【推荐1】阅读理解
阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项。
Settled by the Celts, invaded by the Romans and the Normans, and ruled by the English, Wales’ population has regularly changed over the ages. Wales, particularly South Wales, became a melting pot (熔炉) of European nationalities and cultures. At first workers from England, Ireland and the rural areas of Wales rushed into the coal mines of South Wales. By 1911, workers from Ireland, Italy and Spain had joined the industrial workforce (劳动大军) there. Many of these newcomers were prepared to work for less pay.
But during this period, workers, dissatisfied with regular pay cuts, poor safety, returned to the land. In 1891, the rural population of Wales was about 616,000 and by 1911 just over 649,000 people lived and worked in these areas.
The rural population continues to grow slowly even today. People from richer parts of the UK, particularly southern England, are buying holiday homes in Wales. In some areas this has led to a lack of housing for local people. This, combined with the lack of employment in rural Welsh communities, has started a new movement of people in search of jobs and homes into the towns and cities of Wales and to other parts of the UK and Europe.
As so many Welsh people have moved to other countries over the last 200 years, it’s really no surprise that many visitors come to see friends and relatives. These visitors strengthen their links to their land of origin and continue to support the Welsh’s development. During the hot summer days, about 28% of the visitors visit the countryside and nearly 70% visit the seaside.
1. Why was South Wales so attractive to people in the early 20th century?

A．Because its coal industry needed a large number of workers.

B．Because it was rich in many different kinds of culture.

C．Because people could buy holiday homes there.

D．Because people could get the highest pay there.

2. What does the writer want to tell us in the second paragraph?

A．Many people got tired of city life at this time.

B．The working conditions were terrible at this time.

C．Welsh workers couldn’t get any pay for their work.

D．The number of rural population of Wales grows slowly at this time.

3. What would be the best title for the passage?

A．Wales, a land with a promising past and future

B．Wales, a land with a population on the move

C．Wales, the biggest melting pot of Europe

D．Tourism, the main income source of Wales

【推荐2】Our planet is home to about seven billion people. Since the 1990s, population experts have predicted the number would grow to nine billion before it begins to slow down and possibly decrease.

But a new report predicts the world’s population is likely to increase to almost 11 billion by 2100. Based on the most modern statistical tools, the new report makes use of government records and considers expert predictions, including death rates, birthrates and international migration, or people moving across borders. The report says during the rest of this century, Africa’s population will grow from about 3.5 billion to 5.1 billion over the next 85 years.

John is director of the United Nations Population Division. He says that in the past, researchers thought population growth in Africa would be similar to that of other areas. They expected slower growth rates as birth control use became more widespread. But he says those ideas were wrong.

“The level of contraception use has continued to increase but slowly — more slowly than expected, and birthrate therefore has been falling less rapidly than expected, and the population therefore continues to grow somewhat more rapidly than we expected.

The new findings are based on a joint research project of the United Nations and the University of Washington,

The researchers believe the population of Asia will reach five billion by 2050. That is up from the current 4.4 billion. And then begin decline. The researchers also believe that North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean area will have a total population of below one billion.

John says the pressure of feeding the rising population is likely to be less than that might be expected.

“The relatively good news is that the world has been winning the race between population growth and food production. If you look back historically over the last 50 years, certainly for the world as a whole and for many, most individual countries and regions, the increase in food production has outpaced the increase of population.”

1. Which area will experience the largest increase in population at the end of the century？

A．Asia.	B．Africa.
C．Europe.	D．North America.

2. “Contraception use” in the fourth paragraph refers to ________.

A．a method of expert predictions

B．a way of avoiding growth in population

C．a joint research into the rising population

D．a potential technology for food production

3. Why is the pressure of feeding the rising population less than expected according to John?

A．Expert predictions are not exactly like what the facts happen.

B．Birthrates have always been falling less rapidly than we expected.

C．The population grows less rapidly than population experts expected.

D．The increase in food production has outpaced the increase of population,

4. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．The world’s population will increase constantly.

B．The population of Asia will rise by 5 billion by 2050.

C．John is optimistic about feeding the rising population,

D．Population growth in Africa was much slower than expected.

【推荐1】The United Nations predicts worldwide temperatures over the next five years may at times rise to more than 1. 5 degrees Centigrade above pre-industrial levels. The U. N. 's World Meteorological (气象的) Organization,WMO, said the prediction suggests continued warming could present a challenge to climate change goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement, which seeks to limit world temperature rises through major cuts in human-caused greenhouse gases.

The WMO said there was a 20 percent chance that the yearly average temperature will rise above 1.5 Celsius higher than the pre-industrial average levels in at least one year. The report identifies 1850-1900 as the pre-industrial period. That does not mean that the average would be crossing the long-term target of 1.5 Celsius that scientists have set as the limit for avoiding catastrophic（灾难性的)climate change.

Temperatures over the last five years have been the warmest on record,the WMO reported. Temperatures over the next five years are very likely to be within the range of 0.91 to 1.59 Celsius above pre-industrial levels, it predicted. Almost all of the world, except for parts of the southern oceans, are likely to be warmer than the recent past, which is defined as 1981 to 2010. Southern Africa and Australia, where fires last year destroyed millions of hectares (公顷)，will probably be drier than usual through 2024, the report said. Africa's Sahel region is likely be wetter,while Europe should see more storms.

Maxx Dilley, the WMO's director of climate services, told the Associated Press the predictions are worrisome. "It shows how close we're getting to what the Paris Agreement is trying to prevent,”he said. Still, Dilley added that it would not be impossible for countries to reach the target set in Paris, of keeping global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius, by the end of the century. Petteri Taalas, the WMO Secretary-General,added,"While COVID-19 has caused a severe international health and economic crisis, failure to cope with climate change may threaten human well-being, ecosystems and economies for centuries.”

1. What can we infer about the continued warming?

A．In an alarming trend.	B．Out of control.
C．At a steady speed of rising.	D．Within the range of permission.

2. What does the author try to tell us in Paragraph 3?

A．Temperatures will have a sudden rise.

B．People in Africa should get more help.

C．Fires in Australia will last over 5 years.

D．Our living environment is getting worse.

3. Which word best describes Maxx Dilley's attitude to continued warming?

A．Carefree.	B．Objective.
C．Concerned.	D．Ignorant.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Global impact of Climate change.

B．The most serious challenge we face.

C．The predictions about temperature rise.

D．The methods of coping with continued warming.

【推荐1】There have been a number of occasions through the years that I had to sit at the feet of a theologian (神学家).Some of those times, I came away wondering what on earth the man was talking about. That was not the case when I heard Dr. Randy Harris. He suggested that a lot of our day-to-day problems in the world be solved by simply keeping our promises. Too many people do not take such matters seriously. Are you serious in keeping your promises?

Some of my most anxious moments in over a half-century of ministry have come as a result of carelessness in failing to keep my word. Preachers (传道士) can say a lot of requests on any given Sunday. I have been asked to make hospital visits, write letters of recommendation(推荐), put people’s names on the prayer list, read books, make telephone calls, remember birthdays and anniversaries, come to special events, and put announcements in the church bulletin (公告).There was a time when I would foolishly agree to fulfill each request. I had the best of intentions, but I could not remember all I had agreed to do, much less find a way to do them all! Did I think I was “Super-Preacher”? The sad look of disappointed faces taught me that I was not. I hurt people, and they deserved better.

The Hebrew word of covenant (契约) means primarily “a cutting”. It refers to the custom of cutting an animal in half and having the parties making promises pass between the two halves. They were saying to each other, “If I don’t keep my word, may I be as this animal--be cut in two.”

If butchering (屠宰) were the result of breaking our word today, how many of us would be headed for the death? I think that, although we are not cut like animals for our failures to keep promises, there are serious results connected with our carelessness. It ruins our character and our reputation.

What can we do? It is simple. Stop making promises we cannot keep. Reduce promise lists, and be sure to carry out the commitments that remain on it. If after giving our word, we are unable to keep the appointment or whatever, inform and apologize as soon as possible.

Last weekend, I stood with a dressed-up couple at a wedding in another county. They made some serious promises to each other in a covenant of marriage. They made vows to be faithful to each other for as long as they live. I pray God that they will keep those vows and be an example for others to follow.

1. From the second paragraph we can learn that the author________.

A．lives a life of religious service	B．dislikes making any promise
C．is a famous and busy theologian	D．likes to recommend jobs for others

2. The author mentioned the custom of cutting an animal in half mainly to ________ .

A．show butchering is cruel

B．explain the meaning of covenant

C．express his disappointment with old customs

D．show breaking one’s promises is terrible

3. The author was a bit ________ about the new couple’s vows.

A．upset	B．concerned
C．sad	D．uneasy

【推荐2】Indonesia has said the country would be removing its capital city, in part because it's sinking into the Java Sea. Jakarta is one of the fastest sinking cities in the world, according to the World Economic Forum, due to rising sea levels and the over-extraction of groundwater. But it isn't the only city in trouble. Here's a look at some others that are also at risk.

Houston

Houston has been sinking for decades and, like Jakarta, the over-extraction of groundwater is partly to blame.

The Houston Chronicle reported that parts of Harris County, which contains Houston, have sunk between 10 and 12 feet (about 3 meters), since the 1920s, according to data from the US Geological Survey. Areas have continued to fall as much as 2 inches per year, an amount that can quickly add up.

Lawmakers have tried to address the issue, creating a special purpose district meant to regulate the withdrawal of groundwater in 1975. But the problem has persisted, with privately owned wells and water suppliers continuing to pull from aquifers (蓄水层).

Lagos

The city of Lagos sits on the coast of Nigeria, constructed partly on the mainland, partly on some nearby islands. It's also Africa's most populous city. Its geography makes Lagos especially easily flooded, and the coastline has already been eroding. As sea levels rise due to global warming, the city is increasingly at risk.

One study from 2012 revealed that, because Nigeria's coastline is so low, a sea level rise of just 3 to 9 feet (about 1 to 3 meters) "will have a catastrophic effect on the human activities in these regions."

Washington

Washington is one of the most important cities in the US — and it's also sinking. Research from 2015 showed that America's capital will drop more than 6 inches (15 centimeters) in the next 100 years.

But unlike Jakarta, Washington's sinking has nothing to do with aquifers or rising sea levels — it's actually because of an ice sheet from the last ice age. A mile-high ice sheet pushed land beneath the Chesapeake Bay upward. When the ice sheet melted, thousands of years ago, the land settled back down. The researchers now believe that the area is gradually sinking, a process that could last thousands of years.

1. What is the common reason for the sinking between Houston and Jakarta?

A．the soft land	B．rising sea level
C．the eroding coastline	D．over-extraction of groundwater

2. What does the writer’s attitude towards the result of Huston lawmakers addressing the sinking problems?

A．positive	B．indifferent
C．unknown	D．negative

3. Which of the following sinking cities has a striking different reason with others?

A．Houston	B．Lagos
C．Washington	D．Jakarta

【推荐3】More cycling, better public transport and car bans...Places all over the world are taking a range of measures to lower traffic pollution.

Paris

Paris bans cars in many historic central districts on weekends, places odd-even (单双日的) bans on vehicles，makes public transport free during major pollution events and encourages car-sharing programs. A long section of the right bank of the river Seine is now car-free and a monthly ban on cars has come into force along the Champs-Elysees.

The Netherlands

Politicians want to ban the sale of all petrol cars from 2025, allowing only electric or hydrogen vehicles. The new law will allow anyone who already owns a petrol car to continue using it. Most cities encourage bicycle use.

Freiburg

Freiburg in Germany has 500km of bike routes and a cheap and efficient public transport system. One town, Vauban, forbids people to park near homes and makes car-owners pay $18,000 for a space on the edge of town in return for living without a car. People are offered cheaper housing, free public transport, and plentiful bicycle spaces.

Curitiba

The southern Brazilian city of two million people has one of the biggest and lowest-cost bus systems in the world. Nearly 70% of its people go to work by public transport and the result is pollution-free air and traffic-free streets.

Copenhagen

Copenhagen prioritizes (优先考虑) bikes over cars and now has more cycles than people. The city calculates that one mile on a bike is worth $0.42 to society, while one mile in a car is a $0.2 loss. Large parts of the Danish capital have been closed to vehicles for decades.

1. What will happen in Paris during major pollution events?

A．Historic central districts won’t allow cars in.

B．Car-sharing programs will raise money publicly.

C．People must obey the odd-even traffic restrictions on weekends.

D．People can take public transport free of charge.

2. From 2025, the Netherlands will ________.

A．put 500km of bike routes into full use

B．only allow the sale of electric or hydrogen vehicles

C．completely forbid the use of petrol cars

D．own the biggest and lowest-cost bus system in the world

3. Which of the following cities attach great importance to cycling?

A．Freiburg and Copenhagen	B．Park and Curitiba
C．Paris and Freiburg	D．Curitiba and Copenhagen

【推荐1】Art Gallery at Evergreen Cultural Centre

Serving the Tri- cities for over 20 years,the Art Gallery at Evergreen(AGE) absorbs visitors through exhibitions,activated by public programs and our dynamic school workshops.The AGE focuses on contemporary art and ideas explored by professional artists working in all media.We also support young artists through our annual Emerging Talent exhibition,which features work by local high school students from School District 43.We believe that art is necessary to our daily life and seek opportunities to connect people with artists and the creative process.

ArtSea Community Arts Council of the Saanich Peninsula

Seeking an authentic regional arts experience?The Saanich Peninsula is the place to be!

Visit the beautiful Saanich Peninsula with views of the Gulf Islands and amazing Mount Baker.Experience how artists here express themselves with a visit to Tulista Park Gallery;view artists"creating"in Spring and Fall Studio Tours;celebrate visual and performing arts in October with the ArtSea Festival.There are also much more for traveller desiring an authentic arts experience.

Newton Cultural Centre/Arts Council of Surrey

Established in 1967,the Arts Council of Surrey is a member-based,non-profit society aiming to promote Performing,Literary and Visual Arts.The Arts Council sponsors and produces more than 15 events each year in addition to participating in various community events.

The Newton Cultural Centre is a new state-of-the-art place designed to be used by the arts and general business communities at large.The building is the home of the Arts Council of Surrey and contains a Gallery,a Conference/Meeting area and a Theatre Hall-all of which are for rent,suitable for all the arts.

Pacific Rim Arts Society

The Pacific Rim Arts Society(PRAS)is a volunteer-based,non-profit society serving the districts of Tofino and Ucluelet,and First Nations communities in the Clayoquot Sound/Long Beach area,on the West Coast of Vancouver Island,British Columbia,Canada.Our goal is to help build happy,healthy communities by bringing people together through arts and culture.

1. Where can visitors appreciate teens' artworks?

A．At the ArtSea Festival.

B．At Tulista Park Gallery.

C．At the Newton Cultural Centre.

D．At the Emerging Talent exhibition.

2. What can visitors do in the Saanich Peninsula?

A．Enjoy an authentic arts experience.

B．Tour the Gulf Islands and Mount Baker.

C．Create arts in Spring and Fall Studio Tours.

D．Join in a celebration at Evergreen Culture Centre.

3. What do the last two societies have in common?

A．They were both set up in 1967.

B．They both hold 15 events annually.

C．They both serve communities for free.

D．They are both renting out a Theatre Hall.

【推荐2】English is not pronounced as it is written: vowels (元音) and consonants (辅音) can often be pronounced in different ways, and there are no accents to help you with stress. For this reason, most students see pronunciation as one of the most difficult things of the language, and they expect their teacher to help them with it. Before a student can pronounce well, they must be able to pronounce each sound more or less correctly.

·Incorrect pronunciation is one of the main reasons for breakdown in communication.

·The more help students are given with their pronunciation, the more confident they feel when they speak and the more likely they are to have a go at speaking.

·There is no point in teaching students new words or phrases if they can’t pronounce them correctly.

·Although there are many irregularities, there are also rules which can help students to pronounce better. About 70% of words in English follow a regular pronunciation style.

·If students are taught to recognize phonetic symbols (音标;注音), they will be able to check pronunciation of new or unusual words in their dictionary.

·Certain English sounds may not exist in their language at all or may be similar but different. Students may tend to pronounce letters or a group of letters in the same way as in their own language.

·Teaching the 48 phonetic symbols of English altogether makes students realize that the number of phonetic symbol isn’t limitless.

·Students can be taught to see the relationship between a single letter and a sound, and how certain groups of letters produce certain sounds.

REMEMBER: Encourage your students in their pronunciation.
1. If you pronounce a word incorrectly, people will_______.

A．not get along well with you．	B．not be able to understand you．
C．teach you the correct pronunciation．	D．encourage you to pronounce correctly．

2. The author probably disagrees that _______.

A．there are pronunciation rules for most of the English words.

B．pronunciation is one of the most difficult things of the language.

C．students should learn new words before pronouncing them correctly.

D．teachers should help and encourage students in their pronunciation

3. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．The development of English.

B．The most difficult thing of English.

C．The English teachers’ correct attitude.

D．The importance of teaching English pronunciation.

【推荐3】For athletes and volunteers, next year’ s Tokyo Olympics could become known as the Get-Up-Early Games.

Hoping to beat the summer heat in the Japanese capital, organizers said on Tuesday they will start the men’s 50-kilometer race walk final at 5:30 am, while the men’s and the women’ s marathon finals will go at 6 am. The men's and the women's triathlon start at 7:30 am. The women's softball has games scheduled for 9 am, but no men's baseball games will start before noon. Softball and baseball were dropped after the 2008 Olympics, and are appearing because of their popularity in Japan.

The 1964 Tokyo Olympics were held in the autumn and did not face heat problem. Modern Olympics can no longer be held during that time, avoiding Europe's crowded soccer schedule, and year-round scheduling of baseball, basketball and hockey in the US Koji Murofushi, sports director of the Tokyo Games, said organizers had consulted about scheduling with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). "Athletes, when they know the schedule ahead of time, can make adjustments (调整) to their preparations, "he said.

The swimming finals will begin at 10:30 am. The swim schedule has nothing to do with the heat and will follow the pattern of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Organizers say the first gold medal event will be the women's 10-meter air rifle, which will take place on July 25 — the day after the opening ceremony. Organizers have labeled Aug 8 — the day before the closing ceremony — as "Super Saturday", with about 30 finals, the most of any single day. Finals will include the men's basketball, the men's soccer and the men's baseball.

The most difficult event to schedule might be surfing, which is a four-day competition. The schedule changes depending on the wave conditions.

1. The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics will start some events earlier EXCEPT_________ .

A．the women's marathon finals	B．the men's triathlon
C．the women's softball games	D．the swimming finals

2. The IOC changed the time of the modern Olympics Games to_______ .

A．give athletes time to prepare	B．meet the needs of athlete
C．avoid famous competitions	D．beat the summer heat

3. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．The baseball game was cancelled at two Olympic Games.

B．The closing ceremony is scheduled on Aug 8.

C．Surfing which is easy to schedule is a four-day competition.

D．The men's basketball will take place before “Super Saturday”