【推荐1】If you ask people to name the one person who had the greatest effect on the English language, you will get answers like "Shakespeare," "Samuel Johnson," and "Webster," but none of these men had any effect at all compared to a man who didn’t even speak English-William the Conqueror.

Before 1066, in the land we now call Great Britain lived peoples belonging to two major language groups. In the west-central region lived the Welsh, who spoke a Celtic language, and in the north lived the Scots, whose language, though not the same as Welsh, was also Celtic. In the rest of the country lived the Saxons, actually a mixture of Anglos, Saxons, and other Germanic and Nordic peoples, who spoke what we now call Anglo-Saxon(or Old English), a Germanic language. If this state of affairs had lasted, English today would be close to German.

But this state of affairs did not last. In 1066 the Normans led by William defeated the Saxons and began their rule over England. For about a century, French became the official language of England while Old English became the language of peasants. As a result, English words of politics and the law come from French rather than German. In some cases, modern English even shows a distinction (区别) between upper-class French and lower-class Anglo-Saxon in its words. We even have different words for some foods, meat in particular, depending on whether it is still out in the fields or at home ready to be cooked, which shows the fact that the Saxon peasants were doing the farming, while the upper-class Normans were doing most of the eating.

When Americans visit Europe for the first time, they usually find Germany more "foreign" than France because the German they see on signs and advertisements seems much more different from English than French does. Few realize that the English language is actually Germanic in its beginning and that the French influences are all the result of one man’s ambition.

1. Before 1066, people in Britain mainly spoke                          .

A．Welsh and Scottish	B．Nordic and Germanic
C．Anglo-Saxon and Germanic	D．Celtic and Old English

2. How did William the Conqueror have a great effect on English?

A．By defeating the Saxons.

B．By speaking good English.

C．By teaching people in Britain to speak English.

D．By bringing French to Britain to greatly influence English.

3. Why does Americans feel France is less foreign than Germany?

A．They know French better than German.

B．They know little history of the English history.

C．In France most of the advertisements appear in English.

D．There are more similarities between English and French.

4. What is the main idea of this passage?

A．The history of Great Britain.

B．The French effects on English language.

C．The difference between English and French.

D．The great people who had effect on English.

【推荐3】It is an unpleasant extinction that will change the world and how people communicate: within 20 years, two thirds of all the planet’s languages will be dead.

Experts agree that nothing can stop it happening but one academic is trying her hardest to slow it down. Professor Antonella Sorace is one of a growing number who believe learning a second language has enormous potential benefits for the human brain. Research consistently shows that learning a new language could delay the start of dementia (痴呆) for four to five years — a better result than with any medication to date.

It is those benefits of bilingualism (双语) that should encourage us to preserve and protect Europe’s minority languages — Gaelic, Manx, Cornish and Ulster Scots, she says.

Already her work and the project she founded three years ago in Edinburgh, Bilingualism Matters — now expanding across Europe and in the US — have convinced the Scottish government to introduce languages to primary schools. From 2024 all Scottish children will be learning a language other than English in their first year at school, with two other languages to be introduced later.

Just as disappearing forests take with them secrets of undiscovered medicines, disappearing languages can take the key to a longer and better quality of life. The first battle is to remove the popular assumption that bilingualism might damage children’s brains. There were even suggestions that it could encourage schizophrenia (精神分裂症).

“Study after study has shown the opposite to be true,” says Sorace. “These prejudices are deeply rooted, but we are perhaps halfway to persuading people that the brain can cope. Then we have to persuade people that it is actually of benefit.”

1. What will happen to the majority of the world’s languages?

A．They will become extinct in decades.

B．They will be learnt by more academics.

C．They will prevent the risk of dementia.

D．They will help people better communicate.

2. What’s Bilingualism Matters intended to do?

A．Find a replacement for English.

B．Teach businesses marketing skills.

C．Promote minority language learning.

D．Influence governments’ policy making.

3. What’s the top priority in preserving minority languages?

A．Getting rid of people’s fear for mental illnesses.

B．Finding the key to promoting people’s welfare.

C．Unlocking the secrets of undiscovered medicines.

D．Correcting the misconception about Bilingualism.

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

A．The Benefits of Bilingualism

B．The Founding of Bilingualism Matters

C．A New Challenge Facing Language Teaching

D．A Professor Fighting to Save Minority Languages

【推荐1】More than half a century ago, there were 4,000 drive-in theatres in the United States, and watching a movie from your car was a popular way to spend an evening. But with the number of drive-ins reduced to just a few hundred, the outdoor movie has appeared suddenly across the nation. Going to an open-air theatre has become a modern summer entertainment for a growing number of movie fans.

In recent years, outdoor movie screenings have appeared in parks, vacant lots（场地）and shopping malls around the nation. On average, about 1,000 people watch each movie every night. It attracts a lot of young professionals, young workers and residents nearby. For some, the outdoor movies bring back the memories of the drive-in theatres of their youth. But for the most, they think it is similar to the feeling of drive-ins, as they can bring friends, food, good wine, and watch the movie together.

The returning of Americans’ love for outdoor movies makes Stephen Bastas ever busier. His seven workers set up screens in different places mostly in the Washington area every day during the whole summer. They are doing pretty well and they hope to continue the tide. And it looks like they are going to. That’s because many fans say there is nothing like watching a movie on a breezy（有微风的）summer evening under the stars.

1. In the first paragraph, the author tries to tell us ______.

A．outdoor movies attract more movie lovers.

B．summer brings back more drive-in movie fans.

C．drive-in theatres have already disappeared.

D．watching a movie in your car is becoming more popular.

2. Most people choose to go to an outdoor movie mainly because they can ______.

A．have snacks before the movie.

B．cheer up with young friends.

C．bring back good old days.

D．enjoy the relaxing feeling.

3. From the passage, we can learn that Stephen Bastas is most probably ______.

A．a moviemaker.

B．an outdoor movie fan.

C．a movie director.

D．an open-air theatre operator.

4. How does Stephen Bastas feel about the future of outdoor movies?

A．Hopeful.	B．Doubtful.
C．Anxious.	D．Disappointed.

【推荐2】With paper flowers and music hanging around in the air, Lyu Jun was hosting a small farewell ceremony at an industrial zone in Shenzhen, Guangdong province. It was a funeral for a pet dog. Lyu came up with the idea of becoming a pet mortician (殡葬师) four years ago when he was preparing to start a business.

“At that time, there was only one brick-and-mortar(实体的) business that provided funeral services for pets in Shenzhen, but hundreds of pets die every day in this city,” he said. According to Lyu, many pet owners used to bury the remains of their beloved animals near their homes , which had a harmful impact on the environment and created the risk of spreading disease.

He saw a gap in the market for someone able to properly handle the death of pets. “A pet funeral service provides treatment of the bodies that is harm-free, and it is the greatest comfort to pet owners,” Lyu said.

He takes good care of the remains of the pets and tidies up their appearance before the funeral. In addition, he prepares funeral addresses and selects suitable tombs for the pets. He also films funerals for owners who cannot attend the ceremonies, and provides paper and pens for those who want to write down their blessings and hang the notes on the wishing tree.

Over the past four years, Lyu has bid farewell to more than 2,000 dogs, cats and other kinds of animals. He also does volunteer work in his spare time to promote responsible dog raising. “The pet funeral service industry is still in its babyhood, and I hope there will be a set of strict standards for people who take on this job and a belter environment for the industry,” Lyu said.

1. Why did Lyu start the business on pet funeral service?

A．Because he could earn a lot of money from it.

B．Because he thought it met the market requirement.

C．Because he thought it would be a unique and challenging business.

D．Because he could help owners bury their dead pets near their homes.

2. What does Lyu often do as a pet mortician?

A．He delivers speeches to mourn the pets.

B．He gives best wishes to the pets' owners.

C．He makes films of the pets for their birth.

D．He nurses and cares for the pets carefully.

3. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Lyu volunteers to raise pets on his own.

B．The pet funeral service has got a big success.

C．More strict standards should be set for pets' owners.

D．There remains a potential in the pet funeral industry.

4. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A research report.	B．An advertisement.
C．A novel.	D．A magazine.

【推荐3】Festivals are celebrated all around the world. They have a wide range of origins, such as the seasons of the year, religions, famous figures, and important events. Every festival has its different customs and unique charms. However, no matter how different they may seem, all over the world, the spirit of sharing joy, gratitude, love, or peace is common in all festivals.

Of all the traditional festivals, the harvest festival can be found in almost every culture. This important agricultural festival takes place after all the crops have been gathered in. People celebrate to show that they are grateful for the year’s supply of food. In ancient Egypt, the harvest festival was celebrated during the springtime — the Egyptian harvest season. It featured a parade and a great feast with music, dancing, and sports. Today, in some European countries, people decorate churches and town halls with flowers and fruit, and get together to celebrate over a meal. During the Mid-Autumn Festival in China, families gather to admire the shining moon and enjoy delicious moon cakes.

Customs play a significant role in festivals, but sometimes they can change over time. With the development of modern society and the spread of new ideas, some traditions may fade away and others may be established. One example is the typical Chinese Spring Festival custom of lighting firecrackers to drive away the evil spirits and celebrate the new year. Nowadays, many big cities have given up this custom in order to avoid air pollution. Another example is Halloween, which slowly became an exciting festival for children, in spite of its religious origins.

Festivals are becoming more and more commercial, with businesses taking advantage of the celebrations. Online shopping websites and social media apps have made it much easier for the public to spend more on gifts for their loved ones. Some believe festivals should not be commercialized, while others believe the increase in spending is good for the economy and public happiness.

Festivals are an important part of society. They reflect people’s wishes, beliefs, faiths, and attitudes towards life. They are occasions that allow us to relax and enjoy life, and forget about our work for a little while. They help us understand where we came from, who we are, and what to appreciate. And if you study festivals carefully, you may be surprised to find that different cultures actually have a lot in common after all.

1. Why do people in different cultures celebrate the harvest festival?

A．It’s tradition in their religion.

B．It’s a only custom in their culture.

C．It’s a way to express their appreciation and cheers.

D．It’s a chance for people to enjoy themselves together.

2. How did some festivals change over time according to the passage?

A．Fireworks can’t drive the evil spirits away.

B．Festivals play an important role in commerce.

C．People share information faster than before with society developing.

D．People get gifts easier than before due to the increase of the economy.

3. What’s the writer’s attitude towards the commercialization of festivals?

A．Neutral.

B．Doubtful.

C．Supportive.

D．Disapproving.

4. Which statement is NOT true according to the passage?

A．Almost every culture celebrates harvest festival.

B．Festivals are a reflection of people’s outlook on life and values.

C．Festivals have something in common with each other in different cultures.

D．The religious origins of Halloween have disappeared.

【推荐1】The first visit to a foreign country that I can remember was when I was about seven years old. We live about 5 miles away from the Canadian border(边界). My family and I went to Parc Safari, Quebec, a wonderful place that has animals and rides. We drove down a nice long road. My sister and I sat in the back of the car, and it was a hatchback(有仓门式后背的汽车) so we opened it up. I remember feeding the animals snacks we had bought for ourselves.

The time we went we were told there would not be monkeys because they had escaped and had not been found. I remember thinking to myself, how cool it would be to see a monkey in our backyard.

Even though the monkeys were not there it was still so much fun. When we reached the area that had camels, giraffes and other animals, I remember one of the camels reached into the car to get our snacks. However, we were a little gross out because the camels seemed to froth(吐白沫) at the mouth and we had camel slobber(口水) all over the car and us.

It was one of the best family vacations that I can remember. It was not too far from home, it was in a different country and it was with my family. I cannot remember if we went on the rides or not but seeing many animals was a great time. Now I am grown up and have a son, and I am planning to go there again. He is 7 years old and I think he is at a great age to enjoy a trip like this. I am sure it has changed a lot over the years but it will still be a great family trip.

1. Where did the author live when he was 7 years old?

A．In Canada	B．Near the Canadian border
C．In the central US	D．In Parc Safari

2. We fed the animals something _____.

A．offered by people living there	B．we bought for them
C．we prepared for ourselves	D．cooked by my sister

3. what does the underlined part “gross out” in paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．surprised

B．excited

C．tired

D．uncomfortable

4. What does the author intend to do?

A．To revisit the place he went to at seven.	B．To take his 7-year-old son to a zoo.
C．To have a family trip in his own country.	D．To have a holiday abroad with his parents.

【推荐2】Two years ago I was very lonely and didn’t talk with anyone about my feelings. At the time I didn’t have many friends. I wanted someone to share my experiences and secrets with.I wanted someone to understand me. I started to imagine this friend. Often I imagined our conversations and what we would do, but I didn’t give my imagination a face.

Some weeks later we started a new project in school and I was working with one of my schoolmates. We had never worked together before but we got along well. After the project we started to spend some time together in school. One day we decided to take a walk. Ever since that walk we’ve been best friends. We listened and really understood each other.

I had wished for a best friend, but the universe gave me so much more. I have met one of my soul mates (挚友). We can sense each other, and it just takes one look and we know what the other is thinking. I didn’t think our friendship could grow much stronger. But now we have known each other for two years and our friendship is growing all the time.

It hasn’t only been easy. We have gone through both easy and hard times. But I’m grateful for the hard times, because they have forced me to grow and taught me a lot. My best friend has changed me. She has made me believe in myself. And I am now focusing on achieving one of my biggest dreams. Without her I wouldn’t even have realized what my biggest dream is.

I know there are soul mates out in the world for you. I am so grateful to have met one of mine. Believe in them, and your paths will cross!

1. What did the author do before meeting her soul mate?

A．She chose to stay alone.	B．She spent time with other friends.
C．She told others about her feelings.	D．She pictured a friend in her mind.

2. How did the author get to know her soul mate?

A．By taking a walk.	B．By attending a party.
C．Through a school project.	D．Through a friend’s introduction.

3. What do we know about the author and her soul mate?

A．Their friendship is still developing.

B．She is the author’s only soul mate.

C．They are trying hard to realize their dreams.

D．She has little confidence in their friendship.