【推荐3】Google’s self-driving car is designed to work without a gas pedal(踏板)or steering wheel(方向盘). Now, the company has confirmed that the car doesn’t have any windscreen wipers either, because there’s no need for passengers to see where they are being driven.

The car requires no input from a driver, other than telling it the destination. There is no driving in the way we know it and all people inside the cars will be passengers who can spend their time paying no attention to the road. While the car may not need windscreen wipers, the lack of them may make passengers feel helpless if they are unable to see where they are going clearly.

Google’s two-seater “bubble” cars have buttons to begin and end the drive, but no other controls. An on-board computer uses data from sensors, including radar(雷达)and cameras, to make turns and navigate its way around pedestrians and other vehicles. Under the vision made public by Google, passengers might set their destination by typing it into a map or using commands. The new car can’t go faster than 25 miles per hour(40 km/h). It is electric and has to be recharged after 80 miles(129 km). They can only be used in areas that have been thoroughly mapped by Google.

Google has been testing its self-driving cars since 2009 and its steering wheel-less sample since early this summer. It intends on making its driverless cars available to consumers in the next five years. The ultimate goal of the project is computer-controlled cars that can get rid of human error, which results in about 90 percent of the 1.2 million road deaths that occur worldwide each year and it was also inspiring to start with a blank sheet of paper.

1. Why may people feel helpless riding in Google’s self-driving car?

A．They have no idea of the destination.	B．There are no other controls.
C．They are unable to see the road clearly.	D．The car is traveling too fast.

2. What’s the main idea of the third paragraph?

A．The tests the car needs to pass.

B．What the drivers need to drive the car.

C．The development of the new car.

D．How Google’s self-driving car works.

3. How long can Google’s self-driving car travel before being recharged?

A．25 miles.

B．40 miles.

C．80 miles.

D．129 miles.

4. What can we learn from the last paragraph?

A．Google began to test self-driving cars this summer.

B．The majority of the road deaths are caused by drivers.

C．Driver less cars will be available to consumers next year.

D．Google’s computer controlled cars fire the drivers’ inspiration.

【推荐1】I’ve been reading 100 books per year on average during the past decade. So obviously I get the usual question of what books I recommend. Well, here’re my top 4 favorite books of all times, which influenced me into who l am today.

1. Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

One of the biggest bestsellers of all times. Napoleon Hill spent two decades analyzing over 500 successful men like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John D. Rockefeller to discover how they did it. The result of Hill’s research is in Think & Grow Rich —13 steps to achieve your goal, whatever it is. All other self-help books are just copies of Hill’s book first published in 1937.

2. Psychocybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.

Another bestseller and the only self-help book you’ll need next to Think Grow Rich. Maxwell Maltz was a plastic surgeon who was amazed that some patients still felt ugly after surgery (外科手术). That’s when he discovered they also needed reconstruction work inside—their “self-image”. Everything about how to use the “mind-body” connection to achieve your goals, and how to feel confident about your body is inside this book.

3. Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin.

This book drives the point home that success in any field is not determined by genetics or talent but deliberate practice. Colvin uses examples from world class achievers like Tiger Woods, Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Mozart to prove that they all got theirs through years of practice—the 10,000 hours rule. You’ll reexamine your beliefs about what it takes to succeed and supercharge your motivation after reading Colvin’s book.

4. Mastery by George Leonard.

This book also stresses that practice is the secret of success in anything. Leonard explains that mastership never ends—you will never have perfect technique and be able to stop. Instead you’ll keep learning, improving, and hitting plateaus (瓶颈期). The big point in Mastery is that plateaus are vital for improving your skills and that you therefore must start enjoying them instead of getting impatient or quitting like most guys do.

1. What is the book Think & Grow Rich mainly about?

A．Successful men’s stories.	B．A research on being rich.
C．An analysis of famous people.	D．Instructions on how to succeed.

2. The book Psychocybernetics is suitable for people who ________.

A．prepare to get surgery	B．are unconfident of their appearance
C．want to build their body	D．need advice of plastic surgeons

3. What do Talent is Overrated and Mastery both mention?

A．The steps to achieving the goal.

B．World class achievers’ achievement.

C．Practice’s key role in achieving success.

D．Genetics and talent’s influence on being successful.

【推荐3】A Notice of Delnor Hospital (the “Hospital”)
THIS   NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED ( 透露 )
If you have any questions about this notice, please contact:
The ASIFlex Privacy   Office
PO   BOX   6044
Columnbia MO   65205- 0858
We understand that medical information about you and your health is personal. We are committed to protecting your medical information. We create a record of the care and services you receive at the Hospital. We need this record to provide you with quality care and to comply （遵从）with certain legal requirements.
This notice explains the ways in which we may use and disclose medical information about you. We also describe your rights and certain obligation( 义务   ) we have regarding the use and disclosure of medical information.
HOW WE MAY USE AND DISCLOSE MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
The following categories describe different ways that we use and disclose your medical information. Not every use or disclosure in every category is listed. However, all of the ways we are permitted to use and disclose information will fall within one of the categories.
For Treatment.     We may use your medical information to provide you with medical treatment or services. We may disclose your medical information to doctors, nurses and technicians. In addition, the doctor may need to tell the dietician if you have diabetes so that we may arrange appropriate meals. Different departments within the Hospital also may share your medical information.
For Payment.       We may use and disclose your medical information so that the treatment and services you receive at the Hospital may be billed and payment may be collected from you, an insurance company or a third party. We also may tell your health plan about a treatment you are going to receive to obtain prior approval or to determine whether your plan will cover the treatment.
For Health Care Operations.     We may use and disclose your medical information for the Hospital operations purposes. These uses and disclosures are necessary to run the Hospital and to make sure that all of our patients receive quality care. We also may combine your medical information with those of many Hospital patients to determine whether additional services should be offered, what services are no longer needed and whether certain new treatments are effective.
1. From the notice, we can learn _______may read your medical information.

A．doctors	B．nurses
C．dietician	D．all above

2. Which of the following isn’t mentioned in the notice?

A．The patient will be told how soon he can recover after an operation

B．The Hospital creates a record of the care and services.

C．The patient can be told his health plan about a treatment

D．The Hospital can arrange appropriate meals for patients.

3. What can be inferred from the notice?

A．Patients couldn’t be informed of his medical information

B．All persons in the Hospital know patients’ information

C．Patients in the Hospital could receive proper care and treatment

D．The Hospital could never combine your medical information with those of many Hospital patients.

【推荐1】I've been reading lots of books per year during the past decade. So obviously I get the usual question of what books I recommend. Well here are my top 4 favorite books of all time, which influenced me into who I am today.

1. Think & Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

It's one of the biggest bestsellers of all time. Napoleon Hill spent two decades analyzing over 500 successful men like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and John D. Rockefeller to discover how they did it. The result of Hill's research is in Think & Grow Rich — 13 steps to achieve your goal, whatever it is. All other self-help books are just copies of Hill's book first published in 1937.

2. Psyclho-Cybernetics by Maxwell Maltz.

It's another bestseller and the only self-help book you'll need next to Think & Crow Rich. Maxwell Maltz was a plastic surgeon who was amazed that some patients still felt ugly after surgery. That's when he discovered they also needed reconstruction work inside — their "self-image". Everything about how to use the "mind-body" connection to achieve your goals, and how to feel confident about your body is inside this book.

3. Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin.

This book drives the point home that success in any field is not determined by genes or talent but deliberate practice, Colvin uses examples from class achievers like Tiger Woods, Jack Welch, Warren Buffet, Mozart to prove that they all got theirs through years of practice—the 10,000 hours rule. You'll reexamine your beliefs about what it takes to succeed and supercharge your motivation after reading Colvin's book.

4. Mastery by George Leonard.

This book also stresses that practice is the secret of success in anything. Leonard explains that mastership never ends — you will never have perfect technique and be able to stop. Instead you'll keep learning, improving, and hitting plateaus. The big point in Mastery is that plateaus are vital for improving your skills and that you therefore must start enjoying them instead of getting impatient or quitting like most guys do.

1. For what purpose will a person read the book Think & Grow Rich as a reference?

A．To make a research on being rich and famous.

B．To draw a conclusion on the successful men's stories.

C．To deliver a lecture on the instructions on how to succeed.

D．To write a report on how to copy Hill's 13 steps to become famous.

2. What do Think & Grow Rich and Psycho-Cybernetics both share?

A．They are on the same bookshelf next to each other.

B．They are bestsellers and the self-help books as well.

C．They introduce about successful people and their secrets.

D．They help readers to become successful by offering confidence.

3. Which books can best explain the sayings "Practice makes perfect" and "Live and learn" respectively?

A．Talent is Overrated; Mastery.	B．Mastery; Psycho-Cybernetics.
C．Think & Grow Rich; Psycho-Cybernetics.	D．Think & Grow Rich; Talent is Overrated.

【推荐2】This summer’s top four European music festivals

LONDON

LOVEBOX

Where: Victoria Park

When: July 15-16

No other country does a festival like the British and few festivals are as fun as Lovebox in Hackney’s Victoria Park. Dancing, disco balls, and more dancing. Don’t miss local acts Stormzy, Kano and Katy B who represent our homegrown talent. Good food is at the heart of Lovebox: go on an empty stomach to taste pizza from Voodoo Ray’s, hamburgers from Le Bun and cheese sandwiches from The Cheese Truck.

BUDAPEST

SZIGET

Where: Obudai-sziget

When: 10-17 August

On an island in the middle of the Danube is one of Europe’s most atmospheric festivals. 40,000 people crowd into 266-acres（英亩）of woodland for a week-long party. This year’s big-name acts will hold you there all day or you could check out the riverside beach, or the artworks there.

PARIS

ROCK EN SEINE

Where: Domaine National de Saint-Cloud

When: August 26-28

Rock and roll and Paris aren’t typical partners but Rock en Seine puts them together with excitement. As this is a great event where there’s even an art exhibition. All this plus wonderful views of the Parisian skyline (地平线) and Marie Antoinette’s rose garden.

BERLIN

LOLLAPALOOZA

Where: Treptower Park

When: Sept 10-11

Held in Treptower Park in the east of Berlin, 60,000 mostly local people come for the rock music and the friendly atmosphere — kids are just as welcome as grown-ups. Take a break from the music to seek out the rose garden. Keep it going all night in some of Berlin’s coolest clubs in neighbouring Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg.

1. Which of the following festivals lasts the longest?

A．Lollapalooza in Berlin.	B．Rock en Seine in Paris.
C．Lovebox in London.	D．Sziget in Budapest.

2. What is the characteristic of the Lollapalooza music festival?

A．Some of its performers are homegrown talents.

B．It combines rock’n’roll with an art exhibition.

C．Many works of art are used for decoration.

D．Most of the people attending it are locals.

3. Where can you go if you’re particularly interested in rock music?

A．Berlin and Paris.	B．London and Paris.
C．Budapest and Berlin.	D．London and Budapest.

【推荐3】The Paris climate agreement finalised in December last year heralded a new era for climate action. For the first time, the world’s nations agreed to keep global warming well below2℃.

This is vital for climate-vulnerable nations. Fewer than 4% of countries are responsible for more than half of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. In a study published in Nature Scientific Reports, we reveal just how deep this injustice runs.

Developed nations such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and European countries are essentially climate “free-riders”: causing the majority of the problems through high greenhouse gas emissions, while incurring few of the costs such as climate change’s impact on food and water. In other words, a few countries are benefiting enormously from the consumption of fossil fuels, while at the same time contributing disproportionately to the global burden of climate change.

On the flip side, there are many “forced riders”, who are suffering from the climate change impacts despite having scarcely contributed to the problem. Many of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, the majority of which are African of small island states, produce a very small quantity of emissions. This is much like a non-smoker getting cancer from second-hand smoke, while the heavy smoker is fortunate enough to smoke in good health.

The Paris agreement has been widely hailed as a positive step forward in addressing climate change for all, although the details on addressing “climate justice” can be best described as sketchy.

The goal of keeping global temperature rise “well below”2℃ is commendable but the emissions-reduction pledges submitted by countries leading up to the Pairs talks are very unlikely to deliver on this.

More than $100 billion in funding has been put on the table for supporting developing nations to reduce emissions. However, the agreement specifies that there is no formal distinction between developed and developing nations in their responsibility to cut emissions, effectively ignoring historical emissions. There is also very little detail on who will provide the funds or, importantly, who is responsible for their provision. Securing these funds, and establishing who is responsible for raising them will also be vital for the future of climate-vulnerable countries.

The most climate-vulnerable countries in the world have contributed very little to creating the global disease from which they now suffer the most. There must urgently be a meaningful mobilisation of the polices outlined in the agreement if we are to achieve national emission reductions while helping the most vulnerable countries adapt to climate change.

And it is clearly up to the current generation of leaders from high-emitting nations to decide whether they want to be remembered as climate change tyrants or pioneers.

1. The author is critical of the Paris climate agreement because__________.

A．it is unfair to those climate-vulnerable nations

B．it aims to keep temperature rise below 2℃ only

C．it is beneficial to only fewer than 4% of countries

D．it burdens developed countries with the sole responsibility.

2. Why does the author compare the “forced riders” to second-hand smokers?

A．They have little responsibility for public health problems.

B．They are vulnerable to unhealthy environmental conditions.

C．They have to bear consequences they are not responsible for.

D．They are unaware of the potential risks they are confronting.

3. What does the author say about the $100 billion funding?

A．It will motivate all nations to reduce carbon emissions.

B．There is no final agreement on where it will come from.

C．There is no clarification of how the money will be spent.

D．It will effectively reduce greenhouse emissions worldwide.

4. What urgent action must be taken to realize the Paris climate agreement?

A．Encouraging high-emitting nations to take the initiative.

B．Calling on all the nations concerned to make joint efforts.

C．Pushing the current world leaders to come to a consensus.

D．Putting in effect the policies in the agreement at once.

【推荐1】At night, when you go to bed, many birds and animals are getting ready to sleep too. But others are just waking up and beginning their day, because they are nocturnal: they sleep during the day and then come out at night. Have you ever heard an owl hooting in the night? Owls are nocturnal. They spend the night looking for rabbits, mice and other small animals to eat. Bats, pangolins, moths, spiders, and many kinds of frogs come out at night to look for food too. And even in the oceans, some fish sleep at night while others, like sharks, become active.

So why do these animals live so differently? For some of them, it is safer, because there are fewer predators that want to catch and eat them. For others, it is easier to find food because the animals that they eat come out at night too. Some animals are nocturnal because the temperature is better for them at night. Slugs and snails, for example, can easily dry out in the daytime sun, so they hide in dark wet places and wait for the night. Many desert animals are also nocturnal to avoid the heat of the day.

Many nocturnal animals have special senses to help them to move around, stay safe and find food at night. Some have very big eyes that let in a lot of light, so that they can see in the dark. Some, like the fox, can smell things very well or, like owls, have an amazing sense of hearing. And some use echolocation to help them move around and find food in the dark. They make special noises that echo back, telling them what is nearby What other animals do you know about that are nocturnal? Try and find out about one.

Why does it come out at night, and what special senses does it have for night-living?

1. Why do owls come out at night?

A．To stay safe.	B．To hunt for food.
C．To find a playmate.	D．To build a shelter.

2. What's the main idea of Paragraph 2?

A．Why some animals are active at night.	B．When different animals come out.
C．Where food is easy to find at night.	D．How desert animals get away from heat

3. Where can slugs and snails live in the daytime?

A．On the dry rocks.	B．In the water.
C．On the rooftop.	D．In the wet grass.

4. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To voice opinions.	B．To offer advice.
C．To show some facts.	D．To spread love and joy.

【推荐2】For decades, doctors have warned patients that too much salt can be bad for the heart. Heat attack has long been considered a grown-up problem, but a new research suggests that salt is starting to affect children. Eating too much salty food when you're young can lead to health problems later.

Salt is made up of two elements: sodium and chlorine. Dietary guidelines recommend that adults and kids aged 9 — 13 shouldn't consume more than about a teaspoon of salt daily. The average American eats twice this amount. This worries doctors because too much sodium results in the body producing more blood. To pump the extra blood, the heart has to work harder. This causes a rise in blood pressure a measurement of how stressed the heart is. High blood pressure often leads to heart disease.

A kid with high blood pressure is more likely to become a grown-up with high blood pressure. Reducing salt might also help stop childhood obesity (肥胖). British researchers recently found that kids who eat less salt also drink fewer sugary soft drinks. Drinking fewer fizzy drinks makes kids less likely to gain weight, become obese and develop high blood pressure.

Salt can affect more than just your heart and weight. A recent study found that a growing number of kids in the US are suffering from kidney stones. This painful condition usually affects people aged over 40. Now, kids as young as five are getting it.

Cutting down on salt can be hard, but you can retrain yourself to prefer less salty food. The best way to reduce the amount of sodium you eat is to make changes gradually. Start by adding half as much salt to your dinner as you normally do. Switch to fresh foods instead of canned and bottled versions. And go easy on the condiments (调味品). You might also want to start reading nutrition labels. You may be surprised to learn that there are 1,150 mg of sodium in a double cheeseburger, and over 2 ,000 mg in many frozen meals.

1. What is the author's major concern?

A．Children eat too much salty food.	B．Many adults suffer from heart attack.
C．Americans consume too much salt.	D．Heart attack is now a youth problem.

2. What does the author refer to as the cause of childhood obesity?

A．Eating more salty food.	B．Lack of physical exercise.
C．Drinking many sugary soft drinks.	D．Eating the same food as the adults.

3. What is another disease tending to be younger according to Paragraph 4?

A．Obesity.	B．Kidney stone.
C．Blood disease.	D．Heart attack.

4. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?

A．The laws of health.	B．How to cut down on salt.
C．Healthy diet.	D．The amount of salt we need.

【推荐3】It’s been a long journey from January 10, 1972 when Rick was born a spastic quadriplegic (四肢瘫痪者) with cerebral palsy (脑瘫). Doctors told the young Hoyts that their son had no hope of a normal life.

As Rick developed, his parents noticed he was far from a “vegetable” as doctors had called him. “We could tell by looking in Rick’s eyes that he understood everything we were saying. We taught him the alphabet and numbers and did a lot of reading with him.” says Dick. the father.

Then with the help of the Tufts Interactive Communicator (TIC), Rick was able to use his head movement to tap out words and phrases.

As Rick tapped out his first words, his parents debated over what he’d say. To their surprise, his first words were “Go. Bruins!” “We knew right then and there that he understood everything, and that he loved sports and followed the game just like anyone else.” says Dick.

When Rick was in high school, he wanted to take part in a 5-mile road race, and they did finish the race. That night, Rick tapped out a message that would change the course of his life. He wrote. “Dad, when I’m running it feels like I’m not disabled.”

“That was a very powerful message for me.” recalls Dick. He knew he wanted to “loan Rick my arms and legs so he could compete in other races.”

With the father pushing his disabled son in a wheelchair, the father-son “Team Hoyt” began running races. Dick says that some people thought he was being selfish, pushing his disabled son in races. “They thought I was doing it for myself. They didn’t understand Rick was the one wanting to race,” he says.

Team Hoyt has completed to date over 1.075 running events, including marathons and Ironman triathlons (三项全能运动).

Rick was once asked, if he could give his father one thing, what would it be? Rick responded. “The thing I’d most like is for my dad to sit in the chair and I would push him for once.”

1. What can be inferred about Rick as he grew up?

A．He couldn’t see.	B．He couldn’t speak.
C．He couldn’t think.	D．He couldn’t hear.

2. What did Rick want to do when he tapped out the words “Go, Bruins!”?

A．Watch a game.	B．Go traveling.
C．Run a race.	D．Go to school.

3. How does “Team Hoyt” work in a running event?

A．The father and the son run together.

B．The father and the son run with the help of TIC.

C．The father pushes the son in a wheelchair.

D．The son follows the father in his wheelchair.

4. What Rick expressed in the last paragraph shows that

A．he felt proud	B．he was upset
C．he felt lucky	D．he was grateful