A romantic message-in-a-bottle discovered by a mother and daughter at a Scottish beach has sparked（触发） a mystery about whether it could have travelled 5,000 miles across the seas from China.
Nicola MacFarlane, 41, and daughter Lucy, four, from Portobello, near Edinburgh, were looking for driftwood（浮木） on Portobello Beach when they came across an old glass bottle containing a note inside written in Mandarin. Now the family are trying to work out if the letter has managed the extraordinary journey across the Philippine Sea, into the Indian Ocean and through both the South Atlantic and the North Atlantic Ocean’s before washing up on the shores of Great Britain.
It was written on Chinese Valentine’s Day or Qixi Festival as it is more traditionally known, lunar July 7, 2012, so it sent off as recently as six days ago because it followed the modern calendar, which celebrated the occasion on August 23. Nicola was still excited to read about the Chinese love story after having it translated.
“I really do hope that it is from China but even it is from nearer to home, it’s still a lovely gesture and an inspiring find. It’s a love story regardless of where it came from. Nicola, who runs a beach art business in Portobello, added: “I’m always at the beach looking for bits of driftwood but I’ve never come across anything like this before. We knew it was Chinese, but we had no idea what it said.’
Unable to read the Mandarin text, Nicola turned to the internet and her Australian friend, Julie Gould, whose daughter attended a Chinese school in Sydney.
Several hours later Julie returned with the news that it was in fact a love letter.
The translated letter reads: “Da Hai(Ocean), I hope no-one will get this bottle, as we just wish you can hear our voice, and get your blessing. Today is the Chinese Valentine’s Day, we pray that our relationship will last forever and we will have a long happy life together…”
Nicola said: “It sounds to me like the couple are in love but cannot be together so they have sent the message to tell the world of their love.”When did Nicola and her daughter come across the message-in-bottle?
| A．On July 15, 2012. | B．On August 29, 2012. |
| C．On August 31, 2012. | D．On September 2, 2012. |
What were Nicola and her daughter probably doing when they found the bottle?
| A．They were walking on the beach. |
| B．They were washing hands and feet. |
| C．They were looking for the driftwoods. |
| D．They were lying on the beach resting. |
The underlined word “Mandarin” probably means “ ” .
| A．Scottish | B．British |
| C．English | D．Chinese |
We can learn from the passage that Nicola__________.
| A．thinks the letter was written to show love |
| B．had expected to get something unusual |
| C．knows a little Chinese |
| D．found the bottle was from a nearby place |
A
BEUING (Associated Press 美联社) 
—China has a growing middle class, a tradition of expecting education and 21 million new babies every year. Selling educational toys should be easy.
While China may be the world’s biggest toy maker, many of the best are exported. Department stores here do not have enough toys of high quality. It is said that the demand for educational toys is low.
A US company, Baby Care, is trying to change that with a new way to sell toys in China.
Baby Care works basically together with doctors in Beijing hospitals. People who join the company’s "mother club" can get lectures and newsletters on baby and child development at no extra cost, if they agree to spend 18 dollars a month on the company’s educational toys and child-care books.
"We want to build a seven year relationship with those people," said Matthew J. Estes, Baby Care’s president. "It starts during pregnancy (孕期), when the anxiety and needs are highest." Baby Care works on a one-to-one basis. Doctors, nurses, and teachers paid by Baby Care advise parents and explain toys that are designed for children at each stage of development to age six.
Baby Care opened its first store in China last June in a shopping center in central Beijing and another near Beijing Zoo. It plans to have 80 stores in China within six years.
It is a new model for China and develops a market in young children’s education and health that no other companies are in.What do the first two paragraphs mainly tell us?
| A．Educational toys and foreign toy markets. |
| B．Problems with China’s toy market and education. |
| C．Reasons for pushing sales of educational toys in China. |
| D．Baby population and various kinds of toys made in China. |
Which of the following is a fact according to the passage?
| A．Club members buy Baby Care products for free child care advice. |
| B．Doctors in Beijing help in making Baby Care products. |
| C．Parents are encouraged to pay $ 18 for club activities. |
| D．Baby Care trains Chinese doctors at no extra cost. |
Baby Care is developing its business in China by ___________.
| A．opening stores in Beijing hospitals |
| B．offering 18 month courses on child care |
| C．setting up children’s education centers |
| D．forming close relationships with parents |
Which of the following would be the most suitable title for the passage?
| A．Mother’s Club in China. | B．Baby Care and Doctors. |
| C．American Company Model. | D．Educational Toys in China. |
For a girl who's interested in fashion, what would be the dream job? Being a model? Probably
no–-that's for a pencil thin who doesn't eat. One answer is, fashion stylist.
Girls can find it hard to ignore this attractiveness and the field is opening up to normal girls,
not only style or fashion design majors(某专业的学生). "It looked too high before, but now I
find it more approachable," said Xue Rui, 22, a Fudan University Chinese literature graduate who works as an assistant stylist at Hermès in Shanghai. "There is no certain principle in dressing up models, and you can try every way with your own distinct taste to make them pretty and attractive." Some professionals said that Xue's not mistaken.
The attractiveness of this work is not only in the wonderful clothes. Now it's a career with a bright future and pay packet. The income can allow you to buy expensive clothes and, with your name and photo appearing on pages, readers will remember your fashion tips.
A stylist at a fashion magazine can have some unique rights. You have a chance to contact famous persons and dress them up in a style you like. You need to cooperate with top photographers and select places around the world to take photos in. You might also be invited to fashion shows of top brands and can select some of the favorite clothes.
"You have to be ‘all-round’:from hair and make up to clothes, shoes, and accessories (配饰) to the event," said He Qing, 21, a junior in fashion design at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology. "You have to know everything, and handle several things at the same time. It's challenging. That's why I love it."
So, remember girls, you've been warned. The underlined phrase “ pay packet” (paragraph 3) means________.
| A．a large bag | B．a large amount of money | C．chances | D．choices |
Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?
| A．There are certain principles in dressing up models. |
| B．The only attractiveness of this work is in the wonderful clothes. |
| C．Only style or fashion design majors can work as a fashion stylist. |
| D．A stylist knows how to make a person beautiful, from head to toe。 |
What is the unique right a stylist at a fashion magazine can have?
| A．You have a chance to contact celebrities and dress them up in a style you like. |
| B．You need to cooperate with top photographers and select places around the world to take photos in. |
| C．You might also be invited to fashion shows of top brands and can select some of the favorite clothes. |
| D．All of above |
What will the author write in the 6th paragraph?
| A．Top brands that fashion stylists like best. |
| B．Various fashion shows |
| C．Difficulties that fashion stylists may meet |
| D．Other dream jobs |
Most people feel lonely sometimes, but it usually only lasts between a few minutes and a few hours. This kind of loneliness is not serious. In fact, it is quite normal. For some people, though, loneliness can last for years. Now researchers say there are three different types of loneliness.
The first kind of loneliness is temporary(暂时的). This is the most common type. It usually disappears quickly and does not require any special attention. The second kind, situational loneliness, is a natural result or a particular situation---- for example, a family problem, the death of a loved one, or moving to a new place. Although this kind of loneliness can cause physical problems, such as headaches and sleeplessness, it usually does not last for more than a year.
The third kind of loneliness is the most severe. Unlike the second type, chronic(长期的) loneliness usually last more than two yeas and has no specific cause. People who experience habitual loneliness have problems socializing and becoming close to others. Unfortunately, many chronically lone people think there is little or nothing they can do to improve their condition.
Psychologists (心理学家)agree that one important fact in loneliness is a person’s social contacts（接触）, e.g, friends, family members, co-workers, etc. We depend on various people for different reasons. For instance, our families give us emotional support, our parents and teachers give us guidance, and our friends share similar interests and activities. However, psychologists have found that, though lone people may have many social contacts, they sometimes feel they should have more. They question their own popularity.
Psychologists are trying to find ways to help habitually lonely people for two reasons: they are unhappy and unable to socialize and there is a connection between chronic loneliness and serious illness such as heart disease. While temporary and situational loneliness can be a normal, healthy part of life, chronic loneliness can be a very sad, and sometimes dangerous condition..How would you treat temporary loneliness according to the passage?
| A．Talk to friends | B．Just ignore it |
| C．Go to see a doctor | D．Ask your teachers for guidance |
. The topic of the 4th paragraph is that _______________.
| A．lonely people don’t have many friends |
| B．lonely people don’t have many social problems |
| C．one problem of loneliness is a person’s social contacts |
| D．we depend on various people for different reasons |
Why do psychologists want to help chronically lonely people?
| A．Chronic loneliness can cause family problems |
| B．Chronic loneliness can cause serious illness |
| C．Chronic loneliness cannot be overcome |
| D．A, B, and C are all correct |
.What is the best title of the passage?
| A．Three kinds of Loneliness | B．Loneliness and Diseases |
| C．Loneliness and Social Contacts | D．Chronic Loneliness |
We have been providing performing arts information for over 14 years. Here you can search for plays, musicals, concerts and operas across the UK.
 Bob the Builder—Spud’s Big Mess at Apollo TheatreChildren will be happy to see and sing along with their favorite characters. Bob, with his hard-working team, builds a new eco-centered wind farm in Sunflower Valley. This show is full of fun, and provides an educational message to help children learn about caring about the environment, recycling and, of course, teamwork. [Kids show] Dates: From 1st November, 2009 to 8th May, 2010, at 19:00. Price information:￡20.00 to ￡40.00 |
The Lion King at Sunny Theatre It is taken from an African story. A young lion grows up and learns that taking over the pride requires wisdom. [Musical]Dates: From 24th September, 1999 to now. Tuesday to Saturday at 14:00. Sunday at 15:00. Not on show on Monday. Price information: ￡22.5 to￡65.00 |
| Mother Courage and Her Children at National Theatre Mother Courage sells food and clothing to soldiers and tries to keep her business and children alive at all costs during the war. Her encouraging story is told through humor and song. [Play]  Dates: From 9th September, 2009 to 8th December, 2009Price information: ￡10.00 |
 Duke Bluebeard’s Castleat Coliseum TheatreFull of curiosity, Judith persuades her husband to give her the keys only to discover a glowing jewel house, a garden of flowers, a kingdom, and a lake of tears. But what is behind them? [Opera] Dates: From 6th November, 2009 to 28th November, 2009 Nov 6, 10, 12, 20, 25 at19:30. Nov 14, 28 at 18:30 Price information: ￡22.00 to ￡50.00 |
The main purpose of the text is to inform readers of____.
| A．film posters |
| B．performance information |
| C．the theatre’s advice |
| D．picture exhibitions |
Which performance will be on show for the shortest period of time?
| A．Bob the Builder—Spud’s Big Mess |
| B．The Lion King |
| C．Mother Courage and Her Children |
| D．Duke Bluebeard’s Castle |
What can we learn from the text?
| A．The first three shows are inspiring. |
| B．The shows are intended for children. |
| C．All of them have won many awards. |
| D．The characters in the shows are brave. |
Swimming is one of those activities that can be learned early in life. Little children can learn to swim as soon as they walk. In fact, you need the same skills in walking as in swimming. However, I believe that five is the best age to learn. By five or six, a child knows fear of water, a very important thing to know. It's wise to be afraid, to recognize true danger. Young ones understand that the water can sometimes be very dangerous.
To really benefit from swimming, every swimmer should learn, as soon as possible, these four basic strokes; butterfly, backstroke, Breaststroke, and crawl. I feel that one of these-the breaststroke-is different from the others, since some young swimmers use this stroke naturally, without any training.
In swimming there are certain rules every swimmer should follow:
1). Never swim alone! No matter how good you are in the water, don’t risk drowning by swimming alone. If you swim by yourself, with no life guards or friends with you, you may get into trouble.
2). Don't go beyond your abilities. Most swimmers know enough not to swim too far from the bank or the beach, Showing off by doing dangerous tricks is no good. Swim safely and you will continue to swim and alive.
3). Don't smoke. Swimming depends on a healthy body; good lungs are part of it.
4). Work at any activity that builds muscles. Little children can learn to swim as soon as _____.
| A．they can talk |
| B．they start walking |
| C．they have no fear of the water |
| D．they are five or six years old |
The author believes that fear of water is_____.
| A．stupid | B．sensible | C．dangerous | D．not smart |
The stroke that some young swimmers use first is_____.
| A．butterfly | B．backstroke | C．breaststroke | D．crawl |
According to the passage, you should not swim alone because_____.
| A．the water is too cold |
| B．your parents would not be happy |
| C．something in the water might attack |
| D．you might drown |
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