Tayka Hotel De Sal
Where: Tahua, Bolivia
How much: About $95 a night
Why it’s cool: You’ve stayed at hotels made of brick or wood, but salt? That’s something few can claim. Tayka Hotel de Sal is made totally of salt—including the beds (though you’ll sleep on regular mattresses (床垫) and blankets). The hotel sits on the Salar de Uyuni, a prehistoric dried-up lake that’s the world’s biggest salt flat. Builders use the salt from the 4,633-square-mile flat to make the bricks, and glue them together with a paste of wet salt that hardens when it dries. When rain starts to dissolve the hotel, the owners just mix up more salt paste to strengthen the bricks.
Green Magic Nature Resort
Where: Vythiri, India
How much: About $240 a night
Why it’s cool: Ridding a pulley(滑轮)-operated lift 86 feet to your treetop room is just the start of your adventure. As you look out of your open window—there is no glass!—you watch monkeys and birds in the rain forest canopy. Later you might test your fear of heights by crossing the handmade rope bridge to the main part of the hotel, or just sit on your bamboo bed and read. You don’t even have to come down for breakfast—the hotel will send it up on the pulley-drawn “elevator”.
Dog Bark Park Inn B&B
Where: Cottonwood, Idaho
How much: $92 a night
Why it’s cool: This doghouse isn’t just for the family pet. Sweet Willy is a 30-foot-tall dog with guest rooms in his belly. Climb the wooden stairs beside his hind leg to enter the door in his side. You can relax in the main bedroom, go up a few steps of the loft in Willy’s head, or hang out inside his nose. Although you have a full private bathroom in your quarters, there is also a toilet in the 12-foot-tall fire hydrant outside.
Gamirasu Cave Hotel
Where: Ayvali, Turkey
How much: Between $130 and $475 a night.
Why it’s cool: This is caveman cool! Experience what it was like 5,000 years ago, when people lived in these mountain caves formed by volcanic ash. But your stay will be much more modern. Bathrooms and electricity provide what you expect from a modern hotel, and the white volcanic ash, called tufa, keeps the rooms cool, about 65℉in summer. (Don’t worry—there is heat in winter.)What do we know about Tayka Hotel de Sal?
| A．It is located on a prehistoric wet lake. |
| B．It must be protected against rain. |
| C．Everything in the hotel is made of salt. |
| D．You have to cross a rope bridge to the hotel. |
What is the similarity of the four hotels?
| A．Being unique | B． Being expensive. |
| C．Being beautiful. | D．Being natural. |
What does the underline part “Sweet Willy" refer to?
A. The name of the hotel.
B. The name of a pet dog of the hotel owner
C. The building of Dog Bark Park InnB&B.
D. The name of the hotel owner.Which of the hotel makes you have a feeling of living in the for past?
| A．Tayka Hotel De Sal |
| B． Green Magic Nature Resort |
| C．Dog Bark Park InnB&B |
| D． Gamirasu Cave Hotel |
What may be the purpose of the writer writing the passage?
| A．To show his wide knowledge. |
| B．To introduce some interesting hotels. |
| C．To develop business in tourism. |
| D．To attract attention from the readers. |
Phys ed (physical education) is making a comeback as a part of the school core curriculum(核心课程)，but with a difference. While group sports are still part of the curriculum, the new way is to teach skills that are useful beyond gym class. Instead of learning how to climb a rope, children are taught to lift weights, balance their diets and build physical endurance(忍耐力). In this way，kids are given the tools and skills and experiences so they can lead a physically active life for the rest of their life.
Considering that 15 percent of American children aged 6 to 18 are overweight, supporters say more money and thought must be put into phys ed curriculum. In many cases, that may mean not just replacing the old gym-class model with fitness programs but also starting up phys ed programs because school boards often "put P.E. on the chopping block (砧板), cutting it entirely or decreasing its teachers or the days it is offered," says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, the executive director of Action for Health Kids. The difference in phys ed programs is partly due to the lack of a national standard. "Physical education needs to be part of the core curriculum," she added.
The wisdom of the new approach has some scientific support. Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have showed how effective the fit-for-life model of gym class can be. They observed how 50 overweight children lost more weight when they cycled and skied cross-country (越野)than when they played sports. The researchers also found that teaching sports like football resulted in less overall movement, partly because some reluctant（不情愿的）students were able to sit on the bench.
Another problem with simply teaching group sports in gym class is that only a small percentage of students continue playing them after graduating from high school. The new method teaches skills that translate to adulthood.According to the passage, what is usually taught in the old gym class?
| A．Lift weights | B．Climb a rope | C．Cycle | D．Have a balanced diet |
What does Alicia Moag-Stahlberg mean by saying “some school boards put P. E. on the chopping block”?
| A．Schools do not pay enough attention to P. E.. |
| B．Schools welcome P. E. but do not have time for it. |
| C．Schools put P.E. in the first place. |
| D．Schools cut down other subjects’ time for P. E.. |
Which is NOT the reason to carry out phys ed programs according to the passage?
| A．More teenagers are overweight. |
| B．Traditional group sports teaching is not effective. |
| C．Students need to learn some skills to help them lead a physically active life. |
| D．Phys ed programs need less money to support. |
How many problems are mentioned in the passage with simply teaching group sports?
| A．Two | B．Three | C．Four | D．One |
What’s the difference between the come-back phys ed and the ordinary gym-class model?
| A．The Phys ed teaches group sports. |
| B．The Phys ed provides more fitness programs. |
| C．The Phys ed teaches tools and skills which could be used in the future life. |
| D．The Phys ed has more support from the government. |
Last year, I lived in Chile for half a year. I lived with a Chilean family and had the responsibilities of any Chilean teenager. I had good days and bad days I didn’t understand.
Chuquicamata, my host community, is a mining camp. When I arrived there, I was scared. It was so different from what I was used to. There were lots of dogs on the streets, and there was no downtown, few smoothly paved streets, and little to do for entertainment. Rain was not seen very often, earthquakes and windstorms were frequent.
I had studied Spanish for two and a half years and was always one of the best students in my class. But in my first week in Chile I was only able to communicate and needed one person to whom I could explain my shock. I couldn’t speak the thoughts in my head and there were so many.
Most exchange students experience this like me. Culture shock presents itself in everything from increased aggression (敌对心理) towards the people to lack of appetite(食欲). I was required to overcome all difficulties.
As time passed, everything changed. I began to forget words in English and to dream in Spanish and love Chilean food. I got used to not depending on expensive things for fun. Fun in Chuquicamata was being with people. And I took math, physics, chemistry, biology, Spanish, art, and philosophy.
But the sacrifices were nothing compared to the gain. I learned how to accept and to succeed in another culture. I now have a deeper understanding of both myself and others.The author came to Chile last year with the purpose of ________.
| A．paying a visit to Chile as a tourist | B．experiencing Chilean life as a teacher |
| C．studying Chilean culture as a college student | D．studying knowledge as an exchange student |
On arriving in Chile, why did the author feel frightened?
| A．Because he did not know how to get along with the local people. |
| B．Because it was full of dangers like earthquakes and windstorms. |
| C．Because its living conditions were worse than what he was used to. |
| D．Because it was not convenient for him to shop there. |
In the first week in Chile the author _ _______.
| A．was not used to eating Chilean food | B．had some friends to have a chat with |
| C．couldn’t communicate with people | D．couldn’t express his thoughts in English |
What did the author most probably think of his life in Chile?
| A．Wonderful and worthwhile | B．Difficult but meaningful |
| C．Difficult and meaningless | D．Boring and disappointing |
According to the passage, which of the following statements about Chile is TRUE?
| A．its official language is Spanish and English. |
| B．It is a developing country without foreign students. |
| C．It seldom rains and natural disasters often happen. |
| D．Most Chileans are not friendly to foreigners. |
Boxing is a fist fighting sport between two matched combatants (对手) wearing padded gloves. A boxer’s primary aim is to land as many blows as possible to the head and torso (躯干) of the opponent, using strength and speed to dominate the contest. One of the oldest sports still practiced, boxing dates back to thousands of years ago. Today the sport is popular in many parts of the world and encompasses (包括) both amateur and professional matches.
For most of the 20th century boxing attracted huge fan and media attention in the United States. Some boxing champions became legendary, larger-than-life figures, such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, and Muhammad Ali. Criticized to varying degrees throughout its history for its violent nature and high injury rate, boxing has somehow always managed to survive——and even thrive——as a sport.
Modern boxing regulations are based upon the 12 rules set out by British boxing officials in the mid-19th century. These rules became known as the Marquess of Queensberry Rules, named after the 8th Marquess of Queensberry, John Sholto Douglas, who sponsored and published them. In addition to in-the-ring rules, modern boxing also has spec
ific regulations regarding eligibility for the fighters themselves.
The modern rules for professional and amateur boxing differ, but both types of contests are divided into time periods called rounds. In professional boxing, each round lasts three minutes; in amateur boxing, two minutes. A one-minute rest period between rounds is standard. Amateur contests consist of three rounds; professional contests may consist of up to 12 rounds. A bell is usually sounded by a timekeeper to begin and end each round.
A key step in mak
ing boxing safer and more respectable was the introduction of gloves, ending brutal bare-knuckle competition. Boxing gloves are heavily padded to soften the impact of the blow and to prote
ct the hands of the boxer. As an added protection, the hands are taped before being placed in the gloves, which are essentially huge mittens. Professional gloves usually weigh between 170 and 226g; amateur gloves average 226 to 340g. Which of the following is true according to the information in the passage?
| A．Boxing is a violent sport with high injury rate. |
| B．People enjoy boxing because of its brutal nature. |
| C．Only professional players are allowed to attend boxing matches. |
| D．Boxing is a popular sport with a history of only 200 years. |
Boxing has always managed to survive as a sport. In the author’s opinion, __________.
| A．this is because many people can participate in this popular sport |
| B．this is because boxing is a sport which can bring good business |
| C．the reason for this cannot be fully explained |
| D．this is because there are many legendary boxers |
Which of the following facts about boxing is NOT mentioned in the passage?
| A．The time set for a round. | B．The weight of gloves. |
| C．The size of boxing rings. | D．The signal to begin and end each round. |
The author’s purpose in writing this passage is __________.
| A．to give a general introduction to the sport of boxing |
| B．to advertise a band of boxing-related product |
| C．to discourage people from enjoying this violent sport |
| D．to get support for a sport with long tradition |
Which of the following statements can best describe the sport of boxing as a whole?
| A．It is a brutal and violent sport, with little popularity in modern times. |
| B．It is a traditional sport, with little room for improvement. |
| C．It is a controversial sport, which nevertheless enjoys great public support. |
| D．It is strictly professional sport with rigid and exclusive rules. |
The Internet will open up new vistas (前景), create the global village——you can make new friends all around the world. That, at least, is what it promised us. The difficulty is that it did not take the human mind into account. The reality is that we cannot keep relationsh
ips with more than a limited number of people. No matter how hard the Internet tries to put you in communication, its best efforts will be defeated by your mind.
The problem is twofold（双重的）. First, there is a limit on the number of people we can hold in mind and have a meaningful relationship with. That number is about 150 and is set by the size of our brain. Second, the quality of your relationships depends on the amount of time you invest in then. We invest a lot in a small number of people and then distribute what’s left among as many others as we can. The problem is that if we invest little time in a person, our engagement with that person will decline until eventually it dies into “someone I once knew”.
This is not, of course, to say that the Internet doesn’t serve a socially valuable function. Of course it does. But the question is not that it allows you to increase the size of your social circle to include the rest of the world, but that you can keep your relationships with your existing friends going even though you have to move to the other side of the world.
In one sense, that’s a good thing. But it also has a disadvantage. If you continue to invest in your old friends even though you can no longer see them, then certainly you aren’t using your time to make new friends where you now live. And I suspect that probably isn’t the best use of your time. Meaningful relationships are about being able to communicate with each other, face to face. The Internet will slow down the rate with which relationships end, but it won’t stop that happening eventually.The number of friends we can keep relationships with is decided by__________.
| A．the Internet | B．the time we have | C．the place we live | D．the mind |
The underlined word “engagement” in the seco
nd paragraph probably means “__________”.
| A．appointment | B．connection | C．interview | D．agreement |
The author holds the view that___________.
| A．the Internet helps to keep in touch with friends far away |
| B．the Internet determines the quality of social relationships |
C．the Internet greatly increases the size of social circles |
| D．the Internet is of no value in social communication |
What will the author encourage us to do?
| A．To keep in touch with old friends when we have moved away. |
| B．To chat with friends often on the Internet. |
| C．To make more new friends face to face. |
| D．To stop using the Internet to make new friends. |
What is the author’s attitude towards the use of the Internet to strengthen relationships?
| A．He thinks it useless | B．He is hopeful of it. |
| C．He approves of it. | D．He doubts it. |
Paula Radcliffe, chasing a third London marathon title, says she has became a stronger person after her terrible experience at the 2004 Athens Games.
Radcliffe, who failed to complete the Olympic marathon and the 10,000m last August, said: "Athens made me a stronger person and it made me care less about criticism"
"In the past I wanted to please everyone, but now I am going to listen even more to the people around me."
She didn't care about criticism made at the weekend by Liz McColgan, who felt Radcliffe should have rested and let her body recover after her failure in Athens.
"Liz is someone I look up to but she hasn't spoken to me since last year and if she really cared for me, I'm sure she would have contacted me."
Instead Radcliffe won the New York City marathon just 11 weeks after Athens.
"In New York I wasn't in my best state but I did know I was good enough to win the race."
Radcliffe insisted her only goal in Sunday's race would be winning a third title and not chasing world records.
However, Radcliffe has not rule
d out in the future chasing her "final" world record time and questioned sayings that marathon runners have the ability in their career to produce only four or five world-class times.
"I don't think that ——although I can't put a number on it," said. Radcliffe. "That changes from person to person."
Radcliffe is sure she can better her winning London 2003 performance at some point in the future. Following a successful three-month training period in the United States, the 31-year-old will chase a third title on Sunday after her first victory in 2002 and again 12 months lat
er.
Radcliffe clocked a time of 2:18:56 in her first 42.2-kilometre race three years ago.
Afterwards she set a "mixed course" mark of 2:17:18 five months later in Chicago before lowering that to a time of 2:15:25 in the 2003 London event.Radcliffe’s failure in Athens made her___________.
| A．develop respect for Liz | B．love people around her more |
| C．rest for five months | D．face criticism calmly |
Which of the following is true according to the passage?
| A．Radcliffe broke the world record in the New York City marathon. |
| B．Radcliffe didn’t fully recover before the New York City marathon. |
| C．Radcliffe won her first marathon title in the New York City marathon. |
| D．Radcliffe had a 3-month training before the New York City marathon. |
By saying “I can’t put a number on it,” Radcliffe means she’s not sure ___________.
| A．if she has the ability to set a new world record |
| B．if she can win another race though she has won many times |
| C．how many times a marathon runner can set the world record |
| D．if she has the ability to produce four or five world-class times |
According to the text, Radcliffe has won ___________ London marathon title(s).
| A．one | B．two | C．three | D．four |
What can we learn from Radcliffe’s story?
| A．Practice makes perfect. | B．Well begun is half done. |
| C．Where there is a will, there is a way. | D．A friend in need is a fried indeed. |
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