【推荐1】Suppose you work in a big firm and find English very important for your job because you often deal with foreign businessmen. Now you are looking for a place where you can improve your English, especially your spoken English.

Here are some advertisements about English language training from newspapers.

You may find the information you need.

★Global English Center

＊General English in all four skills：listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

＊3-month(700 yuan), 6-month(1200 yuan)and one-year(2000 yuan) courses.

＊Choice of morning or evening classes, 3 hours per day. Mon-Fri.

＊Experienced college English teachers.

＊Close to city center and bus stops.

Tel：67605272　Add：105 Zhongshan Road, 100082.

★Modern Language School

Special courses in English for business, traveling, banking, hotel management and office skills.

＊Small classes(12-16 students)on Sat. ＆ Sun. From 2∶00－5∶00 p.m.

＊Native English teachers from Canada and USA.

＊Language lab and computers supplied.

＊3-month course：1,050 yuan; 6-month course：1,850 yuan．

Write or phone：Modern Language School, 675 Park Road. 100056

Tel：67353019

★The 21st Century English Training Center

＊We specialize in effective teaching at all levels.

＊We offer morning or afternoon classes, both of which last three months and a half at a cost of 800 yuan.

＊We also have a six-week TOEFL preparation class during winter and summer holidays.

＊Entrance exams: June 1 and Dec. 1.

＊Only 15-minute walk from city center.

Call 67801642 for more information.

★The International House of English

＊Three/Six-month English courses for students of all levels at very low cost: 60 yuan for 13 hours per week; convenient class hours: 9∶00－12∶00 a.m. and 2∶00－5∶00 p.m．

＊A four-month evening program for developing speaking skills(same cost as day classes).

＊Well-trained Chinese and foreign teachers experienced in teaching English as a second/foreign language. Free sightseeing and social activities. Very close to Central Park.

For further information call 67432308.

1. You work from 9∶00 a.m. to 4∶00 p.m. every day. Which schools will you choose?

A．Global English Center and Modern Language School

B．Global English Center and the International House of English

C．Modern Language School and the 21st Century English Training Center

D．The 21st Century English Training Center and the International House of English

2. You will probably prefer to go to the International House because it _________.

A．offers free sightseeing and social activities

B．has a special course in spoken English

C．costs less than the other schools

D．has native English teachers

3. If you take the evening program at the International House, you will pay about _________.

A．60 yuan

B．240 yuan

C．720 yuan

D．960 yuan

【推荐2】Black Eyed Peas: The E.N.D

The Black Eyed Peas’ fifth album, The E.N.D, is its third since singer Stacy Ferguson, or “Fergie”, joined and took the band from hip-hop underground to the pop mainstream. This is more successful than any of their previous efforts. The E.N.D is quite charming. As always, Fergie’s performances encourage most interest throughout.

Pleasant Goat VS Big Big Wolf

Will Pleasant Goat become China’s Donald Duck? The Chinese animation Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf will be broadcast in 13 countries and regions across Asia on Nickelodeon, starting on July 5^th. Nickelodeon will air ChinaToon, a 1-hour period for original Chinese animation. In the animated comedy, goats live happily on a green grassland in the year 3131. Pleasant Goat is the smartest goat in the village and always plays tricks on his competitors, Grey Wolf and his wife, Red Wolf. It has crazy fans of all age groups.

Scriptwriters (剧作家) Grab Your Pens

Young aggressive game designers will get a chance to work with a project team on the further development of an originally Korean online game—Aion: The Tower of Eternity. Players have a key role in a war between gods that will determine the life of the world. China’s scriptwriters are encouraged to send their creative ideas to icoke.cn to possibly have their storyline added to the game. It’s sponsored by Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd. and Coca-Cola Zero. The winner will be given a trip to a video game exhibition in South Korea and an internship at Shanghai-based Shanda.

1. What column in a newspaper is the passage most likely from?

A．TV Drama

B．What’s On

C．Looking Abroad

D．Sports News

2. What can underlined “Nickelodeon” in paragraph 2 be?

A．A TV Channel

B．A Zoo

C．A Newspaper

D．A Book Store

3. ______ will be given a trip to South Korea and an internship at Shanda.

A．A young man who wins the war in Aion

B．Any young man who sponsors Shanda Interactive Entertainment Ltd and Coca-Cola Zero

C．A game designer whose storyline can be added to Aion

D．An aggressive designer who once worked with an originally Korean online game

【推荐1】No country in the world has more daily newspapers than the USA. There are almost 2,000 of them, as compared with 180 in Japan, 164 in Argentina and 111 in Britain. The quality of some American papers is extremely high and their views are quoted all over the world. Famous dailies like the Washington Post or the New York Times have a powerful influence all over the country. However, they are not national newspapers in the sense that The Times is in Britain or Le Monde is in France, since each American city has its own daily newspaper. The best of these present detailed description of national and international news, but many tend to limit themselves to state or city news.

Like the press in most other countries, American newspapers range from the “sensational” which feature crime and gossip(闲谈), to the “serious”, which focus on factual news and the analysis of world events. But with few exceptions, American newspapers try to entertain as well as give information, for they have to compete with the attraction of television.

Just as American newspapers satisfy all tastes, so do they also try to attract readers of all political parties. A few newspapers support extremist(极端主义的) groups on the far right and on the far left, but most daily newspapers try to attract middle-of-the-road Americans who are moderate(中立的). Many of these papers print columns by well-known journalists of different political and social views, in order to present a balanced picture.

As in other countries, American newspapers can be either responsible or irresponsible, but it is generally accepted that the American press serves its country well and that it has more than once courageously exposed political scandals(丑闻) or crimes, for instance, the Watergate Affair(水门事件). The Newspapers drew the attention of the public to the horrors of the Vietnam War.

1. There are fewer national newspapers in .

A．Britain than in the USA.

B．France than in Britain

C．the USA than in Britain or France

D．France than in the USA or Britain

2. Most American newspapers try hard to entertain their readers because .

A．they have to keep up a good relation with them

B．they have to compete with television

C．they have to write about crime and gossip

D．they have to give factual news in an interesting way

3. Many American newspapers attract readers of different political preference by .

A．supporting extremist groups from time to time

B．inviting middle-of-the-road Americans to write articles for them

C．avoiding carrying articles about extremists

D．printing articles representing different political viewpoints

4. The passage is mainly about .

A．the characteristics of American newspapers

B．the development of American newspapers

C．the functions of American newspapers

D．the advantages and disadvantages of American newspapers

【推荐2】Inspiring young minds!

TOKNOW Magazine is a big hit in the world of children’s publishing, bringing a unique combination of challenging ideas and good fun to young fans every month.

What is so special about TOKNOW magazine? Well, it has no ads or promotions inside — instead it is jam-packed with serious ideas. TOKNOW makes complex ideas attractive and accessible to children, who can become involved in advanced concepts and even philosophy (哲学) — and they will soon discover that TOKNOW feels more like a club than just a magazine.

What’s inside? Every month the magazine introduces a fresh new topic with articles, experiments and creative things to make — the magazine also explores philosophy and well-being to make sure young readers have a balanced take on life.

Sounds too good to be true?

Take a look online — evidence shows that thousands of teachers and parents know a good thing when they see it and recommend TOKNOW to their friends.

Happy Birthday All Year!

What could be more fun than a gift that keeps coming through the letterbox every month? The first magazine with your gift message will arrive in time for the special day.

SUBSCRIBE NOW
□Annual (每年的) Subscription

Europe £55   Rest of World £65

□Annual Subscription with Gift Pack

Includes a Mammoth Map, a passport Puzzle Booklet, and Subscription

Europe £60   Rest of World £70

Refund Policy — the subscription can be cancelled within 28 days and you can get your money back.
1. Why is TOKNOW a special magazine?

A．It entertains young parents.	B．It provides serious advertisements.
C．It publishes popular science fictions.	D．It combines fun with complex concepts.

2. What does TOKNOW offer its readers?

A．Online courses.	B．Articles on new topics.
C．Lectures on a balanced life.	D．Reports on scientific discoveries.

3. How much should you pay if you make a 12-month subscription to TOKNOW with gift pack from China?

A．£55.

B．£60.

C．£65.

D．£70.

4. Subscribers of TOKNOW would get ______.

A．free birthday presents	B．full refund within 28 days
C．membership of the TOKNOW club	D．chances to meet the experts in person

【推荐3】Do you worry about entering senior high school? Everything, from study to environment, has changed. Can you adapt yourself to it?

You’re not alone. Remember that everybody else in your year is in the same boat. You may not notice it, but they’re just as nervous as you are.

Moving to senior high school is a chance, not a problem. Things are different, and all you need to do is to be polite and learn the new rules.

The teachers will help. If you don’t know what to do or are worried about something, then ask for help. Teachers are probably the best people to turn to, because they have experience in helping new students. Pay attention to what your teachers say.

Everything changes. There are lots of differences between junior high school and senior high school. You will have your lessons with different teachers in different rooms. You will have homework for different subjects on different days, so make sure you get organized. Make sure you know which rooms your classes are in and which days you have your different subjects on.

Other points:

If you’ve got an older brother or sister at the school, then ask them for advice.

Be yourself! It sounds simple, but things will become better if you just act naturally.

Having early nights makes a difference. You’ll also find it easier to get up in the morning!

1. What does the author think of entering senior high school?

A．It sounds simple.	B．It is a difficult problem.
C．It’s a good chance.	D．It’s worrying.

2. When you don’t know what to do, you can _______.

A．turn to your teachers	B．follow your younger brother
C．write your problems down	D．go to bed early

3. Which of the following does the author suggest you do?

A．Ask your classmates for help.	B．Don’t be shy.
C．Pay attention to others.	D．Just act naturally.

4. The main purpose of the passage is to _______.

A．teach students how to organize themselves

B．tell students a story

C．help students that are going to senior high school

D．tell students how to make full use of time

【推荐1】Technology may have made working from home easier than ever, but according to a new study, staff who are out of sight may not perform as well as those in the office. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US, wanted to find out whether being watched while undertaking a task made a diffrence to its outcome.

Many people believe that being under constant observation damages their creativity while others live in fear of freezing in front of an audience during a public event. But the findings suggest that the pressure of others actually makes people achieve more. "You might think having people watch you isn't going to help, but it might actually make you perform better," said lead author Vikram Chib, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at Johns Hopkins and the Kennedy Krieger Institute. “An audience can serve as an extra bit of incentive.” When people know they are being observed, parts of the brain associated with social awareness and reward stimulate a part of the brain that controls motor skills, improving their performance at skilled tasks.

In the new experiment, Dr Chib and colleagues asked 20 participants to play a game on a Nintendo Wii or Xbox Kinect. The participants performed the task both in front of an audience of two and with no one watching. Their brain activity was monitored with functional magnetic resonance imaging (磁共振成像). While people were watching, participants were an average of five percent better at the video game—and as much as 20 percent better. Only two participants didn't perform better in front of others. But if the audience was a lot bigger, and the stakes (赌注) higher, the results could have gone the other way. “Here, people with social anxiety tended to perform better," added Dr Chib. “But at some point, the size of the andience sould increase the size of one's aniery. We still need to figure that out."

The research was published in the journal Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.

1. People usually believe that being watched while undertaking a task can_________.

A．slower their reaction	B．result in better achievement
C．encourage their creativity	D．increase their fear of getting cold

2. The word "incentive" in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to “________”.

A．observation

B．association

C．improvement

D．encouragement

3. What did the new experiment mainly find out?

A．Socially anxious people performed worse with others watching.

B．Being under observation helped most participants' performance.

C．The size of the audience increased the size of one's anxiety.

D．Functional magnetic resonance imaging could monitor brain activity.

4. What can be conciuded from the passage?

A．Working at home is more efficient than in the office.

B．Reasonable amount of pressure from others promotes performance.

C．The larger the audience is, the better the performance will be.

D．People tend to perform better at all tasks when being watched.

【推荐2】Lake Tahoe offers some amazing lodging (住宿) options that will fit what you’re looking for.

Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino

It offers convenient (方便的) location, comfortable rooms, and a lot of health clubs to make for an enjoyable vacation. The resort is just a few minutes’ walk from Tahoe’s main ski gondola, and Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course is a short walk. All of the resort’s rooms offer two bathrooms, desks, WiFi availability, coffeemakers, and TVs.

Marriott’s Timber Lodge

Located in South Lake Tahoe, CA, it is just miles from Heavenly Village where guests can enjoy shopping and local area restaurants. The Heavenly Gondola is right outside waiting to take guests for a day of skiing. The lodge features an activity center, restaurant, sauna, whirlpools, fitness center and heated outdoor pool. Guests rooms are villas (别墅) that include a kitchen, high speed internet, coffee maker, sofa and hairdryers in all bathrooms.

Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort — Ski Run Boulevard

It is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of South Lake Tahoe, California. The hotel is only minutes from a variety of dining options, and local attractions such as Tahoe Axe Throwing, Wyland Galleries, Van Sickle State Park, and Heavenly Gondola. The shores of Lake Tahoe are just steps away. Hotel facilities (设施) include a sauna, indoor and outdoor pools, and a fitness center.

Resort at Squaw Creek

In 1960 the Winter Olympics was held at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, CA. Since this time, Squaw Creek has become a family-friendly resort town. The resort at Squaw Creek is a AAA Four Diamond resort with activities for every age. Young children age 4-12 can take part in rock climbing, board games, snowball fights, or swimming.

1. What can you do only at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino?

A．Having an enjoyable vacation.

B．Going skiing conveniently.

C．Having coffee without going out.

D．Playing Golf nearby.

2. Where can you swim indoors?

A．At Harrah’s Lake Tahoe Resort & Casino.

B．At Marriott’s Timber Lodge.

C．At Lake Tahoe Vacation Resort -Ski Run Boulevard.

D．At Resort at Squaw Creek.

3. Why does the author use “family-friendly” to describe Resort at Squaw Creek?

A．Because a Winter Olympics was once held at Squaw Creek.

B．Because it is a famous AAA Four Diamond resort.

C．Because travelers can play board games and go rock-climbing here.

D．Because there are various activities for people of all ages.

【推荐3】Great Movies in 2021

Baby Done

When Zoe and Tim find out they are having a baby, they decide to not let parenthood change them. Tim runs towards being a dad, while Zoe runs away from being a mum. Terrified that her life won't be her own anymore, Zoe is still determined to tick off a list of their wildest dreams before the baby arrives.

Director： Curtis Vowell

Release Date： Jan 22, 2021

Runtime： 1h 31m     .

The Reunited States

At a time when America is falling apart, The Reimited States is a powerful documentary that follows the unsung heroes on the difficult journey of bridging divides. Each of the bridgebuilders has realized that while the divides run deep, so does the love and hope to bring the country back together. Based on the book of the same name the film encourages us to consider that everyone has a role to play in reuniting the country.

Director： Ben Rekhi

Release Date： Jan 29, 2021

Runtime：1h 24m

Our Friend

Our Friend tells the true story of the Teague family-journalist Matt, his wife Nicole and their two young daughters — and how their lives are ended by Nicole's deadly disease. As Matt's responsibilities as caretaker and parent become increasingly overwhelming（压倒性的), the couplers best friend Dane Faucheux offers to come and help out. As Dane puts his life on hold to stay with his friends, the impact of this life-changing decision proves great and meaningful.

Director： Gabriela Cowperthwaite

Release Date： Jan 22, 2021

Runtime： 2h 4m

Happy Cleaners

When a new landlord comes around, Mr. and Mrs. Choi find their dry-cleaning business, Happy Cleaners in Flushing, Queens, at risk of closing after 17 years. While they make every effort to save the business, their daughter Hyunny and son Kevin are also at their own tough crossroads of life under the pressure of their parents’ high hopes. Faced with many difficulties, the Choi family realizes that the only way to be stronger is to embrace each other.

Director： Julian Kim, Peter S. Lee

Release Date： Feb 5, 2021

Runtime： 1h 38min

1. Which film encourages Americans to bring their country together?

A．Baby Done.	B．Our Friend.
C．Happy Cleaners.	D．The Reunited States.

2. What does Gabriela Cowperthwaite's film focus on?

A．The courage to start business.	B．The importance of friendship.
C．The necessity of having a baby.	D．The value of individual freedom.

3. How is Happy Cleaners different from the other three films?

A．It comes out in a different month.

B．It was first in theater 17 years ago.

C．It refers to part of daily family life.

D．It is about an unlucky young couple.