【推荐1】Do you remember where you were when you heard about a traffic accident of involving (牵涉) a close friend? The answer is probably yes. Do you remember what you were doing on your birthday that year? You may have to think a little harder.

People remember bad memories more easily and in greater detail (细节) than good ones. Why is that? A new study found that people do this because of evolutionary (进化的) reasons.

Elizabeth Ken Singer and her partners at Boston College, US, did a study looking at this. They found negative feelings like fear and sadness cause an increase in brain (大脑) activity. This activity happens in the part of the brain that controls memories. So memories caused by negative feelings are kept in greater detail than other kinds of memories.

For example, after seeing a man on a street holding a knife, people remember the knife clearly, but they forget the details of the street.

According to Ken Singer, it is easy to understand this from an evolutionary (进化论的) point of view. She said that people pay attention to dangerous information so they can use that information to guide their actions and save their lives. They can also use it to plan for similar events in the future.

The scientists say more studies are needed on how we remember bad memories. This line of research could help solve stress disorders (失调).

1. According to the passage, good memories are remembered ______ than bad ones.

A．more in detail

B．less often

C．longer

D．more easily

2. The underlined word "negative" in the third paragraph means "______" in English.

A．simple

B．bad

C．unforgettable

D．similar

3. When a girl breaks into tears, ______.

A．she probably has a stress disorder.

B．she can control her memories well.

C．her brain activity will be kept in greater detail.

D．her brain activity will increase.

4. What does the writer want to tell us by using the example of a man holding a knife?

A．People pay more attention to dangerous information.

B．People can learn from bad memories.

C．People can plan for similar events in the future.

D．People have the ability to save themselves from danger.

5. What would be a good title for the passage?

A．Brain activity controls memories.

B．How we remember bad memories.

C．Bad memories are easier to remember.

D．Bad memories can cause stress disorders.

【推荐2】       Soon computers and other machines will be able to remember you by looking at your eyes! The program works because everyone’s eyes are different. So in the future you won’t have to remember a number when you want to use a machine or take money out of a bank. You’ll just have to look at the machine and it will be able to tell who you are.
       The eye-recognition（眼睛识别 program has already been tested in shops and banks in the USA, Britain, Spain, Italy and Turkey. Soon this technology（技术） will take the place of all other ways of finding out who people are.
       However, scientists are also working on other systems. Machines will soon be able to know you from the shape of your face or hand or even your smell! We already have machines that can tell who you are from your voice or the mark made by your finger.
        Eye-recognition is better than other kinds because your eyes don’t change as you get older, and don’t get dirty like hands or fingers, and even twins have different eyes. So the eye-recognition program can be up to 94% correct, depending on how good the technology is. However, some other programs may only be 51% correct at present. In Britain, it was found that 91% of people who had tried it said that they liked the idea of eye-recognition.
       In the future your computer will be looking you in the eye. So smile!
1. Where has the eye-recognition program already been tested in a few countries? In_______.

A．shops and banks	B．shops and schools
C．banks and schools	D．schools and hospitals

2. How does the eye-recognition program work?

A．You look at the machine and type a number.

B．You need to speak and then look.

C．The machine looks at your face.

D．You look at the machine.

3. We already have machines that can tell who you are from ________.

A．your eyes or your smell

B．your voice or the mark made by your finger

C．your face or your voice

D．your face or your hand

4. Which of the following doesn’t belong to the advantages of the eye-recognition program?

A．Your eyes don’t change as you get older.

B．Eyes don’t get dirty like hands or fingers.

C．Everyone’s eyes are different, even twins have different eyes.

D．We can’t see anything without eyes.

5. What problem could there be with the eye-recognition program?

A．Some eyes are the same.	B．Eyes can change.
C．It is not always correct.	D．Eyes can get dirty like hands.

【推荐3】Different vitaminsare found in different foods. Then which foods should be eaten to keep us healthy? Let's look at some important vitamins for the answer.

Vitamin A helps to protect skin from becoming dry. It is also helpful to the eyes. Without vitamin A, you cannot see well in darkness. Vitamin A is found in animal liver and yellow part of eggs. Sweet potatoes, carrots and other dark colored fruit and vegetables have something that the body can change into vitamin A.

Vitamin B changes foods into energy and helps the heart and nervous system (神经系统) to work smoothly. Without it, we will be weak and will not grow. It is found in grains and other foods like beans, nuts, meat and fish. Vitamin B helps to produce red blood cells. It is found in foods like eggs, meat, fish, milk and green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin C is needed for strong bones and teeth, and for healthy blood vessels (血管). It also helps wounds to heal (愈合) quickly. The body stores little vitamin C, so we must get it in foods like oranges, and cabbage.

Vitamin D increases the levels of calcium (钙) in the blood. Calcium is needed for verve and muscle (肌肉) cells to work normally, as well as to build strong bones. Fish liver oil has vitamin D. In some countries, milk producers add vitamin D to milk so that it will be good for children.

1. Without ________, we cannot see well in darkness.

A．vitamin A	B．vitamin B
C．vitamin C	D．vitamin D

2. According to the passage, vitamin B can be found in ________.

A．fish liver oil

B．oranges and cabbage

C．grains, meat and fish

D．animal liver and eggs

3. From the passage, we know that vitamin C is good for ________.

A．blood vessels	B．the heart
C．the skin	D．nerve and muscles

4. Some milk producers add vitamin D to milk mainly to help children to ________.

A．have good eyesight

B．get enough calcium

C．produce blood cells

D．heal wounds quickly

5. According to the passage above, which of the following is “TRUE”？

A．We can get vitamins from everything.

B．We can live healthily with few vitamins

C．Vitamins are not important to our health.

D．Different vitamins help us in different ways.

【推荐2】The 14th Chinese Language Competition attracted about 1,100 children from kindergarten kids to high school students. The children from different language and cultural backgrounds met in San Francisco and competed in events like Chinese calligraphy（书法）, drawing and Chinese poetry recital（背诵）.

Thomson, an 11th-grade boy from Justin-Siena High School in Napa city of California, has studied Chinese language for three years. It was hard for him to learn Chinese at the beginning, because it was one of the most difficult languages in the world. However, the writing of Chinese characters is a form of art, which made him feel different. “It’s amazing to see how attractive Chinese culture is,” he said.

Julie, a 12th-grade girl shared her similar experience of learning Chinese for four years. When recalling her trip in Beijing and Shanghai, she expressed huge interest in shared bikes, “The shared bike is known as one of the new ‘Great Inventions’ of China, along with China’s Express Railway and Alipay online payment system. They amaze the whole world as part of China’s rapid rise.”

According to the hosting organization, the Confucius Institute at San Francisco State University, the competition was mainly for American and overseas Chinese kids. It aimed to set a platform to present（展示）their Chinese language and culture talents. It also helped to deepen the understanding of young Americans about the Chinese culture and history.

1. Where was the 14th Chinese Language Competition held?

A．In Beijing.

B．In Shanghai.

C．In Napa city.

D．In San Francisco.

2. What is among the new “Great Inventions” of China according to the passage?

A．Railway.

B．Paper making.

C．The shared bike.

D．Chinese calligraphy.

3. Which statement is TRUE about the competition?

A．All college students took part in it.	B．It was not only for overseas Chinese kids.
C．It was hosted by Justin-Siena High School.	D．Students competed in different languages.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Chinese Culture Talent Show Presented	B．New “Great Inventions” Made in China
C．Chinese Language Competition Held Again	D．Ways to Learn the Chinese Language Shared

【推荐1】How can you remember a song from your childhood to this day? Why does your teacher use songs to teach you English? It seems there is a scientific reason for this.

Researchers are now studying the relationship(关系) between music and remembering a foreign language.

“Singing could be a new way of learning a foreign language. The brain(大脑) likes to remember things when they are used in a catchy and meaningful way. For example, kids can learn difficult words quickly when they are put in a song.” said Dr. Karen. The findings may help those who have trouble learning foreign languages. On his blog, Dr. Ludke writes, “A listen-and-repeat singing way can support foreign language learning and opens the door for future research in this area.”

Many language teachers know the importance of using music and singing. Hua Zhuying, a teacher at a Chinese language school in the USA uses songs to teach Chinese. She says, “I use music all the time to teach children Chinese. For little kids usually we use the music. Not only does it work, but it is fun for kids.”

“Sometimes I think if I learn English that way when I was young, maybe I could speak much better English than now.” Hua Zhuying adds.

Our brain likes music, especially for remembering. So if you are still having trouble learning a language, why not try singing it out?

1. According to the passage, the best way to remember a foreign language is to ______.

A．read and write more	B．listen to the teacher carefully
C．copy the words many times	D．remember words in a song

2. The underlined word “catchy” probably means “________”.

A．困难的

B．无聊的

C．放松的

D．容易记住的

3. The passage mainly tells us that ________.

A．many researchers realize the importance of language learning

B．many language teachers know the importance of famous music

C．your brain remembers a language better if you sing it

D．you will never learn a language well if you can not sing

【推荐3】Wearing armor (盔甲) and holding weapons, they look like ancient soldiers on door posters. But look closer—they are two cats instead of the generals Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong.

These posters were designed by Liu Shuning and Lin Chen from Hangzhou, Zhejiang. They wanted to mix modern art and youth culture with traditional culture.

The posters use the style of woodblock New Year paintings, which are a form of intangible cultural heritage (非物质文化遗产) in China. Called “nianhua” in Chinese, this style of art dates back to the Western Han Dynasty.

“We think woodblock New Year paintings are treasures—their colors and patterns are beautiful,” Lin said. “We want to show that young people are still interested in traditional culture.” “Protecting cultural heritage requires to breathe new life into it. So I tried to add something that young people like,” Liu said. “People love little cute animals—So Lin and I keep three cats.”

They used these cats as models. They designed a carpet (地毯) using the traditional “six children pattern”—six children making up a circle and sharing three heads—but the children were replaced with dogs and cats.

Their design got hundreds of “likes” on the art website. But Liu and Lin aren’t stopping there. They are now planning another project that will include things borrowed from pictures in Dunhuang.

1. What can we know about the Chinese door posters?

A．They usually have cats.	B．They are made from wood.
C．They have a long history.	D．They are world cultural heritage.

2. The purpose of designing the posters in a special way is to ________.

A．get “likes” from users on the art website	B．let more people love little cute animals
C．show their deep love for the three little cats	D．make young people love traditional culture

3. What does the underlined word “replaced” in Paragraph 5 probably mean?

A．取代

B．覆盖

C．伤害

D．包围

4. What can be the best title for the passage?

A．Nianhua Gets Popular Again	B．Old Art Gets a Modern Touch
C．Pass on Cultural Heritage Online	D．Create New Painting Style