【推荐1】Icelanders have a beautiful tradition of giving books to each other on Christmas Eve and then spending the night reading. This custom is so deeply rooted in the culture that it is the reason for Christmas Book Flood, when the majority of books in Iceland are sold between September and December in preparation for Christmas giving.

“Books get attention here.” Says Baldur Bjarnason, a researcher who has written about the Icelandic book industry.

The small Nordic island, with a population of only 329,000 people, is extraordinarily literary (文学的). They love to read and write. According to a BBC article, “The country has more writers, more books published and more books read, per head, than anywhere else in the world… One in 10 Icelanders will publish a book.”

It seems there is more value placed on physical, paper books than in North America, where e-books have grown in popularity. One bookstore manager said, “The book in Iceland is such an enormous gift-you give a physical book. You don’t give e-books here.” The book industry is driven by the majority of people buying several books each year, rather than the North American pattern of a few people buying lots of books.

It sounds like a wonderful tradition, perfect for a winter evening. It is something that I would love to incorporate (吸收) into my own family’s celebration of Christmas.

1. What do Icelanders do on Christmas Eve?

A．They give books to each other and read books.

B．They buy a lot of books to read.

C．They check the mailboxes and send cards to friends.

D．They get together and sing Christmas songs together.

2. How many people in Iceland can be described as writers?

A．329,000	B．32,900
C．3,290	D．3,290,000

3. What is the difference between Icelanders and North Americas on buying books?

A．People in Iceland never buy e-books.

B．People in North America never buy physical books.

C．A few people buy a large number of books in North America.

D．In Iceland, everyone buys a large number of books each year.

【推荐2】The red phone box in Britain is a perfect example of the British traditional culture. However, with the fast development of mobile phones, it has lost its place in people’s everyday life. In order to save their loved red phone boxes, people have thought up many ideas, for example, to turn them into toilets or art houses.

In a village in Somerset, a place in South West England, villagers have found a novel way to save their red phone box. They turned it into a mini library to deal with the shortage of libraries in their area. The idea was given by a local villager, Janet Fisher, who lives opposite the phone box. Villagers rallied together to set up the book box. Over 100 books and a variety of movies and music CDs are available at this tiny library. The books are of different kinds, ranging from cooking books to the classics and children’s books.

People can put the books that they have read inside the phone box, and take away the books that they’d like to read. The books are always changing. There is a regular check on the books to keep the phone box collection fresh.

Anyone is free to come to read books there. The phone box library is open every day around the clock and is lit at night. “It’s very pleasing that the red phone box has been saved. More importantly, it can continue providing a service for us,” said one of the villagers.

1. The red phone box has been a symbol of ________.

A．the European architecture	B．the British culture
C．the development of technology	D．British people’s daily life

2. The underlined word “novel” in paragraph 2 means ________.

A．separate

B．traditional

C．ridiculous

D．new

3. People in Somerset turned the red phone box into a mini library to _______.

A．keep its original function

B．make up for the lack of library service

C．provide a place to exchange ideas

D．to enlarge the collection of the local library

4. Which of the following statements is true about the red phone box?

A．The library is open to the public only at night.

B．The library was set up by a local villager living opposite a phone box.

C．People can borrow books and other audio-visual products there.

D．Regular check is made to keep the books in good order.

【推荐3】Directions: Read the following passage. Fill in each blank with a proper sentence given in the box. Each sentence can be used only once. Note that there are two more sentences than you need.

On a summer day at Brookfield Zoo,near Chicago,a three-year-old leaned over the fence at the gorilla(大猩猩)exhibit. He leaned too far. Before anyone could grab him the boy fell 18 feet into the exhibit. He hit the hard ground and did not move. Suddenly,a gorilla named Binti Hua ran in the direction of the little boy.     1    .

Would the huge gorilla hurt the boy？Would the boy lose his life？No,Binti Jua gently picked up the little boy. She carried him to a door where zookeepers stood. The boy lived.

This story would not surprise some people. They believe that certain animals can think and feel almost the same as humans can. What makes animals act this way in times of danger and conflict？Can we thus conclude that animals and people are more alike than different？

    2    .One possible proof is seen in elephant behavior. Elephants have been known to feel dying relatives in an effort to save them. Also,when relatives die,elephants may bury them and gather around the grave.

Some scientist believe that wild animals can think,too. One of the most intelligent animals is the crow(乌鸦). In one experiment,a crow picked up a straight piece of wire and bent it into a hook. It used the hook to lift food from a tube that was too deep.

    3    .

But do animals sincerely care about humans？This is a challenging questions.     4    . These researchers argue that if animals were actually programmed to act this way,all gorillas would save humans and all dogs would alert people to dangers. Why do some animals act this way while others do not？Animal researchers are still trying to answer this question.

A．The bird had never seen a piece of wire before but used it to make a tool.

B．Scientists have studied wild animals to look for proof that animals have feelings similar to those of humans.

C．It is said that wild animals are similar to human being both is feelings and thinking.

D．Some researchers have concluded that animals act only on instinct.

E．People watched in horror.

F．The boy was so frightened that he began to cry.

【推荐1】People have been enjoying the benefits of cycling（骑自行车） in Amsterdam(阿姆斯特丹) for years. It is a good city for cycling because it is flat and there are plenty of places for bicycle parking. Today some people call Amsterdam “City of Bicycles” because of the convenience for bicycles there.

In the 1960s, a group of cycling fans had an idea. They believed that it would be better for everybody if cars weren’t allowed in the city center and only bicycles were. They were hopeful that this would help to save energy, reduce pollution and provide free public transport. The group painted hundreds of bicycles white and placed them in lots of neighborhoods around Amsterdam for people to use. Then a problem came-- thieves took all the bicycles within weeks!

However, more than thirty years later, the “white bike’ is back in town--this time with a computer chip（芯片） to record its every move! To take a bicycle, you have to insert(插入) a special card. The new “ white bike” is not actually white but is an unusual design with bright colours. The bikes are parked at special parking places and people who want to use them have to take them to another special parking place that has enough room.

There is already less traffic in central Amsterdam, because both locals and tourists have been using the white bikes. Instead, thanks to the good ideas of lots of people, like the cycling fans in the 1960s, many people around the world have been enjoying city centre streets without cars many years.

1. Amsterdam is called the “City of Bicycles” because of_________.

A．the cycling fans there	B．the appearance for bicycles
C．the convenience of bicycles	D．the quality of bicycles

2. In the 1960s, some cycling fans hoped bikes could_________．

A．be specially designed	B．help to save energy
C．be placed anywhere	D．be painted in different colours

3. Why did the first “white bike” plan fail?

A．There were not enough parking places.

B．The government allowed people to drive cars freely.

C．Thieves took all the bikes within weeks.

D．People were tired of riding bikes.

4. What do people use if they want to take a “white bike” in the city?

A．A special computer.	B．A common chip.
C．A special card.	D．A white key.

【推荐2】If you’re short on cash, you don’t have to pay for an expensive gym membership to get in shape. Below are some choices for you! And the best is that they don’t cost a penny!

Nike+Running club and Nike+Training Club

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, various locations Nike’s free run club of coaches and pacers open to anyone who wants to learn how to run like the professionals. Besides, there’s the Nike Training Club for all health levels, covering boxing and other exercise. It’s not one for men, though - the classes have a women-only policy. Call up in advance for participation!

Our Parks

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

This brilliant program works with local communities to bring free health group classes across the city. They’re led by qualified instructors and you can join anything from the body-building club at the Olympic Park to yoga in Victoria Park - just remember to register online and book ahead.

Sweaty Betty’s in-store classes

Daily, various locations and times

With over 70 classes to pick each week, it’s no wonder mums crowd into Sweaty Betty to keep their health. But to sign up for a class, it’s fastest fingers first -- places can be booked up to a week in advance so simply register online and watch out for a free spot.

Sweat Shop running community

Sundays to Thursdays, various locations and times Running can be a lonely old task. Sweat Shop's run clubs, held at branches across London, aim to make it a little more social. We’d recommend this for more experienced runners - the entry level distance is 5 kilometers - but a pace keeper at the back means you won’t be left behind. Ready to work up a good sweat? Just go to the events listed on their Facebook page!

1. Which of the four programs admits women only?

A．Our Parks.

B．Sweaty Betty’s in-store classes.

C．Nike+Running Club and Nike+Training Club.

D．Sweat Shop running community.

2. If you are free only on Saturdays, you can enjoy ________.

A．running with a pace keeper

B．a variety of health classes to choose from

C．doing yoga in a beautiful park

D．training of boxing by the professionals

3. The passage is written to ________.

A．offer exercising courses for beginners

B．give advice on how to do physical activities

C．create a communication spot for runners

D．advertise free body-building programs

【推荐3】The University of Adelaide employs a full-time staff of fire prevention professionals. They inspect all campus buildings and maintain all sprinkler systems, fire alarms and fire extinguishers. They also provide educational programs on fire safety in the residence hall. Whenever you move to a new area, you should locate the fire alarm pull stations and the two exits nearest your room.

Fire Alarms

The floors of all campus buildings are equipped with manual fire alarm systems which include fire alarm pull stations and pipes. Most are also equipped with automatic fire alarm systems consisting of heat detectors, smoke detectors and sprinklers. For your safety, never toy with these systems. False fire alarms are illegal and may lead to imprisonment.

Fire Drills

A fire drill will be conducted in your residence hall every semester. During a fire drill, please do the following:

·Take your room key and ID. Close and lock the door to your room.

·Exit immediately from the nearest emergency exit and do not use a lift.

·Meet outside of your residence hall and wait for further instructions.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are located on each floor and in each apartment. Use a fire extinguisher only if you have been trained to do so. Irresponsible use of a fire extinguisher can create a dangerous situation for other residents and could result in damage to personal property. Misuse of a fire extinguisher will result in fines.

Smoke Detector

A smoke detector is on the ceiling in your room. Some buildings also have heat detectors on the ceilings. Do the following to ensure the safe operation of your smoke detector:

· If your smoke detector is working properly, the red light should be on. If the red light is not blinking, contact residence hall staff immediately.

·Do not cover or block your smoke detector in any way. If a smoke detector sets off an alarm and there is no fire or smoke, inform your hall staff.

1. What is the main duty of the fire prevention professionals?

A．To provide part-time jobs for students.

B．To lead the students to the nearest exits.

C．To check and maintain fire prevention equipment.

D．To train teachers to be fire prevention professionals.

2. In a fire drill, the students should                     .

A．rush quickly to a lift

B．gather at the nearest exit

C．shut the door and leave at once

D．wait for instructions in the hall

3. To ensure the safe operation of the smoke detector, one should           .

A．contact the hall staff regularly

B．cover the things that burn easily

C．start the smoke detector in a fire

D．make certain the red light is working

【推荐1】Scientists have created the world’s first living, self-healing (自愈) robots using stem cells from frogs. Named after the African clawed frog from which they take their stem cells, xenobots are less than a millimeter wide (0. 04 inches) — small enough to travel inside human bodies. They can walk and swim, survive for weeks without food, and work together in groups. These are “entirely new life-forms,” said project co-leader Michael Levin, director of the Allen Discovery Center.

The researchers removed living stem cells, which have the ability to develop into different cell types, from frog embryos (胚胎), and left them to incubate (孵化). Then, the cells were cut and reshaped into specific “body forms” designed by a supercomputer.” They’re neither a traditional robot nor a known species of animal,” said robotics expert Joshua Bongard. The cells then began to work on their own and even have the regenerative power; when the scientists cut the living robot almost in half, its cells automatically zippered its body back up.

Xenobots don’t look like traditional robots-they have no shiny clothing or robotic arms. Instead ,they look more like a tiny drop of moving pink flesh. The researchers say this is deliberate-this biological machine can achieve things typical robots of steel and plastic cannot do.” Traditional robots degrade (降解) over time and can produce harmful ecological and health side effects,” researchers said in the study. As biological machines, xenobots are more environmentally friendly and safer for human health, the study said.

Research is being done into using the robots to clean up radioactive waste or even microplastics from the oceans. Scientists are also trying to include a greater variety of cells; a new nervous system for example. However, some people argue that the addition of nerve cells would cause moral problems. The general public have also expressed concern that humans would be taken control of by robots. However, Michael Levin thinks there’s no need to worry. “Xenobots have no ability to reproduce or evolve. The supercomputer which is used to produce them does use artificial intelligence. But for now, all is fine,” said Levin.

1. What is the text mainly about?

A．The advantage of AI technology.	B．The introduction of a latest robot.
C．The medical value of African frogs.	D．The application of robots in medicine.

2. Which of the following best explains “regenerative” underlined in Paragraph 2?

A．Healing by itself.	B．Replacing old cells.
C．Living much longer.	D．Defending against attacks.

3. What do we know about xenobots?

A．They can break up steel and plastic while degrading.

B．They can do everything that traditional robots can do.

C．They do less harm to the environment and human health.

D．They often change their color deliberately while moving.

4. What is Michael Levin’s attitude toward the development of xenobots?

A．Ambiguous.	B．Positive.
C．Skeptical.	D．Cautious.

【推荐2】When my first wartime Christmas came, I was in basic training in New Jersey and not sure if I would make it home for the holidays. Only on the afternoon of December 23 was the list of men who would have the three-day holiday posted. I was one of the lucky soldiers. It was Christmas Eve when I arrived home, and a little snow had fallen. Mother opened the front door. I could see beyond her, into the corner of the living room where the tree had always stood. There were lights, all colors, and ornaments (饰品) shining against the green of a pine.
"Where did it come from?" I asked.
"I asked the Gates boy to cut it," my mother said. "I wouldn't have had one just for myself, but when in great need... such a rush! He just brought it in this afternoon."
The pine reached to the proper height, almost to the ceiling, and the Tree Top Crystal（水晶） Star was in its place. A few green branches reached out a little awkwardly（难看） at the side, I thought, and there was a bit of bare trunk showing in the middle. But the tree filled the room with warm light and the whole house with the pleasant smell of Christmas.
"It's not like the one you used to find," my mother went on. "Yours were always in good shape. I suppose the Gates boy didn't know where to look for a better one. But I couldn't be fussy(挑剔的)."
"Don't worry," I told her. "It's perfect."
It wasn't, of course, but at the moment I realized something for the first time: All Christmas trees are perfect.
1. What did his mother's Christmas tree look like?

A．

B．

C．

D．

2. From the passage we can infer (推断) that ______.

A．all the soldiers had the three-day holiday

B．the writer could not go home for Christmas

C．the writer spent his first Christmas during the war

D．not all the soldiers went home for Christmas during the war

3. From the passage, we can conclude that ______

A．his mother didn't like Christmas trees

B．the writer didn't like the tree cut by someone else

C．the writer used to cut very beautiful Christmas trees

D．his mother didn't want to have a Christmas tree during wartime

4. The best title for this passage would be ______

A．The Perfect Christmas Tree

B．How to Choose a Christmas Tree

C．How Soldiers Spent Their Christmas

D．A Christmas with an Ugly Christmas Tree

5. What’s the writer mean by saying “All Christmas trees are perfect”?

A．Nothing is as perfect as Christmas.

B．Once at home, everything is so nice.

C．During the war, trees are hard to find.

D．All Christmas trees are the most beautiful.

【推荐3】Some people think that as more and more people have televisions in their homes, fewer and fewer people will buy books and newspapers Why read an article in the newspaper, when the TV news can bring you the information in a few minutes and with pictures? Why read the life story of a famous man, when short television program can tell you all that you want to know?

Television has not killed reading, however. Today, newspapers sell in very large numbers. And books of every kind are sold more than ever before. Books are still a cheap way to get information and enjoyment. Although some books with hard covers are expensive, many books are printed today as paperbooks (平装本), which are quite cheap. A paperback collection of short stories, for example, is always cheaper than an evening at the cinema or the theater, and you can keep a book forever and read it many times.

Books are a wonderful provider of knowledge and pleasure and some types of books should be in every home. Every home should have a good dictionary. A good encyclopedia (百科全书), though expensive, is useful, too because you can find information on any subject. Besides, you can have such books as history books, science textbook, cookbooks, and collections of stories and poems. Then from time to time you can take a book of poems off your shelves and read the thoughts and feelings of your favorite poets.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that ________.

A．TV programs are a main provider of knowledge

B．cinemas are the best choice in getting information

C．reading is a cheap way of learning and having fun

D．newspapers are an expensive way to enjoy oneself

2. What does the sentences “Television has not killed reading, however” underlined in the second paragraph suggest?

A．People only need reading, though.	B．Reading is still necessary today.
C．Reading is more fun than television.	D．Watching television doesn’t help reading.

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

A．Fewer and fewer people will buy books.

B．A good dictionary should be kept in every home.

C．Books with hard covers sell better than paperbooks.

D．More people like TV programs about famous men.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards books?

A．indifferent

B．objective

C．doubtful

D．supportive