【推荐1】EVERY YEAR, millions of Americans see their personal information leak into the wrong hands. Maybe there’s spyware on their computer, or a service they use suffered a security reach --- as eBay did this year, leaving customers at risk of exposure. Or perhaps their password is easy to guess: Security company SplashData reports that the most popular passwords in 2013 were 123456 and password.
Fear not: It is a lot easier than you might think to set up proper defenses. In fact, you can easily do it all in a weekend. Here’s how.
Clean Your Computer And Smartphone
Before you put new security measures into place, make sure your devices are as spotless as possible. This means installing a good antivirus program and taking the time to clear out any spy- or malware that may have already infected your system. Go with AVG Free Antivirus (free. Avg. com) or Avast! (avast. com) ---each is free. Run a full system scan. This can take over an hour, so start it before settling into other plans. When you return to your computer, clear out anything that shouldn’t be there with a few simple steps (the program will guide you). These days, it’s also worth it to make sure your phone is safe from viruses. iPhones are less likely to be targeted by spyware, but Android users should download the Lookout app (lookout. com) to scan their devices and ensure everything is as it should be.
Security Your Wi-Fi
Now that your computer is clean, you should plug any holes in your home network. It’s fairly easy for potential criminals to gain access to your information if they’re able to share your connection --- that’s why you want to be careful when using public Wi-Fi. For your home, the Federal Communications Commission recommends a few steps. Even though you put security measures into place a couple of years ago, it’s a good idea to refresh your settings. You may have to refer to the instructions for your wireless router or call tech support for help. Different routers will have different setup pages, so the actual step-by-step will vary, but the end result will be the same.
Dig Deep with Your Passwords
Everything you just accomplished could be for nothing if a thief has your existing passwords, so you need to change them for every service you use. Try it when you find yourself on those sites anyway.
What you’ve heard is true: Passwords should use a variety of special characters, numerals, letters, and cases when possible. They should be close to random, and there should be a different one for each website you use. Doing this, and keeping track of it all, is a pain --- which is why people don’t do it and wind up with stolen identities. Try Dashlane (dashlane.com), a password manager with powerful encryption (加密) that can securely keep track of the most ridiculous codes you can come up with. Best of all, it logs you into sites automatically, so there’s no need to worry about all those obscure keystrokes. Whew!
Never Answer Unwanted Email
Take are when shopping online. Always check the security symbols when using an online site for shopping. If the lock icon encryption is not there, do not give out credit details. Also, check that the site is legal --- never go to a site from a random email and start shopping online. Go to the site through a known URL or by searching for it on a search engine first.
Keep a separate credit card just for online shopping. This will make it easier to cancel if something bad does happen and your other credit card for “in real life” can still be used uninfluenced.
Don’t store information on any store’s website. It may be conventional but it’s also a possible loss to you if the site is hacked.
1. The passage is mainly about _____________.

A．ways of avoiding online identity theft

B．tips of freeing computers from viruses

C．measures to ensure network security

D．steps to keep track of passwords

2. According to the passage, the risk of exposing personal information may possibly be caused by ___________.

A．the applications of antivirus programs

B．the practice of using public Wi-Fi

C．the difficult access to the passwords

D．the separate credit card for online shopping

3. To put new security measures into place, we need to ____________.

A．clear out of everything in the system

B．make a random selection of network

C．get rid of potential spyware

D．refresh the infected system

4. Which of the following is the improper way to shop online?

A．Adopting a unique password for every website.

B．Shopping online at reliable websites.

C．Keeping credit details safe by checking security symbols.

D．Monitoring credit card by storing information.

【推荐2】Nobody wants to reach the end of their life and experience regret. Instead, we desire to experience satisfaction with the life we’ve been given.       1    . To live a life without regret in the future, you should try to stay away from the following four common unhealthy habits.

    2    It is good to have a destination to go to but it is the journey that matters in the end. Too often, we live our lives from destination to destination. But life is not lived merely in these destinations. In fact, it is far more often lived in the pathways between them. We should appreciate the joy in the journey rather than always hurry to the next destination.

Be defined by your negative circumstances. Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most. This is an important truth and an important promise. Our lives should not be defined by the negative circumstances that happened in our past. They may have affected our lives, but they do not write the final chapter.       3    

Focus entirely on yourself. The size of our universe becomes smaller considerably when we place ourselves at the center.     4    On the contrary, those who see their life as an opportunity to bring joy to others quickly find it themselves.

    5    Every excess (过量) adds burden to our lives. And yet we continue to pursue and accumulate more than we need—more houses, more cars, more clothes, and more dishes. Owning less means less cleaning, less burden, less anxiety, and less stress each day. It provides the space and opportunity to pursue the things in life that bring lasting satisfaction to our lives.

A．Blame everybody else.

B．Carry more than you need.

C．It is we ourselves who hold the pen.

D．Miss the joy of the journey for the destination.

E．Only a fool believes the wide road is necessarily the right road.

F．The fact is that too many people experience regret at the lives they chose to live.

G．And the people who are most focused on themselves are the least satisfied in life.

【推荐3】Finishing school is the beginning of the independent life for millions of school graduates. Many roads are open before them: technical schools, colleges, universities.    1    . That’s why the topic of choosing the career path be major questions for many students. Some people know right away what they want to do in life, for others it’s an extremely difficult decision.

    2    . Your choice will change your entire life. Sometimes it’s difficult to set career goals if you’re not really sure what you’d like to do. A good place to start is some self-examination.

Decide what your talents are.    3    . They can be discovered and developed, but not taught. If you know where your strengths lie, you are more likely to achieve something in this aspect.

Concentrate on your skills. Unlike abilities, these are how you do something.    4    . The extent to which you can develop your skills can be influenced by your talents.

Determine your character specialties. Do you like dealing with people? What mental satisfaction you need? Do you like physical work, your emotional make-up? How do you handle stress and other emotions? What sort of environment would you like to work in?     5    . Make sure you’re honest, keep an open mind so you consider all options before you make your decision.

A．Make a decision in advance

B．Skills can be learned and are transferable

C．Balance your professional and personal lives

D．They are the abilities you use to do something

E．It makes a big difference in your everyday life

F．But it’s not an easy thing to choose a profession

G．You might prefer to work in a bank rather than work as a doctor

【推荐1】Phrases like “good sharing!” and “great job on the slide!” echo (回响) across American playgrounds. Coaches pass out ribbons to every participant. Scholar publishes a series called “I’m Special!” assuring readers that the ability to play with friends and sing songs makes them special indeed. We’ve been told that high self-esteem (自尊) is the key to children’s happiness and success, and we’ve been praising and protecting them ever since. But has the self-esteem movement gone too far? Many experts argue that instead of raising healthy high achievers, maybe we’re raising a generation of narcissists (自我陶醉者). “Our old concepts of self-esteem are old-fashioned, and parents need to send the concept to the trash heap (垃圾堆) of all things outdated and useless,” says Aaron Cooper, co-author of I Just Want My Kids to be Happy.

While experts used to blame low self-esteem for everything from bad grades to criminal behavior, research has shown that inflated (膨胀的) self-esteem is more often the criminal. An article called “Rethinking Self-Esteem” by Roy made a stir when he supposed that criminals and drug abusers (滥用者) actually had higher self-esteem than the general population. Martin and Ervin found that the modern habit of constant praise was turning kids skeptical (怀疑的) and unmotivated. And esteemed child development expert T. Barry recently wrote in The New York Times that the phrase “self-esteem” had lost its meaning.

Parents just want their children to have a positive self-image. And while it’s easy to make fun of the extremes of the self-esteem movement, it’s difficult to walk the fine line between acquiring self-respect and self-centeredness. Anyway, make it clear that while you have expectations for their behavior, you love and accept them unconditionally. True self-esteem isn’t about a steady stream of applause; it develops when children know their limits and responsibilities, are given enough opportunities to challenge themselves, and feel secure that they’re loved even when they fail.

1. What’s the purpose of using phrases like “good sharing!” and “great job on the slide”?

A．To attract readers’ attention.	B．To introduce the topic.
C．To give the author’s opinion.	D．To tell readers the key to happiness and success.

2. According to the text, which of the following statements is true?

A．Children with high esteem are likely to be high achievers.

B．High self-esteem makes kids motivated nowadays.

C．High self-esteem does harm to kids in a way.

D．In children’s development high self-esteem plays a positive role.

3. The proper way to develop children’s true self-esteem is to ________________.

A．give them constant praise unconditionally.

B．let them shoulder all their responsibilities.

C．offer them support even though they fail.

D．have high expectations for their behavior.

4. What’s the author’s attitude towards high self-esteem?

A．Objective.	B．Positive.
C．Subjective.	D．Negative.

【推荐1】A number of studies show that sports and other physical activities can contribute to the development of self-esteem (a feeling of pride in oneself). For example, Canadian scientists found that sixth-grade students who were more physically active had considerably higher levels of self-esteem. A study in Switzerland found that teenagers who took part in sports clubs were healthier, including being better socially adjusted, feeling less anxious, and generally being happier about their lives. Similar findings were reported in a study of Latino students, where participation in school sport was found to be greatly associated with self-esteem.

There seems little doubt that part of the potency (潜能) of sports lies in their social setting. There are a lot of facts showing the importance of social connectedness (关联性) for healthy child and teenager development, and sports offer a popular and engaging setting for social interactions. Involvement in team sports has been positively associated with social acceptance and a sense of belonging, especially where such involvement is characterized by positive coaching, progressive skill development, and peer support.

But, the social setting of sports can exclude as well as include. There is now evidence that boys’ and girls’ experiences of sports can be very different, and this can affect the contribution they can make to the self-esteem of players. Peer acceptance seems to be an important factor in determining the relationship between sport participation and self-esteem, and girls can be particularly sensitive to negative judgments. And studies have found that many ‘girly’ boys and girls benefit most from non-competitive physical activities.

So, a note of caution ought to be sounded in case sports are considered to be a cure. Much of the literature on the most positive psychological (心理的) outcomes associated with childhood and youth sports stress the absolute importance of positive experiences. It will surprise no one that bullying, excluding or abuse experiences will harm, rather than support the development of self-esteem, and well-being in general. Sadly, it will also not be a shock to learn that many children’s introductions to sports are far from improving the quality of life.

The great developmental psychologist Jean Piaget argued that the foundations of self-esteem were laid between the ages of about 6 and 11 years of age. Importantly, this is also the time when children are most likely to be introduced to sports. We should know the importance of positive early sporting experiences for the development of both self-esteem and on-going participation in sports and other physical activities. Teachers, coaches, and parents have a responsibility to ensure that these experiences ‘catch’ as many children as possible, and for this to happen they need to remember ‘the principles of child development’: Children are not mini-adults.

Problems arise when adults forget these principles, and kid themselves into thinking that they are coaching future Olympians or Super stars. Unluckily, evidence suggests that talented children are most likely to stand out when they are given time to develop, to play, and to remain children.

Children are not miniature adults, and their enjoyment of sports (and their self-esteem) can suffer when adults forget this!

1. Studies in Switzerland and Latino showed teenagers who often join in sports _____.

A．build self-esteem earlier

B．have more good experiences

C．are more sensitive to judgments

D．are healthier both physically and mentally

2. In general, the author’s attitude toward the influence of sports on teenagers is _____.

A．positive	B．critical
C．uncertain	D．tolerant

3. According to the author, when children take part in sports, they _____.

A．will be happier about their lives

B．are more likely to be attracted by competitive sports

C．should be treated by coaches and parents as super stars

D．will build self-esteem if given positive comment and support

4. Which of the following would be the best title for the passage?

A．Children Should Take Part in Sports

B．Sports Offer You a Better Teenage Life

C．Sports Experience and Building Self-Esteem

D．People Should Treat Teenagers Like Miniature Adults

【推荐3】An easily biodegradable（可生物降解的）material that could be “part of a global answer” to single-use plastic pollution has won its inventor, British designer Lucy Hughes , the international James Dyson Award.

Hughes' Marina Tex bioplastic is strong and flexible, making it a possible alternative for single-use packaging such as bags and sandwich wrappers. Its key ingredients are fish scales and skin, so it can break down in home food waste or compost bins.

Hughes created Marina Tex for her final-year project in the product design course at the University of Sussex. She had set out to create something using waste rather than unused materials, which led her to the UK's fishing industry. She ran more than 100 experiments to improve the bioplastic mixture, mostly using the kitchen stove in her student accommodation.

The fish scales and skin removed during processing usually encl up burnt or buried in landfill. And with “about 500, 000 tonnes of such waste produced by the country's fisheries annually”, it seems possible that Marina Tex could be used largely in industrial production. The material is low-energy to produce and doesn’t consume the earth's natural resources considering it's based on existing waste. It is also strong, boasting a higher tensile（可拉伸的）strength than the current material most commonly used for plastic bags.

British inventor James Dyson, who every year selects the grand prize winner in the international student design competition that bears his name, said that the material had the potential to replace traditional single-use plastics. “Marina Tex elegantly solves two problems：the ubiquity（无处不在）of single-use plastic and fish waste.” he said. “Further research and development will ensure that Marina Tex evolves further, and I hope it becomes part of a global answer to the abundance of single-use plastic waste.”

1. What do we know about Marina Tex bioplastic?

A．It is used globally.	B．It feels pretty hard.
C．It is made from fish.	D．It can break down easily.

2. Why did Hughes created Marina Tex?

A．To run experiments.	B．To promote fishing industry.
C．To create something special.	D．To finish her project at the university.

3. What does James think of the future of Marina Tex?

A．Promising.

B．Uncertain.

C．Costly.

D．Dark.

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

A．Existing Fish Waste

B．Ways to Fight Plastic Pollution

C．New Bioplastic Made from Fish Waste

D．An International Student Design Competition