【推荐1】No matter how friendly your tone is or how honey-sweet you are in a conversation, when you start your sentences with one of these words (or both), the message to your recipient is “You are wrong.”     1     They are “No” and “But”.

These words don’t say, “Let’s discuss this” or “I’d love to hear what you think about this” to people. They say. “You are wrong and I am right.” If your conversation companion is also eager to win at any cost, you will have a potential battle on your hands. The result?     2    

Are you interested in a little test to see how competitive your co-workers are? Try this. For one week, keep a scorecard of how many times each person uses “No” or “But” to start a sentence.     3     And, if you drill a little deeper, you’ll see patterns emerge. For instance, some people use these words to gain power. You’ll see how much people dislike it, consciously or not, and how it kills rather than opens up discussions.

    4     Practically without even thinking, I keep count of their use of these two little words. It’s such an important indicator! If the numbers pile up in an initial meeting with a client. I’ll interrupt him or her and say. “We’ve been talking for almost an hour now, and do you realize that you have responded 17 times with either ‘No’ or ‘But’?”

Stop trying to defend your position and start monitoring how many times you begin remarks with “No” or “But”.     5     For example, “That’s true, but…” (Meaning: You don’t really think it’s true at all.) Another expression is “Yes, but...” (Meaning: Prepare to be contradicted.)

A．Why do people like saying this?

B．I use this technique with my clients.

C．What are these conversation stopping words?

D．Nothing more can happen that will be productive.

E．It’s human nature to like being accepted and recognized.

F．You will be shocked at how frequently these words are used.

G．Pay close attention to when you use these words in sentences.

【推荐3】The English language is changing, and you are responsible! Whether we consider changes in grammar, spelling, pronunciation, or the very vocabulary of the language, you have played your part and continue to do so.

When we first learned basic grammar and spelling, perhaps in elementary school, we might have gotten the impression that these things were sacred (神圣的). The rules that apply to such things might have been presented as unchanging and unchangeable. While this way might be helpful for teaching children, it is far from accurate.

The English language, like many others, is a living, growing, ever-evolving (演变) thing. Like it or not, you are involved in this change. These changes take many forms. Grammar and spelling have changed greatly over the years and centuries, with the spelling differences in different countries today a reflection of this. While the language of a thousand years ago might be called English, most of us would hardly recognize it today as the same language.

The first involves changes in the pronunciation of words. Many are familiar with the differences between the British and American ways of pronouncing certain words. In addition to these differences, the pronunciation of many words has changed over the years because of how you have decided to pronounce them. For example, consider the word “err.” The traditional pronunciation of this word rhymes with the word “her.” Older dictionaries show this to be the primary or only pronunciation. However, in recent years, more and more people have been pronouncing it so that it sounds like “air.” Another change in the language involves the addition and removal of words. The makers of dictionaries decide which words deserve to be officially adopted as part of the English language. Through the centuries, many words have come from other languages. In fact, English has probably done this more than any other language in the world, which is why spelling and pronunciation rules for English have so many exceptions.

Of course, many slang words (俚语) have been just short-lived fashions that have died out quickly. Others, though, have been adopted by main stream society and become respectable, as have many technical terms. So then remember, the next time you repeat the newest expression to hit the street, or make up your own words, you may be contributing to the future of the English language.

1. When we begin to learn English, we think ______.

A．it is interesting to pick up a new language

B．English rules are wrongly presented in fact

C．grammar and speiling rules are unchangeable

D．only adults have the ability to affect a language

2. The underlined word “accurate” in Paragraph 2 means ______ in every detail.

A．correct

B．wrong

C．different

D．similar

3. From paragraph 3 we can know that ______.

A．we can change the English language

B．many languages are changing over years

C．English has changed little in the past 1,000 years

D．there were main changes in grammar and pronunciation

4. Why is the pronunciation of words changing?

A．Because people choose the way to pronounce them.

B．Because those words are too difficult to pronounce.

C．Because the spellings of words change.

D．Because technology develops greatly in modern society.

5. Which of the following is the best title for the passage?

A．Foreign words involved in English.	B．Slang words reshape the English world.
C．English language is changeable.	D．British speaks differently from Americans.

【推荐1】The story of Sir Nicholas Winton is the one that you would imagine could only happen on the silver screen. Sir Nicholas Winton was a British man who went to heroic efforts, potentially putting himself at risk, during World War II. Sir Winton was responsible for ensuring the safety of 669 Jewish children by aiding their escape from countries occupied by Nazis. Finally, the Jewish children were brought to England where he worked to make sure families in his native country would help the kids by taking them into their homes.

Recently, this unbelievable story has again been making the rounds on the Internet, particularly after a rerun of the BBC show called "That's Life", which featured Sir Winton. People around the world were moved at the details of the story, with saying it to be the best story they've ever seen.

Sir Winton kept his entire plan completely secret, even his wife had no idea about his planning until fifty years later. After the war, years passed and many people remained in the dark about Sir Winton's extraordinary achievement. Some fifty years later, his wife Greta was searching in their house and discovered a Winton's notebook which documented the names of all the children. She worked with BBC and they produced a TV episode(插曲) of their program "That's Life" that served as an honor for Sir Winton's work.

In 2003, Sir Winton was knighted by the Queen of England for his work. He also was even nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. He also had a small planet named after him by Czech astronomers. Sir Winton died peacefully in his sleep at the old age of 106, in 2015. Leaders around the world paid tribute(悼念). Israel's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Daniel Taub, said, "He was a hero of our time, having saved 669 Jewish children from Nazis. His story, as a point of light in a period of darkness, will forever be remembered."

1. What happened to the 669 Jewish children?

A．They were killed by Nazis.

B．They returned to their own homes.

C．They fled to their native countries.

D．They were raised by English families.

2. What made Winton's story spread widely?

A．People's chatting online.

B．The program "That's Life".

C．His wife's promotion.

D．Praises from some leaders.

3. Which of the following can replace the underlined expression "remained in the dark" in Paragraph 3?

A．felt doubtful

B．remained moved

C．knew nothing

D．criticized something

4. What do we know about Winton?

A．He was born in 1909.

B．Nazis tried to arrest him.

C．He named a small planet.

D．Many children paid tribute to him.

【推荐2】If there is one city in China that is hugging the future, it’s certainly Shanghai. As the most developed city in China, being ever-changing is the future-facing character of Shanghai and its people.

The city is also considered to be a leading technological pioneer. One key example is that Shanghai is the first city in the world to have 5G coverage. 5G is bringing into a new age, with faster speed than 4G—100 times faster, to be exact. In fact, this wonderful technology has some really fantastic usages in many parts.

Tim Clancy, Hangzhou Culture and Tourism Promotion Ambassador, said 5G surely changes the way we use technology. “When 2G came out, we had voice. When 3G came out, we had internet. When 4G came out, we can use such things like Douyin and WeChat, which has changed our life so much.” Clancy said. “As the newest network, 5G makes greater improvements in speed than 4G. I think Shanghai can be seen as the birthplace of everything modern in China. 5G technology is the perfect program for all people in Shanghai to experiment with.”

5G is expected to greatly change the world—medicine, tourism and also internet. Clancy said 5G increases flows, and we can improve the way we actually live with the collection of data.

Andy Mok, senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, thought 5G is more than just smart phones, but all the things that people don’t see. “5G is the moment for Chinese production, especially Huawei. One reason is that Huawei laid the ground work for this many years ago.” Mok said.

Mok added Apple is slower in changes since the iPhone 10, but China has seen the fastest progress in its smart phone industry that no other countries can match.

In fact, 5G network coverage has developed rapidly in Shanghai, and has made good preparations for formal business use. Moreover, Shanghai mobile is continuing to enlarge the coverage of 5G network, and will open more than 5,000 base stations this year.

1. According to the passage, what may be the main advantage of 5G?

A．It makes phone fare lower.	B．It makes phones much smarter.
C．It changes the way of communication.	D．It increases the internet speed greatly.

2. Why is Shanghai chosen as the first city to cover 5G?

A．Shanghai is a highly populated city.	B．Shanghai is a highly fast-paced city.
C．Shanghai is a high-technology leader.	D．Shanghai is an important cultural center.

3. What is Andy Mok’s attitude towards 5G in China?

A．Hopeful.	B．Questioning.
C．Worrying.	D．Unconcerned.

4. What could be the best title of the passage?

A．5G: a new way to change our life	B．5G: everything you need to know
C．Shanghai: a city racing ahead in 5G	D．Shanghai: a city to bring dreams to life

【推荐3】Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.

AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £ 169. 15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £ 118.15.

If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid--- or you're looking for a big event to pass your time--- check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.

STAYAWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.

Don't be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge's Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £ 95.95 . A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £ 75.75 . And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £ 62.95 .

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London. Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As a choice consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen, where you can cook. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city centre buildings. A great example is the historic O'Neill Flat on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, available for £ 420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults.

GET ON A BIKE London’s "Boris bikes' have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programs that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.

Among the smaller cities with their own programs are Newcastle (casual members pay around £ 1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).

1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________.

A．help travelers pass time

B．attract lots of travelers to the UK

C．allow travelers to make flexible plans

D．cause travelers to pay more for accommodation

2. "Farringdon" in Paragraph 5 is most probably ________.

A．a hotel away from the train station	B．the tube line to Covent Garden
C．an ideal holiday destination	D．the name of a travel agency

3. The passage shows that the O'Neill Flat ________.

A．lies on the ground floor

B．is located in central London

C．provides cooking facilities for tourists

D．costs over £100 on average per day in late September

4. Cardiff’s program allows a free bike for a maximum period of ________.

A．half an hour	B．one hour
C．one hour and a half	D．two hours

5. The main purpose of the passage is ________.

A．to tell visitors how to book in advance

B．to supply visitors with hotel information

C．to show visitors the importance of self-help

D．to offer visitors some money-saving tips

【推荐1】People who live in Iceland are proud of their country and their origin. Complete independence from Denmark after World War II resulted in the country's fast development. They refuse to permit immigration(移民) though the country has a small population. Their attitude to foreigners is friendly but reserved(保守) .

The Icelanders regard themselves as one big family. Most of them earn their living by farming and people' hopes are centered on the land and its soil. Typical for rural Iceland are the isolated valley farms against mountains. Cultivated grassland stretches out from the buildings.

They mainly raise sheep and cattle. In spring, flocks of sheep are driven to mountain grassland and allowed to wander freely over the summer. When autumn puts its first mark on the mountains, the sheep are rounded up and driven down.

As in all countries where winter and darkness take up most of the year, the center of life is the home. The houses of Iceland were once built of wood, but now cement (水泥) is used in towns and stones in the countryside. During the long winters the Icelanders rarely go out of the house. When they must go out, they put raincoats over their heavy woolen overcoats and furs to keep out the damp.

1. What can we learn about the Icelanders from Paragraph 1?

A．They like friendly foreigners.

B．They take pride in their own country.

C．They are satisfied with their large population

D．They are proud of their original country, Denmark.

2. What do most Icelanders live on?

A．Farming	B．Sheep and cattle
C．Cultivated grassland	D．Plants near the mountains

3. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．Iceland is cold and damp.

B．The houses are built of wood nowadays.

C．The Icelanders like to live in the center of their houses.

D．Different kinds of animals can be seen on the mountains.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the best time in Iceland is                  .

A．winter and spring	B．summer and autumn
C．autumn and winter	D．spring and summer

5. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The history of Iceland	B．The rich life in Iceland
C．The development of Iceland	D．The special way of life in Iceland

【推荐2】The United States space agency, NASA. says its Mars exploration vehicle recently recorded a high level of methane (甲烷) gas on the planet. The discovery is exciting because the presence of methane gas could support the case for life on Mars.

NASA's Curiosity vehicle recently recoded the largest level of methane ever measured during its seven-year Mars mission.

Methane has no color or smell. A special instrument on Curiosity's Man Science Laboratory recorded the increased gas level. The device measures levels of chemical elements and gases in the Marian atmosphere. In addition to methane, the instrument can record levels of water and carbon dioxide.

Nearly all the methane gas found in Earth's atmosphere is produced by living thing. It usually comes from animal and plant life. But it can also be formed by geological(地质的) processes, such as interactions. between rocks and water.

It was not the first time Curiosity had found methane gas in the Martian atmosphere. About a year ago, NASA announced that Curiosity had discovered sharp seasonal increases in the gas. This time, NASA said the measured methane gas level was clearly larger than any others observed in the past. "It's exciting because microbial (微生物的) life is an important source of methane on Earth," NASA said in a statement announcing the discovery.

However, Curiosity's team carried out a follow-up methane experiment that showed a sharp drop in levels of the gas. That number was "close to the background levels Curiosity sees all the time." NASA said. The rise and fall of the methane gas levels left NASA scientists with more questions than answers.

"The methane mystery continues," said Ashwin Vasavada. Curiosity's project scientist, "We're more motivated than ever to keep measuring and put our brains together to figure out how methane behaves in the Marian atmosphere."

1. What do we know about methane go?

A．It is a must to living things.	B．It can be found everywhere.
C．It smells like carbon dioxide.	D．It's mainly from biological activity.

2. What do the explorations on Mans tell us?

A．Humans have known much about Mars.

B．There will be more methane gas on Mars.

C．There is no progress in the 7 year's research.

D．The level of methane gas on Mars is not stable.

3. What does the discovery mean in NASA's view?

A．There may exist life on Mars.

B．Methane gas on Mars has a sudden increase.

C．The mystery about Mars will be solved soon.

D．They're known how methane as is formed on Mans.

4. How do the NASA's scientists feel about their future exploration?

A．Aimless.	B．Confident.
C．Stressed.	D．Serious.

【推荐3】The best movies for teenagers are listed here. You can pick one for your teen to watch it with you or their best friends.

1. Eighth Grade

Kayla is a shy, socially anxious girl trying to get by the last few weeks of middle school. She earns the “most quiet” girl title in school, but at home, she posts online self-help and motivational videos that not many people watch. Kayla is raised by her single father Mark, who tries to disconnect Kayla from the social media.

2. Dead Poets Society

Mr. Keating, an English teacher, introduces his students, all set to become doctors and lawyers, to poetry and free-thinking. Each of his students deals with several issues. He encourages them to form the Dead Poets Society where they read and write poetry.

3. The Hunger Games

Based on a book by Suzanne Collins, the story is set in a country called Panem, which was once the ruins of North America. Every year, young boys and girls from the 12 districts of Panem fight in the Hunger Games, a televised competition in which the contestants (参赛者) compete against death.

4. The Break fast Club

It begins with five students at the Shermer High School, Claire, a princess, John a criminal, Andrew, an athlete, Brian, a bookworm and Allison, an unfortunate person, who are forced to spend 9 hours together on a Saturday. In spite of their differences, they find that their social problems are more similar than they think. The film tries to encourage breaking social boundaries for positive self-identification in the world.

1. Who helps teenagers form a society?

A．Mr Mark.	B．Mr Keating
C．Suzanne Collins.	D．Ms Claire.

2. Which film is adapted from a book according to the passage?

A．Eighth Grade.	B．Dead Poets Society.
C．The Hunger Games.	D．The Break fast Club.

3. Whom is the passage likely to be intended for?

A．Teachers.	B．Teens.
C．Friends.	D．Parents.

【推荐1】In creating A.J. Fikry's ordinary-yet-extraordinary life, the author Gabielle Zevin has thrown every cliches（老生常谈）into the mix. The hero, A.J. Fikry, lost his beloved wife Nic in a road accident. The sales of his bookstore have been decreasing. The enthusiastic new sales representative Amelia won't stop annoying him with new books. His rare and very valuable first edition has gone missing. But the unexpected arrival of Maya left in his care brings about a series of events with love and hope to his life.

There are few real surprises in the plot and attentive readers will be able to tell where the story is headed. But the cliches and the predictable plot take nothing away from Zevin's work The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry because it's how she tells the story that first charms the readers, then holds their attention, making them read he whole book in a single siting and finally gives the book a long hug when they are finished. This book is a love letter to the joys of reading.

The characters are so realistic that it's hard not to fall in love with all of them: Maya, “the fantastic bookworm,” Amelia, “the giantess” with questionable taste in fashion, Lambiase, the adorable police chief, and A.J. Fikry, the reluctant hero who hates electronic reading devices that will “send centuries of a lively culture into what will surely be a rapid decline.”

The author chooses to focus on the important stuff. For example, it focuses on Lambiase who organizes a reading club for policemen at the book store. His original intention is to help promote business, but over the years he becomes a genuine book-love, one who tends to always have simple advice for his cynical（愤世嫉俗的）friend, A.J. Fikry. “Bad timing,” Lambiase claims, “I've been a police officer for twenty years now and I'll tell you pretty much every bad thing in life is a result of bad timing, and every good thing is the result of god timing.”

This novel is not only about the selling of them or the reading of them, but how books and stories become part of our lives, how we find ourselves within what we read and how we carry books with us. It is also about the power of unexpected happiness and always believing that something wonderful is just around the corner. The Late Bloomer is the book within a book which brings together A.J. Fikry and Amelia. It reminds them that life doesn't follow a set script, things happen when they are meant to happen, and there is no such thing as “too late” for anything. Life is the big picture. Always look at the big picture. Enjoy it. Don't get too concentrated on the details, because it will all be over before you know it.

A.J. Fikry's final words of wisdom to teen-aged Maya convey the same feelings in literary terms: “We are not quite long novels. We are not quite short stories. In the end, we are collected works. We have read enough to know there are no collections where each story is perfect. Some of us hit. Some misses.”

1. The author's attitude towards Zevin's book is _________.

A．supportive

B．critical

C．objective

D．indifferent

2. What can be implied in Paragraph 5?

A．The novel underlines happiness will always be around.

B．The novel mainly talks about the marketing of the book.

C．It is The Late Bloomer that brings A.J and Amelia together.

D．It is important to do things on the basis of overall vision.

3. The underlined sentence in the last paragraph most probably means _________.

A．our life is full of ups and downs	B．we should collect works all our life
C．our life is closely connected with books	D．we should read books all our life

4. The passage is mainly about _________.

A．the extraordinary life of A.J. Fikry	B．the moral lesson of no “too late” in life
C．a review of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry	D．a comment on The Later Bloomer

【推荐2】A young sperm whale discovered dead off the coast of Spain died from eating a lot of rubbish. About 64 pounds of rubbish， including plastic bags， ropes and fishing nets， was found inside the sperm whale＇s dead body.

The 32-foot-long whale was discovered near the small holiday place of Cabo de Palos in the southeast Murcia area in February. Officials at the EI Valle Wildlife Reserve Center found that it had died because it was unable to remove the rubbish from its body.

The animal＇s sad death has prompted Murcia＇s government alongside the European Environmental Association and the European Fund Regional Development， to start some actions against ocean waste.

Consuelo Rosauro， the government＇s director for the natural environment， said， ＂The plastics in seas and oceans are one of the biggest dangers to the protection of wildlife in the world. ＂＂Many animals get caught in the rubbish or eat a lot of plastics， which end up causing their death， she added. ＂The problem is common in the Murcia area， and we must solve it by taking clean-up actions and，above all， increasing awareness of local people.

About 19 billion pounds of plastic waste ends up in the world＇s oceans each year. Researchers say that the amount of plastic waste will be twice as much as it is now by 2025 if quick action is not taken.

The sperm whales are the largest of the toothed whales and the largest predators（食肉动物） They will move seasonally for feeding and giving birth. They are fond of living together， and even 300 sperm whales live in a group. The females work together to protect and look after their young. Females give birth every four to twenty years and care for the young ones for more than ten years. A grown sperm whale has few natural enemies But it does not mean they are totally safe. At least they face the problem of rubbish now.

1. Why did that sperm whale die？

A．Because it could not find food.	B．Because it was already too old.
C．Because it had eaten too much rubbish.	D．Because it could not leave the rubbish around it.

2. What can we learn from Consuelo Rosauro＇s words？

A．The protection of wildlife is very hard.

B．The locals＇awareness of protecting wildlife should be raised.

C．Local people have thrown much rubbish in seas

D．There are many actions dealing with rubbish in seas.

3. The passage mainly shows that____.

A．Sperm whales can die easily.	B．People really care about wildlife.
C．A lot of wildlife is in danger now.	D．Pollution in seas and oceans harms wildlife.

【推荐3】Mobile phones should be kept from classrooms, the UK minister for schools has said. Nick Gibb said he had concerns about the effect that the phone was having on children, and also said the Government should introduce lessons for pupils on how to limit their screen time.

Mr Gibb said, “Schools obviously are free to set their own behaviour policies but my own view is that schools should ban （禁止）mobile telephones and smart phones inside school, and particularly inside classrooms. I believe very strongly that children should be limiting their own use at home. Every hour spent online and on a smart phone is an hour less talking to family, and it's an hour less exercise and it's an hour less sleep. And of course it is a lack of sleep that research is showing can have a damaging effect on a child's mental health.”

The parents are told that children will be asked to break off at least every two hours and avoid social media before bedtime. The UK would be following in the footsteps of European countries if schools were to introduce a ban. with French pupils being told to leave their smart phones at home when they returned from their summer holidays last year.

At the Festival of Education at Wellington College last summer, Professor Michael from America said that any sensible head would ban mobile phones. “It's far too distracting for children having mobile phones. Texting, playing games, all this takes place. Mobile phones go off in classrooms, disrupting lessons. Ban them. If children want to use a phone in an emergency they can use the school phone.”

1. What's Nick Gibb's attitude towards using mobile phone in school?

A．Cautious.	B．Supportive.
C．Indifferent.	D．Disapproving.

2. What is one possible result of spending too much time online according to the text?

A．An hour less exercise a week.	B．More effects on sleep quality.
C．Less communication with family.	D．An improvement in mental health.

3. Which country has asked students to leave their phones at home?

A．UK.	B．New Zealand.
C．USA.	D．France.

4. What is the main idea of the text?

A．Mobile Phones cause bad effects on our study.

B．Mobile phones should be banned from classrooms.

C．Parents should forbid their kids to use mobile phones.

D．Students can use mobile phones in case of emergency.