【推荐1】Earlier today,a volcano erupted on New Zealand’s White Island for the first time in nearly two decades. Early reports indicate that the event has already claimed at least five lives,and emergency recovery efforts are still underway.

Unlike some volcanic events at known hot spots,the volcano provided little hint that it was ready for an eruption,making it difficult for officials to warn visitors that the destructive event was a-bout to occur.

As CNN reports a group of 23 visitors was near the volcano shortly before it erupted. The five individuals who have been confirmed dead were from that group,while everyone else suffered a variety of injuries.

The visitors that were on the island were members of a tourist group from a cruise ship known as Ovation of the Seas. The vessel is operated by Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. At the moment,it’s not believed that there is anyone else on the island.

“Based on the information we have,we do not believe there are any survivors on the island, “a police statement explains. “Police is working urgently to confirm the exact number of those who have died,further to the five confirmed deceased already. “

Tourists who said they were on the island just shortly before the eruption shared videos of the volcano spitting dust and debris on social media. As can be seen in the brief video here,the entire island appears as though it’s been swallowed up by the volcanic smoke and dust.

Additional video shot from a different location appears to show tourists stuck on the island,near the shore,away from the site of the eruption.

Boats from other tour groups picked up others who were attempting to flee,but the confused nature of the rescue efforts has left some still unaccounted for. Rescue crews are continuing their efforts as we speak.

1. Based on the passage,which of the following is NOT true about the volcano?

A．It has been sleeping for about twenty years.

B．Officials failed to warn visitors of its eruption.

C．It is a must-go attraction for tourists to the island.

D．Its eruption produced large amounts of smoke and dust.

2. According to the police statement in the passage,what conclusion can we draw?

A．All survivors have been rescued from the island.

B．Tourists should stay away from the erupting volcano.

C．There can’t be more deaths except for the five confirmed ones.

D．Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is responsible for the loss of lives.

3. What can be inferred from the passage?

A．This volcano is not an active one.

B．The exact number of deaths remains unknown.

C．New Zealand’s White Island is not a hot scenic spot.

D．The other 18 tourists of the group are still stuck on the island.

4. Where is this passage most likely to appear?

A．In a newspaper.

B．On the Internet.

C．In a magazine.

D．On TV.

【推荐3】A great number of people can get injured or even killed resulting from a human stampede (踩踏).The bad thing is that a peaceful group of people can quickly become concerned and panicked(恐慌).     1    . If you are in a crowd, the most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings and mentally notice the exits. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out.     2    . If you are in a crowd of moving people, wet ground can be slippery or dangerous, causing you to fall.

Be aware of the general atmosphere of the event, as panic situations can often be expected. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference. If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down.     3    . Take advantage of any space that may open up and try to move sideways to the crowd movement where the flow is weaker.

    4    .—It gives you movement and protects your chest.

If you fall, get up quickly. If you fall and cannot get up, keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd, or if that is not possible, then cover your head with your arms and curl (蜷缩) up.     5    . Sometimes, finding a right posture(姿势) can save your life.

A．Make yourself know the type of ground you are standing on

B．Do not lie on your stomach or back, as this dangerously leaves your lungs unprotected

C．If you are stepped on, you should shout for help

D．Instead, move in the same direction of the crowd

E．Keep your hands up by your chest, like a boxer

F．What’s worse is that the stampede can be caused while there seems no actual danger

G．Raise your arms to the full length

【推荐1】Robots come in many shapes and sizes, but scientists in Zurich, Switzerland, have developed one new robot called Pleurobot, which looks and acts just like a salamander (火蜥蜴).

To create the robot, scientists took hundreds of X-rays of real salamanders. They studied the images of these animals to see which joints (关节) and muscles the animals use as they move. Then the scientists built the Pleurobot’s skeleton to move just like the real thing. This makes the robot’s movements incredibly lifelike.

According to experts, salamanders were among the first animals to develop a skeleton and nervous system that allowed them to travel on land. “By studying the modern salamander, we have a time window to the ancestors of all vertebrates (脊椎动物), including humans,” Auke Ijspeert, the designer of the robot, told scholastic News Online.

Both people and salamanders have a spinal cord (脊髓). An injury to the spinal cord can result in the inability to move. Now, there is no cure for paralysis (瘫痪). Ijspeert hopes that the Pleurobot can help change that. Because these studies could help researchers develop new ways to help people who have been paralyzed by spinal cord injuries.

Scientists think that the Pleurobot could also be used for search-and-rescue tasks too dangerous for humans. Because the robot is low to the ground and has a wide range of motion, it could be used to get into dangerous places, like fallen buildings, to look for survivors. Thanks to its waterproof suit, the robotic salamander could even participate in underwater missions.

Experts are now working on a smaller, sturdier (harder to break) model of the Pleurobot. They expect this one to be even better suited for getting into small spaces to do dangerous work.

1. What is Paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．How real salamanders move.

B．What the Pleurobot looks like.

C．Why scientists invented the Pleurobot.

D．How scientists designed the Pleurobot.

2. What does the underlined word “that” in Paragraph 4 refer to?

A．The shape of the spinal cord.

B．The movement of robotic animals.

C．The problem of spinal cord injuries.

D．The way the brain controls the spinal cord.

3. Which of the following can best describe the Pleurobot?

A．Fashionable.	B．Entertaining.
C．Functional.	D．Power-saving.

4. The text is most probably ________.

A．a news report	B．a research paper
C．an advertisement	D．an official document

【推荐3】Plants: we eat them, juice them, weave them — and now it seems we can mine them too!

After a successful experiment on the island of Borneo, Botany Professor Alan Baker and a group of researchers want to introduce phytomining (harvesting minerals from plants) as a better, partial substitute for traditional mining.

Phytomining means collecting metal from live plants. However, this can only be done with a group of plants known as “hyperaccumulators.” They naturally attract and absorb minerals through their roots and then store huge, pure concentrations of these minerals in their bodies. The metal can then be extracted from the plant’s sap (液), oil, or sometimes even live tissue.

The term “phytomining” was coined in 1983 by Rufus Chaney of the US Department of Agriculture, who had worked with Baker in early phytomining experiments. But the idea of plant-mining was actually thought of 500 years ago by German scientist Georgius Agricola, who smelted leaves to identify the metals underground.

Baker and his colleagues see a lot of potential in phytomining. Not only can it help meet the growing global demand for metals, but is also a way of undoing some of that damage to the environment by traditional mining.

One of the biggest problems with traditional mining is that it pollutes the surrounding area. Phytomining can extract that metal waste, plus planting the hyperaccumulators would regrow the deforested areas created by mining operations.

Aside from this, if phytomining is able to replace part of traditional mining, then there would be fewer instances of bad mining practices like abandoned mines, which pollute the nearby waters. Also, since phytomining provides metal that is already naturally pure, there is no need to use huge amounts of energy to purify the ore (矿石).

However, phytomining has its drawbacks. Harvesting plants on a large scale is expensive today, compared to traditional mining. Besides, plants can be wiped out by diseases or unexpected weather conditions.

However, there are many reasons to consider phytomining. It gives us the hope that our advancement doesn’t mean sacrificing Mother Earth.

1. What makes hyperaccumulators different from other plants?

A．The ability to take in and store metals.

B．The ability to process various nutrition.

C．Their roots deep through the earth.

D．Their oil extracted from live plant tissue.

2. Which is the disadvantage of phytomining?

A．It can pollute the nearby area.

B．It can waste huge amounts of energy.

C．It can do harm to our climate.

D．It can be affected by bad weather.

3. What can we learn about phytomining?

A．The term came up even 500 years ago.

B．Its potential mainly lies in lower cost, compared to traditional mining.

C．It can make up for the damage caused by traditional mining.

D．It uses clean energy sources to purify the ore.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Future of phytomining	B．Metals from plants
C．Solutions to pollution	D．Experiments on plants

【推荐1】Craig Blackburn, a father and car fan, built a Batmobile for his son's hope for using the vehicle to brighten the lives of sick children. And now he hopes to use it for more than just his son's hope after seeing the children's reaction to the Batmobile.

Based on the number of failures he had seen in car groups, he estimated that only about one in 50 attempted constructions was actually finished and he realized what an incredible opportunity he had.

Mr. Blackburn started the project at the beginning of 2018 after hearing a friend in the US was doing the same thing. It started with importing an outer shell overseas, before picking brains of friend who had a background as a worker in a car factory to gain knowledge of how to build the car. With the help of his friend, Mr. Blackburn built the Batmobile in 18 months with the cost reaching six figures.

Mr Blackburn hoped to add flamethrower(喷火器)onto the back of the vehicle and said he had thought about building the more recent Batman Tumbler from the series film Dark Knight. Though Mr. Blackburn encountered plenty of difficulties to get over during the construction, in September 2019, the car made its first show at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba, before being used by Blackburns son for his hope.

“It was great. It was so good to see the kids and adults excitement at seeing the Batmobile.” Mr. Blackburn said. As a result, the car lovers hope to make the car work on the roads as soon as possible .so he can visit sick children and take them out with his son.

1. What is Craig Blackburns initial purpose of making the Batmobile?

A．To realize his son's dream.

B．To donate it to sick children.

C．To pay his respects to the film Dark Knight.

D．To show off at the Carnival of Flowers in Toowoomba.

2. How did Blackburn feel about the car-making at first?

A．Unsure.

B．Hopeful.

C．Confused.

D．Hopeless.

3. How did Blackburns friend help him?

A．By making an outer shell for him.

B．By offering him financial support.

C．By sharing the knowledge of building cars.

D．By telling him the background of the car factory.

4. What is the car lovers expectation of the Batmobile?

A．It will be driven soon on the roads.

B．It can be displayed around the world

C．It can change the lives of sick children.

D．It will appear in the next film about Batman.

【推荐2】The Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa is one of the richest wildlife regions in the African continent. Over 200 species of mammals and 350 different birds can be found in its vast plains, grasslands and forests.

I spoke to Michael Rattray, chairman of the Sabi Sand management committee, about the management policies. “If in a thousand years' time the reserve is still a wonderful habitat for wildlife, then we will have succeeded in our mission. Various measures are being put in place. These include dealing with the problem of erosion (侵蚀). In 1996 we had abnormally high rainfall. This could have been absolutely destructive. However, we have successfully fought erosion using gabion stretchers, which are wire baskets filled with rocks. We have also used a lot of old aerial photographs, which have helped us return the land to its earlier state. This meant recreating open grassland areas to attract different types of animals,”he said.

Apart from these measures, the reserve employs a wide range of local workers. Building staff accommodation of any sort would make a big impact on the environment and would go against the aim of keeping the reserve as natural as possible. Instead, transport is provided so employees can live a normal life with their families outside the area, and the human impact is kept to a minimum.

Visitors to the reserve spend about six hours a day in open vehicles, observing wildlife on game drives. They are accompanied by a ranger and a local tracker. I shall never forget the moment on a game drive when a cheetah with her five cubs was pointed out to me. She was lying in a sea of long yellow grass, her markings almost invisible. We got close enough to hear her purr.

The Sabi Sand Game Reserve is a place where animals have no fear of humans. It is impossible to quantify the benefits of spending time in such an environment.

1. What helped solve the problem of erosion?

A．High rainfall.	B．Gabion stretchers.
C．Empty baskets.	D．Aerial photographs.

2. What can we know about visitors to the reserve?

A．They can walk to the open fields.

B．They must have very good eyesight.

C．They cannot go around the reserve alone.

D．They have two ways to enter the reserve.

3. What would be the best title for the text? .

A．An introduction to the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

B．The importance of protecting wildlife.

C．Some advice on visiting the Sabi Sand Game Reserve.

D．The Sabi Sand Game Reserve—the biggest wildlife region.

【推荐3】Vice-director in Europe/Director UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security

Duty Station: Bonn, Germany

The United Nations University (UNU) has been a think tank for fair research on the pressing global problems of human survival, conflict prevention, development and welfare, for the past four decades. UNU is re-cruiting a Director for the UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) who will meanwhile serve as UNU’s Vice-director in Europe, dividing his/her time equally between both positions.

The Institution: UNU-EHS aims to carry out research on risks and adaptation related to global change. The Institute’s research promotes policies and programmes to reduce these risks, while taking into account the con-nection between environmental and societal factors.

Qualifications: The Director should have academic qualifications that lend to UNU-EHS fame in the inter-national scholarly community; guarantee scientific excellence; and provide leadership and guidance for activities at UNU-EHS and UNU-ViE.

Experience: Strong research background and publications in areas related to addressing risks and societal change. Demonstrated administration experience. Successful influencing of policymakers. Strong contributions to knowledge sharing communities. Strong international fundraising skills and past success in securing support from multiple funders.

Fluency in English is required. Fluency in German and official languages of the United Nations is desira-ble.

Application deadline: 12 January 2020

Full details of the position and how to apply: https :// unu. edu/ about/hr

1. What’s the aim of the UNU?

A．Provide qualified graduates for UN organizations.

B．Research fair ways to deal with global problems.

C．Work out policies for governments and countries.

D．Look into positive effect of environmental changes.

2. What’s the qualification for the post advertised?

A．Scientific excellence and leadership abilities.	B．Good command of all UN official languages.
C．Abilities to prevent social regional conflicts.	D．Adequate knowledge of UNU structures.

3. What kind of experience is required for the post?

A．Having taken leadership at UNU-EHS before.

B．Having organized research on a large public scale.

C．Having contributed to sponsoring government events.

D．Having succeeded raising money from different people.

【推荐1】ATTENTION,ALL OUR NEW STUDENTS:

Welcome to West Lakes Institute of Technology.You are strongly advised to adhere to the following three basic rules on your first day of the second semester:

1.Wear your pre-admission student number on your lapel(衣服的翻领）at all times.

2.Do not enter any classroom where classes are already in progress.

3. When asked to provide,basic information about yourself,be ready to show your green enrollment acceptance advice slip.

Students who have pre-paid the enrollment fee

9:00 a.m.to 10:00 a.m.(no later)you should visit the foyer of the Old Chapel building to receive your new student information kit.Once you have your kit,you are not required until 10:30 a.m.,so you can relax in the Student Centre until you are called over the PA system.

Students who are yet to pay the enrollment

Go directly to the Admissions Centre and be prepared to pay your enrollment fee($150 cash only)to the New Admissions Officer.You will be asked for your address and your preadmission student number(the number on your green enrollment acceptance advice slip).Note that this is NOT the number which is later displayed on your student card.Once you have paid your enrollment fee, follow the instructions above for students who have pre-paid their fee.

Student Cards

Student cards will not be issued until Thursday.Photographs,however,will be taken on Monday afternoon.Make your way to the Library at the following times:

1:00 p.m.-Film and Photographic Arts

1:45 p.m.-Marketing

2:30 p.m.-Travel&-Tourism

3:15 p.m.-Hotel Hospitality

4:00 p.m.--Fashion&Design

4:45 p.m.-all other Art students

Photographs of students in all other courses will be taken Tuesday afternoon.

Welcome Address

The Director of the college will address all new students in the Main Hall at around 10:45 a.m.When you hear the announcement that directs you to assemble in the Main Hall,make your way swiftly past the canteen area,through the courtyard and into the Hall.No food or drinks are allowed in the Main Hall.

Lunch

The canteen is situated on the ground floor of the student building.Since the canteen is also used by members of the public,you will be asked to produce your enrollment acceptance advice slip.Failure to do this will result in all purchases being charged for at non-discount prices.Cooked lunches,are,served only between 12:15 p.m.and.1:30 p.m.

Student Information Kits

The latest student information kit contains a 52-page booklet which tells you where you should go in the afternoon.Look on page three to find the course you have enrolled in,and follow the instructions given.Areas designed for the various tutorial sessions for each course are listed on page 4 to 6.If you are required to have your photograph taken during a group tutorial session,quietly excuse

yourself,and return to the session as soon as possible.
1. According to the passage,students who have already paid the fee

A．should give their address and student number to the New Admissions Officer

B．can enter any classroom to have a rest

C．are required to receive their kit before 9 o'clock

D．can have a minimum of 30 minutes to relax after getting the kit

2. We can learn from the text that"students' enrollment acceptance advice slip_____”

A．displays the same number as that on the student card.

B．allows students to buy things in the canteen at a lower price

C．is only essential to students who haven't paid the fee in advance

D．is required when taking the pictures used for the student cards

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the text?

A．Marketing students can get their 'student cards at 1:45,Monday afternoon.

B．Students are allowed to have their lunch at 12:30 p.m.in the Hall.

C．The assembly call will be made before the welcome address begins.

D．Students can get their student cards from the Library.

4. We can learn from the last paragraph that during a group tutorial session,

A．you can take a picture

B．you can do anything you like

C．you can leave for the photograph requirement

D．you can read a 52-page book

【推荐2】Flu season generally fades away in March and April, but will the coronavirus go with it? Whether the coronavirus that's quickly spreading around the world will follow the flu season and fade away with spring's arrival is unsatisfyingly uncertain. And many scientists say it's too soon to know how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather.

Dozens of viruses exist in the coronavirus family, but only seven afflict（折磨）humans. Four are known to cause mild colds in people, which are common, while others are more novel, deadly, and thought to be transmitted from animals like bats and camels. Health officials have labeled this new virus SARS-CoV-2 and its disease COVID-19. The prospect that summer could delay a pandemic is tempting. Earlier this year, Donald Trump tweeted about China's efforts to contain the virus, saying they would be successful, "especially as the weather starts to warm.”

Viruses that cause influenza or milder coronavirus colds do tend to subside in warmer months because these types of viruses have what scientists refer to as "seasonality," so the president's comments have some scientific backing. But it's highly uncertain that SARS-CoV-2 will behave the same way. Those currently studying the disease say their research is too early to predict how the virus will respond to changing weather.

"I hope it will show seasonality, but it's hard to know," says Stuart Weston, a researcher at the University of Maryland, where the virus is being actively studied. As of Tuesday morning, more than 800,000 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in 74 different countries, with experts saying the disease is likely to keep spreading.

And relatively recent research suggests that dry, cold air may also help viruses stay unbroken in the air or travel farther as they become airborne.

Scientists assume that low humidity, which often occurs in winter, might weaken the function of the mucus（粘液）in your nose, which your body uses to trap and drive foreign bodies like viruses or bacteria away. Cold, dry air can make that normally thick mucus drier and less efficient at trapping a virus.

1. When does flu season usually die down?

A．Early autumn.	B．Late Summer.
C．Late Spring.	D．Mid Summer.

2. What does the underlined word mean?

A．Frightening

B．Decent

C．Critical

D．Unfamiliar

3. Which of the following is WRONG in scientists' opinion?

A．Several of the coronavirus family are thought to be dangerous to human.

B．COVID-19 will disappear as flu virus with it getting warmer.

C．It's unknown how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather.

D．The dry cold air may help viruses spread farther and faster.

4. What does the last paragraph mainly talk about?

A．The reason why people easily get viruses in winter.

B．Viruses do agree with the dry and cold atmosphere in winter.

C．If you stay at a warm room, you can't get any viruses.

D．The low temperature in winter is the main reason for viruses to spread.

【推荐3】

A week in Thailand Arrive on March 30 for a seven-day stay,room only at the Regent Chalet,Cha Am. ￡160 Tel:0871 664 0273	Family trip in Florida Seven nights at the Westgate Inn,Kissimmee.Set off on March 21. ￡450 Tel:0800 294 8844
Farmhouse in Majorca Seven nights’ stay for up to six people at Can Corso, next to S’Horta. Accommodation(食宿) isn’t included. Arrive on March 14. ￡36 Tel:0845 800 8080	Family trip in Morocco An eight-day hiking(徒步旅行) in the Atlas Mountains. Accommodation is included. Arrive on April 18. ￡260 Tel:0871 230 8512

1. What phone number will Mr.Brown call if he wants to order tickets to Morocco?

A．0871 664 0273.

B．0800 294 8844.

C．0871 230 8512.

D．0845 800 8080.

2. When will Jimmy come back if he travels to Florida on March 21?

A．On March 14.

B．On March 28.

C．On March 29.

D．On March 30.

3. Where should Frank and his four friends go if they want to spend as little money as possible?

A．Thailand.

B．Morocco.

C．Florida.

D．Majorca.

4. What can you do in the Atlas Mountains?

A．Hike.

B．Swim.

C．Skate.

D．Fish.

5. Which of the following is NOT true according to the travel information?

A．You can enjoy yourself in Thailand for seven days.

B．Can Corso is very far from S’Horta.

C．During staying in Morocco,you can get free meals.

D．If you travel to Thailand,you can stay at the Regent Chalet.