【推荐1】Top 4 Amusement Parks in the World

It’s summertime! That means parents have extra time to spend with their children, and what better way to engage in classic fun with family and friends than to visit an amusement park? Take a look at these fun choices — perfect summer trip ideas to fit every budget(预算).

Cedar Point

Tickets: $280 for adults, $120 for children

Praising itself as the roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point’s 18 coasters will ensure you’re riding all day. Reader Alicia Goettemoeller describes the park as a “paradise for excited thrillers” while reader Nick Schuyler says it is “built for grown-up kids.”

Knoebels

Tickets: $120 for adults, $10 for children

This old-fashioned amusement park is a must for your old memory games as well as money saving - admittance and parking are free of charge. Reader Tracy Ginsburg Maier says “a family of 4 can enjoy special offer to eat, swim and ride all day for $100” at Knoebels.

Kings Island

Tickets: $340 for adults, $160 for children

Kings Island is one of the most visited theme parks in the US, with more than 3 million visitors per year. The park is especially known for its family-friendly attractions, such as Snoopy Island. Tickets to the main park also include admission to the nearby water park, Boomerang Bay.

Dells Water Parks

Tickets: $140 for adults, $80 for children

Wisconsin Dells is a water park with dozens of indoor and outdoor water parks to spread around in. One of them, Noah’s Ark, is the largest outdoor water park in the US. Many are open year-round and no charge for children under five.

1. Where can a family with 2 children enjoy themselves with the least money?

A．In Kings Island.	B．In Knoebels.
C．In Dells Water Parks.	D．In Cedar Point.

2. What is Kings Island famous for?

A．The largest number of visitors.

B．The largest outdoor water park.

C．Its attractions for all family members.

D．Its free admission to the nearby parks.

3. What can be learned from the passage?

A．Younger children cannot have fun in Cedar Point.

B．The most visited theme park in the US is Kings Island.

C．Noah’s Ark is the largest indoor water park in the US.

D．Visitors can find old time memories in Snoopy Island.

【推荐2】As the Nation’s Capital City, Washington, DC has hundreds of wonderful museums to visit. Here are some of the most famous ones.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

There is something for everyone at this world-known museum. Natural history is good for all ages and there are so many artifacts (史前古器物) that you can’t possibly see them all in one visit. The dinosaur exhibits are fascinating and great for kids.

Address: 10th Street and Constitution Ave., NW Washington, DC;
Phone: (202) 633-1000
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

This museum gives visitors a close-up view of air and space travel with 22 exhibition galleries, displaying hundreds of artifacts including the Wright 1903 Flyer, the “Spirit of St. Louis”, and part of the Apollo 11.

Address: Independence Ave. at 7th St. SW Washington, DC;
Phone: (202) 357-2700.
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The museum is a memorial to the millions of Jews who died during the Nazi regime (政权) in Germany during World War II. The exhibits tell us the terrible history. There is a separate exhibit for kids, which tells the story of the cruelty of the Nazi through the eyes and voice of a young boy.

Address: 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place, SW, Washington, DC;
Phone: (800) 400-9373.
Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

Few people went to the home of George Washington because it is located outside of the city. In fact, it is a must-see attraction. The museum and education center features 25 state-of-the-art galleries and theaters that tell the story of Washington’s life.

Address: George Washington Parkway, Mount Vernon, VA;
Phone: (703) 780-2000.
Prices: Adults — $18.00; Children aged 6 through 11 — 50% discount off the price.
1. If you are interested in airplanes, you can probably go to ________.

A．10th Street and Constitution Ave	B．Independence Ave
C．100 Raoul Wallenberg Place	D．George Washington Parkway

2. Which number will you call at if you want to learn more about the exhibit only for children?

A．(202) 633-1000.	B．(202) 357-2700.
C．(800) 400-9373.	D．(703) 780-2000.

3. How much will they pay if a couple and a 7-year-old child visit Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens?

A．27 dollars.	B．37 dollars.
C．45 dollars.	D．54 dollars.

4. Which museum is outside of the city Washington, DC?

A．Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History

B．Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

C．U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

D．Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens

5. What’s the main purpose of the author’s writing this passage?

A．To attract more visitors to visit these museums.

B．To tell visitors how to visit these museums.

C．To provide visitors some routes to the museums.

D．To make Washington, DC better known.

【推荐3】Online art classes are often an affordable and convenient way to learn a new skill without committing to the expense of art school. While some online learning platforms focus on a specific type of art like drawing, painting, photography, and even sewing, others let students explore a variety of skills. Here we recommend the best overall: New Masters Academy.

Key Specs

Cost: $36 to $79 per month

Class length: Varies; 1 to 5 hours

Availability: Open registration

Why We Chose It

Advantages:

Unlimited access to the offering of drawing and painting classes

Students can sign up for a free 7-day trial

Access to more than 2, 500 hours of streaming art instruction videos

Community forum lets students communicate and learn from each other

Disadvantages:

Does not include courses for other skills like photography

Overview

Courses range from art theory and drawing to painting, sculpture, and digital art. Classes are designed to artists of every skill level, so it’s easy to find lessons that will match your experience and needs. Beginner-friendly lessons include color mixing, an introduction to landscape painting, and two-hour water-color painting classes.

The Library Plan costs $49 for a month-to-month membership or $36 per month when billed annually. Membership includes unlimited streaming access to more than 2,500 hours of instructional videos taught by true maters.

Alternatively, ambitious artists can join the Library plan for $79 for a month-to-month membership or $59 per month when billed annually. In addition to standard features, Library+ members get access to an extensive library of reference images to support daily practice and make it easy to find inspiration.

1. Which skill is taught in New Masters Academy?

A．Photography.	B．Sewing.
C．Wash painting.	D．Water-color painting.

2. How much is the one-off payment if you join the Library plan yearly?

A．$432.

B．$588.

C．$708.

D．$948.

3. What is the text?

A．An online comment.	B．An master biography.
C．A club introduction.	D．An advertisement.

【推荐1】Trekking through the mists of the Huangshan mountains, I came upon a young man painting the scenery with traditional brush and ink on rice paper. He smiled proudly as he showed me his work. It was indeed quite beautiful for a painting, but it paled compared to the living scene before my eyes: mountaintops surrounded by light clouds, an endless dance of wind and fog that changes alternately in the dark hills beneath. How futile it must feel for a mere human being to try to capture that, I thought.

Yet for centuries, these mountains in the heart of China have been a destination for artists and poets, who come to commune with nature in one of its more striking pose-and struggle to replicate its beauty. Along with the artists and poets come lovers, who grasp locks symbolic of their undying love to the chain fences that protect hikers from the steep cliffs. Seventy miles of trials wind around 72 peaks, the two majestic of which are Capital of Heaven and Lotus Flower.

In 1990, UNESCO declared Huangshan a Cultural and Natural Property, thereby ensuring that the area’s physical beauty will be preserved forever. Pheasant and deer abound. Hundreds of plants are said to heal the body and the famous hot springs are known for their healing qualities. An hour’s meditation in one of these pools is a great way to end a day of hiking.

The three staging areas for Huangshan visitors are Jade Screen, the Hot Spring area and the North Sea. The Xi Hai and Bei Hai, located on different summits are three-star hotels serving Chinese and Western food as well as wine and liquor from East and West.

Huangshan may not be exactly off the beaten path, but it is on a road well worth taking.

1. The writer thought the young man’s painting     .

A．not a bit beautiful	B．not as beautiful as the living scene
C．more beautiful than the living scene	D．beautiful enough to caught the nature’s beauty

2. Why would lovers like to grasp locks to the chain fences?

A．Because locks symbolize lovers’ forever love

B．Because locks can protect lovers from the cliffs

C．Because locks help lovers climb to the top quickly

D．Because locks contribute to enjoy nature easily

3. What is the purpose of the passage?

A．To introduce some hotels in Huangshan mountains

B．To recommend Huangshan mountains to tourists

C．To speak highly of the beauty of Huangshan mountains

D．To stress the convenience to climb Huangshan mountains

【推荐2】Restless sleepers know that the bedtime struggle is real. They’ve tried everything from meditation apps to white noise machines in their efforts to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. But could the trick to better sleep lie with your blanket choice? Those who swear by weighted blankets think so.

Bearaby Cotton Napper

Price range: $259 to $279

Available weights: 15 pounds to 25 pounds

A weighted blanket like nothing you’ve ever seen, Bearaby’s braided (编织) blanket is among the best weighted blankets we’ve ever tried. The braided effect is not only extraordinary but it also provides airflow so you can’t get too hot while wrapped up in it, making it a comfortable and popular option.

YnM Weighted Blanket

Price range: $49.90 to $89

Available weights: 5 pounds to 30 pounds

With a 4.6-star rating from over 21,000 reviews, this blanket has been tested by customers and comes out on top. It comes in a ton of fine colors and patterns, plus it has many uses, since the blanket can be used along with a duvet (羽绒被) cover or on its own.

Luna Weighted Blanket

Price range: $99.99 to $169.99

Available weights: 5 pounds to 30 pounds

This 400-thread-count lightweight blanket is made from a natural, sustainable cotton that’s free from any harmful chemicals. It comes with a 365-night money-back guarantee, so if you decide a weighted blanket isn’t for you, you can send it back for a full refund (退款). But you probably won’t want to — this blanket has more than 10,000 5-star reviews.

YnM Duvet Covers

Price range: $89.90 to $179

Available weights: 5 pounds to 30 pounds

This lighter weighted blanket from YnM is perfect for kids and even comes with two inter-changeable, machine-washable duvet covers. One cover is soft and cozy to keep your kids warm on cold nights, and the other is made from cooling materials to ensure they don’t wake up sweaty when summer rolls around.

1. What can we learn about Bearaby Cotton Napper?

A．It can breathe perfectly.	B．It is the lightest blanket.
C．It has various functions.	D．It is the most affordable.

2. What’s probably the major concern for those who choose Luna Weighted Blanket?

A．A reasonable price.	B．Personal security.
C．A harmless material.	D．Chemical reaction.

3. Which blanket best suits children?

A．Bearaby Cotton Napper.	B．YnM Weighted Blanket.
C．Luna Weighted Blanket.	D．YnM Duvet Covers.

【推荐3】Lost IPhone

Unexpectedly, I lost my white iPhone 5s in Midtown on Friday night. It had a blue green cover on it.There are many pictures of my son in it, and I’m heartbroken. Please return, no questions asked. Reward.Reply to:2652255359@craigslist.org

Do you need a babysitter that you can trust?

My name is Tina. I am a responsible babysitter that you can trust. If you are looking for someone dependable and affordable. I am that person! I HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE (including disabled children)! I am a retired Home Health Aid and absolutely love children. I work with my sister Iris who has also more than 20 years’ experience as a teacher’s assistant. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETINC YOU! Available 24 hours and flexible with fees! I am fully bilingual—Spanish/English. Please email me or call712-867-7688.

I BABYSIT ONLY AT MY HOME

I accept children from all ages. Fee starts from $100～$150 a week depending on the hours. I am very flexible and my fee can change. Feel free to contact me via email or on my cell phone 566-67-1873 and we can work something out.

Part-time Chinese Babysitter Wanted

Part-time Chinese speaking babysitter needed to assist with one-year-old twins and to perform some light housework as needed.Assistance needed Fridays and occasional weekends. Please provide your salary expectation. College students are welcome to apply.

Reply to: comm-encbq-2652113885@craigslist. org

1. Who posted the lost and found information?

A．A mother.	B．A kind woman.
C．A parent.	D．A heartbroken girl

2. What do we know about Tina?

A．She lives alone now.	B．She can speak two languages.
C．She takes care of children over 3	D．She used to be a teacher’s assistant.

3. An applicant accepted by Ad 4 will have to________.

A．be able to speak two languages.	B．be a college graduate.
C．work every weekend.	D．look after two children.