1 . I need help! I have to fix a leaking pipe in my bathroom but I'm not sure where to begin. I know I lack the necessary DIY skills, but luckily there are numerous books and online videos that will hopefully give me the information I need. Publications that help us to help ourselves are nothing new, but the range of them is increasing with advice being given far beyond practical tasks around the house.

Bookshops these days are full of titles which claim to boost your self-confidence, your wealth, your love life or your career. Some claim to improve your life within seven days! It's big business and it's thought that the self-help industry is worth $10bn in the US alone.

The first self-help book called 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' was published in 1936, and has since sold 30 million copies and is still popular now. It includes guidance on how to make people like you and how to make your life happier. It might seem strange to think that we need a book to tell us how to live our lives but self-help books remain a go to remedy for those of us looking for enlightenment.

There are, of course, trends in what we need help with. Emma Marshall, who works at British bookshop Waterstones, says "at the moment we're in the tidying up, getting rid of things trend... I think the trend right now is about slowing down in your life." It seems there is always something we need help with, and reading about it can be very therapeutic - it makes us feel good, even if we don't do anything about it.

Of course, the internet has become the place to go to for salvation. We've got used to searching for solutions online, and now these solutions even include how to fix or improve our lives. Interestingly, psychologist Caroline Beaton, says people called 'millennials' are self-critical -they are aware of their own faults—which also means they're more likely to spend time and money on self-help. There's also a theory that the self-help industry does well during a recession – people are perhaps even more likely to reach for self-help to improve their situation.

Whatever the reason for the continued interest in self-help, it's good to know help is at hand when we need it. The alternative to finding a happier life is just to come to terms with yourself as you are - I know, I read about it in a book! Do you believe in self-help books?

1. Where else can you get self-help advice apart from books?

A．from teachers	B．from friends
C．from the Internet	D．from parents

2. What do you know about self-books?

A．They may offer you some keys to success.

B．They hasn't gained great popularity.

C．All of us enjoy them very much.

D．They can certainly improve your life within seven days.

3. Why do millennials spend more money on self-help books according to Caroline Beaton?

A．They are stuck in a recession.

B．They realize they are not perfect.

C．They are more likely to have access to books.

D．They haven't got used to searching for solutions online.

4. What can we infer from the passage?

A．People don't have interest in self-help books.

B．Accepting yourself as you are makes you happier.

C．The self-help industry makes little difference during a recession.

D．The current trend in self-help books is about rushing around and taking things easier.

2 . Vogue was founded in 1892. It has a long history and has been widely respected in the fashion world, The magazine covers fashion, makeup, beauty, health, entertainment and the arts. Since Vogue was launched (发行) in US in 1892, it has been regarded as the world’s Fashion Treasury.

The American edition(版本) of Vogue was started in 1892; its publisher Condé Nast Company later launched a British edition in 1916 and a French edition in 1921. Nast is the founder of the modern magazines. He is the first to employ artists as publishers or magazine photographers. Vogue is also the first magazine to use color photography to show the fashion designs.

Vogue magazine presented special point of view about culture and fashion. What has been widely acclaimed is that Vogue has promoted the development of the global fashion industry and many famous designers of today were discovered by Vogue.

Vogue stresses a policy of editorial independence and sticks to the highest standard. Each month’s Vogue attracts 18 million readers worldwide.

Unlike most fashion magazines which just arrange everything even if it is out of season, with models in the lower left or right corner of the cover, Vogue uses a high-quality space layout design, each describing a separate topic which makes readers feel that they are window shopping. People who think the magazine just print media will change their views after reading Vogue.

Nowadays, Vogue has 22 different editions. The most famous ones are released in France, Italy, Britain, America, Germany, China and Turkey. Vogue is now one of the most important magazine brands.

1. When was the French edition of Vogue launched?

A．In 1892.

B．In 1916.

C．In 1921.

D．In 2019

2. What does Vogue as the first magazine use to show the fashion design?

A．Color photography.

B．Wonderful covers.

C．High-quality space.

D．Separate topics.

3. What will people thinking the magazine just print media do after reading Vogue ?

A．Buy the magazine.

B．Change their ideas.

C．Set up fashion industry.

D．Thank and respect Vogue.

4. What’s the author’s attitude to Vogue ?

A．Critical.

B．Satisfied.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Appreciative.

3 . What's On?

Electric Underground

7:30 pm-1:00 am Free at the Cyclops Theatre

Do you know who's playing in your area? We're bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30 pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He's going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.

Gee Whizz

8:30 pm-10:30 pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope

Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He's the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.

Simon's Workshop

5:00 pm-7:30 pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage

This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years' experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.

Charlotte Stone

8:00 pm-11:00 pm Pizza World

Fine food with beautiful jazz music: this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform, songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta（面食）. Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.

1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?

A．Jules Skye.

B．Gee Whizz.

C．Charlotte Stone.

D．James Pickering.

2. At which place can people of different ages enjoy a good laugh?

A．The Cyclops Theatre.

B．Kaleidoscope.

C．Victoria Stage.

D．Pizza World.

3. What do we know about Simon's Workshop?

A．It requires membership status.	B．It lasts three hours each time.
C．It is run by a comedy club.	D．It is held every Wednesday.

4 . Column 1

Wedding Invitations—Mod. Or traditional. Call 800-0942 anytime.

Column 2

Passport and Application Photos. Call 800-0552 or 800-9668, ask for Steve.

Column 3

Mature Student would take care of children during Christmas vacation. 800-0441 eves.

Column 4

Typing and editing. Call Jean. 800-3584, 10am—10pm.

Column 5

Experienced Guitar Teacher wants students. Folk/jazz. Bob 800-7535.

Column 6

Found: Cat, 6 months old, black and white markings. Found near Linden and South U. Sam. 800-4661.

Column 7

Come to our moving sale—plants, pottery, books, clothes etc. Sat. Dec. 14. 9:00—5:00. 1612 Ferndale, Apt. 1 800-4696.

1. What can Steve do for you?

A．Rent you an apartment.	B．Offer you a modern wedding
C．Take pictures for you.	D．Take care of your children.

2. If you want to know how to play the guitar, you should call________.

A．800-1932

B．800-0942

C．800-0441

D．800-7535

3. If your cat is missing, you should read the information in Column _______.

A．1

B．4

C．6

D．7

4. What CANNOT be found at the moving sale?

A．Plants

B．Books

C．Clothes

D．Paintings

5 . Affordable Beach Vacation in Corfu

Corfu, an island off the coast of Greece, offers visitors sunkissed shores with clear water and lots of beaches.

Finding the Perfect Beach

Our first pick is Sidari Beach. It’s a blue flag beach perfect for couples looking for a more private feel, as it’s far from bigger tourist destinations. Issos Beach makes for the perfect place for watching the sunset. Dassia Bay has a bit more water sports. Paleokastritsa is an amazing West Coast village with six beaches on offer, including Rovinia Beach.

Getting around Corfu

Corfu offers bike rentals and bus service as a cheaper alternative (替代) to taxis. The best time to visit Corfu is during the “shoulder season” in April/May. The weather isn’t as warm as the high seasons but it remains perfect. It is not crowded in this period, but you still need to book ahead of schedule as Corfu stays popular throughout the year.

Eating Out For Less

There are a lot of well-priced restaurants but street food is also a big winner. Some popular choices are Souvlakia and Pita Gyros. There are also many cheeses special to Greece, including Tirokafteri and Ladotyri. Corfu also has many unbelievable desserts (甜食). Stazei Meli is a tourist favourite to give them a try.

1. Which place is probably the best choice for couples?

A．Sidari Beach.	B．Dassia Bay.
C．Issos Beach.	D．Rovinia Beach.

2. What are tourists required to do to visit Corfu?

A．Rent a bike.	B．Book in advance.
C．Wear warm clothes.	D．Set off in April/May.

3. What do we know about Stazei Meli?

A．It cooks popular dishes.	B．It severs well-priced food.
C．It produces special cheese.	D．It sells amazing desserts.

6 . Four apps to keep your life on track

From simple task scheduling to detailed task management, all these apps offer everything you need for efficient task recording.

Focuster

With Focuster, you just need to add all your tasks and the tool will arrange them immediately in order of importance. After adding all the tasks, just press the Now button and the tool will show the tasks you should be focusing on for the day.

TeuxDeux

This useful app lets you schedule and organize all your tasks for the whole week. Just add the tasks below the day column and you’re done. Want to move a task from one column to another? No worries. Its drag - and - drop interface (界面) lets you rearrange the task and add it to a different day ’ s column. Additionally, TeuxDeux lets you add repeating tasks for a day.

TickTick

TickTick allows you to add tasks, subtasks, custom reminders as well as deadlines for a day, a week, or a month. In order to provide you with more ease in task scheduling, TickTick offers a nice calendar view, where you can add or edit tasks on a weekly or daily basis. It also has experimental features, which you can turn on if you want to try out beta capabilities (测试功能).

Wunderlist

The app lets you create tasks, subtasks and allows you to share with your family, friends and colleagues. The whole app is designed in the most user — friendly way and offers you the ability to add deadlines, additional information and reminders.

1. To share your tasks with others，you’d prefer to choose ________.

A．Focuster.	B．TeuxDeux
C．TickTick.	D．Wunderlist.

2. What’s the similarity between TeuxDeux and TickTick?

A．They offer a beautiful calendar view.

B．They have great experimental features.

C．They can help organize tasks for a week.

D．They have a very user — friendly interface.

3. What benefit can you get from the four apps?

A．Completing your work more easily.

B．Obtaining everything you need faster.

C．Getting access to the Internet more quickly.

D．Organizing your activities more effectively.

7 .

NOTICES
DANCE & MUSIC Jazz and hip-hop music Time : 6-8 p.m. Every Tuesday and Saturday. Place: Sally’s Dance club, 32 Admiral Road All ages welcome $ 15 ech class	A GREEN CITY Help make the big city greener by planting trees Time:10-11:30 a.m. every Saturday. Place:Foxdale Park. All ages welcome.	SWEETING THINGS Learn to make cakes with Anne. Time:3-5 p.m. every Sunday. Place:Sunnyside Kitchen, 3A Baker Street(Behind Sunny side Hall) All ages welcome. $ 5 for ingredients(原材料)

1. If Harry only has 4 dance classes,he should pay        dollars.

A．15

B．30

C．45

D．60

2. On Saturday morning, people in Foxdale Park can         .

A．take a dance class

B．plant trees

C．learn to make cakes

D．do exercise

3. Where can people make cakes?

A．At Sally’s Dance Club	B．In Foxdale Park
C．At Sunnyside Kitchen	D．On 32 Admiral Road

4. You may see these notices ______.

A．in a newspaper

B．in a book

C．on a magazine

D．on a bus

8 .

Airline             Route Chiang Mai—Luang Prabang Day 2,3,5,7       Flight   QV   645 Dep. 15: 05       Arr. 16: 05 Airfare (机票费用)5,090THB	Airline                  Route Chiang Mai—Phuket Day 2,3,5,7       Flight   TC   129 Dep. 12:35     Arr. 14: 30 Airfare 3,590 THB
Airline                  Route Chiang Mai—Koh Samui Day   Daily       Flight   PG 242 Dep. 9:55   Arr. 11:40 Airfare 5,090 THB	Airline                   Route Phuket—Bali Day   Daily       Flight   FD 3942 Dep. 6:30   Arr. 11:10 Airfare 11,391 THB

Note: The days of the week are:

1. Monday        2. Tuesday   3. Wednesday   4. Thursday

5. Friday        6. Saturday        7. Sunday

（Dep.= departure 出发     Arr.=arrival 到达）

1. How long does it take to fly from Chiang Mai to Phuket?

A．less than 1 hour.	B．About 1 hour.
C．One and a half hours.	D．About 2 hours.

2. Lao Airlines has a flight from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang on          .

A．Monday

B．Thursday

C．Friday

D．Saturday

3. If Lisa wants to travel from Chiang Mai to KOh Samui, which flight should she choose?

A．QV 645.

B．TG 129.

C．PG 242.

D．FD 3942.

4. How much does it cost to fly from Phuket—Bali?

A．3, 590 THB.

B．5, 090 THB.

C．9,050THB.

D．11, 391 THB.

9 . Four Inspiring Movies

Forrest Gump（1992）

Forrest Gump is a simple man with a low IQ but good intentions. This movie follows the fictional story in which the simple man makes his way through some of the more turbulent（动荡的）times from the 1960s through 1980s. This film took home six Oscars, inspired a “Weird Al” song, and proves that a big heart is the most important thing.

It's a Wonderful Life（1946）

No movie list would be complete without a nod to the past. Let's go with this Christmas classic, about a man with serious financial troubles who intends to commit suicide（自杀）by jumping off a bridge. His guardian angel Clarence Odbody stops him and tells him what life would have been like for those close to him had he never been born. Realizing how much he means to others, he rushes back home and all sorts of happy, inspirational, Christmassy things happen.

Dead Poet's Society（1990）

John Keating（Robin Williams）is a high school English literature teacher at a famous all-male boarding school who gets into trouble with the school administration after encouraging his students to challenge authority and think for themselves. It is certainly inspirational, if not also frustratingly sad.

A Beautiful Mind（2001）

This movie tells the story of John Nash（Russell Crowe）, a professor at Princeton, a US university, who revolutionized the field of game theory and fell into madness as a result of paranoid schizophrenia（精神分裂症）. With the love and support of his family as well as the help of medical professionals, he managed to overcome his mental illness and continued to make contributions to the field of mathematics.

1. What can we know about It's a Wonderful Life?

A．It proves a big heart important.

B．It has a happy ending.

C．It tells a story of friendship.

D．It is famous for the leading role.

2. Which film are Robin Williams' fans more likely to watch?

A．Forrest Gump.	B．I's a Wonderful Life.
C．Dead Poet's Society.	D．A Beautiful Mind.

3. At the end of A Beautiful Mind，the professor___________.

A．became a famous expert in psychology

B．got his family's support for studying game theory

C．gained lots of experience in treating schizophrenia

D．defeated the disease and went on to pursue maths

10 . 阅读下面短文,在空白处填入适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式

Do you know     1     a story gets into the newspaper? Here is an example.

Imagine that a city bus has turned over in a ditch, injuring some of the passengers. An eyewitness calls the newspaper. Then a reporter is sent to the scene, at     2     he talks to passengers, the driver and witnesses. He finds out what they saw,     3     (set) down their answers or comments. Meanwhile, a professional photographer is busy taking pictures.

Many reporters use portable (手提式)computers which allow them     4     (write) the story on the spot and then send     5    back to the office.

Next, an editor concentrates on the story, checking facts, grammar and spelling.     6     the same time, a picture is chosen.

The story is set in print. On most newspapers today, this     7     (do) with a computer. The computer makes sets of columns of type, which are pasted onto a sheet of paper     8    (exact) the same size as a newspaper page. Only after a proofreader checks the story for mistakes     9     the newspaper ready for printing. Then the presses (印刷机) begin to run.

Miles of paper are turned into thousands of printed newspapers. They are counted and placed in waiting trucks. Within a few hours, people can read about the bus accident in their     10     (day) newspaper.