【推荐1】When was the last time your family sat down together to have a dinner?

The speed at which we live today no longer allows for slow eating habits. Most people work long hours. There is lots of fast food and eating out is now on the increase. Often, food is eaten in front of the television in silence, or a child eats alone in front of the computer.

When I was a child, every evening around the same time, one of the children would be asked to set the table, and then we'd go and wash our hands: before the meal. This was the time of day when we would talk about our day at school. But now things have changed a lot.

A family environment plays an important role for children in learning to communicate with others and understanding table manners, such as waiting for others to finish before leaving the table and not speaking with a mouth full of food. Parents’ likes and dislikes of a certain food will also influence a child's own likes and dislikes. Studies have shown that children who often eat with their families have better results at school than children who eat with their families less than twice a week.

Regular meal times give children the chance to discuss their problems with family members. They can also learn to respect others around the table. Talking to your children over dinner is the best way of having their-trust. Children learn good eating habits from their parents at a very young age. Family meals are important. Prepare them for your children.

1. Children who often eat with their families _________.

A．prefer to share food with others.

B．turn out to do better in their studies.

C．show concerns about families.

D．are interested in cooking.

2. Some families eat less together because __________.

A．table manners change a lot

B．most children live in a school

C．food in the restaurant is better

D．people are busy with their work

3. Which word can best describe the writer's attitude towards eating together with families?

A．Doubtful.

B．Supportive.

C．Worried.

D．Grateful.

【推荐2】No matter what Gary did, it was never enough to please his father.    1     When he described the wonderful girl he’d fallen in love with, he got a lecture warning him that she might be different than he thought.

    2    He tried to talk him out of it, explaining the advantages of being close to the family and the disadvantages of moving. Finally, Gary got angry, “Dad, I’m moving to get away from you!    3    ”

This time, to Gary’s surprise, his dad said with tears in his eyes, “All I ever wanted was to make you better and help you to be successful and avoid risks.     4     It’s why my business is so successful. Do you want me to ignore my experience and just be a cheerleader?”

“Dad, our relationship isn’t about productivity,” Gary explained. “You’re my dad. Sometimes I need praise more than a push and approval (赞同) more than advice.     5     It’s not enough that you love me; I need you to appreciate me.”

That’s an important lesson. In personal relationships, there may be benefits to the endless pursuit (追求) of better, but the cost may be too high.

A．It’s what I do.

B．I can understand you.

C．Always trying to make me better just makes me feel worse.

D．I promise I’ll stand by your side forever no matter what happens.

E．When he got seven A’s and three B’s, his dad asked about the B’s.

F．I love you, but I can’t stand the way you tear down everything I do.

G．Gary’s dad was surprised and hurt when Gary took a job in another town.

【推荐3】In any family with more than one child, children seem to naturally compete for their parents’ love and attention. Parents say they love every child equally. But is that true?
Susan, founder of a consulting firm in Chicago, interviewed 216 women and found that even though none of her questions asked directly about a parent favoring one child over another, about two-thirds of the women said there was a favored child. And             they also remembered their experience when they were young. One of the women said, “My mother always liked my brother better, and he got to go to summer camp in 1968 and I didn’t.”
Plumez, who interviewed parents with both biological children and adoptive children for an adoption book in 2008, found that what matters most is whether your temperaments(性情) are pleasing. “In some cases, parents would say they felt closer to their adopted children,” she says, “Some parents like the children with characters similar to theirs. Two people who are shy and withdrawn might get along well, unless the shy parent doesn’t like that aspect of themselves and they try to push the naturally withdrawn child to be more extroverted.”
It could be a result of gender, birth order or how easy or difficult a child’s temperament may be, but a parent’s different treatment has far-reaching effects. Students have found that less-favored children may suffer emotionally, with decreased self-esteem             and behavioral problems in childhood. Favoritism is a reason for the next generation not to like each other.
Experts say it is not realistic to say everyone should be treated equally, because no two people are the same and they relate differently to others.
“It does not mean that parent loves or likes one child more. It has to do with which one of them is independent,” says psychologist Laurie Kramer of the University of Illinois.
1. The study carried out by Susan shows that ______.

A．showing favoritism is common in many families

B．most mothers like their sons better than their daughters

C．only two-thirds of the women interviewed have more than a child

D．it is a favoritism that leads to absence of harmony in most families

2. The underlined word “extroverted” in the third paragraph means _______.

A．independent

B．outgoing

C．clever

D．brave

3. What can we infer from the passage?

A．Favoritism is not beneficial to the development of children

B．Parents’ favoritism to a certain child can’t be avoided in families

C．Parents may be favoring one of their children and don’t realize it

D．People are very much shaped by how they were treated by their parents

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Parents’ favoritism can affect children deeply

B．Why do parents show favoritism to children?

C．Parents should give attention to all their children

D．Building a harmonious family is important to children

【推荐1】When I was 16 years old, a boy gave me an important gift.    1    

It was the early autumn of my first year at junior high school, and my old school was far away.    2    I was very lonely, and afraid to make friends with anyone.

Every time I listened to other students talking and laughing, I felt sad. I couldn’t talk with anyone about my problems. And I didn’t want my parents to worry about me.

Then one day, my classmates talked happily with their friends, but I sat at my desk unhappily as usual.    3     I didn’t know who he was. He passed me and then turned back. He looked at me, with a smile on his face.

Suddenly, I felt the touch of something bright and friendly. It made me feel happy, lively and warm.

    4     I started to talk with other students and make friends. Day by day, I became closer to everyone in my class. The boy with the lucky smile has become my best friend now!

One day, I asked him why he smiled, but he couldn’t remember smiling at me. It doesn’t matter because all the dark days have gone.    5     If you think it lonely, you might always be alone. So smile at the world and it will smile back.

A．It was a smile.

B．That smile changed my life.

C．As a result, no one knew who I was.

D．He’s living in Australia now and he loves it.

E．At that moment, a boy entered the classroom.

F．It’s practically impossible to make friends here.

G．I believe that the world is what you think it is.

【推荐3】One key to getting along well with people is knowing when to say you’re sorry. But it’s hard to apologize.    1     Sometimes we just don’t know how to do it. Here are some tips that may make it easier to say you’re sorry.

    2     The first step in apologizing is to admit to yourself that you have offended someone. And then it’s important to let the person you hurt know that you didn’t mean to do harm. At the same time, you must show that you take your mistakes seriously. Recognize that your actions caused a problem for the other person.

Show your regret. The other person needs to see that you have suffered, too.    3     For instance, “I felt bad the minute I told your secret. I am ashamed of myself.”

Repair the damage.    4     If you damaged someone’s property, offer to fix it. If the damage isn’t so obvious, ask, “What can I do to make it up to you?” There may be nothing concrete(具体的）you can do, but the offer must be sincere. “I’ll try to keep my mouth shut in the future. Meanwhile, let me buy you a cup of coffee.” Another way to repair the damage is to send a note or a small gift.

Use good timing.    5     For example, if you bump(碰撞）into someone, say you’re sorry right away. Don’t wait until the next day to apologize. However, if you have done something more serious, like insulting (侮辱）a friend, your apology should be more thoughtful. A quick apology might seem insincere. Take the time to sit down, look the person in the eye, and apologize honestly.

Remember, it’s not about who “won” or “lost”. It’s about keeping a strong friendship.

A．Take responsibility and explain.

B．An apology must correct the injury.

C．Apologize right away for little things.

D．Many of us are ashamed or have too much pride.

E．Come right out and say you are sorry or ashamed.

F．Sometimes little comments or actions can hurt or offend others.

G．You may know it right away that you have done something hurtful.

【推荐1】Now some women are spending a weekend at Mother’s Camp（营地）. There, husbands and children are not allowed. Why would a woman want to take a vacation without her family? Some women say they need time to be alone.
At Mother’s Camp a woman has room to herself. She can sleep, read or watch TV, and no one will bother her. No children will ask, “Mom, what’s for dinner?” No husband will say, “Oh, dear, I can’t find any clean socks.” In fact almost 50% of women in the United States work outside the home. Many of them work full-time and then come home to a second job----taking care of their homes and families. These working women say one of their biggest problems is housework.
In the United States, working wives do about 75% of the housework. Many of their husbands say they want to help. But then they burn the rice or they can’t find the pans. They ask so many questions that their wives decide it is easier to do the job themselves.
Some women go to Mother’s Camp just to get a break from housework. For two days they don’t cook, they don’t clean, they don’t look after their children and husbands. What do they do? They enjoy warm, sunny weather, walking, swimming or boating in a clear blue lake and sing songs around the campfire. They relax away from home. They have a really wonderful vacation at Mother’s Camp.
1. From this passage we can see      in the United States.

A．women want to work outside the home

B．working wives do most of the housework

C．husbands do as much housework as their wives

D．women do not like to stay at home with their families

2. At Mother’s Camp, women can’t         .

A．watch TV	B．read newspapers
C．swim in the lake	D．bring their husbands and children

3. Why would some mothers like to be alone? Because        .

A．they don’t like their husbands and children

B．they have to work full-time

C．they are too busy to relax themselves

D．they want a new life

4.         is one of the biggest troubles for working wives in the United States.

A．Housework	B．Working outside the home
C．When to take a vacation	D．Looking after their children

5. What’s the best title for this passage?

A．Busy Working Mothers	B．Welcome to Mother’s Camp
C．Mothers Relax Away from Home	D．Mothers in the US

【推荐2】It was ugly. It was the worst Christmas present I had ever received. I quickly pretended joy. After all, Michael, my four-year-old son, had bought it at his school’s Christmas market.

“ I bought it for you,mama,” he said, offering it up to me, face smiling, eyes big, blue and bright. “ We’ll...put it... here..on...on the..kitchen table,” I said.

The rest of the house was filled with beautiful, natural materials from the garden. In the summer, I operated a garden gift shop at the bottom of my yard. I also hosted an open house on the main floor of our home in late November, featuring high-end gifts for gardeners as well as natural items. And each year, I proved unique and attractive ways to bring the outdoors in with wonderful, creative decorating ideas. How uncomfortably my son’s addition looked in the middle of all the natural beauty.

Soon my older children burst through the door, excited to tell the adventures of their day and show their valuable things. Within seconds, the kitchen table was loaded with treats: cheerfully decorated cupcakes, a couple of packages of homemade sweets, candy canes, and a few of the small crafts some of the moms had prepared for the kids to buy with their allowance money.

“ Where are the rest of things you bought?” I asked Michael, hoping hadn’t eaten them at school or on the way home.”

“I spent all my money on your presents,” he said proudly. “You spent all your money on me?” I asked, unbelieving that a four-year-old boy would avoid candy and cupcakes and crafty(巧妙的） creations designed with kid-appeal in order to buy a present for his mom. Ugliness suddenly turned into beauty. Overjoyed, I hugged both my son and his gift.

1. When Michael gave the gift the mom, he felt_________.

A．proud	B．nervous
C．shy	D．embarrassed

2. According to paragraph 3, Michael’s gift_______.

A．added beauty to the natural room	B．was out of place in the room
C．was a sign of high-end gifts	D．decorated the room in a unique way

3. What might be the most suitable title for the passage?

A．The Most Beautiful Ugliest Gift	B．The Christmas Gift from My Son
C．The Cheapest Gift for Mom	D．The Gift of a Sincere Mind

【推荐3】My 12-year-old niece was staying with us for a couple of days. She was remembering some acts of kindness that we did together when she was less than five years old. We talked about how so much had changed. and with the outbreak of COVID-19, how difficult it would be to do so many of those things, especially when it comes to strangers.

The next day, I needed something from the downtown area and happened to take her with me. As we walked around on the street, we heard a beautiful male voice singing a very soulful song. We tuned around to see a middle-aged man sitting on a street comer with his guitar. A couple were sitting on a bench nearby and listening to his music.

After getting a few things done, we happened to sit at an outdoor dining restaurant across from him on the other side of the street. My niece was learning how to sing herself, and she kept smiling and saying how wonderful his singing was. Seeing how moved she was by his music, at the end of our meal, I gave her a ten-dollar bill and asked her to walk across the street and put it in his bowl.

She was a little surprised. “Really? ” she asked with bright eyes. I nodded. So she headed over and as she approached, the man was just finishing a song and started talking to her, and they ended up having a sweet conversation. She told him how touched she was by his music, and he ended up telling her that she made his day. As she was excitedly repeating the conversation back to me, she mentioned, “He didn’t even know how much it was. He was just thankful that someone was enjoying his music. ”

1. What did the author and her niece do in the first paragraph?

A．They thought back to the past.

B．They decided to do good deeds outside.

C．They made a plan for going downtown.

D．They talked about meeting more strangers.

2. What caught the author and her niece’s attention on the street?

A．A man’s guitar.	B．An outdoor dining restaurant.
C．A couple sitting nearby.	D．A charming male voice.

3. What did the author want her niece to do?

A．Talk with the man.	B．Praise the man.
C．Learn music from the man.	D．Offer some financial help to the man.

4. What do we know from the meeting of the man and the author’s niece?

A．They shared singing skills.	B．They felt grateful to each other.
C．The man took pride in his singing.	D．The girl introduced the author to the man.

【推荐2】Throughout history, people have been interested in knowing how languages first began, but no one knows exactly where or how this happened. However, we do know a lot about languages, the languages of today and also the languages of earlier times. There are probably about 3,000 languages in the world today. Chinese is the language with the most speakers. English, Russian and Spanish are also spoken by many millions of people. On the other hand, some languages in the world have less than one hundred speakers.

There are several important families of languages in the world. For example, most of the languages of Europe are in one large family called Indo-European. The original (最初的) language of this family was spoken about 4,500 years ago. Many of the present day languages of Europe and India are modern forms of the language of 4,500 years ago.

Languages are always changing. The English of today is very different from the English of 500 years ago. In time some even died out completely. About 1,000 years ago, English was a little-known relative of German spoken on one of the borders of Europe.

If a language has a large number of speakers or if it is very old, there may be differences in the way it is spoken in different areas. That is, the language may have several dialects. Chinese is a good example of dialect differences. Chinese has been spoken for thousands of years by many millions of speakers. The differences between the dialects of Chinese are so great that speakers of Chinese from some parts of China can’t understand speakers from other parts.

1. The first paragraph mainly tells us that ____ .

A．most people in the world speak Chinese

B．there are thousands of languages in the world today

C．man has much knowledge about languages

D．some people know several languages

2. According to the passage, most European and Indian languages ____ .

A．will soon die out completely	B．were once a relative of English
C．are no longer spoken	D．come from the same family

3. According to the passage, ____ has the most speakers.

A．Chinese

B．English

C．Spanish

D．German

4. According to the passage, ____ seems to have changed a lot.

A．German

B．English

C．Spanish

D．Chinese

5. The underlined word dialect in the last paragraph probably means ____ .

A．a special language spoken by Chinese

B．the sign used by the Chinese people in a special area

C．the difference between the old and today’s Chinese

D．the form of a language used in one part of the country

【推荐3】Just picture your favorite Disney cartoon characters： Mickey Mouse， Minnie Mouse， Donald Duck， Goofy， Bugs Bunny， Pinocchio， etc． There's an extremely high chance that a whole host of Disney's most popular cartoon characters share a common fashion choice﹣they all wear a pair of white gloves． Although there are many surprising facts about Disney's most famous characters， putting gloves on animation（动画片）characters is actually a pretty reasonable move．

The creation of hand﹣drawn cartoons is a difficult and tiring process． It takes time and precision（精确度）to create the characters you know and love． At that time， animators wanted to make their job a touch faster with a few techniques． One of these techniques was using round edges（边）instead of angles（角）． So this also meant simplifying features， such as hands， to make the animation process quicker．

Still， in the age of black and white cartoons， separating characters' round﹣edged hands from their black bodies was hard． Gloves were an easy way to make their hands stand out． In fact， Walt Disney might have been the first to put gloves on his characters in The Opry House， starring Mickey Mouse． When animation moved away from black and white， Mickey and all of his friends still kept their signature white gloves．

Besides keeping the animation simple， Walt Disney told his biographer， Bob Thomas， that the gloves were also designed to anthropomorphize the mouse． "We didn't want him to have mouse hands because he was supposed to be more connected with people，" Disney told Thomas in 1957， according to The New York Times． "So we gave him gloves． Five fingers seemed like too much on such a little figure， so we took away one．" All this nostalgic Disney talk makes us want to go back and look at these 18 classic photos of Mickey Mouse．

1. Why did animators prefer round edges rather than angles？

A．Round edges look better．

B．Round edges are easier to draw．

C．Round edges can be more popular．

D．Round edges seem more reasonable．

2. What does the underlined word "anthropomorphize" mean？

A．Humanize．

B．Beautify．

C．Modernize．

D．Simplify．

3. What do we know about Mickey Mouse？

A．It first appeared in The Opry House．

B．It has only four fingers on each hand．

C．Its white gloves have its own signatures．

D．Its popularity was due to the black body．

4. What is the text mainly about？

A．Why Disney characters have little in common．

B．Why most Disney characters are so popular．

C．Why most Disney characters wear gloves．

D．Why Disney created its cartoon characters．