1 . Last summer, a video from Cardiff showed opera coach Mary King wet-eyed during the finals of BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.Who had moved her to tears? Mongolian baritone (男中音) Ariunbaatar Ganbaatar, towering, broad-shouldered, with a huge smile and a mighty voice, the 29-year-old sang Rossini,Verdi and Tchaikovsky and charmed everyone, including the judges, who declared him joint winner of the Song prize. “There was something so imposing about the sound,” King said. “Contained and glorious. It’s very unusual to find this combination of presence, power and effortlessness.”

Ariunbaatar doesn’t have a typical background for a contestant in one of the world’s most celebrated opera contests. He grew up in the traditional Mongolian way, living in circular tents with his nomadic (游牧的) family. As a child, he rode some 60 miles a day, and he was always singing. He won a place at university in Ulaanbaatar but dropped out after two years when he couldn’t pay the fees, became a taxi driver and one night got chatting to a customer who happened to be the chief of police. Long story short: he joined Ulaanbaatar’s police orchestra, worked his way back to university, then onwards to the grand opera houses of Russia and Europe.

That backstory aroused my curiosity — so much so that three months later I was on a flight to Ulaanbaatar with a radio producer and suitcase of audio equipment. I had the same basic knowledge many westerners share about Mongolia: Genghis Khan, Gobi desert, furry camels, wild horses, wonderful throat singers. My guidebook described a proud nation. “It is rude to turn down an offer of horse’s milk,” I read, “for it is considered a gesture of friendship.”

International wins have made Ariunbaatar famous at home. Politicians hope his career will secure Mongolia’s position on the opera map-portraying it as a modern nation. He says he has no intention to leave Mongolia. His family still travel on the plain, still ride on horseback, still packup their tents to follow new grasslands. “Being with them on the land is what gives me inspiration to sing.” he says. “Wherever I am, that is what I imagine when I sing.”

1. Ariunbaatar won the Song prize mainly because of            

A．his command of different songs.

B．his charming appearance.

C．his unusual background.

D．his impressive sound.

2. What is most likely to be Ariunbaatar’s turning point before he rose to fame?

A．He was admitted to a university for the first time.

B．He became a member of the police orchestra.

C．He moved Mary King and got the big prize.

D．He was raised in the traditional Mongolian way.

3. What can be learned from the last paragraph about Ariunbaatar?

A．He cares little about fame.

B．He hopes to become better known.

C．He wants to give his family a better life.

D．He draws inspiration from the horses.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．How Ariunbaatar became a famous star.

B．An introduction to an opera singer.

C．Why the author travelled to Mongolian.

D．A video about a celebrated opera contest.

2 . Gyms that profit most from the January rush

Every year, like clockwork, many people go through the same routine. On December 26^th and January 1^st, as the fog of cheese, chocolate oranges and champagne lifts, regret creeps（悄悄出现）in. Online searches for “get fit” and “lose weight” increase.    1    “Intent typically takes seven to 14 days to turn into reality,” notes Humphrey Cobbold, chief executive of Pure Gym, Britain’s largest gym chain. So this week will be one of the busiest for the gym industry globally.

Many gym recruits（新成员）will have their new sportswear on for high-intensity interval training. In the basement of Another Space, a club near London’s Leicester Square, music pumps and light flash as a trainer shouts instructions to a group of mostly young women. They are pushed through bursts of burpees, handclap push-ups and various kick and punches at boxing bags. The training is murderous.    2    Such high-end gym can charge up to eight times as much as low-cost ones, based on two visits a week over a year.

They are at one end of a fitness market.    3    America’s market leader, Planet Fitness, promises “the best value on the planet”, and has over 10 million members; its shares rose in 2017. One in seven people in Britain is a gym member, and 35% of private memberships are low-cost, up from 14% in 2013, according to Leisure DB, a data firm. Mid-range clubs, meanwhile, have fared less well. Virgin Active recently sold its less luxurious facilities in Britain to avoid being squished（压扁）in the middle.

Pure Gym expects soon to reach 1 million members. Part of its appeal is that, unlike traditional gyms, members are not bound by a long contract. “We have taken a £500 decision and turned it into a £20 decision,” says Mr Cobbold.    4    Most new joiners do not plan to spend much money. But gyms proper on non-attendance. According to IHRSA, an industry body based in Boston, fewer than half of gym members in America hit the treadmill（跑步机）at least twice a week—until the exercise cycle begins anew the following January.

A．There will be other ripple effects（连锁反应）, too.

B．That will be good news for some gym goers because many will soon suffer a second round of regret.

C．However, the club’s luxurious changing rooms and bars relieve some of the pain.

D．Health clubs of all shapes and sizes stand ready to respond.

E．Spending on fashion items also increases around the time of joining a gym.

F．At the other are budget gyms, which have accounted for the big part of gym growth in recent years.

3 . On the pristine coast of the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, a small fishing village called Mahabalipuram is home to Mumu Surf School, one of the most popular surfing schools in India. It is run by Mukesh Panjanathan, also known as Mumu, who lives two minutes from the school on the beach.

Every morning, he watches the sunlight sparkle on the seawater, and palm leaves sway with the breeze. Along the shore are kattumarams, which he used to sneak into the sea as a child to ride the waves. But as beautiful as it looks, the beach town has a dark side.

Mumu was only 12–the youngest of six siblings–when his father, who suffered from alcoholism-related health problems, died by suicide.

“Alcohol addiction is an immense challenge for fishing communities.” Vincent Jain, the deputy chief of the South Indian Federation of Fishermen Societies, told VICE. “Most of them start drinking when they reach their teens and start earning some money.”

It is common for fishermen to drink up to three times a day, and paying for their addiction uses up much of the money they make. As things stand, their income has been decreasing because of large-scale commercial fishing activities and the climate crisis.

Mumu, now 36, said fishermen use alcohol as a “painkiller” because of the exhausting nature of their jobs. They paddle（用桨划）their boats into the sea as early as three in the morning, sometimes in very harsh conditions, and return with a batch of fish at sunrise. That is, if they’re in luck, the rest of the day leaves them with nothing to do.

“Drinking makes them feel better. Slowly, it becomes a habit,” he said. “But things are changing.”

Over the last 15 years, the rise of surf culture in Mahabalipuram has not only transformed it into one of India’s top water sports destinations, but also opened doors for the young to pursue alternative careers. “The coming generations have much more freedom to choose what they want to do, instead of sitting around and getting drunk.” said Mumu, who is among the first surfers to emerge from the local fishing community.

1. According to paragraph 2, the underline word “kattumaarams” probably refers to           .

A．the alternative for the word “wave” in Mahabalipuram

B．a kind of boat used in Mahabalipuram

C．the animals living along the shore

D．the friends of Mumu with whom he went to the sea

2. Why does the author think Mahabalipuram has a dark side?

A．The drinking culture here causes a lot of trouble.

B．Many people died young in this place.

C．The people here are too addicted to surfing.

D．The night here is longer than other places.

3. Which of the following is not the reason why some fishermen in Mahabalipuram are addicted to drinking?

A．They have nothing to do after finishing their job.

B．Drinking reduces their physical pain caused by their job.

C．They are so used to drinking that they can’t quit it.

D．Drinking relieves them of the tiredness caused by their job.

4. In the following paragraphs, the author is probably going to write about         .

A．how Mumu became a surfer in the village and started Mumu Surf School

B．the new alternative careers the young can choose in the village

C．how surfing culture helps fishermen in the village get rid of drinking

D．other water sports destinations in India

4 . His Refresh

For me, change is in the air. The snow is thawing in the town where Susan and I are living. We both got vaccinated (I’ve never been so happy to have type I diabetes, which qualified me for early shots). And by the time you read this, our daughter will have been married, surrounded by family, on a Mexican beach. Hooyah! This is the spirit of change. In this issue, you’ll find new sections meant to delight you as much as tossing rice at your grinning daughter.

A knowledge quiz. Sharpen your pencils. Brain Games now features “Fact or Fiction” (page 117) to test your recall and worldliness in equal measure. I scored six and got the bonus question only by cheating and consulting 13 Things on page 40.

A new health section. You already our sister site, thehealthy.com. Now we’re curating its content into The Healthy (page 53), full of advice, first person narratives, and medical news.

Where, OH Where? There’s nothing like seeing a gorgeous photograph shot somewhere in the country and wanting —no, needing to know where the heck it was taken. We turn that irresistible sensation into a visual quiz (page 38).

Smile-inducing news. RD editors here and around the world are always finding never-before-seen examples of charity and ingenuity. We’re rolling them into A World of Good (page 18).

Animal stories! Because who can resist? To continue the celebration of our animals’ ability to bond, Best Pet Pals (page 44) will spotlight one priceless submission to your heart’s content.

________ Finally, on page 1,we’re creating a brand-new section, hoping to offer you a friend who brings fun ideas to your kitchen table, who helps everyone laugh and cry together about what makes us all human.

Write to let me know if you have got a flashing idea for the name of this section. And thanks for reading.

1. What may this article be from?

A．Novel.

B．Newspaper.

C．Magazine.

D．Instruction book.

2. If you are confident of your knowledge of pet, and want to check your scope, which section will you mostly read?

A．A knowledge quiz.

B．A new health section.

C．Where, OH Where?

D．Animal stories!

3. If you are writing to give a name for the new section mentioned in the last paragraph, which of the following you may submit?

A．Fun Guy in Kitchen of Fantastic Food	B．A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World
C．Hooyah to Humor and Human	D．Ideas to Laugh and Cry

5 . Editor in Chief
Ind.Trading .com
Jakarta, Indonesia
Brief       
Job Category: Media & Journalism       
Job Type: Full-time
Salary Range: IDR 6,000,000-8,000,000       
Industries: Classifieds, E-Commerce Platforms
Job Description &Requirements
Responsibilities:
Responsible for selecting the writers, planning the content and publishing schedule, assign them stories and edit their articles, write larger stories, oversee feature and business editors.
Responsible for creating original that fits our brand, engage customers across all marketing channels, including but not limited to websites and social media.
Responsible for setting the tone, editorial direction and policies.
Responsible for the overall and day to day management and supervision of the News Department.
Develop, implement and improve digital content & digital program.
Ensure the final draft is complete and there arc no omissions, cross-checking facts, spelling, grammar, writing style and page design.
Maintain and build good relationship with internal and external.
Motivate and develop News Department team.
Requirements:
Passionate about writing and journalism articles on business aspect & having a good leadership.
Familiar and able to write the articles in business aspect.
Candidate must possess at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Advertising/ Media/ Journalism,   Mass Communications or equivalent.
Good in communication, content development and management skill.
At least 5 years of working experience in the related field.
Internet ability with a good sense of content that works well online.
Preferably Manager/ Assistant Managers specializing in Journalism/ Editor or equivalent.
A team player who cooperates well with internal teams on original ideas, best practices and optimalization.
Full-time position(s) available.
Applicants must be willing to work in JL. Meruya ilir Raya, Business Park Kebon Jeruk Jakarta Barat
Required skills
Copywriting & Editing, Creating Writing
1. This job advertisement is most likely to appear________ .

A．in a magazine

B．in a newspaper

C．on a poster

D．on a website

2. An editor in chief is expected to________ .

A．establish good relationship with colleagues and customers

B．select capable writers and give them special training

C．decide on the tone, style and details of the articles

D．read the first draft carefully and correct errors

3. The applicants for the position must________ .

A．have the ability to plan the content

B．possess a bachelor’s degree in business

C．be able to write creative articles in different aspects

D．have the experience of being a manager or equivalent

6 . An analysis of foods we eat every day such as bread, coffee, milk, meat and tap water has expel our exposure to chemicals. The 24^th Australian Total Diet Study by Food Standards Australia New Zealand tested 94 commonly consumed foods and drinks. The first part of the study tested three food chemicals: acrylamide, aluminum and perchlorates.

While the result fell within the safe range overall, levels of acrylamide appeared to be of possible concern to human health. Acrylamide forms naturally in carbohydrate-rich foods when they are heated at high temperatures by roasting, baking, grilling, toasting and frying.

“The acrylamide is formed in natural chemical reactions between food components(组成部分) that also give us tasty browning and crunchy texture,” says Professor Ian Rae, an honorary professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne.

The chemical is known to cause cancer in animals, but in humans the exposure “threshold” is unknown, say the World Health Organization. “There is no direct evidence acrylamide causes cancer in humans, but food regulators, including FSANZ, agree that we should reduce our exposure,” the study’s authors say.

They found that cereals and grain-based foods were the main sources of acrylamide in our diets, followed by snacks, condiments, fried potato products and meat.

Surprisingly high levels of the chemical were found in fried beef mince, fresh and fried onions, while pre-packaged olives, chocolate-flavoured energy drinks, grilled asparagus, baked beans and prune juice also rated a mention.

“Beef mince has a high surface area which would allow acrylamide to form if the appropriate precursor chemicals(易制毒化学品) were present,” the authors say. Similarly, onions have a relatively low sugar content compared to many other starchy vegetables. The results indicate that the cooking method and surface area of the food may be a contributing factor for acrylamide formation.

Also confounding expectations were pizza and coffee, which did not have detectable levels of the chemical. Fresh fruit and vegetables were not tested. “The formation of acrylamide in raw fruit and vegetables is unlikely,” the authors say.

In all tested foods, the acrylamide levels “were generally lower than, or comparable to, those reported in Australian and international studies”. However, the authors acknowledge that based on WHO estimates “the acrylamide exposure of Australian consumers is consistent(与.….保持一致) with those considered to be of possible concern to human health”.

Dr Tan Musgrave. a senior lecturer in the school of medical sciences at the University of Adelaide, responded to the study’s results saying: “Our foods are of international quality and indeed perform better in some aspects compared to international standards.”

1. According to Australian studies, acrylamide is a chemical that ________.

A．could bring about cancer to animals and human beings.

B．is formed naturally in carbohydrate-rich foods in boiling them.

C．should be reduced with regard to human exposure.

D．is formed in artificial chemical reactions between food components.

2. Beef mince is used as an example to explain________.

A．surface area might result in acrylamide formation

B．fresh food is unlikely to form acrylamide

C．cooking method is a contributing factor for acrylamide composition.

D．food with relatively low sugar content will not form acrylamide.

3. According to the passage, in all tested foods, aluminum levels were generally lower than________.

A．the world average	B．those in international studies
C．WHO standards	D．those consumed by Australians

4. The passage is mainly concerned with________.

A．how to detect and reduce acrylamide

B．how to reduce acrylamide levels in our foods.

C．whether levels of acrylamide are doing harm to human health.

D．whether the food chemical acrylamide is within safe range

7 . During his first years in Paris, Capa worked mainly on local photo stories. It was not until 1936 that he got his big breakthrough. He was sent to cover the Spanish Civil War and, as a result, his work started to appear regularly in top magazines and newspapers. It was his picture of a Loyalist Soldier Falling to His Death that brought him international reputation and became powerful symbol of war.

In 1936, shortly after the Spanish War, Capa worked in New York for a while. However, he quickly returned to Europe on the outbreak of World War II and stayed there for six years. His photographs of the Normandy Invasion became some of the most memorable war photographs in history, and he received the Medal of Freedom Citation for his work.

Capa’s job as a war photographer often put him in great personal danger, but despite the risks his motto was always: “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” However, on 25 May 1954, Capa’s luck ran out. He was working on an assignment in French Indochina when he stepped on a land mine. He was killed instantly.

Today Robert Capa is considered one of the finest war photographers of all time. He was an exceptional photojournalist who used his camera to express and record the horror of the events around him. Not surprisingly Capa hated war, especially his often passive role in it. “It’s not always easy to stand aside and be unable to do anything except record the sufferings around one.” he said.

1. How did Robert Capa get his “big breakthrough”?

A．He went abroad and commanded the Spanish Civil War.

B．He began to write for top magazines and newspapers.

C．Before 1936 he was well received as war photographer.

D．He became very famous as a war photographer.

2. Why was Robert Capa given the Medal of Freedom Citation?

A．Because he joined the Second World War bravely.

B．Because of his photographs taken during the war.

C．Because he worked in Europe where he stayed for about 6 years.

D．Because he died from stepping on a land mine.

3. By saying “If your picture aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough.” Capa wanted to tell others ________.

A．to take pictures good enough, you can’t avoid going to the front at the risk of losing your own lives

B．to be a good photographer. you are never too close to nature

C．it is important to be close enough to the objects when pictures are taken

D．it is not their fault not to have some good pictures to be praised

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Capa is well known as one of the finest war photographers.

B．Capa felt sorry for the horror and suffering caused by the war and not being able to help.

C．Capa felt sorry to be a war photographer and suffered a lot from the job.

D．Capa hoped there wouldn't be any war in the world in future.

8 . How do you get your information when you go online? Are you ever worried that you might only be seeing a limited view? Part of the reason for this is the increased use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms that make sure we only see things that interest us.

The phrase “echo chamber” has become widely used since events like the election of Donald Trump as the US president. It means that users of social media websites such as Facebook only read their own opinions or ones they agree with.

Algorithms, like the kind used by Facebook, often point us toward articles that show our own ideas, and search results usually give us what we already know and like.

As a result, social network users are likely to fall into the “Relevance Paradox”, which happens when people only read information that is relevant to them, according to The Huffington Post. And in many cases, people don’t even realize this is happening. They stop looking for fresh, new information from different points of view because of a lack of experience and knowledge of other opinions.

This means some of us unknowingly live in an echo chamber. This then continues because people in the same social group agree with us too. In other words, the echo chambers stay because they tell us that we are right, even if we are not.

As websites get to know us better, they get better at showing us things that interest us, while also removing things we don’t really like, Eli Pariser, CEO of news website Upworthy told the US radio station NPR.

“What most algorithms are trying to do is to increase the amount of attention you’re spending,” he said. And while it helps us deal with the large amount of information on the internet, that algorithm also has some downsides. “The danger is that you end up not seeing what people who think differently see and, in fact, not even knowing that it exists.

So here comes the burning question — is there a way out?

“The way to break free from this is to start understanding how algorithms work, and to manually seek out others with different viewpoints,” Theo Priestley, CEO of Cronycle, a web platform told The Huffington Post.

1. According to the article, people in an echo chamber ________.

A．are more willing to accept different ideas

B．prefer to look for fresh, new information

C．only recognize information they are willing to accept

D．only trust information from well-known sources

2. According to the article, algorithms used by most social media ________.

A．fail to draw most people’s attention

B．are slow in dealing with information

C．are good at showing people a variety of viewpoints

D．may make people narrow-minded without them noticing

3. Which of the following statements would Theo Priestley probably agree with?

A．Social media should use less AI and algorithms.

B．People should actively look for different ideas themselves.

C．It is impossible for people to escape from echo chambers.

D．Algorithms that attract readers’ attention should not be used.

4. What is the article mainly about?

A．The idea of echo chamber and how to avoid it.	B．How algorithms deal with information.
C．The latest development in artificial intelligence.	D．The best way to search information online.

9 . There will eventually come a day when the New York Times ceases to publish stories on newsprint. Exactly when that day will be is a matter of debate. “Sometime in the future,” the paper’s publisher said back in 2010.

Nostalgia (怀旧) for ink on paper, there are plenty of reasons to abandon print. The infrastructure (基础设施) required to make a physical newspaper — printing presses, delivery trucks — isn’t just expensive; it’s excessive at a time when online-only competitors don’t have the same set of financial restrictions. Readers are migrating away from print anyway. And though print ad sales still overshadow their online and mobile counterparts, revenue (收入) from print is still declining.

Cost may be high and circulation lower, but rushing to eliminate its print edition would be a mistake, says BuzzFeed CEO Jonah Peretti.

Peretti says the Times shouldn’t waste time getting out of the print business, but only if they go about doing it the right way. “Figuring out a way to accelerate that transition would make sense for them,” he said, ‘‘but if you discontinue it, you’re going to have your most loyal customers really upset with you.”

Sometimes that’s worth making a change anyway. Peretti gives the example of Netflix discontinuing its DVD-mailing service to focus on streaming (流媒体). “It was seen as a mistake,” he said. The move turned out to be foresighted. “If I were in charge at the Times, I wouldn’t pick a year to end print,” Peretti said “I would raise prices and make it into more of a legacy product.”

The most loyal customers would still get the product they favour, the idea goes, and they’d feel like that they were helping maintain the quality of something they believe in. “So if you’re overpaying for print, you could feel like that you were helping,” Peretti said. “Then increase it at a higher rate each year and essentially try to generate additional revenue.” In other words, if you’re going to print product, make it for the people who are already obsessed with it, which may be what the Times is doing already. Getting the print edition seven days a week costs nearly $500 a year -- more than twice as much as a digital-only subscription.

“It’s a really hard thing to do and it’s a tremendous luxury that BuzzFeed doesn’t have a legacy business,” Peretti remarked. “But we’re going to have questions like that where we have things we're doing that don't make sense when the market changes and the world changes. In those situations, it's better to be more aggressive than less aggressive.

1. The New York Times is considering ending its print edition partly due to ________.

A．the high cost of operation	B．the pressure from its investors
C．the complaints from its readers	D．the increasing online ad sales

2. Peretti suggests that in face of the present situation the Times should ________.

A．seek new sources of readership	B．end the print edition for good
C．aim for efficient management	D．make strategic adjustments

3. Peretti believes that in a changing world ________.

A．legacy businesses are becoming outdated

B．cautiousness helps problem-solving

C．traditional luxuries can stay unaffected

D．aggressiveness better meets challenge

4. Which of the following would be the best title of the text?

A．Shift to Online Newspapers All At Once.

B．Cherish the Newspapers Still in Your Hand.

C．Make Your Print Newspapers a Luxury Good.

D．Keep Your Newspapers Forever m Fashion.

10 . Spanish-American Institute

Student Cub Notes

Free and Low Cost Gyms, Health Clubs and Pools

NYC Department of Parks Recreation Centers

www.nycgovparks.org

Recreation Centers: The NYC Department of Parks has many Recreation Centers throughout New York City. Recreation Centers offer a wide range of free and membership programs and services. Some have indoor swimming pools. Almost all have weight rooms, basketball courts, dance studios, boxing rings, art studios, game rooms, etc. 

All Recreation Centers offer a wide range of programs such as aerobics, dance, tai chi, fencing, computer classes, and art. Many programs are free and open to the general public but many require membership. 

You do not need to be a New York City resident to use a Recreation Center. You may use your annual membership at any and all Centers. Use one near the Spanish-American Institute and then use one near your home. 

Costs: Free and membership programs. Standard annual membership is $50 for Recreation Centers and $75 for Recreation Centers with pools. (Do you know anyone 55 and older? The senior membership is only $10 a year.)

Standard annual membership provides scheduled access to the gym, pool, and all the other facilities. Instructor-led courses such as aerobics, martial arts, music, or yoga may require an additional fee. 

Membership and Program Information: Go to the www.nycgovparks.org home page. On the “Facilities” menu, click on “Recreation Centers.” On the “Recreation Centers” page, you will find information about membership and fees. You will also see links to Recreation Facilities by borough (Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island).

On the “Facilities” menu, you may also want to check out other NYC Department of Parks facilities such as beaches, ice skating rinks, nature centers, running tracks, soccer fields, etc.

Recreation Centers: There are several Parks Department Recreation Centers in each borough. After you go to the “Recreation Centers” page and click on a borough, you will find a list of the centers in that borough with their addresses, phone numbers, and web links. The list will look like that for Manhattan below. Click on the link for a particular Center to learn more about its services, schedules, and programs.

1. What special benefits can an annual member of Recreation Centers enjoy?

A．Having access to all the facilities all year.

B．Experiencing all programs and services free.

C．Taking free Instructor-led courses.

D．Using only the center near your home free.

2. If your parents and grandparents (both over sixty) want to get the memberships, how much will they pay?

A．At least $20.

B．At least $120.

C．At least $180.

D．At least $220.

3. You will probably fail to find ________ on the www.nycgovparks.org home page.

A．the cost for various memberships	B．the locations of recreations centers
C．the staff and provided services	D．the facilities, phones and web links