【推荐1】How to pass an important test

Whether it's a first grade science test or College Entrance Exam, all tests have one thing in common: you have to pass.    1    Stuck in a situation where you don't know what to do? This article can help.

Tips

★1. Once you get the study guide, make plans right away to study as soon as possible. No excuses! Killing time with friends isn't worth it，since you can always hang out with them any other day.

★2. Get plenty of rest.    2     If you walk into the classroom sleepily, you'll most likely not finish the test because you are so tired.

★3. Eat a good meal for breakfast.     3    Some healthy breakfast suggestions are oatmeal (燕麦片), high fibre food, and grapefruit with the fresh fruit salad.

★4. Bring all necessary materials.    4     Bring pencils, pens, pencil sharpeners, snacks (if allowed)，erasers, the calculator (if allowed) and anything else you'll need for the test.

★5.    5    Showing up late cuts back the time you'll have to take for the test if it's already testing hours. You'll probably miss any important information needed in completing the test. In some tests，late comers are not allowed to take the test.

A．The exam tests vocabulary, reading and maths skills.

B．Studies show that if you get enough sleep, your brain will be much more efficient.

C．Failing the test won't help you in the long run, so it's important to know how to prepare to pass that big test.

D．Showing up without something as simple as a pencil can make a big effect on your test.

E．One piece of cheese probably won't last until test time.

F．Don't forget to set your alarm clock and show up on the test day on time.

G．This test is a challenging one and every year many students are unable to qualify it just because of lack of guidance.

【推荐2】Tight-lipped elders used to say, “It’s not what you want in this world, but what you get.”

Psychology teaches that you do get what you want if you know what you want and want the right things.

You can make a mental blueprint of a desire as you would make a blueprint of a house, and each of us is continually making these blueprints in the general routine of everyday living. If we intend to have friends to dinner, we plan the menu, make a shopping list, decide which food to cook first, and such planning is an essential for any type of meal to be served.

Likewise, if you want to find a job, take a sheet of paper, and write a brief account of yourself. In making a blueprint for a job, begin with yourself, for when you know exactly what you have to offer, you can intelligently plan where to sell your services.

This account of yourself is actually a sketch of your working life and should include education, experience and references. Such an account is valuable. It can be referred to in filling out standard application blanks and is extremely helpful in personal interviews. While talking to you, you could-be employer is deciding whether your education, your experience, and other qualifications, will pay him to employ you and your “wares” and abilities must be displayed in an orderly and reasonably connected manner.

When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something tangible to sell. Then you are ready to hunt for a job. Get all the possible information about your could-be job. Make inquiries as to the details regarding the job and the firm. Keep your eyes and ears open, and use your own judgment. Spend a certain amount of time each day seeking the employment you wish for, and keep in mind: Securing a job is your job now.

1. What do the elders mean when they say, “It’s not what you want in this world, but what you get.”?

A．It’s no use dreaming.

B．It’s essential to set a goal.

C．You’ll probably get what you want.

D．You should be dissatisfied with what you have.

2. A blueprint made before inviting a friend to dinner is used in this passage as        .

A．a principle for job evaluation

B．a guideline for job description

C．an indication of how to secure a good job

D．an illustration of how to write an application for a job

3. According to the passage, one must write an account of himself before starting to find a job because        .

A．that is the requirement of the employer

B．that is the first step to please the employer

C．it forces him to become clearly aware of himself

D．it enables him to know when to sell his services

4. When you have carefully prepared a blueprint of your abilities and desires, you have something        .

A．practical to supply	B．definite to offer
C．imaginary to provide	D．desirable to present

【推荐3】Money Matters

Parents should help their children understand money. The best time to teach a child anything about money is when he shows an interest.So you may start talking about money when your child shows an interest in buying things, candy or toys, for example.

1.The basic function of money

Begin explaining the basic function of money by showing how people trade money for goods or services. It is important to show your child how money is traded for the things he wants to have. If he wants to have a toy, give him the money and let him hand the money to the cashier.    1     When your child grows a bit older and understands the basic function of money, you can start explaining more complex ways of using money.

2. Money lessons

Approach money lessons with openness and honesty.     2     If you must say no to a child’s request to spend money, explain, “You have enough toy trucks for now.” Or, if the request is for many different things, say, “You have to make a choice between this toy and that toy.”

3.    3    

Begin at the grocery store. Pick out two similar brands of a product — a name-brand butter and a generic, for example. You can show your child how to make choices between different brands of a product so that you can save money.    4    If he chooses the cheaper brand, allow him to make another purchase with the money saved. Later, you may explain how the more expensive choice leaves less money for other purchases.

A．Wise decisions.

B．The value of money.

C．Permit the child to choose between them.

D．Tell your child why he can—or cannot—have certain things.

E．Ask yourself what things that cost money are most important to you.

F．Talk about how the money bought the thing after you leave the toy store.

【推荐2】Dear Mummy,

This last trip to India with you has brought home to me a few hard facts- facts that I wanted to avoid seeing for some time. As you well know, you and I have had a few arguments and several days of tension during the trip. I must admit sometimes I really do not know how to communicate to you what I really feel. Words seem to fail on both sides. That's why I am writing this letter. Perhaps it will be a bit easier.        ①         

As I approach my seventeenth year, I suddenly ask myself where I belong.1 know this is the usual teenage identity crisis. You came to this country when you were slightly older than I am and married my father. You admired the American lifestyle and tried to be an American as much as you could. I am the daughter of you, a mother who is Indian, and a father who is American. Of course, I am American. Except for a few trips to India I have little to do with India outwardly. But I feel how much you would like me to     become Indian sometimes. I cannot explain it with examples. But I feel it in my bones. The India that you never quite shake off comes back to you now and you want to see your daughter live it, at least partly.        ②         

Yes, Mummy, I know I am wrapped up in many superficial (肤浅的) things, things my friends indulge in (沉迷于) and I can understand your need to protect me. But I am part of them and in order for me to be accepted by my friends, sometimes I need to do things which do not always please me either. I need their approval and I want to be like them sometimes. But your good intentions to teach me those good Indian things then clash. Although I dislike the superficiality of my friends, I cannot move back to your culture just because it is better for you or more ancient or deep.        ③          

My dearest mother, I cannot be protected by you. Forgive me if I remind you of something you related   to me many times. You could not be protected by my grandparents (your parents) when you decided to embrace this culture along with my father.       ④        Nor can you protect me despite the fact that we are not separated by physical distance. Perhaps we are separated by something else and I suspect that is India.

I have never written a letter like this before in my short life. I feel good about writing this and would like to hear what you have to say, Ma, perhaps you and I can still be friends in a way that you and your mother could not be. Let’s try. I love you.

Yours,

Rita

1. What can we learn from this letter?

A．Rita and her mother had a pleasant trip in India.

B．Rita always asks herself where she belongs.

C．Rita wants to be accepted by her friends.

D．Rita's mother allows her freedom to do as she wishes.

2. This sentence “Let me live the life I am surrounded by and suffer as I wish.” can be best placed at ______.

A．①	B．②
C．③	D．④

3. The underlined word “clash” in Paragraph 3 probably means ______

A．come into existence	B．come into disagreement
C．come into view	D．come into effect

4. Which words can best describe Rita's personality?

A．Hesitant and ignorant.	B．Thoughtful and generous.
C．Ambitious and humorous.	D．Independent and communicative.

5. Which kind of social problem can be reflected from this private letter?

A．Politics.	B．Race.
C．Religion.	D．Identity.

6. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Rita expects more protection from her mother.

B．Rita expects more Indian cultural influence from her mother.

C．Rita expects more communication and respect from her mother.

D．Rita expects more attention and care from her mother.

【推荐2】Two teenagers are lost at sea off the coast of the United States for six days on their small sailing boat. Without any food and drink, the boys drink sea water. They try slipping into the ocean to cool off, but sharks drive them back onto the boat. At night, they use a single wet suit to keep warm.

This is a real story of two American boys. Driscoll and his best friend, 18-year-old Josh Long, were found six days later and more than 100 miles from where they had set off from Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina, on April 24. The boys had lost a lot of water and were tired, but otherwise in pretty good shape.

They set out fishing on a 4.3-meter sailboat on a windy day when the National Weather Service had warned small boats to stay out of the water, but they didn’t care. They realized they were in trouble almost immediately and tried to swim back to shore, pulling the boat along with them. Within hours, they were far out to sea.

“We lost our fishing equipment, ” Driscoll said. “So we couldn’t catch any fish. ” The boys’ hopes faded with each day passing. They stood on their boat every time they saw another boat, waving and shouting, but without success. One night they were woken up by water coming into the boat. A large ship was very close to them.

A coast guard boat set out to look for them. The boys got up and made some noise. This time, they were heard.

“What we have is a completely surprising story of survival that’s going to be studied for years to come, ” said Richard Goerling, Long’s uncle, “I think the boys have a book to write. ”

1. The two boys got lost at the sea because _______.

A．they were not good at boating

B．they were separated from their parents while boating

C．they didn’t take the warning from National Weather Service seriously.

D．they went far into the sea to catch fish

2. During their stay at the sea, the boys _______.

A．suffered cold at night

B．lived on the fish they caught

C．fought against sharks

D．swam in the water to cool themselves off in the daytime

3. We can conclude from the text that _______.

A．the boys were saved on April 30

B．the boys went to the sea to go surfing

C．the boys were sleeping soundly when the boat passed by

D．some boats had found the boys but refused to offer help

4. It can be inferred from the last paragraph that _______.

A．the boys will write a book

B．something can be learned from the boys’ experience

C．children’s safety should be paid more attention to

D．the boys did very well when facing danger

【推荐3】Birds can fill any spring or summer day with music: All you have to do is open your window to hear crows “caw”, killdears call “kill—deah! Kill—deah!” and chickadees sing “chickadee—dee—dee”.

But come back an hour later, and you’ll still hear them singing the same song, repeatedly. That’s because they’re hard at work. These singers are usually male, and are singing their hearts out to guard their territory and attract a mate.

On the territorial front, the singers say, “This is my area and I’m letting everyone else, especially every other male in the area, know that this is my space.”

Other animals mark their territory by leaving their smell everywhere. Even people mark areas with fences. But birds don’t do it that way, they will sing. And they will sing that song over and over again.

And, if that song attracts a mate in the process, more power to the male. There are nearly 10,000 species of birds in the world, and every species is different, but oftentimes the females is the one that picks the mates.

The male’s songs basically express, “Hey, females, if you’re passing by, listen to me because I’ve got a beautiful song! I’m a healthy male! You should stop by and check me out!”

While the male is singing, he can’t look for food, and his calls make him more easily found by his killers. For females, it takes a lot of energy to lay eggs and raise young, so she wants to be sure she chooses the right mate before putting all his eggs in one basket, so to speak.

During the winter, birds often sing fewer notes, or just one note, to each other. These notes are simply a way to warn the strangers of their territory.

1. How do birds mark their territory?

A．By building nests on trees.	B．By telling others where food is.
C．By leaving their smell everywhere.	D．By singing the same song repeatedly.

2. How many reasons why birds sing are given?

A．Two.

B．Three.

C．Four.

D．Five.

3. When do birds sing most?

A．In winter.

B．In spring or winter.

C．In autumn.

D．In spring or summer.

4. In which section of a website can you probably read the text?

A．Health.

B．Sports.

C．Science.

D．Food.

【推荐1】Imagine meeting someone for the first time who comes from a distant country but is fluent in your language. Would you adapt the tone of your voice, or the spacing of pauses in your speech? How about adjusting your body language and facial expressions, depending on the background of the person in front of you?

These are just a handful of the shifts in behaviour that can contribute to what is known as your "cultural intelligence", or CQ.

"The number one predictor of your success in today's borderless world is not your IQ, or not even your expertise(专长)," writes social, scientist David Livermore in his book The Cultural Intelligence Difference. "It's your CQ."

Typically CQ is measured through a series of questions that assess four distinct components. The first is "CQ Drive"-the motivation to learn about other cultures. Then there is "CO Knowledge", which is an understanding of some of the general cultural differences you may face. "CQ Strategy" examines how you make sense of those difficult conflicts and learn from them, while "CQ Action" involves your behavioural flexibility-whether you are able to adapt your conduct like a cultural chameleon.

"While understanding a specific culture can be useful, it may not predict at all your ability to engage effectively in a new place," says Livermore. "In fact, our research finds that individuals who have lived in multiple locations for extended time are more likely to have higher CQ Knowledge than those who have lived multiple decades in one overseas setting."

Someone with low CO might have a tendency to judge everyone else's behaviour by his own cultural standards. If he comes from a more sociable environment, for instance, and notices that his Japanese colleagues are very quiet in a meeting, he may assume that they are being unfriendly or bored. A person at the top of the scale(级别), meanwhile, might realise that silence is a sign of respect and that feedback(反馈)won't be given unless it is explicitly required. As a result, he'll make sure to offer suitable opportunities within the meeting for others to provide their opinions.

1. Which of the following best describes "a cultural chameleon"?

A．Learning from other cultures to have a high CQ.

B．Taking action to overcome the communication barrier.

C．Getting along well with others despite cultural differences.

D．Changing behaviour according to the cultural background.

2. What is the best way to get high CQ Knowledge?

A．Experiencing a variety of different cultures.	B．Spending a long time in a specific culture.
C．Meeting people from a distant country.	D．Having personal experience in another culture.

3. What kind of people do the "Japanese colleagues" represent?

A．People with low CO.	B．People with high CQ.
C．People from a different culture.	D．People from a sociable environment.

4. Whom is the text mainly intended for?

A．Those who are going to be a social scientist.

B．Those who want to learn about CQ Knowledge.

C．Those who conduct some research on CQ and IQ.

D．Those who interact with people from different cultures.

【推荐2】Next time you go on holiday, it's going to feel pretty different. You may have to wear a face mask. And that means getting your point across in an unfamiliar language—all while keeping your mouth covered—could become a bit of a problem.

That's where the C-mask, by Japanese company Donut Robotics, comes in. It's a smart, Internet-connected mouth covering that can make calls, raise the wearer’s voice, and most helpfully for travelers, translate conversations into eight different languages.

If need be, you simply place it over a standard face mask and connect it via Bluetooth to a smartphone. A special app will then allow you to record live conversations, turn them into text and translate them into English, Chinese, French, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, Spanish or Vietnamese (currently only from Japanese)—making it easy to understand what people are saying. It won't actually speak the translated phrases for you, but it does have a built-in amplifier（扩音器）to help you make yourself heard.

“We worked hard for years to develop a robot and we have used what we've researched to create a product that responds to how COVID-19 has reshaped society,'' Donut's CEO recently told reporters. The firm has already raised more than 28 million yen via crowdfunding to develop the product, which will go on sale for 3 ,980 yen in Japan.

There are all manner of fashionable, eco-friendly masks you can now get your hands on— check out these in London, Singapore and Barcelona. But in creating an affordable, high-tech mask, Donut could well be on to something.

1. The C-mask is developed to _______.

A．seek fashion.	B．reshape society.
C．replace cellphones.	D．promote communication.

2. What’s the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．How the C-mask speaks.

B．How the C-mask works.

C．What advantages the C-mask brings.

D．What languages the C-mask translates.

3. What does the underlined phrase "be on to something" in the last paragraph mean?

A．take a look.	B．earn a living.
C．make a difference.	D．issue a warning.

4. In which column of a website do we probably read this text?

A．Health.

B．Tourism.

C．Fashion.

D．Technology.

【推荐3】Many ski resorts are built and opened in Beijing.Skiing has become a popular sport and enjoyed rapid growth in the past ten years.A lot of people have been very eager to add bright-coloured ski suits to their winter collections And many choose to start the Chinese New Year by gathering in ski resorts.They do not have to worry about Beijing’s dry weather which seldom produces snow.As long as it is cold enough,snow-making machines will manage to cover the hills in the north of the capital.

This craze(一时的狂热)for skiing is partly due to the fact that there has been an increasing number of private cars.Leisure industry has taken off in Beijing's suburbs,which were unreachable to ordinary people at first.One manager of a ski resort said that most visitors drove their own cars to his resort,while the others took buses rented by schools,businesses or government offices.

The craze seems to make huge profits for resort owners.But,according to the manager,making money is yet the biggest challenge,since starting and running ski resorts require a large amount of money.Hiring land from the local government,preparing the hills for skiing,buying enough snow-making machines,renting ski equipment and paying for water and electronic bills all cost a lot.

The ski resort where the manager works costs nearly four million dollars to get everything read.What makes things worse is that too many people want a share in the leisure industry.People rush into the business and a price war breaks out,which in turn makes it more difficult for resort owners to balance.But this is good news for consumers.Beijing now offers some of the cheapest ski training classes in the world.It also helps skiing continue its growth since the low price is likely to attract more newcomers.

1. What does this passage mainly talk about?

A．Convenience brought by private cars to skiers.

B．Skiing as a new way of enjoying one's spare time.

C．Things to be considered when starting a ski resort.

D．A sudden increase of ski training classes in Beijing.

2. What does the underlined words"leisure industry"in paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．Transport to ski resorts.

B．Production of family cars.

C．Business of providing spare time enjoyments.

D．Part-time jobs for people living in the suburbs.

3. What is the main problem in running a ski resort?

A．Difficulty in hiring land.	B．Lack of business experience.
C．Price wars with other ski resorts.	D．Shortage of water and electricity.