【推荐1】Freedoms challenge in the Digital Age is a serious topic. We are facing today a strange new world and we are all wondering what we are going to do with it.

Some 2, 500 years ago Greece discovered freedom. Before that there was no freedom. There were great civilizations, splendid empires, but no freedom anywhere. Egypt and Babylon were tyrannies, one very powerful man ruling over helpless masses.

In Greece, in Athens a little city in a little country, there were no helpless masses. And Athenians willingly obeyed the written laws which they themselves passed, and the unwritten, which must be obeyed if free men live together. They must show each other kindness and pity and the many qualities without which life would be very painful unless one chose to live alone in the desert. The Athenians never thought that a man was free if he could do what he wanted A man was free if he was self-controlled. To make yourself obey what you approved was freedom. They were saved from looking at their lives as their own private affair. Each one felt responsible for the welfare of Athens, not because it was forced on him from the outside, but because the city was his pride and his safety. The essential belief of the first free government in the world was liberty for all men who could control themselves and would take responsibility for the state.

But discovering freedom is not like discovering computers. It cannot be discovered once for all. If people do not prize it, and work for it, it will go. Constant watch is its price. Athens changed. It was a change that took place without being noticed though it was of the extreme importance a spiritual change which affected the whole state. It had been the Athenians pride and joy to give to their city. That they could get material benefits from her never entered their minds. there had to be a complete change of attitude before they could took at the city as an employer who paid her citizens for doing her work. Now instead of men giving to the state, the state was to give to them. What the people wanted was a government which would provide a comfortable life for them; and with this as the primary object, ideas of freedom and self-reliance and responsibility were neglected to the point of disappearing: Athens was more and more looked on as a cooperative business possessed of great wealth in which all citizens had a right to share.

Athens reached the point when the freedom she really wanted was freedom from responsibility. There could be only one result. If men insisted on being free from the burden of self-dependence and responsibility for the common good, they would cease to be free. Responsibility is the price everyman must pay for freedom. It is to be had on no other terms. Athens, the Athens of Ancient Greece, refused responsibility; she reached the end of freedom and was never to have it again.

But "the excellent becomes the permanent," Aristotle said. Athens lost freedom forever, but freedom was not lost forever for the world. A great American, James Madison, referred to the capacity of mankind for self-government. No doubt he had not an idea that he was speaking Greek. Athens was not in the farthest background of his mind, but once man has a great and good idea, it is never completely lost. The Digital Age cannot destroy it. Somehow in this or that man s thought such an idea lives though unconsidered by the world of action. One can never be sure that it is not on the point of breaking out into action, only sure that it will do so sometimes

1. What does the underlined word "tyrannies" in Para2 refer to?

A．Countries where their people need help.

B．Powerful states with higher civilization.

C．Splendid empires where people enjoy freedom.

D．Government ruled with absolute power.

2. What does the underlined sentence "There could be only one result?" in Para 5 mean?

A．Athens would continue to be.

B．Athens would cease to have freedom.

C．Freedom would come from responsibility.

D．Freedom would stop Athens from self-dependence.

3. Why does the author refer to Aristotle and Madison?

A．He is hopeful about freedom.

B．He is cautious about self-government.

C．He is doubtful about Greek civilization.

D．He is critical of Greece's loss of freedom.

4. What is the author's understanding of freedom?

A．Freedom can be more popular in the digital age.

B．Freedom may come to an end in the digital age.

C．Freedom should have priority over responsibility.

D．Freedom should be guaranteed by responsibility.

【推荐2】Looking around your city, it may be hard to imagine that there might be a time when it will disappear. But that's exactly what happened to these communities.

Hashima Island, Japan

Hashima Island was formerly one of the most populated cities in the world. The 6 hectare island provided jobs to more than 5000 people, many of whom made their living at the island's underwater coal mines. When the mines were closed, Hashima Island was abandoned.

Consonno, Italy

Consonno was a tiny town with a population of less than 300 and roots dating back to the middle ages. Then Mario Bagno came along and decided to turn the area into the Las Vegas of Italy. He knocked down nearly every building. Then landslide struck, burying the access road and the project was never finished. Today, Consonno has been abandoned.

Eastern Settlement, Greenland

Eastern Settlement in Greenland isn't just an abandoned city, it's also a mystery. Once the most populated area in Greenland, the area was abandoned and no one knows why. The last known writings from the area applied to a wedding in 1408 and offered no clues. It remains one of many ancient mysteries researchers can^,t explain.

Troy, Turkey

Troy was regarded immortal （不朽的）in Homer's epic poem, The Iliad. For many years, the Troy of Ancient Greece was merely the stuff of legend but in the 1800s its location was discovered in what is now Turkey. The site contains layers of ruins archaeologists are still studying.

1. What do the four communities have in common?

A．They were deserted.	B．They were capital cities.
C．They were tourist spots.	D．They were thickly populated.

2. Which community suffered from a natural disaster?

A．Hashima Island.	B．Consonno.
C．Eastern Settlement.	D．Troy.

3. What do we know about Eastern Settlement?

A．It disappeared for no obvious reason.

B．It's a place where weddings were held.

C．It's a place for visitors to experience history.

D．It existed as one of the oldest towns in Greenland.

【推荐3】Many centuries ago, birthdays were considered a time when the bad spirits were able to harm you. It was believed that you should have your friends and family around you so that their good wishes and present-giving would keep the bad spirits away. People also believed that, by lighting candles, they were sending a signal or wishes to the gods.

Later on, candles started to be used on birthday cakes. One story about the beginnings of the birthday cake is that it started with the Greeks, who made round cakes standing for the full moon for their moon goddess (女神). They also placed candles on the cake to make it light, again like the moon.

However, the Germans are said to have first used cakes and candles. They used a sweet cake and they put a large candle in the centre of the cake to mean “the light of life”.

The “Happy Birthday” song is more than a hundred years old. The music was written in 1893 by two sisters, Patty and Mildred Hill, who were schoolteachers in Louisville, Kentucky. The music was first used as a morning greeting to their students with the title, “Good Morning To All”. In 1935, the words legally belonged to the Hill sisters, and the copyright (版权) has been bought and sold for millions of dollars ever since. The present copyright is owned by Warner Communications. They bought it in 1989 for more than $22 million.

1. The text mainly talks about       .

A．the ways of making cakes

B．the customs of lighting candles

C．the beginnings of birthdays

D．the history of the birthday song

2. People celebrated birthdays many centuries ago to       .

A．have a great dinner

B．get birthday presents

C．light birthday candles

D．keep the bad spirits away

3. Why did the Greeks put candles on the cake?

A．To light up the dark room.

B．To make the cake beautiful.

C．To see where the cake was.

D．To make it look like the moon.

4. When was the music written?

A．In 1893.	B．In 1913.
C．In 1935.	D．In 1989.

5. Who is the present owner of the song “Happy Birthday”?

A．Patty and Mildred Hill.

B．Warner Communications.

C．A Greek cake company.

D．A German schoolteacher.

【推荐1】Last week I took a journey deep into space, to the end of the solar system, and was pulled into a black hole. Then I took a trip to Brazil and experienced surviving an airplane crash in the jungle. After that, I joined some divers and went to the bottom of the ocean to see strange blind creatures that have never seen sunlight. For a break, I took part in some car racing and then skied down some of the most difficult mountains in the world. I ended my travels by meeting face to face with a dinosaur, the terrible T-Rex, and survived the experience!
I did all this in one great day at Futuroscope. Opened in 1987, Futuroscope is one of the largest space age parks in the world. This science and technology-based theme park in France uses the most advanced technology. Its 3-D cinemas and giant movie screens provide brand new experiences of the earth and beyond. Visitors can get close to parts of the world they have never experienced, going to the bottom of the ocean, flying through the jungle or visiting the edges of the solar system. The amazing, up-to-date information together with many opportunities for hands-on learning makes the world come to life in a completely new way for visitors. Learning centers throughout the park let visitors try their own scientific experiments, as well as learn more about space travel, the undersea world and much more.
I bought tickets for myself and my friends at the park’s entrance, but tickets are also available online. Futuroscope is not only for indiviudals, but is also the perfect mix of fun and learning for class outings. Classes or other large groups that let Futuroscope know their plans in advance can get the group admission rate. For anyone coming from out of town, Futuroscope has many excellent hotels, most of which provide a shuttle service to the park. If driving, Futuroscope is within easy reach of the freeway. Plan your trip well before starting, since Futuroscope has so many shows, activities and great souvenir shops that it is difficult to see them all. Come ready to walk a lot—be sure to wear some comfortable sneakers or other walking shoes!
1. What is Futuroscope?

A．A theme park for children in America.

B．A theme park that provides only fun and excitement.

C．A theme park that provides people with outstanding experience without leaving the earth and the present time.

D．A theme park that uses the most advanced technology to take people out of the earth and the present time.

2. What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?

A．The things I did at Futuroscope.

B．The history of Futuroscope.

C．General information about how to visit the park.

D．A general description of the park.

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A．Most of us will go to the bottom of the ocean or to the edges of the solar system.

B．Future theme parks are places for fun and excitement but not for learning.

C．Future theme parks allow people to see and do things without danger but with much money.

D．In the future theme parks, there are learning centers for people to try scientific experiments.

【推荐2】It's school time again! You're probably feeling excited and maybe a little sad for the vacation is over. Some kids feel nervous or a little scared on the first day of school because of all the new things: new teachers, new friends, and maybe even a new school. Luckily, these “new” worries only stick around for a little while. Let's find out more about going back to school.

Most teachers start the school year by introducing themselves and talking about what you'll be doing that year. Some teachers give students a chance to tell something about themselves to the rest of the class.

When teachers do the talking on the first day, they often go over classroom rules so you'll know what's allowed and what's not. Pay close attention so you'll know if you need to raise your hand to ask a question and what the rules are about visiting the restroom.

You might have already known a lot of people in your class on the first day. But it's a great day to make new friends, so try to say “hello” to the kids you know and new ones that you don't. Make the first move and you'll be glad about what you did and so will your new friends!

Most teachers let you pick your own seat on the first day, but by the second or third morning, they'll have mapped out a seating plan. It's a good idea to write down where your seat is in your notebook so you don't forget.

Here are a few final tips for a fantastic (奇异的) first day: Get enough sleep. Have a healthy breakfast. Try your best. Develop good work habits, like writing down your assignments (作业) and handing in your homework on time. Take your time with schoolwork. If you don't understand something, ask the teacher.

1. What can we conclude from the first paragraph?

A．All students feel excited about a new term.

B．All teachers let students pick their seats.

C．New school worries do not last very long.

D．Being hard－working helps make new friends.

2. If students have any questions, it's suggested that they should   ________.

A．turn to their teachers	B．write them down
C．ask their parents	D．help with each other

3. What's the author's purpose in writing this passage?

A．To offer students some advice on starting a new school term.

B．To encourage students to work harder in a new school term.

C．To remind children of the importance of starting school.

D．To introduce a way to improve students' learning ability.

【推荐3】You get anxious if there is no Wi-Fi in the hotel or no mobile phone signal up the mountain. You feel upset if your phone is getting low on power, and you secretly worry things will go wrong at work if you are not there. All these can be called "always on" stress caused by smart phone addiction.

For some people, smart phones have liberated them from the nine-to-five work. Flexible working has given them more autonomy（自主权）in their working lives and enabled them to spend more time with their friends and families. For many others though, smart phones have become tyrants（暴君）in their pockets, never allowing them to turn them off, relax and recharge their batteries.

Pittsburgh-based developer Kevin Holesh was worried about how much he was ignoring his family and friends in favor of his iPhone. So he developed an app-Moment-to monitor his usage. The app enables users to see how much time they're spending on the device and set up warnings if the usage limits are breached（突破）. "Moment's goal is to promote balance in your life." his website explains. "Some time on your phone, some time off it enjoying your loving family and friends around you."

Dr. Christine Grant, an occupational psychologist at Coventry University, said, "The effects of this 'always on' culture are that your mind is never resting, and you're not giving your body time to recover, so you're always stressed. And the more tired and stressed we get, the more mistakes we make. Physical and mental health can suffer."

And as the number of connected smart phones is increasing, so is the amount of data. This is leading to a sort of decision paralysis（瘫痪）and is creating more stress in the workplace because people have to receive a broader range of data and communications which are often difficult to manage. "It actually makes it more difficult to make decisions and many do less because they're controlled by it all and feel they can never escape the office," said Dr. Christine Grant.

1. What's the first paragraph mainly about?

A．The popularity of smart phones.

B．The progress of modern technology.

C．The signs of "always on" stress.

D．The cause of smart phones addiction.

2. Kevin Holesh developed Moment to ______.

A．research how people use their mobile phones

B．help people control their use of mobile phones

C．make people better use their mobile phones

D．increase the fun of using mobile phones

3. What's Dr. Christine Grant's attitude toward "always on" culture?

A．Unclear.

B．Positive.

C．Doubtful.

D．Critical.

4. According to the last paragraph, a great amount of data means ______.

A．we will become less productive

B．we can make a decision more quickly

C．we will be equipped with more knowledge

D．we can work more effectively

【推荐1】Researchers have found multilingualism (多语言能力) is good for economy. Countries which actively encourage the development of different languages gain a range of rewards, from more successful exports to a more creative workforce.

“Language matters on a larger national level and at the level of smaller companies,” said Hogan-Brun, a researcher in language study. Switzerland, for example, owes 10% of its GDP to its multilingual background. The country has four national languages. Britain, on the other hand, is thought to lose about 3.5% of its GDP every year since 95% of its population speaks English, which is the primary language of the country.

What Hogan-Brun said is reasonable. Languages partly can help build trade relations. A study of small and medium-sized companies in Sweden and Germany found that those that invested more in languages were able to export more goods. German companies that invested heavily in multilingual staff added 10 export countries to their markets. Companies that invested less said they missed out on business deals.

Researchers have also long stressed the individual benefits of speaking more than one language. Several studies show that languages help promote earning power. According to a Canadian study, women and men who can speak several languages earn 3.6% and 6.6% more than their English-only colleagues respectively. The twist: This is true even if they don’t use their second language for work. “It seems that you don’t have to actually speak a second language on the job to receive the financial rewards,” said an economics professor. He thought that this was because knowing a second language was seen as a sign of power. Beyond these immediate economic rewards, languages can help a country’s workforce in long-term ways. Multilingualism has been shown to delay memory loss. It has also been associated with a better ability to concentrate and process information.

1. What can multilingual countries expect?

A．Large numbers of imported goods.

B．Productive workers with great creativity.

C．New chances of developing education.

D．Powerful comprehensive national power.

2. Why does the author want to show by listing the statistics in paragraph 2?

A．European countries are rich.

B．Language research is important.

C．The number of English speakers is increasing.

D．Multilingualism can promote national economic growth.

3. What does the author intend to do in paragraph 3?

A．Add some forecast information.

B．Introduce a new topic for discussion.

C．Support Hogan-Brun’s viewpoint.

D．Give some advice to small companies.

4. What can we learn from the text?

A．Women learn more languages than men.

B．Good native language is a sign of power.

C．Being multilingual benefits brain health.

D．Canadians prefer using their second language.

【推荐3】According to a recent survey carried out by The Economist (经济学家) magazine, Ireland is by far and away the best country in the world to live in.

Once Ireland joined the EU in 1973, the base for economic growth started to be put into place. The 1990s saw the economic growth finally arrive-a total change in Ireland’s economic fortunes was born. The country experienced year-on-year growth of almost ten per cent and now has the fourth-highest GDP per head in the world — a massive 36.5 thousand dollars per person. Coupled with this has been a huge drop in unemployment (失业率) from 20 per cent15 years ago to around four per cent today, all of which has meant Dublin’s newspapers now come with larger job sections and the country is looking to import up to 300 thousand new workers in the next few years.

In many ways, Ireland is the perfect advertisement (广告) for the policies of the IMF and the World Bank as it is one of the few economies that has opened itself up to free trade, foreign investment (投资) and unregulated business activity, cut welfare (福利) spending and checked wage (工资) increases and yet still managed to grow rapidly.

1. When did Ireland join the EU?

A．In 1990.

B．In 1973.

C．In 1991.

D．In 1974.

2. What can we learn from the text?

A．Business activity is regulated in Ireland.

B．Dublin’s newspapers now come with smaller job sections.

C．Ireland is the bad advertisement for the policies of the IMF.

D．Ireland will import up to 300 thousand new workers in the future.

3. What does the underlined word “it” refer to?

A．Free trade.	B．The advertisement.
C．The World Bank.	D．Ireland.

4. What section of a newspaper is the passage probably taken from?

A．Technology.

B．Education.

C．Economy.

D．Nature.