1 . Must-read New Fiction Books

We all have a few tried-and-true fiction favorites, but there’s something special about a brand-new, hot-off-the-press novel. Whether it’s your favorite author’s new release or a new writer’s first work, great fiction books make the perfect escape from ordinary life. That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of the best new books released in February.

Age of Gold by Jerry Lapoor

Jerry Lapoor’s latest action-packed novel unfolds like a crazy movie. This thriller begins when a wealthy man’s car gets out of control. But when the dust settles, the rich man is nowhere to be found. How and to where does he disappear? With an exciting plot that will carry you from old-money houses to small agricultural villages, Age of Cold will take you on an unforgettable ride across a vast land.

City Under One Sky by Rachel Young

In the book, Young presents a crime story set in a small town. Detective Sara Kennedy has been sent to investigate a case. But soon after arrival, Sara gets snowed in with the 205 townsfolk living in the same apartment building. Who is hiding the key to the crime? And is there anyone she can truly trust? The appealing story, strange but distinctive characters and unexpected plot are just a few of the reasons why City Under One Sky gains its popularity.

Lady by Jess George

Lady is an irresistible fiction from Jess George. The story of Mary’s fresh start at adulthood is shot through with themes of family, race and discrimination, womanhood and the immigrant reality of feeling torn between cultures. Though struggling with life in London as an African, Mary jumps at every chance to stand on her own feet.

1. What will impress the readers in Age of Gold?

A．The thrilling plot.	B．Traditional cultures.
C．The family conflict.	D．Crazy characters.

2. What happens to Sara Kennedy in City Under One Sky?

A．She is trapped in the snow.	B．She is to investigate a case abroad.
C．She hides the key evidence.	D．She has trouble discovering the truth.

3. Which is likely to be the main theme of Lady?

A．Self-reliance.	B．Gender equality.
C．Domestic violence.	D．Cross-cultural communication.

2 . Maybe someone you’ve been friends with for years is kicking up some conflict. Or, a person you’ve really trusted seems a little disappointing. However, we need to give people space to change, grow and readjust their own thinking. Learning to get the “good” out of people usually works.     1    

People unavoidably have some types of flaws (缺陷). For instance, people may keep important truths, but the real truth might be that they have trouble trusting others.     2     They are constantly rocking your boat and occupying your personal time.

Sam, an employee assistance program counselor says, “People we care about can drive us mad.” He insists that it’s easier to manage a relationship by setting boundaries and learning to draw the good out of people. “Deal with their flaws and accept them if possible” he advises.

    3     Sam emphasizes, “Usually, we can change something about our own methods of dealing with a person. It doesn’t have to end.” Remember, too, that if someone hides important information or tells straight lies, this is not acceptable.     4    

To handle the flaws, always focus on the strengths of people in your circle. One friend might be a great babysitter for your kids while another helps you find good vacation deals. While you don’t want to “use” anyone, you do want to count on him for your own needs.     5     We all need a variety of people. Besides, life is much more interesting if we have a little bit of drama going on.

A．No one can function all by himself.

B．Ending a relationship is seldom a good idea.

C．Forgiving others is always a good quality to maintain friendship.

D．Also, some people may ask too much of you.

E．But you can distance yourself and wait to see if someone changes.

F．Sometimes flaws may become advantages under certain circumstances.

G．To do this, focus on their strengths and how those benefit your own life.

3 . In the ever-evolving world of robotics, researchers are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance the capabilities of these machines. One that has captured the attention of scientists is the potential of using legs instead of arms for certain tasks. Four-legged robots normally need an arm attached to their body to open doors or pick up objects, but this can add additional weight and make it harder for the robot to squeeze through narrow spaces.

Philip Smith in Switzerland and his colleagues used a machine-learning model to teach a ready-made robotic dog to use one of its legs to perform tasks while standing still or moving with the other three legs. The robot dog can use a leg to open doors, press buttons and pick up backpacks while balancing on its other three legs.

“We cannot do everything with the legs that we could do with an arm — right now, a hand is far more skillful. But the point is really to make this work for applications where we maybe have mass limits, or we don’t want to have that additional complexity, like for space exploration where every kilogram of such a robot counts,” says Smith.

To train the robot dog, Smith and his team gave the machine-learning model the objective of finding a specific point in space with one of the robot’s legs. The model then worked out by itself how to control the remaining three legs and balance the robot while standing or walking. Smith and his team could then control the robot remotely to carry out movements like picking up a backpack and putting it in a box, or collecting rocks. While the robot can currently only do these tasks while operated by a person, Smith hopes that future improvements will allow the dog to autonomously handle objects with its leg.

1. What is a drawback of four-legged robots with arms?

A．Difficulty in control.	B．Lack of flexibility.
C．Complexity in design.	D．Absence of innovation.

2. Why does Smith mention “space exploration” in paragraph 3?

A．To compare the robot dog with humans.	B．To prove the complexity of the robot dog.
C．To explain the limitation of the robot dog.	D．To show the potential uses of the robot dog.

3. How was the robot dog trained?

A．By balancing on its other three legs.	B．By using a machine-learning model.
C．By having an arm attached to its body.	D．By exposing it to diverse environments.

4. What does Smith hope for the future of the robot dog?

A．Its leg will be more skillful than its arms.	B．It can be operated more easily by a person.
C．It can handle objects with its leg on its own.	D．It can carry out machine-learning autonomously.

4 . “Mom, could you read to me?” My son, who was suffering from a virus, was lying on the floor of our living room, where he usually went when he was sick. Fourteen years old might seem old for being read to, but appearing grown-up wasn’t his priority at this point. He was looking for comfort, distraction and wanted to feel cared for.

I’d actually kept reading to him through his childhood and called it quits when we got into the preteen authority fight. When I read to him, I chose books that I loved, often books that he wouldn’t have gotten through on his own. Saying that he didn’t like the fantasy stories I’d adored myself at his age, he expressed an interest in nonfiction. Therefore, I put my own past preferences aside and looked for true stories that would grab his attention, and that he could read on his own. His shifting adolescent interest meant that the book I’d ordered for him yesterday was sometimes dismissed when it arrived, but I just put it aside for later. Its time might come around again.

Now, though, he was asking me again, and I was glad to do anything that might give him relief. The purpose was neither knowledge learning nor a display of authority. He was seeking rest for his unsettled mind and body, and by reading to him, I could see that it supported his healing, as surely as the hot lemon and ginger tea and getting plenty of sleep did.

I am sure that reading to my son has enhanced his school learning — his teacher has been amazed by his writing abilities —but more importantly, it has helped to make our bond stronger, giving us something in common to enjoy together. When the arguments and disagreements erupt, we can always come back to this simple activity of reading and listening, a union of souls that leaves us both completely free.

1. What may the author do when her son asked her to read to him?

A．She read to him.	B．She ignored him.
C．She told him to read by himself.	D．She suggested they read together.

2. What is the author’s attitude towards her son’s changeable reading interest?

A．Opposed.

B．Worried.

C．Unconcerned.

D．Acceptable.

3. What does the author think is the most important benefit of reading to her son?

A．Giving him comfort.	B．Strengthening their ties.
C．Helping him grow more rapidly.	D．Promoting his school learning.

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

A．The Importance of Bond	B．The Benefits of Reading
C．Reading and Bonding	D．Caring for Your Sick Child

5 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the woman look unhappy?

A．She couldn’t get a plane ticket.

B．She has been studying too much.

C．She doesn’t have a car.

2. What do the numbers on the boxes represent?

A．Types of cars.

B．Amounts of money.

C．Districts of the United States.

3. What colour card does the woman need?

A．White.

B．Red.

C．Blue.

4. Where is the ride board?

A．In front of the college cinema.

B．In the Student Union building.

C．In a travel agent’s office.