1 . In work, as well as in life, doing what needs to be done in order to reach our goals can be difficult. Without a good system in place, it is easy to lose focus, waste time and lose track of our most important tasks. Luckily, one of the most efficient(高效的)useful ways is also one of the world's easiest---the Pomodoro Technique.
The Pomodoro Technique was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, which breaks down your work into 25-minute blocks(一段时间)divided by short breaks. Cirillo named the system after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer(计时器)that he used to track his work time when he was studying in university, where he developed a habit of doing short blocks of work followed by resting periods. He realized this method could help him work with time instead of struggling against it. In 2006, Cirillo published his Pomodoro Technique manual for people to download free of charge. It was downloaded over two million times.
The Pomodoro Technique was built around a handful of important steps. First, choose a task that you'd like to get done. It can be something big, something small, or something that you've been putting off for months. What matters is that you are ready to give it your full attention.
Next, set a timer for 25 minutes. Try to spend the full 25 minutes with your complete attention on the task. Then, when the timer goes off, take a five-minute break. Sit back, have a drink, go for a short walk, or do something else that doesn't relate to work. Treat yourself to a longer break that lasts 15 to 30 minutes after you have completed four of these 30-minute cycles. In theory, the longer break will allow your brain to relax, reset, ready for the next round of Pomodoros.
After trying the Pomodoro Technique, you may want to experiment a little. Some people have found that 90-minute blocks work best, while others might perform better with more flexible periods. It varies from person to person. Just remember, like many things in life, simpler is often better!
1. What can we know about Pomodoro Technique?| A．The technique was named after Cirillo. |
| B．Cirillo developed a habit of doing short blocks of work followed by resting periods in 2006. |
| C．Users of the technique can have a rest at intervals. |
| D．Cirillo got profits from Pomodoro Technique manual. |
a. Focus on the task.
b. Set out tasks.
c. Take a 5-minute break.
d. Take a longer break.
e. Repeat the cycle four times
| A．acebd | B．baced |
| C．bacde | D．acede |
| A．A 90-minute block works best. |
| B．Take a longer break that lasts 60 minutes will allow your brain to relax, reset, ready for the next round of Pomodoros. |
| C．The time setting depends on the users. |
| D．A simple Pomodoro can make things in life better. |
| A．The introduction of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| B．The invention of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| C．The use of the Pomodoro Technique. |
| D．The effect the Pomodoro Technique brings to people. |
2 . A new study suggests Earth could have lost up to 60 percent of its atmosphere in the collision of space objects that created the moon. Most scientists believe this event happened about 4 billion years ago when Earth was still developing. They think a massive object, possibly the size of the planet Mars, hit the Earth, sending vaporized particles （颗粒）into space. Gravity is believed to have brought these particles together to form the moon.
The study presents evidence that this collision might have caused Earth to lose between 10 to 60 percent of the atmosphere it had. A report on the study appeared in the publication Astrophysical Journal Letters. The researchers‘ impact assumption is one of three leading theories of how the moon was formed. The others suggest the moon was either created at the same time as Earth, or that it was captured by Earth's gravitational field as it traveled through space.
The researchers decided to explore how massive collisions of objects affected rocky planets with thin atmospheres. To do this, they carried out more than 300 “supercomputer simulations （模拟）The experiment considered the positions at which the objects hit the planet, the speed of the impacts, as well as the size and mass of the colliding objects. Earlier research suggested that impact collisions during the latter stages of the formation of a planet can affect its atmosphere. The computer models in this study expanded on this idea. They showed that a collision like the one that may have formed the moon likely took a large part of Earth's atmosphere.
1. What do most scientists believe?| A．Earth has lost its atmosphere in the collision. |
| B．The moon was created in the collision of space objects. |
| C．The planet Mars hit Earth about 4 billion years ago. |
| D．The collision of space objects caused the atmosphere to increase. |
| A．The collision of Earth and the moon affected gravity. |
| B．The atmosphere on Earth is the cause of the collision. |
| C．Scientists hold different points on how the moon was formed. |
| D．An agreement on the formation of the moon has been reached. |
| A．The process of the moon's being formed. |
| B．The heated debate among different scientists. |
| C．The supercomputer experiment of planets’ collision. |
| D．The collision of space objects affected Earth's atmosphere. |
| A．To inform. | B．To persuade. | C．To debate. | D．To warn. |
3 . When we look at Earth from space, we see a blue, watery world. It is no coincidence that three quarters of the surface is covered by oceans. Water is very common in the universe and is essential for lives. But life needs water in the form of liquid, not ice, and not vapor and that is a little bit less common.
For a planet to have liquid water at its surface, three things are important. First, the planet needs to be large enough that the force of gravity keeps the water molecules （分子）from flying off into space. For example, Mars is smaller than Earth, so it has less gravity, and that is one important reason that Mars has a very thin atmosphere. Second, the planet needs to have an atmosphere. Without an atmosphere, the planet is in a vacuum （真空）,and liquid water isn't stable in a vacuum. For example, our moon has no atmosphere, so if you spill some water on the moon, it will either boil away as vapor, or freeze solid to make ice. Third, the planet needs to be at the right distance from its star.
If you were an alien astronomer, you'd think Venus is a pretty good bet for life. It is the right size. It has an atmosphere and it is in the habitable zone of our sun. But Venus is not habitable, at least not at its surface. It is too hot, because Venus' atmosphere is full of carbon dioxide, an important greenhouse gas. In fact, its atmosphere is almost entirely carbon dioxide, and almost 100 times thicker than our own. As a result, the temperature on Venus is hot enough to melt lead, and the planet is dry as a bone.
So finding a suitable planet for humans to live on is only a beginning. Don't expect much.
1. What do we know about water from the text?| A．Water has two forms. |
| B．Water is a necessity for humans. |
| C．It is common to see liquid water on the moon. |
| D．Water flies into space easily with the help of gravity. |
| A．It is very hot | B．It has no atmosphere |
| C．It is far from the Sun | D．It is smaller than Earth |
| A．Positive. | B．Passive. |
| C．Hopeful. | D．Desperate. |
| A．Water changes its forms. |
| B．A living problem on Venus. |
| C．The research of an alien astronomer. |
| D．Conditions for a habitable globe for humans. |
4 . Community Service
Join Community Service camp and volunteers will receive 60 hours of community service credit this summer. Decide which community service program is right for you and try to have a lasting influence on other people's lives. Through their work with various non-profit volunteer organizations,
our teen community service volunteers will experience the joy of helping others while having the adventure of a lifetime.
River Preserve
River Preserve is a non-competitive summer camp getting children close to nature, which inspires campers to have a greater understanding of themselves, their environment and their fellow man.
Summer Leadership Camp
Each August, young men from across the country come to Military Academy Summer Leadership Camp to train, compete and learn. The summer camp experience is a rewarding opportunity for young people to learn leadership skills.
English Language Camp
In the camp, teens will build their confidence while also acquiring the basic skills of conversation, vocabulary and grammar. Our class sizes are small, allowing every child to receive the required personal attention from our fully qualified and professional teachers who all have a wealth of experience in coaching children from all over the world.
1. Which camp should a child choose if he likes nature?| A．Community Service. | B．Leadership Camp. |
| C．River Preserve. | D．English Language Camp. |
| A．those who want to be trained to be soldiers. |
| B．young people who want to develop leadership skills. |
| C．young people who want to compete with others. |
| D．those who are not good at expressing themselves. |
| A．competitive | B．brave and strong |
| C．confident | D．loving and caring |
| A．summer camps | B．nature protection |
| C．volunteer service | D．language and skills learning |
