【推荐1】Petra and Wadi Rum, Jordan

When it comes to the world’s wonderful desert scenery, Jordan’s Petra and Wadi Rum has it. Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this place is one of the best due to its amazing desert canyons and rock walls. Participants love exploring its Burdah and Um Fruth, walking to the impressive ancient city.

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

The Rongai Route is the best route if the participants of the walking tour want a quiet climb. The Kili Trail permits travelers to witness the region’s wilderness, virgin forests, and rare animals. This route, according to many, is the easiest way to reach the top where the breath-taking 360-degree sights of natural wonders await.

Quebec, Canada

This special environment made up of both the natural and cultural treasures, where fresh water becomes one with the tides of the sea, makes Quebec one of the interesting walking tour destinations in the world. Here is a track that heads to the Saguenay Fjord National Park which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Adding to the beauty of Quebec are its sparkling waterfalls, inviting lakes, and rare animals.

Great Smoky Mountain, US

This region has been named as the ancestral home of the Cherokee Indians, where rich natural wonders combined with interesting history are the major happenings. The rich natural reserve is evident and enjoyed by walking tour participants. What also makes this destination a popular choice is its reputation as the biggest wilderness on the eastern part of the United States.

1. Which tour combines the scenery of land and water?

A．Petra and Wadi Rum.	B．Kilimanjaro.
C．Quebec.	D．Great Smoky Mountain.

2. What is unique to Great Smoky Mountain?

A．Special history.

B．National park.

C．Virgin forests.

D．Ocean view.

3. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Magical Nature Reserves

B．Best Walking Tours

C．Colorful Cultural Treasures

D．Amazing Wilderness Areas

【推荐2】Dear Customers,

I love slipping into a comfortable chair for a long read—as I relax into the chair, I also relax into the author’s words, stories, and ideas. The physical book is so elegant that it disappears into the background, and what remains is the author’s world.

Today, we AMAZON are excited to announce Mindle, a wireless, portable reading device with instant access to more than 90,000 books, magazines, and newspapers.

We’ve been working on Mindle for more than three years. Our top design objective was for Mindle to disappear in your hands — to get out of the way — so you can enjoy your reading. We also wanted to go beyond the physical book. Mindle is wireless, so whether you’re lying in bed or riding a train, you can think of a book, and have it in less than 60 seconds. No computer is needed — you do your reading directly from the device.

We chose the same wireless technology used in advanced mobile phones. But unlike mobile phones, there are no monthly wireless bills, no service or data plans, and no yearly contracts. There is no software to install. We want you to get lost in your reading and not in the technology.

Mindle uses a new kind of display called electronic paper. Sharp and natural with no strong light, reading on Mindle is nothing like reading from a computer screen. Mindle weighs only 10.3 ounces — less than a paperback — but can carry two hundred books.

Enjoy learning about Mindle and many thanks!

1. This passage most probably is a (n) ______.

A．advertisement

B．news story

C．lab report

D．letter of thanks

2. From the passage we learn that Mindle is a device which ______.

A．has neither wires nor weight	B．is operated by a computer
C．disappears while you read	D．can find a book within one minute

3. Different from mobile phones, Mindle ______.

A．has a much more friendly screen	B．can work in the absence of electricity
C．doesn’t involve regular fees	D．is wireless and can be used anywhere

【推荐3】When it comes to an ox, very similar to a bull, people will think of 2009, the Year of Ox. The Ox is a representative of the farming culture of China. In the farming economy, oxen are the major animals pulling plows (梨).

Of course, the good of oxen is not limited to plowing. In fact, they are seen as “boats on land” for their ability to carry loads. Besides, the whole body of an ox is full of treasures. Their meat and milk are food full of nutrition, and their skin can be used to make clothes and shoes. With all these qualities, oxen are regarded as generous creatures.

In the past, oxen played an important role in the spiritual life of the Chinese. Even today, oxen still play a special part in some folk activities. For example, some people who live in southwest China will cook cattle bone soup and share it among family members when holding the ceremony for children who reach 13. They believe that the cattle bone soup represents the blood relationship among family members. In order to express their love for oxen, people in some other areas will run to shake off diseases on the 16^th day of the first month by the lunar calendar, and during their run they will take their oxen along, which indicates they regard the creature as human.

Because of the contribution of oxen in their lives, the Chinese people are very grateful to the animal. In addition, the use of oxen in ceremonies and the thanks people owe to oxen help to develop various traditional customs, which becomes an important part of the folk culture of the Chinese nation.

1. The second paragraph focuses on ______.

A．the qualities of oxen	B．creatures for pulling plows
C．treasures of the folk culture	D．tools in the farming economy

2. From the third paragraph, we know that ______.

A．Oxen are no more important today than in the past

B．Ceremonies are held when people cook cattle bone soup

C．Oxen are treated as human in some areas of China

D．People run with oxen to shake off diseases every month

3. Which of the following helps to develop traditional customs?

A．The special role of oxen in farming.

B．People’s respect and love for oxen.

C．The practical value of an ox’s body.

D．The contribution of oxen to the economy.

4. Why does the author write the text?

A．To stress the importance of oxen in history.

B．To introduce the Chinese folk culture.

C．To describe how to celebrate the Year of Ox.

D．To explain how to develop agriculture with oxen.

【推荐1】Global waming is the increase of the earth’ s average surface temperature due to the effect of greenhouse gases, for example, carbon dioxide, which traps heat that would otherwise escape from the earth. After the trees are cut down and more greenhouse gases are released, the “blanket’around the earth called the ozone layer(臭氧层), will get thicker. This catches more heat and makes the earth hotter. Luckily, there are many things that every citizen of the earth can do to help reduce the effects of global warming, and it is never too late or too early for children to take action.

The children should learn what a carbon footprint is. A carbon footprint is the amount of carbonand greenhouse gases people make as they lead the daily life and go about the normal activities. In other words, the carbon footprint is a measure of the environmental impact(冲击)the life has. To live an environmentally friendly life that doesn’t contribute to global warming, people want to have the smallest carbon footprint possible.

Almost everything people do contributes to global warming and is related to fossil fuel consumption. These can be direct uses of fossil fuels, like riding in a gasoline-powered car, or indirect contributions to greenhouse gases, such as eating fruits or vegetables that have to be shipped from far away to reach their tables.

If a child wants to make a contribution to reducing global warming, he should ridc a bicycle tothe near park, school, his friend’s house, or anywhere else instead of taking the car. Or he may try to walk or jog, which is also helpful. In addition, although trains and buses often run on fossil fuels, on average, each person uses less energy and produces less polution to run. Next time if children with their parents have to get around town or it’s too far to walk or bike, take the bus or other public transportation instead of asking for a ride.

1. What is the main reason for global warming?

A．Too much greenhouse gases being released.

B．The ozone layer having caught more heat.

C．Too many trees having been cut down.

D．The earth’s inner temperature having increased.

2. What is the main idea of Paragraph 2?

A．Life has an impact on carbon footprint.

B．The definition of a carbon footprint.

C．People should live an environmental friendly life.

D．People make a huge amount of carbon and greenhouse gases.

3. For whom does the author want to write the passage?

A．Scientists.	B．Parents.
C．Children educators.	D．Adults.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．What Can People Do to Use Less Energy?

B．Why Does Global Warming Affects Humans’ Life?

C．How Can Kids Help Reduce Global Warming?

D．How Does Carbon Footprints Measure Pollution?

【推荐2】While there are a few ways to make use of your old smartphone, one of the better ways is to convert into a dash cam（行车记录仪）that you can use on your bicycle. With the camera, you can record your rides, which is especially helpful if you are involved in a crash with another vehicle.

To use your smartphone as a dash cam on your bike, you will need to make sure it is properly secured to your bike. To do this correctly, you must take two strips of heavy-duty Velcro (a kind of cloth used as fastening) along with two pipe Clamps（管夹）and a flat corner brace（角撑）to properly attach it. You will start by attaching the comer brace to your smartphone.

Next, attach a Velcro strip to your phoned back. You will put the second strip on the end of the brace comer and cut any extra Velcro off and away from the brace. By using heavy-duty Velcro, you shouldn’t have to worry about the camera brace must be attached to the bicycle directly.

Take two pipe clamps so you can attach the part of the corner brace so the phone can be held up and used. The pipe clamps must be positioned near the center of the handlebar, which will enable you to get a better picture when videotaping.

To run a dash camp app on your old phone, you will just need to download a dash cam app onto the old phone. You will then just start the app at any time you head out on the road. There is always the chance of flaws, but you will be giving yourself a way to protect yourself in a friendly, eco-fiendly manner that is much less expensive than purchasing a dash cam.

1. What is the purpose of building a dash cam on your bike?

A．To make full use of an old smartphone.

B．To record the scenery while travelling

C．To reduce an unexpected crash on the road.

D．To avoid unnecessary arguments in an accident.

2. What does the underlined word “it” in Paragraph 2 refer to?

A．The bike.	B．The pipe clamp.
C．The smartphone.	D．The flat corner brace.

3. What can we learn about a Velcro strip?

A．It will fix the camera firmly.

B．It is better to keep it as long as possible.

C．It is important for the flat comer brace.

D．It is best put in the center of the smartphone.

4. What can be inferred about the DIY dash cam from the last paragraph?

A．It is a perfect alternative to a purchased one.

B．It is beneficial to environment in some way.

C．It is a much more demanding job for the user.

D．It makes its owner friendly to other people.

【推荐3】We all know that drinking too much is bad for us, but what about moderate (适度的) drinking?

We’ve known about the association between moderate drinking and good health for quite some time. Researchers have identified that people who drink a moderate amount are at a lower risk of things like heart disease and obesity than both people who drink a lot and people who never drink. It’s fairly well-established that,if you look at society at large,people who drink a moderate amount are the healthiest in a number of ways.

The problem is that moderate drinking isn’t an isolated (孤立的) behaviour .You can’t easily separate moderate drinking from the people who drink moderately, which means that you can’t easily identify whether it’s actually the alcohol that’s improving people’s health or something more complex.

The issue is pretty obvious when you look at the people who drink moderately in all of these studies.They tend to be wealthier,more educated,smoke less and in general are better off than both people who drink a lot and those who never drink. People who don’t drink alcohol are also different in a lot of ways, mostly bad — for example, illness, poverty, and previous alcoholism.

Recent studies in Israel and New Zealand show that there probably aren’t any significant health benefits to moderate drinking. Once you get rid of the effects of society, even a small amount of drink is associated with worse health.

It seems that moderate drinking probably isn’t good for our health after all. While there may be some minor heart health benefits, alcohol is addictive and causes damage to many other organs.

I’m going to keep drinking, but not for my health. Wine is delicious and beer is just wonderful. Drink for the taste,drink to socialise, but don’t drink because you think it’s going to cure your depression or heal your heart. But if possible, try to drink less.

1. What is the common belief about drinking alcohol?

A．Drinking has little to do with health.

B．Moderate drinking benefits our health.

C．Drinking reduces the risk of heart disease.

D．The healthier you are, the more you can drink.

2. Who is more likely to drink moderately?

A．A rich man.	B．A sick man.
C．A former alcoholic.	D．A poorly-educated man.

3. What do we know about drinking from the fifth paragraph?

A．It’s an isolated behaviour.

B．It’s a good way to keep fit.

C．It’s more of a social activity.

D．It should be banned for health reasons.

4. What can be the best title for this text?

A．Is Alcohol Suitable for You?	B．What Is Moderate Drinking?
C．Do You Know How to Drink?	D．Is Moderate Drinking Healthy?

【推荐1】John H. Johnson was born in a black family in Arkansas City in 1918. His father died in an accident when John was six. He was reaching high school age, but his hometown offered no high school for blacks.

Luckily, he had strong-willed (意志坚强的), caring mother. John remembers that his mother told him many times, “Son, you can be anything you really want to be if you just believe. She told him not to be dependent on (依靠) others, including his mother. “You have to earn success,” said she. “All the people who work hard don’t succeed, but the only people who do succeed are those who work hard.”

These words came from a woman less than a third grade education. She also knew that believing and hard work don’t mean everything. So she worked hard as a cook for two years to save enough to take her son—then 15—to Chicago.

Chicago in1933 was not the promised land (乐土、希望之地) that black southerners were looking for, John’s mother and stepfather could not find work. But there John could go to school, and there he learned the power of words—as editor of the newspaper and yearbook of Du Stable High School. His wish was to publish a magazine for blacks.

While others discouraged (阻止、使气馁) him, John’s mother offered him more words to live by: “Nothing beats a failure but a try.” She also let him pawn (典当) her furniture (家具) to get the $500 he needed to start the Negro magazine.

It is natural the difficulties and failures followed John closely until he became very successful. He always keeps his mother’s words in mind. “Son, failure is not in your vocabulary.”

Now John H. Johnson is one of the 400 richest people in America—worth $150 million.

1. Why did John’s mother decide to move to Chicago? Because ________.

A．John’s father died in his hometown when he was very young

B．life was too hard for them to stay on in their hometown, while life in Chicago would be better for blacks

C．there were no schools for blacks in their hometown

D．John needed more education and he could go to school there

2. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．Chicago was the promised land for black southerners in 1933.

B．John’s mother worked hard as a writer to make their life better.

C．With the help of his mother, John got the money to start the Negro magazine.

D．Now John is the poorest man in America.

3. What kind of woman was John’s mother? She was a ________.

A．woman with little school education but knew a lot about life

B．woman who would not do anything for her son

C．strong woman with much knowledge

D．woman who didn’t know how to encourage her son

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

A．if you try, you will succeed in the end

B．a failure is difficult to beat, even if you try

C．a try is always followed by failure

D．nothing but a try can help you out of failure

5. What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．How John H. Johnson became somebody.

B．The mental support John’s mother gave him.

C．The importance of a good education.

D．The key to success for blacks.

【推荐2】The Summer Holiday Activities for Families in the UK

While the Astronaut spacewalk, Manchester last year remains in the memory of some families, our week-by-week guide to the school summer break this year features a host of special events and outdoor fun for kids, from open-air cinema and live music to coming face to face with dinosaurs.

Polar fun, Edinburgh

Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh is keeping cool this summer with lots of polar-themed activities, including family science shows on the Arctic and Antarctic, icy experiments, and craft designs where kids can make their own penguin, walrus or polar bear.

Until 28 August, ￡15 adults, ￡9.50 children, dynamicearth. Co. uk.

Dinosaur events, various locations

Dinosaurs in the Wild is a vivid, walk-through experience taking visitors back 67 million years to the late Cretaceous period. Dinosaur Babies is an exhibition of dinosaur embryos and eggs, plus a model nest. Dinosaurs of China displays fossils and skeletons never before seen in Europe.

Until 23 August, NEC in Birmingham, then 7 October to 7 January, Event City Manchester, ￡29.50 adults, ￡26 children, dinosaursinthewild. Com.

Proud Country House kids fest, Brighton

Just 15 minutes from the centre of Brighton, this 18^th century Georgian manor house in Stammer Park has a packed program of events and activities on throughout the summer, including storytelling in the forest, guided bike rides, tree climbing and family yoga.

1 July~10 September, prices vary, usually from￡5~10，booking for events required but house and gardens can be visited without booking, stammer house. co. UK / kids fest.

1. Which activity is not included this year?

A．Astronaut spacewalk.	B．Open-air cinema.
C．Live music.	D．Face to face with dinosaurs.

2. If you want to take the activity in December, where should you go?

A．Edinburgh.	B．Birmingham.
C．Manchester.	D．Brighton.

3. Which activity should be booked?

A．Polar fun.	B．Dinosaur events.
C．Family yoga.	D．Visiting gardens.

【推荐3】Everyday, 340 million people speak it. One billion people are learning it and it is said that by 2050, half of the world's population will be using it. What are we talking about? That global language-English.

The English language started in Britain in the 5th century. It is a mixed language. It was built up when German, Scandinavian and French invaders settled in England and created a common language for communication.

Today it is the official language of the UK, the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and Ireland as well as many islands in the Caribbean. Many other countries and regions use it for politics and business, for example, India, Pakistan, Nigeria and the Philippines. English is also one of the official languages of Hong Kong.

But global advertising and pop music mean that in most countries, you will see or hear some English. Thanks to McDonalds, we all know about “burgers”, “fries” and “milkshakes”. Songs by Madonna, Britney Spears and Celine Dion are in English. We can sing along, even if we do not understand what we are singing!

English is a messy language. Every year, dictionaries include new words that talk about popular culture, for example, computer-related words such as “blogging”, “download” and “chat room”. Also included are words that teenagers use. Who does not know “cool”, “OK” and “hello”?

Other languages also influence English. Many English words come from French. Words like “cafe” and expressions like “c'est la vie” (that is life) are all part of the English language. On the other hand, the French language includes English words like “le weekend” and “le camping”. German words are also part of English. Words like “kindergarten” come from the German language.

Recently, British people have become interested in “yoga”. But the word comes from an ancient Hindu language in India.

1. The English language has a history of           .

A．over 2000 years.	B．over 500 years.
C．over 1500 years.	D．over 1000 years.

2. The underlined expression “thanks to” can be replaced by           .

A．because of.	B．thankful to.
C．not until.	D．as if.

3. Which of the following statements is true about the language of English?

A．It has been changing all the time.

B．It has borrowed words from all the other languages.

C．French words are used by the English because dictionaries have French words.

D．Singers and film stars have the greatest influence on language.

4. How many people in the world are using English now?

A．One billion people.	B．more than 340 million.
C．almost all the people in the world.	D．not mentioned above, but the number is growing rapidly.

5. Many countries and regions use it for politics and business except           .

A．the USA.	B．Nigeria.
C．the Philippines.	D．Norway.