Hotels that go all out for Christmas
Willard InterContinental: Washington
In the United States capital, the Willard InterContinental will host free performances through December 23. Holiday afternoon tea — with finger sandwiches and pastries — will be served every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 26 ($79 per person or $89 with a glass of champagne).
Room rates in December start around $325.
Claridge’s: London
Guests at Claridge’s will be treated to horse-drawn carriage rides. Three-night Christmas packages feature those festive events, plus Christmas lunch, Champagne, a visit from Father Christmas, stockings for all and a full English breakfast each day. Festive afternoon tea, served through January 3, is about $126 for an adult and $66 for one child.
A two-night holiday season package starts at about $1,425.
The Breakers: Palm Beach, Florida
The Breakers Palm Beach carries its lavish traditions right through the holiday season. The oceanfront Italian resort dazzles with sparkling lights, and holiday tea is available at HMF on select days in late December for $115 per person. Nearly every room has already been snapped up this December, but holiday tea and meals make for a festive taste of the striking hotel.
Rates start at $599 per night in December.
Ritz: Paris
The Ritz Paris is putting on exactly what you’d expect from the elegant property. The hotel is celebrating a Swiss Christmas this year in homage to founder César Ritz’ roots with a gold and blue theme accented with paper edelweiss flowers. Christmas Tea is available at Bar Vendome and Salon Proust, starting at about $77 per person.
December room rates start at around $1,700 a night.
1. At which hotel can people enjoy finger sandwiches?| A．Willard InterContinental: Washington | B．Claridge’s: London |
| C．The Breakers: Palm Beach, Florida | D．Ritz: Paris |
| A．$192. | B．$378. | C．$345. | D．$318. |
| A．They are all hotels in Europe. |
| B．They all offer season package. |
| C．All the hotels will provide festive tea. |
| D．All the hotels will host free performances. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Greek Festival and Roman Festival
You will be sent to a group.
As a member of the group, you will take part in at least ONE of the following activities.
1. Compete in an Olympic event.
Sign up with your English teacher, and remember space is limited for each event, so don’t delay. See the list under “Olympic Events” below.
2. Make Greek or Roman food.
Mrs. Jones has a list of recipes (食谱) from ancient Greece and Rome. You may make American food, but be sure to give it a Greek or Roman name. For example, call your chocolate cake “Zeus’s Delight.” This is a great way to practice your skills in the kitchen.
3. Create a work of art for the museum.
Be sure your artwork reflects (反映) ancient Greek or Roman culture. Artwork may include sculptures, paintings, drawings, or models. The museum is a great place to show off your artistic talent.
4. Perform an original opera, song, or dance for the talent show.
Rewrite your favorite Greek myth (神话) using modern language, or change the words of a popular song to tell a Greek or Roman tale. To try out, you must perform for a group of teachers. This audition (试演) helps the teachers choose the BEST performance groups for the talent show.
5. OLYMPIC EVENTS:
Hercules Throw — Throw a football through a hoop (铁箍) 20 feet away.
Three-Headed Race — Three people line up with touching legs tied. Then they run the distance of the gym.
6. This schedule will clear up confusion and help groups know where to go.
| Group Number | 1:00-1:25 | 1:30-1:55 | 2:00-2:25 | 2:30-3:30 |
| I | Olympics/Gym | Museum/Library | Food Court/ Cafeteria | Talent Show/Auditorium (礼堂) All teams Hurry! No seats reserved. |
| II | Food Court/ Cafeteria | Olympics/Gym | Museum/Library | |
| III | Museum/Library | Food Court/ Cafeteria | Olympics/Gym |
1. What can we learn about the food activity from Section 2?
| A．Greek or Roman names must be used. |
| B．American foods are not allowed. |
| C．Food sharing is not allowed. |
| D．New recipes must be created. |
| A．A drawing of an ancient Indian city. |
| B．A model of ancient Egyptian furniture. |
| C．sculpture of ancient German buildings. |
| D．A painting of the ancient Olympic games. |
| A．Different physical competitions are offered. |
| B．Skills in throwing are needed in these games. |
| C．Partners are required for activity participation. |
| D．Runners will be good candidates for winning. |
| A．To practice dance steps. |
| B．To taste the food items. |
| C．To watch the talent show. |
| D．To compete in Olympic events. |
| A．To train students in clothing design. |
| B．To inform students of their choices. |
| C．To persuade students to write songs. |
| D．To show the students’ talents. |
【推荐2】How to plan a party for Mother’s Day
Planning a party for Mother’s Day can be exciting and fun, but if everything is put off to the last minute, it can be stressful. Therefore, we have come up a way to help you plan for it, without adding any more stress to your everyday life!
Four to six weeks before the BIG DAY!
Choose a theme first. Next, make a guest list and pick a date and time.
Three weeks before the BIG DAY!
ASK for RSVP’s(不能参加请回复) by a certain date and time. Place a list of those you invited next to the phone to record RSVP’s.
If you haven’t received any RSVP’s, call to make sure they are coming. Make it clear that your helpers can still attend and what their duties will be. Order the cake.
One week before the BIG DAY!
Call all confirmed(确认的) guests and remind them of the big day, double checking directions. Buy food and candies. Make up the goodie bags based on confirmations.
One day before the BIG DAY!
Prepare your foods ahead of time.
Day of the BIG DAY!
Pick up the cake. Blow up and set out balloons four hours before the event.
Week after the BIG DAY!
Send out thank you notes to all the helpers and those who gave gifts!
| A．Two weeks before the BIG DAY! |
| B．Decide if it will be indoors or outside. |
| C．Have fun! |
| D．Five days before the BIG DAY! |
| E．If anything can be cooked and reheated, now is the time. |
| F．Buy games and enough prizes. |
| G．Send out invitations. |
However, eating out can be expensive. Restaurants are normally more expensive than pubs, though many pubs serve very good, simple food. As British people don’t dine out every night of the week, eating in a restaurant is often seen as a special occasion. When going for the first date, or if celebrating an anniversary or a birthday, many people like to go to a restaurant. People often eat in a restaurant before going to the cinema or the theatre.
As in all cultures, there are many rules of etiquette (礼节)surrounding food and eating, and nowhere is this more pronounced than when eating in a smart restaurant. People are almost always expected to eat with a knife and fork and these should be held in the correct hand and used in the correct way. It is also impolite to have your elbows on the dining table when you are eating.
There’re many such “unspoken” rules — they are normally only important when eating in a very elegant and expensive restaurant, and vary slightly from restaurant to restaurant and place to place. A recent nationwide survey showed that there was a divide in manners between the north and south of Britain — the “worst” manners were in Scotland and the northeast, and the “best” in Wales and the southeast! However, this survey was almost certainly conducted by someone in the southeast, so it may not be entirely fair.
Naturally, restaurants vary greatly in quality and price. However, almost all British cities have a vast range of food and cooking styles to choose from as well as traditional British food,. from the very cheap to the very expensive — French, Italian, Indian, Greek, Thai, Japanese and many more. In fact, when asked what their favorite food is, many British people say an Indian curry (咖喱菜）rather than any other dish!
As well as dining in a restaurant, when people are too tired to cook after work they often get a “takeaway”. This means they order from a takeaway or takeout restaurant by phone, then go to collect it and take it home to eat. Many takeout restaurants also deliver to your house. While you can normally find a takeout restaurant for almost any cuisine, the most popular are Italian, Indian and Chinese — and all you have to do is to open the door, pay and eat!
1. What can be concluded from the first two paragraphs?
| A．The British spend more eating out than cooking at home. |
| B．The British pay great attention to eating in a restaurant. |
| C．The British often dine out when celebrating festivals. |
| D．People tend to eat in a restaurant after watching a movie. |
| A．polite | B．expensive | C．strange | D．obvious |
| A．There exist great differences of rules in different restaurants. |
| B．People from Wales and southeast Britain are the most polite. |
| C．Your order in a takeout restaurant can be sent to your home. |
| D．Traditional British food is seldom served in British restaurants. |
| A．Restaurant culture in Britain. | B．Table manners in Britain. |
| C．Different restaurants in Britain. | D．Traditional and foreign foods in Britain. |
【推荐1】Free school meals are back in the news. Footballer Marcus Rashford’s petition(请愿书) to extend free school meals provision(供给) into the school holidays has collected 1.1 million signatures, causing the government to reverse policy. It has restarted the debate over free school meals, fuelled, most recently, by figures forecasting that if the government ends as planned the current £20 top-up(附加款), another 200,000 children will slip into poverty. This is in addition to the 550,000 children already living in poverty previous to Covid-19.
The roots of the current school meals system lie in the mid-19th century. In Manchester, independent charities as well as official bodies started to provide free meals for undernourished children in the 1870s. When education became compulsory in the following decades, the extent of the issue became apparent. Proponents of feeding starving children pointed out that it was due to government order that children were in school, not working and contributing to the family food budget, so the government should pay.
Reception was mixed. Then, as now, children rejected foods they weren’t used to. Diaries of the time talk of “little bags of mystery” (sausages). Some children were put off brassicas(芥菜类) for life. Finding the balance between cheap and good proved hard. The chief medical officer talked about the lack in calorie value and elements of a well-balanced diet which a needy child does not get at home, such as milk, cheese, eggs, green vegetables, fruit and meat”. In 1980, the Tory government, desperate to cut costs, made provision largely optional and abolished nutritional standards. Over the next 15 years convenience and cost became the most important.
Today, school meals provision is linked to benefits: in England around 17 per cent of children are entitled to free school meals. Provision is outsourced(外包), leading to huge variation. In the last year, we’ve seen all of the age-old debates repeated once more. How do we decide who is entitled? How do we guarantee quality? Who decides what children eat? Who pays? Undernutrition does not just have physical effects, but also affects behavior and ability to learn. It has a lifelong impact. The arguments around free school meals seem never to end. But they are hugely important and, until poverty is ended, they will not and should not go away.
1. Why did Marcus Rashford start the petition?| A．To feed an increasing number of children in poverty. |
| B．To restart the debate over free school meals. |
| C．To raise fund for hunger relief for children. |
| D．To lift children out of poverty. |
| A．Officials. | B．Charities. |
| C．Advocates. | D．Critics. |
| A．Some children liked brassicas provided in the school. |
| B．School meals were both tasty and cheap. |
| C．School meals failed to meet children’s nutritional needs. |
| D．The Tory government chose nutrition over cost. |
| A．Never-ending. | B．Meaningless. |
| C．Influential. | D．Necessary. |
【推荐2】Researchers at Columbia University in New York have created a 3D printer that makes cheesecake.
In research published Tuesday in the journal npj Science of Food, the engineers describe how their 3D printer made a cheesecake from seven ingredients: graham cracker, peanut butter, Nutella, banana puree, strawberry jam, cherry drizzle, and frosting; a retrofitted (改装) 3D printer was used; the printing head could pick up any of the seven food “inks” to add to the slice. The final result tasted pretty sweet.
Blutinger, head of the researcher, said in a press release describing the research, “The cheesecake is the best thing we can showcase right now, but the printer can do a whole lot more.” 3D printed food could make foods more customizable — and possibly more nutritious. With more emphasis on food safety, food prepared with less human handling could lower the risk of foodborne illness and disease transmission.
Is 3D food printing healthy? “We have an enormous problem with the low-nutrient value of processed foods,” Cooper said. “3D food printing will still turn out processed foods, but perhaps the silver lining will be, for some people, better control and tailoring of nutrition — personalized nutrition.”
“On every scale, from food manufacturers to restaurants and homes, 3D printers might be the next step in automation, removing more people from the preparation process. You’ll likely pay more for your first 3D food printer than you did for your air fryer. When the first ones arrive, perhaps in five years or so, they will likely come in at less than $1,000,” Blutinger said.
1. What is used to make cheesecake?| A．A 3D film. | B．A newly-built 3D printer. |
| C．A new printing head. | D．A modified 3D printer. |
| A．The cheesecake is the best in the world. |
| B．3D printed food belongs to natural foods. |
| C．3D printed food could be everything but nutritious. |
| D．3D printed food could lower the risk of disease transmission. |
| A．It can print salty cakes. |
| B．It is possible for massive production. |
| C．It will be too much expensive to buy. |
| D．It can be put into the market at once. |
| A．In an entertainment website. |
| B．In an advertisement. |
| C．In a science magazine. |
| D．In a storybook. |
【推荐3】It’s said that every Irish “mammy” has her own way to cook Irish stew(炖菜). Simple but satisfying, it has fed the poor over centuries, which makes it a national dish.
The ingredients tell the story. First up, there’s the “spud”, as the Irish call the potato. First brought to Ireland in the 16th century, it was an unbelievable food, providing bumper crops that could be stored over the cold winter months. Soon, everyone was eating it — for breakfast, lunch and tea.
With the arrival of the spud, the population increased from one million to eight million in less than three centuries. But this dependence on the vegetable would prove disastrous when crops were struck by disease in the 1840s. The great famine(饥荒)that followed killed over a million people — and forced millions more to run to other countries. It’s hard to believe that during the years of famine, Ireland continued to export huge quantities of food to Great Britain, its colonial master at the time.
Today, Ireland is an independent nation. Nobody thinks about the potato famine as they enjoy their Irish stew but there’s a bone-deep awareness of the country’s long connection with the spud.
Potatoes are all well and good, but the stew gets its taste from the meat. It used to be made with mutton as it was the only meat available to the poor. However, the only way to make it good enough to eat was to stew it in the pot for hours.
Today, most people use lamb. However, this remains slightly traditional among purists, who also criticize(批评)the addition of ingredients like carrots, parsnips, thyme and supermarket-bought materials.
1. Why was the potato called an unbelievable food in the 16th century?| A．It could be accepted by both the poor and the rich. | B．It could be cooked into many delicious dishes. |
| C．It could be kept for a long time. | D．It could grow in winter in Ireland. |
| A．The growing population. | B．A very serious famine. |
| C．A war between Ireland and Britain. | D．Millions of people rushing to Ireland. |
| A．Stewing the dish for hours. | B．Using enough potatoes. |
| C．Picking up the high-quality lamb. | D．Adding different kinds of ingredients. |
| A．Ways to cook Irish stew. | B．The present situation of Irish stew. |
| C．The importance of potatoes. | D．An Irish national dish about potatoes. |
【推荐1】Take a spin on your ice skates at the world’s highest outdoor skating rink(溜冰场), surrounded by the breathtaking view of snow-covered trees and picturesque mountains. Whether you are looking for leisurely ice skating with family and friends or a friendly pickup hockey(冰球) game with the locals, this world-class rink is for you.
●Operating Dates &Times (Non-holiday Periods)
| Sunday-Thursday | 11:00 am - 6:45 pm |
| Friday & Saturday | 10:00 am - 7:45 pm |
Hours and dates of operation are subject to change based upon weather and conditions.
●Ice Skating Rentals (4:00 pm - 7:30 pm daily)
| Skating | Skate Rental | Hockey Sticky Rental | Helmet Rental | Souvenir Puck |
| FREE | $12 | $6 | $6 | $5 |
A waiver(弃权说明) needs to be signed by all persons wanting to rent skates, sticks, or helmets. If you are 16 and under a parent or legal guardian, they need to sign a waiver for you before you can rent skates.
●Helpful Information
No pedestrians are permitted on the rink. All guests must have skates.
Slap shots and raising the puck aren’t permitted.
Helmets recommended.
Strollers and wheelchairs aren’t permitted on the rink.
All participants must follow the attendant’s instructions. Unsafe conduct will result in the removal of your ticket without a refund.
●How to Get There
From the Village Centre—take Lara’s Gondola to Happy Valley, and turn right in front of Happy Valley Day Lodge for entrance to the skating rink.
By vehicle—park in the Happy Valley Parking Lot and proceed to the skating rink.
●Facilities
Olympic-sized ice surface.
Hot snacks/drinks available for purchase in the Happy Valley Day Lodge.
Heated washroom facilities in the Happy Valley Day Lodge.
Fully lit for night skating.
Professionals to assist beginners.
1. How much does it cost to rent the equipment for a hockey game?| A．$12. | B．$18. | C．$29. | D．$24 |
| A．Signing a waiver. | B．Wearing skates. |
| C．Renting a helmet. | D．Being 16 years old. |
| A．Its age range. | B．Its highest altitude. |
| C．Its excellent service. | D．Its easy access. |
【推荐2】Summer in the Alps from £200
Alpine skiing holidays are seldom cheap, and their reputation (声誉) is longer than the snow season. The Alps chain is long and wide, extending from France to Slovenia through six other nations.
All use either the euro or the Swiss franc, but some countries want more of them than others. Austria’s Wilder Kaiser (Emperor Mountains), in the Eastern Tirol, is about an hour’s drive from Innsbruck, Salzburg and Munich. Four villages —Ellmau, Going, Scheffau and Soll — provide bases for hiking, cycling, horse riding and foodie journies. It’s possible to keep costs down by picnicking instead of eating out, camping or using huts, or doing a “workation” on a farm or other local business.
Top tip
Accommodation providers across the region booked through the official wilderkaiser. info website give guests a Wilder Kaiser GuestCard on arrival, which covers local buses and gives lots of discounts, including on summer cable cars.
When to go
Spring through to the autumn months are really lovely in the Eastern Alps.
Do it yourself
Fly Manchester to Munich with EasyJet (easyjet. com), from £67 return in October. The excellent wilderkaiser. info website offers a range of accommodation options and an easy booking service. We found a two-bed room in HausFries, a lovely guesthouse in Soll, in early October, for £15 per person per night — or two people for £210 for a week.
Perfect package
Expedia (expedia. co. uk) has a flight (exManchester) and apartment package for a week's holiday near Scheffau in Wilder Kaiser for £350.
1. What is a better way to save money?| A．Have a picnic. | B．Go camping | C．Use huts. | D．Eat out. |
| A．On the spot. | B．Over the phone. | C．On the internet. | D．Through emails. |
| A．£ 30. | B．£60. | C．£ 90. | D．£ 210. |
【推荐3】In search of something good to read? USA TODAY's Barbara VanDenburgh listed this week's hottest new book releases. All books are on sale June 22.
Filthy Animals, by Brandon Taylor（Riverhead, fiction）
What it's about: The Booker Prize finalist and author of "Real Life" returns with a collection of linked stories set among complex young creatives in the Midwest and observing their tense relationships.
"Full of beauty and harshness（严厉）, the complex and surprising stories of 'Filthy Animals' will stick with readers long after the pages are read," says a review for USA TODAY.
Dream Girl, by Laura Lippman（William Morrow, fiction）
What it's about: Novelist Gerry Andersen, injured in a fall, is confined to a hospital bed when he gets a mysterious call from a woman claiming to be the "real" Aubrey, the main character from his popular book—only there is no real Aubrey.
"Lippman's sharp and timely thriller is a fast read, one that will surely please her many longtime devotees as well as attract new and enthusiastic fans," says a review for USA TODAY.
What White People Can Do Next, by Emma Dabiri（Harper Perennial, nonfiction）
What it's about: A practical guide to creating an antiracist world in essays that expose the ways many people are complicit（同谋）and outline actions that can affect lasting change.
"A must-read for anyone seeking to be an agent of much-needed societal change," says a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.
Blush, by Jamie Brenner（Putnam, fiction）
What it's about: As the Hollander Estates winery struggles to stay in business, three generations of Hollander women—Vivian, Leah and Sadie -distract themselves from worries by starting a "trashy" book club for scandalous novels of the old days.
"A perfect beach read about a family crisis resolved by women," says Kirkus Reviews.
1. Which book's style of writing is different from others?| A．Filthy Animals. | B．Dream Girl. |
| C．What White People Can Do Next. | D．Blush. |
| A．Jobs. | B．Science. |
| C．News. | D．Literature. |
| A．They will be sold the same day. |
| B．They share the same values. |
| C．They have the same influence. |
| D．They are from the same author. |
