1 . Tiny, Modest Ponds Are a Wonder of Nature
You may appreciate the mighty sea and those deep, dark lakes when it comes to waters.
The good news is that a European organization called PONDERFUL is trying to give ponds power by increasing people’s awareness of their importance. With help now on the way, Switzerland has made hundreds of new ponds, thus increasing the population of toads (蟾蜍) and frogs, including the endangered European tree frog.
If you are thinking about creating a beautiful and enriching element to your garden this spring, consider a pond. Adding even a tiny pond to your garden can achieve natural wonders and will actually improve all other ecosystems. A pond becomes home to many plants and animals, as well as endangered species. It also offers a space for birds to bathe, cool off and drink.
| A．Your pond can make a difference. |
| B．Tiny ponds are usually ignored. |
| C．In turn, these creatures can benefit your garden. |
| D．People can have a great time by creating the ponds. |
| E．Small, shallow ponds are being rebuilt on former golf courses in the UK. |
| F．They are a shelter for frogs that eat insects and keep the ecosystem balanced. |
| G．However, despite their importance to the environment, ponds are simply disappearing. |
2 . Making a to-do list is a powerful way to reduce your stress at work.
• Don’t randomly (随机地) date tasks.
Some people usually add a date to every task they write. They end up with a list of tasks that do not need to be done on the day. You will break the schedule.
• Keep your daily list to no more than ten tasks.
• Group similar tasks together.
Call your customers, for example. If you have two or three such tasks on your daily list, put these together and do them at the same time.
•
It puts you in complete control. It allows you to stay on top of your work and decide what needs to be done next and what can be postponed to a later time. It’s the best way of starting the week with a plan and a direction. It is a way to make sure you are doing the right things.
| A．Do a weekly review. |
| B．Or you will just ignore them. |
| C．Some people often laugh at my advice. |
| D．Write clearly about what you need to do. |
| E．Arrange thirty minutes or so to do your calls. |
| F．If you are away on a business trip, reduce the number of tasks. |
| G．However, getting all those things out of your head is just the first step. Do a weekly review. |
3 . Cycling for charity is a good way to raise money for worthy causes. There are several approaches to getting started.
Popular international social websites have cycling-for- charity pages where it is possible to find upcoming events and sponsors (赞助商). Many international organizations can also be located online that organize regular cycling for charity events. An example of this is Best Buddies International, founded in 1989 and existing in all 50 US states and in 50 countries around the world. Best Buddies International sponsors cycling events to raise money for people with developmental disabilities.
Research organizations mainly dedicated to curing diseases and groups like the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in the US, with similar MS associations in Canada and Australia, arrange cycling for-charity events on a frequent basis. Other common diseases and medical conditions, such as heart disease, Parkinson’s, and cancer, also have national and international organizations that regularly arrange cycling for-charity events. Social movement nonprofits also are involved in cycling for charity, based around such issues as poverty and regional disasters, like earthquakes and hurricanes, which inspire cycling fundraisers around the globe.
Local community groups are another avenue towards forming a cycling group and sponsoring charity rides and charity races. Bicycle clubs and retailers (零售商) are often connected to community outreach groups that arrange such events, and are a good source of information on how to get involved in one. Some of these groups go beyond traditional street cycling and sponsor cross country trail courses. Indoor cycling-for- charity events have also become popular in areas where the weather and season or urban environment may not lend itself to outdoor cycling activities.
Arranging your own cycling-for-charity event is also a possibility. Finding ways to publicize the event and gain sponsors can be done through various local or regional cycling clubs, through employers, local churches, and other groups interested in promoting charitable activities.
1. Which of the following organizes cycling for the disabled?| A．A bicycle club. | B．A local community group. |
| C．Best Buddies International. | D．National Multiple Sclerosis Society. |
| A．To study how to treat diseases. | B．To spread how to face diseases. |
| C．To publicize the benefits of cycling. | D．To inspire the fundraisers globally. |
| A．For the public’s preference. | B．To provide cycling courses. |
| C．To attract more participants. | D．For unfavorable conditions. |
| A．How can I start cycling for charity? | B．How can I avoid hurt during cycling? |
| C．Why must I advocate charity events? | D．What should I do for a proper cycling? |
4 . What is a Mobile Blog?
A mobile blog is a type of blog that is written and submitted via a cellular telephone, internet- connected personal digital assistants or other connected portable device in most cases. The advantage of a mobile blog is that it gives the writer a chance to record his or her thoughts immediately.
What makes a mobile blog popular is the fact that many phones now come equipped with digital cameras.
The mobile blog is based on the same principle as the short message service, only expanded a little bit to include longer pieces, and additional media, such as photos. The blogs may be readable on other phones or may be available, in some cases, for review on computers. It should be noted that many mobile phones may not support traditional online blogging software programs.
| A．Therefore, a specialized program may be necessary. |
| B．Most of these cameras can take fairly decent pictures. |
| C．Thus, more tools available to connect people are needed. |
| D．There is no need to wait until there is access to a computer. |
| E．The writer are expected to set down the thought as quickly as possible. |
| F．The popularity of smartphones has made the writing of a mobile blog easier. |
| G．However, it is much easier than typing out words on a traditional phone keypad. |
5 . As technological creation continues to change the workplace, we are seeing more industries trust their operations to new gadgets (小器具), software and programs that can transform the workplace. One such technology that has the potential, to some degree, to change workplaces in the coming years is RPA ( Robotic Process Automation). With more industries starting to welcome RPA software, RPA robots would be able to solve repetitive tasks like some of the paper work normally dealt with by administrative staff, thus lowering costs and increasing productivity.
There is a common concern that companies employing technology like RPA are only interested in increasing their profit through cost reduction without considering other important factors, and that this kind of trend would finally leave most of the workforce jobless. However, while it is true . that the unskilled tasks of administrative and paper work are likely to be taken over by automation, the demands on the average office worker will tend to include more creative work, duties on management and communication with clients and suppliers.
With this shift in focus, the worker of the future will be expected to have transferable (可转移的) problem-solving and critical thinking skills that will make them competent of dealing with any difficult situation and work independently to find solutions.
At present, the ability to adapt and be flexible would also be important since the world we live in is likely to change a lot, with much uncertainty ahead. Having such flexibility, together with the desire to keep learning and the initiative (主动性) to step forward, the successful worker of the future is one who will be able to use their skills to find out opportunities, make improvements and take on new challenges wherever they’ll be working.
1. What is the advantage of RPA?| A．It can inspire workers to change their attitudes. |
| B．It can help work more effectively at fewer costs. |
| C．It can totally change the traditional workplace. |
| D．It can take the place of all the staff in the office. |
| A．Unskilled workers are hard to survive. | B．Demands of workers will be very high. |
| C．Technology will lead to unemployment. | D．Companies will only care about profits. |
| A．Capable. | B．Frightened. | C．Aware. | D．Mindful. |
| A．People face many unknown issues. |
| B．People live in a changeable world. |
| C．People lack various skills to solve problems. |
| D．People have few chances to improve themselves. |
6 . A study from the University of Montreal has found that watching ice hockey (冰球) greatly increases your heart rate. For television-watchers, the increase was an average 75%, while for those watching live it rose by 110%. This is equal, say the researchers, to running for 15 minutes.
Heart rates were highest during overtime and if there were scoring chances.
However, there is other research showing that watching football can stress the heart so much that it causes strokes (中风) and heart attacks. A study of German fans compared heart rates and blood pressure as they watched their country play in the World Cup. Both heart rate and blood pressure were raised when they watched their own team, and stayed higher for hours afterwards.
The Canadian study was conducted by an observation made by 13-year-old Leia Khairy; daughter of Prof Paul Khairy, the lead researcher. She noticed that while her own heart was beating wildly as she played soccer, the parents on the sidelines were jumping up and down energetically. But Paul Khairy states, “Watching an ice hockey game can’t be replaced by physical activity. It raises heart rate but does not carry the same benefits on cardiovascular (心血管的) health as exercise.
The study of German foot ball fans found that a stressful match more than doubled the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. So it may be that you need to be fit before you watch a sporting event, rather than hope it is equal to brief exercise. Studies have only shown a significant effect on men; and there is no correlation between a fan’s emotional connection with a team and the occurrence of a heart attack. The authors of the Canadian paper suggest that anyone watching an exciting game should take seriously ally symptoms (症状) such as chest pain or shortness of breath. .
1. What can the data indicate in Paragraph 1?| A．Heart rates change a lot while watching ice hockey. |
| B．Players’ performances are related to scoring chances. |
| C．Watching ice hockey has a lot to do with heart diseases. |
| D．Watching ice hockey can make people’s hearts race faster. |
| A．A stressful game can increase the risk of a heart attack. |
| B．Watching sports game can be very beneficial to people. |
| C．Reactions of players’ parents aren’t affected by heart rates. |
| D．Benefits of watching games aren’t equal to those of exercise. |
| A．Monitor the heart rates all the time. |
| B．Pay close attention to physical reaction. |
| C．Take the games’ results very seriously. |
| D．Avoid watching games for a long time. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Subjective. | C．Objective. | D．Negative. |
7 . Twelve-year-old Catherine has a lot of friends—632, actually, if you count up her online friends. And she spends a lot of time with them.
But is it possible that Catherine’s online friendships could be making her lonely? That’s what some experts believe. Connecting online is a great way to stay in touch, they say. However, some experts worry that many kids are so busy connecting online that they might be missing out on true friendships.
Could this be true? During your parents’ childhoods, connecting with friends usually meant spending time with them in the flesh. Kids played Scrabble around a table, not words with friends on their phones. When friends missed each other, they picked up the telephone. Friends might even write letters to each other.
Today, most communication takes place online. A typical teen sends 2,000 texts a month and spends more than 44 hours per week in front of a screen. Much of this time is spent on social media platform.
In fact, in many ways, online communication can make friendships stronger. “There’s definitely a positive influence. Kids can stay in constant contact, which means they can share more of their feelings with each other,” says Katie Davis, co-author of The App Generation.
Other experts, however, warn that too much online communication can get in the way of forming deep friendships. “If we are constantly checking in with our virtual world, we will have little time for our real-world friendships,” says Larry Rosen, a professor at California State University. Rosen also worries that today’s kids might mistake the “friends” on the social media for true friends in life. However, in tough times, you don’t need anyone to like your picture or share your blogs. You need someone who will keep your secrets and hold your hand. You would like to talk face to face.
1. What is the purpose of the first paragraph?| A．To tell about true friends. | B．To start a discussion. |
| C．To encourage online friendships. | D．To summarize(总结) the text. |
| A．In any case. | B．In public. | C．In person. | D．In advance. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Positive. | C．Worried. | D．Confused. |
| A．Teenagers need to focus on real-world friendships. | B．It’s easier to develop friendships in real life. |
| C．It’s wise to turn to friends online. | D．Social media help people stay closely connected. |
8 . Fu Lei’s Family Letters is a book of letters written by Chinese translator and writer Fu Lei to his elder son Fu Cong, who is a famous pianist. Between 1954 and 1966, Fu Cong spent a lot of time away from home training as a piano player. As a result, writing letters became Fu Lei’s usual way of communicating with his elder son. Fu Min, Fu Lei’s younger son edited the letters and the book came out in 1981.
The book shows Fu Lei’s family tradition and value. To Fu Lei, the purpose of education of a person, is to make that person useful to the society. Fu Lei praised his son Fu Cong after winning a piano competition. Fu Lei wrote, “We are happy because you make your country proud. I am so excited when I think about your future. You will make great progress and serve more people, encourage them and heal them.”
In the family letters, Fu Cong was also advised to read famous Chinese texts. When reading these books, Fu Cong was told to connect ideas and feelings together, for that would help him become a better person. To Fu Lei, learning to be a good person comes before any academic training.
Fu Lei’s Family Letters has a great impact on people in China because it helps many young students understand how they should live their lives. The following contents are teenagers’ favorite:
“We won’t get hurt so long as our moods stay stable.”
“The degree of success is not completely under our control. It’s half through personal efforts and half through destiny. But so long as you stay tough, you can weather failures, blunders and heavy blows — whether such blows stem from interpersonal, livelihood-related, technical or academic matters.
“A person needs to have the courage to confront reality and past mistakes. As such, he can come up with sensible analysis and in-depth appreciation. Only then he won’t be weighed down by bad memories.
1. What can we learn from Fu Lei’s Family Letters?| A．Fu Lei’s family tradition and value are shown in the book. |
| B．People in the 1950s communicated with each other by books. |
| C．It’s difficult for parents to make their children well educated. |
| D．Praising children after taking part in a competition is important. |
| A．Hopeful. | B．Difficult. | C．Uncertain. | D．Interesting. |
| A．To be a richer man. |
| B．To help more people. |
| C．To become a better person. |
| D．To do more academic training. |
| A．A newspaper. | B．A comic book. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．A fashion magazine. |
9 . Refresh Your Bedroom
Whether you’ve outgrown the theme of your bedroom or just want to make a few changes to give it an updated look, you don’t need a big budget to make it happen.
Clear out the clutter (杂乱)
Before you start freshening up your space, take a look around to see what could give away to someone who could use it. Ask an adult for two bags or boxes, one for items you want to donate and one for anything that can go directly in the trash.
Think about light
One simple room update that has a big impact is switching up your lighting.
Consider color
Layer your space
Ask a parent whether your family has extra blankets or pillows you could use in your room. They will add new colors, textures, and patterns that will instantly liven up the look and feel of your space.
Personalize your room with photos of family and friends. You can ask a parent for any spare picture frames or pick some up together at a shop. Print out photos and frame them for display. You could also frame your own artwork to hang on a wall or prop up on a dresser.
| A．Pick up photos. |
| B．Add personal touches. |
| C．Lighting is actually an essential decoration of a room. |
| D．One idea is to hang inexpensive LED string lights on a wall. |
| E．Another inexpensive change that can have big results is paint. |
| F．With a few smart strategies, you can give your room a whole new feel. |
| G．Once your room is neat, you can see what changes you might want to make. |
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Meet the experts fighting to save the unbeatable sound of history’s greatest violins, meeting the love of her life.
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Across the UK, communities are coming together to save their pubs, shops, and more.
If Grace Dent ruled the world:
The restaurant critic shares her manifesto (宣言) for world domination.
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1. How often does the magazine come out?| A．Annually. | B．Daily. | C．Weekly. | D．Monthly. |
| A．Community Power. | B．If Grace Dent ruled the world. |
| C．An interview with Hugh Dancy. | D．Saving the sound of the Stradivaius. |
| A．£22.99. | B．£3. | C．£47.88. | D．£24.89. |
