A beautiful September evening，my 11-year...

    I just counted how many foreign languages I've studied so far in my life and it's been twelve!

I always follow my interests and find ways to put my language learning into things I'm already interested in.I like to read blogs(博客)in other languages.1. .For the most part，bloggers tend to write the same way they speak，so I don’t have to worry much about adopting strange terms that are only used in writing.

Movies are also a really good tool，especially if you can find subtitles in the language you’re learning.2.，they will still keep your brain listening and reading in the same language.Music is another way to start listening to things in your new language.Personally，I'm so bad at understanding lyrics(歌词)even in English，so this one doesn’t really work for me，but I have friends who learn a language through lyrics.Games are of course also an excellent way of studying a new language.A lot of language learning computer programs include games.I'm super competitive and if I play any of them，I can be hooked for hours.3. .

When the initial excitement of learning a new language begins to fade，it can be hard to stick with it.The hardest bit for me is when I'm comfortable enough with a language to understand most things and make myself understood.I'm actually stuck at this stage in Norwegian.4. .Ideally I should sign up to take a big language exam.Each time I start getting self-satisfied，it's time to take a new course or sign up for online lessons，or take up some sort of challenge that will require me to level up my skills.

5. .The best language class I've ever taken was my beginner’s Russian course at university where my professor never used any English.It got to the point where I would kind of just forget about English while in Russian class，which helped me to really immerse myself in the Russian language and do a whole lot with the limited Russian I had.

A.That’s really uncomfortable

B.Whatever languages they’re translated into

C.I also try to think in the language I'm learning

D.It’s time well spent if I'm learning the language

E.Computer games always make me feel worn out

F.Though they don’t always exactly match what’s being said

G.I found them the perfect learning tool because they’re usually written in oral language

    Most dog owners are convinced that their four-legged friends know exactly what they mean when they use certain words like sit，stay or treat.However，researchers have always wondered whether dogs really understand human speech or if they rely on other information to get the meaning.For example，does the word“fetch”form a picture of a stick or ball in the dog’s mind，or does the dog bring back the object based on the owner’s voice or gesture? A new study by scientists at Atlanta’s Emory University seems to indicate that“man’s best friend”does indeed know what the owner is saying.

The researchers began by asking the owners of twelve dogs of various kinds to train their pets to identify two toys of different materials，such as a toy animal and a ball.Once the dogs had mastered the task，they took turns inside a special scanner.The owners then tested their dog’s language skill by first calling out the names of the toys they had been trained to recognize and then saying meaningless words such as“bobbu”and“bodmick”while holding up random objects the dogs hadn’t seen before.

The scans suggested that the parts of the dogs’ brains responsible for processing of sounds showed different brain patterns when they heard words they were familiar with，compared with the ones they had never heard before.While that was not enough to prove that the dogs were picturing their toys when they heard the word，it did indicate some sort of recognition.The researchers believe this is an important step forward in understanding how dogs process language.

Even more interesting was that the dog’s brains showed a higher level of neural(神经)activity at the sound of unknown words.This is the exact opposite of what happens in human brains，which get more active at the sound of familiar words.The researchers say the dogs may become cheerful at the sound of new words to try to understand them in the hope of delighting their masters.“Dogs want to please their owners，and perhaps also receive praise or food，”says Empty neuroscientist Gregory Burns，senior author of the study.

However，though your pet may understand human speech，the scientists recommend using visual signals and smell for training.“When people want to teach their dog a trick，they often use spoken command because that’s what humans prefer，”Prichard says.“From the dog’s view，however，a visual command might be more effective，helping the dog learn the trick faster.”

1.What’s the purpose of the new study?

A. To convince dog owners to understand their dogs.

B. To advise dog owners to treat their dogs kindly.

C. To prove dogs follow owners’order by listening.

D. To test out how dogs get information from owners.

2.What does the author intend to do in paragraph 2?

A. Inform the result of the research. B. State the process of the research.

C. Stress the importance of the research. D. Introduce the subjects of the research.

3.How do human brains and dog brains react to words ?

A. Human brains become active at unfamiliar words.

B. Dog brains become delighted at unfamiliar words.

C. Human brains are not sensitive to familiar words.

D. Dog brains show no response to familiar words.

4.What do scientists advise the owners to do in dog training?

A. Give dogs oral command. B. Teach dog new tricks.

C. Involve sight and smell. D. Encourage faster learning.

    While visiting the North pole in winter may not be at the top of your bucket list，the ever-changing ICEHOTEL，which opened its doors to visitors on December 14 this year，may change your mind.200 km north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish village of Jukkasjārvi，the hotel，which is carved entirely from ice，is rebuilt annually.

The 35 rooms，built to accommodate visitors on all kinds of budgets，vary from expensive suites to basic rooms that are furnished with just an icy bed and a reindeer skin.Among the highlights this year is the“Spruce Woods”suite.Sculpted by Christopher Pascoe and Jennie O’Keefe of Canada，it describes a camping scene complete with a classic microbus，a forest，and even an artificial campfire.

There is also the artfully-carved“Living Ocean”suite to remind visitors of the importance of saving our oceans.The room is full of carved sea life that includes coral and a shark“swimming”right over the ice bed.“The suite is inspired by global warming and the overfishing that affects our oceans.”says artist Jonathan Paul Green.“I also think the idea of using frozen water from a river in northern Sweden to create an ocean with shells，fish，and corals is exciting.”

The nearby“Haven”suite is a“magical gate of ice”guarded by two large animals.“We are inspired by the meeting between people and want to create an experience that invites curiosity and creativity，”says artist Jonas Johansson.“It feels like a dream to get to work with ice that allows our love for light，shine，and reflection to wander freely from thought to creation.”

Regardless of whether visitors select the carved suites or the basic ice rooms，the temperature is always set to a bone-chilling －5℃!That is why guests are advised to snuggle(蜷缩)up inside sleeping bags and wear gloves and winter hats all night.Not surprisingly，most end up spending just a single night at this unique hotel before moving on to the conventional and warmer hotels nearby.

1.What does the underlined phrase“bucket list”mean in the text?

A. A shopping list of buckets. B. A list of travelling destinations.

C. A list of expensive hotels. D. A list of exciting ideas.

2.What can we know about the ice hotel?

A. It is rebuilt every year. B. Its rooms are expensive.

C. It organizes camping activities. D. It lies in a coastal city.

3.Where does the inspiration of“Living Ocean”suite come from?

A. Art and literature.

B. Ocean life and voyage.

C. Climate changes and human influence.

D. The meeting of people.

4.Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A. An Adventure to the North Pole

B. An Experience Close to Nature

C. A Taste of Cold:A Night in a Village

D. A Winter Destination:Sweden’s Ice Hotel

    At the age of seven, while his friends were spending their allowances on things like candy and toys, Jose Adolfo Quisocola was busy saving money for basic purchases. To try to get his peers（同 龄 人 ） to do the same, the boy from Peru came up with the idea of an eco-bank, the Bartselana

Student Bank, which allows kids of all ages to become financially independent while also helping the environment.

Set up in 2012, the bank is the world’s first bank for kids. To become a member, a kid has to bring in at least 5 kilograms of solid waste and set a savings goal. Once accepted, all bank “partners” are required to deposit at least one additional kilogram of recyclables on a monthly basis and observe other  requirements,  such   as   attending  financial  education  and   environmental  management workshops.

The waste accumulated is sold to local recycling companies, who, thanks to Jose’s efforts, pay a higher-than-market rate for everything brought in by the bank members. The money received is placed in the personal account where they collect until the savings goal is reached. The account holder can then withdraw the money, or choose to leave it and continue to grow for a bigger target. “At the beginning, my teachers thought I was crazy or that a child could not undertake this type of project,” Jose recalls, “They did not understand that we are not the future of the country but its present. Luckily, I had the support of the school headmaster and an assistant in my class.”

The boy’s efforts paid off, and by 2013, the bank had over 200 members, who brought in one ton of recyclable waste. Today, the eco-bank, which now has the support of several local institutions, boasts ten educational centers. They are designed to teach the over 3,000 students, aged 10 to 18 , to become financially independent, use their money wisely, and help the environment.

Not surprisingly, Jose’s efforts have earned him several national and international awards. On November 20, 2018, Jose won Children’s Climate Prize, which comes with a medal and $5,500 in prize money and is given to a child or youth who has accomplished an extraordinary achievement for the climate or environment.

1.Why did Jose set up the bank?

A. To raise money and set up a recycling company.

B. To buy necessities and donate them to needy kids.

C. To save much money and protect the environment.

D. To educate the students and help them win prizes.

2.How can a kid be admitted to the eco-bank?

A. By donating to the eco-bank.

B. By turning in one kilogram of waste in a month.

C. By sending in an application.

D. By presenting a goal and a certain amount of waste.

3.How did the teachers feel about Jose’s program?

A. Doubtful. B. Excited.

C. Moved. D. Worried.

4.What is paragraph 4 mainly about?

A. How the environment is improved. B. What the project has achieved.

C. How tons of waste has been recycled. D. What support the local institutions get.

    While it’s books that make a library, being in lovely surroundings may provide inspiration and help you work a little bit harder. Here are some of the coolest libraries of the world.

Library of Birmingham – Birmingham, U.K.

The new Library of Birmingham is said to be not only Britain’s biggest public library, but also the largest in Europe. Designed by Dutch architects, this replacement for the Birmingham Central Library was opened in 2013 and has a wealth of resources within its walls, including adults and kids’ libraries, music collections, a Shakespeare Memorial Room, and even a gym room. Gardens crown the roof, while the changing seasons bring variations in the shadows and reflections inside.

National Library  of France – Paris, France

The National Library of France, which now contains an astonishing collection of 30 million, dates back to the 14th century and this royal library was set up at the Louvre by King Charles V. The Library was moved to Rue de Richelieu site in 1868, with major design work carried out by French architects Henri Labrouste and, following his death, Jean-Louis Pascal. Here, the reading rooms are elegance itself. There are more than just books to be found.

State Library of New South Wales – Sydney, Australia

The public State Library of New South Wales holds the honor of being the oldest institution of its kind in Australia. It was originally set up as the Australian Subscription Library in 1826, but it wasn’t until 1942 that its permanent home was ready. Designed by Sydney architect Walter Liberty Vernon and completed in 1910, the magnificent sandstone Mitchell Wing is one of the architectural highlights.

Seattle Central Library – Seattle, Washington, USA

Seattle Central Library’s distinctive design ensures it stands out. Architect Rem Koolhaas is one of the names attached to its design. Architects sought to envelop the 11-story building with “a layer of transparency”, using a skin of glass and metal. The finished article houses about 1.45 million books and other things, as well as more than 400 computers available for public use. The building, which opened in 2004, was included on the American Institute of Architects’ list of America’s 150 favorite buildings in 2007.

1.Which of the following library has the longest history?

A. Library of Birmingham B. National Library of France

C. State Library of New South Wales D. Seattle Central Library

2.What can you do in Library of Birmingham?

A. Attend a concert. B. Act a play.

C. Take some exercise. D. Enjoy new technology.

3.What do National Library of France and Seattle Central Library have in common?

A. They have computers available. B. They were moved to a new place.

C. They won awards for architecture. D. They were designed by more than one person.