【推荐1】With innovative (创新的) ideas, 10 teams of student groups competed at UR’s Hult Prize competition on Nov. 3 to skip the selection process for the regional competition. “If you ever had a crazy idea, now it is time to explore it.” senior and Hult Prize competitor Sharfuz Shifat said. The Hult Prize is an international competition where undergraduate and graduate students alike compete to win a $ 1 million prize to start a company based on their ideas.

For many competitors, this competition is an outlet for innovative ideas that can speed up change in the world. “I believe in social entrepreneurship and the power of business to create social change,” said senior Shelly Chen from Team Boodana.

In addition to wanting to make a lasting social effect, some competitors have personal connections to their ideas and a strong motivation to bring them to reality. “We’re enthusiastic about this because it comes from our life,” sophomore Cherine Ghazouani and Team Forty-Two member said. “We’re trying to make our family’s, our country’s and our people’s lives better.”

After the event, the award ceremony announced the winner: the first and second runner-ups as Team BestBeing, Team Forty-Two and Team Boodana, respectively. Although the ruling ideas of the winners were mainly meant to provide jobs for unemployed youth, many of the proposed solutions also handled other problems in today’s society. Team Forty-Two worked on re-inventing the impractical tutoring system in Mediterranean countries;Team BestBeing aimed to provide a solution for the lack of availability of mental health services all over the world.

“Usually some of the most simple and practical solutions are the ones that are the most beautiful and effective,” judge Anna Schreyer said. “The challenge is being able to look at things in a completely new way that’s very simple. Try to step out of the box of how we do things and how we think about things.”

1. What is the purpose of the UR’s Hult Prize competition?

A．Not to let go of innovative ideas.

B．To award the most hardworking students.

C．Not to be crazy about changing the reality.

D．To stress the importance of regional competition.

2. What will the winner be awarded in the competition?

A．A graduate degree.	B．A job in a company.
C．A position in UR’s Hult Prize.	D．A starting fund of a company.

3. What do the winners mainly focus on?

A．The impractical tutoring system.	B．A solution to mental health.
C．Youth unemployment.	D．The way of innovative thinking.

4. What kind of idea can be viewed as the best one according to judge Anna Schreyer?

A．Effective and old.	B．Simple and practical.
C．Long-lasting and simple.	D．Changeable and practical.

【推荐2】Perhaps there is no sport in the world more connected to sneakers than basketball.Many NBA players wear them to send important messages and showcase their personalities on court.

And now,thanks to a new policy,the NBA will strengthen its status as the most stylish sports league in the world.When the 2018-2019 NBA season kicked off in October,the NBA lifted its colour restrictions on players’ sneakers.It is the first time in the league’s 72-year history that it has allowed shoes to be of any colour a player likes,as long as no reflective (反光的)material is included.

In the past,the NBA required “uniformity (一致性)of uniform”,meaning each player’s shoes had to match those worn by the rest of the team.Their sneakers had to be at least 51 percent black or white,with an element of team colour.

This landmark rule change is part of the NBA’s collective effort to support players “statements” on and off the court.“More and more people realize that limitation of the colour of players’ shoes actually constrains (限制)their personal expression and storytelling,” CNN News noted.

Sometimes a shoe was worn in a memorable game,or the design of a shoe has meaning for the player.

Before Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant,nicknamed “the Black Mamba”,retired,it was said that he wore a new pair of sneakers to each game and stored his used sneakers.

Bryant brought the low-top style of sneaker with a Mamba print to the forefront in 2008 to symbolize the spirit of perseverance and bravery.In 2013,Bryant added nine red stitches (缝针)to the back of his shoe to represent the nine stitches from his Achilles tendon surgery.“It has become an attitude.That is my Mamba personality,” Bryant told Sports Illustrated magazine.

Kyrie Irving of the Boston,Celtics wears probably the most famous signature sneakers.Inspired by his mother,who died when he was four,he has a rose on one side of his shoe to represent her.All of his sneakers are also inscribed (刻)with the words,“JBY (Just Be You)”.“Just Be You is the motto I live by every single day,because I’m happy to be an individual.It’s a beautiful thing,” Irving told UK media site GiveMeSport.

There is no end to the stories about sneakers in basketball.It’s certain that they will remain a platform for players who want to use them to express their ideas and personalities.

1. According to the new policy,the NBA players 　　　.

A．may choose sneakers they like without restriction

B．should wear sneakers in their own team colour

C．have to choose sneakers either in black or in white

D．have more freedom in choosing personal sneakers

2. What can we infer from Paragraph 4?

A．Uniformity guarantees better results.

B．The new rule leads to controversy.

C．The NBA cares little about players’ statements.

D．Players’ personal expression also counts.

3. Which of the following is used to express family value?

A．A rose.	B．JBY.
C．A Mamba print.	D．Nine red stitches.

【推荐3】There are many weird sports that are present around the world. From each region of the world, along with the very popular common sports, there are also those really popular but very weird kinds of sports.

The Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses

This is indeed a very strange kind of sport that tests your stamina (耐力). You will learn how to be agile (灵活的) while competing against a horse. This game originated in the Welsh town of Llanwrtyd Wells. This sport really has to do with strength. You will require great agility and strength in order to take part in this. Marathon human contestants are put to compete against those mounted people. This is how the marathon testing takes place.

Love Locked Races

This is a sports event that was first introduced in Finland. This is all about a male competitor racing with a female in a certain way. There would be many obstructions and blocks on the way which would definitely bring you challenges. The person to win would have to finish the race without losing his female partner in the course of overcoming the obstacles even for once. This race takes place really fast and the obstacles are set that way.

The Toe Sport

This is yet another weird sport that welcomes you to use your toes. This is quite the same kind of sport that you used to play as a child which involved toe wrestling. This has now been turned into a major sport that even has a World Toe Wrestling Competition. It first originated in a pub of Derbyshire.

The locals took this sport with great enjoyment and then made this so popular that it soon had its own championship. The individuals who participate have only got to use their feet and then this is tougher than it may sound.

The Mud Pit Belly Flop

This is a kind of game where even the spectators (观众) get splashed with mud but in fact that is quite the fun. The very annual Summer Redneck Games in East Dublin bring about this game and bring about some of the greatest hubcap-discus throws with it. This is also a great sport to show the strength and dexterity of your feet.

1. Which sport requires couples to participate?

A．The Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses.	B．Love Locked Races.
C．The Toe Sport.	D．The Mud Pit Belly Flop.

2. Which statement shows the popularity of the Toe Sport?

A．It first originated in a pub of Derbyshire.

B．The locals took this sport with great enjoyment.

C．It has a World Toe Wrestling Competition.

D．Even kids are fond of the sport.

3. What kinds of people are likely to take part in the Ultimate Test Between Man and Horses?

A．People with agility and strength.	B．People with companions.
C．Marathon runners.	D．Horse riders.

【推荐1】Like almost every set of new parents, Bryan and Elizabeth Shaw started snapping pictures of their son, Noah, practically from the moment he was born. When he was about three months old, Elizabeth noticed something odd.

The flash on their digital camera created the typical red dot in the center of Noah’s left eye, but the right eye had a white spot at the center, almost as if the flash was being reflected back at the camera by something. When Elizabeth took Noah to an eye doctor, Noah was diagnosed with retinal (视网膜) cancer with the white reflection as a sign. He endured months of treatment, but it was too late.

Noah’s cancer is treatable if caught early. Bryan Shaw wondered whether there were signs he’d missed. He went back over every baby picture of Noah he could find and discovered the first white spot in a photo taken when Noah was 12 days old. As time went on, it appeared more frequently. “By the time he was four months old, it was showing up in 25percent of the pictures taken of him per month,” Bryan recalled.

Later, Bryan was determined to put his hard-won insights to good use. He created a database that recorded the cancer’s appearance in every photo of Noah. He also collected photos and compiled the data from eight other children with the same cancer. Armed with that data, he began to work with colleagues to develop a smartphone app that can scan the photos in the user’s camera roll to search for white eye and can be used as a kind of ophthalmoscope (眼底镜). Called White Eye Detector, it is now available for free on Google Play and in Apple’s Apple Store.

“I just kept telling myself, I really need to do this,” Bryan said. “This disease is tough to detect. Not only could this software save vision, but it can save lives.”

1. Why did Bryan and Elizabeth take pictures of Noah?

A．To record his growth.

B．To celebrate his birth.

C．To test their digital camera.

D．To collect evidence of eye diseases.

2. Which word can best describe Bryan’s feelings in paragraph 3?

A．Terrified.

B．Regretful.

C．Lonely.

D．Exhausted.

3. What can the app do to help?

A．It serves as a detector.

B．It presents expert advice.

C．It saves photos on users’ phones.

D．It provides a worldwide database.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．How a boy lost his eye.

B．How a new app works.

C．How a father saved his son.

D．How an app came into being.

【推荐3】Mekhi Johnson sat with his mother at a restaurant. It was time for Ivy League (常青藤联盟) schools to release their admissions decisions.

Johnson quickly started checking his position at each of the eight elite (精英) schools that he'd applied to. He started with Yale-he was in. Next, Columbia and Cornell. Those schools accepted him too. Then, he checked Harvard’s decision. "As soon as I saw I got into Harvard, my mom started screaming. She started yelling, ‘My son Just got into Harvard,’and everyone in the restaurant started clapping.” said the 17-year-old Baltimore student. “I didn't have words then, and I don't have words now, ”he said.“It's just amazing. ”

Eleven years ago, Johnson heard a story on the radio about a student who was admitted into all the Ivy League institutions. His mother, Tawana Johnson, said her son turned to her and said, “I want to do that.” “Even young, he set the goal and was pretty serious, ” she said. “He kept this idea in front of him all those years.”

Johnson is the first Gilman student to achieve this. Johnson has attended Gilman since first grade. He edits the school's yearbook and literary magazine, plays in the jazz band and works on musical theater productions. He also volunteers with a group that serves elementary school students from low-income families.

Johnson hopes to study at a law school. He wants to use the special experiences he's had to fight racism (种族歧视). “Going to law school seems like a good way to do that,” he said.

1. How did Johnson react to his admission into all eight Ivy League schools?

A．He found it just unbelievable.

B．He considered it nothing special.

C．He thanked his mom for her support.

D．He was very excited and started screaming.

2. Which word best describes Johnson?

A．Quick-minded.

B．Strong-willed.

C．Quiet.

D．Experienced.

3. What do we know about Johnson?

A．He started the jazz band.

B．He has a wide range of interests.

C．He did volunteer jobs to help middle school students.

D．He is the first student to be admitted into all eight Ivy League school.

4. Why does Johnson hope to attend law school?

A．Because he wants to help people in poverty.

B．Because it's been his dream since early childhood.

C．Because he has gained some experience in law practice.

D．Because he wants to deal with racial problems by using the law.

【推荐1】Most female fashion models start their careers in their late teens and retire in their early 30’s,but 96-year-old Alice Pang is not your ordinary fashion model.She started modelling at 93,so you could say she’s still a beginner.

Alice always liked dressing well and looking elegant,but never actually considered a career in modelling.But her granddaughter always thought she had it in her,so when she saw an online ad for senior models of 65,she sent in Alice’s pictures and she was chosen for a photo shoot.Today,she is recognised as one of the best senior models in Asia,as well as the oldest.

“I entered the industry when I was 93 and this is my third year working as a model,” she added. “I’ve shot a few commercials,cosmetics,camera and trade development.It feels great to be admired.”

Born in 1923,Alice never dreamed she would one day be modelling for high-end fashion brands like Gucci,Ellery or Valentino,let alone at age 96.But her fair complexion(面色) and excellent posture—uncommon qualities for people her age—make her one of the most sought-after senior models in the business.

Surprisingly,Alice doesn’t credit exercise or a strict diet for her enviable(令人羡慕的) figure and posture.Even though she agrees that exercise helps some people stay in good shape,she doesn’t even have a morning exercise routine,crediting her good genes instead.

“My skin tone is ivory because I’m seldom exposed to the sun and I have straight back,” Alice said.“Exercise is definitely good for you and many would do morning exercise but I don’t do that.It’s just natural.”

While most people praise her for her active lifestyle and the courage to start a whole new career in her nineties.Alice Pang is not without her critics,most of whom say that she should dress and act according to her age.She chooses to ignore them,though,saying that her personal happiness is all that counts.

1. Where did Alice’s granddaughter see the advertisement?

A．In the newspaper.	B．On TV.
C．In a magazine.	D．On the Internet.

2. What contributes to Alices nice figure and posture?

A．Her family tradition.	B．Her regular exercise.
C．Her family genes.	D．Her strict diet.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Alice likes dressing according to her age.

B．Alice takes some people’s words seriously.

C．People have different opinions about Alice.

D．Most people advise her to quit the career.

4. What is the most important to Alice?

A．Her career.	B．People’s comments.
C．Her dresses.	D．Her happiness.

【推荐3】You probably know the name Christopher Robin from one of the most beloved children's books in history. But Christopher Robin Milne was a real person-the only child of Winnie the Pooh author A.A.Milne. It was his playtime in the woods with his parents and his favorite stuffed animal that inspired the series. However, the little boy would soon be thrust into the spotlight before he was even old enough for kindergarten, much less equipped to handle worldwide fame and recognition. Here's what Christopher Robin really thought of Winnie the Pooh and his own reluctant legacy(遗留下来的东西) as the hero of these stories.

Christopher Robin was born on August 21,1920.His father, Alan Alexander Milne, kept a home in London for the family, but they would often spend weekends at a country home called Cotchford Farm in East Sussex.That's the location that inspired many of the locales(故事发生的现场) in the books, including the Hundred Acre Wood. As for Winnie the Pooh, he was inspired by a real-life character, too. Well, sort of. A. A. Milne bought Christopher Robin a teddy bear named Edward Bear from Harrods of London for his first birthday, according to the New York Public Library. Christopher Robin renamed the bear Winnie after a real bear he saw at the London Zoo. Here's more about the real-life toys that inspired the other Winnie the Pooh characters.

The creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories was a family affair. In fact, A.A.Milne often credited his wife, Daphne, as a collaborator on the books because he was inspired by watching how she played with Christopher Robin, helping him bring the stuffed animals to life with different voices and personalities to suit each one.

The Winnie the Pooh sensation started with a short story that A.A.Milne wrote for the London Evening News. It was called “The Wrong Sort of Bees,” and it included Christopher Robin and his bear, Winnie the Pooh. But, according to the Smithsonian, the boy and his bear really rose to fame with the publication of A.A.Milne' s 1926 book that was illustrated by E.H. Shepard.

Fan mail poured in when people learned that there was a “real” Christopher Robin. The author would give his son those fan letters, introducing the little boy to his new, widespread fame. Christopher Robin was expected to respond to each fan letter with his nanny's help. He also appeared in a pageant(露天演出的历史剧）based on the Pooh characters and would participate in audio recordings of the books when he was only 7,which his cousin would later refer to as exploitation, according to the BBC.

Christopher Robin liked the Winnie the Pooh books at first, and he even enjoyed the fame. However, after a few years, those books that were so beloved to readers around the world became a burden to him. Christopher Robin went away to boarding school around the age of 9,at the height of Winnie the Pooch’s popularity, and he was bullied there. The other kids would play that record of Christopher Robin reading the poems about Winnie the Pooh and tease him mercilessly.

Plus, the real-life Christopher Robin was very different from the fictional character who shared his name, but people made the false assumption that he was truly like the character in the books. As a result, Christopher Robin felt very misunderstood. Here are more fictional characters you never knew were based on real people.

By 1929,A.A.Milne told reporters that he was “amazed and disgusted” by Christopher Robin's fame. Although he didn't go into detail about the problems that his son faced, the author felt that his son had already experienced more fame than he had intended or wanted for him. Realizing that his young son might be damaged by this, A.A.Milne swore never to write another children's book after the fourth Pooh book was published.

Still, as with most family situations, things were complicated. The Guardian reports that A.A. Milne was a bit in denial about the grave impact the fame had on his son, telling reporters on another occasion that Christopher Robin referred to himself as “Billy Moon” at home and claiming that the fame didn't impact them personally. That would prove to be untrue.

1. What happened to Christopher Robin after the series succeeded?

A．He stopped playing in the woods with his toys.

B．He became the center of worldwide attention.

C．He prepared himself for kindergarten education.

D．He refused to admit being the hero of these stories.

2. How did the creation of the Winnie the Pooh stories take place?

A．It resulted from Milne' s family cooperation.

B．It was inspired by Robin's first birthday party.

C．It was assisted by the real-life stuffed animals.

D．It began with a casual visit to a country home.

3. What do we know about the book The Wrong Sort of Bees by

A．It was cowritten by E.H.Shepard and A.A.Milne.

B．It helped the boy and his bear to achieve great fame.

C．It laid the base for the boy and his bear rising to fame.

D．It was published in 1926 according to the Smithsonian.

4. What was his cousin's attitude to Robin's participation in these activities?

A．Supporting.	B．Aggressive.
C．Objective.	D．Disapproving.

5. Why did Christopher Robin become tired of the fame after a few years?

A．Because he began to study in a boarding school.

B．Because he disliked the fictional character any more.

C．Because he shamed his name with the fictional character.

D．Because he suffered from the bullies and misunderstandings.

6. What does the underlined sentence in the last paragraph mean?

A．People might mask their true feelings for certain reasons.

B．People are likely to make family situations more complex.

C．People should be encouraged to tell the truth to reporters.

D．People can be influenced by complicated family situations.