People like different kinds of vacations. Some go camping. They swim, fish, cook over a fire and sleep outside. Others like to stay at a hotel in an exciting city. They go shopping all day and go dancing all night. Or maybe they go sightseeing to places such as Disneyland, the Tai Mahal or the Louvre.
Some people are bored with sightseeing trips. They don’t want to be “tourists”. They want to have an adventure—a surprising and exciting trip. They want to learn something and maybe help people too. How can they do this? Some travel companies and environmental groups are planning special adventures. Sometimes these trips are difficult and full of the world. Some volunteers spend two weeks and study the environment. Others work with animals. Others learn about people of the past.
Would you like an adventure in the Far North? A team of volunteers is leaving from Murmansk, Russia. The leader of this trip is a professor from Alaska. He’s worried about chemicals from factories. He and the volunteers will study this pollution in the environment. If you like exercise and cold weather, this is a good trip for you. Volunteers need ski sixteen kilometers every day.
Do you enjoy ocean animals? You can spend two to four weeks in Hawaii. There, you can teach language to dolphins. Dolphins can follow orders such as “Bring me the large ball”. They also understand opposites. How much more can they understand? It will be exciting to learn about these intelligent animals. Another study trip goes to Washington State and follows orcas. We call orcas “Killer Whale” , but they’ re really dolphins—the largest kind of dolphin. These beautiful animals travel together in family groups. They move through the ocean with their mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers. Ocean pollution is chasing their lives. Earthwatch is studying how this happens.
Are you interested in history? Then Greece is the place for your adventure. Thirty-five hundred years ago a volcano exploded there, on Santorini. This explosion was more terrible than Krakatoa or Mount Saint Helens. But today we know a lot about the way of life of the people from that time. There are houses, kitchens, and paintings as interesting as those in Pompei. Today teams of volunteers are learning more about people from the past.
Do you want a very different vacation? Do you want to travel far, work hard and learn a lot? Then an Earthwatch vacation is for you.
1. The Tai Mahal may be ________.| A．a shopping center | B．a hotel | C．a dancing ball | D．a place of interest |
| A．may not spend much time on sightseeing | B．won’ t meet some difficulties or hardships |
| C．can’t enjoy themselves | D．can’t learn something |
| A．join the team to Hawaii | B．join the team to the Far North |
| C．join the team to Washington | D．join the team to Greece |
| A．exciting | B．beautiful | C．large | D．clever |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Every year That’s Mandarin holds a Chinese Summer Camp for Teens. Between the months of June and August your children can join us at our Shanghai or Beijing campuses for some Chinese language learning. Our programmes have been carefully designed to offer a fantastic combination of fun and education.
As well as our professional Chinese classes, our students will get the chance to explore their chosen city and develop a good understanding of Chinese culture through our exciting outings and activities. The Shanghai & Beijing summer camp courses come in many packages to suit the needs of both children and their parents, including full-time camp, day camp and morning camp. In additional to the convenient schedule, all children are put into groups arranged by age and language level. We guarantee you will see a huge improvement in your children’s Chinese after their camp experience! Full campers get accommodation included. Please visit our website for all the details.
Programme Information
| Location School Term Cost | A: Beijing, China B: Shanghai, China Summer 2-week 4-week Morning Camp ¥5,000 ¥9,200 Day Camp ¥9,000 ¥17,200 Full Camp ¥20,000 ¥38,200 |
| Degree Level Required | High school students |
| Subject Areas | Elementary Chinese, Intermediate (中级的) Chinese, Creative Writing, Cultural Studies |
| Housing | Homestays Hotels Participants live independently |
| Travel | Participants travel to the programme independently |
You can find the Application Form below. If you have any difficulty downloading the application form, please e-mail us at info@ thatsmandarin.com.
1. The aim of the Chinese Summer Camp is to ___________.| A．offer family trip opportunities |
| B．free parents from looking after their kids |
| C．improve students’ Chinese in a fun way |
| D．give teenagers more independence |
| A．¥29,000 | B．¥25,000 | C．¥14,000 | D．¥29,200 |
| A．the participants have to sign up for the programme in groups |
| B．the participants will explore both Beijing and Shanghai |
| C．participants have no choice but to stay in hotels and homestays |
| D．the Chinese Summer Camp for Teens takes place annually |
【推荐2】Father’s Day is right around the corner. This time, forget the tie or a nice bottle of wine, be creative and give your dad a gift that he will treasure for years.
PocketTalk
Whether for business or for having fun, if your dad often travels in a new country, he needs a PocketTalk. It serves as a two-way translator, with speakers and earphones specially made for translation. The translator fits in your dad’s pocket. It connects to the Internet and translates between 74 languages, so your dad can talk with people nearly anywhere.
Cost: $299
Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter
If your dad likes taking a million pictures to record every moment of the trip, why not get him a Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter? The device (设备) can be connected to the blue tooth of your dad’s smart phone and print “2 x3” color photos whenever and wherever you’d like to.
Cost: $88
FlightScope Mevo
Help your dad improve his golfing skills with the FlightScope Mevo. The device records speed, distance, spin rate (旋转速度) and more to help your dad collect all the information he needs to improve his golfing skills. The device is small enough to take almost anywhere, so he’s always ready to play.
Cost: $500 with $50 off and free shipping for Father’s Day.
POW Phone Speaker
Walking on the beach, playing basketball at the park and enjoying a campfire while camping are all perfect times for some music. So to make sure your dad has a speaker at all times, get him the POW phone speaker. The speaker fits in the pocket and plays quality sound anywhere.
Cost: $79
1. What can your dad do with the PocketTalk?| A．Surf on the internet. | B．Learn new languages. |
| C．Make phone calls for free. | D．Communicate with foreigners. |
| A．have fun | B．take photos | C．practise golfing | D．enjoy music |
| A．PocketTalk. | B．Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter. |
| C．FlightScope Mevo. | D．POW phone speaker. |
| A．POW phone speaker. | B．FlightScope Mevo. |
| C．Polaroid ZIP Instant Photoprinter. | D．PocketTalk. |
| A．They can also be used by kids. |
| B．They can be carried around easily. |
| C．They are cheaper on Father’s Day. |
| D．They are best sellers on Father's Day. |
【推荐3】MiG Prize 2024
The Michel Gelrubin Architecture Prize is designed to bring out new talents by giving students an opportunity for international recognition. Open internationally, the Prize is awarded annually to honor students whose work demonstrates a combination of vision and talent in the art of architecture and planning.
This Year’s Challenge
This year’s competition invites proposals for projects that integrate at least 3 different uses into a building. The projects should include private and public spaces, and consider the urban context.
Timeline
Launch: August 1st, 2024
Registration Deadline: September 15th, 2024 (registration is free)
Submission Deadline: November 19th, 2024
Result Announcement: December 17th, 2024
Prizes
First prize $5,000
Second prize $2,500
Third prize $1,500
The Jury (评委会)
The projects will be scored based on their originality, design, environmental effects, and presentation.
Participation
The competition is open to any student studying architecture during the academic year 2024-2025. Candidates can apply as individuals or as teams.
Materials
Electronic submission of the project files must include:
● Posters that integrate the documents explaining the project [plans, sections, elevations, photos, renderings (透视图), illustrations, images, diagrams, and text]
● A presentation of the project (max 15 slides)
● A video file (max 3 min.) is optional but highly recommended.
● All the documents must be written in English and sent in a PDF format (except the videos).
For more information, see https://migprize.com.
1. What do we know about the competition?| A．It offers $ 1,500 for second prize. |
| B．It is open to all graduates in architecture. |
| C．It charges an all-time low registration fee this year. |
| D．It focuses on designing a mixed-use building this year. |
| A．August 1st, 2024. | B．September 15th, 2024. |
| C．November 19th, 2024. | D．December 17th, 2024. |
| A．Integrated posters in the English version. |
| B．A video file of no more than 3 minutes. |
| C．A presentation of no less than 15 slides. |
| D．Paper documents explaining the project. |
【推荐1】Greece Websites
Odyssey Online ★★★★☆
The Odyssey Online project was developed to help educators teach using works of art from the ancient Near East, Egypt, Greece, Rome and Africa. Its part on Greece is an attractive Flash presentation that includes information on Greek mythology (神话), daily life, architecture, and more.
Perseus Project ★★★★☆
Perseus Project is an impressive digital library for Greek and Classical resources from the Classics Department at Tufts University for primary and secondary source scholarly works that cover the history, literature and culture of the Greco-Roman world. The collection contains extensive and diverse resources including primary and secondary texts, site plans, digital images, and maps. Works are listed by author.
The British Museum: Ancient Greece ★★★★☆
The British Museum site is full of interactive(互动的)tours, imitations, and games to make the study of Ancient Greece attractive for kids. You can follow the procession of the Panathenaic festival and build a virtual temple, as well as take a virtual tour of Athens, one-of the-most-influential cities in Ancient Greece. You can also command a Greek war ship, explore the battlefield at Plateia, follow an interactive story about women in Greece. and “set the scene in a virtual house. Another choice is to take an interactive tour to the Olympics, Greek theatre, and Greek festivals.
Mr. Dowling’s Electronic Passport: Ancient Greece ★★★★☆
Mr. Dowling’s Electronic Passport introduces you to many civilizations with clear explanations, engaging pictures for kids, and “cool links”. The helpful study guides, homework tasks and exams are free and available(可得到的)for you to print or to rewrite. However, the sites out-of-date design and lack of interactivity make it not so-cool.
1. Which of the following helps you find a work on. Perseus Project?| A．The author of the work. |
| B．The content of the work. |
| C．The price of the work. |
| D．The publication date of the work. |
| A．Perseus Project. |
| B．Odyssey Online. |
| C．The British Museum: Ancient Greece. |
| D．Mr. Dowling’s Electronic Passport: Ancient Greece. |
| A．It is not so interesting. | B．It can replace traditional lessons. |
| C．It answers kids’ questions. | D．It mainly deals with Greek mythology. |
【推荐2】Four of the best off-grid (不入网的) stays in the UK
Shepherds’ RetreatGranite peaks, vivid green fields and speeding clouds are your only neighbours at this remote cottage in the Sperrins. Glass doors open straight on to this landscape, and though there’s no phone reception or wifi, there’s a TV with DVDs, and plenty of books to enjoy by the fire. There are stone circles and mountain bike trails (小路) nearby.
Laggan CottageOn the Ardnish peninsula (半岛) and accessible only by boat—or a three-hour hike—this comfortable off-grid pad is seriously isolated (偏僻的). There’s zero mobile signal and no TV. Paraffin lamps, wood-burning stoves for hot water and a Calor gas cooker are the only modern conveniences you get. It is perfect for a week of watching the wildlife, hiking, and swimming.
The Straw CottageCandles and lanterns, gas lamps and solar lights create atmosphere at this straw-bale cottage, constructed using centuries-old methods. With no electricity or wifi, this home set on Ty Gwyn Farm offers true escapism. Young explorers can play in the stream, follow a treasure hunt and toast marshmallows by the fire. Dogs are welcome, too.
East LodgeOther than the lack of wifi, East Lodge is a perfectly contemporary cottage. Arch windows accompany modern conveniences including a TV and DVDs for movie nights, though you may prefer to switch off and focus on outdoor fun, biking on nature trails and watching the wildlife.
1. What might attract travelers to the four holiday destinations?| A．Stylish decoration. | B．Convenient location. |
| C．Back-to-nature stays. | D．Modern conveniences. |
| A．Play games. | B．Swim in the sea. |
| C．Read by the fire. | D．Watch the wildlife. |
| A．Shepherds’ Retreat. | B．Laggan Cottage. |
| C．The Straw Cottage. | D．East Lodge. |
【推荐3】BRITAIN is a popular tourist place. But tours of the country have advantages and disadvantages.
ADVANTAGES:
Free museums: No charge for outstanding collections of art and antiquities(文物).
Pop music: Britain is the only country to compare with the US on this score.
Black cabs: London taxi drivers know where they are going even if there are never enough of them at weekends or night.
Choice of food: Visitors can find everything from Ethiopian to Swedish restaurants.
Fashion: Not only do fashion junkies love deeply and respect highly brand names such as Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen; street styles are justly loved, too.
DISADVANTAGES:
Poor service: “It’s part of the image of the place. People can dine out on the rudeness they have experienced,” says Professor Tony Seaton, of Luton University’s International Tourism Research Center.
Poor public transport: Trains and buses are promised to defeat the keenest tourists, although the overcrowded London tube is inexplicably(难以理解的) popular.
Rain: Still in the number one complaint.
No air-conditioning: So that even splendidly hot summers become as unbearable as the downpours Overpriced hotels: The only European country with a higher rate of tax on hotel rooms is Denmark.
Licensing hours: Alcohol is in short supply after 11 p. m. even in “24-hour cities”.
1. What do tourists complain most?| A．Poor service. | B．Poor public transport. |
| C．Rain. | D．Overpriced hotels. |
| A．Pop music in Britain is better than that in the US. |
| B．Pop music in Britain is as good as that in the US. |
| C．Pop music in Britain is worse than that in the US. |
| D．Pop music in Britain is quite different from that in the US. |
| A．At 12:00 p.m. | B．At 10:00 p.m. |
| C．At 11:00 p.m. | D．At 9:00 p.m. |
| A．You have to pay to visit the museums. |
| B．It’s very cheap to travel by taxi there. |
| C．You cannot find Chinese food there. |
| D．The public transport is poor there. |
| A．In a science book | B．In a story book |
| C．In a travel book | D．In a text book |
【推荐1】In China, tea has become an important part of everyday life for thousands of years. As the tea-processing methods and tea culture have evolved over the years, tea sets have also changed to meet the practical and cultural needs.
During the Tang Dynasty(618~907AD), tea leaves were traded across the country and Asia. For the convenience of transportation and storage, tea leaves were pressed into bricks. To prepare tea, drinkers had to cut them into small pieces and boil them in heat-resistant teapots.
By the Song Dynasty(960-1279), drinkers started to turn the hard bricks into powders (粉末) that could be whipped (搅打) in a cup with boiled water. This whipped tea is most commonly associated with Japanese tea ceremonies today.
By the 1500s, tea bricks gave way to the form of rolled leaves. This innovation led to the invention and use of teapots as we know them today. These teapots originally came from the Yi Xing region of China and were soon copied throughout the world. Then Japanese teapot-makers moved the handle from the side to the top of the teapots.
Tea finally reached Europe in the 1600s, along with the necessary tea sets made in Japan and China. As English teapot-makers began to adapt the tea sets to their country men’s tastes, they eventually added a handle to the tea bowl because of the English habit of drinking hot black tea, which was consumed at higher temperatures. The size of teacups also grew to accommodate milk and sugar in their tea.
By the early 1900s, innovations in tea drinking became an American affair. The most revolutionary one was the tea bag, which was accidentally commercialized by Thomas Sullivan. He had been sending customers tea wrapped in silk bags. Rather than take the leaves out of the bags, as Sullivan intended, the customers put the bags into their teapots instead. Not only did the tea bags push the teapot back to the sidelines of tea service, they were also too large for teacups and led to the modern practice of drinking tea from mugs.
1. Which was used to make the whipped tea in Japan?| A．Rolled tea leaves. | B．Freshly picked tea leaves. |
| C．Powdered tea leaves. | D．Loosely pressed tea leaves. |
| A．Tea bags and mugs. | B．Tea bowls with handles. |
| C．Heat-resistant teapots. | D．Teapots with top handles. |
| A．Customers are very creative. | B．Innovations are relatively easy. |
| C．Marketing strategy is critical. | D．Good ideas can be born by accident. |
| A．The Development of Tea Sets | B．Varieties of Tea Leaves |
| C．Various Tea-making Methods | D．The Spread of Tea Trades |
【推荐2】Enjoying her tea and book, a young woman sits alone in a café. She pauses briefly to write in a nearby notepad and then shows her words to a passing café waiter: “Where are the toilets please?” This is a very scene in Tokyo’s so-called “silent cafes”, where customers are not allowed to speak, and only communicate by writing in notepads.
Although some people don’t like silent cafes, the concept gains its popularity by a desire to be alone among young Japanese, a situation brought by economic uncertainty, a shift in traditional family support structures. The growing social isolation also contributing to its appearance, young people get used to the saying “Leave me alone.” The phenomenon is not limited to coffee shops but covers everything from silent discos, where participants dance alone wearing wireless headphones connected to the DJ, to products such as small desk tents designed for conversation—free privacy in the office. One Kyoto company even offers single women the opportunity to have a “one woman wedding” —a full bridal affair, complete with white dress and ceremony, and the only thing missing is the groom. The trend has its own media expression—“botchi-zoku”, referring to individuals who consciously choose to do things completely on their own.
In order to enjoy some solo time, Chihiro Higashikokubaru, a 23-year-old nurse, travelled 90 minutes from her home, to Tokyo on her day off. When asked about the reason, Miss Higashikokubaru said: “I heard about this place via Twitter and I like the idea of coming here. I work as a nurse and it’s always very busy and tough. There are very few quiet places in Tokyo, and it’s a big and fast-paced city, which I don’t always like. I just want to come and sit somewhere quietly on my own. I’m going to drink a cup of tea and maybe do some drawings. I like the idea of a quiet, calm atmosphere.”
1. Which of the following may account for the idea of “silent cafes” in Japan?| A．The change in family support structures. | B．The steady economic situation. |
| C．The rising appeal for privacy. | D．The rapid development of the Internet. |
| A．People can’t speak in the silent cafes, except the waiter. |
| B．Not all the people favor the idea of “silent cafes”. |
| C．There are no toilets in the silent cafes. |
| D．The silent cafes can cure people’s depression thoroughly. |
| A．She doesn’t like her career as a nurse. |
| B．She doesn’t like the fast-paced life in big cities. |
| C．She travelled to Tokyo on her work days. |
| D．She enjoys her solo time in a quiet place. |
| A．Anew social trend in Japan | B．Lonely Japanese |
| C．Leave behind your work | D．Silent cafes, great satisfaction |
【推荐3】Are you learning another language? Maybe you’re trying to study it for work or study, or maybe you’re trying to master it just for the fun of it? Language learning is nothing new, of course, but technology has made it easier than ever to learn.
The popularity (流行) of language-learning apps in particular has increased around the world, especially as more people are working or studying at home. They are usually easy and convenient to use because you can use them on your smartphone. And apps can offer languages not popular enough to be taught at evening classes or schools or universities.
Many of us aim to speak two languages to enable us to communicate with people around the world. But, maybe surprisingly, the British, who are not famous for their love for language learning, are leading the way in the growth of these apps. US company Duolingo told the BBC that in 2020 new user numbers globally were up 67% compared with 2019, while in the UK they increased by 132%, almost double the worldwide average.
But for anyone trying a new language, what encourages them to carry on learning when there isn’t a teacher around to manage their progress? Colin Watkins from Duolingo told the BBC that for UK learners at least, “people are learning because of culture, brain training, family, and relationships, along with school and travel. We want a positive use of our time, and to do something productive (富有成效的) on our apps.” The recent lockdowns have given us more time to do this. Certainly, speaking two or more languages is a good thing, and helps us to bring the world a little closer together.
1. What has made learning a language easier?| A．Teachers. | B．New teaching methods. |
| C．Technology: apps. | D．Learners’ goals. |
| A．They are not difficult to use. |
| B．They are interesting. |
| C．They can offer more languages. |
| D．They are convenient to use. |
| A．The number of language app users is increasing. |
| B．Many of them want to speak two languages. |
| C．The British are using language-learning apps. |
| D．The British are leading the rise in the use of language-learning apps. |
| A．Positive. (肯定的) | B．Negative. (否定的) |
| C．Indifferent. (冷漠的) | D．Critical. (批判的) |
