【推荐1】Regardless of (不管) whether English is your first language, you won't make a good impression if you can't write well.     1     To improve your written English, learn the rules for correct grammar and punctuation (标点符号) and thoroughly proofread your written work. A large vocabulary will also help your writing stand out. Above all, be willing to practice every day and put in the work to build strong English writing skills.

Expand (扩大) Your Vocabulary

You'd better read books written in English. Books and magazines can introduce you to new words, provided you pay attention to the words and look up the ones you don't know rather than skipping over them.     2     Read the whole definition (释义) for the word, and think about how the author is using it in context (背景) . You may consider doing crossword puzzles to practice vocabulary. Crossword puzzles give you an opportunity to learn new words, as well as recall words you've learned and think about different contexts and meanings of words you already know.

    3    

To improve grammar, you should never ignore the importance of reading out your writing loud. Grammar and punctuation (标点符号) errors stand out when you read your writing out. As you read, pay attention to where you pause and make sure your punctuation reflects those pauses. Read the whole piece from beginning to end, looking at how the sentences flow together. You'd better also spend much time studying word usage to get the hang of grammar and punctuation. There are many websites that have free grammar and word usage lessons, tips, and exercises.     4    

Develop Good Writing Habits

Use a conversational writing style. The most readable writing is that written in the way people talk. So keep your sentence structure simple, and use mostly common, ordinary words that most people know. And remember to outline longer or more complex pieces. If you're writing something longer than a paragraph, or if you need to make several different points, an outline will help you organize your thoughts.     5    . That is because you won't be worried about forgetting something. Lastly, read over everything you write, even something as short as a text message. Over time, you'll notice an improvement in your first drafts.

A．Improve Grammar and Punctuation

B．Read your own writing out aloud.

C．It will also make your writing flow more easily.

D．People may assume (认为) you are uneducated, careless, or have a poor work ethic (道德准绳).

E．Talking to actual native speakers is the most effective way to improve your English skills.

F．You can use these to learn new skills and practice incorporating (使具体化) them into your writing.

G．Keep a dictionary nearby when you' re reading, and look up any word you don't know.

【推荐2】As the weather changes from day to day, sometimes it's impossible to avoid catching a cold or the flu. However, that doesn't mean we have to suffer terribly. Since the only way to get better from a cold is to go through the process, many natural remedies (疗法) have helped to reduce the symptom (症状) of the common cold.

If you feel the cold, you should drink something warm. Add honey and lemon to hot water or tea. You will keep warm while you're drinking tea. In traditional Chinese medicine, ginger (姜) has been used for over two thousand years. A cup of ginger tea helps to increase the blood move and make you sweat through your body.

Garlic (大蒜) is a super food. Garlic helps to fight off germs (细菌) when eaten daily. It can reduce the number of colds you get each year and shorten cold symptoms. If you don't mind eating uncooked garlic, it's best to eat a few pieces every three to four hours when you feel the first signs of a cold.

It's no secret that salt gets rid of germs. For a sore throat, mix about half a teaspoon of salt into warm water and use as a mouthwash. Whether it's for breakfast, lunch or dinner, the Japanese enjoy umeboshi, sour and salty apricots(杏子) that help keep the doctor away. Using a neti pot is an old practice from India that helps people breathe better. As a mixture of salt and water pours into the nose, the germs are cleared away.

Although cutting an onion can make you cry, it's good for a blocked nose. People in Mexico and Spain eat hot peppers to get their sense of smell back temporarily during a cold. Of course, you'd better be ready to experience a wave of heat! In Korea, kimchi is a popular side dish that keeps people healthy. It's made from pickle vegetables, red hot sauce and sometimes garlic and ginger.

It is common to have a cold, and Mother Nature’s remedies will be there for you to lower your pain when you need to fight against that cold!

1. Which of the following best shows the structure of the passage?

A．

B．

C．

D．

2. The underlined word "It" in Paragraph 3 refers to ________ .

A．the garlic

B．the germ

C．the cold

D．the symptom

3. The passage mainly wants to tell us that ________.

A．people can catch a cold and the flu in many ways

B．natural remedies are helpful when people catch colds

C．Mother Nature's food can take the place of medicine

D．natural food helps people fight against all the illnesses

4. According to the passage, we can learn that ________.

A．a neti pot is always used to keep warm

B．ginger is newly found to be good for health

C．kimchi is a main dish made from vegetables

D．umeboshi is salty and sour apricots Japanese like

【推荐3】Final exams are just around the comer. Liu Haoxuan,14, who studies at Beijing Dayu School, is quite busy. However, he still had to find time to practice his spoken English. That’s because he had to take a new English listening and speaking test.

Liu is not alone. This is a new test for all students who are taking senior high school entrance exams (中考）in Beijing. Junior 3 students have to take an English listening and speaking test that counts for 40 points on their full English exam. The test is taken on a computer. They can take the test twice---once in December and again in March---to try to get the highest score possible. The test was just introduced last year.

During the 30-minute test, students have to fill in blanks, answer questions and retell stories after listening to different materials. “It pushes us to speak. Though it was hard at the beginning, it's a good thing,” Liu said. He got a low score when he first took it last semester. But he kept working hard in order to improve his pronunciation and other skills. He practiced speaking in front of a mirror every day. Later, he got a score of 39 on the test.

Liu Tianyou,14, from Beijing Yuying Middle School, has his own way to prepare for the spoken English test. He uses apps to take practice tests every day. “The apps will score your performance so that you can improve accordingly,” he said. “Also, the practice tests help me learn to take notes properly. They help me grasp topic sentences and connection words.”

1. The story mainly talks about______.

A．the difficulties students face in learning English

B．the improvement of English education in China

C．an oral English class that students in Beijing have to take

D．a new oral English test for Beijing Junior 3 students

2. What do we know about the online English listening and speaking test?

A．Students have to take it twice

B．The test was introduced many years ago

C．It is worth 40 points on the full English exam.

D．Students hardly get high scores on the test.

3. What do students have to do for the test?
a. Fill in blanks.       b. Answer questions.
c. Retell stories.       d. Write stories.

A．abc	B．abd
C．acd	D．bcd

4. What do we know about Liu Tianyou?

A．He got a score of 39 on the test.

B．He prepared for the test by using apps.

C．He used to be nervous about speaking English.

D．He still finds it hard to grasp topic sentences.

5. What does the underlined word ^“pushes^” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．推开

B．推

C．挤进

D．拉拽

【推荐1】As a report from the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization（联合国粮食和农业组织）says, 1.29 million square kilometres of forest, an area almost the same size of South Africa, have been lost from the Earth since 1990. Now the forest loses an area around the size of Panama every year. As the forest becomes smaller, many animals lose their home. Luckily, there are still some people doing their best to save forest. A Brazilian（巴西人）Sebastiao Salgado and his wife Lelia Salgado have spent about 20 years planting forest.

Sebastiao is one of the most famous Brazilian photographers. He traveled all over the world to take photos. When he finally came back home in Brazil in the 1990s, he wasastonished- the forests were once full of wildlife. Now there are no trees here. So Sebastiao decided to do something about it. He believed that he could plant the forest together with his wife. And then his amazing dream began to come true. When they began to do that, all the birds and fish returned.

The couple brought the forest back by planting 4 million young trees. During the following 20 years. Sebastiao and his wife took care of the planted forest. 293 kinds of plants, 172 kinds of birds and other animals came back there. Sebastiao’s dream and hard work is a shining example of saving the nature. The couple show us how quickly the nature can recover(恢复) if we take action. As the saying goes, “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is today.”

1. Every year our forest loses an area almost the size of.

A．Brazil

B．Panama

C．South Africa

D．the United States

2. There was no wildlife in Sebastiao’s hometown in the 1990s because.

A．the weather was cold	B．there was no water
C．people killed them all	D．people cut down all the forests

3. What does the underlined word “astonished” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．interested.

B．bored.

C．surprised.

D．excited.

4. What's the best title of the passage?

A．Never too late to start.	B．Love me, love my dog.
C．You can’t have your cake and eat it.	D．Think twice before you make a decision.

【推荐3】A sunflower is a sunflower. A mobile phone is a mobile phone. But can you combine(联合) the two to do something for your local environment? It may be possible. When you have finished with your mobile phone, you will be able to bury(埋) it in the garden or a plant pot and wait for it to flower.

A biodegradable(生物可降解的) mobile phone was introduced by scientists. It is hoped that the new type of phone will encourage people to recycle. Scientists have thought of a new material over the last five years. It looks like any other plastic, but overtime it can break down into the soil without giving out any poisonous chemicals(有毒的化学物质). British researchers used the new material to develop a phone cover with a sunflower seed(种子). When this cover changes into waste, it forms nitrates(硝酸盐). These feed the seed and help the flower grow. “We have only put sunflower seeds into the cover so far. But we're trying to find out which flowers would perform best. Maybe we could put roses in next time,” said one scientist.

As phone technology is developing so quickly, people are always throwing their mobile phones away. This means producers are under pressure(压力) to find ways of recycling them. Some 650 million mobile phones have been sold this year. Most of them will be thrown away within two years, adding plastic, heavy metal(金属) and chemical waste to the environment. A biodegradable cover can reduce the harm to nature, according to the scientists. “The seed is released(释放) and the flower grows in the pot, so you don't have to worry about the phone when you have finished using it,” said Kerry Kirwan, the leader of the research team, which is based at the University of Warwick in Britain.

1. Scientists did this type of research about biodegradable mobile phones in order to ________.

A．make the mobile phones more beautiful	B．encourage people to recycle
C．find a new way to grow flowers	D．produce more mobile phones

2. Millions of mobile phones have been sold this year and people will ______ within two years.

A．bury most of them in the garden	B．put sunflower seeds into most of them
C．take out their cover	D．throw most of them away

3. What does the underlined phrase “break down” mean?

A．change into chemicals

B．not work

C．be divided

D．break out

4. We can infer(推断) from the passage that _________.

A．the new type of mobile phones is already on the market

B．some 650 million mobile phones have been sold within two years

C．British scientists are doing the research

D．roses perform best in this type of mobile phones

5. What’s the best title of the passage?

A．the Harm to Nature	B．the Developing Phone Technology
C．Phones and Flowers	D．Mobile Phones and Environment

【推荐1】阅读理解

A recently study found people’s lives are made shorter in North China. It is showed the life expectancy(平均寿命) had been cut down by 5.5 years there. Researchers think that the heavy air pollution in China should be to blame. It’s really the truth. Our government has already done something. However, it doesn’t seem to work so well.

“Air pollution in China is doing harm to people’s health. The harm is much more serious than we can imagine,” said Chen Yuyu of Beijing University, one of researchers of this study.

Dirty air brings serious problems in North China. In January this year, the air pollution was worse than that in other places. That was caused by rising temperature and waste gas from coal heating.

Chinese government should strongly fight against air pollution. They should think of more proper ways to deal with the problem. People should be encouraged to take buses, ride bicycles or walk, instead of driving cars. The factories that pollute heavily should be closed.

“We need to improve our environment, although it might be expensive. Protecting our environment means protecting ourselves,” Li Hongbin, another researcher of the study said.

1. The passage above may come from an advertisement.
2. The study showed the life expectancy had been cut down by 5.5 years in North China.
3. Air pollution is very harmful to people.
4. People shouldn’t be encouraged to take more transportation .
5. People need to make pollution less, although it might cost a lot.

【推荐2】

At 8, 844, 43 meters high, Mount Qomolangma is the tallest mountain on Earth. While it is famous for its beautiful views, parts of the mountain are facing a problem: rubbish. Every year, thousands of visitors throw away tons of rubbish, such as bottles and plastic bags.

According to the UN, over 140 tons of rubbish has been left on the mountain. To reduce rubbish, China is limiting(限制) the number of people who are allowed to climb up the north side of the mountain. Only 300 people will be allowed to climb it, and only during spring.

Local people cleaned the mountain last year, removing rubbish at a height of 5,200 meters. They collected about 8.4 metric tons(公吨) of rubbish。

This year, the local government plans to spend 4 million yuan on a new clean-up activity. The local government is also setting up stations to sort(分类), recycle and break down rubbish collected from the mountain. A group of artists will also try to turn the rubbish into art works. They will show these works of art to remind people not to leave rubbish when climbing the mountain.

1. What problem are parts of Mount Qomolangma facing?

A．Air pollution.

B．Rubbish.

C．Noise.

D．Water pollution.

2. How many people will be allowed to climb up the north side of the mountain during spring?

A．140.

B．5,200

C．4 million.

D．300.

3. The underlined word "removing" in Paragraph 3 probably means ____.

A．using up

B．making better

C．putting on

D．taking away

4. The artists will show their art works in order to ____.

A．teach people to make works of art

B．help people to know about Qomolangma

C．encourage people to clean up Qomolangma

D．remind people not to throw rubbish on Qomolangma

5. What kind of writing is this?

A．A notice.

B．News.

C．A story.

D．An advertisement.

【推荐3】Do you still get free plastic bags from the supermarkets? Things have changed.
China has banned (禁止) free plastic bags at shops and supermarkets, and people have to pay for using plastic bags. The rule started on June 1. It came because our country tried to make litter less. Making super-thin (超薄) plastic bags has also been banned.
The Chinese once used about 3,000,000,000 plastic shopping bags a day, and they have caused pollution of the environment. The bags have become a main cause of plastic pollution because they are easy to break and people throw them away here and there. So the Chinese people are encouraged to bring theft own bags for shopping.
What kind of shopping bag is the best to bring? Some students in Chongqing have a good idea. They make their own shopping bags. They use old clothes to make cloth bags, and send them to their parents as presents. They also ask theft parents and friends to use cloth bags instead of plastic ones. They think it is their duty to protect the environment.
根据短文内容，选择最佳选项。
1. People in China have to _____ now.

A．throw plastic bags here and there

B．collect plastic bags in the street

C．pay for using plastic bags at shops and supermarkets

D．use free plastic bags at shops and supermarkets

2. China made this rule because plastic bags were bad for the ______

A．environment

B．litter

C．shops

D．supermarkets

3. The Chinese people are encouraged to bring _____ for shopping.

A．no bags

B．free plastic bags

C．their own bags

D．super-thin plastic bags

4. Some students in Chongqing ______

A．ask their parents to make cloth bags

B．make cloth bags themselves

C．pick up plastic bags everywhere

D．buy cloth bags for their parents

5. What’s the main idea of this article?

A．Making super-thin plastic bags has been banned in China.

B．The bags have become a main cause of plastic pollution.

C．Some students in Chongqing begin to make their own shopping bags.

D．To protect the environment, free plastic bags have been banned in China.

【推荐1】An old cowboy was riding his trusty horse followed by his honesty dog along an uncommon road. The man was enjoying the new scenery（风景）, when he suddenly remembered dying. He realized that the dog beside him had been dead for years and so had his horse. He wondered what was happening, and where the road was leading them.

After a while, they saw a tall arch topped by golden letter "H" and a gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl. The street that led to the gate looked like gold.

He rode toward the gate and saw a man at a desk. Thirsty and tired out by his journey, he called out," Excuse me, where are we?"

"This is Heaven, sir," the man answered.

"Wow! Would you happen to have some water?" the cowboy asked.

"Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water for you."

"Can I bring my partners, too?"

"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets."

The cowboy thought for a moment, then turned back to the road and continued riding, his dog running by his side.

After another long ride, he came to a dirt road leading through a gate that looked as if it had never been closed. As he went closer to the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book. “Excuse me,” he called to the man. "Do you have any water?"

"Sure, there's a pump right over there. Help yourself."

"How about my friends here?" the cowboy pointed at the dog and his horse.

"Of course! They look thirsty, too," said the man.

The three went through the gate and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with buckets（水桶）beside it. The cowboy took a long drink, as did his horse and dog. "What do you call this place?" the cowboy asked the man who was still standing by the tree.

"This is Heaven," he answered.

"That's strange," the cowboy said. "The man down the road said that was Heaven, too."

"Oh, you mean the place with the shinning, gold street and fake pearly gates? That's Hell." "Doesn't it make you angry when they use your name like that?"

"Not at all. Actually, we’re happy they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind."

根据材料内容选择最佳答案。
1. The cowboy didn't know about________.

A．his death

B．his destination

C．his partners

D．his partners’ death

2. The cowboy thought for a moment and continue riding because________.

A．he didn't like ice water served here

B．he was unwilling to be separated from his friends

C．he believed he would find the real Heaven

D．he disliked the rule of forbidding keeping pets here

3. What does the underlined word “pump” mean?

A．水井

B．水池

C．水泵

D．水缸

4. According to the passage, which is the TRUE statement about the man in Heaven?

A．He thought only people who wouldn't leave their friends behind can go to Heaven.

B．He was angry with the man in Hell.

C．He wasn't used to keeping open house for travelers.

D．He enjoyed having pets around.

5. Which of the following can be the best title for the passage?

A．A Long Journey

B．Heaven and Hell

C．Friends in Heaven

D．A Kind Cowboy

【推荐2】Mount Huangshan is probably one of the most famous mountains in China. It has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.
It lies in the south of Anhui Province. It is about 1,200 square kilometers. Every year, thousands of Chinese and foreigners pay a visit there. While you are climbing the mountain, you can enjoy the sea of clouds, wondrous pines（松树）and unique（独特的）rocks around you. Early morning when the sun rise, the sky looks very beautiful. It's really a nice place to visit. Each of the four seasons on Mt.Huangshan has their different beauty.
It is said that you won't want to visit any other mountain after the Five Famous Mountains, and you won't wish to see even the Five Famous Mountains after returning from Mt.Huangshan. This saying may give you some ideas of the beauty and uniqueness of Mt.Huangshan. Together with the Yellow River, the Yangtze River and the Great Wall, Mt.Huangshan has become one of the great symbols of China.
1. What can you enjoy when you climb Mount Huangshan?

A．The sea of clouds.	B．Wondrous pines.
C．Unique rocks.	D．Above all.

2. What is the Chinese meaning of the underlined word "uniqueness" in the last paragraph?

A．独一无二的事物	B．雄伟的
C．吸引人的	D．享受的

3. Which one can represent China according to the passage?

A．Mount Tai.	B．Guilin.
C．Mt.Huangshan.	D．Beijing.

4. Which one is NOT true in the following sentences?

A．Mt. Huangshan is a natural wonder in China.

B．Mr. Huangshan has the same view in different seasons.

C．Many foreigners come to visit Mt.Huangshan every year.

D．Mt. Huangshan has become one of the great symbols of China.

【推荐3】I remembered I had a gun if I needed it, and turned back towards this man of the island. He was hiding behind another tree but stepped out to meet me.

“Who are you?” I asked, staring at him.

“Ben Gunn.” he answered, and his voice sounded rough and strange. His skin was burnt nearly black by the sun and his clothes were made from pieces of a ship’s sail, “Poor Ben Gunn.” he went on. “Alone for three years.”

“Were you shipwrecked（遭遇海难）?” I asked.

“No, my friend.” he said. “Marooned.”

I had heard the word before, and knew it meant a cruel（残忍的）punishment often used by pirates（海盗）—leaving a man alone on some distant, empty islands.

“Marooned for three years,” he continued, “eating wild goats and fish. But I’m in a great need for real English food back home. You don’t have a piece of cheese, do you? Many nights I’ve seen cheese in my dreams.”

He continued, “Well, tell me your name.”

“Jim.” I told him.

“Well, Jim,” he said, looking around and lowering his voice to a whisper, “I’m rich.” I was now sure the poor man was crazy, but he repeated his words. “Rich. I say! Now, Jim, that isn’t Flint’s ship, is it?”

I began to think that I had found a friend, and I answered him at once. “It’s not Flint’s ship any more. Flint is dead, but there are still some of Flint’s men on board, and that’s bad news for us.”

“A man with one leg?” he asked, fear in his voice.

“Silver?” I asked.

“Yes, Silver,” he said, “that was his name.”

“He’s the cook, and their leader, too.” And I told him the fight between Flint and the cook, and the danger we were in.

（Adapted from Treasure Island）

1. Ben ate ________ on the island.

A．sheep and fish	B．wild goats and fish
C．cheese and fish	D．leaves and fish

2. The meaning of the underlined word “marooned” is the closest to that of “________”.

A．trapped

B．charged

C．murdered

D．attacked

3. What is the correct order of the story?
①Silver became the leader of the ship.                  ②Flint fought with Silver.
③Jim met Ben on the Island.                                ④Flint was dead.

A．④②①③

B．④①②③

C．②④①③

D．②④③①

4. From Ben’s words, he probably came from ________.

A．Russia

B．Italy

C．Britain

D．France

5. It can be inferred（推断）from the passage that ________.

A．Ben was shipwrecked.	B．Jim’s clothes were made from pieces of a ship’s sail.
C．Flint was a man with one leg.	D．Ben missed the cheese back home very much.