【推荐1】Large gatherings such as weddings and conferences can be socially overwhelming. Pressure to learn people's names only adds to the stress. A new facial-recognition app could come to the rescue, but privacy experts recommend proceeding with caution.

The app, called Social Recall, connects names with faces via smartphone cameras and facial recognition, potentially avoiding the need for formal introductions. “It breaks down these social barriers we all have when meeting somebody," says Barry Sandrew, whose start-up, also called Social Recall, created the app and tested it at an event attended by about 1,000 people.

After receiving an invitation to download Social Recall from an event organizer, the user is asked to take two selfies and sign in via social media. At the event, the app is active within a previously defined geographical area. When a user points his or her phone camera at an attendee's face, the app identifies the individual, displays the person’s name, and links to his or her social media profile. To protect privacy, it recognizes only those who have agreed to participate. And the app’s creators say it automatically deletes users’ data after an event.

Ann Cavoukian, a privacy expert who runs the Privacy by Design Center of Excellence praises the app’s creators for these protective measures. She cautions, however, that when people choose to share their personal information with the app, they should know that “there may be unintended consequences down the road with that information being used in another context that might come back to bite you”.

The start-up has also developed a version of the app for individuals who suffer from prosopagnosia, or “face blindness”, a condition that prevents people from recognizing individuals they have met. To use this app, a person first acquires an image of someone's face, from either the smartphone’s camera or a photograph, and then tags it with a name. When the camera spots that same face in real life, the previously entered information is displayed. The collected data are stored only on a user's phone, according to the team behind the app.

1. Social Recall is used to_________.

A．identify people

B．take photos

C．organize events

D．make friends

2. Paragraph 3 is mainly about_________.

A．what people can do with the app	B．how the app was created
C．what makes the app popular	D．how the app works

3. Social Recall helps people with prosopagnosia by ________.

A．giving names to the photos kept in their smartphone

B．showing the person's information when it spots a stored face

C．providing the information of a person when they first meet

D．collecting information previously entered in the phone

4. What can we learn about Social Recall from the passage?

A．It can cure people’s “face blindness”.

B．It has caused unintended consequences.

C．It may put people's privacy at risk.

D．It is praised by users for its protective measures.

【推荐2】Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the Internet didn’t come out of a golden egg. Many of today’s creations were not born of people who had creative ideas, but who did not stop at simply having an idea. They took one brick of capital (资本), another brick of knowledge, perhaps a brick or two of family and friends, and built their empires (帝国) brick by brick.
If you want to build an online empire, you cannot settle for simply having a website full of articles, or a website full of pictures—there are already thousands of sites like that, so you need to come up with something new and creative.
So if you are starting to build something up, ask yourself: what do you really want to do, and what are you really good at? Believe it or not, you can make money at something that you are an expert in, and you need to know what that is.
Remember, having an online empire does not mean that you have to do it alone. You can take your friends along with you. Having a friend advertise your services online is a good way to attract more visitors to your empire.
Building an online empire, you will have to be prepared to not only come up with creative ideas, but to carry your ideas through. Talk to people who have already succeeded in building their own empires. Talk to people who are struggling. Join a mailing list that will help you get through your struggle to achieve your goal.
As you move forward, you will find that you can help other people, and you will have a good many stories to tell—not to mention a lot of money in the bank.
If you learn the real secrets of creating a long term stable (稳定的) online business then you will have enough money to retire on.
1. The proverb “Rome wasn’t built in a day” applies to a situation where ________.

A．expert knowledge is badly needed

B．you are short of money at the beginning

C．online wealth has to be gained bit by bit

D．family and friends will be against your idea

2. Why are “your friends” mentioned in the 4th paragraph？

A．They can buy what you are selling.

B．They can help make your website popular.

C．Your friends know more about the Web.

D．You have a good relationship with your friends.

3. What is the purpose of joining a mailing list?

A．To get a lot of help.

B．To write many emails.

C．To make more email friends.

D．To talk people into buying your product.

4. Which of the following would be the best title for this passage?

A．Never get addicted to the Internet

B．Building an online empire of your own

C．How to get help from an online empire

D．How to offer help through an online empire

【推荐1】For more than twenty years, scientists have been searching for signs of life on other planets．Most of these searches have been done over the radio．The hope is that someone in outer space may be trying to get in touch with us．Scientists also have sent radio and television messages on spaceships traveling through space, on the chance that someone may be receptive to such messages．

Scientists are using powerful radio telescopes to listen to signals from about 1, 000 stars, all within 100 light years of earth．In addition, they will scan the entire sky to "listen" for radio messages from more distant stars．Using a computer, they will be able to monitor more than eight channels at one time．Scientists are looking for any signal that stands out from the background noise．

Of the 200 billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy（银河星系）, scientists find that five percent are like our sun．Perhaps half of them have a planet like earth．Such a planet would be a reasonable distance from the star for temperatures to be right for the evolution of life．Based on the inhabitable （that can be lived in） planets in our galaxy, most scientists agree that chances are likely that one or more of these planets support some life．

However, many scientists wonder whether intelligent life exists on other planets．Some believe that twenty years of searching without any intelligible messages shows that no one is out there．They say that the evolution of intelligence comparable to ours is unlikely．

Other scientists believe that our search hasn't been long enough to rule out the possibility that intelligent life exists in our galaxy．Although our sun family is only about five billion years old, our galaxy is about 20 billion years old．In that time, some scientists think it is likely that civilization （文明）much more advanced than ours have developed．Perhaps these civilizations send us no signals; perhaps we have not recognized the signals they have sent us．If we hope to find intelligent life, these scientists believe that we have to keep looking．

1. According to the passage, how many planets in our galaxy might be inhabitable？

A．5 billion．	B．10 billion．
C．15 billion．	D．100 billion

2. The first paragraph in this passage is mainly about     ．

A．how scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

B．why scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

C．where scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

D．when scientists are looking for signs of life on other planets

3. The underlined word "monitor" in the passage means" ___ "．

A．find	B．change
C．check	D．form

4. Which of these statements is true based on the information in the passage？

A．The earth is one of the oldest planets in our galaxy．

B．Most scientists believe that there is intelligent life on other planets．

C．Scientists are trying different ways to find signs of life on other planets．

D．Scientists don't believe that there might be life on other planets．

【推荐2】Landscapes are not only the setting for history; they are also a major source of our sense of history and identity. Read them right, and historical landscapes can be more informative than any other kind of source. This is even more the case with sacred landscapes, which were reflection of our ancestors’ beliefs about their relation to the cosmos and can still today seem to hold a spiritual influence.

Over the years, I’ve had the good fortune to have spent time in many historical landscapes, hoping to picture something of the spirits of the people who shaped them over the centuries. I still remember years ago walking along the Inca sacred lines around Cusco, Peru. In this ancient landscape, old sites that once belonged to Incan royals had become torn Spanish mansions. Or many years ago, before the Gulf Wars, I took a journey through south Iraq, the heart land of civilization, where the desert is still crossed by dried-up riverbeds of the Euphrates and canals that once sustained the world’s first cities.

Britain also has its own magical ancient landscapes. From the Mesolithic to the Bronze and Iron Ages, rich layers of the past are still present in the landscape surrounding Stonehenge, even as traffic rushes down the A303. It is the A303 that is the problem. As the main road to the south west from the home counties, the road runs right past Stonehenge. One of humanity’s most famous monuments, Stonehenge is an archaeological landscape without parallel in Europe, and perhaps the world. The first circle at Stonehenge was made 5,000 years ago, and the great stone circle itself in a round 2,500 BC — the age of the pyramids! And the mysteries of this amazing monument and the complex prehistoric societies that produced it are by no means exhausted, as new discoveries continue to show.

All the more worrying to me then, this unique landscape is currently at the centre of a projected plan by Highways England, which aims to relieve congestion on the A303 by creating a four-lane road with a 1.8-mile tunnel, and an expressway interchange 1.5 miles to the west. While the National Trust and English Heritage have offered qualified support for the plan, UNESCO has expressed its opposition. Meanwhile, the Stonehenge Alliance, a group of archaeologists and environmental campaigners, says the plan is based on inadequate and obsolete information. In the end, the argument is about the totality of an ancient landscape, and that includes the ancient astronomical alignment that was purposefully chosen by our ancestors, and that will, in my view, be wrecked by the expressway interchange. Time perhaps for a rethink in the name of future generations?

1. What can historical landscapes offer us?

A．Details of ancient lifestyle.	B．Sacred writings
C．Rich historical information	D．Breathtaking sights.

2. What did the author want to explore when touring historical landscapes?

A．Different architecture.	B．His sense of belonging.
C．The rise of ancient cities.	D．The spirits of ancestors.

3. Which of the following is True about Stonehenge?

A．The first stone circle has a longer history than the pyramids.

B．New discoveries have solved the mysteries of the monument.

C．The ancient monument must have been the heart land of civilization.

D．The landscape surrounding Stonehenge has rich layers of the present.

4. What is the author’s attitude towards the projected plan by Highways England?

A．He is for it because it will benefit the future generations.

B．He keeps cool but believes a better solution could be adopted.

C．It should be stopped because it will destroy the totality of the monument.

D．It is rather practical especially with qualified support from the government.

【推荐3】One day I went to a store to get some needed items for my family.

I gathered up my goodies and headed for the checkout counter, only to be blocked in the narrow aisle (通道) by a young man who appeared to be about sixteen years old. I wasn’t in a hurry, so I patiently waited for the boy to realize that I was there. It was obvious now, he was mentally challenged and a little shocked as he turned and saw me standing so close to him, waiting to squeeze by. I said, "Hey Buddy, what's your name?"

“My name is Denny and I’m shopping with my Mommy,” he responded proudly.

"Wow.” I said, “that's a cool name; I wish my name was Denny, but my name is Steve. How old are you Denny?

“How old am I now, Mommy?” he asked his mother as she slowly came over from the next aisle. “You're fifteen years old, Denny”. Then he headed toward the toy section.

Denny’s mom thanked me for taking the time to talk with her son. She told me that most people wouldn’t even look at him, much less talk to him.

I told her that it was my pleasure and that there are plenty of red, yellow, and pink roses in God’s Garden; however, “Blue Roses” are very rare and should be appreciated for their beauty and distinctiveness.

You see. Denny is a Blue Rose and if someone doesn't stop and smell that rose with their heart and touch that rose with their kindness, then they’ve missed a blessing from God. So, the next time you see a BLUE ROSE, don’t turn your head and walk off. Take the time to smile and say Hello.

1. The best title of the passage would be __________.

A．A boy different from others	B．Kindness in the world
C．Blue roses in God's garden	D．Unforgettable experience in the store

2. The author met the boy when __________.

A．he was checking out

B．he was searching for groceries in a store

C．the boy was selecting toys with his mom

D．the boy blocked his way to the counter

3. We can infer from the passage that __________.

A．the author was upset when blocked in the narrow aisle

B．Denny was a boy with special needs

C．people around were eager to interact with Denny

D．Denny’s mom felt grateful to God

4. Which of the following may best describe the author?

A．Gentle and patient.	B．Generous and active.
C．Admirable and energetic.	D．Curious and humorous.

【推荐1】About 97% of the world’s water is salty and is found in our oceans and seas. But, as we can’t drink sea water, how can it be important?

Every part of our seas and oceans contains an amazing number of animals and fish that live at different ocean depths. Most of the different species of animals and fish depend on simple plants for their food. These simple plants called algae (海藻) drift near the surface of the ocean and use sunlight to turn carbon dioxide and water into food and oxygen. In fact, algae produce over half of the oxygen people breathe. How important sea water is!

Each plant or animal in our seas and oceans is an important link in a food chain. The algae are eaten in large amounts by microscopic animals, which are in tur consumed by larger animals. These food chains are delicately (微妙地) balanced.

The bad news about the food chains in the oceans is that they are under threat because of man. People once thought that the oceans were so big that it didn’t matter if we dumped rubbish into them or caught huge quantities of fish and whales for food. But we now know this is not true and fish stocks in the oceans have started to drop.

Thankfully, the world is taking steps to protect the future of our oceans by introducing international agreements to protect marine habitats. Most counties have introduced fishing restrictions (限制) to protect fish stocks in the oceans and new techniques are being pioneered to cope with pollution. Finally, the importance of protecting oceans is being made known to more people. This is just the beginning of a long process to protect the oceans for our future. We depend on the oceans for fish which are an important part of the human diet. How important sea water is!

1. From the passage, we learn that _________.

A．most fish and sea animals live at the surface of the seas

B．it is very difficult to break the balance of a food chain

C．over-fishing has caused the decrease in fish stock

D．it won’t be long before the problems concerning oceans will be solved

2. What does the underlined phrase “cope with” mean in Chinese?

A．处理

B．保护

C．增加

D．检验

3. Which of the following is NOT a way being used to protect oceans?

A．The use of international agreements.

B．Forbidding fishing to protect fish socks.

C．The use of new techniques.

D．Raising people’s awareness of the need to protect oceans.

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

A．The Importance of Sea Water

B．Life in the Oceans

C．How to Protect Food Chains

D．How to Deal with Seawater Pollution

【推荐2】Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua have made medical history as the first cloned primates (灵长目动物),with the efforts of a team of Chinese scientists.

According to the journal Cell , it is a milestone for biomedical research. It could potentially lead to the development of new treatments for human disease. But it also makes ethicists (伦理学者) about where this all might lead. Do Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua suggest the coming of human cloning?

Born in 1996, Dolly the sheep was the first cloned mammal, and was followed by many more, including dogs, rabbits and pigs. But researchers were unable to clone primates because the genes involved didn’t react well to the procedure. Over the years, a handful of research institutions have tried and failed to birth a live monkey clone.

The successful team, at Shanghai’s Chinese Academy of Sciences, used the same basic method that created Dolly but had failed in subsequent(随后的) primate cloning attempts. It’s called somatic（躯体）cell nuclear transfer and involves transferring DNA from adult cells into eggs that have had their own DNA removed. Without the addition of sperm(精子), the eggs are stimulated （刺激）chemically to develop into an embryo that’s a clone of the DNA donor(提供者). The embryo is then placed into a substitue(替代) for gestation（妊娠）.

The researchers modified the approach in two important ways, however. Rather than use adult cells in the DNA transfer, they used fetal (胎儿)cells, which react better to chemical stimuli（刺激）for embryo development, says Mu-ming Poo, director of the academy’s Institute of Neuroscience and a co-autho of the paper. They also fine-tuned the cell transfer process to minimize damage to the eggs

As for creating human clones, Poo says the research shows it can be done, but he and his team have no interest. “Besides many technical dificulties that remain to be overcome, we see no justifiable reason to do human cloning,” says Poo, “nor would the societies around the world permit such an attempt.”

While human cells may be cloned experimentally, for example to research tissue regeneration, the cloning of an entire human is illegal in more than 70 countries, according to the Center for Genetics and Society. U.S. law does not ban it, but over a dozen states do. (Discover 2019J&F,P60.)

1. About   somatic cell nuclear transfer, which of the following statements is true?

A．It needs the combination of sperm and eggs.

B．The eggs keep their own DNA in the process.

C．The embryo has the DNA of the adult donor.

D．The embryo gestates in the eggs donor’s body.

2. What does the underlined word “justifiable” mean in paragraph 6 ?

A．acceptable.

B．incredible.

C．valuable.

D．reliable.

3. Which does not contribute to the success of the primate cloning?

A．The right   donor cells.	B．The fine-tuned transfer process.
C．The united team.	D．The reduced damage to the eggs.

4. Where can this passage be found?

A．Nature Exploration	B．Science   Magazine
C．Medicine World	D．World Wonders

【推荐3】Exercise helps to keep us in good health. Doctors at the American Heart Association suggest getting at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. Many people exercise for a few minutes every day or every other day. So, getting 150 minutes every week is easy.

But what about those times when you are sick? If you do not feel well, should you keep following your exercise habit? Following are the answers from health experts.

Edward R. Laskowski is a doctor at the Clinic. He and other experts have a general rule about exercising when you are sick. It is usually fine to exercise mildly, he explains, if your symptoms are all “above the neck”. These signs may include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing or a minor sore throat.

Geralyn Coopersmith, a physical fitness trainer who has written several books on exercise and nutrition offers similar advice. However, both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest taking a break from exercising if signs of your illness appear “below the neck.” Pay special attention to symptoms such as chest congestion, extreme cough or pain in the stomach.

There are other symptoms(症状) that can tell you to avoid exercise. They include: a higher than normal body temperature, a sense of feeling extremely tired, and widespread muscle pain.

Both Coopersmith and Dr. Laskowski suggest listening to your body. If you feel really bad, take a break and let your body rest. If you don’t feel too bad, these experts both suggest reducing the amount of exercise. For example, if you usually run, take a quick walk instead.

1. Which of the following statements is true?

A．It is a hard thing for people to exercise for 150 minutes every week.

B．It is fine to do light exercise when you have a runny nose and chest congestion.

C．Edward suggests doing exercise when you have muscle pain all over your body.

D．Geralyn holds people can exercise mildly when their symptoms are above the neck.

2. People with symptoms below the neck are advised to ________.

A．stop exercise	B．walk instead of run
C．ignore the symptoms	D．cut down the amount of exercise

3. Which of the following might be the best title for the text?

A．Warnings against exercise when you are ill

B．Harmful effects of exercise when you are ill

C．Suggested time for exercise when you are ill

D．Professional tips on exercise when you are ill