1 . Wine and beaches, fireworks and music... our readers recommend some fantastic festivals.
Festa delTUva e del Vino, Italy
Set on the beautiful shores of Lake Garda, this grapes and wine festival takes over the small town of Bardolino for four days every October. With local wines, food, art projections, fireworks and live music. people come from miles around to celebrate. First and foremost，it’s about great wine，but it’s worth visiting to soak up the great atmosphere.
Free，1-5 October
Quest festival, Vietnam
This is a weekend camping festival held just a 40-minute drive from Hanoi, bringing together locals and visitors in a celebration of underground live and electronic music culture. Held in the beautiful Son Tinh campsite, there are usually about 30 local and international DJs and 10 bands. There are also workshops, pop-up cafes, fire performances, dancing and much more.
Weekend tickets about £25, 6-8 November
Estiv al Switzerland
This is a free festival of jazz which takes place in the first weekend in July in the pretty squares and lakeside beaches and parks around the southern Swiss town of Lugano. The palm trees and summer air to see some of Europe’s up and coming jazz bands and enjoy Swiss
Free, every July
Irish Redhead Convention, County Cork
A friendly gathering for all red-haired people is held in the small seaside village of Crosshaven where redheads from all over the world take part in light hearted events. There’s live music, art exhibitions, lectures and of course the traditional Parade of Redheads through the village led by the newly crowned Redhead King and Queen.
Free, Every August
1. Jennifer, a girl with red hair, may be interested in ________.| A．Estival. | B．Quest festival. |
| C．Festa deirtlva e del Vino. | D．Irish Redhead Convention. |
| A．They offer local food. |
| B．They have fireworks. |
| C．They are free of charge. |
| D．They have music activities. |
| A．In a textbook. |
| B．In a magazine. |
| C．In a news report. |
| D．In a research paper. |
2 . Perfumes, soaps, and other products often contain special smells called fragrances. Fragrances are often not natural smells, but they're meant to be pleasant. Fragrances can strongly affect those who smell them. Though some people are sensitive to the smells, hoping the smells will be ridded some day, creating and selling fragrances brings in about ＄48 billion every year across the globe, causing some companies to take advantage of computers and other high-tech methods to help them. Many universities specially have the major for creating fragrances, which many students are eager to take.
IBM is a computer company whose Artificial Intelligence (AI) system for fragrances is called Philyra that can't actually smell, but can use lots of different information to find and act on new patterns. The information Philyra needs comes from a German company Symrise. Symrise has derailed information on all kinds of materials used to make perfumes. It also has about 1.7 million different formulas—special recipes for making fragrances, and it is also able to give Philyra information about what kinds of smells people like. For example, the kinds of smells most liked by men, women, or people in different age groups or in different countries.
O Boticario, Brazil's second-largest beauty store, asked IBM to come up with two new perfumes that millennials(千禧二代) would like. So Philyra began creating new formulas based on patterns it spotted in the information about different materials, different formulas and the kinds of fragrances people like. Philyra came up with many formulas very quickly. The master perfumer David Apel worked with the AI, and he said that the way Philyra combined different spices(香料) with milk and butter was something that he would never have thought of doing. When O Boticario tried out the new perfumes on groups of millennials, they were very popular. They even beat out some famous perfumes. The new special perfumes will go on sale soon this year.
1. What do we know about creating and selling fragrances from paragraph 1?| A．It's being done by computers. |
| B．It's a big business in the world. |
| C．It's been directed by AI system. |
| D．It will disappear sooner or later. |
| A．Making fragrances for IBM. |
| B．Offering fragrance information. |
| C．Using AI to create various smells. |
| D．Developing AI system for fragrances. |
| A．Unnoticed fragrances. |
| B．Expert favored. |
| C．Personal smells. |
| D．AI-created. |
| A．Entertainment. |
| B．Health. |
| C．Education. |
| D．Technology. |
3 . Whether you are crazy about cycling or not, when it comes to purchasing a bike, the choice is endless, making it tough to know what to go for. Here are the best buys on the market right now.
Boardman CX Comp
This is a cross country bike, and it’s so multi-functional that you can handle any terrain(地势) on it, making it a great choice for those wanting to try various cycling subjects. If you leave on the thick tires it comes with, it can ride on various paths and can even handle some less demanding mountain bike routes. Alternatively, put on thin, smooth tires and treat it as a road bike. It has a basket and conics with Shimano Sora gears(变速器), which are outstanding for its price.(£650, IIalfords)
Planet XRT-58 V2
Planet X is based in Yorkshire, which means you’d probably have to buy this bike without seeing it. But it’s worth it, because this is an excellent machine at a lower price. Planet X is a highly rated manufacturer and this model comes with Shimano Sora gearing.(£585, Planet X)
Specialized Allez E5
Specialized is one of the biggest and most popular brands in cycling, and this is its hugely popular primary road bike. It comes with solid components from front to back and you'll look great out on the road. (£ 75, Evans Cycles)
Boardman Road Team Carbon
If you can push your budget(预算) further still, this bike is worth the extra investment. The frame(框架) is made entirely from carbon, which is lighter, faster and more comfortable than the composition metal(复合金属) models above and gives you an all-round and more enjoyable ride. It also means that if you get really serious about cycling, you don’t have to upgrade as quickly as you would with a cheaper bike. Besides, it also comes with Shimano Sora gearing.(£800, Halfords)
1. What is special about Boardman CX Comp?| A．Its light form. | B．Its firm tires. | C．Its various functions. | D．Its reasonable price. |
| A．Planet XRT-58 V2 |
| B．Specialized Allez E5 |
| C．Boardman CX Comp |
| D．Boardman Road Team Carbon |
| A．Planet XRT-58 V2 has been sold out so far. |
| B．Boardman CX Comp is just a mountain bike. |
| C．Specialized Allez E5 is designed for senior cyclists. |
| D．Boardman CX Comp Team Carbon is made by a special material. |
| A．Travel. | B．Advertisement. | C．Health. | D．Culture. |
4 . Animal rights activists respect animals because they understand animals have a place in the world. Zoos, especially the ones that are doing everything right, become a headache for the animal rights activists.
Zoo supporters argue that they save endangered species and educate the public, but many animal rights activists believe the costs are more than the benefits, and the violation(违反) of the rights of the individual animals is unreasonable. Roadside zoos, petting zoos, and smaller animal exhibitors tend to offer narrow space for the animals, keeping them in pens or cages. Sometimes, a tiger or bear will live with cold concrete（混凝土）and metal bars for their entire lives. Larger, trusted zoos try to avoid these operations by offering excellent treatment to the animals. However, to animal rights activists, the problem is not how well the animals are treated, but whether we have a right to limit (限制）them for our delight or “education”.
To zoo supporters, by bringing people and animals together, zoos educate the public and promote an appreciation of the animals, encouraging people to protect the animals. Zoos save endangered species by bringing them into a safe environment, where they are protected from poachers(偷猎者), habitat loss, hunger, and predators(捕食者). Many zoos also have various programs for endangered species. In the wild, these individuals might have trouble finding mates and multiplying(繁殖). A good zoo provides an enriched habitat in which the animals are never bored, are well cared for, and have plenty of space. Besides, zoos are a tradition, and a visit to a zoo is a healthy, family activity.
In the case of zoos, both sides—animal rights activists and zoo supporters will argue that their side saves animals. Whether or not zoos benefit the animal community, they certainly do make money. As long as there is need for zoos, they will continue to exist. We can start by making sure that conditions are the best possible for the animals who are limited to zoos.
1. Which of the following statements do the zoo supporters agree with?| A．Zoos can offer all the animals foods when they are in trouble. |
| B．Zoos give people more chances to educate animals. |
| C．Zoos enable animals to live longer without any sickness. |
| D．Zoos can protect animals and provide room for educating. |
| A．Zoos will be improved. |
| B．Zoos will have no place in the world. |
| C．Zoos will hold fewer animals. |
| D．Zoos will not make profits. |
| A．Endangered species in zoos. | B．Arguments for and against zoos. |
| C．Zoos’ advantages and disadvantages. | D．People and animals in zoos. |
| A．A science book. | B．A news report. |
| C．A travel brochure. | D．A book review. |
5 . Online programs to fight depression are already commercially available. While they sound efficient and cost-saving, a recent study looked at computer-assisted cognitive (认知的) behavioral therapy (CBT) and found that it was not that helpful in handling depression.
Traditional CBT is considered as an effective form against depression, helping people challenge negative thoughts and change the way they think in order to change their mood and behaviors. However, online CBT programs have been gaining popularity, with the attraction of providing low-cost help wherever someone is able to use a computer.
A team of researchers from the University of York conducted a survey with 691 depressed patients from 83 physician practices across England. They were divided into three groups: one group received only usual care from a physician while the other two groups received usual care from a physician plus one of two computerized CBT programs. After four months, the patients using the computerized CBT programs had no improvement in depression level over those who were only getting usual care form their doctors, mainly because depressed patients are not likely to get involved in online programs and stick with them.
“It’s an important, warning note that we shouldn’t get too carried away with the idea that a computer system can replace doctors and therapists (治疗师),” says Christopher Dowrick, a professor of primary medical care at the University of Liverpool. “We do still need the human touch or the human talk, especially when people are depressed.”
Being depressed can mean feeling “lost in your own small, negative, dark world,” Dowrick says. Having a person, instead of a computer, reach out to you is particularly important in battling that sense of separation. “When your feeling is more easily hurt, you’re even more in need of a caring human being,” he says.
1. What has made online CBT programs increasingly popular?| A．Their good effects on fighting depression. |
| B．Their easy and cheap use by patients. |
| C．The low efficiency of traditional CBT. |
| D．The attraction of going online. |
| A．online CBT is more likely to cure depression |
| B．traditional CBT has no improvement in depression |
| C．depressed patients fail to keep up the online treatment |
| D．the combination of traditional and online CBT is most effective |
| A．It can take the place of doctors. |
| B．It should not be ignored in primary care. |
| C．Its effectiveness should not be over valued. |
| D．Its advantages should be encouraged by doctors. |
| A．Science and Technology | B．Culture and Society |
| C．Business and Advertisement | D．Health and Fitness |
6 . Who're happier, men or women?Research shows it's a complex question and that asking whether males or females are happier isn't really that helpful, because basically, happiness is different for women and men.
Women's happiness has been declining for the past 30 years, according to recent statistics.And research shows that women are twice as likely to experience depression compared with men.Gender（性别） differences in depression are well confirmed and studies have found that biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the difference.
Early studies on gender and happiness found men and women were socialized to express different feelings.Women are more likely to express happiness, warmth and fear, which help with social bonding and appear more consistent with the traditional role as a primary caregiver, while men display more anger, pride and disrespect, which are more consistent with a protector and provider role.
Recent research suggests that these differences are not just socially, but also genetically related.Studies have looked into these findings further and discovered that females use more areas of the brain containing mirror neurons（镜像神经元）than males when they process feelings.Mirror neurons allow us to experience the world from other people's view, to understand their actions and intentions.This may explain why women can experience deeper sadness.Women tend to experience more negative feelings, such as more guilt, shame and to a lesser degree, embarrassment.
Psychologically it seems men and women differ in the way they process and express feelings.With the exception of anger, women experience feelings more strongly and share their feelings more openly with others.Studies have found in particular that women express more appreciation﹣which has been linked to greater happiness.This supports the theory that women's happiness is more dependent on relationships than men's.
1. Which feeling are men more likely to show compared with women?| A．Warmth. |
| B．Depression. |
| C．Happiness. |
| D．Disrespect. |
| A．Psychological factors. |
| B．Biological factors. |
| C．Educational factors. |
| D．Social factors. |
| A．a science fiction |
| B．a culture brochure |
| C．a nursery guide |
| D．a health magazine |
| A．Men and women differ in biology and psychology. |
| B．Men and women experience happiness differently. |
| C．Social roles have a great effect on men and women. |
| D．Women's happiness has declined in the past years. |
7 . With over 250 registered art institutions，London is one of the world's greatest cultural capitals. The city's museums are a huge draw — especially for first-time visitors.
British Museum
PHONE +44 20 7323 8299
If there's one museum to see in London, this is it. From Egyptian mummies and pieces of the Parthenon to the game﹣changing Rosetta Stone and an enormous Easter Island figure, the British Museum — covering 18.5 acres — is not just one oi London's best museums, but one of the world's. Organized by geographic territories, modern-day Indiana Joneses could spend weeks exploring these halls, which back to 1753. Plan your visit in advance by mapping out the highlights.
Victoria and Albert Museum
PHONE +44 20 7942 2000
The V&A knows how to make a good first impression. Hanging in its entrance hall is a blue -and-green Dale Chihuly blown glass chandelier, and that's just the beginning. Established in 1857, the museum's collection is spread over seven floors and consists of decorative arts and design from every time period. Highlights include the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci, arts by Picasso, a copy of the first edition of the collected works of Shakespeare, art treasures from Medieval and Renaissance Europe, and one of the most comprehensive jewelry collections in the world.
Tate Modern
PHONE +44 20 7887 8888
Housed in a former industrial power station at the foot of the River Thames,the Tate Modern is one of the world's largest and most modern art museums. Exhibiting British and international works dating from 1900 to today, the Tate Modern displays the works of masters like Rothko, Matisse, Picasso, and Dali, alongside Yayoi Kusama, Tracey Emin, and Marina Abramovic.
Tate Britain
PHONE +44 20 7887 8881
The sister gallery to the Tate Modem is the Tate Britain. With its old-world marble floors, spiral staircases, and Grecian columns, the Tate Britain is a veritable temple of British art from 1500 to today.
1. If you are interested in Egyptian mummies you should visit________.| A．V&A Museum |
| B．British Museum |
| C．Tate Modern |
| D．Tate Britain |
| A．44 20 73238299. |
| B．44 20 78878888. |
| C．44 20 79422000. |
| D．44 20 78878881. |
| A．Health. |
| B．Sports. |
| C．Business. |
| D．Tourism. |
8 . Those days of sucking (吮吸) up the sides of your rapidly melting (融化) ice cream may soon be over. Researchers have discovered a natural protein that could be added to everyone’s favorite summertime snack to keep it solid for longer, according to a press release from the University of Edinburg in Scotland.
Most people know that, at its most basic, ice cream is made of milk and sugar. But it has other ingredients that give it a solid consistency (黏稠度) — a fat (often oil), air bubbles, and ice crystals. The protein that the researchers discovered, called BsIA, coats all three of them to slow down the rate at which the ice melts and the air escapes. In one study of the protein, published earlier this year, the researchers call BsIA a “raincoat” that can act as a film to keep everything inside it for just a little longer. That same quality prevents big pieces of ice crystals from forming, which can happen if you leave ice cream in the fridge for too long.
BsIA is found in bacteria called Bacillus subtilis that is common in soil, and is already present in some foods. So adding the protein to ice cream wouldn’t bring the same sorts of long-term health concerns as would artificial ingredients (人造添加剂). The researchers note that producers could also add BsIA to ice cream to reduce their fat and sugar content.
Though the researchers have published two papers about BsIA and have tested it in the lab, they are staying quiet on the most recent data they collected, as the Washington Post notes. Importantly, the researchers make no mention about how the new ingredient might affect ice cream’s taste or how much we might enjoy eating it. What’s the good of long-lasting ice cream if you don’t even like it? But it might not be too long before you can try it out for yourself; ice cream with BsIA might be available within three to five years.
1. According to the passage, what is BsIA?| A．A group of ice crystals. | B．A sort of natural protein. |
| C．A kind of man-made bacteria. | D．A type of artificial film. |
| A．Covers. | B．Produces. | C．Melts. | D．Changes |
| A．It exists widely in food. |
| B．It has the same function as sugar. |
| C．It can speed up the freezing of ice crystals. |
| D．It can slow down the melting rate of ice cream. |
| A．They can add extra flavor to food. |
| B．They are more costly than BsIA. |
| C．They may do harm to people’s health. |
| D．They can’t be mass-produced like BsIA. |
| A．There is still uncertainty in BsIA. |
| B．BsIA faces an unpromising future. |
| C．BsIA won’t affect the taste of ice cream. |
| D．Everyone likes the ice cream with BsIA. |
| A．A guidebook. | B．A magazine. | C．A novel. | D．A diary. |
9 . China's Yungang Grottoes (石窟) will complete the scanning of all the caves in five years, paving the way for the creation of digital versions that can withstand weathering and other real-world damage.
So far, the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Shanxi Province has completed three-dimensional scans of one-third of its Buddhist grottoes, according to the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute. “We're racing against time,” said Ning Bo, director of the institute's digitalization office, “Weathering is like cancer to grottoes, eating away at the sculptures year by year. Few technologies can prevent such progressive damage.”
Using three-dimensional laser (激光) scanning and multiplanar (多平面) reconstruction, the institute is working to capture the shapes, colors and other fine details of the grottoes and create millimeter-level digital archives for future study and preservation. “We hope to preserve the grottoes in digital form as much as possible, so people in the future will still have access to the information even if the grottoes fade away.” Ning said, adding that the digitalization will also allow the public to “visit” the grottoes more easily on their computer screens.
The digitalization project, which began in 2003 at the grottoes, still faces challenges posed by the caves' enormous sizes, complicated structures and exquisite sculptures, according to the institute. “The Yungang Grottoes were built into a mountain, and so our team is actually scanning structures as huge as a mountain. Besides, the inner structures vary wildly from exotic domes to traditional Chinese architecture.” said the director.
The Yungang Grottoes, located in the city of Datong, has 45 major caves and more than 59,000 stone statues. With a grotto complex stretching about 1 km from east to west, it is one of the largest ancient grottoes in the country.
1. What does Ning Bo mean by saying “racing against time”？| A．Scanning the grottoes is an urgent task. |
| B．It is not an easy job to scan the grottoes. |
| C．He is dying because of a severe disease. |
| D．There is a deadline required by UNESCO. |
| A．To keep them from being damaged. |
| B．To carry out a scientific experiment. |
| C．To preserve them for future generations. |
| D．To make them accessible via the Internet. |
| A．The influence of the project. | B．The difficulties facing the team. |
| C．The beauty of the grottoes. | D．The structures of the statues. |
| A．Education. | B．Technology. | C．Culture. | D．Opinion. |
10 . Here are the newly published books. Have a look and meet your new love.
The Legend of the Crimson Criket, the Golden Scorpion,and the Emerald Beetle
Mary Montalvo
www. xlibris. com
Hardback | Paperback | E - book
$28.99 | $16.99 | $3.99
Three remarkable brothers born with me unique abilities save village by fighting a terrible and powerful warlord and his mad son.
Miguel Jesus Corte
Geald Skow
www. authorhouse. com
Hardback | Paperback | E-book
$ 23.99 | $13.99 | $3.99
This is the self-telling story of the author, a poor Ecuadorian who moves from Gualaceo to the Orient as well as his dreams and struggles to make his life a little better.
Remembering a Great American Hero Marian Anderson “The Lady from Philadelphia”
Emile Henwood
www.xlibris.com
Hardback | Paperback | E-book
$28.99 | $16.99 | $3.99
It is a collection of shortened life stories in time order, fully illustrated by engaging photos,which shares the teachable lessons of Anderson’s well-lived long life — especially important today.
Connie Gets More Than Her Backyard
Patti Whitehead-Gill
www. xlibris. com
Hardback | Paperback | E-book
$34.99 | $ 26.99 | $3.99
This tale centers on six-year-old Connie who has recently moved to a town from the city. She learns she’s adopted，meets her best friend and falls in love with an orphan(孤儿) dog.
1. Which book can help you know about its writer?| A．The Legend of the Crimson Cricket,the Golden Scorpion, and the Emerald Beetle |
| B．Miguel Jesus Corte |
| C．Remembering a Great American Hero Marian Anderson “The Lady from Philadelpia” |
| D．Connie Gets More Than Her Backyard |
| A．$28.99. | B．$26.99. | C．$16.99. | D．$13.99. |
| A．Advertisement. | B．Reader & Editor. |
| C．Entertainment. | D．Book Review. |
