【推荐1】Early in the 18th century, Captain Cook, a famous explorer of Australia, unexpectedly caught sight of an unusual animal during his first visit to Australia. The animal had a large mouse like head and jumped along on its large legs. To his great surprise, the unusual animal carried its young in a special pocket of flesh. Captain Cook pointed to the animal which was eating grass in the distance and asked his native guide what the animal was referred to. The guide seemed not to know that he was pointing at and finally said “Kang-a-roo”, but their requests were met with puzzled looks of the native people. Before long they got to discover that the native guide who made the answer to Cook’s question really meant, “I don’t know what you pointing at. “ Funny enough, the name “ Kang-a-roo”, stuck and it is still in use today.
1. Which of the following sentences best expresses the main idea?

A．captain Cook’s guide made a joke.

B．Native Australians could not speak English in Cook’s time.

C．Some words have rather funny origins (起源).

D．Captain Cook was a lover of wild animals.

2. When the native guide said “Kang-a-roo ”, he really meant “ ______”

A．Ah, it is a special kind of animal

B．I wonder what you have said

C．What do you mean by pointing at that animal?

D．I have no idea of what you are referring to.

3. We can infer from this passage ______.

A．we should learn many different languages

B．Captain Cook made a mistake in understanding

C．Captain Cook was a foolish explorer

D．the importance of a language in common

【推荐2】If you were to travel back in time to the tenth century, you probably wouldn't be able to understand sentence that anyone said to you. They'd be speaking Old English. Talking to a tenth-century Englishman, you'd probably only be able to understand a few words like"a"or"the". Only about one-sixth of today's English words have an Old English root(词根), with the rest having foreign influences.

Gradually Old English turned into the Middle English that Chaucer wrote in-but still the official language of England was French! It was only in 1362, during Chaucer's lifetime that English was used at the opening of Parliament(议会) for the first time. During the same year a law called the"Statute of Pleading"was passed, making English the official language in Parliament. In 1399, King Henry IV became the first king of England after the Norman Conquest whose mother tongue was English.

English was still a language of low status(地位) especially when it came to writing poetry(诗歌) During the 14th century, the Italians and French were creative. Great poets like Dante were writing in totally new ways But English had no such great writers. This was where Chaucer made a difference. He took the language of the man in the street and turned it into many famous works, such as The Canterbury Tales. Chaucer proved poetry written in English could be every bit as good as books in French.

Of course, the English language has continued to change since Chaucer's day. For example, Shakespeare English is quite different from Chaucer's. And it is still changing now Until just a few years ago, "C U L8R"(see you later)was just a set of letters and numbers, but now most people know what it means!

1. What happened during Chaucer 's lifetime

A．Old English began to turn into the Middle English.

B．English's status was greatly improved.

C．English was used only in Parliament

D．English kings usually spoke English.

2. Why was Chaucer so great?

A．He first used formal English to write.

B．He had a big influence on poets like Dante.

C．He was a pioneer in writing English poems.

D．He encouraged people to read books in French.

3. Why lid the author give the example of Shakespeare's English?

A．To explain English is always changing.

B．To explain how the Middle English changed.

C．To show Shakespeare's English is unusual.

D．To show how people respond to new words.

4. How is the text developed?

A．By space.

B．By comparison(对比)

C．By importance.

D．By time.

【推荐3】At the beginning, written Chinese was a picture-based language. It dates back several thousand years to the use of longgu—animal bones and shells on which symbols were carved by ancient Chinese people. Some of the ancient symbols can still be seen in today’s hanzi.

By the Shang Dynasty (around 1600-1046 BCE), these symbols had become a well-developed writing system. Over the years, the system developed into different forms, as it was a time when people were divided geographically leading to many varieties of dialects and characters. This, however, changed under Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-207BCE).

Emperor Qinshihuang united the seven major states into one unified country where the Chinese writing system began to develop in one direction. That writing system was of great importance in uniting the Chinese people and culture. Even today, no matter where Chinese people live or what dialect they speak, they can all still communicate in writing.

Written Chinese has also become an important means by which China’s present is connected with its past. People in modern times can read the classic works which were written by Chinese in ancient times. The high regard for the Chinese writing system can be seen in the development of Chinese characters as an art form, known as Chinese calligraphy, which has become an important part of Chinese culture.

Today, the Chinese writing system is still an important part of Chinese culture. As China plays a greater role in global affairs, an increasing number of international students are beginning to appreciate China’s culture and history through this amazing language.

1. The text is mainly about________.

A．The Chinese picture-based language	B．The history of Chinese writing system
C．The past and the present	D．The importance of Chinese calligraphy

2. The writer organized the text by________.

A．giving examples

B．time order

C．making comparison

D．space order

3. More and more international students are beginning to appreciate China’s culture and history, because________.

A．China plays a greater role in international affairs

B．Chinese writing system is important in the world

C．China’s language is amazing for international students

D．Chinese calligraphy has a long history

【推荐2】Imagine how you’d feel if you had to get more than 9,000 tons of junk out to the sidewalk. That’s how much trash is floating around in space. In fact, there’s about 4 million pounds flying over our heads in low-Earth orbit. Daan, a Dutch artist, and his team at Space Waste Lab have come up with a creative plan that could clear up space junk in a spectacular fashion.

①Most space waste comes from dead satellites and rockets. Functioning satellites are the backbone of the information systems that keep our world running smoothly. But all the satellites eventually become obsolete within just a few decades. When they die out, there’s the problem of them drifting in outer space, collecting in what scientists call the “graveyard orbit”.

Maybe you’re thinking, “Why should I care about garbage 12,500 miles above me?” Well, all that fun stuff that satellites help beam down to us — mobile games, Instagram, cat videos — could be shut down by space waste. Lots of old junk floating around up there, plus new satellites added each year, means more and more high-speed collisions (碰撞). And when chunks of junk crash into one another, they break apart into millions of pieces, quickly building up speed and turning into fast-moving objects, which are dangerous to operational satellites as well as astronauts working on the International Space Station.

②Space waste is a problem that’s escalated so much that some scientists say that by 2050 we’ll be forced to stop launching new spacecraft altogether, including new satellites. Think about that for a minute. When the last satellites finally become disused, GPS, cell phones, and the Internet will no longer function.

③So we have to find a way to deal with this space garbage, and Daan pictures a sort of trash pickup, which involves groups of small spacecraft casting large nets into orbit that would collect space debris(碎片) and send it back toward Earth at top speed. Here’s the best part — while reentering Earth’s atmosphere, the pieces of junk would burn up all at once, creating a light show similar to hundreds of shooting stars falling in the night sky. A spectacle indeed!

To get ready for such an amazing effort, Space Waste Lab has been traveling to major cities across Europe and enlightening the public on the problem of the junk in space. ④But Daan doesn’t just talk about ways to relieve the problem — he’s created something a little grander than that. In October 2018, his team launched Space Waste Lab Performance, an outdoor art exhibition that shows the location of each piece of space trash using large lasers that make each debris look a bit like a star wandering slowly and silently over the sky, allowing viewers to wave and say, “Hello, space trash!”

1. According to the passage, which sentence best replaces the question mark in the diagram?

A．There is more junk floating in space each year as new satellites are added.

B．Satellites can help people track the weather and find new locations.

C．Working satellites can be damaged and astronauts can be hurt.

D．The Space Waste Lab Performance can show people where satellites are located.

2. Which of the following best supports the idea that space waste should be dealt with very soon?

A．Sentence ①	B．Sentence ②
C．Sentence ③	D．Sentence ④

3. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Space Junk Harms Digital Systems

B．Test of Waste Collection Nets

C．A New Glimpse into Outer Space

D．Artists’ Proposal to Save Space

4. What’s the writer’s attitude towards Daan’s project?

A．Critical.

B．Indifferent.

C．Neutral.

D．Approving.

【推荐3】In Denmark, bicycling is one of the primary forms of transportation. In sunshine, rain and snow, you will see cyclists on their way to work, to the grocery store, or to social events. The bike is a Dane’s best friend. Danish cycling culture is as old as the bicycle itself. Bikes were first introduced to the country in the 1880s, and during the 1920s and 1930s, the bicycle became a widespread symbol of equality and freedom. People of all social classes began biking side by side —in the cities on their way to work and in the countryside on their days off.

The increased prosperity of the late 1950s saw some. Danes replacing bikes with motorcycles and automobiles. Just like their colleagues around the world, Danish urban planners believed the future belonged to cars, trucks, and ever-wider highways. In the early 1970s, however, the Mideast oil crisis terminated that development. “Car Free Sundays” were introduced in Copenhagen, and protests demanding Copenhagen to become car-tree took place. Over time, concerns about air pollution, climate change, and the need for people to get enough exercise have helped bicycles make a big comeback. Denmark’s heavy taxes on petrol and automobiles are a factor, too.

Today, cycling is an inseparable part of Danish culture. Newcomers who do not know how to cycle are encouraged to learn as soon as they arrive. Danish children usually learn to bike before they begin school at the age of six — and often much earlier. In school, children learn about traffic rules, road safety, and the importance of wearing a helmet as well as good cycling habits. Another alternative for families with children is the cargo bike-a sort of oversized tricycle with a large wooden box on the front. It’s estimated that a quarter of all Copenhagen families with two or more children own one of these cargo bikes for transporting kids, groceries, and other necessities. Danish cargo bikes have also won design awards and become a Danish export success.

Commuting by bike is the fastest, easiest and most environmentally friendly way to get around the cities of Denmark. And the numbers speak for themselves: Residents who cycle in Copenhagen request 1.1 million fewer sick days. Cyclists reduce CO₂ emissions by 20,000 tonnes a year on average.

1. What can we learn about bicycles in Denmark from paragraph 1?

A．Bicycling was the only form of transportation.

B．Danish cycling culture dates back to the 18th century.

C．Bicycles had symbolic significance in the early 20th century.

D．Bicycles revolutionized transportation

2. What does the underlined word “terminated” mean in paragraph 2?

A．Facilitated.	B．Permitted.
C．Ended.	D．Postponed.

3. Why does the author mention the data in the last paragraph?

A．To demonstrate the commitment to cycling.	B．To compare cycling with driving.
C．To highlight the popularity of cycling.	D．To show the benefits of cycling.

4. What’s the best title of this passage?

A．Denmark: A Nation of Cyclists

B．Denmark: A Model of Sustainable Living

C．The Evolution of Transportation in Denmark

D．The Impact of Cargo Bikes on Danish Mobility