【推荐1】Four One-day Trips in the UK

The Rig Climb Experience, Greenwich

The Cutty Sark, one of just two surviving tea sailing ships in the world, is launching a new experience. For the first time, visitors will be able to step from the main deck and arrive at the top platform. Visitors will hear tales of life at sea in the 19th century and the tough conditions sailors had to work in.

£21 adults / £12 children(includes general entry to the ship), rmg.co,uk/cutty-sark

Clifford’s Tower, York

This 800-year-old tower is all that remains of York Castle. It was a treasury (财宝库) and prison, but its inner space was damaged by fire in 1684. Now, after a £5 million project by English Heritage, the ruin is reopening. Walkways will replace the lost first floor. A new roof floor will provide views of York Minster, the city and the North York Moors beyond.

£8.10 adults / £4.80 children, English-heritage. org.uk

The Intelligence Factory, Buckinghamshire

A newly-restored building at Bletchley Park is opening as the site’s biggest ever exhibition space. The Intelligence Factory in Block A will focus on the years 1942-1945 when 9,000 staff members helped win World War II. The permanent exhibition will include objects, personal stories and interactive elements, showing how operators handled huge amounts of information. There is also a space for temporary exhibitions—the first is on data visualization.

£21 adults / £12.50 children, bletehleypark.org.uk

The First Light Pavilion, Cheshire

It’s a newly-designed visitor centre at the Jodrell Bank Observatory. It is inspired by the Lovell Telescope and is designed to act like a sundial (日晷). Visitors can experience a meteor shower (流星雨), operate a radio telescope and launch a digital satellite there.

£8.50 adults / £6.50 children, jodrellbank.net

1. How much is it for a parent and three children to learn about sailors’ working conditions?

A．£36.

B．£45.

C．£56.

D．£57.

2. What can visitors do at the pavilion in Cheshire?

A．Use a telescope to observe stars.	B．Watch the launch of a satellite.
C．Learn how to make a sundial.	D．Interact with astronomers in the centre.

3. What do Clifford’s Tower and the Intelligence Factory have in common? d

A．The same period of history.	B．Advanced equipment.
C．Recent repair work.	D．Bird’s eye view of the cities.

【推荐2】To help new students, the International Business Institute (IBI) plans to set up a buddy (伙伴) peer support project. The project will help new students meet current students at IBI who can provide them with some friendly company during their first months in Newcastle and help them with any small problems that they may have.

What’s in it for you?

We believe that being a buddy will be rewarding in several ways. As a volunteer, it will be personally satisfying to know that you are able to help new students. It will also help you make contacts that may be valuable in your future academic and professional lives. If you are an overseas student, it will give you another opportunity to practise speaking English.

Responsibilities of buddies

•Telephone and arrange to make contact with the new student.

•Meet the student and show him/her around the campus and the local area. Answer questions about living in Newcastle and administration procedures at IBI.

•Arrange to meet the new student one morning or afternoon one weekend early in the semester, and take the student to places that you enjoy in Newcastle.

•Be prepared to take phone calls from the new student to answer further questions that he/she may have from time to time. Meet to explain information to the new student in person, if required.

•You will be matched to an individual new student. However, if you have friends who are also buddies, you might prefer to form a support group together. This would mean that you meet the new students as a group rather than one-on-one.

•Being a buddy is voluntary. There is no “requirement” to provide assistance beyond the help outlined above.

Please note that if you agree to become a peer support buddy you will be expected to fulfil your role conscientiously and cheerfully. It will be important to be considerate and reliable so that the student can feel confident in your support.

1. According to the passage, what benefit can you get from being a buddy?

A．You can learn how to be a confident person.

B．It is easy for you to find some friendly company.

C．It may be helpful for your future studies and career.

D．You can be rewarded with both money and prizes.

2. As a buddy, you need to __________.

A．form a support group with other volunteers at IBI

B．help the new student get familiar with his or her surroundings

C．meet the new student every morning early in the semester

D．provide assistance in studying each subject after class

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing this passage?

A．To introduce campus life for new students.

B．To offer an opportunity to practise speaking English.

C．To attract potential volunteers to be peer supporters.

D．To provide some information about studying overseas.

【推荐3】Welcome to Pocono Whitewater

There's something fun here at Pocono Whitewater for every level of adventurer! We have mild（柔和） to wild white & shy; water rafting (漂流), family trips, and bird & shy; watching boating. Choose one adventure now. It's up to you! We have trips available daily. Give us a call today!

Dam Release White & shy; water Rafting

Experience the best whitewater on the Lehigh River! Surrounded by forests and mountains, you will enjoy 12 miles and 5 hours of Class (等级) Ⅲ white & shy; water rafting and outstanding scenery. This is a fun and thrilling（激动人心的） trip that everyone over the age of 12 can make. While paddling (划桨行进) in the swift water, you'll shout and laugh.

Dam Release White & shy; water Rafting Rates:

★ Individual (over the age of 12) : $61.00

★ Group ( at least 8 persons) : $31.00

Rates Include: all necessary rafting equipment, life jackets, free parking, bus service to/from the river and professional river guides.

Family Style White & shy; water Rafting

Bring along the whole family this summer and enjoy 8 miles and 5 hours of Class I white ­ water rafting. Mild water of the Lehigh River is simply perfect for beginners, school groups, and kids aged 4 and older. This is just perfect for enjoying the passing scenery, kicking your feet over the edge of the raft, or taking a swim in the river!

One of the most unique things about this trip is a free riverside barbeque (烧烤)! Our workers will cook and serve you a picnic lunch — hotdogs, potato salad, fruit, etc. The classic family picnic!

Family Style White & shy; water Rafting Rates:

★ Adult: $39.00

★ Child (aged 4—14) : $33.00

★ Group (at least 8 persons) : $30.00

Rates Include: all necessary rafting equipment, life jackets, free parking, bus service to/from the river, and a barbeque lunch, river guides not included.

1. We can infer that ____.

A．the higher the class is, the milder the water is

B．the lower the class is, the milder the water is

C．the higher the class is, the safer the rafting is

D．the lower the class is, the faster the rafting is

2. If 10 college students are to participate in the Dam Release White & shy; water Rafting, how much money will be paid in total?

A．$610.	B．$330.
C．$390.	D．$310.

3. Family Style White-water Rafting is unique in that ____.

A．it allows people to swim in the river	B．the river water is very clean
C．it provides a barbeque lunch for free	D．it offers a free bird­watching activity

【推荐1】Khotyn Fortress

Built in the 13th-14th century, it lies on the bank of the Dniester River in Khotyn, of western Ukraine. It is also in the historical northern Bessarabia region which was split in 1940 between Ukraine an Moldova. And it is near to the Old Kam'yanets Castle of Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was also used as a famous defensive structure. It is convenient to book the hotels nearby it at low prices, such as Premier Club, Reikartz Kamianets-Podilsky and so on.

Kamianets Podilski Castle

It lies in the Khmelnytsky Region, Ukraine. This architectural treasure is about 800 years old. Its architecture which unites best western and eastern traditions fits into the nature perfectly. The castle consists of minaret buildings , a town hall , an Orthodox church and a Polish Catholic church. Its beauty has been attracting tourists from all over the world for many years

Vorontsov Palace

It is an historic palace lying at the foot of the Crimean Mountains near the town of Alupka in Crimea. It is one of the oldest and largest palaces in Crimea, and one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast. The construction of the palace began in the early nineteenth century, according to a project by English architect Edward Blore and it was supposed to be the palace for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov to spend summer.

The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans

It was built between the years 1864-1882 according to the designs of the Czech architect Josef Hlavka. The Residence, whose buildings are now part of Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.

1. What can we know about Khotyn Fortress?

A．It served as defence work.

B．It is open to the public for free.

C．It is the oldest building in Ukraine.

D．It was divided into two parts in 1940.

2. Which has the shortest history?

A．The Kamianets Podilski Castle.

B．The Khotyn Fortress.

C．The Vorontsov Palace

D．The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．A travel magazine.

B．A science brochure.

C．A research paper on history.

D．A geography textbook.

【推荐3】Whoppie Whizzer

This thrilling ride that has you holding onto your seats in fear attracted more visitors than any other single attraction last year. The ride starts with a few gentle spins that gradually increase in speed, so that after thirty seconds you’ re moving round at 15 miles per hour! Suitable for anyone over 14 years of age, this ride is open throughout the season. It’s one you certainly don’t want to miss, so make sure you have a go early on in the day to avoid disappointment.

Spooksville

This is a haunted house（鬼屋) with a difference — come and visit if you dare! A hired team of professional actors perform stunts（特技表演）and try to frighten you senseless, and be warned — they will! Still, you have to judge for yourselves, so bring all the family along to this attraction. Enter alone at your own risk!

Aladdin's Magic Maze

Our Magic Maze is Europe’s biggest, as you will realize as soon as you try to find your way out! The walls of our corridors（走廊）are covered with mirrors so that when you start walking through, it can be pretty confusing — we' re still waiting for someone to beat the record exit（离开） time of twenty-two minutes. If you think you can do it, come along and try!

Pirate Ship

This huge pirate ship has been specially designed just for kids — it' s made of inflatable（可充气的）plastic so they can't hurt themselves! During our thirty-minute sessions they can climb up and down in the ship and enjoy themselves. Around the ship is the Slippery Scales swimming pool which they can swim around in — its new wave-machine will make them believe they’re really at sea! Teams of trained staff always keep an eye on their activities so parents can relax and enjoy themselves too!

1. In which attraction can visitors experience a high speed ride?

A．Pirate Ship.	B．Spooksville.
C．Whoppie Whizzer.	D．Aladdin' s Magic Maze.

2. Anyone who wants to go to Spooksville must_____.

A．have great courage	B．be crazy about acting
C．go there with their family	D．have a strong sense of direction

3. What can we learn about Pirate Ship?

A．It is a very physical game.	B．It provides fun for children.
C．It is usually floating in the sea.	D．It can only be played on for 22 minutes.

【推荐1】Do you like to show off your expensive items? You could find yourself without friends! Scientists prove that expensive status symbols make you look less socially attractive.

Items such as a fancy car and a Rolex watch are often thought to increase our social standing(地位) and often come with a high price tag(标签).According to the latest research, however, it has the opposite effect and people would prefer to be friends with someone who places less value on material objects.

“Often we think that status symbols will make us look more socially attractive to others,” says Stephen Garcia, the study's leading author from the University of Michigan. He adds, “However, our research suggests that these status signals actually make us look less socially attractive.

The researchers conducted six studies which assessed how people presented themselves and how people viewed strangers. People who chose to wear higher status items tended to get a negative response, but people wanted to be friends with people who preferred lower status symbols.

The study took the role of the luxury(奢侈) item to see if it was possible that the expensive item itself played a part in people's reactions. The definition of a status symbol changed based on a person's socioeconomic status, but the same effect of keeping off potential friends was seen regardless of social position.

"At a social level, we may be wasting billions of dollars on expensive status symbols that finally keep others from wanting to associate with us, "says Kimberlee Weaver Livnat at the University of Haifa. She says, "And to the extent that close friendships are important to well-being, and we may be unintentionally hurting ourselves.”

However, Patricia Chen of the National University of Singapore said this does not necessarily mean status symbols are a bad thing. She says, "Our findings right now only apply to the formation of new friendships. Status symbols may be beneficial at other times and in other settings, such as when trying to establish new business contacts.”

1. Which is the negative influence of expensive status symbols?

A．Preventing people from making friends.	B．Lowering people's social status.
C．Doing harm to people's health absolutely.	D．Changing people s consumption concept.

2. Who may be more popular among friends according to the text?

A．People who are very rich.	B．People with high social status.
C．People with charming appearance.	D．People who keep a low status.

3. What attitude does Patricia Chen have towards status symbols?

A．Unconcerned.	B．Positive.
C．Critical.	D．Casual.

【推荐2】Stories are shared in many ways. They are described in books and magazines. They are read around the campfire at night. They are randomly distributed from stand-alone booths. But what else?

To revive literature in the era of fast news and smartphone addiction, Short Edition, a French publisher of short-form literature, has set up more than 30 story dispensers (分发机) in the USA in the past years to deliver fiction at the push of a button at restaurants, universities and government offices.

Francis Ford Coppola, the film director and winemaker, liked the idea so much that he invested in the company and placed a dispenser at his Cafe Zoetrope in San Francisco. Last month, public libraries in some other cities announced they would be setting them up, too. There is one on the campus at Penn State. A few can be found in downtown West Palm Beach, Fla. And Short Edition plans to announce more, including at the Los Angeles International Airport.

“Everything old is new again,” said Andrew Nurkin, director of the Free Library of Philadelphia, which is one of the libraries that set up the dispensers. “We want people to be easily exposed to literature. We want to advance literacy among children and inspire their creativity.”

Here’s how a dispenser works. It has three buttons on top indicating choices for stories that can be read in one minute, three minutes or five minutes. When a button is pushed, a short story is printed.

The stories are free. They are chosen from a computer category of more than 100,000 original submissions by writers whose works have been evaluated by Short Edition’s judges, and transmitted over a mobile network. Offerings can be tailored to specific interests, like children’s fiction or romance. Short Edition gets stories for its category by holding writing contests.

Short Edition set up its first booth in 2016 and has 150 machines worldwide. “The idea is to make people happy,” said Kristan Leroy, director of Short Edition. “There is too much unhappiness today.”

1. What do we know about the stories sent by dispensers?

A．They are easily read.

B．They are short in form.

C．They can be bought from booths.

D．They can be found in magazines.

2. Which paragraph shows the popularity of story dispensers in America?

A．Paragraph 3.	B．Paragraph 5.
C．Paragraph 6.	D．Paragraph 7.

3. Why were the story dispensers set up according to Andrew Nurkin?

A．To introduce French literature.

B．To get rid of smartphone addiction.

C．To make people have access to literature.

D．To reduce the financial stress of libraries.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Everything Old Is New

B．Online Reading: a Virtual Tour

C．Short Edition Is Getting Popular

D．Taste of Literature, at the Push of a Button

【推荐3】A radio report caught my attention the other day, as it spoke straight to my heart: Cadets(学员) at the US Naval Academy are now required to revisit and potentially revive the ancient skill of steering a ship by the stars.

By the stars – imagine that: looking up at the sky, not down at a screen, so many years after the heavens’ critical role in guiding mariners has fallen by the wayside, first replaced by radio waves, then by modern GPS. Much is gained – but something also lost – in such progress, I think.

It reminded me of my love of 18th and 19th century seafaring(航海的) tales (reading them is one of my coping mechanisms for uneventful life in the landlocked Midwest), when sailors had only celestial(天空的) maps for navigation and still miraculously managed to sail the planet’s vast oceans and even circumnavigate the globe.

Recent cybersecurity concerns have triggered renewed interest in backup navigational strategies such as stargazing, and simple hand-held technologies like the sextant(六分仪), so often mentioned in Richard Henry Dana’s Two Years Before the Mast, a tale that chronicles a mid-19th-century merchant ship’s endlessly adventurous voyage from Boston to California and back.

I wouldn’t wish the harsh conditions of that trip on modern sailors, but I am all for anything that help people find their compass bearings(方位) and travel routes without high-tech and often mindless guidance.

“Is that north or south of here?” I’ve asked motel clerks and gas station attendants about a particular address I’m seeking in my GPS-less travels.

“Well, it’s that way,” comes the most frequent reply, accompanied by a pointed finger, and I realize that north, south, east, and west are not familiar coordinates(坐标) to many people.

To be fair, I haven’t always been used to compass points either. In fact it was not until I was a young adult, lying on a float in my parents’ pool on a late summer’s visit home, and watching the sun set below the roofline, that I first realized that my childhood home faced due west. I was shocked that I’d been oblivious to this simple fact, especially since I’d begun to be schooled in geology and in compass work. But like so many, I’d grown up thinking and navigating using other coordinates, based on familiar streets, rights and lefts, and reference points such as my school, the homes of friends, the nearest playground, and the local shopping plaza.

I’ve going since become accustomed to finding my bearings on travels in unfamiliar territory by the sun’s position. And now I’d love to sit in on a class at the academy to learn to navigate by the moon and stars. It’s a skill I’ll probably never need to draw upon. Yet it feels good to know how it would connect me, in a new and profound way, to the historical trace of human experience on this planet.

As for modern sailors, it might just bring them safely home one day, if all else fails.

1. What kind of role do 18^th and 19^th century seafaring tales play in the author’s life?

A．Enriching his dull inland life.

B．Triggering his concern for cyber security.

C．Arousing his interest in modern navigational strategies.

D．Strengthening his resolve to revive an ancient skill.

2. The author mentions his experience of seeking an address in paragraph 6 and 7 to illustrate ________.

A．the importance of modern technology such as GPS in travels

B．that it’s essential to learn geography and compass work well at school

C．that many people don’t navigate in terms of coordinates such as north and south

D．the convenience of navigating based on familiar streets, rights and lefts and reference points

3. The underlined phrase “oblivious to” in paragraph 8 is closest in meaning to __________.

A．obvious to

B．familiar with

C．unconcerned about

D．unaware of

4. Why does the author plan to learn to navigate by the moon and stars?

A．Because he expects to experience the harsh conditions on the voyage in the past.

B．Because he is required to revisit this ancient skill as a cadet at the U.S. Naval Academy.

C．Because the skill can make him feel connected to the historical heritage of human beings.

D．Because the skill can bring sailors home, safe and sound, if modern technology fails.

【推荐1】We live in a world where it's often not easy to find someone to trust. A smiling person always inspires trust. Even economists consider that smiles are valuable.A smile may increase other people's trust by about 10%.

People may also smile when they are caught doing bad things.According to a study made by LaFrance and Hecht，this can in fact be to their own advantage.We have a tendency to be kinder towards those who make mistakes if they wear a smile while being caught.Even a guilty smile may help you get away pretty easily when you make mistakes.

We may also smile when we hear a piece of good news.In this case，women tend to smile more often than men.Smiling can also be a means of reducing the pain caused by a troubling situation.Even if we force ourselves to smile when we don't want to，this may be enough to lift our spirits just a little bit.

When we feel angry or anxious，our attention tends to narrow down.We can no longer see what's going on around us and we can only notice what is in front of us.But if we smile，we feel better and increase flexibility of our attention and the ability to think.Smiling can help us focus and understand better.

“Keep on smiling，and the world will smile with you.”One of the greatest social pleasure is to smile and be smiled to in return，especially because this comes like a natural thing.

People who smile often live longer.A study based on some pictures taken of some baseball players suggested that those who used to smile a lot survived about 7 years longer than those who did not smile very often.

1. The passage mainly talks about        .

A．the benefits of smiling

B．the occasions when you smile

C．the ways of smiling

D．the reasons why people smile

2. When caught doing bad things，people smile to                     .

A．admit their mistakes

B．show they are excited

C．avoid blame or punishment

D．prove they are kind

3. According to the third paragraph，we can learn that        .

A．men seldom smile at a piece of good news

B．smiles can be helpful whatever the situation is

C．we should force ourselves to smile whenever it is

D．in general，men are more likely to smile than women

4. The underlined sentence in the fifth paragraph probably means        .

A．if we smile, it is hard to be smiled to

B．if we smile, others will smile to us in return

C．if we want to smile, the world will smile to us in time

D．if we smile sometimes, we will make the world full of smiles

【推荐2】When it’s five o'clock, people leave their office. The length of the workday, for many workers, is defined by time. They leave when the clock tells them they’re done.

These days, the time is everywhere: not just on clocks or watches, but on cell-phones and computers. That may be a bad thing, particularly at work. New research shows on that clock-based work schedules hinder morale (士气) and creativity.

Clock-timers organize their day by blocks of minutes and hours. For example: a meeting from 9 am to 10 a.m., research from 10 a.m. to noon, etc. On the other hand, task-timers have a list of things they want to accomplish. They work down the list, each task starts when the previous task is completed. It is said that all of us employ a mix of both these types of planning.

What, then, are the effects of thinking about time in these different ways? Does one make us more productive? Better at the tasks at hand? Happier? In experiments conducted by Tamar Avnet and Anne-Laure Sellier, they had participants organize different activities—from project planning, holiday shopping, to yoga—by time or to-do list to measure how they performed under “clock time” vs “task time.” They found clock timers to be more efficient but less happy because they felt little control over their lives. Task timers are happier and more creative, but less productive. They tend to enjoy the moment when something good is happening, and seize opportunities that come up.

The researchers argue that task-based organizing tends to be undervalued and under-supported in the business culture. Smart companies, they believe, will try to bake more task-based planning into their strategies.

This might be a small change to the way we view work and the office, but the researchers argue that it challenges a widespread characteristic of the economy: work organized by clock time. While most people will still probably need, and be, to some extent, clock-timers, task-based timing should be used when performing a job that requires more creativity. It’ll make those tasks easier, and the task-doers will be happier.

1. What is the way people often do their work according to the author?

A．They give priority to the most urgent task on hand.

B．They set a time limit for each specific task.

C．They accomplish their tasks one by one.

D．They combine clock-based and task-based planning.

2. What did the researchers find in their experiments about clock-timers?

A．They tend to be more productive.	B．They always get their work done in time.
C．They seize opportunities as they come up.	D．They have more control over their lives.

3. What do the researchers say about today’s business culture?

A．It does not support the strategies adopted by smart companies.

B．It attaches more importance to work efficiency than to workers’ lives.

C．It does not lay enough emphasis on task-based practice.

D．It aims to bring employees’ potential and creativity into full play.

4. From the passage, we can conclude that           ?

A．It is important to keep a balance between work and life.

B．Performing creative jobs tends to make workers happier.

C．Task-based timing is preferred for doing creative work.

D．A scientific standard should be adopted in job evaluation.

【推荐3】Is smile just a facial expression? Of course not! It is not only used to express pleasure, affection, and friendliness, but also the commonest way to show our good will perfectly without saying anything. A Chinese saying runs: “Never hit a person who is smiling at you.” It is a time-proven fact that smile is a language all its own-a universal language-understood by the people of every nation in the world. We may not speak the same tongue as our foreign neighbors, but we smile in the same tongue. We need no interpreter for thus expressing love, happiness, or good will.

One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to come across a clerk whose personality conflicted with mine. He seemed quite unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase. I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store. On the outside stood a young man in his early twenties. His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, brilliant smile covered his face. The magic power of that smile made all bitterness within me melt, and I found the muscles in my own face happily responding. “Beautiful day, isn’t it?” I remarked, in passing. Then, obeying an impulse(冲动), I turned hack. “I really owe you a debt of gratitude,” I said softly. His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer. A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby. The woman stepped forward and eyed me inquiringly. “Carlos, he no speak English,” she volunteered. “You want I should tell him something?” At that moment I felt changed. Carlos’ smile had made a big person of me. My friendliness and good will toward all mankind stood ten feet tall. "Yes," my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said, ‘Thank you!’ ” “Thank you?” The woman seemed slightly confused.

I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave. “Just tell him that,” I insisted. “He’ll understand, I am sure!”

Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man again, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning. From that day on, I became smile-conscious, and I practice the art diligently, anywhere and everywhere, with everybody.

1. Why did the author marched angrily out of the store?

A．Because he was unlucky to meet with the clerk.

B．Because he conflicted with the clerk in the store.

C．Because he bought nothing.

D．Because he was unfriendly.

2. How do you like the woman?

A．Curious and sincere with good English.

B．Easy-going and helpful with good English.

C．Helpful and curious with poor English.

D．Warm-hearted and generous with poor English.

3. What might follow the end of the passage?

A．The lesson that Carols had taught him.

B．How he used smile to solve problems.

C．How he became a big person of ten feet tall.

D．How hard he tried to look for the young man.

4. What is the best title for the passage?

A．An Impressive Young Man	B．A Rude Clerk
C．A Warm-Hearted Woman	D．A Powerful Smile