【推荐1】National Park Association of Queensland Activities Vegetation Management Group

Saturday 14th March 2020

Location: Jolly’ s Lookout carpark, D’Aguilar National Park

Leader: Angus McElnea (0429854446 or gus mcelnea@hotmail.com)

Get your hands dirty! Come and spend a couple of hours to help with lantana(a type of flowering plant) control and revegetation(植被再造) work in the Boombana and Jolly’s Lookout areas of D’Aguilar National Park, west of Brisbane.

Wynnum North Boardwalk

Sunday 15th March 2020

Location: Wynnum North Boardwalk Leader: Jocelyn Dixon (0733788486)

Fee: $5(members) $10(non-members)

Join with us to view the water and bush birds of this area. A track from Wynnum North Road leads to a secret place for viewing a diverse mix of birds walking around in water. From there we will take a short walk to the Mangrove Boardwalk.

May Long Weekend Camp

Saturday 2nd May to Monday 4th May 2020 Leader: Tony Parsons (0433224544)

Join us for a long weekend in Border Rangers National Park, camping at Sheep Station Creek campground. Spend the days exploring the national park, and evenings around the campfire. We will have the chance to view Mt Warning from the Pinnacle at sunrise and sunset. Bring your family and stay for the weekend or come down for a day. It will be enjoyable.

Central West Qld National Parks

Saturday 29th August to Sunday 6th September 2020 Leader: Wendy Bell(0733002473)

Exciting opportunity to visit and explore at least six national parks in the comfort of a big coach and be accommodated, rather than camping. Basic cost of the tour is $3, 400 per person. Total cost includes all transport, all meals, and activity fees.

1. Who will you call if you are interested in bird-watching?

A．Angus McElnea.

B．Jocelyn Dixon.

C．Tony Parsons.

D．Wendy Bell.

2. In which of the activities will a fire be built?

A．May Long Weekend Camp.	B．Wynnum North Boardwalk.
C．Vegetation Management Group.	D．Central West Qld National Parks.

3. How is Central West Qld National Parks different from the other activities?

A．It is a weekend activity.

B．Lots of walking is involved.

C．The organizer provides the transport.

D．Visitors have to bring their own food.

【推荐3】If you are travelling in Britain, besides so many world-class things to see and do in London, planning a day trip away from it can also be worthwhile.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge consists of a group of huge standing stones. The 5,000-year-old stones are one of the world’s biggest mysteries that no one has figured out yet. While exploring Stonehenge, you can imagine wildly and decide for yourself how the stones came to be there and why. Although you can’t touch the stones, you can walk among them and feel the changes of seasons.

Windsor

Most people visit Windsor to see Windsor Castle, where the Queen spends most of her time. The castle itself could keep you busy for days. The best way to appreciate Windsor Castle is to approach via the Long Walk, a straight road where there are no cars, but you might see some deer.

Oxford

Oxford is best known for its world-famous university. The large student population keeps the atmosphere young and fresh, though there’s no shortage of history if you want it. 30 colleges make up the university itself. A tour of the colleges is a must—Harry Potter fans will recognize various locations used in the movies.

Bath

Founded by the Romans, who used the area’s springs to create a spa retreat（水疗中心）, Bath’s now the best tourist attraction of Southwest England. Visitors never miss the Roman Bath Complex, which is divided into four main parts—the Bath House, the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple and the museum, which displays fascinating finds from the historical ruins of the city.

1. What remains a mystery about Stonehenge?

A．How long it has been there.	B．Why the stones can’t be touched.
C．How the stones came there.	D．Why it changes with seasons.

2. If you want to visit some shooting sites of Harry Potter, you should go to ________.

A．London	B．Oxford University
C．Windsor Castle	D．Bath House

3. We can learn from the text that ________.

A．London is no longer a popular tourist destination

B．visitors will be received by the Queen in Windsor Castle

C．the large number of college students adds freshness to Oxford

D．the historical ruins of Bath is not worth visiting

【推荐1】They say that“travel is the best teacher” and there is no better example of this idea than the Ming dynasty travel writer and geographer Xu Xiake(1587﹣1641). His book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake,not only encouraged a love of travelling among Chinese people but provided important scientific information about the country’s land and geography.

Born into a wealthy Jiangyin family,Xu became interested in books about different places at an early age and wanted to travel. When he was 18,however. Xu’s father died and so,it seemed,did his travelling dreams. He now was responsible for the family farm and taking care of his 60﹣year﹣old mother as tradition required.

But his mother had different ideas. Understanding her son’s love of travel and valuing the knowledge he could get from such experiences,this modern-thinking woman refused to keep her son at home. She agreed that Xu could travel for three months every year,when there was less farm work.

So at the age of twenty and with his mother’s support,Xu set off for the first time,leaving behind not only his mother but his new wife as well. He would repeat this goodbye each year for most of the next 30 years. During this time,he travelled throughout the Ming kingdom,carefully studying the lands he passed through and recording his experiences and many discoveries in a diary This diary,which once had over 500,000 words, would eventually become The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake.

Although rich,Xu avoided comfortable travel,preferring to go almost everywhere on foot. This way he could research the environment in detail and get a true picture of the natural world. Many of his trips were to hard-to-reach mountain areas,and through wild forests where few people lived. His willingness to face hardships came at a cost however. Progress was slow and tiring and he was frequently sick,robbed and beaten during his journeys.

Sadly Xu became seriously ill during his last and longest journey,a 4﹣year trip through the Southwest of China. He died in 1641,soon after returning to his hometown for the last time. When his diary was finally printed years after his death,much of it had been destroyed or lost. Although incomplete,it still made Xu a travelling legend around the world.

1. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The general details of Xu Xiake’s life story.

B．The difficulties Xu Xiake faced in his travels.

C．The important discoveries made by Xu Xiake.

D．The influence of Xu’s book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake.

2. Which of the following best describes Xu’s mother?

A．Strict but interesting.

B．Kind but uneducated.

C．Helpful and hardworking.

D．Supportive and open-minded.

3. Why did Xu prefer walking during his travels?

A．It gave him the chance to meet different kinds of people.

B．It helped him to save money and travel for a longer time.

C．It allowed him to see and study the environment in detail.

D．It was the only way to reach the places he was interested in.

4. What is true about Xu’s book The Travel Notes of Xu xiake?

A．It was only made public after Xu died.

B．It made Xu very famous during his lifetime.

C．It was the first travel book ever written in China.

D．It was mainly about the different people of China.

5. What is the correct order for the following events from Xu’s life?
a. He went on his first journey.
b. His book was finally printed.
c. He returned to his hometown for the last time.
d. He developed an interest in books about other places.
e. He started managing the family farm after his father died.

A．a﹣e﹣d﹣c﹣b

B．d﹣e﹣a﹣c﹣b

C．d﹣e﹣a﹣b﹣c

D．e﹣d﹣a﹣b﹣c

【推荐3】The World's Greatest Bookstores

Cafebreria El Pendulo, Mexico City, Mexico

Cafcbreria El Pendulo is located in Mexico City. Books line the shelves from the ceiling to the floor, and live plants add lots of green. The store is noted for a huge pendulum hanging from its ceiling.

Stanfords, London and Bristol, England

Established in 1853.Stanfords boasts that it offers the world's largest selection of travel books and maps. It also sells travel accessories. Look for the enormous National Geographic Map of the World in the flagship store in London. It was created in 2003 to celebrate the store's 150th birthday.

Rizzoli, New York City, US

For almost a half century, Rizzoli has been considered as one of the best independent bookstores in the US. It specializes in illustrated books about the way people work and live, such as fashion photography, decoration design, cooking and architecture. Take a master class in flower design. Attend a lecture and book signing. Or drop in for a cooking show or a book launch party.

El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Often described as one of, the world's most beautiful bookstores, El Ateneo is housed in a historic theater much as it was when the theater opened in 1919. After customers browse the shelves, they can drink coffee and listen to music from a stage hidden in red curtains where tango dancers once performed. While most of the store's books are in Spanish, they are available in a range of subjects.

1. What is Cafebreria El Pendulo famous for?

A．The larger shelves.	B．Its unique symbol.
C．The tasty coffee.	D．Its interesting location.

2. Which is the prettiest bookstore for reading and relaxation among the four mentioned?

A．Rizzoli.	B．Stanfords.
C．El Ateneo Grand Splendid.	D．Cafebreria El Pendulo.

3. What subject are books in Rizzoli about?

A．Music.

B．Geography.

C．Lifestyle.

D．Literature.

【推荐1】Apple has filed a patent for ''a wearable electronic ring'' that could let you control your other devices (设备) without touching them. The file includes drawings of the potential design and lists intend functions like a rechargeable power source (电源). The ring is designed to be worn on one finger and doesn't appear to be a stand-alone product. Instead, it aims to improve the user experience of bigger devices like iPhone and iPad. Apple also throws attention onto the potential safety functions of the ring by stating that the light given off by some touchscreen devices could be ''inappropriate in certain social environments or even dangerous if it gives away the position of a user who is in danger''.

The tech giant (巨头) explains in the patent that touchscreen devices we are using now can be seen as ''burdensome, inconvenient, or useless for certain tasks and applications''. It suggests that holding an iPhone or iPad for too long could tire some users and obviously, Apple can’t ignore such situations! It says the Apple Ring could be a more effective way to control those devices from a distance.

Apple isn't alone with this ''smart ring'' idea.

Amazon recently put the Echo Loop on the market, a smart ring that uses Alexa. The device is similar to the smart speaker but is worn on your finger instead. It’s currently only available in the US and has an introductory price of $129. 99 (￡100). Google recently presented its Pixel 4 smartphone and one of the top new functions is called Project Soli, which provides a '' Motion Sense'' effect. It lets you control the Pixel 4 without actually touching it. You can wave your hands in the air to pause or skip songs, alarms and phone calls, and more.

As with all patents, we can’t know for sure if Apple is going to bring out a smart ring device until official word is given.

1. What can Apple's smart ring do potentially?

A．Work as a mobile phone.

B．Charge itself automatically.

C．Promote users own security.

D．Stop viruses attacking phones.

2. What made apple develop the wearable product?

A．The drawbacks of its touchscreen devices.

B．The huge marketing potential of touchscreens.

C．The fierce competitions from across the country.

D．The introduction of other companies’ technology.

3. What do we know about the Echo Loop?

A．It's popular with users.

B．It's under development.

C．It's not sold internationally.

D．It's not accepted by Apple.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．The Tech Firms' Smart Rings

B．Apple's New Device Patent

C．The Future of Touchscreen Devices

D．New Technologies, New Products

【推荐2】At this selection of five museums, more French will be heard and visitors might feel a sense of satisfaction when knowing they have arrived at a place that native Parisians also enjoy when going on a trip.

Museum of Natural History

Being a must-see place in the museum at present, the Grand Gallery of Evolution dates back to the 1880s. Playing as a zoology building in the past, it reopened to the public in 1994. The entire museum exhibits more than 9,000 preserved(保存）animals and insects.

Museum of Music

The museums collection covers centuries of European classical music and instruments, with decorated pianos and hundreds of horns and string instruments. Live performances take place in the galleries of the museum every day. The museum provides two versions (版本）of its English-language audio (声音的）guide, one for children and the other for adults.

Fairground Art Museum

At this museum, guides describe the history of Europe’s traveling fairs and explain signs (符号）that identify the beginning of the country with a carousel horse (旋转木马）.Book your tickets ahead of time on the museum’s website. Tours in French are offered several days a week all year round，and English -language tours are offered in the summer months.

Museum of Arts and Crafts

It was founded during the French Revolution to show its advanced (先进的）science and technologies and has since received several updates (更新）.Early planes，including the first to cross the English Channel, hang from the ceiling of one building. The collection has different exhibitions, with ancient cars, early engines and elements (元素)used in the building of the Statue of Liberty.

1. What do we know about the Grand Gallery of Evolution?

A．It was once closed to the public.

B．It was first built 25 years ago.

C．It studies all kinds of wildlife in nature.

D．It shows several thousand kinds of animals.

2. What suggestion is given to visitors to the Fairground Art Museum?

A．Choose a proper guide for your travel.

B．Learn   some French before your travel.

C．Know the history of France ahead of time.

D．Book tickets beforehand at proper time.

3. What can we infer about the Museum of Arts and Crafts?

A．It keeps many old collections.

B．It still keeps its original look.

C．It's a museum about art and culture.

D．It only provides French-speaking guides.

【推荐3】Is traffic a big problem where you live? Increased cycling may be the answer. Where are the best places to live and cycle? A new report lists the best bike-friendly cities around the world.

Top of the list is Amsterdam, the bike capital of the world. An incredible 40% of all traffic movements are by bicycle. There’s an extensive network of safe, fast and comfortable cycle routes. Copenhagen, the city of bikes, is a city where 32% of workers cycle to work because it’s fast and easy. Berlin is another European city that’s great for cycling. The city has about 80 kilometers of bike lanes, and 50 kilometers of pavement paths. Cycling accounts for 12% of total street traffic.

Barcelona has been praised for its cycle service “Bicing”. This was introduced in March 2007. It’s a bicycle service that allows users to take bicycles from any of the 100 stations spread around the city. Later, they can leave them at any other bike station inside the urban area of the city. The city has created a “green ring” that surrounds the city area of Barcelona with a bike path. There are 3,250 parking spaces for bikes at street level at present. Barcelona City is also building a new underground car park for bicycles.

The UK has its cycle-friendly cities too. Bristol is the birthplace of “Sustrans” —the cycle-route charity which was formed 30 years ago. One of their projects was turning an old rail line between Bristol and Bath into a bike route. Other bike-friendly cities in the UK include Cambridge and York Cambridge is an old city but has still managed to build good cycle infrastructure (基础设施), and cyclists are considered at every stage of any new developments.

Bicycle is a most popular means of transportation in China. Nowadays, riding a bicycle is also a good way to support low-carbon living. Beijing can be one of the best bike-friendly cities in China. There are many riding routes in Beijing for outdoor-lovers to explore. Cyclists can get close enough to experience the history and culture of Beijing, including the Forbidden City, Drum Tower, the Water Cube, the Bird’s Nest, Hutong etc.

1. In Amsterdam, traffic movements by bicycle account for

A．80%	B．40%
C．32%	D．12%

2. What do we know about “Bicing” in Barcelona?

A．There are 100 bike stations spread around the city.

B．Cyclists can leave their bikes anywhere in the city.

C．There were 3,250 parking spaces for bikes in 2007.

D．Underground bike parking stations are everywhere.

3. A rail line was changed to a bike route in________.

A．Beijing	B．Cambridge
C．York	D．Bristol

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The history of cycling.	B．The best cities for cycling.
C．The development of cycling.	D．The rules for cycling.