Many of us know about Russia’s Lake Baikal from our textbook, or by listening to Chinese singer Li Jian’s hit song, Lie Baikal. But over the years, the world’s deepest freshwater lake has been in the spotlight for an extreme sport.
Each March, about 150 people from around the world sign up for the Baikal Ice Marathon. The 26-mile（41, 84 kilometers）journey starts on the lake’s eastern shore. In March, the ice is a meter thick and iron-hard. Runners cross this frozen surface, finishing on the western side of the lake.
It’s believed that Lake Baikal’s beauty is incomparable. Known as the “blue eye of Siberia”, Lake Baikal has particularly clear waters. This means that its ice is almost perfectly transparent（透明的）. Seen from above, a runner on the ice looks as if he or she were jogging through space.
The scenery might be beautiful, but strong winds blast（侵袭）acorns the lake and forcible can occur within half an hour. Runners say the cold climate is what draws them and that running in such condition is a test of their limits.
“When you are in such an environment, you don’t have cars around and don’t have the noise around. I think these extreme races push you to be alone” Alicia Badalona, a 64-year-old runner from the US said.
The place offers some strange and unique characteristics for this marathon The finishing line is visible（可见的）from the start, but the endless while offers no progress markers. Tourists crowding the ice are mostly addicted to snapping sallies（自拍）and just ignore the runners.
For runners, the absence of spectators（观众）makes the race more challenging, because it’s lonely. They must fight with themselves. “You are alone on Baikal. It is your race. You are alone with yourself. All you need to do is to defeat yourself.” Veronique Messina. a French runner, told the Telegraph.
1. What has kept lake Baikal being a focus over the years？| A．A famous Chinese singer. | B．A popular song in Russian. |
| C．The Baikal ice marathon. | D．The coldness of Lake Baikal. |
| A．The fact that the waters of Lake Baikal are clear. |
| B．The belief that Lake Baikal is known for its waters. |
| C．The reason why Lake Baikal is popular with runners. |
| D．The popularity that clear waters in Lake Baikal enjoy. |
| A．They prefer to get close to nature. |
| B．They like competition with others. |
| C．They want to draw much attention. |
| D．They intend to test their own limits. |
| A．To prove the power of the runners for the Baikal Ice Marathon. |
| B．To show that runners must fight against themselves in the Marathon. |
| C．To explain that independence is important for marathon runners. |
| D．To indieato the necessity of paying attention co marathon runners. |
相似题推荐
There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley
Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley is close to the town of Garland but is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.
Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure
Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. Many of the animals you will see on this trip can only be seen at night. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals you see. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.
Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May22
Equipment to be needed:
•Please bring enough water and food for all walks.
•Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.
•Wear a hat for day walks.
•Dress warmly for night walks.
•Children must be with an adult.
•Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.
•Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.
Bookings:
Bookings for the above trips can be traded by telephone (893 — 4847) or on the Internet at www. Bluemountaintour. com
1. Where are these trips?
| A．In a large city. | B．In a park in the mountains. |
| C．In a special kind of zoo. | D．In three different countries. |
| A．Black Bear Count | B．Garland Valley |
| C．Flashlight Adventure | D．None of the trips. |
| A．Good walking shoes | B．A pair of glasses |
| C．Food and water | D．A sleeping-bag |
| A．Adventure Travel in America |
| B．Hunting around the Great Mountains |
| C．Interesting Trips in the East of the USA |
| D．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains |
【推荐2】Outdoor Football @ Braywick
Tue, Mar 8, 9: 00 P. M.
A friendly kick about, open to all levels. Different players each week. Newcomers welcome.
We book the pitch (球场) when we hit the minimum of 8 “yes” RSVPs (回复), which we need to do by the day before.
The cost is £ 4 to £ 6 each, depending on how many sign up (£ 50 for the pitch, divided by the number of players)
DONT BE LATE! We need to be there, changed and ready for kick - off at 9: 00 P. M. If the game is ever cancelled, we will let those who have already RSVP “yes” know.
LOCATION: Toby Carvery Stafferton Lodge
PLEASE BRING:
• Suitable boots for the outdoor 3G pitches. Artificial grass (AG) football boots are strongly recommended as the best option for the surface.
• Some cash — up to £ 6, as explained above.
RSVPTERMS AND CONDITIONS!
• When you RSVP “Yes”, we book a spot on the pitch for you. The organizer is charged for the pitch unless they cancel it at least 48 hours before the game.
• If you change your RSVP to “No” less than 48 hours before play or you are a “No Show” and nobody is able to take your spot, you will be asked to pay the price as if you took part.
BRINGING GUESTS:
You are more than welcome to bring 1 or 2 friends to play (but only if you add “+1” or “+2” to your RSVP, so that we don’t end up with too many players).
1. What is the deadline for the booking of the pitch?| A．Mar 5. | B．Mar 6. | C．Mar 7. | D．Mar 8. |
| A．Arrive at the pitch at 9: 00 P. M. | B．Wear firm - ground boots when playing. |
| C．Bring at least £ 6 to the pitch. | D．Inform cancellation 48 hours ahead. |
| A．You still need to pay. | B．You can join the next game for free. |
| C．You will be fined for it. | D．You will be banned from the games. |
【推荐3】Below is a list of the most interesting UK writing competitions.
Flash 500 Short Story Competition.
Stories between 1,000 and 3,000 words are required for this story competition. Those who think no story is complete without a proper bedroom scene will be pleased to learn that adult material is acceptable here ＂providing the content fits the story＂. The rest of you will be relieved to learn that adult content is not compulsory.
Prizes: £500, £200, £100.
EntryFee: £22.
The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition.
If you have an original idea, a fresh voice and a story children will love, you could be in luck because that’s just what the organizers of this annual contest are looking for. With a suggested minimum of 30,000 words, your story should be suitable for a worldwide audience of children/young adults somewhere between the ages of 7 and 18 years.
Prize:£10,000.
EntryFee: £15.
Bath Children’s Novel Award.
This international contest is for novels of any length. To enter, you email the first 3,000 words of your story followed by a one page summary. The longlist(入围名单) is chosen by a group of children and young adults. The shortlist（候选人名单）judge is Julia Churchill from literary agents A.M. Heath.
Prize:£2,000.
EntryFee: £7 each, £12 for two, £16 for three, £20 for four.
The Caledonia Novel Award.
This international contest from Edinburgh, which is open to unpublished and self-published novelists, is for stories of at least 50,000 words. To enter, you email the first 20 pages of your novel followed by a 200-word summary. The judge is Richard Pike from literary agents Curtis Brown.
Prize: £1,000.
EntryFee: £20.
1. What do we know about Flash 500 Short Story Competition?| A．Its deadline. | B．Its sponsor. | C．Its judges. | D．Its award. |
| A．The Caledonia Novel Award. |
| B．Bath Children’s Novel Award. |
| C．Flash 500 Short Story Competition. |
| D．The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition. |
| A．They have the same judge. | B．Anyone in the world can take part in. |
| C．They charge no entry fees. | D．They only accept long novels. |
【推荐1】When you are lying in bed, every single noise-from the creak(嘎吱声) of the bed to a whistle in your partner’s nose-may keep you awake. You may find it hard to get a good night’s sleep. Actually, you may just need more noise. While it may sound strange, it is scientifically proven that certain types of noise can help you sleep well. Specially white, pink and Brown noise can mask(掩饰) these sounds, creating a more harmonious background.
White noise contains sounds of all frequencies(频率) that humans can hear. But it comes across as a high-pitched buzz(声调高的嗡嗡声). That’s because of the way your ears hear it. Basically, your brain strengthens sounds in higher-pitched frequencies. So while you are hearing sounds from a variety of frequencies, the highest frequencies tend to drown(淹没) the lower-pitched ones.
The pink noise balanced out the noise so that sounds of all frequencies are heard equally. The higher the frequency, the more its volume is decreased. To your ears, the sound is deeper and softer than white noise. Think of rain falling on the sidewalk or a gentle wind in the trees.
In a study at China’s Peking University, researchers found that when people hear either pink noise or no noise during the sleep, 75 % reported more restful sleep with the pink noise. Brain activity monitors proved that people had 23 % more restful brain activity at night with pink noise and 45 % more restful sleep during naps.
Brown noise takes this concept to the next level, further weakening higher frequency noise to produce an even deeper and richer sound.
The color of noise that will help you get more sleep is the one you like the best. While pink and brown noises are deeper and more balanced than white noise, your personal sleep preferences will decide which one gives you the best sleep.
1. According to the passage, we know that the white noise ________| A．removes low-frequency sounds. |
| B．protects ears from high-pitched sounds. |
| C．makes sounds of all frequencies heard equally. |
| D．contains sounds of all frequencies of people can hear. |
| A．To show the need for silence during sleep. |
| B．To prove pink noise’s positive influence on sleep. |
| C．To stress the importance of restful sleep. |
| D．To give the reason for more noise for sleep. |
| A．Some types of noise may help people sleep better. | B．Our brain is always kept active. |
| C．Many people have difficulty sleeping well. | D．Noise has different colors and frequencies. |
| A．Environment. | B．Education. | C．Science. | D．Travel. |
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is, make a list if you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well, roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you don’t wear the latest trends, buy a few new clothes. But remember, just because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck!
1. You need to build a positive self-image when you___________.
| A．dare to challenge yourself | B．feel it hard to change yourself |
| C．are unconfident about yourself | D．have a high opinion of yourself |
| A．have positive effects | B．are probably untrue |
| C．are often changeable | D．have different functions |
| A．To keep a different image of others. | B．To make your life successful. |
| C．To understand your own world. | D．To change the way you think. |
| A．How to prepare for your success. | B．How to face challenges in your life. |
| C．How to build a positive self-image. | D．How to develop your good qualities. |
| A．Parents. | B．Adolescents. | C．Educators. | D．People in general. |
【推荐3】When you return to work after a long break, you may feel nervous. When you get back to work the next morning, your heart may be racing. In fact, you are not alone. About 40 million people are struggling with anxiety in the United States, and work is the main stressor. A major cause is that people don't take long breaks when they really need them. The problem can be solved in the following ways, though.
First, recognize your feelings and know that there is nothing wrong with them. The biggest misunderstanding is that anxiety is bad. Everyone has different symptoms(症状), and there are some key signs that you're experiencing anxiety about returning to work. They include feelings of fear, lack of concentration and an increased heart rate when approaching(靠近)the workplace. That doesn't mean you should try to hit back these feelings. By changing your opinion of anxiety, you can change your reaction. You might even smile, laugh, and remember that you know it like an old friend. Anxiety can be released(释放)and can even be a friend.
Adjust(调整)your vacation schedule before returning to work. It helps relax last-minute panic. Putting yoga into your daily activities can also be helpful. Yoga has been shown to reduce anxiety. The night before you start work, adjust your evening schedule so you can rest well. Reading some poems and having a meaningful conversation are good choices, too. Keeping a diary can also help you prepare for the day ahead.
If you are aware of your emotions, adjust your vacation plans and do something to calm yourself the night before, but still feel stressed when you get back to the office, take a simple breathing exercise. It can help relieve your anxiety.
1. Why is the United States mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To explain work is the main stressor in America. |
| B．To show work anxiety after a vacation is common. |
| C．To say many Americans are stressed out at work. |
| D．To prove only Americans suffer from anxiety now. |
| A．By giving examples. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By doing surveys. | D．By listing reasons. |
| A．Working in an office. | B．Taking a deep breath. |
| C．Recognizing emotions. | D．Making a vacation plan. |
| A．The Importance of Adjusting Vacation Plans Properly |
| B．Schedules for Returning to Work Without Anxiety |
| C．Ways to Deal With Work Anxiety After a Vacation |
| D．Hope for a Balance Between Work and Vacation |
【推荐1】If you are planning to take a trip across the United States， and are eager for a hotel， here are four economic ones for you to choose from．
Motel 6 Downtown
Neighboring the Golden Gate Bridge， it's one of the most popular motels in San Francisco with enough free parking spaces．
Check in： 3： 00 p． m． with passports and credit card．
Check out： before 12： 00 noon．
Price for 1 night per room： ﹩140 for two adults， free of charge for two children．
Pets not permitted in．
Tel： 77345984
The Opera Inn
Located in the art district， it's close to the Opera House， with chances to take part in various cultural activities．
Check in： 4： 00 p．m． with passports and credit card．
Check out： before 11： 00 am．
Price for 1 night per room： ﹩179 for two adults， free of charge for one child． No extra bed．
Pets not permitted in．
Tel： 77345244
Amsterdam Hotel
Located in downtown San Francisco， it's a clean and tidy cheap hostel， with only eight minutes' walk to the Chinatown．
Check in： 3：00 p． m， with passports and credit card．
Check out： before 10： 00 a．m．
Price for 1 night per room： ﹩ 106 for two adults， free of charge for two children．
Pets not permitted in
Tel： 72346654
Van Ness Inn
Neighboring the blue sea， it has a quiet beautiful environment． It's a best choice for those who are tired of the noisy downtown．
Check in： 1： 00 p． m． with passports and credit card．
Check out： before 11： 00 a．m．
Price for 1 night per room：﹩118 for two adults，﹩5 for one child
Pets not permitted in
Tel： 72346664．
1. Which do you choose if you want to enjoy free parking？| A．Motel 6 Downtown． |
| B．The Opera Inn |
| C．Amsterdam Hotel． |
| D．Van Ness Inn |
| A．﹩482 |
| B．﹩472 |
| C．﹩236 |
| D．﹩246 |
| A．To introduce hotels' rules． |
| B．To attract more customers． |
| C．To compare the prices． |
| D．To promote the local tourism． |
【推荐2】It can be a struggle to find activities on holiday that children will enjoy, but in Wales there are plenty of options. These four family favourites are surefire ways to keep the kids entertained…
Caernarfon Castle
This magnificent fortress was built on the Welsh coastline in the 13th century. Caernarfon Castle is a historic paradise for children, alive with towers to climb, city walls to march along, and （with imagination）princes and princesses to rescue.
Rhossili Bay
The most splendid of the Gower Peninsula beaches—all three broad miles of it—conceals a mysterious secret. At high tide, the remains of the Helvetia, a wooden ship which ran aground in 1887, show itself.
Talyllyn Railway
Wales still echoes to the sound of steam trains of yesteryear, and the Talyllyn Railway, near Cardigan Bay at Tywyn, is perhaps the prettiest. It rises for seven miles along a narrow track. You will surely see “guest appearances” by engines from the world of Thomas the Tank Engine.
The National Eisteddfod
There is always a buzz when the National Eisteddfod—a great coming-together, which spins around music, poetry and food—clicks into operation. This year it will take place right by the sea at Cardiff Bay, offering hundreds of free activities and events for the whole family.
Find more details on accommodation and events, and plan your break, at visitwales. com.
1. What do Rhossili Bay and Caernarfon Castle have in common?| A．They both have a historical relic. |
| B．They both offer something hidden. |
| C．They both have castle walls to walk along. |
| D．They both expose visitors to music and poetry. |
| A．A sunken ship. | B．An ancient tower. |
| C．A narrow track. | D．A charming princess. |
| A．Talyllyn Railway. | B．Rhossili Bay. |
| C．Caernarfon Castle. | D．The National Eisteddfod. |
【推荐3】A Cappella Competition
Do you love to sing?
Come and show of your talents at the Chilton Youth A Cappella Competition
> October 20th, 11:00- 17:00
> Edward Greatcoat Theater, Sealey Road, Chilton
> Rules
Please remember that this is a cappella(清唱) competition
No instruments or recorded music will be allowed.
Competitors may sing published or original songs in any style.
There are four categories(类):
> Solo (8- -11 years old) > Solo (12--15 years old)
> Group (8 -11 years old) > Group (12- -15 years old)
★Competitors under 12 years old must stay with a parent or other adult at all times.
★Each competitor must pay an entry fee of $10.
★Winners will receive $500 and a course of 20 lessons with famous voice teacher Vickie Leonard.
★Winners will be decided by three judges from the Chilton School of Music. Their decision is final.
> Additional information
★Please arrive at the Edward Greatcoat Theater between 09:00 and 10:00 to register, as the competition will start at 11:00. The parking lot has limited spaces so you are advised to come as early as possible.
★Shared dressing rooms with showers will be provided for all competitors.
★Tickets for the competition are available(可得到的) at the theater from October 1st. There is no charge for these, but again, spaces are limited.
1. What is the purpose of this text?| A．To invite people to a concert. | B．To attract more visitors to the theater. |
| C．To offer free singing lessons. | D．To tell about a singing competition. |
| A．Competitors shouldn't be more than 15 years old. |
| B．Competitors can't park their car at the theater. |
| C．Competitors shouldn't go into the theater dressing rooms. |
| D．Competitors can't sing a song written by themselves. |
【推荐1】Harry is eighteen now.He studies in a middle school.His parents like him very much and hope he can become a famous man.So they often tell him to study hard and they do all for him.They call him at six in the morning, after breakfast his father takes him to school in a car and in the afternoon, as soon as the young man comes back, the supper is ready.Of course, he never washes his clothes or goes to buy something in the shops.
Once Harry's father was sent to London on business.He would stay there for half a year.When leaving, he told his wife to take good care of their son.
The woman had to get up earlier and did all what her husband did before.And two months later she was so tired that she was ill in bed.Now the young man got into trouble.He couldn't do any housework.He had to do as his mother told him.Even he didn’ t know where to get on the bus!
Yesterday Harry’s mother found his shoes were worn out and told him to buy a new pair in the shop.But he didn’t know how to choose.The woman had a sigh（叹息）and gave him a shoe pattern（样品）and told him to buy a pair of shoes himself.It’s Saturday today and Harry doesn’t go to school.With a policeman’s help, he found a shop.The shopkeeper was friendly to him.The man brought a lot of shoes and asked him to choose.When he was trying on a pair, suddenly he remembered something and took them off.The man was surprised and asked, “What’s the matter young man?” “I’m sorry, I’ve left the shoe pattern at home!”
1. _______always does some housework in the morning.| A．Harry’s father | B．Harry’s mother |
| C．Harry | D．Nobody |
| A．he’s too young | B．he has poor health |
| C．he’s busy with his studies | D．they hope he spends all time on studies |
| A．her husband wasn’t at home | B．she was stronger than her husband |
| C．she knew the young man well | D．she was freer than her husband |
| A．Harry had to stay at home | B．Harry didn’t find the bus stop |
| C．Harry fell behind in his class | D．Harry wouldn’t go to school |
【推荐2】Do you think Great Britain and the United States are alike? Winston Churchill once joked that the people of Britain and the people of America are separated(分离) only by their language. Do you think that is true? The British and the Americans both speak English as the official language. However, each uses some different words. We Americans are similar to the British. After all, our country was once owned by Great Britain, so we have a lot in common. But there are many differences between us.
Great Britain has a king or queen, and the leader of the government is the Prime Minister. The United States has no kings or queens. Our leader is the President.
Both the British and Americans use pounds and ounces, pints, quarts, and gallons. Both use miles, yards and feet. Our money is different, though. The British use pounds and pence. Americans use dollars and cents.
Driving in a car is very different in England. They drive on the left side of the road. We drive on the right. What we call the hood of the car, the British call the “bonnet”. British cars run on “petrol”, which we call gasoline.
In our everyday lives, we do many of the same things as the British. But we describe them differently. A young mother here might push a baby in a baby carriage. A British mom pushes a “pram”. The British watch the “telly”, while we watch TV. We like to eat French fries, but the British call them “chips”. Millions of Americans drink coffee, but most British prefer tea.
So we are different in many ways. But we stay friendly anyway.
1. Winston Churchill’s words mean that ____________.| A．Britain and the US are very similar |
| B．the people of Britain and the US are friendly |
| C．the languages of Britain and the US are the same |
| D．there are many differences between Britain and the US |
| A．TV. | B．Pram. | C．Hood. | D．French fries. |
| A．We stay friendly |
| B．A common language? |
| C．English as the official language |
| D．Differences between Britain and the US |
【推荐3】After Mom died, I began visiting Dad every morning before I went to work. He was weak and moved slowly, but he always had a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on the kitchen table for me, along with an unsigned note reading, “Drink your juice.” Such a note, I knew, was as far as Dad had ever been able to go in expressing his love. In fact, I remember, as a kid I had questioned Mom, “Why doesn’t Dad love me?” Mom frowned, “Who said he doesn’t love you?” “Well, he never tells me,” I complained. “He never tells me either,” she said, smiling. “But look how hard he works to take care of us, to buy us food and clothes, and to pay for this house. That’s how your father tells us he loves us.”
I nodded slowly. I understood in my head, but not in my heart. I still wanted my father to put his arms around me and tell me he loved me. Dad owned and operated a small scrap (片)metal business, and after school I often hung around while he worked. Dad handfed scrap steel into a device that chopped (剁碎) it as cleanly as a butcher chops a rack of ribs. The machine looked like a giant pair of scissors, with blades thicker than my father’s body. If he didn’t feed those terrifying blades just right, he risked serious injury. “Why don’t you hire someone to do that for you?” Mom asked Dad one night as she bent over him and rubbed his aching shoulders with a strong smelling liniment. “Why don’t you hire a cook?” Dad asked , giving her one of his rare smiles.
Many years later, during my first daily visit, after drinking the juice my father had squeezed for me, I walked over, hugged him and said, “I love you, Dad.” From then on I did this every morning. My father never told me how he felt about my hugs, and there was never any expression on his face when I gave them.
1. The author’s father always prepared a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice for him because ______.| A．that was the author’s favorite. |
| B．he was sure the author would be thirsty. |
| C．the author was always complaining. |
| D．that was a gesture of love. |
| A．his job was too dangerous. |
| B．his job required high skills. |
| C．he wanted to save money. |
| D．he was not good at communicating with others. |
| A．I Just Couldn’t Understand my Father. |
| B．My Father Never Loved Me. |
| C．Silent Fatherly Love. |
| D．My Hard-working Father. |
