【推荐2】The United States has all sorts of geography, from deserts to beaches, mountains to flatlands. These conditions help create all sorts of weather: hot, wet, dry, mild and so on. Sometimes all in one day!

    1     But others have dry air, so the heat does not feel so bad. In winter, parts of the country get cold and snowy while others stay warm and sunny. This is the difference between, for example, New York City on the East Coast and Los Angeles on the West Coast. Yet even the East Coast has its warm places in winter, like Florida.

    2     The Pacific coast has smaller temperature changes, and calmer conditions, than along the Atlantic. Weather in the central and northeastern parts of the country is affected by cold air from Canada and warm air from the Caribbean.     3    

    4    The hurricane season is, officially, from June to November. The weather service says the United States gets more severe weather than any other country.

You know, we do not mean to scare you with all this talk about bad weather. The country also has lots of really nice weather. If you ever plan a trip to the United States, just be sure to read the local weather reports.     5    

A．Conditions can change quickly in a short period of time.

B．That way you can get prepared for whatever the weather may bring.

C．To know about the local weather conditions.

D．Hurricanes are ocean storms that strike mainly in the Southeast.

E．The oceans affect weather along the coasts.

F．In summer, some areas get very hot and the air is very wet.

G．The winter is warm in Florida.

【推荐2】Over the past century, an alarming number of animals have become endangered or even extinct. Below are some animals whose numbers have been rapidly dropping in recent years.

Panda Bear

One of the biggest reasons contributing to the decline in the panda species is the destruction of its natural habitat. Farmers in China have gradually been claiming more and more of the land. As a result, pandas are forced to move away to places where it is hard to find bamboo for food.

Green Turtle

The green sea turtle species has survived for several millions of years, so you might wonder why it’s only becoming endangered now. A major cause is the change in climate and temperature, which both affect the hatching rates of turtle eggs. Climate changes also cause violent weather and rising water levels to flood areas where turtles usually go to lay their eggs. Apart from this, oil spills and other poisonous pollution, as well as increased fishing activities can cause sickness, or even death to the green turtles.

Cheetah

Cheetahs are famous for being the fastest animal on land but even they can’t run from some of the larger threats that have harmed them. Like the panda bears, cheetahs have gradually been losing their natural homes due to humans claiming land and developing in those areas. To make matters even worse, smaller animals move away when these areas are occupied, which means that the cheetah has less food! Don’t forget that other large animals, such as lions, are also fighting for any food that they can find, so occasionally young cheetahs end up as prey too.

Indian Elephant

Elephants are extremely intelligent animals and also the largest mammals that live on land. Sadly, in Asia many elephants were killed so that people could remove their tusks to use as decorative objects. While this practice has been banned now, some people still illegally continue. Forests in India have also been steadily destroyed and elephants are sometimes killed when they end up on human territory.

1. Humans’ increasing demand for land doesn’t affect the number of ________.

A．Indian elephants	B．cheetahs
C．panda bears	D．green turtles

2. We can save the largest mammals living on land by ________.

A．planting more bamboos

B．helping them find mates

C．stopping hunting them

D．preventing poisonous pollution

3. The living conditions of the fastest animal on land become worse because ________.

A．forests have been destroyed

B．they are threatened by humans and larger animals

C．people are fond of hunting wild animals

D．no law bans people from removing their tusks

【推荐3】Experts say that if food were a country, it would rank second behind the US as one of the biggest greenhouse gas polluters. The reason is the rising demand for meat. Animal farming is responsible for 14.5 percent of global methane emissions. While cows are the worst contributors, pigs, sheep, donkeys and other animals play a part as well.

Animal agriculture also causes land to become damaged, water to be polluted and forests to get destroyed. With the world population forecast to rise to 9.8 billion by 2050, things are only looking worse for our already decreasing natural resources. While going vegetarian would help, meat consumption is too deep-rooted in most Western diets to allow for such a sharp, permanent change. That is why experts are advocating substituting some of the beef, chicken, or pork with ordinary insects!

Insects, which grow into adults within a matter of months, if not weeks, are ready for consumption much faster than domestic animals. They also require much less room, use less water and food, and produce far less greenhouse gas than animals.

Of the 1.1 million insect species worldwide, scientists have identified 1,700 as eatable. Among them are ants, grasshoppers, grubs, and earthworms. Just like animals, each insect has a different taste. Tree worms taste just like pork, and grubs are similar to smoked meat.

While eating insects might be a new concept for Western people, over 2 billion people worldwide consume insects as a regular part of their diet. Besides being delicious, insects are high in protein, have very few calories, and are free of the saturated fat found in animal meat. Insects can be prepared in many ways. Creative cooks can use them to cook protein-rich soup, make baked treats, and even fry a few with vegetables. So eat insects--- both your body and Mother Earth will thank you for it!

1. Which of the following animals contribute the most to global methane emissions?

A．Sheep.

B．Donkeys.

C．Cows.

D．Pigs.

2. How is the third paragraph developed?

A．By making comparisons.	B．By providing examples.
C．By listing data.	D．By asking questions.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．Few people eat insects regularly.

B．Ordinary insects are high in fat.

C．Insects contain various vitamins.

D．Saturated fat is harmful to health.

【推荐1】The first time I questioned the traditional wisdom on the nature of a healthy diet, it was 40 years ago, and the subject was salt. Researchers found that salt supplementation(补充) was unnecessary after exercise, and this advice was passed on by health reporters. I recalled high school football practices in hot days. Without salt pills, I couldn’t make it through a two-hour practice.

Although sports nutritionists have recommended consuming more salt when we sweat hard in physical activity, the message that we should avoid salt at all other times remains strong. And salt is still considered deadly.

So why have we been told that salt is so deadly? The advice has always sounded reasonable: Eat more salt, and your body keeps water to maintain a stable concentration of sodium (钠) in your blood. This is why salty food might make us thirsty: We drink more; we keep water. The result can be a temporary increase in blood pressure. The scientific question is whether this temporary phenomenon leads to permanent problems: If we eat too much salt for years, does it cause high blood pressure, and then kill us? It makes sense, but it’s only a hypothesis(假设), which hasn’t been proved but unfortunately accepted as a fact.

In reality, eating less salt can worsen health. Decades ago, Italian researchers’ study reported that reducing salt consumption increased the risk of dying early and that reducing sodium to a government-recommended “safe upper limit” is actually harmful.

Supporters of the eat-less-salt campaign(运动) tend to deal with this opposing evidence (证据) by implying that anyone raising it is a shill(同谋) for the food industry (widely criticized for adding salt to processed foods to improver taste). When several government agencies held a hearing last November to discuss how to ensure Americans eat less salt, anti-salt supporters argued that the latest reports suggesting damage from lower-salt diets should simply be ignored. This attitude, which lacks respect for science, has been held for the anti-salt campaign for decades. Maybe now is the time for it to change.

1. The underlined phrase in paragraph 1 refers to the belief that_________.

A．people should take in salt after exercise

B．salt intake was needless after physical activity

C．salt pills were helpful during football practices

D．a healthy diet does not necessarily include enough salt

2. What does the Italian researchers’ study show?

A．Eating less salt can harm our health.

B．Eating too much salt raises blood pressure.

C．We should try to avoid salt on a daily basis.

D．We should follow the recommended “safe upper limit”.

3. What do the eat-less-salt campaigners do with the opposing evidence?

A．They treat it with some respect.

B．They report it to the government agencies.

C．They do scientific experiments to support it.

D．They suggest that the food industry is behind it.

4. What is the writer’s attitude towards the anti-salt campaign?

A．Supportive.	B．Unconcerned.
C．Puzzled.	D．Negative.

【推荐2】From the health point of view we are living in a marvelous age. We are immunized (免疫) from birth against many of the most dangerous diseases. A large number of once deadly illnesses can now be cured by modern drugs and medical treatment. It is almost certain that one day cures will be found for the most stubborn remaining diseases. The expectation of life has increased enormously. But though the possibility of living a long and happy life is greater than ever before, every day we witness the unbelievable slaughter (屠杀) of men, women and children on the roads. Man vs the motor-car! It is a never-ending battle which man is losing. Thousands of people the world over are killed or horribly killed each year and we are quietly sitting back and letting it happen.
It has been rightly said that when a man is sitting behind a steering wheel (方向盘), ________________________ There is no doubt that the motor-car often brings out a man’s very worst qualities. People who are normally quiet and pleasant may become unrecognizable when they are behind a steering-wheel. They are ill-mannered and aggressive, willful as two-year-olds and absolutely selfish. All their hidden disappointments and regrets seem to be brought by the act of driving.
The surprising thing is that society smiles so kindly on the motorist and seems to forgive his behavior. Everything is done for his convenience. Cities are allowed to become almost impossible to live in because of heavy traffic; towns are made ugly by huge car parks; the countryside is ruined by road networks; and the mass annual slaughter becomes nothing more than a statistic, to be conveniently forgotten.
It is high time a world system of laws were created to reduce this senseless waste of human life. As for driving, the laws of some countries are not strict and even the strictest are not strict enough. Here are a few examples of some the things that might be done. The driving test should be standardized and made far more difficult than it is; all the drivers should be made to take a test every three years or so; the age at which young people are allowed to drive any vehicle should be raised to at least 21; all vehicles should be put through strict annual tests for safety. Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can affect a person’s driving ability. Present drinking and driving laws (where they exist) should be made much stricter. Maximum and minimum speed limits should be introduced on all roads. Governments should lay down safety specifications (规范) for manufacturers, as has been done in the USA. All advertising stressing power and performance should be banned. These measures may sound inordinately severe. But surely nothing should be considered as too severe if it results in reducing the annual toll of human life. After all, the world is for human beings, not motor-cars.
1. The main idea of this passage is_________.

A．Traffic accidents are mainly caused by motorists.

B．Thousands of people the world over are killed each year.

C．The laws of some countries about driving are not too strict.

D．Only stricter traffic laws can prevent accidents.

2. What does the author think of society toward motorists?

A．Society laughs at the motorists.

B．Huge car parks are built in the cities and towns.

C．Victims of accidents are nothing.

D．Society forgives their rude driving.

3. Why does the author say: “his car becomes the extension of his personality?”

A．Driving can show his real self.

B．Driving can show the other part of his personality.

C．Driving can bring out his character.

D．His car can express his temper.

4. The attitude of the author is_________.

A．ironical	B．critical
C．appealing	D．favorable

【推荐3】You are given many opportunities in life to choose to be a victim or creator. When you choose to be a victim, the world is a cold and difficult place. “They” did things to you which caused all of your pain and suffering. “They” are wrong and bad, and life is terrible as long as “they” are around. Or you may blame yourself for all your problems, thus internalizing(内化)your victimization. The truth is, your life is likely to stay that way as long as you feel a need to blame yourself or others.

Those who choose to be creators look at life quite differently. They know there are people who might like to control their lives, but they don’t let this get in the way. They know they have their weaknesses, yet they don’t blame themselves when they fail. Whatever happens, they have choice in the matter. They believe their dance with each moment of life is a gift and that storms are a natural part of life which can bring the rain needed for their growth.

Victims and creators live in the same physical world and deal with many of the same physical realities, yet their experience of life is worlds apart. Victims relish(沉溺)in anger, guilt, and other emotions that cause others——and even themselves——to feel like victims, too. Creators willingly choose love, inspiration, and other qualities which inspire not only themselves, but all around them. Both victims and creators always have choice to determine the direction of their lives.

In reality, all of us play the victim or the creator at various points in our lives. One person, on losing a job or a special relationship, may feel as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months, years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first experience the sadness, then accept the loss and soon move on to be a powerful creative force in his life.

In every moment and every situation, you can choose to have fuller, richer life by setting a clear goal to change the victim within, and by inviting into your life the powerful creator that you are.

1. What does the word “they” in Paragraph1 probably refer to?

A．People and things around you.	B．Opportunities and problems.
C．Creators and their choices.	D．Victims and their sufferings.

2. According to Paragraph 2, creators ________.

A．seem willing to experience failures in life

B．own the ability to predict future life

C．deal with ups and downs of life wisely

D．have the ability to create something new

3. The examples mentioned in Paragraph 4 show that ________.

A．strong connection to sufferings in life pulls people into victims.

B．people need family support to deal with challengers in life.

C．it takes creators quite a long time to get rid of their pains.

D．one’s experiences determine his attitude toward life.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To make the readers know what victims and creators are.

B．To explain the relationship between victims and creators.

C．To suggest the change from victims to creators.

D．To measure victims against creators.

【推荐1】The school was founded in 1959 by Sisters of the Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula (established in 1535), at the invitation of Archbishop Verineux of Hualien diocese(教区)and the local government. At that time, economic conditions in Taiwan were still undeveloped. Hualien, at the ''back of the mountains" suffered from an inconvenient location and lacked resources to develop its local economy. Thus, the Sisters followed the spirit of the Gospel(信条)to make a "preferential option for the poor" and invited the Ursulines worldwide to cooperate. Many Ursuline school children in Europe saved their pocket money just to help establish an Ursuline school in Taiwan, which was very far away from them.

Women's education is part of the mission of the Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula. Through its belief that “Life transmits life; love nourishes(滋养)love", the Institute seeks to fully educate young women fitting in well with the society, capable of taking up the responsibility of becoming a stable force in society and promoting family life as the basic strength of that society. The early establishment of Stella Maris Girl's Junior High School was a response to the inadequacy and inequality of women's education. A High School was added to it three years later, and the school was renamed Stella Maris Girl's High School. In 1970, in correspondence with the social and environmental trends and the request of the Archbishop the school started to recruit (招 收)boys, and changed its name to the current one: Stella Maris High School.

With its focus firmly placed on whole person education concepts, respect for Catholic educational goals, and educational concepts of respect, freedom, and love, the school makes every effort to fulfill students' potential and develop their personality. Gradually, with the development of Taiwan's economy, the school adjusted its structures. It established a Kindergarten Teachers5 Department and Dress and Fashion Department in 1976, Arts and Craft Department in 1987, and the Information Systems and Integrated(集成)High School in 1996. The range of Stella Maris High School has gradually grown to completeness.

1. Why was the school founded?

A．To spread Christianity.

B．To help with local economy.

C．To cooperate with local people.

D．To promote the quality of education.

2. The Roman Union of the Order of Saint Ursula believes young women should do the following EXCEPT .

A．adapting themselves to society

B．placing value on family life

C．acting as a stable force in society

D．supporting their husbands' careers

3. Which of the following is most likely to be the feature of the school today?

A．Being single-sex.	B．Being complete.
C．Being traditional.	D．Being modern.

4. What is still NOT known after you read the passage?

A．Where the school is.

B．When the school was founded.

C．What are the majors in the school.

D．How much school fees are needed.

【推荐2】Australian experts have expressed concerns that too many millennials(千禧一代）are hoping to use their social media accounts to build their careers.

Their concerns follow the sudden rise in "insta-celebrities" who make money by posting sponsored photos online. For the lucky few who are not only talented photographers but also good-looking and business-savvy(有商业头脑的)，making money off social media isn't impossible.

Instagram is flooded with social media professionals paid to promote products and services. However, social scientist Dr Lauren Rosewarne, from the University of Melbourne, says that in reality, there are far fewer people making money off the platforms than one may think.

She said many young Australians were getting sucked in by the appeal of making money on platforms like Instagram, describing it as "totally unrealistic" and extremely difficult to do.

"Young people are hoping to be famous in numbers that were simply not there 20 years ago," Rosewarne told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation(ABC) on Saturday. "There are some people who can make fortunes out of monetizing(使具有货币性质)their Instagram posts, but that is not the norm."

She said it was up to parents and schools to discourage students from seeking Insta-fame, as many believe it is a possible career choice. "There's the warning for parents; this is not a normal or even common occurrence that you can monetize your Instagram account."

Meanwhile Toni Eager from Australian National University said social problems could arise from spending too much time with social media.

"Where do the insta-celebrities go ... to separate the life people see on Instagram from their actual normal life?" Eager said. "All of a sudden, people own your private life."

1. Why is there a sudden rise in "insta-celebrities"?

A．Many young people want to be photographers.

B．Many people see it as a shortcut to making money.

C．People want to socialize by sharing photos online.

D．Instagram offers young people more career choices.

2. The underlined phrase "getting sucked in" in Paragraph 4 probably means"______".

A．benefiting from something

B．becoming involved in something

C．taking advantage of something

D．being satisfied with something

3. What message does the author convey by quoting Dr Lauren Rosewarne?

A．Young people today are more business-savvy than ever.

B．Young people are becoming less interested in Internet fame.

C．Instagram is not a good platform to promote new products.

D．It's a bad idea for young people to try earning money on Instagram.

4. What problem does Toni Eager think overuse of social media could cause?

A．An over-reliance on Instagram.

B．A loss of personal privacy.

C．Less interaction with people in real life.

D．The desire to monetize one's Instagram account.

【推荐3】Google Cloud is racing to roll out new features and services aimed at helping its customers maintain business during the coronavirus pandemic, including a new security product expected to launch Tuesday. The new security product includes technology that could attract more businesses, especially those in highly regulated industries, to adopt cloud services. The technology protects data while it is being processed. “We wanted people comfortable in knowing they can move to the cloud and don’t have to worry about the security of their data,” said Mr. Kurian, chief executive of the unit.

Google Cloud accelerated the development of several features for its virtual meeting product, Google Meet, in April, including one that automatically filters out background noises such as keystrokes and dog barks. Another feature automatically adjusts a user’s video with lighting variations. In 2018, the company launched an AI tool for manufactures that automatically inspects products for quality.

Google Cloud also benefited from the protocols(协议) for Black Friday, when shopping websites see a rush of online shoppers, to deal with sudden more demand for cloud services. The protocols benefited the customers in online videogames, government services, education and shopping, who needed assistance in more computing capacity.

Also, the protocols benefited many companies. Godbole, chief information officer for home improvement company Lowe’s Cos., worked with Mr. Kurian and his team in March and April to manage increased business. Lowe’s customers were doubling on projects such as those related to home offices during those months, and “Our company saw tremendous demand,” Ms. Godbole said.

The coronavirus pandemic presented a new opportunity for Google Cloud to prove its value for customers, said Plummer, chief of research for cloud computing. “Google Cloud aims to differentiate itself by being known as a provider that can handle unpredictable events,” Mr. Plummer said. It aims to do that by offering secure remote-work tools and software development tools that require minimal coding. “Trust is built in times of crisis,” he said.

1. During the coronavirus pandemic, Google Cloud is working hard to ________.

A．start more highly regulated businesses.

B．help customers to save more money.

C．make people move to the cloud more safely.

D．remove data while it is being processed.

2. What does the underlined phrase “filters out” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Produces.

B．Breaks.

C．Matches.

D．Removes.

3. Why does the author mention Ms. Godbole’s company?

A．To show the market needs the new products of Google Cloud.

B．To share the experience of Ms. Godbole’s company.

C．To offer an example of running a company in times of crisis.

D．To encourage people to follow the step of Godbole.

4. What does Mr. Plummer think of the new service of Google Cloud?

A．Insufficient.

B．Reliable.

C．Unpredictable.

D．Complex.