【推荐1】While the arts can’t stop the COVID-19 virus or the social unrest we see in the world today, they can give us insight into the choices we make when moving through crises and chaos. The arts invite everyone to think in new ways.

We often experience works of art as something that’s pleasing to our senses without a full understanding of the creative effort. Great art often shows us contradictions and crises, and we can learn a great deal from their resolutions (解决). Through our understanding of art, we can gain a deeper understanding of how we might overcome our own challenges. In understanding extremes of contrast, we can see the beauty in art with themes that are not simply pleasing for their magnificent features or qualities.

Beethoven offers a wonderful example of moving artfully through crises and chaos. He composed his Symphony No.9 as his hearing loss became more and more pronounced. The opening of the symphony seems to come out of nowhere, from near silence in the opening to a full expression of what many consider to be the joy of freedom and universal brotherhood with Schiller’s Ode to joy (欢乐颂). Beethoven appears to have created a work of art that not only freed him from his personal struggles, but one that also speaks to the joy of living together in peace and harmony.

Have a dialogue between the two opposing parts and you will find that they always start out fighting each other until we come to an appreciation of difference — a oneness of the two opposing forces. The arts offer many lessons that can help us gain the knowledge we need to move more confidently in today’s competitive and uncertain environment. An openness to arts-based solutions will give you more control over your future.

1. What value does art have beyond pleasing people’s senses?

A．It brings people inner peace.	B．It contributes to problem-solving.
C．It reduces the possibility of crises.	D．It deepens understanding of music.

2. What can we learn about Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9?

A．It aims to show crises and chaos.	B．It celebrates freedom and unity.
C．It opens with Schiller’s Ode to Joy.	D．It is quiet and peaceful throughout.

3. What was Beethoven’s condition like when he wrote his Symphony No. 9?

A．He had almost gone deaf at the time.

B．He was going through a personal creative crisis.

C．He was enjoying the joy of freedom with his brothers.

D．He was considered as an example of symphonic composition.

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

A．How art can change people’s lives.	B．Essentials of Symphony No. 9.
C．Moving artfully through crises.	D．Joy in the eyes of Beethoven.

【推荐2】Have you ever wondered why birds sing? Maybe you thought that they were just happy. After all, you probably sing when you are happy.

Some scientists believe that birds do sing some of the time just because they are happy. However, they sing most of the time for a very different reason. Their singing is actually a warning to other birds to stay out of their territory.

Do you know what a “territory” is? A territory is an area that an animal, usually the male, claims (声称) as its own. Only he and his family are welcome there. No other families of the same species are welcome. Your house is your territory where only your family and friends are welcome. If a stranger should enter your territory and threaten you, you might shout. Probably this would be enough to frighten him away.

If so, you have actually frightened the stranger away without having to fight him. A bird does the same thing. But he expects an outsider almost any time, especially at nesting (筑巢) season. So he is screaming all the time, whether he can see an outsider or not. This screaming is what we call a bird’s song, and it is usually enough to keep an outsider away.

1. Some scientists believe that most of the time bird’s singing is actually ________.

A．an expression of happiness	B．a way of warning
C．an expression of anger	D．a way of greeting

2. What is a bird’s “territory”？

A．A place where families of other species are not accepted.

B．A place where a bird may shout at the top of its voice.

C．An area for which birds fight against each other.

D．An area which a bird considers to be its own.

3. Why do birds keep on singing at nesting season?

A．Because they want to invite more friends.

B．Because their singing helps frighten outsiders away.

C．Because they want to find outsiders around.

D．Because their singing helps get rid of their fears.

4. How does the writer explain birds’ singing?

A．By comparing birds with human beings.	B．By reporting experiment results.
C．By describing birds’ daily life.	D．By telling a bird’s story.

【推荐3】What killed King Tut? Historians and scientists have long believed that ancient Egypt’s most famous king was probably murdered. But a recent scientific study claims to have found a different answer to this more than 3,300-year-old mystery. A team of researchers now say that King Tut, the boy ruler, died of complications (并发症) from a broken leg.

Tut’s full name was Tutankhamun. He was just 9 years old when he became the ruler of Egypt in 1333 BC. His treasure-filled tomb was discovered almost a century ago. It was filled with royal riches, including a solid-gold coffin, a gold mask, and piles of jewelry.

Unfortunately Tut died at the age of 19. Many experts have thought that Tut was killed by one of his advisers, named Ay, who wanted to be king. But thanks to a major modern science project, it seems Ay is innocent.

Researchers set out to solve the mystery of King Tut’s death by using the tools of science, including DNA tests and electronic scans of his mummy (木乃伊). Scientist Carsten Pusch carried out the tests on Tut for the new study. He thinks a broken leg led to the young king’s death. More than 100 walking sticks were found in King Tut’s tomb. This supports the team’s findings. But how could a person die from a simple broken leg?

Pusch also found DNA evidence in Tut’s body that shows he had malaria, a disease carried by mosquitoes. Malaria seriously weakens the immune system (免疫系统).

Pusch and his fellow researchers believe the malaria and the bone disease together caused the king’s fracture (骨折) to become deadly. Finally, the young king was just too weak to recover. So effects of the disease combined with the bad luck of a broken bone — not a jealous adviser — are likely the real causes of King Tut’s death.

1. It has long been believed by historians and scientists that ______.

A．King Tut was the youngest ruler in the world history

B．King Tut was the richest ruler in the history of Egypt

C．King Tut was murdered by one of his advisers

D．King Tut was poisoned by one of his servants

2. With the help of modern technology, the new study discovered that the king ______.

A．died directly of a disease called malaria	B．died of complications from a broken leg
C．died of a simple cut in the broken leg	D．was bitten to death by deadly mosquitoes

3. Researchers uncovered the mystery of King Tut’s death by ______.

A．testing the King’s immune system	B．studying the walking sticks found in the tomb
C．performing experiments on mosquitoes	D．applying DNA tests and electronic scan technology

4. The passage mainly tells us about ______.

A．a different answer to King Tut’s death	B．a famous boy king in ancient Egypt
C．a treasure-filled tomb discovered in Egypt	D．a team of researchers studying ancient tombs

【推荐1】Just when you thought you were taking care of your health by eating enough fruit and vegetables every day, new research has come out revealing that you might be swallowing microplastic particles(颗粒)along with all those vitamins, minerals, and fiber. A groundbreaking study published in the journal Environmental Research has found that fruits and vegetables absorb microplastic particles from the soil and move them through vegetal tissues, where they remain until eaten by hungry diners, thus getting transferred to human bodies.

The researchers, who are from the University of Catania in Italy, as well as Sousse and Monastir universities in Tunisia, analyzed a variety of common fruits and vegetables---carrots, lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, apples, and pears. These were chosen for the fact that they are frequently consumed, usually one per day, which allowed the researchers to better assess the dietary intakes of MPs (microplastic particles) and NPs (nano-plastics). The samples were purchased from different sources in the city of Catania, including a small fruit vendor and a supermarket.

The researchers found that apples, followed by pears, were the most polluted fruit samples, and carrots were the most polluted vegetable. In the study’s discussion section, the authors wrote, “We can assume that the fruits contain more MPs not only because of the very high vascularization(血管化)of the fruit pulp (果肉) but also due to the greater size and complexity of the root system and age of the tree (several years) compared to the vegetables (60-75 days for the carrot).”

This study is important because it’s the first to detect microplastics in fruits and vegetables. They have been found in other sources before, such as sea salt, beer, water(bottled, in particular), shellfish, sugar, soil, and even air, but never inside fresh produce. It’s an alarming discovery that raises yet another red flag about microplastic pollution in the natural environment.

It’s an area that will likely see a lot more attention in coming years, with the study authors calling for further research into the question of microplastic and whether it harms the health of both plants and humans.

1. What is the study about?

A．The main cause of soil pollution.

B．The great changes in people’s diets.

C．The benefits of eating fruits and vegetables.

D．The microplastic pollution in fruits and vegetables.

2. Why did researchers choose frequently eaten fruits and vegetables?

A．To lower the cost of the study.	B．To gain widespread acceptance.
C．To improve the accuracy of the study.	D．To reduce the time for preparing the samples.

3. What makes the study quite special?

A．It showed the influences of MPs on plants.

B．It proved the source of microplastic pollution.

C．It presented the danger of MPs to human’s body.

D．It discovered MPs in fresh produce for the first time.

4. What do the study authors think of the research on microplastic?

A．It needs to be further studied.	B．It wasted them quite a lot of time.
C．It has raised people’s awareness of health.	D．It has attracted people’s attention to diets.

【推荐2】Microplastic pollution is increasing dramatically around the globe, according to a study of airborne (空气传播的) plastic particles(粒子).

People are already known to breathe, drink and eat microplastics, and research suggests that pollution levels will continue to rise rapidly. The researchers said that inhaling (吸入) these particles can irritate (刺激) lung tissue and lead to serious diseases.

Professor Natalie Mahowald, at Cornell University in the US and part of the research team, said: “But maybe we could solve this before it becomes a huge problem, if we manage our plastics better, before they accumulate (积聚) in the environment and swirl (打旋) around everywhere.”

The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined airborne microplastics, which have been far less studied than plastic in oceans and rivers.

The team gathered more than 300 samples of airborne microplastics from 11 sites across the western US. These were the basis for atmospheric modeling that estimated the contribution from different sources, and was the first such study to do so.

They found that roads were the dominant factor in the western US, linked to about 85 percent of the microplastics in the air. These are likely to include particles from tires and brake pads on vehicles, and plastics from litter that had been broken down.

The researchers extended their modeling work to a global level and this suggested that while roads are also likely to be the dominant driver of airborne plastics in Europe, South America and Australia, plastic particles blown up from fields may be a much bigger factor in Africa and Asia.

Professor Andreas Stohl of the University of Vienna’s Faculty of Earth Sciences, and not part of the study team, said: “The study confirms the global-scale nature of microplastic transport in the atmosphere and does a good job in highlighting highly relevant and concerning possibilities, but more measurement data is needed to get a better idea of the sources.”

1. What do we know about microplastic pollution from the text?

A．It has become the most pressing environmental problem.

B．The particles can do great harm to our lungs.

C．Airborne microplastics have been widely studied.

D．There is more plastic in the air than in oceans.

2. What did the researchers find out about airborne plastic pollution?

A．Its impact varies on different continents.

B．Public transportation is largely to blame for it.

C．Its dominant driver differs across continents.

D．Africa is suffering the most from the pollution.

3. According to Professor Andreas Stohl, the next step of the study is to________

A．predict the potential damages of microplastics.

B．understand the nature of airborne plastic pollution globally.

C．get more data to understand the sources of microplastics.

D．improve the method of collecting samples of microplastics.

4. What could be the best title for the text?

A．Effects of microplastics on human health	B．Plastic pollution rising rapidly in the air
C．Possible solutions to plastic pollution	D．Plastic pollution on the global scale

【推荐3】Have you ever found that you were able to sleep better with an air conditioner or fan running or perhaps with the sound of rain falling outside? If so, then you’re already familiar with white noise.

White noise refers to a noise that has a mixture of all the audible (听得见的) frequencies that the human ear can detect. It is a combination of all the frequencies of sound played at once. It can cover the sounds of other noises because of its various frequencies, leading many people to experience its calming effects.

Researchers have studied the effect of white noise on humans for many years, finding evidence it can reduce crying in infants and improve work performance. Many studies have also examined how white noise may affect human sleep. They found that listening to white noise positively affects sleep. For example, people living in a high-noise area of New York City fell asleep faster and spent more of their time in bed asleep while listening to white noise. In another study, listening to white noise through headphones improved sleep quality for seriously ill patients in a loud hospital room.

However, a recent analysis of multiple studies looking at white noise’s effect on sleep has produced mixed results. The researchers are doubtful about the quality of existing evidence and conclude that further research is necessary in order to widely recommend white noise as a sleep aid. They also note that in some instances, white noise can perturb a person and may affect their hearing.

Despite that, researchers are still optimistic that the steady white noise might reduce a sleeper’s sensitivity to unpredictable noises from the environment, such as transportation sounds like cars and planes, which are considered a major contributor to poor sleep.

1. Why does white noise have calming effects?

A．Because it can absorb other noises.	B．Because it can help people sleep better.
C．Because it can be detected by human ears.	D．Because it can cover the sounds of other noises.

2. How does the author explain the benefits of white noise?

A．By giving examples.	B．By telling stories.
C．By asking questions.	D．By making comparisons.

3. What does the underlined word “perturb” in paragraph 5 mean?

A．Amuse.

B．Calm.

C．Disturb.

D．Warn.

4. Which statement may researchers agree with according to the last two paragraphs?

A．White noise should be strongly recommended as a sleep aid.

B．Harmful effects of white noise have become a major concern.

C．Poor sleep will make people sensitive to the unpredictable noises.

D．More researches are needed to confirm the effect of white noise on sleep.

【推荐2】The Internet has led to a huge increase in credit card fraud. Your card information could even be for sale on an illegal website. Websites offering cheap goods and services should be regarded with care. Online shoppers who enter their credit card information may never receive the goods they bought. The thieves then go shopping with your card number or sell the information over the Internet.

Computer hackers(黑客) have broken down security systems, raising Questions about the safety of cardholder information. 25, 000 customers of CD Universe, an online music retailer(批发商), were not lucky. Their names, addresses and credit card numbers were posted on a website after the retailer refused to pay the ransom(赎金) to get back the information.

Credit card firms are now fighting against online fraud. However, there are a few simple steps you can take to keep from being cheated.

Shop only on secure sites: send your credit card information only if the website offers advanced secure system.

If the security is in place, a letter will appear in the bottom right-hand corner of your screen. The website address may also start with “https: / / ”-the extra “s” stands for secure. If in doubt, give your credit card information over the telephone.

Keep your passwords safe: most online sites require a user name and password before placing an order. Treat your passwords with care.

1. What do most people worry about the Internet according to this passage?

A．A lot of stolen credit cards were sold on the Internet.

B．Fraud on the Internet.

C．Many websites are destroyed.

D．Many illegal websites are on the Internet.

2. What is the meaning of the word “fraud”?

A．Cheating.	B．Sale.
C．Payment.	D．Safety.

3. How can the thieves get credit card information?

A．The customers give them the information.

B．They steal the information from websites.

C．The customers sell the information to them.

D．They buy the information from credit card firms.

4. You want to buy a TV set on a shopping website whose address starts with “http: / / ”. What does this article suggest you do?

A．Order the TV set at once.

B．Do not buy the TV set on this site.

C．E-mail the site your credit card information.

D．Tell the site your password and buy the TV set.

【推荐3】Most kids grow up learning they cannot draw on the walls. But it might be time to unlearn that training — this summer, a group of culture addicts, artists and community organizers are inviting New Yorkers to write all over the walls of an old house on Governor’s Island.

The project is called Writing On It All, and it’s a participatory writing project and artistic experiment that has happened on Governor’s Island every summer since 2013.

“Most of the participants are people who are just walking by or are on the island for other reasons, or they just kind of happen to be there,” Alexandra Chasin, artistic director of Writing On It All, tells Smithsonian.com.

The 2016 season runs through June 26 and features sessions facilitated by everyone from dancers to domestic workers. Each session has a theme, and participants are given a variety of materials and prompts and asked to cover surfaces with their thoughts and art. This year, the programs range from one that turns the house into a collaborative essay to one that explores the meaning of exile (流放).

Governor’s Island is a national historic landmark district long used for military purposes. Now known as “New York’s shared space for art and play,” the island, which lies between Manhattan and Brooklyn in Upper New York Bay, is closed to cars but open to summer tourists who flock for festivals, picnics, adventures, as well as these “legal graffiti (涂鸦)” sessions.

The notes and art scribbled (涂画) on the walls are an experiment in self-expression. So far, participants have ranged in age from 2 to 85. Though Chasin says the focus of the work is on the activity of writing, rather than the text that ends up getting written, some of the work that comes out of the sessions has stuck with her.

“One of the sessions that moved me the most was state violence on black women and black girls,” says Chasin, explaining that in one room, people wrote down the names of those killed because of it. “People do beautiful work and leave beautiful messages.”

1. What does the project Writing On It All invite people to do?

A．Unlearn their training in drawing.

B．Participate in a state graffiti show.

C．Cover the walls of an old house with graffiti.

D．Exhibit their artistic creations in an old house.

2. What did the project participants do during the 2016 season?

A．They were free to scribble on the walls whatever came to their mind.

B．They expressed their thoughts in graffiti on the theme of each session.

C．They learned the techniques of collaborative writing.

D．They were required to cooperate with other creators.

3. What kind of place is Governor’s Island?

A．It is a historic site that attracts tourists and artists.

B．It is an area now accessible only to tourist vehicles.

C．It is a place in Upper New York Bay formerly used for exiles.

D．It is an open area for tourists to enjoy themselves year round.

4. What does Chasin say about the project?

A．It just focused on the sufferings of black females.

B．It helped expand the influence of graffiti art.

C．It has started the career of many creative artists.

D．It has created some meaningful artistic works.