast of New York City in the USA. Why? Years of cleanup efforts in the Hudson River — a tidal estuary where fresh and salt water meet — have brought back algae, zooplankton and fish. And the humpbacks, which are the ultimate foodie tourists, weren’t far behind! So far this year there have been an incredible 377 sightings.

Forest Penguins

Fiordland crested penguins prefer the warm waters and misty rainforest of southwest New Zealand to the icy Antarctic! With smaller bodies than many cold-weather penguins (such as emperors), the flightless birds live in balmy 21℃. And their eggs stay toasty in this warmer habitat, too, tucked away in caves, bushes and tree stumps where males sit on the nests.

Ocean Sloths

Pygmy three-toed sloths might be slow climbers, but when they get into the water, they’re powerful paddlers! These special sloths, which only live in the mangroves of a tiny island off the coast of Panama in Central America, plop into the sea when they want to move to a new tree. Their tummies are often filled with gas due to their leafy diet, so they stay afloat easily-and they can move three times faster in the water than they can on the ground. But since we’re talking about sloths, that’s really saying much!

1. What’s the function of Tree Goats’ poo?

A．It can improve human’s skin.	B．It can be used as an oil.
C．It can be beneficial to our hair and food.	D．It can be used as shampoo.

2. What’s the purpose of Humpback whales’ returning?

A．To visit the Empire State Building.

B．To look for food.

C．To clean up the Hudson River.

D．To search for fresh and salt water.

3. Which animals can move much faster in the water than on land?

A．Tree Goats	B．City Whales
C．Forest Penguins	D．Ocean Sloths

【推荐1】Many people like traveling. Travel in Canada has become exciting as a number of lakes make it attractive. In fact, Canada has more lakes than any other country which contains fresh water. In addition to lakes, Canada has a number of beaches as it has a long coastline on its north, east, and west. Travelers from around the world come in large numbers to enjoy the sunbath on various beaches.

Niagara Falls lies on the border between Canada and the US. It is now popular for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Niagara Falls is most attractive during the summer season when the weather condition is charming and attractive. At the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark and the whole scene becomes magnificent.

When traveling in Canada, travelers can enjoy doing the shopping in Toronto which is considered a leading city. It symbolizes the spirit of independence. Migrants from Europe, Latin America and Asia inhabit the place and make it a plural society. Ottawa, on the other hand, is the capital of Canada and center of political activities.

Vancouver is an enlightening city in Canada which was named after British Captain George Vancouver, who explored the area in the 1790s. The city is a leading industrial place in Canada. Another tourist attraction in Canada is the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria. The city is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

Travel in Canada is being made easy because of a higher standard of transportation facilities. Besides, very few people know that Canada is a country with high wages per hour. In addition to a popular tourist destination, Canada is an economic powerhouse of North America, particularly in agricultural products. The Canadian dairy industry exports milk products around the world.

1. What attracts travelers most in Canada according to the first paragraph?

A．Coastlines and sunbaths.	B．Lakes and beaches.
C．Animals and plants.	D．Mountains and water.

2. What does the second paragraph mainly tell us?

A．Canada and the US.	B．The beauty of Niagara Falls.
C．The importance of the falls.	D．The hydroelectric power.

3. What do we know about Toronto according to the passage?

A．It is the political center of Canada.	B．It displays the Canadian bravery.
C．Its people come from different countries.	D．Travelers can buy something cheap there.

4. Why is Captain George Vancouver referred to in the fourth paragraph?

A．To tell us a history story.	B．To compare Vancouver and Victoria.
C．To remind us to keep him in mind.	D．To introduce the city of Vancouver.

【推荐2】You may think that an underground town of 3,500 people is something out of a science-fiction film. You may not believe that such a town has shops car parks, hotels, restaurants, cafes and much more. Well, Coober Pedy in Australia is just such a place.
Miners and their families choose to live like this, hoping to get rich looking for the precious stones that Australia is famous for --- opals(蛋白石). Living underground is the only way to be away from the sandstorms and the high temperatures above ground. Deep down in the town far below the desert surface, the temperature is between 19℃ and 20℃ and life is cool.
Mary Deane and her husband Jim are among the lucky ones. They live in a home, built with money from the opals Jim has found. “Whenever people hear we live underground, they always imagine a dusty cave,” says Mary, “but they are amazed at my clean kitchen, our furniture and electrical appliances in here.”
However, not everything is perfect in Coober Pedy. Mary has a tiny garden that she is very proud of, but the grass is not real. Plant life is rare. Water is five times more expensive underground than it is overground. Recycling is a way of life, so Jim usually washes his car with bath water and they have a special system to reuse the water from the dishwasher and washing machine.
Even so, most families enjoy life in Coober Pedy. The children can make as much noise as they want and there are no complaints from the neighbors because the thick walls stop sounds from traveling. Adults enjoy the peace and quiet away from the world above.
1. People in Coober Pedy live underground______.

A．because of their secret identities

B．because it is warmer underground

C．so that they can save some money

D．due to the terrible natural environment.

2. Which word can best describe Mary’s life underground according to Paragraph 3?

A．Comfortable.

B．Exciting.

C．Healthy.

D．Lonely.

3. Which is the biggest problem people in Coober Pedy have to face?

A．High living expenses.

B．The awfully dusty environment.

C．Shortage of water and greenery.

D．The extremely high temperatures

4. Children enjoy the life in Coober Pedy mainly because they _____.

A．enjoy traveling around with their parents

B．can get many expensive toys from their parents

C．enjoy the peace and quiet while doing their homework

D．can enjoy themselves without disturbing their neighbors[

【推荐3】When you think of a national park, you generally picture fresh air and wild animals, right? Well, now you’re going to have to add tea shops and something called “the Tube” to your definition,   because London England has signed up to be the first “National Park City”.

London was established by the Romans around 2,000 years ago and has been continually inhabited (居住于) since then. In all that time, however, nobody had the idea to replace all the parks with big box stores or high buildings, which means London already has a much lower urban density (密度) than most of the world’s cities. Nowadays about a third of the city is green space.

In July 2019, London announced its willingness to become the world’s first National Park City. Now the city is moving toward the goal of achieving 50% green space by the year 2050 by connecting and expanding public parks, greening up unused parking lots and the private yards of existing and new houses, fixing-some green roofs on existing buildings and even cutting holes in fences for wildlife to pass through.

Inspired by the aims and values of our precious rural national parks, the London National Park City is basically about making life better in the capital through both small everyday things and long-term strategies thinking,” Raven-Ellison, who began the campaign to make London a National Park City six years ago said in a press release. “We’ve been doing that in London for centuries, which is why London is so green and diverse.

London will have a much easier job achieving this type of green transformation than more densely-urbanized cities like Paris and New York, which have 10% and 27% green space, respectively. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible—the National Park City Foundation hopes to employ 25 more cities in addition to London by the year 2025. Glasgow, Scotland and Newcastle upon Tyne in northeast England are both currently considering becoming National Park Cities.

1. Why does London have a much lower density than most of the world’s cities?

A．Because people in London don’t have the idea of transforming the parks into buildings.

B．Because London has been continually inhabited.

C．Because a third of the city is green space.

D．Because London has signed up to be the first “National Park City”.

2. Which of the following measures is NOT what London takes to increase its green space?

A．Joining and extending public parks.

B．Making holes in fences for wild animals to go through.

C．Building green roofs on buildings.

D．Greening up all the parking lots and private yards,

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．It is much easier for London to achieve this kind of green transformation.

B．The National Park City Foundation has employed 25 more cities.

C．National parks cities are making improvements to our life.

D．Trying to become a national park city is turning a new trend.