【推荐1】National Zoo Stays Open Later for Zoo Lights Exhibit

Winter is the perfect time to see Washington in a different light. The crowds have thinned, and those humid 95-degree days are long gone. And the National Zoo is a different experience because of 500,000 bulbs that illuminate（照亮）the annual Zoo Lights celebration.

Eco-friendly twinkly lights will decorate zoo walkways, trees and buildings. Sculptures featuring popular zoo residents, including elephants and giant pandas, light up in time to music.

If walking and watching isn’t enough excitement, head to Lion & Tiger Hill, home to a 150-foot-long snowless tubing run. Rides on the trackless train and the carousel（欢闹）also will be available.

Don’t forget to visit a few of the zoo’s real animals. The Kids’ Farm, Reptile Discovery Center, Small Mammal House, Think Tank (orangutans) and Great Cats exhibit will be open in the evening. There’s no guarantee, however, that the animals will be as lively as the humans in attendance.

When: November to January 1 (except December 24-25), 5 to 9 p.m.

Where: 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW. Washington, D.C.

How much: Admission is free; limited parking is $22. Charges for tubing, train rides and carousel rides.

For more information: A parent can visit nationalzoo si.edu/events/zoolights.

More Zoo lights celebrations: For those outside of the D.C. area, here are some links to other zoos with similar events (not all are free):

Columbus Zoo, Ohio: Through January 1.

Detroit Zoo, Michigan: Through December 31.

Denver Zoo, Colorado: December 2 - January 1.

Houston Zoo, Texas: Through January 15.

1. When can you enjoy the annual Zoo Lights celebration in Washington best?

A．On December 12th	B．On January 3rd.
C．On December 24th.	D．On October 1st.

2. Where can’t people see real animals during the celebration?

A．At the Kids’ Farm.	B．At Reptile Discovery Center.
C．At Small Mammal House.	D．At Lion & Tiger Hill.

3. We can infer from the passage that you certainly don't have to pay to be admitted if you visit ________.

A．Columbus Zoo	B．Detroit Zoo
C．Denver Zoo	D．National Zoo

4. Who are the intended readers of the passage?

A．Students.	B．Tourists.
C．Parents.	D．Zoo keepers.

【推荐2】Have you ever thought about writing your own fantasy novel? One of the best things you can do is to take inspiration from others. Here are some of the best fantasy books for you.

Sabriel by Garth Nix

While attending boarding school, Sabriel receives a package which contains bells, her father's swords, and a message instructing her to stop a dangerous act on destroying the Old Kingdom' S magical rules. This classic fantasy provides readers with more adventures to explore.

Also available from: Amazon ; Walmart.

Pet by Akwaeke Emezi

This book is about ideas of justice, good and bad. Jam lives in the town of Lucille, where the old statues have been torn down and the bad things no longer exist. But when a creature named Pet appears from one of her mother's paintings, on the hunt for a monster, Jam will have to rethink all she's been taught.

Also available from: Amazon; Barnes & Noble.

Akata Witch by Nnedi Okorafor

Fans of Harry Potter will be swept away by this adventurous tale about four new friends who discover they have access to powerful magic. Born in New York City, Sunny Nwazue felt out of place and isolated-until she was invited into a hidden world and handed a dangerous task.

Also available from: Amazon; Walmart.

Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

This novel takes readers into a world where dragons and humans live side by side. Seraphina is half human and half dragon, with a dragon mother able to take human form and a human father who can't stand dragons. Seraphina will probably become a teen fantasy classic.

Also available from: Bookshop; Target.

1. Which book describes a creature hunting for a monster?

A．Pet.

B．Sabriel.

C．Akata Witch.

D．Seraphina.

2. Which character was born in the city of New York?

A．Jam.

B．Sabriel.

C．Seraphina.

D．Sunny Nwazue.

3. Where can you buy a copy of Seraphina?

A．From Amazon.	B．From Target.
C．From Walmart.	D．From Barnes & Noble.

【推荐1】If you grew up watching the kid’s television channel Nickelodeon, you will probably understand that there is nothing greater than enjoying its special bright green slime ( 水晶泥). The week of May 11, astronauts (宇航员) aboard the International Space Station(ISS) joined the slime.

Nickelodeon sent two kilos of its green slime into space in the summer of 2019. The Slime in Space project’s idea was to create an educational trip for teachers to use in class. The green slime was also used to guide astronauts through a series of experiments that were designed to learn more about how slime acts in microgravity.

Researchers from Portland State University(PSU) were excited to design the experiments for the project. Mark Weislogel and his partner designed eight shows for NASA astronauts and European Space Agency astronaut aboard to perform.

If you’re wondering what we could hope to learn from sending slime into space, the answer lies in its very name. Slime is slimy. This is because it is a liquid that is thicker than liquids like water. This makes slime act in unexpected ways in the microgravity of the ISS. Improving our understanding of how thicker liquids act in space may help us improve the design of systems that something were designed with Earth’s gravity in mind.

“Interestingly, we consider liquid on Earth as that takes the shape of its container,” Koch tells CNN. “Water just turns into a ball in microgravity, so we’ve had to have a new understanding of different kinds of matter in space. This experiment shows how microgravity can help us understand things on Earth, especially the things we take for granted.”

1. In paragraph one, Nickelodeon is mentioned______.

A．to introduce the topic	B．to attract the kids
C．to make advertisements	D．to share a TV show

2. Why are the experiments with slime designed in space ?

A．Because they get students interested in space.

B．Because they help us understand how slime acts in microgravity.

C．Because slime is popular with kids in the TV show.

D．Because slime takes the shape of its container.

3. What is Koch’s attitude towards the experiment with slime?

A．Confused.

B．Worried.

C．Positive.

D．Uninterested.

4. Which of the following can be the best title of the text?

A．Microgravity makes a difference to matters.

B．Astronauts join the slime in space for science.

C．Kids join the slime so as to become astronauts.

D．Experiments are designed with slimy slime.

【推荐2】If humans were truly at home under the light of the moon and stars, we would go in darkness happily, the midnight world as visible to us as it is to the vast number of nocturnal (夜间活动的) species on this planet. Instead, we are diurnal creatures, with eyes adapted to living in the sun’s light. This is a basic evolutionary fact, even though most of us don’t think of ourselves as diurnal beings. Yet it’s the only way to explain what we’ve done to the night: We’ve engineered it to receive us by filling it with light.

The benefits of this kind of engineering come with consequences—called light pollution—whose effects scientists are only now beginning to study. Light pollution is largely the result of bad lighting design, which allows artificial light to shine outward and upward into the sky. Ill-designed lighting washes out the darkness of night and completely changes the light levels—and light rhythms—to which many forms of life, including ourselves, have adapted. Wherever human light spills into the natural world, some aspect of life is affected.

In most cities the sky looks as though it has been emptied of stars, leaving behind a vacant haze (霜) that mirrors our fear of the dark. We’ve grown so used to this orange haze that the original glory of an unlit night—dark enough for the planet Venus to throw shadows on Earth-is wholly beyond our experience, beyond memory almost.

We’ve lit up the night as if it were an unoccupied country, when nothing could be further from the truth. Among mammals alone, the number of nocturnal species is astonishing. Light is a powerful biological force, and on many species it acts as a magnet (磁铁). The effect is so powerful that scientists speak of songbirds and seabirds being “captured” by searchlights on land or by the light from gas flares on marine oil platforms. Migrating at night, birds tend to collide with brightly lit tall buildings.

Frogs living near brightly lit highways suffer nocturnal light levels that are as much as a million times brighter than normal, throwing nearly every aspect of their behavior out of joint, including their nighttime breeding choruses. Humans are no less trapped by light pollution than the frogs. Like most other creatures, we do need darkness. Darkness is as essential to our biological welfare, to our internal clockwork, as light itself.

Living in a glare of our own making, we have cut ourselves off from our evolutionary and cultural heritage—the light of the stars and the rhythms of day and night. In a very real sense, light pollution causes us to lose sight of our true place in the universe, to forget the scale of our being, which is best measured against the dimensions of a deep night with the Milky Way—the edge of our galaxy—arching overhead.

1. Which of the followings has the similar meaning to the underlined word “diurnal” in Paragraph 1?

A．Everyday.	B．Routine.
C．Daytime	D．Nighttime.

2. The writer mentions birds and frogs to ________.

A．provide examples of animal protection

B．show how light pollution affects animals

C．compare the living habits of both species

D．explain why the number of certain species has declined

3. It is implied in the last paragraph that ________.

A．light pollution does harm to the eyesight of animals

B．light pollution has destroyed some of the world heritages

C．human beings cannot go to the outer space

D．human beings should reflect on their position in the universe

4. What might be the best title for the passage?

A．The Magic Light.	B．The Orange Haze.
C．The Disappearing Night.	D．The Rhythms of Nature.

【推荐3】Everyone needs friends．We all like to feel close to someone.   It is nice to have a friend to talk, laugh and do things with．Surely, sometimes we need to be alone. We don’t always want people around.But we would feel lonely if we never had a friend.
No two people are the same.Sometimes friends don’t get along well.That doesn’t mean that they no longer like each other．Most of the time they will go on being friends．Sometimes friends move away.Then we feel very sad．We miss them very much．But we can call them and write to them．Maybe we would never see them again．And we can make new friends．It is surprising to find out how much we like new people when we get to know them．Families sometimes name their children after a close friend．Many places are named after men and women, if they are friendly to people in a town．Some libraries are named this way．So are some schools．We think of these people when we go to these places.
There’s more good news for people, if they have friends．These people live longer than those people who don’t have friends．Why? It could be that they are happier．Being happy helps you stay well．Or it could be just knowing that someone cares about you．If someone cares about you, you take better care of yourself.
1. The first paragraph tells us _________.

A．none need friends

B．we always need friends around us

C．making friends is the need in people’s life

D．we need to be alone

2. Which of the following is what the writer doesn’t say in the passage?

A．People are happy when their friends leave them．

B．People may never see their friends after their friends move away．

C．People name their children after a close friend．

D．People like their friends very much if they get to know them．

3. This passage tells us_________．

A．that people are all friends	B．that people need friends
C．how to get to know friends	D．how to name a place

【推荐1】Northern Lights in a Superjeep

Tour Operator: Superdeep. is Travel method: Jeep/4x4 Region: Capital Region

The northern lights are a natural wonder, ethereal sheets of green and blue lights swaying across the starry night sky.

To see the lights, you need to get out of the city lights on a clear winter's night. The northern lights guides are experts at finding the best spot for viewing the elusive(难以得到的) lights, giving you the very best chance possible to see them. Travelling in a small group means that your moment under the northern lights will be intimate and personal and the sturdy vehicle also allows for a greater range of movement. The superjeep drivers can get off the beaten path and take you to places where it's just you, the Icelandic nature and the northern lights.

Important information

This tour lasts 3-4 hours. Free pick-up from your hotel in the capital area begins at 20: 00.

From 15/09-31/09 and 15/03-15/04. The pickup starts at 21: 00 due to a longer daylight.

It is vital to wear comfortable and appropriate clothing like waterproof, walking shoes, dress in layers to be able to enjoy your journey to the fullest.

Attention

The Northern Lights Superjeep tour is dependent on the weather and sky conditions and we reserve the right to cancel at any time. If the evening tour goes ahead and the Northern Lights are not seen, we will offer the trip again for free!

We make the decision around 17: 00 every day if the tour is on or not due to weather condition. Please contact us around 17: 00 on the day of your our to confirm the forecast is good and tour is ON at info@superjeep. is or call 00 354 569 8000.

Dress for the worst, hope for the best and prepare to be surprised.

1. Why is joining in the Northern Lights Superjeep tour a good choice?

A．Because it helps tourists find the only viewing spot of the northern lights.

B．Because it provides tourists with a small-group personalized experience.

C．Because it allows travelling with many friends or companions around.

D．Because it ensures an amazing trip with a limited range of movement.

2. From the advertisement we know that___________.

A．a free pick-up in the capital area is available at 20: 00 every day.

B．dressing formally is important for tourists to fully enjoy the trip.

C．tourists are supposed to confirm the trip is on as early as possible.

D．weather conditions are a great concern for the tour operator.

【推荐2】Here are four homes for sale around the U. S. with links to past presidents, as well as their close families.

John F. Kennedy’s Weekend Retreat

A modest farm near Middle burg, Virginia, was built by John F. Kennedy and his wife in the early 1960s. The former first lady designed it herself. The four-bedroom property is currently back on the market for $5.95 million, decreased by $10.99 million when it was first put up for sale in 2013.

Jackie Kennedy’s Summer House

Another Kennedy-linked property for sale is the “Lasata” estate in the Hamptons, designed by architect Arthur C. Jackson and built in 1917. Set on more than seven acres of land near the ocean, it includes a ten-bedroom house that was restored in 2007, including a three-car garage building. It’s on the market for $38.995 million, a little bit higher than last year.

Chester A. Arthur’s Summer White House

Chester A. Arthur, who became the 21st president in 1881, spent some of his down time here. The three-story, six-bedroom Victorian mansion, which was built in 1796 and has been recently restored, is for sale with a $14.2 million price tag. Features include a library with fireplace, a formal dining and living room and a family room overlooking the garden and the swimming pool.

Barack Obama’s Summer Rental

This Martha’s Vineyard home which was built in the late twentieth century served as the summer White House to former President Obama. It is currently for sale for $19.125 million, down from $22.5 million in July 2015. Set on nine-and-a-half acres of land and with its own private road, this property no doubt acts as a perfect summer hideaway for those who didn’t want his every movement seen. In addition to privacy, other features include a heated pool, a half-basketball court, outdoor terraces and a two-bedroom guest cottage.

1. Which house has the longest history?

A．Barack Obama’s Summer Rental.

B．Jackie Kennedy’s Summer House.

C．Chester A. Arthur’s Summer White House.

D．John F. Kennedy’s Weekend Retreat.

2. What is the feature of Barack Obama’s Summer Rental?

A．Privacy.

B．Architecture.

C．Location.

D．Price.

3. What do the four houses have in common?

A．Their prices are going down these years.

B．They have connections with U. S. presidents.

C．They have a history of more than a century.

D．They have more than 5 bedrooms in the house.

【推荐3】116th Annual Florence County Fair

August 23-24-25, 2019
Florence County Fair Park
5505 County Highway N; Florence, WI

This Florence County Fair marks the 116th annual anniversary celebration of our family-friendly tradition. While many items and activities have changed throughout the years, one very important item has not changed. The Florence County Fair is a celebration of varied talents of our Florence County residents as well as serving as a showcase of our County’s agricultural and natural resources.

New Contests and Activities Added

We have added multiple new contests and activities, such as the Secret Life of My Pets Tea Party, special exhibit contests, a Polka mass and music by Jerry Voelker and the Jolly Gents.

Low Admission Prices

Adults (ages 12 & older)     $10.00 per person

Kids (ages 11 & under)     Free

Seniors (ages 65 & older)   $5.00 per person

Exhibitors        $5.00 per person

Parking

No charge for parking at the Florence County Fair Park; however, space is limited. Parking will be restricted on County N near the two entry gates for vehicles entering and exiting the fairgrounds.

Additional Costs to Participate

Once you are at the fair, most of the entertainment and activities are free to watch and participate in. Out of all those activities, there are some which require an additional entry fee for you to participate in-the Classic Car and Motorcycle Show, the Mud Bog, and the ATV/UTV games.

All of our music, old-fashioned kids games, Magic Show and Air-Powered Rocket Workshop, horse pull, Grandma’s Garden, plus many more activities are all free to attend and participate in.

Our goal is to keep our 116th Annual County tradition a family-friendly event affordable for everyone who is attending. We hope to see you there!

Contact Us

If you have questions regarding the fair, please let us know.

Call the Fair Office at 906-282-9153.

E-mail us at florencecountyfair@hotmail.com.

1. What can we learn about Florence County Fair?

A．It has a history of 161 years.

B．It has added some fresh activities.

C．It is open for about a month.

D．It is free for all the kids and the old.

2. Which of the following activities needs an extra fee?

A．Old-fashioned kids games.	B．A Polka mass and music.
C．The Mud Bog.	D．Grandma’s Garden.

3. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To inform the readers.	B．To remind the readers.
C．To educate the readers.	D．To amuse the readers.

【推荐1】Grand Opening

Bentwood Truck Museum

Saturday, November 8, at 10:00 A. M.

After eighteen months of hard work by more than 100 volunteers, the Bentwood Truck Museum is ready to open. The old factory had been scheduled to be destroyed. When Roger Haygood heard about the plans to tear down the building, he bought it so that he could store his collection of old trucks there. Then he had the idea of turning the building into a truck museum.

During the past year and a half, the old building has been transformed into a treasure chest of memories. Instead of a dark and dull house, the building has become a cheery, bright home for all kinds of trucks from the past. The museum now houses 68 trucks, and we hope to have even more soon. There is a 1959 school bus, a 1942 bakery truck, and a 1937 fire engine. Our oldest vehicle is a 1919 milk truck. Our newest vehicle is a 1966 tow truck.

You can take a ride on a fire truck, a mail truck, or an ice-cream truck. Rides are $ 2.00, but you can get a ticket for a free ride at any grocery store in Bentwood.

Help us celebrate our grand opening by bringing your family and friends! There is something to interest everyone who attends. The Bentwood Truck Museum is a special piece of our history.

● To get to Bentwood Truck Museum, take Route 29 (Kingston Highway) to Palmer Street.

● Go south on Palmer Street for one block and take a left onto Norman Drive.

● You will see the museum building and the amusement park on your left.

● Parking is available across the street, on your right.

1. In which of the following can visitors take a ride?

A．A milk truck.

B．An ice-cream truck.

C．A bakery truck.

D．A school bus.

2. Where is Bentwood Truck Museum?

A．On Norman Drive.

B．On Palmer Street.

C．On Kingston Highway.

D．On Route 29.

3. What is special about this museum?

A．It is built on the ruins of an old building.

B．It offers visitors free rides to the museum.

C．It exhibits trucks dating back to 200 years ago.

D．It’s transformed from an old factory by volunteers.

【推荐2】Cruising along the long country road in my car, I was singing at the top of my lungs to help pass the time. It was just before midnight and I was making the two-hour journey to see my then-boyfriend, Richard, who lived two hours apart.

Around 20 minutes in, I was driving down a straight stretch of road, when my steering wheel started jerking from side to side and the car shook violently. The wind is strong here, I thought. But when my car suddenly pulled to the other side of the road, the reality of what was happening dawned on me. I was in the middle of an earthquake!

Situated between a mountain on one side and power lines on the other, I was far too scared to stop in case they came crashing down on top of me. Instead, I decided the safest option was to keep driving slowly. But, as the ground continued to shake beneath me, I grew more frightened by the second.

When it finally stopped, I found a safe place to pull over and check my mobile for reception. But there was nothing. Shaken, I was desperate to make my way to the nearest town to find service as quickly as possible.

Traveling at around 100km/h, I noticed a strange shadow on the road ahead. As I got closer, I realized the bridge in front of me had been removed from the road and had risen around 30 centimeters from the ground. I hit the brakes, but there was no way I could slow down in time. Crashing straight into the raised road, my car broke down finally.

Pain tore through my neck and body. I got out and ran to safety on the other side of the road and screamed for help. But, alone in the dead of night, there was no one around to hear me. Thankfully, around 15 minutes later, I saw two headlights in the distance.

1. Why was the author driving on the country road?

A．To pass the time.	B．To meet her boyfriend.
C．To break up with Richard.	D．To escape from a natural disaster.

2. The author realized an earthquake happened ________.

A．before the wind became strong

B．after the steering wheel started jerking

C．as soon as the car started to shake violently

D．when her car pulled to the other side of the road

3. Why did the author keep driving after the earthquake happened?

A．Because she was too panic to apply the brake.

B．Because she tried to get out of the high-risk area.

C．Because she wanted to contact the outside world for help.

D．Because she was desperate to find service as soon as possible.

4. What would most probably happen to the author at last?

A．She was rescued by others before long.	B．She had to repair her car on her own.
C．She waited in the dark for help but in vain.	D．She warned other drivers of the raised road.

【推荐3】It is a long time since I took up teaching. During my teaching career, I often ask my students to read the text until they can recite them, and I tell them that recitation is an important part of their homework. However, some of my students are tired of doing so, thinking that it is both hard and useless. They argue that it takes a long time to recite a text from memory and text itself never appears in a test paper.

In my opinion, it does take time to recite a text, but it is worth doing so. When you are able to recite a text, you are sure to be familiar with the words and expressions. When you need them in reading or writing or doing exercises, they will come to your mind quickly, and so you will give quick response to all kinds of language situation. How can we say that it is useless?

Besides, many students complain that they soon forget what they were once able to recite. This is true, but you don't need to worry. While you are reading and forgetting the texts, your language level is being raised. Sure you don't remember your Chinese texts that you once read in the primary school, but now you are able to read novels and newspaper. So , recitation of the texts will help you improve your language ability．

1. What do the students think about the teacher's advice? ______

A．The English teacher asks them to do something useless．

B．The English teacher is very kind to them．

C．The English teacher should let them study on their own．

D．The English teacher tries his best to help them with English．

2. According to the text，which of the following is correct? ______

A．The teacher thinks the students are too naughty to learn English well．

B．The students think they spend a lot of time in reciting the texts and get nothing．

C．The students say that they often forget the words．

D．The students take no interest in English．

3. When the students are against his suggestion, the writer ______ ．

A．often criticizes them

B．wants to give up his idea

C．patiently explains to them why they should recite the texts

D．is afraid that he is criticized by the headmaster．

4. Why does the writer suggest that the students recite the text? ______

A．Reciting the texts can greatly improve the classroom teaching．

B．Reciting the texts is the best way of learning English．

C．The students should remember all the texts that the teacher has taught them．

D．Reciting the texts can improve the ability of applying (应用)English．