For the last couple of weeks, I had been stuck in front of my computer working on a project that was very important to me. My every waking hour was consumed by the project and although I imagined that I would feel happy after completing parts of the project, I was confused to find that instead, I was feeling rather depressed. I tried a range of methods to help cheer myself up. I had a relaxing bath, cooked a delicious meal to enjoy with my family and even watched a lighthearted movie, but to no avail. It was only when I turned to meditation(沉思)for a solution that the answer came to me: turn to nature!
The very next day, I grabbed my camera and a bottle of water and set off to spend a few hours walking in a nature reserve, even though it was pouring with rain. Within a couple of minutes I felt alive again. To be honest, I felt like a young school girl again and had to stop myself from hopping along the path singing, "I'm singing in the rain", a song I used to sing when I was a child. I think as adults we often try too hard to control our inner children and as a result we restrain(限制) our own spirits, which only leads to depression and stress.
Interestingly, it has been shown that people who spend 40 minutes walking in a nature reserve have a drop in their blood pressure levels, but this does not happen when they spend a similar amount of time walking in a busy city centre.
If you feel a little low in spirit and know that you have spent too much time indoors, relax completely, remove your shoes and let your inner child come out and play. The author felt depressed because she __________.
| A．couldn't consume her waking hour |
| B．had not seen a film for a long time. |
| C．had not finished her work on time |
| D．had worked on a hard job for too long |
The author walked in a nature reserve in the rain in order to__________.
| A．take photos |
| B．find a solution to the project |
| C．hop along the path |
| D．cheer herself up |
The underlined part "to no avail" in Paragraph 1 probably means " __________.".
| A．unsuccessful | B．unrelated |
| C．uninteresting | D．unexpected |
In the author's opinion, __________.
| A．a bath can make people relaxed |
| B．depression is usually caused by hard work |
| C．walking in a busy city centre harms people's health |
| D．adults should express their inner feelings freely |
The last paragraph mainly serves as a(n) __________.
| A．explanation | B．suggestion |
| C．introduction | D．reminder |
Recently, we were given the opportunity to review a book written by a young author. When we received it, I noted how beautifully done it was. While often the case---we see beautifully written and illustrated books all the time---but how often do they come from a 10-year-old? Sewing a Friendship, written by a creative and talented young girl named Natalie Tinti, is such a book.
Developing friendships is an area that Natalie Tinti has researched in her own life. In her book, Sewing a Friendship, she tells what great things can happen if kids take a step toward friendship.
Tinti’s characters in Sewing a Friendship have colorful and creative personalities. Jonsy Jipsy loves singing and belly dance. Sokron Blossom lives in a neat and tidy world and loves to read fashion magazines. Meeka likes brain games and Nina is happy with her life and the music it brings her.
All but one of the characters seems happy with their lives. One of the girls, Kiki Shaver, was sad to live in a small home with her aunt and uncle. She had no friend and didn’t know how to make them. When four girls invites her into the circle of their friendship, it’s no wonder that Kiki is hesitant and uneasy.
The story continues as the four girls invite and accept a “ not so likeable” girl into their circle to win a fashion show. The girls feel a strong bond of friendship after the show. Kiki then understands that taking a step towards friendship is better than being alone. All the girls learn that by having the courage to include others, you can “ sew a friendship”.
Today, it seems that almost every news headline begins with a child’s suicide---or murder---because of being bullied(欺侮)，not having friends or family to discuss issues with and feelings of low self –respect. What’s causing these senseless terrible events? If more kids would invite the outcasts（被驱逐者） into their circle of friends, lives would be saved as well as pointed in another direction.
Natalie Tinti finds her voice in Sewing a Friendship ---and shows a talent that’s rare for such a young girl. Recommended reading for all young adult fans. The first paragraph serves as a(n) ______.
| A．background | B．explanation |
| C．summary | D．introduction |
The author seems to agree that ______.
| A．bullying is the main cause of children’s suicides |
| B．we should not expect too much from friendship |
| C．friendship has the power to prevent sad events |
| D．one should not forget his old circle of friends |
Which of the following words can best describe the ending of the story?
| A．Disappointing. | B．Unexpected |
| C．Uncertain. | D．Satisfying |
The general tone(基调) of the passage is one of ______.
| A．praise | B．delight |
| C．complaint | D．concern |
Verbier language school
Beginner? Fluent? Young? Young at heart? VLS can help you learn or improve your language skills in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere with fun, professional teachers.
What we offer:
·Individual (个人) and group French, English, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Swedish lessons for children and adults.
·Exam preparation for TEFL, TOEFL, IELTS, Common Entrance, GCSE.
·Summer course.
·Translation services.
·Summer immersion (浸泡式) camps—language and activities including cooking, performances, art and crafts, walking, biking, various sports etc. 9am—4pm (lunch included)
·Winter immersion camps—language and skiing. 9am—4pm (lunch included)
Course + prices (Prices shown are for 1 hour lessons, per student):
| Private lessons |
90 dollars |
| Semi-private (2 people) |
50 dollars |
| Group lessons (3-6 people) |
30 dollars |
Private—one-to-one tuition focusing on the individual needs of the student.
Group—learn in a relaxed and fun environment.
Maximum of 6 students per group so there are still plenty of chances to ask questions.
Children—learning with fun and games in private or group lessons.
Corporate—arrange private or group classes for your company aimed at your specific needs.
Conditions
·If registering by phone and email, classes are not confirmed(确认) until a deposit(定金) has been received via the bank or Paypal. Please contact us for bank details.
·Payment for the classes must be paid in full in advance or at each lesson.
·Students must complete a test at their first lesson to make sure of their level.
Contact us
By post: Verbier Language School, Centre de l’Etoile, Case Postal 475, Rue de M dran 6, 1936 Verbier, Switzerland
By phone: + 41 (0) 79 653 22 27
By email: info@verbierlanguageschool.comIn the first paragraph, “Young at heart” refers to ___________.
| A．happy people |
| B．people with a strong heart |
| C．old professional teachers |
| D．the elderly people |
It can be inferred that IELTS is _________.
| A．a language course | B．a language test |
| C．a sports competition | D．a summer camp |
John and his father both attend the Group lessons to learn German. They learn two hours each day. How much do they need to pay per day?
| A．200 dollars | B．180 dollars |
| C．120 dollars | D．60 dollars |
In their first lesson, students are required to _______.
| A．report their interest | B．take an exam |
| C．complete a form | D．pay by credit card |
Wherever she goes, Molly leaves her mark. Without saying a word, she speaks to people with her kind eyes. Even when she walks away, she leaves an impression．Molly's mark is a smile, stamped into the ground by the horseshoe at the bottom of her false leg．
A few years ago, Molly was badly attacked by a dog．The dog bit all four or Molly’s legs and left large cuts in her face. Molly's owner, Kate Harris, took her to an animal hospital．Doctors there were able to save Molly’s life, but soon one of her legs became very infected(感染).
At first, doctors thought Molly would have to be put to sleep．But Molly changed their minds. This pony, doctors noticed, shifted her weight, and rested her good leg from time to time. Doctors knew t hat Molly had amazing intelligence, and that she wanted to live.
Several doctors operated on Molly, and removed her infected leg. A false leg was made for her. The leg was a hollow cast with a pole at the bottom for balance. Doctors gave Molly a special horseshoe at the bottom of the leg. This horseshoe she had had a stamp of a smile face in it!
After the operation, Molly walked around on all four legs, as if nothing had ever happened to her! Now, with every step she takes, she stamps a smile in the dirt．But she leaves her m ark in other ways, too.
Kaye Harris took Molly to the false leg center. There were children there who, like Molly, had artificial arms or legs. They were amazed to see a pony with a false leg. Molly made them smile and gave them hope. Soon, Molly began to visit schools, nursing homes, army bases and hospitals. A book was even written about Molly!Molly is the name of a__________.
| A．dog | B．horse | C．parent | D．child |
Which of the following is true according to the text?
| A．Molly can speak to people in kind words. |
| B．Kay Harris took Molly to a children’s hospital after the attack. |
| C．In the beginning, doctors had planned to end Molly’s life. |
| D．Molly sometimes leaves smiling marks on people’s faces. |
What is unique about Molly?
| A．Molly has a false leg with a horseshoe shaped like a smiling face. |
| B．Molly ran a race and won the first prize. |
| C．Molly often visits places such as schools and parks. |
| D．Molly has become a symbol of hope for people of all ages. |
We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.
“Look down, Elsa,” father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the center of the village. And I saw the crisscross (十字形) of twisting, turning streets leading to the square. “See, my dear,” father said gently. “There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another.”
Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.
When I turned to father for help, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.
At school the next day, I secretly poured my lunch soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I asked our cook to serve it to mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered（喷溅出） “ The cook must have gone mad！” Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!
In the years that followed, I often remembered the lesson father taught me. I began to work as a fashion designer two years ago. I wouldn’t stop working until I tried every possible means to my goal. Father’s wise words always remind me that there is more than one way to the square.The author’s father took her to the top of a church tower to ____________.
| A．enjoy the beautiful scenery of the whole town |
| B．find out how many ways lead to the square |
| C．inspire her to find out another way to solve her problem |
| D．help her forget some unpleasant things earlier that day |
What did the author want her mother to do earlier that day?
| A．Do something delicious for lunch. |
| B．Taste her awful lunch. |
| C．Dismiss the mad cook. |
| D．Speak to the school about lunch. |
The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph suggests that_____________.
| A．the cook agreed to serve the soup to the writer’s mother |
| B．the author’s mother was angry with the cook |
| C．her father persuaded her mother successfully |
| D．the method the author thought of was effective |
By sharing her own experiences, the author tries to tell us ____________.
| A．when one road is blocked, try another |
| B．how bad the lunch of her school is |
| C．how wise her father is |
| D．about the church tower near her home |
When you run, you put force that is equal to three times your body weight on your feet. The human foot contains twenty muscles（肌肉）. This means that there is a lot that can go wrong when you run.
Most sports have some kind of running or jumping. So experts（专家） at many shoe companies work hard to design good sport shoes. First, a designer enters a plan for a shoe into a computer. Engineers then improve the design. A second computer designs a model for the shoe. Then a few pairs are made. Next, the shoe is tested.
Different kinds of sports shoes are made for different uses. Some are made to help marathon runners save energy during a race. Some are made for the stop-and-go kind of running tennis players. But all sport shoes have one thing in common: they are designed to help people’s feet comfortable during sports. Today, nearly every sport has its own special shoe designed for just the kind of running that sport requires.The first in making a new shoe is to ______.
| A．make a computer | B．design a shoe model |
| C．test several pairs | D．put a design plan into a computer |
Why are good sport shoes welcome to people?
| A．Because they help to change body weight. |
| B．Because they help to develop leg muscles. |
| C．Because they are both good and cheap. |
| D．Because they are comfortable to wear. |
What is NOT talked about in the passage?
| A．The number of the bones of a human muscle. |
| B．The effect of shoes upon sports. |
| C．The materials （材料）of sport shoes. |
| D．The design for a shoe model. |
Different kinds of sport shoes _______.
| A．are designed for people of the different weight. |
| B．meet the needs of different sportsmen. |
| C．are made in different shoe companies. |
| D．are of the same price. |
If you're tired of the Mediterranean and don't want to head to Disney again，perhaps it's time for a summer holiday in space．Russia has declared plans for its first floating hotel，217 miles above earth，and it is something of an offering with good service．
Hosting just seven guests in a four cabins，the accommodation will boast huge windows with views back to earth and tasty microwave meals will be served instead of the ones often used by astronauts．
Just getting there will be an adventure in itself—it will take two days aboard a Soyuz rocket—and it won't exactly be a budget holiday: A five-day stay will cost you￡100，000 to￡500，000 for your journey．The hotel is due to open by 2016 and，according to those behind it，will be far more comfortable than the International Space Station (ISS) used by astronauts and cosmonauts．
In the weightlessness of space，visitors can choose to have beds that are either vertical or horizontal．Tourists，who will be accompanied by experienced crew，will dine on food prepared on Earth and sent up on the rocket，to be reheated in microwave ovens．Many kinds of delicacies will be available．
Iced tea，mineral water and fruit juices will be available，but alcohol will be strictly prohibited．Toilets will use flowing air instead of water to move waste through the system．Waste water will be recycled．
Sergei Kostenko，chief executive of Orbital Technologies which will construct the hotel，said: “Our planned module inside will not remind you of the International Space Station．A hotel should be comfortable inside，and it will be possible to look at the Earth．The hotel will be aimed at wealthy individuals and people working for private companies who want to do research in space．” The hotel can also be used as an emergency bolthole (避难处) for astronauts aboard the International Space Station if there is a crisis．
Which can be the best title of the passage?
| A．Russia declares the design for its first space hotel |
| B．The first space hotel is under construction now |
| C．The astronauts will have a second home in space |
| D．Russia has the advanced technology in exploring space |
What does the underlined word “budget” in the 3rd paragraph mean?
| A．expensive |
| B．worthwhile |
| C．economic |
| D．uncomfortable |
What kind of accommodation will the guests have in the space hotel?
| A．They will have the same food as the astronauts have． |
| B．Many kinds of drinks are available including alcohol． |
| C．Guests can have beds that are either vertical or horizontal． |
| D．Tourists are accompanied by the astronauts from the ISS． |
Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?
| A．The space hotel is built to remind you of the International Space Station． |
| B．The hotel is constructed with big windows so that tourists can see the earth． |
| C．The company，Orbital Technologies，has already begun to build the space hotel． |
| D．In the near future，a space trip for most of the people can be realized． |
You’ve probably heard of the expression “A leopard can’t change its spots.” This, of course, is true of leopards. But isn’t it true of people? Can people change themselves? Are we humans just creatures of habits? Do we not have any control over our actions and habits?
One guy said, “Bad habits are like a comfortable bed. They’re easy to get into, but hard to get out of.” Someone else said, “The chains of habits are too small to feel until they’re too strong to break.” So breaking the mould of our bad habits takes effort.
Habits are like the roads we take through our life every day. The problem is that not every road takes us where we need to go. Actually, our routes through life often become our ruts (惯例) in life. We end up stuck in them and find it hard to dig ourselves out. That’s why we must change our bad habits as soon as possible before they become our second nature. You see, our habits become our character and our character becomes our life. As one wise person said, “First we make our habits, and then our habits make us.”
But we humans don’t like to change. So we come up with excuses, like “I can’t be different; that’s just the way I am.” And the good excuse is “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But that’s just it: we’re not dogs or animals. In fact, we’re the only creatures who have the freedom and power to change and choose the kind of person we want to become.
We can learn from Paragraph 2 that .
| A．getting rid of bad habits is very hard |
| B．people can’t find their bad habits themselves |
| C．entering bad habits is hard |
| D．people don’t have the courage to change their bad habits |
What’s mainly talked about in Paragraph 3?
| A．What bad habits are. |
| B．How bad habits are formed. |
| C．How to change our bad habits. |
| D．Why we should change our bad habits. |
The author’s attitude towards changing one’s bad habits is .
| A．doubtful | B．optimistic |
| C．negative | D．indifferent |
Why are people interested in eating raw foods or whole foods? One reason is that eating these types of food reduces the risk of acid accumulation in your body． Raw and whole foods are usually digested more efficiently than cooked and refined foods．
When we cook foods，we destroy the natural enzymes(酶)that are part of the food in its raw form．These enzymes were intended by nature to help us digest the food．When we consume food without these natural enzymes，our bodies either digest the food improperly or allow too many nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream．In both instances，the result is obesity．When too many nutrients are absorbed at once，the body grows fat．
Processed foods contain chemical elements，which might confuse the appetite mechanism that tells us when we’ve had enough to eat；as a result，people often overeat．Processed foods also upset the digestive cycle．The body will either identify these foods as allergens(过敏原)and then store them safely away from the organs as fat，or the remains of undigested food will become acidic and enter the bloodstream as acid waste，which will stick to the blood vessel walls and block the passage of vital oxygen and nutrients heading for the body's cells．The body's metabolism(新陈代谢)becomes inactive，and the result is weight gain and obesity．
To stop this vicious circle in its tracks，people need to consume food and supplements that will neutralize the acid already accumulated in body．Eating the right types of raw and whole foods can help．It’s also important to restore your enzyme balance．You need to identify and avoid the foods that cause acid accumulation and consume the foods that increase enzyme production．If you truly want to change and help your body heal itself，you need to take an active approach．
It can be inferred from Para．2 that________．
| A．foods with natural enzymes help people keep fit |
| B．we’d better be cautious about raw and whole foods |
| C．it is essential for people to protect their vital organs |
| D．giving up cooked and refined foods is a new lifestyle |
Processed foods are unhealthy because they________．
| A．destroy body's cells |
| B．may lead to obesity |
| C．are difficult to digest |
| D．stop body's metabolism |
What is the main purpose of this passage？
| A．To warn people of the problem of obesity． |
| B．To advocate eating more raw and whole foods． |
| C．To inform people of the harm of processed foods． |
| D．To tell the differences between raw and processed foods． |
The underlined word “vicious” in the last paragraph probably means________．
| A．violent | B．progressive | C．harmful | D．positive |
Removing the sleeve (封套)，you will find a book that is entirely white，except for the names of its author and subject in elegant black type on the cover. It is the perfect design for the biography of a man who insisted that even the insides of his products be perfectly constructed，and that his factory walls flash in the whitest white.
The cover was the only part of the book Steve Jobs wanted to control，writes Isaacson in his introduction.Though Mr Jobs pushed the biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin to write in his own way，generously allowing the writer more than 40 interviews，this book offers quite a different view of Mr Jobs，who won much praise from his fans after his death on October 5th at the age of 56.
As a biographer of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin，Mr Isaacson knows how to celebrate longdead genius，but he claimed that Steve Jobs would not be entirely praiseful words.The picture he paints，particularly in the first half of this book，is not nice. Mr Jobs emerges as a controlling and often coldblooded character.A child of the 1960s counterculture (反主流文化)，he hated materialism and lived in simply furnished houses (in part because he was too particular about furniture)．But when Apple went public in 1980，he refused to give any share to Daniel Kottke，a longtime supporter and soul mate from college.“He has to abandon the people he is close to”，observes Andy Hertzfeld，an early Apple engineer.
Mr Jobs was undoubtedly possessing an extraordinary ability to attract others and inspire a kind of faith that could not be questioned.But also he could be cold and cruel. If he disapproved of an employee’s work，he often shamed him.“This is who I am，” he once said after being challenged，“and you can’t expect me to be someone I’m not.” This disgusting personality wasn’t always helpful，but it served a purpose，writes Mr Isaacson，many would “end their chain of horror stories by saying that he got them to do things they never dreamed possible”．
Mr Isaacson treats Steve Jobs as the biography of record，which means that it is a strange book to read so soon after its subject’s death.
The biography for Jobs is believed to have the perfect design because________.
| A．it follows Jobs’ style |
| B．its cover is entirely white |
| C．black and white are his favorite |
| D．it is designed by a famous biographer |
The picture of Jobs that Isaacson paints in his book is________.
①cruel ②humorous ③particular ④generous
It can be safely concluded that________.
| A．Jobs is highly spoken of in the book |
| B．Isaacson doesn’t think Jobs a good man |
| C．Jobs didn’t care about the design of the book |
| D．all descriptions of Jobs are not nice in the book |
This passage can be classified as________.
| A．a personal diary | B．a book review |
| C．a news report | D．a TV interview |
Everyone has got two personalities (个性) —the one that is shown to the world and the other that is secret and real. You don't show your secret personality when you're awake because you can control your behaviour, but when you're asleep, your sleeping position shows the real you. In a normal night, of course, people frequently change their position. The important position is the one that you go to sleep in.
If you go to sleep on your back, you're a very open person. You normally trust people and you are easily influenced by fashion or new ideas. You don't like to upset people, so you never express your real feelings. You're quite shy and you aren't very confident.
If you sleep on your stomach, you are a rather secretive (不坦率的) person. You worry a lot and you're always easily upset. You're very stubborn (顽固的), but you aren't very ambitious. You usually live for today not for tomorrow. This means that you enjoy having a good time.
If you sleep curled up (卷曲), you are probably a very nervous person. You have a low opinion of yourself and so you're often defensive (戒备的). You're shy and you don't normally like meeting people. You prefer to be on your own. You're easily hurt.
If you sleep on your side, you have usually got a well-balanced personality. You know your strengths and weaknesses. You're usually careful. You have a confident personality. You sometimes feel anxious, but you don't often get depressed. You always say what you think even if it annoys people.According to the writer, you naturally show your secret and real personality _______.
| A．only in a normal night |
| B．only when you go to sleep |
| C．only when you refuse to show yourself to the world |
| D．only when you change sleeping position |
Which is NOT mentioned in the second paragraph about a person's personality?
| A．He or she is always open with others. |
| B．He or she always likes new ideas earlier than others. |
| C．He or she is always easily upset. |
| D．He or she tends to believe in others. |
You may not want to make friends with a person who sleeps curled up and the reason is that __________.
| A．he or she would rather be alone than communicate with you |
| B．he or she is rarely ready to help you |
| C．he or she prefers staying at home to going out |
| D．he or she wouldn't like to get help from you |
It appears that the writer tends to think highly of the person who sleeps on one side because __________.
| A．he or she always shows sympathy for people |
| B．he or she is confident, but not stubborn |
| C．he or she has more strengths than weaknesses |
| D．he or she often considers annoying people |
Some people believe that international sport creates goodwill between the nations and that if countries play games together, they will learn to live together. Others say that the opposite is true: international competitions encourage false national pride and lead to misunderstanding and hatred．There is probably some truth in both arguments, but in recent years the Olympic Games have done little to support the view that sport encourages international brotherhood．Not only was there the tragic incident including the murder of athletes, but the Games were also ruined by incidents caused mainly by smaller national contests.
One country received its second-place medals with visible anger after the hockey final. There had been noisy scenes at the end of the hockey match, the losers objecting to the final decisions. They were sure that one of their goals should not have been disallowed and that their opponents’ victory was unfair. Their manager was in great anger when he said, “This wasn’t hockey. Hockey and the International Hockey Federation are finished.” The president of the Federation said later that such behavior could result in the suspension（停赛）of the team for at least three years.
Incidents of this kind will continue as long as sport is played competitively rather than for the love of the game. The suggestion that athletes should compete as individuals, or in non-national teams, might be too much to hope for. But in the present organization of the Olympics there is far too much that encourages aggressive patriotism（爱国主义）.According to the author, recently the Olympic Games have ______.
| A．created goodwill between the nations |
| B．brought about only false national pride |
| C．hardly showed any international friendship |
| D．put an end to misunderstanding and hatred |
The underlined word “disallowed” (in Paragraph 2) means “______”.
| A．permitted to pass |
| B．considered as reasonable |
| C．won by the other side |
| D．refused to accept |
What did the manager mean by saying, “Hockey and the International Hockey Federation are finished"?
| A．His team would no longer take part in international games. |
| B．Hockey and the Federation are both ruined by the unfair decisions. |
| C．There should be no more Hockey matches organized by the Federation. |
| D．The Federation should break up. |
The author gives the example in paragraph 2 to show ______.
| A．how false national pride led to undesirable incidents in international games |
| B．that sportsmen are often against the final decisions |
| C．that competitiveness in the games discourages international friendship |
| D．that unfair decisions are common in the Olympic Games |
What conclusion can be drawn from the passage?
| A．The organization of the Olympic Games must be improved. |
| B．Athletes should compete as individuals in the Olympic Games. |
| C．A game should be played competitively rather than for the love of the game. |
| D．More and more athletes will compete for their own honor. |
Millions of people all over the world spend their holidays travelling. They travel to visit other countries, modern cities and ancient towns. They travel to enjoy these special places, or just to relax. It is always interesting to discover new things and different ways of life, such as by meeting different people, trying different food, and listening to different music.
People who live in the country like to go to big cities. They like to spend their time visiting museums and art galleries, looking at shop windows and dining at restaurants. People who live in the city usually like a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains, with nothing to do but walk and bathe in the sun.
Most travellers take a camera with them and take pictures of everything that interests them. Then, perhaps years later, they can look at the photos and be reminded of the happy time they once had.
People often travel by train, by boat or by car. All means of travelling have their advantages and disadvantages and people choose one according to their plans and the places they are going.
If we travel a lot, we will see and discover a lot of things that we could never see or experience at home, though we may read about them in books and newspapers. The best way to study geography is to travel, and the best way to get to know and understand people is to meet them in their own homes.What is interesting to do when people travel?
| A．To find the advantages and the disadvantages of travelling. |
| B．To listen to different music and take pictures. |
| C．To discover new things and different ways of life. |
| D．To go to big cities and meet different people. |
How do people usually spend a quiet holiday by the sea or in the mountains?
| A．They spend their time visiting museums and art galleries. |
| B．They do nothing but walk and bathe in the sun. |
| C．They do nothing but sleep outdoors. |
| D．They go to look at shop windows and eat at restaurants. |
Why do many travellers take pictures of everything they like?
| A．Because they like taking all kinds of pictures. |
| B．Because they all take a camera with them while travelling. |
| C．Because the pictures are beautiful to look at. |
| D．Because the pictures can remind them of the happy time. |
What’s the best way to study geography?
| A．To travel a lot and experience more. |
| B．To meet some more people in their homes. |
| C．To learn in books or in newspapers. |
| D．To see and experience at home. |
What can we infer from the last paragraph?
| A．We’d better go the countryside for a holiday. |
| B．Taking photos in a trip is unnecessary. |
| C．It’s good for us to travel more if possible. |
| D．Cities are the best choice of all the travellers. |
Volunteering abroad is a great way to help others, improve your skills and become a more confident, independent person. If you are interested in volunteering abroad, here are some places to go.
Australia
If you seek a life on the beach, in a great climate with friendly people, Australia might be your best bet. With thousands of volunteers already signing up to leave for Australia during the holidays, it will be a very popular option.
Brazil
This vast country has some great opportunities on offer and is especially popular this year. A lot of volunteer work is available in Brazil centers on conservation and ecological projects. With the world's largest rainforest in Brazil, of which huge part is in danger, there are lots of different jobs you can do.
Kenya
Kenya is the destination for those seeking an African experience. Generally volunteers in Kenya work in orphanages(孤儿院)or with local children living in slums(贫民窟). There is a great demand for volunteers in Africa because many people live in poverty, so if you truly feel like making a difference to a community, Kenya should be at the top of your list.
Costa Rica
Golden sandy beaches, clear coastlines and beautiful cities are what Costa Rica is all about. Because of its small size, you can see a lot of the country in just a short time. You can really make the most of your time as a volunteer. A lot of work is needed with wildlife and ecological work, so if you want to look after turtles on the beach, Costa Rica could be just the place for you If you are interested in protecting the environment, you will probably go to _______.
| A．Australia | B．Kenya | C．Brazil | D．Costa Rica |
1t can be inferred from the passage that volunteers in Kenya mainly work with_______.
| A．animals | B．plants | C．the elderly | D．children |
If you choose to go to Costa Rica, you are supposed to________.
| A．work with animals on the beach |
| B．surf with children in the water |
| C．take care of trees in the forests |
| D．look after children who have lost their parents |
After commuting, cooking dinner and doing household chores, the average parent has just 30 minutes to devote to their children in the evenings, according to a new study. One in four working parents worry that half an hour simply isn’t enough, while almost half fret（担心）that they aren’t a good enough parent during the week.
However, parenting experts believe just 12 minutes a day may be enough for mothers and fathers to fully reconnect with their child — as long as they ask the right questions. Child psychologist Dr Claire Halsey said asking a series of open-ended questions can help improve parents’ relationship with their children.
Among the questions recommended in the research are: “How many times have you smiled today — what made you laugh?”; “Can you act out what you did at breaktime?”; “Who is taller — mummy or your teacher?” and “What are the names of the toys you played with today?” Parents of older children are advised to start up a conversation with: “I’ve got a great story for you but I want one in return… you first!” or “Tell me some school gossip … I’m all ears!”
Dr Halsey, working with the makers of Ribena Plus, who commissioned（委任）the research, said: “There is no one as tough on their own parenting skills as a parent — but this study shows there is no need for parents to be so harsh. It’s hard for working parents to juggle（尽量兼顾）all their responsibilities and it can feel like guilt is simply a parent’s lot — but it’s absolutely not. By using clever tactics（策略）such as a little preparation alongside use of open-ended questions — such as ‘Tell me what the best bit about your day was?’ — parents can reduce the time worrying about chores and work and spend more time learning about their children’s day.”The underlined word reconnect in Paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to ________.
| A．discuss | B． communicate |
| C． understand | D． combine |
According to Paragraph 1, almost half of the working parents ________.
| A．can spare only about half an hour to be with their kids every day |
| B．spend their daytime commuting, cooking dinner and doing household chores |
| C．worry that half an hour’s stay with their kids is far from enough |
| D．fear that they aren’t a good enough parent during the week |
What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 3 mean?
| A．I will be glad to listen. |
| B．I will be very interested. |
| C．I will listen carefully. |
| D．I will call your teacher at school. |
Which of the following open-ended questions is for a three-year-old child?
| A．Where are you off to with your friends this weekend? |
| B．Who played the best in your football match today? |
| C．What science project are you doing at the moment and can I help with it? |
| D．What are the names of the toys you played with today? |
What does Dr Halsey intend to tell us in this passage?
| A．It is not necessary for parents to spend too much time with their children. |
| B．It is natural that working parents do not afford more time to reconnect with kids. |
| C．It is important that working parents learn more parenting skills. |
| D．It is clever that parents ask their kids questions instead of doing chores. |
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