【推荐1】In the long history of about 5,000 years, numerous Chinese traditional festivals were celebrated in honour of gods or some significant days, some of which are passed down from generation to generation and people always practice special traditional activities in each festival.

The Qingming Festival

The Qingming Festival is on the 15th day after the Spring Equinox (春分), around April 4 or April 5 every year.     1    . They remove the weeds growing on their ancestors’ tombs to make them clean, so this festival is also called Tomb-Sweeping Day. In some areas, people are forbidden to use the fire to cook food, so they only eat the cool food. Thus, it is also named the Hanshi Festival.

The Double Ninth Festival

    2    . The Chinese character of September is the same as 9, so we get this special name. Chinese people, especially in the northern region, climb up the mountains to enjoy the wonderful view, and admire the beauty of chrysanthemums (菊花).

The Winter Solstice (冬至)

The winter solstice is on around December 22 or 23 of the solar calendar each year. From that day on, the daytime will be longer and longer.     3    . Chinese people in the northern region eat dumplings and wontons (馄饨), while in the southern region rice balls.

    4    

In China, this festival is in late January or early February, the last day of the lunar year. People celebrate it by having a family reunion dinner, setting off fireworks and staying up late. Breaking the dishes and bowls is a thing all the people are afraid of, but if you did it, you should say “Sui sui ping an!”     5    .

A．The Spring Festival

B．New Year’s Eve

C．People will go to commemorate (纪念) their ancestors

D．People always visit their friends and relatives

E．It is celebrated on Sep. 9th of the lunar calendar, around in October of the solar calendar

F．It’s a holiday which is regarded as important as the Spring Festival

G．It is a double-meaning word, meaning you will be safe during the new year

【推荐2】New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate and enter the new year with a smile on your face. This year, there’re plenty of local activities for all ages and interests, so the smiles will come easily.

BLUE CONCERT

Blues band the Coyotes is playing at the Dance Barn，at 8 Barn View in Sudden Valley, The show will start at 9 p. m. and benefit the charity Bikers Fighting Cancer. Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call 224-2308 for more information.

NEW YEAR’S LAUGHS

Ring in the New Year and laugh out the old one at the Upfront Theatre Comic improvisers will hit on all the highlights of the year with The Last Laugh of 2008. The 9 p. m. show will cost $15 and is open to all ages. The 11 P. m. show is to 21 and older and costs $18, which includes a champagne (香槟酒) toast. Call 733-8855 for more information.

MAZE

For a fun activity earlier in the evening，walk the labyrinth (迷宫) at the Leopold Crystal Bellroom. Wander through the maze, based on the French Chartres Cathedral, for free from 4 to 9 P. m. Call 752-0048 for more information.

COUNTRY DANCING

At the Bellingham Eagles Hall, live local music will help get the dance started at 8 p. m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students and free for kids 12 and younger. For more information, call 676-1554.

1. Which of the following activities may be free for Tom aged 16?

A．COUNTRY DANCING.	B．NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS.
C．MAZE.	D．BLUE CONCERT.

2. If you want to know something about the Coyotes at 8 Barn view, you'd better call .

A．676-1554

B．733-8855

C．752-0048

D．224-2308

3. Which of the followings will be the highlights of NEW YEAR'S LAUGHS?

A．Wander through the maze.	B．The champagne toast.
C．Its live music.	D．The Last Laugh of 2008.

4. It can be inferred from the text that

A．$10 is enough to book a ticket to Blue Concert

B．you can read the text on a telephone book

C．all these activities are international ones

D．New Year’s Laughs will hold shows three times

【推荐1】Everyone loves a holiday! A little time off for some much-needed R&R (rest and relaxation) can be exactly the thing to rejuvenate and refresh from work. So if you're struggling to think of your next destination(目的地) then look no further. Don't waste time debating where to go, but let your blood decide.

Everybody has a lineage(家系). Recently, finding out more about our family origins has become popular. By the start of 2019, 26 million people had taken an ancestry DNA3 test at home, according to a report by MIT Technology Review. They believe by 2021 this number will have risen to 100 million.

This trend has been noticed by opportunistic travel operators. Some are looking to provide a service that both allows people to track their family roots and travel to the destinations where their ancestors originated from.

Airbnb, an online boarding marketplace, recently partnered with 23andMe, a DNA testing company, to offer recommendations that encourage travellers to walk in the footsteps of their forefathers. And they aren't the only ones.

The Shelbourne hotel in Dublin has its own 'genealogy butler(宗谱管家)'. Hellen Kelly offers advice to help guests track their Irish lineage using official records. This allows them to 'fill in the blanks of their Irish ancestry', she told Good Morning America.

The Conte Club, a luxury travel company. offers custom routes of travel based on DNA tests. "These experiences are about going deeper into who we really are." says Conte Club CEO Rebecca Fielding in an article in the Condé Nast Traveller. "It might be the most meaningful trip we can take."

So next time you think of going on vacation, why not take a DNA test first? Once you know how far your family has come, take the time to holiday back.

1. What does the underlined word "rejuvenate" in Paragraph 1 mean?

A．Take a holiday.

B．Feel lively again.

C．Do a DNA test.

D．Return to work.

2. What has led to the new travel way?

A．The creativity of travel agency.

B．The report by MIT Technology Review.

C．The competition of the boarding market.

D．The rising number of people tracking their lineage.

3. How does the writer convince us of the rise of the new travel way?

A．By making comparisons.

B．By analyzing information.

C．By giving examples.

D．By offering reasons.

4. What's the writer's attitude to the new travel way?

A．Negative.

B．Supportive.

C．Uninterested.

D．Doubtful.

【推荐2】New rules from the China National Tourism Administration prohibit guides from steering their clients to illegal or immoral activities, such as gambling or drugs.

Guides are also prohibited from forcing clients to shop at businesses during a tour, or to charge extra money against a client’s wishes, through intimidation, restricting a person’s freedom or using physical force. Those who violate the rules will have their licenses revoked(吊销), and income generated through such misbehavior will be confiscated. In addition, violators will be fined between 2,000 and 20,000 yuan($300 to $3,000).

The administration said the quality of tour guides and the services they provide are key to the way the industry is perceived in China and abroad. Through the rules, which will take effect on Jan. 1st, the administration hopes to ensure healthy development of the domestic tourism market.

Mr. Wang, a professor of tourism administration at Beijing International Studies University, said the new rules act as a supplement to existing tourism law. “They elaborate tour guides’ responsibilities and will be very helpful for the national tourism administration in strengthening its governance of this group of professionals,” Wang said.

The 2001 regulations listed some prohibited behaviors, and guides who were found in violation would have points taken away from their annual scores. In 2015 and 2016, many media reports appeared about misbehaving tour guides at popular destinations. Guide services start with 10 points each year. Points are required to maintain a license, so if all 10 are lost, the guide service is shut down.

The new rules describe situations beyond what were in the 2001 regulations, and cover circumstances in which a tour guide would be in violation and punishments are laid out in detail, noting that some of the examples reflect situations that have been reported domestically in recent years. Forced shopping, verbal abuse of clients and even abandoning clients half way through a tour were among the misdeeds.

1. Where does the passage probably come from?

A．A newspaper.

B．A tour guide’s diary.

C．The 2001 regulations.

D．China National Tourism Administration.

2. What does the underlined word “They” in the fourth paragraph refer to?

A．The tourists.	B．The new rules.
C．The tour guides.	D．The 2001 regulations.

3. Which of the following statements about the new rules is true?

A．They will replace the 2001 regulations.

B．They are replacements of the existing tourism law.

C．They cover more detailed description as a supplement.

D．They will act as new tourism standards replacing the old ones.

4. From the passage, we can infer that ________.

A．there will be more misbehaving tour guides

B．many travel agencies will go out of business

C．more misdeeds will appear at popular destinations

D．the domestic tourism market will be more normal

【推荐3】American History Museum

Power Machinery

Reopens May 29, 2016 — Permanent

Location: 1st Floor, East Wing

By the late 19th century, America’s Industrial Revolution was moving hill steam ahead. This hall follows the development of the increasingly efficient power machinery that helped the United States become a world leader in industrial production during this time.

Portrait Gallery

Lincoln’s Contemporaries

May 13, 2016-May 12, 2019

Location: 1st Floor, North Wing, Meserve Corridor

This exhibition features Mathew Brady’s portraits of twenty famous persons — from showman P.T. Barium and inventor Samuel Morse to musician Teresa Carreon and clergyman Henry Ward Beecher — who reflect the diversity of American intellectual and cultural life during Lincoln’s presidency.

Smithsonian Design Museum

Energizing the Everyday: Gifts from the George R. Kravis II Collection

April 28, 2016 — March 12, 2017

Location: 2nd Floor

Energizing the Everyday celebrates the exceptional gifts from leading collector George R. Kravis II to Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. From radios to furniture, the exhibition displays some of the most influential objects in the history of modernism, alongside some works drawn from the museum’s collection.

1. Where will you go if you are interested in machine producing?

A．American History Museum.	B．American Art Museum.
C．Portrait Gallery.	D．Smithsonian Design Museum.

2. What can you see at Portrait Gallery?

A．A lot of ancient furniture.	B．Important American inventions.
C．Portraits of some celebrities.	D．The gifts of Lincoln’s presidency.

3. Who gave special gifts to Smithsonian Design Museum?

A．Martin Puryear.	B．Mathew Brady.
C．Cooper Hewitt.	D．George R. Kravis II.

【推荐2】Got 48 hours to relax yourself? You’ll make full use of your time and have great fun at these fantastic places.

Alabama:Gulf Shores.

For relaxing weekend getaways in Alabama, head south to the white-sand beaches of Gulf Shores. Get on the water for some deep-sea fishing.

Alaska:Homer

How does fresh seafood sound? You’ll find it in Homer, located in south-central Alaska. Get your fill of fishing in Kachemak Bay, explore local trails and enjoy birding in this remote natural scenery.

Arizona:Sedona

Adventurous types can get their fill in the magical red rocks of Sedona, which is said to be the location of healing centers of energy. People flood into the area to meditate, practie yoga and more. Seona also offers fantastic hiking, off-roading, biking, and even climbing.

Arkansas:Hot Springs.

Relax and renew in Arkansas’ hot waters in Hot Springs. Make time for a visit o Bathhouse Row, a national historic landmark of eight bathhouses, and Superior Bathhouse Brewery, which produces beer made of the hot spring water inside the National Park. Don’t miss these National Parks that are off the beaten path.

1. Which activity can be found in both Gulf Shores and Homer?

A．Going fishing	B．Taking a flight
C．Enjoying beautiful birds	D．Visiting historic sites

2. What is Superior Bathhouse Brewery known for?

A．Its bathhouse	B．Its paths
C．Its self-made beer	D．Its architecture

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．Research	B．An encyclopedia
C．A brochure	D．A diary

【推荐3】These museums are solely devoted to a particular piece of food culture.

SPAM Museum

With a brand new location, the SPAM Museum celebrates a food that people either love or despise. While visitors might not actually be able to find out what’s inside a can of SPAM, the museum has a lot of memorabilia(纪念品) on display, many of them related to its role in World War Ⅱ.

Admission: Free

Hours:

November－March

Monday: Closed

Tuesday－Saturday:10 am－5 pm

Sunday: Noon－5 pm

April－October

Monday－Saturday:10 am－6 pm

Sunday: Noon－5 pm

CLOSED: New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Chocolate Museum, Cologne

The museum offers guided tours, a café and a store where over 100,000 chocolate products are for sale. A German travel expert says, “The exhibition texts are in English and German. For kids, there are plenty of interactive activities, but the highlight of the museum is a 10­foot high chocolate fountain. ”

Admission:

Adults:9. 00

Groups of 15 persons or more:8. 50

Family ticket:25. 00

Hours:

Tuesday to Friday:10 am－6 pm

Saturday/Sunday/bank holidays:11 am－7 pm

In December 2018 the museum will be open every Monday.

Frietmuseum, Bruges

The Frietmuseum explains the history of the potato and fries, starting on the ground floor with an exhibition about Peru, where potatoes originated more than 10,000 years ago. Then on the first floor, visitors can learn about the history of fries, and how they came to Belgium and became the most beloved national food. There are also medieval potato cellars where visitors get to have a taste.

Admission:

Adults:7. 00

Groups (from 15 people, reservation required):6. 00

Students,65＋:6. 00

Children aged from 6 to 11:5. 00

Hours:

Daily from 10 am to 5 pm (last tickets at 4:15 pm)

Closing dates:

Closed on 24th,25th and 31st December,1st January.

We are also closed from 9th till 13th January.

1. If you visit the SPAM Museum during the winter holiday, you have to visit it at ________.

A．11 am on Monday	B．11 am on Sunday
C．11 am on Thursday	D．6 pm on Saturday

2. What is probably the most popular thing for children in the Chocolate Museum in Cologne?

A．A chocolate store.	B．Interactive activities.
C．A chocolate café.	D．A chocolate fountain.

3. What is not exhibited in the Frietmuseum in Bruges?

A．The history of potatoes in Peru.	B．The history of potatoes in Belgium.
C．The history of fries in Belgium.	D．The city’s medieval potato cellars.

【推荐1】My wife and I have always been friendly with the clerks at the local store. I don’t think many people appreciate what a difficult job these clerks have. They work for a little money and I often wonder how they make ends meet.
One of the clerks, Charlie, was always wearing his glasses but he didn’t one day. I asked him about it and he said they’d been out of order and that he couldn’t afford a new pair. His family needed money. It was clear that he was having a difficult time.
We wanted to help him, so we turned to our own eye doctor for help with a plan. We had his secretary contact him, asking him to come in for an eye exam for free. We told the doctor to let him order whatever glasses he wanted and that we would pay for them. Although Charlie questioned what was going on, the doctor just told him that someone had offered the money for his new glasses. When we went in to pay the bill, the doctor told us he was touched by our idea so that he waived the exam fee and only charged us for half the price of the glasses!
It was so wonderful to see Charlie in his new glasses and he enjoyed telling all the regular customers how the gift came about. I’m sure that upon hearing his story, ideas of kindness may have come in the minds of many people.
1. Why didn’t the clerk Charlie wear glasses one day?

A．It was very warm and fine.

B．His glasses were missing.

C．His old glasses were broken.

D．He forgot to wear his glasses.

2. From the passage, we can infer that ______.

A．Charlie was a young man with skills

B．Charlie knew who paid the money for the new glasses

C．Charlie completely accepted the money for the new glasses

D．Charlie couldn’t support his family with enough money

3. The underlined word “waived” in the third paragraph can be replaced by ______.

A．took up	B．gave up
C．cut down	D．put off

4. Which of the following could be the best title for the passage?

A．Customers’ Gift to an Employee

B．A Friendly Clerk — Charlie

C．The Wonderful Feeling of Helping others

D．An Expensive Pair of Glasses

【推荐2】Beaches are not only great for lying on and doing water sports, and in fact one of the best ways of enjoying them is a classic beach walk. Here at iWantSun.co.uk we’ve been searching the globe to find you the world’s best and most famous beach walks, and here’s our pick of the top. Click on the most interesting walks and join our tourist program.

The Footpath of the Gods, Amalfi Coast, Italy

The name says it all really and you truly feel excited there, walking along this wonderful mountain path, which offers some of the most striking views on the planet. The path begins at the town of Bomerano to charming Positano along the UNESCO World Heritage area of the Amalfi Coast. The whole walk will take you about four and a half hours to complete and pass over narrow rocky paths.

Sydney’s Great Coastal Walk, Australia

Sydney’s coastline is one of the most beautiful and diverse landscapes in the world. Here you have national parks, historic sites, shining and quiet beaches all in one place. Sydney’s Great Coastal Walk runs all the way from Barren Joey in the north to Royal National Park in the south and takes an unbelievable seven days to complete. However, if you’re not up to doing the full walk, there are many different parts of the walk that you can do right in the city itself. Walking from the city’s famous Bondi Beach to the sweeping curve(大半径曲线) of Bronte Beach takes just an hour, which takes in some top scenery.

Great Ocean Walk, Australia

The Great Ocean Walk covers 104km along Victoria’s famous Great Ocean Road, located on the southern coast of Australia, from the holiday town Apollo Bay to the splendid Twelve Apostles. The Twelve Apostles are the area’s famous stone landmarks which stand out like giants from the sea. The walk passes through a range of landscapes and sights, from national parks, famous surfing spots and deserted beaches, to wild coastlines, waterfalls, lush forests, historic lighthouses and ghostly ship wrecks. Day walks and shorter three-hour walks such as The Wreck Beach Walk or the Lighthouse Cemetery and Lookout Walk can also be enjoyed.

If you have interest in any of the above places, please contact us, and we can give you the best services.

1. What are the distinct characteristics of Sydney’s Great Coastal Walk?

A．It takes more than a week to complete.

B．It really has the longest coastline in the world.

C．It provides visitors with a variety of great landscapes.

D．It starts from Barren Joey in the south.

2. According to the fourth paragraph we can know that _____.

A．Apollo Bay is at the end of the Great Ocean Walk

B．visitors have various walking choices in the Great Ocean Walk

C．the Twelve Apostles stand below the surface of the sea

D．most visitors have to finish the 104 km walk quickly

3. We can probably read the passage in _____.

A．an online advertisement	B．travel magazines
C．a handbook to tourists	D．a poster in a foreign travel agency

【推荐3】If you see a problem, you should find a solution. That is what Alex Knoll, a 13-year-old boy from Post Falls, Idaho, believes. When he noticed a man struggling to open a heavy door from his wheelchair, Alex started thinking. "I wondered if there was a resource available to him to show which business had automatic doors, so he could actually access them, "Alex told Time for Kids."I couldn't find anything, so I created it."

That was four years ago. The idea is Ability App. Alex's website says the app will help people with disabilities and their caregivers find the exact position of public spaces and find safe, reliable services and employment opportunities. Talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres liked Alex's idea so much that she had him on her show and surprised him with a $25,000 check. "I think it's really going to help me get going, " Alex says.

Worldwide, there are more than a billion people with some kind of disability, according to The World Health Organization. A disability can make it hard to do everyday activities and find a Job. Tara Miller is a friend of Alex's family. She uses a wheelchair. She helps Alex with his app by sharing her experience of what it is like to live with a disability. "We all want to be able to be in the same establishments(机构) as any able-bodied person, " Miller says. "It' s about little things like low tables in restaurants and automatic doors, which can make a huge difference, she says. Alex has yet to set a launch (发布) date for Ability App. But he is determined to meet his goal. "I'm going to work as hard as I can and as fast as I can, "he says.

1. What made Alex create Ability App?

A．The desire to make money.	B．The idea of a friend of his family.
C．The inconvenience to a disabled man.	D．The encouragement of a well-known host.

2. How does Tara Miller help Alex?

A．By sharing her experience as a disabled girl.

B．By collecting employment information.

C．By lending him some money.

D．By looking after his family.

3. How do the disabled benefit from the App?

A．They can get donations.

B．They are offered discounts in restaurants.

C．They are invited to a talk show to raise public attention.

D．They enjoy easy access to public services and job opportunities.

4. What is Alex like?

A．Generous and honest.	B．Brave and easy-going.
C．Creative and determined.	D．Confident and energetic.