【推荐2】Cool temperatures, golden colors of autumn and dramatic events are just three reasons to visit Oregon’s Washington County this fall. The season brings a large number of places to see and things to do. We’ve collected some of the best reasons why you should plan a trip here in the coming months.
It’s a Harvest Season
Autumn marks the height of the agricultural season, which not only means a variety of autumn fruits and vegetables at the farmers’ markets, but also means that the season is heating up with fun, family farm events. Three apple festivals this fall will celebrate the diversity and deliciousness of Oregon-grown apples.
The Colors Are Changing
On a cool, autumn day, the rural, agricultural and forested scenery of Oregon’s Washington County comes alive with bright red, orange and yellow leaves --- a stark contrast to the deep, dark green of the trees that share these landscapes.
Bird Migration Season Is in High Season
September and October are busy months for bird watchers. Migratory and native birds call Washington County “home”, whether it’s for the winter or they’re just visiting on their southern voyage.
Wine Harvest Season Brings Signature Tasting Events
Celebrate the splendor of Oregon wine at two of the region’s biggest wine events, which happen annually in the fall. The North Willamette Harvest Trail and Grand Tasting is a full-day guided bus tour to three wineries featuring hands-on experiences, vineyard exploration, a wine country lunch, and wine tastings.
Experience Tree-to-Tree Adventures at Sunset
Enjoy the crisp temperatures and rich colors of the season at Tree to Tree Adventure Park, an aerial ropes course with six challenging courses and zip-line park, all rolled into one. These are the final months to enjoy this fun and exciting attraction until it closes for the season in November.
Plan your own Oregon’s Washington County autumn getaway. Read this great digital visitor guide for ideas and inspiration.
1. When you go to the farmers’ markets ______.

A．you can get kinds of apples for free

B．you can make friends with farmers

C．you can join in the celebrations

D．you can feel satisfied with fun

2. The bird watchers go to Washington County ______.

A．because they are attracted by colorful leaves

B．because the native birds leave their home

C．because they can see different kinds of birds

D．because the birds start their southern voyage

3. It can be inferred from the fifth paragraph that ______.

A．the wine event is to be held in the coming winter

B．farmers are good at growing grape in Oregon

C．the three wineries are most famous in America

D．few tourists like tasting the wine in wineries

4. If you love the aerial ropes course ______.

A．you must face six competitions in Oregon

B．you should have experience in rolling

C．you must take ropes course in advance

D．you can visit Oregon in the fall season

5. Which is the best title for the passage?

A．Reasons to Visit Oregon’s Washington County

B．Washington County Welcomes its Best Season

C．Charm of the Colorful Season

D．Take Adventures in the Coming Autumn

【推荐3】Let’s have fun!

Big Hugs Elmo
Sesame Street Big Hugs Elmo. There are so many ways to play with Sesame Street Big Hugs Elmo! When preschoolers give Elmo a great big hug, he’ll hug back, say fun phrases or sing a sweet song about hugs! Press Elmo’s left foot and he will invite children to join in 1 of 4 imagination activities. There are 50 plus lively sounds and phrases. Elmo loves getting hugs from you. Let’s play.
Furby Boom Figure—Peacock
A whole new generation of Furby creatures is about to be born! Dust off your Furbish dictionary and get ready to party with your Furby Boon creature! Your Furby has a mind of its own, and the way you treat your Furby will shape its personality—so the more fun you have with it, the better! It speaks more English the more you play with it. Tickle（挠痒）your Furby, talk to it, and feed it.
FurReal Friends Cuddles My Giggly Monkey
Cuddles My Giggly Monkey responds in lifelike ways to being loved and cared for. Feed her with the banana-shaped bottle and she will move her mouth like a real baby monkey, make slurping sounds, and even say “mm” when she’s full! Snuggle（偎依）her close and she will turn to snuggle right back while making sweet, lovable monkey sounds. When it’s time for bed, rock Cuddles, and she will also sleepy sounds.
The First Flower Girl Doll—Disney Sofia
Your little Sofia then first fan will love this target-exclusive 10 flower girl doll; she is inspired by the hit animated series from Disney Junior, Sofia the First. This beautiful Sofia doll is beautifully dressed in a never-before0seen gown inspired by the flower girl fashion she wore at her mom’s royal wedding.
1. Big Hugs Elmo is intended for ________.

A．teenagers	B．kids under five
C．elders	D．girls

2. Which of the following toys is inspired by the character from an animated series?

A．My Giggly Monkey.	B．Peacock.
C．Disney Sofia.	D．Big Hugs Elmo.

3. Furby is able to ________.

A．make slurping sounds	B．give kids a hug
C．sing a sweet song	D．speak more if you talk with it

【推荐1】While Google, Bing and Yahoo dominate adult search engine choices, they are not always the best choice for students. The sites on this list are good search engines that students can rely on.

Fact Monster

Homework help is always on hand with Fact Monster (www.factmonster.com). It is mainly fit for students aged from 7 to 12. There are also all kinds of games, spelling tests and more for kids to improve their study and have some fun.

Ask Kids

Ask Kids (www.askkids.com) is a great site for students to safely find the information they need from the web. Besides being a useful and safe search engine, Ask Kids also has a useful picture and video search function that allows students to find pictures or videos that may be useful to their information search.

SortFix

SortFix (www.sortfix.com) is one of the useful search engines for students because it provides relevant, organized search results. It does this by analysing the keywords in the search results, and giving the searcher the ability to focus on, or remove, certain keywords. It is a useful search engine if you are not sure what information you want to find, or if you are tired of finding irrelevant results in your searches.

Wolfram Alpha

Created by Stephen Wolfram, Wolfram Alpha (www.wolframalpha.com) can calculate things that it would take a hundred or more individual websites to do. It uses a set of ways to answer questions directly that you type into the search box, which is different from other websites. You can find everything from the nutritional value of an apple to the real-time position of the International Space Station. An Apple app is offered so that you can add it to any iPod Touch devices. It is best suited for older students.

1. If you keep getting the results you don’t want, which will you probably use?

A．Fact Monster.

B．Ask Kids.

C．SortFix.

D．Wolfram Alpha

2. What group of students is Fact Monster designed for?

A．Primary schoolers favoring academic help.

B．Secondary schoolers in want of images.

C．High schoolers searching for accurate information.

D．College students using mobile devices for clear search results.

3. What’s special about Wolfram Alpha?

A．It offers answers directly.

B．It provides games for kids.

C．It focuses on solving maths problems.

D．It is intended for astronomy enthusiasts.

4. Which website is worth recommendation to students needing visual materials?

A．www.factmonster.com	B．www.askkids.com
C．www.sortfix.com	D．www.wolframalpha.com

5. What’s the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To recommend four useful apps

B．To advertise four interesting websites.

C．To list the top four popular websites in the US.

D．To introduce four student-friendly search engines.

【推荐2】◇Share flats happy valley big flat, 1 room ready for use immediately. quiet and convenient, fully furnished, park view. $6, 800 including bills with maid. female nonsmoker. no pet. sara 25720836 or 10077809.
◇ moving sale 2 armchairs, red/brown at $400 each; coffee table, black, wood, $800; oil painting, big, $900; tianjin carpet, green 3×7, $600; double bed, $500; mirror, big, square, $500; fridge, big, double-door, $1000; old pictures, $140, up, each; plants, big and small. tel: weekend, 2521-6011/weekday, 2524-5867.
◇ part-time laboratory assistant wanted required by busy electronics(电子) company to help with development of computer. should have an electronics degree and some practical experience of working in an electronics laboratory. hours 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. mon.-fri. fourteen days paid leave. salary ￥6598-￥10230 dependent on experience. letter of application to: mrs. g chan, nova electronics, 45 gordon rd, hung hom kowloon.
1. The one who put on the first ad probably wants to _______.

A．rent(租) a beautiful flat of her own in happy valley

B．find another lady to share the cost to rent a flat

C．share her room in a flat with whoever has no pet

D．take on a maid to look after herself and the flat

2. According to the ads, you may _______.

A．call at 2521-6011 and see a beautiful park

B．buy an old picture for $150

C．buy two armchairs for $ 400

D．hire a maid by paying $6 800

3. If you want to buy some old furniture, you may_______.

A．get in touch with nova electronics

B．call at 2524-5867 any day except Monday

C．do it before you move to another place

D．call at either 2524-5867 on Monday or 2521-6011 on Saturday

4. Once you can get a part-time job in nova electronics, _______.

A．you have to work at least 4 hours a day

B．you should write a letter to mrs. g chan

C．you will get no more than $6 598 each money

D．you will be given 14 days off each year besides weekends

【推荐1】Ever walked to the shops only to find, once there, you’ve completely forgotten what you went for? Or struggled to remember the name of an old friend? For years we’ve accepted that a forgetful brain is as much a part of aging as wrinkles and gray hair. But now a new book suggests that we’ve got it all wrong.

According to The Secret Life of the Grown-up Brain, by science writer Barbara Strauch, when it comes to the important things, our brains actually get better with age. In fact, she argues that some studies have found that our brain hits its peak between our 40s and 60s — much later than previously thought.

Furthermore, rather than losing many brain cells as we age, we keep them, and even produce new ones well into middle age. For years it’s been assumed that brain, much like the body, declines with age. But the longest, largest study into what happens to people as they age suggests otherwise.

This continuing research has followed 6,000 people since 1956, testing them every seven years. It has found that on average, participants performed better on cognitive (认知的) tests in their 40s and 50s than they had done in their 20s. Specifically, older people did better on tests of vocabulary, verbal memory (how many words you can remember) and problem solving. Where they performed less well was number ability and perceptual speed — how fast you can push a button when ordered. However, with more complex tasks such as problem-solving and language, we are at our best at middle age and beyond. In short, researchers are now coming up with scientific proof that we do get wiser with age.

Neuroscientists are also finding that we are happier with aging. A recent US study found older people were much better at controlling and balancing their emotions. It is thought that when we’re younger we need to focus more on the negative aspects of life in order to learn about the possible dangers in the world, but as we get older we’ve learned our lessons and are aware that we have less time left in life: therefore, it becomes more important for us to be happy.

1. Barbara Strauch probably agrees that ______.

A．the young are better at handling important things

B．wrinkles and gray hair are the only symbols of aging

C．aging leads to the decline of the function of the brain

D．people’s brains work best between their 40s and 60s

2. The continuing research has found older people perform better on ______.

A．vocabulary tests	B．number ability
C．perceptual speed	D．body balance

3. People are happier with aging because ______.

A．they know how to share feelings	B．they learn to value the time left
C．they cannot focus on negative aspects	D．they do not realize the possible dangers

4. What is the main idea of the passage?

A．People get happier with age.	B．People get more forgetful with age.
C．People get wiser with age.	D．People get more self-aware with age.

【推荐2】Sydney Tower

Address: 100 Market St, Sydney

Phone: 02 9333 9222

Fax: 02 9333 9203

Open time : 9:00 am to 10:30 pm (Saturdays to 11:30 pm)

Ticket: $60 (for an adult)        $30 (for a child)

Website: www.sydneytower.com.au

How to get there: train to Town Hall Station and a short walk along Market Street

How to book tickets: by phone / fax or through the web

Attraction: Sydney’s best views are just the beginning! Sydney Tower takes you to the highest point above Sydney for exciting 360° views of our beautiful city.

1. Sydney Tower is ________ in Sydney, Australia.

A．the busiest street	B．The biggest station
C．The most beautiful park	D．The highest point

2. If you want to book a ticket to Sydney Tower, you can phone________.

A．02 9332 9222

B．02 9333 9222

C．02 9332 9203

D．02 9333 9223

3. Frank wants to go to Sydney Tower with his two children, so he will pay____.

A．$ 60

B．$ 90

C．$120

D．$150

【推荐3】The cost of living in countries like the United States, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years, But, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. So, if you have the flexibility of living wherever you please, and want to live in a country the cost of living is the cheapest in the world, check out these 3 countries when planning your next move.

1. Cambodia

Cambodia may not be the first country that comes to mind when you think of a tropical paradise, but it’s pretty close. The added bonus is that living here is insanely cheap, unlike some other tropical getaways. A luxury home with four bedrooms and a pool would only cost about $600 a month. A decent three bedroom vacation home can be purchased here for just $20,000. And, for only about $2,000 a year, you can also hire a gardener and housekeeper to take care of your property.

2. Ecuador

Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result, it has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out everyday than cook for yourself on a budget in the U.S. You can even buy a property for around 50,000 and hire someone to tend to it while you’re away.

3. Mexico

Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there are many wealthier areas that provide every amenity (便利设施) you might need. You can live off a mere $700 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, amenities, food, and any sightseeing.

1. How much money do you need to pay to look after your property for a year in Cambodia?

A．$600.	B．$2,000.
C．$20,000.	D．$7,00.

2. In which country you can enjoy a life like in America?

A．Cambodia.	B．Mexico.
C．Ecuador.	D．China.

3. What things will you be unable to enjoy in Mexico?

A．Any scenery.	B．Amenities.
C．A nice place.	D．Tropical climate.

【推荐1】One day when some government officials were rebuilding a barn, they found a mouse hole in a corner and used smoke to force the mice inside the hole to come out. A while later they really saw mice running out, one after another. Then, everyone thought that all the mice had escaped. But just as they began to clean up, they saw two mice squeezing out at the mouth of the hole. With some efforts, the mice finally got out. However, after they came out of the hole, they did not run away immediately. Instead, one chased after the other near the mouth of the hole. It seemed that one was trying to bite the tail of the other.

Everyone was puzzled, so they stepped nearer to take a look. They realized that one of the mice was blind and could not see anything, and the other was trying to allow the blind mouse to bite on his tail so that he could pull the blind one with him to escape.

After seeing what happened, everyone was speechless and lost in thought. During the meal time, the group of people sat down in a circle and started to talk about what happened to the two mice.

One serious American official said, “I think the relationship between those two mice was that of king and guard.” The others thought for a while and said, “That was why!”

A clever French said, “I think the relationship between those two mice was that of husband and wife.” Again the others thought for a while, and all felt it made sense.

A Japanese said, “I think the relationship between those two mice was that of mother and son.” Once again the others thought for a while, and felt this was more reasonable. So they expressed agreement another time.

At that moment, one Chinese asked, “Why did those two mice have to have a certain relationship?”

Suddenly, the group looked back at the Chinese and remained speechless. The American official, the French and the Japanese who had spoken earlier all lowered their heads in shame, and did not dare to answer.

In fact, true love is not built on friendship, loyalty or blood relationship. Instead, it is built on no relationship.

1. Neither of the two mice ran away immediately because ________.

A．one was biting the other	B．they were not afraid of smoke
C．the mouth of the hole was too small	D．one was trying to help the blind one

2. The underlined part “it made sense” in Paragraph 5 probably means ________.

A．it was reasonable	B．it was funny
C．it was sweet	D．it was strange

3. It is clear that ________.

A．all the mice came out of the hole easily

B．the officials wanted to kill the mice with smoke

C．each of the officials understood the relationship differently

D．The officials knew one of the mice was blind at first sight

4. What can we learn from the story?

A．Love me, love my dog.	B．There is no smoke without fire.
C．A friend in need is a friend indeed.	D．Love is selfless and unconditional.

【推荐2】People who have kids live longer than those who remain childless, an academic study has suggested. Researchers believe it is because adults’ immune systems are “refreshed” when kids go to nursery and start picking up infections.

During the course of someone’s life, their immune system can become weaker. But when kids start bringing infections home, their parents’ immune systems get a workout. Non-parents — unless they are teachers or nurses perhaps — do not get the same exposure to infection.

Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, Miguel Portela said parents had less risk of dying from infection than non-parents and if they did, it was about five years later. He said that “a parent’s immune system is refreshed by a child’s infections at a time when their own protection starts wearing thin.” He added, “With this improved immune system, the parent has a better chance to defend whatever infections that might strike when old and weak and parenthood is rewarded in individual terms through an improved immunization against infections.” Naturally there are other reasons why some people live longer than others, but they may not be comparable with becoming a parent. The academics say that high income and house ownership are always associated with higher survival but less so than having children.

Mr. Portela admits the research is far from complete, saying that while the results “record a relationship between the presence of children and death rate, the specific transmission mechanisms remain unclear. He acknowledges the presence of other, perhaps behavioral factors in parents which result in changed death rate compared to individuals without children.” He adds, “While the relationships of lifestyle choices such as smoking, obesity, drinking and other behavioral factors with life expectancy and causes of death are well studied and understood, the same cannot be said for the individual decision to become a parent”.

1. Why did Mr. Portela say “parents had less risk of dying from infection than non-parents”?

A．Parents have healthier lifestyles.

B．Parents have less exposure to infection.

C．Parents have higher ability to fight against infections.

D．Parents have less experience to fight against infections.

2. How are parents protected against infections?

A．By being exposed to their kids’ infection.	B．By working out with their kids.
C．By refreshing their kids’ life.	D．By strengthening their kids’ infection.

3. What can we infer from the research?

A．Rich life benefits parents more than having children.

B．Lack of sleep has nothing to do with life expectancy.

C．The presence of children can improve parents’ health

D．Behavioral factors contribute to higher death rate than having no children.

4. What’s the best title for the passage?

A．Parents and Non-parents	B．How to Achieve Longer Life Expectancy?
C．How Is Parents’ Immune Systems Changed?	D．Children’s Effect on Parents’ Immune System

【推荐3】Food experts say washing could spread the germs on your turkey in the kitchen sink or nearby food. But it's been a challenge trying to convince cooks to stop rinsing(冲洗）off raw poultry. Germs that can make people sick are common in the guts of healthy poultry and are legally allowed to be on raw turkey and chicken. The assumption is that nobody eats their poultry raw, and that thorough cooking will kill the bacteria.

The do-not-wash raw poultry advice from the USDA is relatively new and perhaps hasn't caught on because it goes against the common belief that washing makes things clean, said Chapman. Benjamin Chapman, a study author and food safety expert at North Carolina State University, said the instinct to wash raw poultry goes back at least decades when people relied more on visual clues to spot problems with poultry. Meanwhile, washing hands and surfaces are also important.

But food preparation is a complicated act, and germs from poultry can be spread even if it's not washed, especially when birds are removed from packaging.

The USDA-funded study stresses that point. Researchers sprayed raw chicken with a harmless strain of E. coli(大肠杆菌）and watched volunteer cooks at test kitchens. Among those who washed their raw chicken, about a quarter ended up spreading the bacteria to their lettuce. But even some of those who did not rinse the chicken got germs on the lettuce. And there are_other opportunities for germs to survive on turkeys:melting and cooking.

To ensure a bird is thoroughly cooked, they say to use a thermometer to check that the deepest and thickest parts of it have reached 165 degrees. Even after the meal is cooked, you aren't out of the danger zone. To keep turkeys and other leftovers safe, experts say they should be refrigerated after two hours.

1. People don't accept USDA 's advice because__________

A．the advice is relatively new.

B．cooks clean the turkey before cooking it.

C．heat can kill most. germs and no one eats raw food.

D．cleaning seems more trustworthy.

2. What can be concluded from Paragraph 4?

A．Germs from a turkey can be spread whether it is washed or not.

B．Food packages carry germs.

C．Hands and surfaces are easy to get E. coli.

D．Multiple methods should be applied to food to get rid of germs.

3. Which way may help to cook a turkey safely?

A．Rinse off the turkey before it is heated.

B．Keep the turkey away from the lettuce and refrigerator.

C．Use a thermometer to check the temperature of the turkey.

D．Wash hands and packages before taking out the turkey.

4. From which section of a magazine is the text probably taken?

A．Cooking.

B．Technology.

C．Medicine

D．Science.