【推荐1】Spending money on movies, TV, and special events can cost you a surprising amount over time. The average family spends around thousands per year on at-home entertainment.    1    You can reduce your entertainment expenses if you know where to cut back.

Listen to music via streaming services.    2    Instead, try, music streaming service. It allows users to hear without downloading. These kinds of services often have an ad-free subscription. But many also offer free options.

    3    Whether you're a bookworm or a casual reader, a library card can save you hundreds on entertainment. Paper or electronic books, movies, magazines and music are all available for free or a minimal annual fee. Some libraries even rent video games, cooking tools or board games. Libraries also offer free community events like book clubs or holiday celebrations.

Rent video games instead of buying them. You don't have to shell out your paycheck to get the latest game release.    4    This option is especially ideal if you tend not to replay games.

Share entertainment memberships with your loved ones. Share the cost of a music, movie, or video game subscription with a friend or a roommate. If your relatives are interested, some services offer family discounts at a reduced fee.    5    

A．Acquire a library card.

B．Watch for free events.

C．Don't purchase every song you listen to.

D．Actually, this is a number that can he greatly reduced.

E．You can choose rental service to play at a reduced cost.

F．You can save a lot each year by paying a little in advance.

G．Many allow users to add multiple users without adding money.

【推荐3】Let’s be honest, kids are weird. And when you hear your three-year-old arguing over who gets to be the mom while playing ＂house＂ alone in the other room, you might question if you’ve done something wrong as a parent. But don’t worry, it’s perfectly normal for your child to have an imaginary friend, and it even has some benefits. While your kids are benefitting from playing with their imaginary friend, try out these other ways to raise an intelligent child!

One of the biggest pros is that it promotes creativity. Just think about it — you have to be kind of creative to carry on a conversation with an imaginary figure that doesn’t respond. Developmental psychologist Marjorie Taylor told PureWow that your children’s creativity will remain with them as they get older, even when they stop hanging out with their ＂friend＂.

Along with being more creative, they will also have a better developed and more diverse vocabulary as well as stronger social skills. Talking to ＂Sally＂ or ＂Bob＂ all day will allow them to practice their speech and conversation skills. Researchers at La Trobe University in Australia found that children who engage with their imaginary friends on a regular basis use more complex sentences and are more confident in everyday social situations.

There are also some benefits for the parents. If your child’s siblings aren’t around or they’re an only child, they have someone to entertain them while you take the time to chip away at your never-ending to-do list. So even though it might get old when your kids constantly ask you to set an extra plate at the table for their imaginary friend, they’ll benefit in the future from keeping them around. Having an extra member of the family can’t be that bad, the more the merrier, right?

1. Who is the three-year-old talking to while playing ＂house＂ alone?

A．His toy.	B．His mother.
C．His ＂friend＂.	D．He himself.

2. How does Marjorie Taylor like children’s playing with their ＂friends＂?

A．It helps children develop better.

B．It relieves busy parents’ worry.

C．It shows children’s loneliness.

D．It connects the family closer.

3. What does the author suggest to parents?

A．Taking their children to play outside.

B．Sparing their time for their children.

C．Adding an extra member of their family.

D．Letting their children play while at work.

【推荐2】I am a resident physician working at SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital in Syracuse, New York. My first encounter with a Covid-19 positive patient is something I will never forget. she passed away due to severe respiratory（呼吸的）failure, despite maximal medical supportive therapy. When I learned this, I went from being anxious to scared and then eventually numb. I believe my anxiety came from three causes： The clinical unpredictability or the disease, its high transmissibility and, more importantly, not being able to ease my patient's distress

Ever since then, every time I have entered a patient room with a potential Covid-19 infection I have felt scared—scared that I will infect other patients, my colleagues or my loved ones. Health care providers forget the emotional cost the job can take. If you meet any of us in the hallway, you may forget for a moment that we are in an ongoing pandemic. We walk into work, smiling, calm and composed.

This act of bravery comes at a deep personal cost. The accumulating emotions chip away little parts of you without your even knowing, leading to suppressed disturbance and eventually—for some—exhaustion. We do not show our vulnerabilities（脆弱）to the world, as we believe that doing so would cause more panic to those on the outside

It is completely justified to be overwhelmed. But we know that panic and chaos can never side with you when you are managing a dying patient, or a pandemic for that matter. lf we take one day at a time, calmly focus on our role in this fight, then we might be able to see the light at the end of this tunnel, and probably soon. I am a soldier in this battle, I am fighting my piece, and I ask you to fight yours. Breathe and keep fighting.

1. What directly caused the author to be emotionally affected?

A．His failing to save the patient's life after great efforts.

B．Being unable to predict the symptoms of the illness.

C．Human's being infected by the virus easily.

D．Being unable to relieve people's suffering

2. Why didn't the author and his colleagues express their sufferings?

A．It was encouraged of them to face the situation.

B．It might arouse great fear and chaos in society

C．They overcame the problem of emotion for no reason.

D．They were too exhausted from their daily routine.

3. What saying is similar in meaning to the underlined part?

A．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.

B．All things are difficult before they are easy.

C．The dawn of victory is just ahead,

D．A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．The tough fight against Covid-19.

B．The responsibilities of being a doctor.

C．The efforts to save the world.

D．The helplessness of being a doctor.

【推荐3】In Old Town Alexandria, Virginia, you can find Jamey Turner playing an unusual musical instrument, the glass harp（竖琴）. A glass harp is made up of different sized drinking glasses, each filled with water.

Turner makes music by running his fingers over the tops of the glasses. By doing so, each glass makes a different musical sound. Visitors to Alexandria like what they see and hear. They thank Turner by leaving a dollar or more in his box for donations. Jamey Turner is 78 years old. Turner became interested in playing the glass harp at the age of six, when he heard his father playing with a glass of water at the dinner table. He has been playing it for 50 years.

Today Turner puts together his instrument by placing 60 different glasses on a wooden soundboard. He holds the glasses in place with rubber bands, which keeps them from breaking. He then adds different amounts of water to each one to create different musical notes. Adding or taking away just a little water will change the sound. Adding water to a glass will make a lower sound. The smaller bowls of water produce a higher sound, while the larger ones produce a lower, deeper sound.

Turner always uses low-priced glass because it sounds better than costly crystal(水晶) and he has more control over the sound. Before buying new glasses, he will test them in stores. He decides if they produce the right sound by rubbing his finger over the top of them.

The glass harp was popular 300 years ago when composers like Wolfgang Mozart wrote music for the instrument. There have been about 400 pieces of music written just for the glass harp. But Turner plays all kinds of music, even popular music from China. Few people play the glass harp these days, but Turner says he sees videos of people experimenting with the instrument on YouTube. He hopes the next generation will continue making its music.

1. What do visitors think of Jamey Turner's performance?

A．Boring.

B．Attractive.

C．Special.

D．Common.

2. How can Jamey Turner change the sounds of the glasses?

A．By beating the glasses in different parts.	B．By placing the glasses on a wooden board.
C．By adding or reducing water in the glasses.	D．By holding different glasses with rubber bands.

3. What may be Jamey Turner's real worry about the glass harp?

A．Little music is written for the instrument.

B．People are trying to play the instrument online.

C．Few people are playing the instrument these days.

D．The instrument cannot produce some beautiful sounds.

4. What is the best title for this text?

A．Making Music by Playing Glasses	B．Special Sounds from Glasses
C．Devotion to Playing Glasses for Fun	D．Fingers over the Tops of the Glasses

【推荐1】The old shopkeeper led me through to the back of the shop. The room was filled with boxes and dusty photographs of people holding packages in their hands.
Mr. Hopkins said, "We have a very wide choice of items for sale. Whenever I serve a new customer, I take his picture. "   Mr. Hopkins pointed to an ancient camera on a table.
I began to appreciate the lovely items on sale. I spent a very pleasant hour being shown the commodi-ties in the shop. Finally,   I bought an antique jewelry box, a pair of riding boots and a sewing machine.
I was very excited that I had found such a good little shop. "I will tell all my friends about your love-ly place. " I told the shopkeeper. "Please don't do that, sir. " said Mr. Hopkins. "This is a special place for special people. You must keep this shop a secret. " Then he took my photograph and handed me the picture straight away.
" That was quick ! " I exclaimed. In the picture I looked proud and excited holding the presents I had bought there.
On Christmas Day, my friends and relatives were delighted with the presents I had bought for them.
For weeks, my brother begged me to take him to the wonderful little shop. I finally agreed.
We walked along Oxford Street, past the department store and found---nothing. In its place was an empty space being used as a car park. I checked the area again. There was the music shop, and there was the department store. In between should have been Hopkins and Son, but it wasn't there.
Just then, an old policeman came. "Are you looking for something, sir?" he asked. "I am looking for a little shop called Hopkins and Son. "
"Oh yes, there was a shop here 'once called Hopkins and Son. But it was knocked down over 30 years ago. "
I looked again at the place, then I reached into my pocket and took out the photograph that Mr. Hop-kins had taken of me holding my presents in the little shop.
" How strange ! "   I screamed.
1. What did the author think of Hopkins and Son?

A．Big and modern.	B．Old and outdated.
C．Little and dusty.	D．Lovely and wonderful.

2. We can infer from Paragraph 4 that Mr. Hopkins .             .

A．was ashamed of his little shop

B．didn't like his shop to be advertised

C．was one of the author's special friends

D．handed the author his picture immediately

3. What does the underlined word "commodities" refer to?

A．The goods in the shop.

B．The author's gifts.

C．Photographs taken by Mr. Hopkins.

D．Packages held by other customers.

4. What can we learn about the shop?

A．It was closed by the police. .

B．It was well - known in that area.

C．It was knocked down a few weeks ago.

D．It was between a music shop and a department store.

【推荐2】We are all busy talking about and using the Internet, but how many of us know the history of the Internet?

Many people are surprised when they find that the Internet was set up in the 1960s. At that time, computers were large and expensive. Computer networks didn’t work well. If one computer in the network broke down, then the whole network stopped. So a new network system had to be set up. It should be good enough to be used by many different computers. If part of the network was not working, information could be sent through another part. In this way, computer network system would keep on working all the time.

At first the Internet was only used by the government, but in the early 1970s, universities, hospitals and banks were allowed to use it, too. However, computers were still very expensive and the Internet was difficult to use. By the start of the 1990s, computers had become cheaper and easier to use. Scientists had also developed software that made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

Today it is easy to get online and it is said that millions of people use the Internet every day. Sending email is more and more popular among students.

The Internet has now become one of the most important parts of people’s life．

1. The Internet has a history of around ______ years.

A．ten

B．twenty

C．fifty

D．seventy

2. A new network system was set up to ______ .

A．break down the whole network

B．make itself keep on working all the time

C．make computers cheaper

D．make computers large and expensive

3. At first the Internet was only used by ______.

A．Scientists	B．the government
C．schools	D．hospitals and banks

4. ______ made “surfing” the Internet more convenient.

A．Software

B．Scientists

C．Information

D．Computers

【推荐3】Few people can resist the lure (诱惑) of a delicious ice cream, especially on a hot day. The only thing that spoils the fun is that the treat is hard to enjoy slowly, often ending up with a sticky melted mess. Now, researchers from Colombia's Pontificia Bolivariana University may have found an unlikely partner to help solve this age-old problem---cellulose fiber(纤维素) extracted from banana plant waste. Bananas, as you probably know, grow in bunches on a tree-like plant. Each bunch is attached to a central stalk, called a rachis(叶轴), which is thrown once the fruit has been harvested. The team, led by Dr. Robin Zuluaga Gallego, began extracting cellulose nanofibrils (CNFS) from powdered rachis. The tasteless, odorless macro fibers, thousands of times smaller than the width of a human hair were then added in various concentrations to 100 grams of ice cream mix.

With the right amount of CNFS mixed in, the dessert lasted longer in its frozen state than conventional ice cream, extending both its shelf life and the amount of time the treat can be enjoyed. Even more exciting was that the fibers increased the stickiness of low-fat ice cream to levels higher than the full-fat one. Since this is what determines the frozen treats’ creaminess and texture, CNFS could help create healthier ice cream without compromising on taste.

The researchers, who presented their findings at the American Chemical Society (ACS) meeting in New Orleans on March 21, 2018, next plan to investigate how different types of fat, such as coconut oil, affect the behavior of CNFS in other frozen treats.

The Colombian researchers are not the only one working on creating a slower-melting ice cream. In 2015, scientists at the University of Dundee in Scotland found that a naturally occurring protein called BSIA(Bacterial Surface Layer A) was remarkably effective in keeping the treat frozen for longer periods of time. With both teams competing to be the first to get to market, the future of everyone’s favorite dessert certainly looks promising.

1. What prevents people enjoying an ice cream slowly?

A．The hot weather.

B．A kind of fiber from banana.

C．The ice creams’ stickiness.

D．The ice creams’ quick melting.

2. Which is NOT a benefit of CNFS added to ice cream mix?

A．To improve its flavor.

B．To make it more healthy.

C．To reduce its fat content.

D．To make it melt more slowly.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．CNFS are more useful and effective than BSLA.

B．Ice cream with BSLA has been on sale at the market.

C．Slowly enjoying an ice cream will soon become a reality.

D．The Colombian research team has taken the lead in the competition with the Scottish team.

4. What's the author’s attitude towards the finding of CNFS?

A．Positive	B．Casual
C．Defensive	D．Suspicious.

【推荐1】Pets in dozens of towns across the nation are more likely to live through a fire because of the efforts of a young girl.

Encouraged two years ago by a news report of a dog that survived a fire because of a special oxygen mask for pets, Monica Plumb made research and then raised money so the five firetrucks in her area could carry similar equipment. Once she had made it, she continued begging donations — using her website and collection cans, giving speeches, whatever it took. So far, she has supplied nearly 300 fire stations with the pet-saving equipment.

Firefighters regularly made efforts to save animals, even to the point of doing mouth-to-nose breathing, using human oxygen masks, or creating masks from cups and oxygen pipes, to try to save them. But none are successful in sending oxygen, and the efforts often fail. The pets’ best chance of living is receiving oxygen through a specially made mask, but most fire departments cannot spend money on equipment that won’t be used to save human lives.

With time going by, animal lovers, and many animal welfare (福利) groups are taking action.

Massachusetts veterinarians have donated kits to about 50 fire departments throughout the state; Invisible Fence has donated more than 5,100 kits to stations across the US. “That was early in the awareness curve,” says Best Friends Pet Care’s Deb Bennett. “We had to educate and persuade many fire chiefs about the value of the masks.”

Young Monica Plumb, who plans to become a veterinarian (兽医), had no idea her campaign would go this far. She thinks donors, who give $1, $5 or $20 to her efforts, do so because they understand that they’re helping pets, they’re helping their families and they’re helping the firefighters”.

1. What sort of girl is Monica Plumb?

A．Cooperative and energetic.	B．Loving and determined.
C．Patient and ambitious.	D．Honest and devoted.

2. How can oxygen be sent to animals successfully?

A．Using masks made from cups and pipes.	B．Using specially-designed pet masks.
C．Doing mouth-to-nose breathing.	D．Using human oxygen masks.

3. What can be inferred from Deb Bennett’s words?

A．Many animal welfare groups have been set up.

B．More fire chiefs are willing to pay for pet masks.

C．Importance of pet masks hasn’t been realized by all.

D．Great achievements have been made to save animals.

4. What does the underlined phrase “her campaign” in the last paragraph refer to?

A．Raising money to save injured animals.

B．Providing pet masks for fire departments.

C．Educating people to protect wild animals.

D．Setting up a fund to support firefighters.

【推荐2】The entire family was here recently –14 in all, including six kids under the age of 5. We had a joint birthday party for two of the grandkids.

The day after everyone cleared out I noticed that the drain stopper（排水塞）was missing from downstairs bathroom sink.

The last thing you want to do is accuse your own fresh and blood of stripping hardware from your bathroom, but a drain stopper doesn’t just wash itself down the drain.

So I sent out a carefully-worded e-mail saying what a wonderful time we had and asking if anyone had accidently tucked a drain stopper in a purse, pocket or suitcase. I even attached a picture of a drain stopper in case there was any doubt as to what the missing part looked like.

Our son responded that he thought his 10-month-old might have eaten it. He said he’d let us know if they found it in the next day of two.

Our youngest daughter responded that she thought she saw it in her husband’s lunchbox that morning, but she could be wrong.

Our oldest daughter replied that she had suspected her sister’s husband all along. He replied that he had been framed.

Our oldest daughter then checked the guilt of one of her twins with following exchange:

Mommy: “Do you know where Grandma’s drain stopper is?”

Three-year-old: “Yeah, let me show you.” (Heads to the bathroom.)

Mommy: “No, not ours, where is Grandma’s? Did you take it?”

Three-year-old: “I think she took it.” (She points at her 18-month-old baby sister). “She’s a naughty kid.”

Naturally, the 18-month-old defended herself by saying: “Bububbubnananabublalala!”

The next day, an email arrived from our daughter-in-law. “Guess what I found in my laundry this morning? I thought the dryer was louder last night.”

Our “perp” was short. He has a known history of building and disassembling, is mechanically inclined, determined and just turned 3.

It’s always good to know a child’s interests and talents. We have a valve（阀门）that occasionally drips under the kitchen sink. I may have him take a look at it the next time he’s here. But I’ll pat him down before he leaves.

1. What is the key message the author would like to convey through this article?

A．People should always believe in their family members.

B．with lots of kids around, anything silly and unbelievable could happen.

C．people should not jump to judgment before finding clear evidence.

D．Unexpected incidents in our life can lead to inspiring discoveries and fun.

2. The underlined word “perp” probably refers to the person _____________.

A．who was accused of something	B．who was given help
C．who did mechanical work	D．who told a lie

3. Why did the 3-year-old grandson take the drain stopper?

A．Because he found that it was of a very strange shape.

B．Because he thought it could be set on his toy.

C．Because he was interested in mechanics.

D．Because he wanted to fix the author’s kitchen sink.

4. What is the tone of the author at the end of the article?

A．Angry	B．Embarrassed
C．Humorous	D．Worried

【推荐3】Tyler and I stopped by our corner store. A few police cars caught Tyler’s attention. “Mom, can I use my allowance money and buy the policemen some doughnuts to say ‘thank you’?” he asked.

“Certainly!” I said, feeling proud that I was achieving my aim to raise my children to be grateful, tender-hearted and caring.

After we left the store, Tyler asked a question that would change our lives and the lives of countless others forever.

“Why were the police so happy about the doughnuts?”

I explained some people are not always friendly to police officers. Tyler was very sad to hear this, and instead of shrugging it off, he said that he was going to thank every cop in America and buy them each a doughnut!

I was shocked, but it never occurred to me to say “no”. In fact, I thought it was an excellent but unachievable idea. I suggested many other options, but nothing was enough for him on the newfound mission (使命).

I didn’t know how to put this passion into action, but I knew one thing: Tyler had found his purpose, and it was my duty to help him. I e-mailed our local office and asked if Tyler could host a thank-you event for them. They were delighted. At the event, they called Tyler “The Donut Boy”, a name that has become known throughout the nation.

Then we kept planning thank-you events and many caring people joined in. We were invited to TV stations, and flew to Washington, D.C. for National Police Week. It has been three years since a simple act of kindness sparked a wonderful idea in an eight-year-old boy,

In forty-eight states, more than 90,000 doughnuts have been delivered so far, with no end in sight. We’re made memories that will last a lifetime, but most importantly, we have served those who serve us daily and made our mark on this world.

1. What quality of Tyler made the author feel proud?

A．Kindness.	B．Honesty.
C．Confidence.	D．Independence.

2. How did the author react to Tyler’s wish to thank all the police at first?

A．She tried to change his idea.	B．She told him it was impossible.
C．She praised him for his ambition.	D．She expressed her doubt about it.

3. What can we infer about Tyler?

A．He is eight years old.	B．He has become world-famous.
C．He’s influenced many people.	D．His mission has been completed.

4. What conclusion can we draw from the text?

A．Well begun, half done.	B．Strike while the iron is hot.
C．God helps those who help themselves.	D．Nothing is impossible to a willing heart.