【推荐1】While you are doing your summer vacation planning, consider packing along one or more of these 4 books, displayed by Goodreads for CNN Underscored as some of the best beach reads released this summer.

"The Death of Mrs. Westaway" by Ruth Ware ($13.49; amazon.com)

"On a day that begins like any other, Hal receives a mysterious letter giving her a huge amount of money. She realizes very quickly that the letter was sent to the wrong person. Soon, Hal finds herself at the funeral of the dead. This is an unputdownable thriller from the Agatha Christie of our time. "

"Calypso" by David Sedaris ($18.30; amazon.com)

"With 'Calypso, ' Sedaris sets his strong powers of observation toward middle age and death. These stories are very, very funny – it's a book that can make you laugh till you snort. Sedaris's ability to shock readers into laughter unparalleled. "

"Us Against You" by Fredrik Backman ($16.67; amazon.com)

"Here is a declaration of love for all the big and small, bright and dark stories that give form and color to our communities. With great compassion and insight, Fredrik Backman reveals how loyalty, friendship, and kindness can carry a town through its most challenging days. "

"The Summer Wives" by Beatriz Williams ($24.29; amazon.com)

"New York Times best-selling author Beatriz Williams brings us the hit novel of the season — an exciting postwar story of love, class, power set among the people of an island off the New England coast. "

1. Which novel should you choose if you are interested in scary stories?

A．Calypso.	B．Us Against You.
C．The Death of Mrs. Westaway.	D．The Summer Wives.

2. If you just want to relax and enjoy yourself, how much will you pay?

A．$13.49.	B．$18.30.
C．$16.67.	D．$24.29.

3. Who is the most famous writer?

A．Beatriz Williams.	B．Fredrik Backman.
C．Ruth Ware.	D．David Sedaris.

【推荐2】Affordable Beach Vacation in Corfu

Corfu, an island off the coast of Greece, offers visitors sunkissed shores with clear water and lots of beaches.

Finding the Perfect Beach

Our first pick is Sidari Beach. It’s a blue flag beach perfect for couples looking for a more private feel, as it’s far from bigger tourist destinations. Issos Beach makes for the perfect place for watching the sunset. Dassia Bay has a bit more water sports. Paleokastritsa is an amazing West Coast village with six beaches on offer, including Rovinia Beach.

Getting around Corfu

Corfu offers bike rentals and bus service as a cheaper alternative (替代) to taxis. The best time to visit Corfu is during the “shoulder season” in April/May. The weather isn’t as warm as the high seasons but it remains perfect. It is not crowded in this period, but you still need to book ahead of schedule as Corfu stays popular throughout the year.

Eating Out For Less

There are a lot of well-priced restaurants but street food is also a big winner. Some popular choices are Souvlakia and Pita Gyros. There are also many cheeses special to Greece, including Tirokafteri and Ladotyri. Corfu also has many unbelievable desserts (甜食). Stazei Meli is a tourist favourite to give them a try.

1. Which place is probably the best choice for couples?

A．Sidari Beach.	B．Dassia Bay.
C．Issos Beach.	D．Rovinia Beach.

2. What are tourists required to do to visit Corfu?

A．Rent a bike.	B．Book in advance.
C．Wear warm clothes.	D．Set off in April/May.

3. What do we know about Stazei Meli?

A．It cooks popular dishes.	B．It severs well-priced food.
C．It produces special cheese.	D．It sells amazing desserts.

【推荐3】Dear Editor;
Why do newspapers carry so many advertisements for electronic equipment? Last Sunday I counted ads for seven kinds of televisions and thirteen kinds of radios in the Atlanta Journal. Besides that, there were pages and pages of ads for Citizens’ Band radios and tape recorders.
Don’t you realize what electronic equipment is doing to our daily life? Everywhere you go you may hear loud musician advertisements over radios; this continual noise is ruining our ears. Husbands don’t talk to wives any more; they are always watching the news or a ball game. Children ruin their eyes (not to mention their minds) with endless hours of watching not only the programs for children but those for grown-ups as well. And worse, hidden microphones find out about our private lives, and computers keep records of personal information about us. Enough is enough! I think you should limit the amount of advertising of electronic equipment in the Atlanta journal. Otherwise it will make life unbearable for us all.
1. Atlanta Journal is the name of_________.

A．a department store

B．a shop that sells electronic equipment

C．a local newspaper

D．a hotel where the writer stayed

2. What problem does Jason Collins think radio causes?

A．It has too many programs for advertising.

B．It makes husbands talk little to wives.

C．It gives too much loud music.

D．Its noise does harm to our ears..

3. Electronic equipment causes all the following problems except that______.

A．personal information is given to strangers.

B．Children ruin their eyes.

C．News of the world is given to all citizens

D．Family members don’t talk to each other

【推荐1】Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.

Red is a hot color. Americans may say they are red hot about something unfair. They are red hot when they are very angry about something. The small hot-tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hot for their color and their fiery(辣的) taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixieland jazz.

Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they are in the pink when they are in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the twentieth century. It comes from the fact that many babies are born with nice pink skin that shows that they are in good health.

The color black is often used in expressions. People describe a day on which everything goes wrong as a black day. A blacklist(黑名单) is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

The color green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural color for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.

Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as a friend has. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars or green-backs. Dollars are called greenbacks because green is the color of the black side of the paper money.

1. Americans use “red hot” to describe the following EXCEPT_______.

A．something unfair

B．small hot-tasting peppers

C．the person who is very angry

D．popular music like Dixieland jazz

2. People use “in the pink” to express they are in good health because_______.

A．the expression has a very long history

B．the color pink makes people feel happy

C．people think the color pink is gentler than red

D．healthy babies are born with nice pink skin

3. When we say someone feels a little green, it means he/she_________.

A．enjoys himself/herself in boating	B．is hit by a high wave
C．has a stomach ache	D．likes trees and grass

4. In the writer’s eyes, what is related to a black day?

A．Being sent a beautiful gift	B．Passing a very difficult test.
C．Being refused during and important interview	D．Being invited to an exciting party

【推荐2】We’ve all had cases where we’ve waited just a bit too long to pay an electric bill or speeding ticket. But one man, from California by reasonable assumption, who goes by “Dave”, recently took procrastination(拖延) one step further, by paying a parking ticket almost half-century after it was given.

In December 2018, the Minersville Police Department in Pennsylvania received a letter in the mail. Whoever wrote the letter decided it was best to keep his name somewhat unknown, so he put the return address as “Wayward Road, Anytown California” under the name “Feeling guilty”.

When the officers opened the envelope, they found a brief letter, along with a $5 bill, and a parking ticket dating all the way back to 1974. The note read, “Dear PD, I’ve been carrying this ticket around for 40 plus years always intending to pay. Forgive me if I don’t give you my info. With respect, Dave.”

Even though the initial parking ticket was only for $2. “Dave” must have felt awfully guilty because he left 150 percent, or $3, in interest.

Michael Combs, the Police Chief of the Minersville Police Department, stated in an interview that the same ticket would cost about $20 if it was given today. Combs went on to share that the original ticket from 1974 was given to a vehicle that had an Ohio license plate.

Because there was no system for tracking tickets given to out-of-state cars back then. “Dave” could have gotten away with never paying the $2 fine. But apparently, guilt got the best of him, and he decided to finally cough up the money more than 40 years past its due date.

1. How much do we know about “Dave”?

A．His car probably came from Ohio at that time.

B．“Dave” is of course the man’s real name indeed.

C．He lives in Wayward Road. Anytown California.

D．The police are trying to find out more about him.

2. Why didn’t “Dave” pay for the parking ticket until recently?

A．He didn’t find it until almost half a century later.

B．He completely forgot about it in the past 44 years.

C．He didn’t pay for it just because of procrastination.

D．He failed to find out who he should pay the money to.

3. What drove “Dave” to pay for the parking ticket at last?

A．A strong sense of guilt	B．Worry about being fined more.
C．Fear of being tracked by the polic.	D．Sudden change of his financial situation.

【推荐3】Participants in an online forum were asked whether space exploration was worthwhile. Here are some of the comments they posted:

Planet Girl 7.17 pm

Our world is damaged by war, hunger and poverty. Billions of people struggle just to survive from day to day. Meanwhile the US space agency has US $16 billion to play with every year. We must deal with the world’s urgent problems. Space exploration is a luxury we cannot afford.

Dragon 7.18 pm

That $16 billion spent on space is nothing compared to the $370 billion spent on the military.

JJ 7.20 pm

Exploring space is investing in the future. Everyone knows we’re running out of resources. There’s massive over-population too. The solar system has heaps of resources we can use for mining, and maybe we can explore other planets. If we don’t do it now, it might be too late.

Planet Girl 7.22 pm

We have to settle problems of over-population and resource consuming here on Earth, instead of chasing science fiction dreams. Otherwise we will just export our unsustainable lifestyle to another planet. We might consume the whole universe!!

JJ 7.23 pm

Space explorers rock! They know what they are in for, and they still do it anyway. That’s what I call courage! We humans have always struggled to expand our horizons. We want to know what else is out there. Who knows, maybe we’ll discover the solution to all our problems out there!

Switched-on 7.25 pm

Space exploration has had a huge effect on our lives. Want to talk to someone halfway around the world? Sure. Get the weather forecast? Coming right up. Check exactly where you are? Absolutely. It’s all possible, thanks to satellite technology, global positioning systems, and the rest. If there was no space exploration, we’d be sitting around in the dark, not talking online!

Penny 7.50 pm

Satellites are launched by private companies — for profit. Planet Earth doesn’t always benefit. Exploring remote planets certainly does not contribute to life on Earth.

1. The underlined sentence (Par.2) means that space exploration is_________.

A．expensive but necessary

B．expensive and unnecessary

C．very important but too expensive

D．not very important but affordable

2. What is Dragon’s opinion?

A．The cost of space exploration is too much.

B．Planet Girl’s idea is acceptable.

C．Space exploration is worthwhile.

D．The military is more useful than space exploration.

3. What is the most likely reason that JJ does not discuss the cost of space exploration?

A．He agrees that space exploration costs too much.

B．He does not know how much space exploration costs.

C．He thinks space exploration is worthwhile, whatever the cost.

D．He knows Planet Girl is wrong about the cost of space exploration.

4. Which aspect of space exploration does Switched-on mainly write about?

A．Its cost to the community.

B．Its effect on environment.

C．Its contribution to technology in everyday life.

D．Its capacity to serve people in their everyday life.

5. What is one point that Planet Girl and JJ are most likely to agree about?

A．Living on other planets is a real possibility.

B．Spending money on war is unnecessary.

C．Space exploration encourages creativity.

D．Earth’s resources are fast disappearing.

【推荐2】Move Over, Selfish Gene

Evolution traditionally has a problem with nice people. If only the fittest individuals survive, then those who are nice to others at their own expense will surely be weeded out. Yet cooperation is widespread in nature, from plants alerting each other to danger to dolphins cooperating to round up fish.

A decades-old idea called kin selection can explain some of this: if organisms (生物) have enough DNA in common, then they can further their own selfish genes by helping one another. Bees and ants have a system of reproduction which leaves colony members so closely related that they act almost as a single super-organism. And among any sexually reproducing species, parental care helps individuals pass on their genes.

But kin selection cannot explain why humans are so nice to strangers. One idea is that we have evolved to be super-cooperative because, over time, more cooperative groups have outcompeted less cooperative ones. But there generally isn’t enough genetic variation between groups to allow natural selection to favor more cooperative ones.

Some researchers think the solution lies in an idea called cultural group selection. Forget shared genes, they argue. Selection can favor cooperative groups if the people within them share enough culture. The idea is controversial because to work it requires that groups remain culturally distinct. As critics point out, people tend to migrate (迁移) between groups, which should homogenize (使同质化) ideas and customs. Those who back the concept counter that groups have ways to maintain their distinct culture, including a process called norm (准则) enforcement. Put simply, if someone migrates into a new cultural group, they are pressured into following the local rules because failing to do so leads to punishment.

Earlier this year, Mathew and Handley at Arizona State University published a study testing the idea. They sampled 759 people from four ethnic groups in Kenya who compete intensively for land, water and livestock. The pair estimated that genetic differences between individuals from different groups was generally less than 15%. Cultural practices and beliefs varied much more, by 10% to 20%. People cooperated most with members of their own group, as cultural group selection predicts, and to a lesser extent with members of other groups whose norms most closely matched their own. That makes sense if culture rather than genetics is what matters. “I think this is one of the most explicit tests of cultural group selection theory so far,” says Mathew.

Not everyone is persuaded. Krasnow at Harvard University sees no theoretical flaw with the idea, but says that some of his research undermines it. He has found that people don’t just enforce the rules within their group, but also punish people from other groups who fail to follow their own group’s norms. Mathew counters that it is reasonable to enforce the norms on outsiders as a step towards incorporating (使并入) them into your cultural group. “This is often how empires expand,” she says.

1. The example of bees and ants is used to ________.

A．highlight the significant role of reproduction

B．demonstrate the efficiency of a super-organism

C．reveal why parents care about their selfish genes

D．explain the cause of organisms helping one another

2. For the idea of cultural group selection to work, a pre-condition is that ________.

A．cooperative groups have a larger chance of survival

B．genetic variations in the same cultural group are small

C．cultural differences are weakened with people migrating

D．cultural distinctiveness can be preserved with certain methods

3. The text is developed mainly through ________.

A．sorting information into different topics

B．narrating events in time order

C．presenting doubts and exploring answers

D．discussing similarities and differences

4. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．culture plays a more significant role in choosing cooperators

B．being selfish is of vital importance for an individual to survive

C．Mathew’s study result contradicts what cultural group selection predicts

D．people joining a new group will be punished for not keeping their own culture

【推荐3】It was late, about 10:15 p. m. Esposito got off the train at Bellport, New York, went to her car and started driving home. She was so familiar with the route that she almost drove automatically: turned left to the Station Road, then another left onto Montauk Highway, and then-bam! When Esposito's car had just crossed the railroad tracks, it hit another vehicle and was plashed back onto the tracks. Injured but mostly shocked by the crash and by the airbags that popped up, she was stuck in the vehicle.

As it happened, Pete DiPinto was just about to go to sleep when he heard a sharp noise and saw the accident not far outside his bedroom window. As a volunteer firefighter and retired teacher, DiPinto, who was 65, fetched a flash light and rushed out without hesitation. "Any firefighter would have done what I did," he said, "We're always on duty. "

At first, he spotted the other car in the accident. After making sure that the driver was all right. DiPinto looked around and discovered Esposito's car straddling(横跨)the railway tracks. And then he heard the bell ring, which signaled a train's arrival.

DiPinto rushed to Esposito's car and broke the window on the driver's side. Esposito looked up at him, with her eyes glazing over. "I don't know where I am,” she said.

"You're on the railroad tracks," DiPinto yelled. "I have to get you off right now!" The train was running toward them at a speed of some 105 kilometers per hour. The driver's door cannot be opened due to the collision, so DiPinto quickly ran to the other side and managed to open the door. He put the airbags aside, seized her arms, pulled her toward him across the passenger seat until finally got her out and walked her to safety as swiftly as possible. Several seconds later, the train crashed into the vehicle. "It was like a Hollywood movie, " DiPinto told reporters the next day.

"Last night," said Gregory, Chief of the Department in South Country Ambulance, "the hero arrived in pajamas (睡衣)，not in a fire truck."

1. What was the reason for the accident?

A．Esposito didn't know the route well.

B．Esposito's car hit another vehicle.

C．Esposito drove out of the highway.

D．A running train crashed into Esposito's car.

2. How was Esposito in the accident?

A．She got stuck and couldn't move out.

B．She lost awareness completely.

C．She was lucky to escape from the train.

D．She helped rescue the driver in another car.

3. How was Esposito rescued from her car?

A．Through the roof of the car.

B．Through the passenger's door in the back.

C．Through the window on the driver's side.

D．Through the door on the passenger's side.

4. What did Gregory mean by "the hero arrived in pajamas, not in a fire truck"?

A．DiPinto was not a professional firefighter.

B．DiPinto rushed to save life without thinking about himself.

C．DiPinto was a special firefighter who liked wearing pajamas.

D．DiPinto was unable to find a fire truck in his house.

【推荐1】Take a day trip from Dover to Calais for just ￡1

We’ve teamed up with P&O Ferries so you can enjoy a great day out in France with the family, sailing from Dover to Calais, plus, while on board, you can shop for lots of great bargains at reduced high street prices.

While on board, forget the stress of the high street and shop in style with P&O Ferries. Not only can you save up to 50 percent on the UK high street prices but you'll have plenty of choices of famous brand names such as Paul Smith, Dior, Hugo Boss, and Clinique, to name a few.

Stock up(贮备) on champagne, wine, beer and spirits at low prices! Why not fill up the car and save up to 30% off the UK beer, wine and spirits?

If you really want to treat yourself, why not enjoy the first-class dining experience—Mayfair’s famous Langan’s Brasserie, free for passengers of P&O Ferries’ ships.

Dover to Calais, day trips

Foot passenger from ￡1—Travel as a foot passenger from Dover to Calais, for just ￡1 from Sunday to Thursday or ￡1 on Fridays and Saturdays when booked online. There is a ￡1 more charge per person for booking by phone. Depart after 8:25 am and return before 9:00 pm the same day.

Car afternoon trip from ￡15—Depart after 12 at noon and return before midnight the same day with a car and up to 9 people for￡15 when you book online here or￡20 when booked by phone.

Car full day trip from￡18—Depart after 8：00 am and return before midnight the same day. This offer is for your car and up to 9 people from ￡18 when you book online or ￡23 by phone. A￡10 supplement applies for travel on Saturdays.

1. We can infer from the text that P&O Ferries may be             ．

A．a famous department	B．a wine producer
C．a ship service company	D．a big restaurant

2. Which of the following can be free?

A．Dinner of Langan’s Brasserie.	B．The UK beer, wine and spirits.
C．Products of famous brands.	D．Use of cars during the trip.

3. What’s the main purpose of the text?

A．To compare prices from different companies.

B．To tell the arrangement of a trip.

C．To advertise some services.

D．To introduce a new company

【推荐2】I didn't grow up in a very loving family. In fact, there are few, if any, happy memories I have of my childhood involving my family members. My happiest moments were spent with the few friends I was allowed to have. My family eventually distanced from all the neighbors. So the time came when I didn't even have neighborhood kids to play with. So, I learned to spend my time reading, discovering nature and setting and achieving small goals for myself.

There was another family in town that was quite similar to mine. They had a lot of children like my own family. They attended the same church. I always wondered what it would be like if my family were more like them. They never knew it, but I watched them and admired hem. They were happy and close — everything I wished my family could be.

Decades Later I found myself back at that very same church I had left behind. This time I was in that church for my mother's funeral. As I approached the church for the funeral, memories came flooding back home. I remembered the warm, kind smiles of that family when I was a child.

After the funeral service, I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned around and he was there, the father of that, family I had admired when I was young. He was a church volunteer for my mother's funeral lunch. We chatted for a bit. I pointed out my happy child to him and it was at that point I realized I was raising my boy in a way I had seen him raise his own children so long ago. He didn't realize it, but my son s life has been greatly affected by him.

Live your life with virtue.You never know who’s watching, who you will inspire and whose life you'll change.

1. What do we learn about the author's parents?

A．They got along well with each other.

B．They were good at educating children.

C．They didn't love the author very much.

D．They didn't do well in dealing with people.

2. Why did the author go back to the town decades later?

A．To meet the man.	B．To visit the church.
C．To work as a volunteer.	D．To handle something personal.

3. Which of the following words can best describe the man?

A．Reliable.	B．Humorous.
C．Kind-hearted.	D．Hardworking.

4. What message does the author intend to convey?

A．Try to build a happy family.	B．Watch your words and deeds.
C．Learn from others all the time.	D．Help others whenever possible.

【推荐3】I have learned something about myself since I moved from Long Island to Florida three years ago. Even though I own a home in Port St. Lucie just minutes from the ocean, every winter an uncontrollable urge(冲动) wells up to fly back to Long Island even as others make their way south. I guess I am a snowbird stuck in reverse(反向).

Dulled by Florida's mild winters, I willingly suffer the cold weather on Long Island, the place I called home for 65 years. I'm like a bird that has lost its sense of timing and direction, my wings moving against routine.

So what makes me fly against the habits of snowbirds? The answer has a lot to do with my unwillingness to give up the things that define(给...下定义) who I am. Once I hear that the temperature on Long Island has fallen into the range of 40 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, I begin to long for the sight and sound of a wood fire. I also long for the display of colours—first in the fall trees, and then in the lights around homes and at Rockefeller Center. Floridians decorate, too, but can't create the special feel of a New England winter. Moreover, when I return I can celebrate the holidays with people I haven't seen in months. What could be better than sitting with family and friends for a Thanksgiving turkey dinner, or watching neighbours' children excitedly open gifts on Christmas? Even the first snowfall seems special.

While these simple pleasures are not unique to Long Island, they are some of the reasons I comeback. Who says you can't go home? I know I will be ordering a ticket this very night and cured of homesick(思乡病) tomorrow.

1. What does the author think of his life in Florida?

A．Exciting.

B．Relaxing.

C．Painful.

D．Boring.

2. Why does the author compare himself to a snowbird stuck in reverse?

A．He has lost his sense of direction.

B．He'd rather go north in winter.

C．He hates travelling by plane.

D．He likes snow very much.

3. The author uses Paragraph 3 to      .

A．describe his hometown's fall scenes.

B．show how he loves family gatherings.

C．explain why he wants to return to his hometown.

D．compare the difference between Florida and Long Island.

4. What is the author going to do tonight?

A．Book a flight.

B．Go to the doctor's.

C．Eat with his family.

D．Check into a hotel.