【推荐2】In the 1994 film Forrest Gump, there's a famous saying, "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." The surprise is part of the fun. Now blind box toys are bringing the magic of surprise to online shopping.

A blind box toy is hidden inside uniform packaging(包装) but invisible from the outside. You don't know what will be inside，although the toys typically come from pop culture，ranging from movies to comics and cartoons, Blind boxes have caught on since they were first introduced from Japan to China in 2014.According to a 2019Tmall report，the mini-series of Labubu blind box, designed by Hong Kong-born Kasing Lung，was named Champion of Unit Sales with 55,000 sold in just 9 seconds during the Singles Day shopping event. Most customers for blind boxes are young people aged 18 to 35.

According to The Paper， blind box toys are popular in part because of their cute appearances. The typically cute cartoon figurines(小塑像) come in very small sizes，making them suitable for display almost anywhere.

Even if blind boxes are not their top choice for decorations, the mystery(神秘) and uncertainty of the process also attracts people. It's the main reason why people buy blind boxes one after another.

“Fear of the unknown is always a part of the box-opening process,”said Miss Cao，24，who lives and works in Shenyang，“Until you open all the boxes，you cannot know what it is inside.”

Opening a blind box is a delightful little surprise for our mundane daily lives，something small but fun to wait for each day，week or month. When people open this simple little box，they may be disappointed，but the uncertainty is part of the fun. People will open more blind boxes and hope for a better outcome.

When someone re-makes Forrest Gump，don't be surprised if he says，“Life is like a blind box.”

1. What feature of blind boxes attracts people?

A．They often get toys designed by famous artists.

B．They don 't know what they've got until they open them.

C．They can learn about pop culture from the packaging.

D．They can experience the excitement of online shopping.

2. Why does Miss Cao love blind box toys?

A．They are cute and fashionable.

B．They are perfect for decorations.

C．She enjoys the mystery of the unknown.

D．She likes the simple way they are packaged.

3. What does the underlined word " mundane" probably mean?

A．Uncertain.

B．Exciting.

C．Boring.

D．Hopeless.

4. What is the main idea of the article?

A．The cultural effects of blind boxes.

B．The origin of blind boxes.

C．The problems with blind boxes.

D．The popularity of blind boxes.

【推荐3】One advantage of the Internet is shopping conveniently online for clothes; one disadvantage of the Internet is also shopping conveniently online for clothes.

“Nothing fits,” said Lam Yuk Wong, a senior in electrical and computer engineering at Rice University. “Everyone says this. They order clothes and they don’t fit. People get very unhappy.”

Wong and her design partner, Xuaner "Cecilia" Zhang, are Team White Mirror, creators of what they call a "virtual (虚拟)fitting room". Their goal is simple and consumer-friendly: to let online clothing shoppers have a perfect fit and a perfect look when shopping every time. Both women are from China, Wong from Hong Kong and Zhang from Beijing. They both order most of their clothing online. They got the idea from their own experience as consumers and from listening to the complaints of friends and relatives. They say, ‘The color is wrong’ or ‘I got the right size but it still does not fit.’ We want to make it like you’re in the store trying on the clothes,” Zhang said.

Using a Kinect developed by Microsoft for use with its Xbox 360 video game player, Zhang scans Wong and turns her image into, in effect, a virtual model, keeping Wong's dimensions (尺寸), and even her skin and hair color

“We put the clothes on the shopper’s 3-D body models and show how they look when they are dressed,” Wong said. So far, Wong and Zhang have adapted the software to show dresses and shirts, and they are now working on shorts.

Asked if she thought men as well as women might be interested in using their virtual fitting room, Wong said, “I think their wives will care about this, so it will also be important to men.”

1. Why is shopping conveniently online for clothes a disadvantage?

A．Students may easily get addicted to it.

B．Clothes bought online may not fit

C．It attracts more online clothing shoppers.

D．It causes shoppers to waste too much money

2. Which of the following shows the process of using the virtual fitting room?

A．scanning - trying on clothes - getting images

B．trying on clothes - getting models - scanning

C．scanning - getting models -trying on clothes

D．trying on clothes - getting images - scanning

3. What did Wong think of her virtual fitting room?

A．It is perfectly developed	B．It will have its market share
C．It is limited to women shoppers.	D．It is like a kind of video game player

【推荐1】We are looking for energetic volunteers who might be willing to volunteer their time. It’s a great way to build your volunteer experience, get involved in your community, meet new people and show your pride.
Computer Teacher
The computer teacher will be responsible for teaching older adults computer skills, including basic skills such as turning on computer or more media skills such as setting up email. This position requires patience, dedication and long hours on your feet. Computer skills needed. Ask Mandy, 01313377227.
Meals on Wheels
Do you have time in your schedule to make a difference in the lives of seniors in your community? Meals on Wheels drivers deliver nutritious lunchtime meals to homebound seniors on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our aim is to help seniors who are unable to go out themselves due to age or disability. A valid driver’s license and personal vehicle is required. Call Lucy,（781）2727177.
Tree Nursery Volunteer
Tasks are different according to season, but may include: collecting tree seeds from ancient woodland, preparing seeds for sowing, planting trees and tree aftercare. Some of the work is physical and outdoors, others such as seed preparation can be done indoors. No experience is necessary, but a knowledge or interest in botany would certainly be helpful. Ask Amrita, 07748623073.
Photography Volunteer
If you have a talent for photography, this may be the role for you. We need someone who can take great photos for posters and websites. We especially need photos of our events and volunteers. This is a great opportunity to gain valuable work experience. You’ll also gain the satisfaction of seeing your work being displayed on the National Trust website and in literature. Ask Sarah, 01248600954.
1. If you are interested in teaching, you can get in touch with ________.

A．Mandy

B．Lucy

C．Amrita

D．Sarah

2. What do Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver for the seniors?

A．Breakfast.

B．Lunch.

C．Supper.

D．Snack.

3. Which kind of voluntary work doesn’t require special experience or skills?

A．Computer Teacher.	B．Meals on Wheels.
C．Tree Nursery Volunteer.	D．Photography Volunteer.

【推荐2】Planning your holiday? Whether you’re going to Yunnan or UK, it’s important to make sure you’re well-prepared. Here’s a handy checklist to help you.
Location
The first thing you have to decide is where you want to go. Of course a lot will depend on your time and budget. Do you want to relax on a beach, visit some famous landmarks, or hike through some beautiful scenery? All these things are available in China, but if your budget stretches, why not look at somewhere else in Asia, or even farther.
Packing
There can be such a thing as being over prepared when traveling, but you don’t want to forget something important. It can be a good idea to wear pants with zipped pockets. In certain countries local thieves will target unsuspecting tourists for their money. It can also be worth packing some basic medical supplies. If you are going to be moving around a lot, buy a good backpack. Finally, remember to pack clothes that are going to be suitable for the weather.
Accommodation
There are several things to consider when picking where you want to stay. Location is often the most important. When staying in hotels, it is often a good idea to book your first night in a new city. After all, you will not be familiar with the surroundings and will want somewhere to leave your luggage. However, don’t spend more than a couple of days at the same hotel. When you get to a new place, you might soon discover there’s somewhere better to stay.
Don’t forget
The key to a good holiday is detail. When you’re traveling, especially in a foreign country, don’t forget to change some money before you leave. If you’re traveling somewhere tropical, you might need some injections or pills to avoid disease. And it’s always worth taking out travel insurance, just in case you find yourself in a spot of bother during the trip. Don’t forget to check the exchange rates. The strong yuan has made traveling abroad cheaper recently. It can also be a good idea to write down the phone number of the closest Chinese embassy, in case you need help while abroad.
1. You have to take all the following into consideration EXCEPT _______ when deciding where to spend your holiday.

A．culture

B．purpose

C．money

D．time

2. Pants with zipped pockets are recommended mainly because _______.

A．it’s a good measure in case of emergencies

B．you’ll be expected to buy a lot of souvenirs

C．you’ll carry many small things with you

D．it will help you guard against local theft

3. As for accommodation, the writer’s tip is _______.

A．to stay away from the downtown areas to get cheap places

B．to book one or two nights in the same hotel in case you don’t like it

C．to choose your location after you arrive at your destination

D．better not to leave your luggage in unfamiliar hotels

4. It can be inferred from the last part that we should _______.

A．choose the most suitable kind of travel insurance

B．use RMB in all foreign countries since the yuan is strong

C．check the exchange rates so as to decide what currency (货币) to buy

D．get in touch with Chinese embassy if we need help when abroad

5. What’s the purpose of the passage?

A．To attract the tourists to travel abroad.

B．To tell some travel information to tourists.

C．To help the tourists make good preparations for their holidays.

D．To remind tourists of the safety during their journey.

【推荐3】When you enter a supermarket, you see shelves full of food. You walk between the shelves. You carry a shopping basket and your food is in it.
You probably hear soft, slow music as you walk between the shelves. If you hear fast music, you walk quickly. The supermarket plays slow music. You walk slowly and have more time to buy things.
Maybe you go to the meat department first. There is some meat on sale, and you want to find it. The manager of the supermarket knows where customers enter the meat department. The cheaper meat is at the other end of the meat department, away from where the customers enter. You have to walk by all the expensive meat before you find the cheaper meat. Maybe you will buy some of the expensive meat instead of the meat on sale.
The department selling milk and milk products such as butter and milk powder is called the dairy department. Many customers like milk that has only a little butterfat in it. One store has three different jars of low fat milk. One says“1 percent fat”on the jar. The second says “99 percent fat free”. The third says “LOW FAT” in big letters and“1%”in small letters. As you can see, all the milk has the same amount of fat. The milk is all the same. However，in this store the three jars of milk cost three different amounts of money. Maybe the customers will buy the milk that costs the most.
Most of the food in supermarkets is very pleasing. It all says “Buy me！” to the customers. The expensive meat says “Buy me！”as you walk by. The expensive milk jar says “Buy me! I have less fat.”
1. There are three different jars of low fat milk, and ________.

A．one has more fat than the other two

B．they all cost the same amount of money

C．one has less fat than the others

D．they all have the same amount of fat

2. Supermarket managers make the food pleasing so that ________.

A．there will be more buyers	B．buyers will be proud
C．it is good and expensive	D．they can raise the prices

3. Low fat milk is in the ________.

A．meat department	B．fruit and vegetable department
C．sweets department	D．dairy department

4. The best title of this passage may be ________.

A．Cheap Food	B．Buy Me
C．Low Fat Milk	D．Supermarket Management

【推荐1】When Lew Alcindor was 13, and obviously still growing, a group of schools began offering him scholarships. The Alcindor decided to send their only child to Power Memorial Academy, a small school on Manhattan’s West Side.

At Power, Alcindor came under the control of Coach Jack Donohue, a strict young man who already gained his fames as one of the best coaches in the city. Donohue brought Alcindor along slowly. As a first-year student, the boy was not able to do much but wave his long skinny arms and shoot a basket now and then. But by the second year, when he was 15 years old and nearly 7 feet tall, Alcindor was quick and skilful enough to make the high school All-American team and to lead Power to an undefeated season.

From then on he simply got better. Some rival coaches (对方教练) used to take their teams quickly away from the floor before Power warmed up so that their players would not see him any sooner than they had to. Wearing size 16D shoes and sucking a chewing gum, Alcindor would loosen up by starting his leaping lay-ups (擦板球). Then he would casually shoot the ball with either hand, to the delight of the fans.

When reporters and photographers began to follow Alcindor closely, Donohue protected his boy firmly. He simply ordered Lew to talk to no member of the press, and this suited Lew fine. He was not comfortable talking to grown-ups, perhaps because he towered over them. Discouraged photographers began following him in secret as though he were an easily-frightened giraffe. Once after ducking into a subway to escape, Alcindor told a friend that it was all becoming like policemen and robbers. “People want you not for yourself,” Donohue warned him, “But because you’re a basketball player. Don’t forget that.”

1. Many schools offered Alcindor scholarships because ______.

A．he was young	B．he was hardworking
C．he was tall for his age	D．he was skillful at playing basketball

2. Which of the following best describes Donohue as a young coach?

A．Serious, popular and slow	B．Tall, skillful and successful
C．Kind, powerful and undefeated	D．Well-known, strict and experienced

3. Why did some rival coaches take their teams away from the floor before Power warmed up?

A．Their teams refused to play against Power	B．Their teams feared to see Alcindor
C．Their teams would lose courage	D．Their teams would lose interest

4. What does the last paragraph mainly discuss?

A．How Donohue protect Alcindor from the press	B．How Alcindor disliked meeting reporter
C．Why the press followed Alcindor closely	D．Why the public wanted Alcindor badly

【推荐2】TORONTO/' TOKYO- The International Olympic Committee has decided to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games because of the coronavirus pandemic(流行病), IOC member Dick Pound said on Monday, as a window slowly began to open that would allow the showcase to be staged next year.

Major sporting nations Australia and Canada withdrew on Monday as organisers came under global pressure to postpone the event for the first time in its 124-year modern history.

Pound told Reuters that a one-year postponement looked like the best solution. This would mean the Games, scheduled for July 24-Aug. 9, are likely to be held in the summer of 2021.“That's my conclusion ( there will be a postponement) , Pound said in a telephone interview, after Sunday's IOC decision saying it was stepping up its “scenario planning” for the Tokyo 2020 Games- including a possible postponement. “From reading IOC-speak in the communique, if you are going to cancel, you simply cancel because there are no future plans,” added Pound. “But if you are going to carry on with the original objective (to stage the Games), there is no reason to issue a statement because you have already done that over the past several weeks.”

Japan and the IOC have said calling off the Games entirely is not an option. But finding a new date could be complicated as the summer 2021 calendar is already crowded, while 2022 will see the soccer World Cup and the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Pound said a large number of stakeholders(利益相关者) from the organising committee, to athletes to broadcasters and sporting federations would all need to be consulted before a plan could be finalised but there were early signs of a willingness to accommodate a 2021 Summer Games.

World Athletics said on Monday they would be willing to move their 2021 world championships scheduled for Aug. 6-15 in Eugene, Oregon to clear a path for a 2021 Olympics.

“World Athletics has already been in discussion with the Oregon 21 Organising Committee about the possibility that the Olympic Games may move to next year and they in turn have held discussions with their key stakeholders and have reassured us they will work with all of their partners and stakeholders to ensure that Oregon is able to host the World Athletics Championships on alternative dates if it is necessary,” athletics' global governing body said in a statement.

1. What can we learn from the news report?

A．Pound thought that a one-year postponement was not so suitable

B．Oregon might change the dates to hold the 2021 world championships.

C．Australia and Canada were discussing whether to withdraw from the 2020 Olympics.

D．It is the second time that the Olympic Games have been put off in its 124-year modern history.

2. What does the underlined word “communique" in Para. 3 mean?

A．A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.

B．The level of quality, especially one that people think is acceptable.

C．An official announcement or statement, especially one made to the media.

D．The information that is used in a court of law to try to prove something.

3. What does the fourth paragraph mainly talk about? .

A．The success in postponing the 2020 Olympic Games.

B．The purpose of postponing the 2020 Olympic Games.

C．The difficulty in postponing the 2020 Olympic Games.

D．The consequence of postponing the 2020 Olympic Games.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the news report?

A．Tokyo 2020 Games will be put off

B．Future of Tokyo 2020 Games hangs in the balance

C．IOC are to decide on fate of Tokyo 2020 Games

D．Postponement of Tokyo Olympics has to be considered