Have you ever paid for educational podcasts (播客)or live videos? Ask some people and most of them will say yes. "Pay-for-knowledge" has been more and more fashionable these years. The contents of these "pay-for-knowledge" products are from language learning to gardening or baby-caring. Everything you think of can be found online at this moment. "Pay-for-knowledge" is on the rise(兴起).
Why is "pay-for-knowledge" industry developing so rapidly? First, its development is based on the Internet. With a fast network and a smartphone, anyone who has passed the identity(身份) check can be an online teacher, and anyone with an online account can buy "pay-for-knowledge" products that he or she wants at an affordable price. Second, people are afraid to miss any information. On one hand, people hope for more useful information.
On the other hand, such information is usually at the hands of experts (专家) who serve well-known companies and universities. Moreover, the need to learn new skills in today's job market also pushes people to learn on such educational podcasts.
The industry of "pay-for-knowledge" has proved to be lucrative. It promises possibilities of turning information into money. It is good for the development of our country and it can help sellers make lots of money. Besides, buyers can enjoy self-growth from it. What's more, this is a reflection(反映)of respect for knowledge and talents.
However, the rapid development of "pay-for-knowledge" has a few problems. For one thing, the market is full of eye-catching words such as "How to be an Industry's Expert in 5 Hours" and "15 Classes to Be a Master of Appreciating (欣赏) Classical Music", which sound like if you pay for it, you are sure to succeed. For another, a large number of customers buy them just for showing off. In fact, those who have really had self-growth after buying online courses may be the kind of people who need them least. In other words, with or without these courses, they can make it anyway, because they are those who have the ability to learn by themselves.
In general, the best is the one that suits you most. "Pay-for-knowledge" may be used as a good start for self-growth. Be careful! Otherwise, your dream of success may not come true.
1.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
A."Pay-for-knowledge" products can help all the people succeed.
B."Pay-for-knowledge" products can offer people different kinds of courses.
C.People who can teach themselves need "pay-for-knowledge" products most.
D.People must learn from experts who serve famous companies and universities.
2.What can we learn about "pay-for-knowledge" industry from Paragraph 2?
A.The history of its development. B.The problems of its products.
C.The advantages of its products. D.The causes of its rise.
3.The underlined phrase "be lucrative" in Paragraph 3 means "_____________".
A.produce lots of money B.get much information
C.win great respect D.enjoy self-growth
4.The main purpose of this passage is to___________.
A.recommend the "pay-for-knowledge" products to people
B.advise everyone to learn knowledge by themselves online
C.remind people to choose "pay-for-knowledge" products wisely
D.teach parents how to buy some online courses for their children
In a few hours Sam would be flying to Germany. We looked at each other but no sound broke the silence of my beach-side house.
Such a moment was not the first time for me. On Sam's first day of kindergarten(幼儿园), I felt his stress when holding his hand. He looked at me-as he did now. But I said nothing till the school bus came. About ten years later, I drove him to the college. He was sick but I didn't know then. I thought he was just too tired. I tried to think of something to say as he would start a new period of life. Again, _______.
Now, as I stood before him, I thought of those opportunities we parents all let pass. A boy graduates from school, a daughter gets married. We seldom find a quiet moment to tell them what they have meant to us. Or what they might face in the future.
Sam was weak when he was born but grew into a strong boy. Then he became the best baseball player in high school. His finest moment came when he got the first prize at a science fair. I was sorry he gave up his athletic talent, but proud that later he chose English literature. One day, I told Sam I regretted never traveling abroad to know better about the world before working. Sam decided to learn German in Berlin, even though his friends thought it meaningless.
The night before he was to leave, I failed to say any words again. Maybe, I thought, it wasn't necessary to say anything.
What does it matter if a father never tells a son what he really thinks of him? But as I stood before Sam, I knew it does matter. My father and I loved each other. However, I always regretted never hearing him put his feelings into words.
"Sam," I said, "if I could have picked, I would have picked you." I wasn't sure he understood what I meant. Sam came towards me and threw his arms around me, saying "thank your". My eyes misted over(模糊). Then, the moment ended, and Sam left home.
That was seven weeks ago, and now I think about him when I walk along the beach near my home on weekends. Thousands of miles away Sam might be busy walking in the street of Berlin.
What I had said to Sam was not new. It was nothing. But, it was everything.
(adapted from Words from a Father)
1.Which of the following can be put at the end of Paragraph 2?
A.I failed to say a word B.his illness worried me
C.I decided to go abroad D.his growth satisfied me
2.When Sam heard "if I could have picked, I would have picked you", he might feel_________.
A.stressed B.sad C.calm D.excited
3.What does the writer mean by writing the last sentence "But, it was everything"?
A.A father should care about his son's education.
B.A father should express deep love to his son.
C.A son should take his father's suggestion.
D.A son should respect his father's decision.
Do you like cartoons? If so, read the introduction to the 5 Best Animation(动画)Studios.
TOP 5 Nickelodeon Animation Studios
In 1998, the company entered the cartoon film industry. Among the best animated series it has offered, many stand out, including Sponge Bob Square Pants and Invader Zim.
TOP 4 DreamWorks Animation
Since 1994, Dream Works has never failed to leave a mark. Most cartoon-lovers may know the logo (标志) of a young boy fishing from his seat on a moon. For over twenty years, audiences have enjoyed its imagination. But its influence has always been just slightly weaker than those of the next three.
TOP 3 Studio Ghibli
After the success of Miyazaki's 1984 film Nausicaa of the valley of the Wind, he set up Studio Ghibli in 1985 with producer Toshio and director Isao. Now, eight of the fifteen most money-making cartoon films in Japanese history are made by Studio Ghibli. Because of his achievements, Miyazaki is considered the best animated director, perhaps of all the time.
TOP 2 Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney has given us so many childhood memories. The studio was set up in 1923 by Walt Disney and his elder brother Roy when the two began producing silent short cartoons in Los Angeles. The introduction of Mickey Mouse helped start the company's career, but the 1937 cartoon film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs caught more attention.
TOP 1 Pixar Animation Studios
For thirty years, it has produced many wonderful stories which attract every age group. Every Pixar film is the result of its writers trying to tell better stories. With the releases(发行)for Cars 3, Coco, Toy Story 4, Pixar's next work will be better.
1.What animation was produced in Studio Ghibli?
A.Toy Story 4. B.Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
C.SpongeBob SquarePants. D.Nausicaa of the valley of the Wind.
2.What can we learn from the introduction?
A.Nickelodeon Animation Studio began to make silent short cartoons in 1998.
B.The writers from Pixar Animation Studios are trying to tell better stories.
C.Snow white and the Seven Dwarfs didn't catch any attention in 1937.
D.The logo of Dream Works Animation is known by all cartoon-lovers.
3.Which part of a magazine may this passage be taken from?
A.Outdoor Fun. B.Great People. C.Art World. D.Wild Animals.
Thirty years ago, I fell in love with a dog called Cookie. _______ it was hard for me to add another mouth to feed, I never gave it a second thought.
Cookie could quickly _______ seeing my bags spread across the bed with my leaving on a trip. She was also good at showing unhappiness with her tail, trying to make me _______ .
When I came back home and wrote my stories, she _______ sat next to my desk and we could have conversations about where I'd been and what I'd seen. We _______ each other as only animals and those who love them can. I often read to her what I'd written. If she turned away to start cleaning a paw, I knew I had to improve my story. _______ , she didn't understand what I was really writing. But this kind of communication with her was my _______ of pushing a story to a higher level.
She inspired (激发) me to make up many stories and became my partner in my travels. In this way, we travelled together. Some readers may think it _______ to have such a relationship, but dog owners like me will know it's true and understand.
Today I am still a travel writer. My heart is broken because my friend Cookie left me forever. Like many old friends, she and I _______ much over the years. I miss her so much and I am also ________ to her for being at my side for all those years, listening and simply loving.
It doesn't matter if she never understood a word I said or that she never left our home. She was my travel partner and always will be.
1.A.Though B.Because C.If D.While
2.A.compare B.fill C.connect D.mix
3.A.laugh B.cry C.stay D.leave
4.A.always B.seldom C.sometime D.never
5.A.worried about B.shouted at C.complained to D.communicated with
6.A.Above all B.Of course C.First of all D.As a result
7.A.risks B.ways C.results D.problems
8.A.incorrect B.proper C.valuable D.impossible
9.A.paid B.shared C.threw D.forgot
10.A.generous B.helpful C.thankful D.friendly
— There will be a film about the traditional Chinese musical instruments.
— That sounds cool. Could you please tell me ___________?
A.that you will see it B.how much is the ticket
C.when it will be shown D.where it was shown
—Amy, I'm sorry I mistook your book for mine and took it home.
—___________ Bring it to school tomorrow.
A.I' m sorry to hear that. B.Thank you.
C.With pleasure. D.Never mind.
