【推荐1】Have you ever wondered why so many apps are free to use? After all, they cost money to run. Well, instead of paying with money, you’re paying by sharing your personal data (数据). Then businesses buy and use the data so that they can show you target ads (定向广告).

What happened to personal information online?

Many free apps get paid by businesses who want to know about the users of the apps. What a business wants is the exact information about customers. Data brokers collect your data—everything from your name, location and education level to the topics you search for, the websites you visit and the people you follow. And then, sell them to businesses.

________________?

The data is valuable. Businesses can use the information from data brokers to target their ads. It means they will show their ads to the people who are most likely to be interested in their products or services.

What can we do about it?

Many countries have made laws to protect personal information. For example, a law in the United States says businesses must get parents’ permission (许可) to collect personal data from kids under 13. China’s law on personal information protection came into effect (生效) on November 1st, 2021. At the same time, we should try to protect our data. If an app asks for something like your location, consider saying “No” first. In short, information about you is very valuable. Try to protect it.

1. According to the passages, how can people use some apps for free?

A．By sharing their personal data.

B．By buying and using the data.

C．By showing the target ads.

2. According to the passage, which picture can describe how businesses show us target ads?

A．

B．

C．

3. Which of the following can be put in the ________?

A．What are the people interested in

B．Why do businesses show their ads

C．Why do businesses want the data

4. What can we know from the last paragraph?

A．We should never let the apps get our own personal information.

B．We should put a high value on personal information and protect it.

C．All the countries have made the law on personal information protection.

5. Who’s the passage written for?

A．Businessmen.

B．All the readers.

C．Data brokers.

【推荐2】Thousands of years ago, people didn’t know that the Earth moved. They thought the sun really did move across the sky. The Greek god Helios was said to drive the sun across the sky with his chariot (战车). But now, the way people think has changed. Nowadays, it is the sun that drives a “chariot” around the sky.
What do I mean by this? Well, quite simply, there is now a plane (or “chariot”) that is powered by the sun. It has special parts on its wings. These parts absorb (吸收) power from the sun. They absorb so much power that the plane can still fly even at night. In Greek mythology (神话), Helios had to take a break at night. It seems we’re finally even more powerful than the gods themselves.
This plane is called Solar Impulse. It will fly across the US in May. This is very important for the future of the world.
Why is solar energy (太阳能) important? Well, other kinds of energy are known to cause problems. If you live in China, you’ve probably noticed the pollution. This is caused by burning coal and gas to make energy. The heat and chemicals created by burning these things give us power. But if we use power from the sun, we don’t have to burn anything and there will not be any pollution.
Solar energy is not entirely ready yet. It needs to be improved. But the best thing about it is that, unlike coal and gas, it doesn’t run out. The Solar Impulse plane could pretty much keep flying forever. Of course, the sun’s light will eventually run out too one day, but not for another 5 billion years. That’s a pretty long flight.
1. The plane Solar Impulse ______.

A．cannot fly at night	B．is powered by chemicals
C．is driven by solar energy	D．was made in the US

2. Paragraph 4 mainly tells us that ______.

A．using solar energy causes less pollution

B．solar energy is the best kind of energy

C．creating energy by burning things causes pollution

D．burning things will not be allowed in China

3. Which is the story probably taken from?

A．A science magazine.	B．A history textbook.
C．A Greek myth.	D．A storybook.

4. What’s the story mainly about?

A．The story of the Greek god Helios.

B．How China makes use of energy.

C．The uses and advantages of solar energy.

D．The disadvantages of burning coal and gas.

【推荐3】What’s behind a Chinese name?

What does your first name mean? In China, first names always have special meanings. They show the culture of an era.

In the old days, first names such as Wangcai (旺财) making the family prosperous and rich were popular (流行的). During the 1950s and 1960s, many boys had first names such as “building the country” (Jianguo) and “celebrating National Day” (Guoqing). Girls had names of flowers like Guihua and Hehua.

During the 1970s, many children got the first name of Bo, or Yuhang. Their parents wanted them to learn more and have big dreams. In 2010, the Shanghai World Expo made Shibo (世博) a popular first name. Over (超过) 6,200 babies (婴儿) got the name of Shibo in the first nine months of that year, according to Xinhua News Agency.

1. In the old days, which first name was popular?

A．Goudan.

B．Wangcai.

C．Shibo.

2. During the 1950s and 1960s, ________ might be (可能是) a boy’s name.

A．Jianguo

B．Guihua

C．Hehua

3. During the 1970s, many parents gave their children the name of Bo or Yuhang because (因为) ________.

A．they wanted their family rich

B．they hoped their children to build the country

C．they wanted their children to learn more and have big dreams

4. How many babies might get the name of “Shibo” in the first nine months in 2010?

A．6,100.

B．6,200.

C．6,300.

【推荐1】When we see babies or pets, we can’t help gently touching them to show our love. And they give us happy feelings back. But a recent study shows that it’s different for plants.

A study, published in The Plant Journal, shows that plants don’t “like” to be touched. That’s because touching changes their genes (基因) and, even worse, can slow their growth.

Professor Jim Whelan of the La Trobe Institute in Australia gave an explanation. “The lightest touch from a human, animal, insect, or even plants touching each other in the wind, leads to a huge gene change in the plant,” Science Daily reported.

In order to test the theory, the scientists did an experiment on plants. They grew a number of plants to the age of four weeks. Then they touched them with a paintbrush every 12 hours over a 36-hour period.

They found that as a response to the touch, the mitochondria (线粒体) in the plants had been partly destroyed. The mitochondria, as Science Alert noted, are the “powerhouse of the cell. The mitochondria produce energy for the rest of the cell in both animals and plants.

If this “powerhouse” is weakened, the plants will lose a large amount of energy that should have supported their growth.

Whelan further explained to Science Daily, “If the touching is repeated, then plant growth is reduced by up to 30 percent.”

Although the process does have a strong effect on plants, usually the plants survive. Touching changes the plants, but it’s not necessarily a bad change.

According to Science Alert, frequent touching or moving plants will make them grow shorter than other ones.

The researchers believe this change, in some ways, could be helpful. It may help plants fight threats to their health such as insects and bad weather.

The new research findings have led to a deeper understanding of the plants’ response to touching. And the research might “open up new ways to reduce sensitivity (敏感性) and optimize (优化) growth in the future”, Science Alert reported.

1. Why don’t plants like to be touched?

A．Plants’ genes will be changed.

B．Plants will grow much taller than others.

C．Plants growth will be reduced by up to 40 percent.

D．Plants will lose the ability to fight against bad weather.

2. What does the underlined word “weakened” in Paragraph 6 possibly mean?

A．Becoming stronger.	B．Becoming less strong.
C．Becoming less changeable.	D．Becoming more changeable.

3. What can we get from the new research?

A．A new way to increase sensitivity in the future.

B．A totally bad and strong influence on plants’ growth.

C．A wonderful method to help plants grow better and better.

D．A deeper understanding of the plants’ response to touching.

【推荐3】Some things about cats that people believe might not be true. These can make cat owners unable to think clearly. Let’s learn the truth about them.

Some people think that cats need to drink milk. That is not true. If a cat eats well, it does not need to drink milk. Does your cat drink milk? Most cats like milk, but too much of it can not make them feel well. They can only have a little milk.

Some people put garlic (蒜) in cat food. They believe it will keep worms (寄生虫) away from a cat’s body. Is it effective? No, it does nothing to worms. If your cat has worms in its body, take it to see a doctor. The doctor will give medicine to the cat.

Some people think that a cat’s whiskers (须) can help it keep balance (平衡). In fact, whiskers have nothing to do with balance at all. They help the cat know about things around.

Have you heard these about cats before? Don’t believe them. Cats need good owners to look after them. It’s a good idea to learn how to look after cats by reading books or talking to experts.

1. What does the underlined word “effective” mean?

A．Interesting.

B．Useful.

C．Creative.

D．Dangerous.

2. What’s the fourth paragraph (段) mainly about?

A．The size of a cat’s whiskers.	B．The color of a cat’s whiskers.
C．The use of a cat’s whiskers.	D．The shape of a cat’s whiskers.

3. Which of the following shows the structure (结构) of the passage?

A．

B．

C．

D．

4. Which question could best help us find out the writer’s purpose (目的)?

A．Does the writer want us to keep cats?

B．Does the writer teach us how to feed cats?

C．Does the writer expect us to be cat lovers?

D．Does the writer tell us some facts about cats?