【推荐1】My brother belongs to a strange group known as birders. Together with his three friends who are likewise into the hobby of birding, they march on landfills, and hike through the wooded lands, each of them armed with a pair of binoculars (双筒望远镜), a digital camera, biscuits, and water. One of them carries a telescope which comes in handy in case they want to take a look at a bird up close.

Understandably, their clothing is light; their shoes are designed for comfort, and they never fail to bring with them hats. Moving at a slow pace, they go in search of birds. And, yes, they carry a field guide --- a manual for identifying birds.

It is interesting to note how my brother and his co-birders go through their hobby: first, they look for a bird (either with the naked eyes or with the help of their binoculars); when they find one, they identify it; they then write it down. In case they are unable to determine the bird’s identity, they search for it in the field guide. If the bird is not in the handbook, they take down notes, make a rough drawing representing the chief features of the bird, or even take a picture of it to be used as a future reference.

A device, called the National Geographic’s Handheld Birds Personal Digital Assistant, is available for those who plan to take up birding in North America. This handy device is a digital field guide containing more than one thousand five hundred visual representations of birds. It has a searchable database of over eight hundred North American bird species.

For those seriously considering birding as a hobby but having second thoughts for fear of catching the terrible bird flu, it is important to know that you can take up the hobby and be safe from the fatal disease if you strictly observe the slogan of birders worldwide: just watch, don’t catch.

1. Which of the following is TRUE about birders?

A．Their clothing is light and they never bring hats with them.

B．They carry a telescope to have a close look at the birds.

C．After they find a bird, they usually put it into the cage.

D．They go to search for birds moving at a rapid pace.

2. Why do birders take a field guide?

A．To take down notes.

B．To take pictures of birds.

C．To find the correct route.

D．To refer to information of birds.

3. The device mentioned in Para. 4 can help birders_________.

A．look for birds

B．look at birds closely

C．make a drawing of birds

D．recognize different birds

4. What should birders do if they want to be free from bird flu?

A．Avoid catching birds.

B．Keep away from birds.

C．Give up keeping birds.

D．Wear protective clothing.

【推荐3】In September, a tragedy happened on the west coast of Tasmania, Australia. As many as 470 pilot whales became stranded (搁浅的) in shallow water there and later died. This might have been Australia’s largest stranding event on record, the BBC reported.

But mass whale stranding is not uncommon. For centuries, it has happened all over the world and has puzzled scientists. Scientists say the cause is often unknown. But they have offered many different explanations.

Some say the whales chase small fish for food and end up in shallow water because they are not paying attention to where they are going.

Others think the stranding has something to do with Earth’s geomagnetic field. They say that a geomagnetic compass in whales’ brains controls their position. Unusual changes in Earth’s magnetic field can affect whales’ compasses and send them in the wrong direction.

Another explanation suggests that mass stranding is caused by the close relationships that whales have. Pilot whales travel in large groups. One lead whale might mistakenly lead the whole group to shallow water. “And if one gets into trouble, the others will not leave,” said Sheryl Gibney, a leading biologist from New Zealand. “Some will come and try to help. They get trapped on the beach, and then more will come.”

The whales are trapped by mistake or out of sympathy. Once they get stranded, they will likely die. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the US, less than 10 percent of all stranded whales survive.

1. What do we know about the stranding?

A．It happened on the east coast of Australia.

B．It is the world’s first stranding event on record.

C．It caused the death of over 400 pilot whales.

D．It broke a world record.

2. What does the underlined word “chase” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Run after.

B．Give up.

C．Help with.

D．Compete against.

3. According to Gibney, what will other whales do if their lead whale gets in trouble?

A．They will change their direction.

B．They will stay and try to help it.

C．They will push it near the beach.

D．They will travel with another group.

【推荐1】Nao, a small robot, looks like a person. If Nao begged you not to shut it off, what would you do? Would you follow its wishes?

Scientists did a study to see how people treat robots that act like people. Eighty-nine people volunteered for the study. They were asked to help to improve Nao’s social skills by finishing two tasks with it.

The tasks with the robot didn’t matter, though. What the scientists really wanted to see was how the participants (参与者) reacted once the tasks were over. They were asked to talk with Nao and finally shut Nao off but it was not easy to do. Some people did not want to turn the robot off while others take a long time to do it.

People often communicate with non-human objects such as TVs and computers nowadays. But robots seem more human than TVs. Robots can show social characters themselves, like speaking with human voices or taking the shape of a human body. Scientists said people might have seen Nao’s cries as a sign of independent thought. In turn, this could have led people to see the robot as having human-like characters. For thousands of years, humans have lived in a world where they are the only ones who could have conversations, the study said. Our brains have learned to react to social situations in a certain way. But our brains are not used to telling the difference between the real people and fake people. The robot expresses feelings and desires, which gets people to want to treat the robot as if it was alive.

1. What’s the purpose of the study?

A．To test how fast human-like robots do tasks.

B．To improve human-like robots’ facial expressions.

C．To invent human-like robots to keep people company.

D．To learn how people might respond to human-like robots.

2. In the study, what is special about the participants behavior?

A．They had feelings for Nao.

B．They refused Nao’s requests.

C．They shut Nao off immediately.

D．They praised Nao’s social skills.

3. What does the underlined word “fake” in the last paragraph probably mean?

A．Not active.

B．Not tall.

C．Not real.

D．Not smart.

4. The test is most probably taken from a magazine about ________.

A．healthy lifestyles	B．popular science
C．sport events	D．successful people

【推荐1】When I was about twelve, I headed to a restaurant for dinner with my family. It was a windy winter night. As my mom and I headed towards the restaurant from our car, a girl about my age and her mother came up to us. They asked if we had any spare change. My mom immediately asked where they kept their things. They pointed to an old car in a parking across the street. The girl said there were six of them living in that car, which was the same size as my own family.

My mom said she had something to do after handing the people a few dollars. She sent me inside the restaurant with my dad and my three siblings(兄弟姊妹).But she didn’t come.

Later, I found out she had gone home and practically emptied our cupboards into a few bags. Then, she brought that food over to the car and handed the bags to the family. I wasn’t there when that part happened, but I can only imagine the joy it brought to their faces.

A few days later, when I actually found out about what she had done, I asked her why she helped those people. She told me that they were not lucky. I remember the face of that girl who had asked us for change; she was the same age as me, yet we looked so different.

Here I stood, dressed in almost new clothes, headed to dine in a restaurant and then back home to the bedroom I shared with my younger sister. I remember thinking that the girl didn’t have any food to eat and that she was heading back to a cold car shared with five other people.

After painting this picture in my mind, I understood why my mom had done what she did. I will never forget what she did that night. And that night I also learned one of the best lessons she taught.

1. We learn from the passage that the girl about the writer’s age .

A．made friends with the writer

B．had her own bedroom

C．received a good education

D．lived a hard life

2. Which of the following is the right order of the story?
a. My mom gave the girl a few dollars.
b. My family was on the way to a restaurant.
c. My mom went home and brought some food.
d. We met with a girl and her mother asking for dollars.

A．b a c d	B．b d a c
C．d a c b	D．d c b a

3. Which of the following words can best describe the writer’s mother?

A．Patient.	B．Strict.
C．Kind.	D．Proud.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the writer will .

A．visit the girl in the near future

B．save as much money as possible

C．learn from her mother

D．deal with the world’s food problem

【推荐2】The French submarine is called Le Triomphant, meaning “the winner”. The name of the British submarine is Vanguard, meaning “the leading position in an army”. It’s clear from the submarines’ names that they were made for victory.

However, it was an accident, rather than a victory, that led these two submarines to recently make news headlines across the world.

On February 16, Britain and France admitted that two of their nuclear — armed submarines, HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant, collided while deep in the Atlantic in early February. Both submarines were on secret patrols (巡逻) and carrying nuclear arms when they collided.

Le Triomphant had no idea that it had run into HMS Vanguard until several days later. The French navy at first believed that Le Triomphant had hit an “object, probably a container (集装箱)”.

Investigations have begun to work out how such a collision could have happened. Both submarines are equipped with state-of-the-art (最先进的) technology that is supposed to find other submarines. Yet, neither submarine saw the other until it was too late.

One idea being considered was that their anti-sonar (抗声呐) equipment, which hides submarines, was just too effective in hiding one from the other.

Submarines use sonar to sense what is in the sea near them. Sonar is a submarine’s ear. Many sea animals use sonar as well. Dolphins produce high-pitched (声调高的) clicks. When these clicks hit an object, some of the sound will echo (发出回声) back to the “sender”. By listening to the echo and working out the time it took before the echo came back, the dolphin can work out how far away the object is.

There are two kinds of sonar: active sonar, which sends out signals, and passive sonar, which listens for signals with extremely sensitive microphones.

The two submarines were designed to be very quiet and as hidden as possible because a submarine’s job description (工作职责) is not to be found. Many modern submarines do not use active sonar, only passive sonar. This makes it very difficult for a submarine to “hear” if another submarine is near.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense (国防部) has said the collision did not lead to any radioactive leaks (放射物泄漏). The chance of a full nuclear explosion was almost impossible. However, experts say that if the walls of the submarines had broken, or a fire had been started, there could have been a major disaster.

A senior British Navy source told The Sun newspaper that the possible consequences of such a collision were “unthinkable”.

“It’s very unlikely there would have been a nuclear explosion. But a radioactive leak was a possibility. That would have been a national disaster.” he said.

1. What has made HMS Vanguard and Le Triomphant well known recently?

A．Their names carried very positive meanings.

B．They collided in the Atlantic this February.

C．They are both equipped with advanced technology.

D．They are both nuclear-armed submarines.

2. What’s the probable reason for the accident?

A．The two submarines were moving at a high speed.

B．Their anti-sonar equipment was too effective.

C．They were not equipped with active sonar.

D．The submarines were designed to be too quiet.

3. Which of the following is the right order in which the dolphin senses the object’s position?
a. The sound hitting the object.
b. Producing high-pitched sound.
c. The sound echoing back.
d. Working out the time to come back.
e. Receiving the sound.

A．b—a—c—d—e	B．d—a—e—c—b
C．b—c—d—a—e	D．b—a—c—e—d

4. Which of the following is NOT true about the passage?

A．Both of the submarines carried nuclear arms when they collided.

B．Many modern submarines do not use passive sonar so as to be as hidden as possible.

C．The collision may have caused a disaster if a fire had been started.

D．There would have been a nuclear explosion if the two submarines had collided harder.

【推荐3】Robert Ballard was born in 1942. From an early age, he loved the sea. Baliard grew up in Southern California. He spent his free time at the beach near his home. He enjoyed fishing and swimming. He even learned to dive.

When Ballard wasn't at the ocean, he loved reading about it. At age 10, he read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, a book which describes the undersea adventures of Captain Nemo. Ballard decided he wanted to be like Captain Nemo when he grew up. His parents helped him follow his dream.

Ballard was a hard­working student. He spent many years learning all he could about the ocean. By the age of 28, he was an expert. In 1970, he took a job as a scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts. There he studied underwater mountains of the Atlantic Ocean. He came up with ways to predict volcanoes under the oceans. Working with other scientists, Ballard also found previously unknown sea animals. These animals lived far below the ocean's surface, where scientists had believed no animals could live.

By the 1980s, Ballard's interests changed. He developed unmanned vehicles to explore the ocean bottom. His first find, the well­known ship Titanic, made Ballard famous. He was not happy with just one big find, however. He looked for—and found—other well­known ships. One was the German battleship Bismarck. Another was the U. S.S. Yorktown, an aircraft carrier that sank during World War Ⅱ.

Today Robert Ballard is still an underwater explorer. He also heads an organization that encourages students to learn about science. Ballard hopes that some of the students will follow in his footsteps. After all, the world's huge oceans are mostly unknown. Who knows what remains to be discovered under the sea?

1. When Ballard worked at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, he ________.

A．explored the undersea world by ship

B．thought of ideas to predict underwater volcanoes

C．found some unknown sea animals alone

D．set up an organization to teach students science

2. Which is the correct order of the events mentioned in the text about Ballard?
a. He found the German battleship Bismarck.
b. He read a book about Captain Nemo.
c. He found the famous ship Titanic.
d. He became an expert in science.

A．b—c—d—a	B．d—b—c—a
C．d—c—a—b	D．b—d—c—a

3. What can we learn from the text?

A．Ballard was greatly influenced by 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.

B．Ballard didn't like fishing and swimming in his childhood.

C．Ballard's parents felt disappointed at his undersea adventures.

D．Human beings have explored more than half of the sea.

【推荐1】Popular Houston Events

Brick Fest Live LEGO@(乐高积木）Fan Experience by Brick Fest Live

$22.50-$39.50

October 20, 10:00 am; October 21, 5:00 pm

NRG Center

The event is filled with attractions and activities designed to inspire, educate, and entertain people. It is for LEGOR lovers of all ages to roll up their sleeves and play with over a million LEGOR bricks! Now it comes to Houston for the first time!

Houston Fairytale Ball by Pretty Princess Parties

$20-$65

November 17, 9:00 am; November 18, 7:00 pm

Norris Conference Centers

Meet all the princesses at the Houston Fairytale Ball. This event is full of magical moments you won’t want to miss! Dance with Cinderella. Read with Rapunzel. Share snacks with Tinkerbell. All of our princesses travel to Huston this time, excited to sing, dance, and play with your little ones! Our event focuses on making sure your little ones feel royal throughout all of our activities.

Sickle Cell(镰状细胞）Education and Research Day by Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center

Free

October 6, 11:00 am:-3:00 pm

Kingdom Builders’ Center

It is an event for families of children with sickle cell disease. It provides families in Huston the opportunity learn about managing sickle cell in fun ways. There is a theme every year and this year’s theme is “The Greatest Me” and we look forward to seeing your family here! To make sure your child gets a T-shirt you must register (登记) no later than September 3.

2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge by KIDFITSTRONG

Free

November 4, 11:00 am-6:00 pm

Playgrounds in Houston

It is the nation’s largest mobile fitness event traveling from coast to coast aimed at keeping kids active and healthy. Kids of all ages have a chance to take courses designed to challenge speed, strength, and general physical fitness. The event is free to the public and features a variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

1. What event can you enter in early November?

A．Brick Fest Live LEGOR Fan Experience

B．Houston Fairytale Ball

C．Sickle Cell Education and Research Day

D．2019 KIDFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge

2. Where should you visit if you want to enjoy food as well as playing?

A．NRG Center.

B．Norris Conference Centers.

C．Kingdom Builders’ Center

D．Playgrounds in Houston.

3. Which of the following hosts may organize events locally and regularly?

A．Brick Fest Live.

B．Pretty Princess Parties.

C．Texas Children’s Sickle Cell Center.

D．KIDFITSTRONG.

4. What do the four events share?

A．They last for two days.

B．They are free of charge.

C．They are family-friendly.

D．They focus on health problems.

【推荐2】Food & Drink Service. We offer snacks like chocolate, crisps, biscuits and salted peanuts. A wide range of soft drinks, fruit juice, tea, milk, yoghourt, vegetable juice and mineral water can be provided. However, since taking a flight may be a process of removing water from your body, water and nonalcoholic beverages are strongly advised.

Electronic Facilities. Cellular phones, FM/AM radios, portable television sets and electronic toys with remote controls must not be used in the cabin, as their signals may interfere with the aircraft’s navigational instruments. Laptop computers and CD (MD, MP3) players may be used during cruising portions of the flight but not during the take-off and landing.

In-flight Entertainment. A wide selection of international publications are available for your reading pleasure. You may keep this free copy of Morning Calm magazine, but kindly return all other reading materials after you have finished with them for the benefit of fellow passengers. A selection of music is available on eight channels, from channel 3 to 10. The channel changer is on your armrest. We also offer a selection of popular films; you may listen in English on channel 2. Poker and chess are available on request, and we have free postcards and stationery.

Medical Needs. We keep a selection of nonprescription medicine for any passenger suffering from mild sicknesses. An emergency medical kit is also accessible for more serious illnesses.

Travelling with Infants and Children. Baby bassinets (摇篮式婴儿床) are provided on a first come first serve basis and should be requested at the time of booking. Special meals for children and infants can be served if the request is made 24 hours before departure. Selected giveaways for children aged 2 to 12 are available on all international flights.

1. The services above are probably offered by ________.

A．a travel agency	B．an airline
C．a medical center	D．a five-star hotel

2. If you turn on Channel 5 on your armrest, what will you enjoy?

A．International news.	B．Poker and chess.
C．Fashion magazines.	D．Popular music.

3. When should a passenger request special meals for children and babies?

A．24 hours before departure.	B．At the time of booking.
C．Soon after the take-off.	D．At the time of landing.

【推荐3】Volcanoes, Beaches, and Rainforests.

Explore Costa Rica on a Fully Guided Tour with Caravan.

$1295 Costa Rica Natural Paradise 9-Day Tour

All-inclusive with All Hotels, All Meals, and All Activities

Call Now for Choice Dates

Caravan makes It so easy and-so affordable- for you and your family to visit Costa Rica. Explore volcanoes, beaches, and rainforests. Your Costa Rica tour is fully guided and all-inclusive with all hotels, all meals, all ground transportation, and all activities with a professional Tour Director from start to finish. Visit Caravan.com for tour details, weather, airport   transfers, hotel photos, frequently asked questions, and more. Discover why smart shoppers and experienced travelers have chosen Caravan since 1952. Caravan handles all the details while you and your family enjoy a well-c armed, worry-free Costa Rica vacation.

"All hotels were excellent! There is no way I would have stayed in such wonderful and fantastic hotels without Caravan." -Client, Salinas, California "We found the people of Costa Rica very nice and friendly. We were very impressed with Caravan." -Client, Pottstown, Pennsylvania "This was the best vacation I had. It is the only way to see Costa Rica." -Client, Piano, Texas "Brilliant, Affordable Pricing." -Arthur Frommer, Travel Editor

Choose an Affordable Tour 10 days Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island                                               10 days Guatemala with Tikal 9 days Canadian Rockies, Glacier Park                                                            8 days Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion 9 days Costa Rica Natural paradise                                                                        8 days New England Fall Foliage Free Tour Catalog                                                               Call-1-800-CARAVAN Caravan.com

1. What is Caravan according to the passage?

A．A travel agency.	B．A tourist brochure.
C．A famous guide.	D．A native of Costa Rica.

2. Who is impressed with the reasonable price of the tour?

A．Salinas.	B．Pottstown.
C．Plano.	D．Arthur Frommer.

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce Cost a Rica.

B．To attract more travelers.

C．To present some comments from visitors.

D．To remind people of some unforgettable tours.