Guide to four of the most exciting new adventure trips for 2017:

Sahara

Attractions: International Expeditions     Length: 18 days     Price: $13,998

Details: Remember the movie Ishtar? Now you, too, can spend days wandering in the desert, just like warren Beatty and Dustin Hoffman. Designed for rugged travelers, the camping expedition crosses 1,500 miles of Niger’s Sahara in four—wheel—drive vehicles.

Departure Time: May 12        Information: 800-633-4731;   ietravel.com

Across Patagonia: From the Andes to the Ocean

Attractions: Boundless Journeys     Length: 10 days       Price: $8,995

Details: The newest route across Patagonia starts high in the Argentine Andes and follows the Futaleufu River into Chile all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Travelers start by trekking along the river, changing to rafts before taking up kayaks for the final leg.

Departure Time: March 5       Information: 800-941-8010; boundless, com.

Tribal(部落的)India

Attractions: Myths and Mountains          Length: 17 days             Price: $17,530

Details: For the travelers who have already visited the best-known India sites, this new trip visits a relatively unexplored state in central India ruled by the Vindhyachal Range and known for its wildlife, waterfalls, ancient sites and tribal culture.

Departure Time(出发时间): Feb 17     Information: 800-670-6984; myths.com

Dalmatian Coast Biking

Attractions: Backroads                    Length: 7 days                  Price: $7,298

Details: The company’s first foray into Croatia follow scenic roadways across four islands between Dubrovnik and Spht.

Departure Time: May 7       Information: 800-462-2848; backroads.com

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．Suggestions on the adventure trips in America in 2017.

B．The guide to several adventure trips around the world.

C．The attractions in India.

D．The prices of four adventure trips next year.

2. When does the trip across Patagonia start?

A．On Feb 17.	B．On March 5.
C．On May 12.	D．In January.

3. Which trip costs the least?

A．Tribal India	B．Crossing Patagonia
C．Sahara	D．Dalmation Coast Biking

My dad is the kind of parent that expects my best. He would never be angry if I failed at something as long as I tried. He never changes his mind after he makes it, which sometimes makes him seem too stubborn. My dad’s strictness comes from the way he was raised. He grew up working long hours on his family farm. His dad was bad-tempered, and he would get angry enough to throw wooden boards at my dad when he did something wrong. In high school, my dad woke up at four in the morning to get his chores(家务杂事) done and walk to school so that he would make it to basketball practice by five.

Through all of the duties my dad had at home, he played three sports and went to school on top of it. School would have been easy, but my dad had dyslexia(读写困难)which made it nearly impossible for him to read. Since dyslexia wasn’t recognized back then, every teacher my dad had passed along thinking that he was just unable to learn. My dad struggled in school until one teacher took the time to sit down and teach him how to read and write.

The best part about my dad is his attitude toward daily life. Even though he likes things once right, he also knows how go to with the flow and have a good time. My dad doesn’t worry about things he can’t control. When he comes home from a terrible day at work, he always puts on a smile on his face because he knows family is a lot more important than any other things.

I know that I get my best qualities from my parents and the way they raised me. My dad has shown me that with discipline and hard work I can achieve anything, and have fun while doing it.

4. Which can we infer about the writer’s father from the first paragraph?

A．He always got angry easily.

B．He was not good at doing his chores.

C．He had a bad relationship with is father.

D．He liked playing basketball when in high school.

5. What does the underlined word “struggled” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?

A．tried hard	B．hurried up
C．turned away	D．gave in

6. According to the text, when at home, the writer’s father is always __________.

A．cheerful and relaxed	B．strict and serious
C．busy and tired	D．humorous and funny

7. What can be learned about the writer from the last paragraph?

A．He hopes his father will not be too strict with him.

B．He is very grateful to his father.

C．He has achieved much success in life.

D．He has a hard time at school just like his father.

Every person has their own way of saying things, their own special expressions. Many everyday American expressions are based on colors.

Red is a hot colour. Americans often use it to express heat. They may say they are red hot about something unfair. When they are red hot they are very angry about something. The small hot tasting peppers found in many Mexican foods are called red hots for their colour and their fiery taste. Fast loud music is popular with many people. They may say the music is popular with many people. They may say the music is red hot, especially the kind called Dixicland jazz.

Pink is a lighter kind of red. People sometimes say they’re in the pink when they’re in good health. The expression was first used in America at the beginning of the 20th century. It probably came from many babies who were born with a nice pink colour showing good health.

Blue is a cool colour. The traditional blues music in the United States is the opposite of red hot music. Blues is slow, sad and soulful. Duke Ellington and his orchestra recorded a famous song---Mood Indigo—about the deep blue colour, indigo. In the words of the song: “You aren’t blue till you’ve had that Mood Indigo.” Someone who is blue is very sad.

The colour green is natural for trees and grass. But it is an unnatural colour for humans. A person who has a sick feeling in his stomach may say he feels a little green. A passenger on a boat who is feeling very sick from high waves may look very green.

Sometimes a person may be upset because he does not have something as nice as his friend’s, like a fast new car. That person may say he is green with envy. Some people are green with envy because a friend has more dollars of greenbacks. Dollars are called greenbacks because that is the colour of the back side of the paper money.

The colour black is often used in expressions. People describe a day in which everything goes wrong as a black day. The date of a major tragedy is remembered as a black day. A blacklist is illegal now. But at one time, some businesses refused to employ people who were on a blacklist for belonging to unpopular organizations.

8. If you had your wallet stolen while doing some shopping, you may call it ________.

A．a white day	B．a green day
C．a red day	D．a black day

9. Suppose Mr. Brown says his three children are all in the pink. This means they are ________.

A．fit and healthy	B．gentle and modest
C．creative and energetic	D．lucky and wealthy

10. When she got home and found nothing had been done by her husband, Jane was really ________.

A．blue	B．red hot
C．green	D．black

11. In the follow paragraph, the writer might tell the reader something about ________.

A．people’s response towards a black day

B．more words about a colour, such as brown

C．the influence of the traditional blues

D．unpopular organizations in the world

This is the incredible school where the headteacher’s unique dedication to handwriting practice means EVERY pupil is ambidextrous.

Only ten percent of the population are left-handed, and only ONE percent can write with both hands. But all 300 students at Veena Vandini School in India can write with both their left and right hand, with some able to do both at the same time---in different languages.

Every 45-minute lesson features 15 minutes devoted to handwriting practice, to make sure all students at the remote rural school have the skill.

The school, which was founded in 1999, is located in a remote area, in Singrauli district, Madhya Pradesh. School founder and former solider Vp Sharma said he was inspired to demand the lessons by India’s first president.

“I read in a magazine that Dr Rajendra Prasad used to write with both hands. This inspired me to give it a try. Later, when I launched my school at my native village, I tried training the students.

“We began training students from standard I and by the time they reach standard III, they were comfortable writing with both the hands. Students of standard VII and VIII can write with speed and accuracy. Further, they can write two scripts simultaneously, one with each hand.

“Students also know several languages, including Urdu.”

Mr Sharma said their unique dedication to handwriting led South Korean researchers to visit and study the pupils two years ago, to find out more about ambidexterity.

12. What does the text mainly introduce?

A．A talented president	B．An incredible school
C．A wise headteacher	D．A unique training

13. Why was the handwriting practice developed?

A．Because many students couldn’t write beautifully

B．Because the school was ordered to do that by the government

C．Because the school founder was inspired by an India’s president

D．Because Mr Sharma wanted to write quickly

14. Which can we infer from the text?

A．The school has a history of over 30 years.

B．One third of the time in each lesson is spent practicing handwriting

C．South Korea began to research the unique dedication last year

D．Dr Rajendra Prasad was the third president of India

15. What’s the meaning of the underlined word “ambidextrous”?

A．Be able to write fluently	B．Be able to write in many languages
C．Be able to write with both hands	D．Be able to write with feet