【推荐1】The Notting Hill Carnival is London’s biggest street festival and one of the most famous carnivals in the world. The carnival is an important cultural event for London’s Afro Caribbean community and celebration of multi-cultural British life.

Notting Hill Carnival takes place in London every August bank holiday. Bank holiday refers to a public holiday, for example Christmas Day. It is the most colourful and largest street event in the UK. The festival celebrates the traditions of the Afro-Caribbean community, who immigrated to England from the West Indies in the 1950s. They brought with them the Caribbean idea of the carnival, with colourful costumes, parades, steel bands and street dancing. The tradition to hold the carnival began in 1964 and it has taken place every year since then.

Preparations for the carnival start many months in advance. Costumes need to be made, and floats built, ready for the carnival street parades. Steel bands practise traditional Caribbean music on instruments built from used oil buckets. Just before the festival, the streets are decorated with yellow, green and red banners, and recording devices are set in place to carry the rhythmic sounds over the loud noise of the London traffic. The carnival is celebrated over three days, and is full of music and colour. Parades of steel and brass bands, floats, and dancers in colourful costumes make their way through the narrow London streets, watched by tens of thousands of people. The streets are lined with stands selling tropical fruits, such as fresh mangoes, watermelons and pineapples. Everyone in London dances—young and old, black and white—and even the policemen on duty take part in the fun. For these three days in August, a little Caribbean magic touches the streets of London.

1. What is the writer's main aim in writing the text?

A．To encourage people to celebrate the traditions of black people

B．To talk about problems with Afro-Caribbean community

C．To recommend people spend more time outdoors

D．To introduce and describe the Notting Hill Carnival

2. According to the passage, Notting Hill Carnival_______.

A．takes place every bank holiday

B．is held annually in August

C．is organized by the bank of England

D．is held at the beginning of July

3. During the Notting Hill Carnival, _______.

A．fruit stands are not allowed in the streets.

B．preparations start early in the morning

C．music and colour fill the streets of London

D．traffic is banned from the main shopping streets

4. What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A．The festival is popular with everyone in London.

B．Only Caribbean people take part in it.

C．It is gaining in popularity among the white in recent years.

D．The streets in London are filled with pop music.

【推荐2】Adults generally dislike getting older.     1     It’s no surprise, then, that many kids look forward to their birthdays, especially the 16th birthday. For girls in America, a “Sweet 16” birthday is an important rite (仪式) of passage that celebrates approaching adulthood.

In the United States, the 16th birthday is a mark that a girl has come of age. She is not a legal adult yet, but at 16, many girls can begin to learn to drive.     2     For many youths, the 16th birthday is a celebration of womanhood and marks the end of the girl’s childhood.

Society and media often put great importance on a girl’s 16th birthday.     3     Both of them have great personal importance. They think of their 16th birthdays like women think of their weddings.

    4     The event can be held in a garden, a park or somewhere else. Often, a girl has been planning her 16th birthday party for long and has a very specific idea about what she wants and who she wants to invite. As long as she doesn’t waste money, letting a girl plan her 16^th birthday is a great way to let her creativity and personality shine.

There are many theories about how the sweet 16th birthday came into being. Most connect the birthday celebration with the Mexican Quinceanera, which takes place on a girl’s 15th birthday, or European ancient coming-of-age celebrations.     5    

A．She is still just a little kid.

B．Many parties show a girl’s interest.

C．However, kids find “growing up” exciting.

D．The big part of a sweet 16th birthday is the party.

E．They can get jobs and take other adult responsibilities.

F．No matter where the celebration began, it has become a tradition.

G．Many movies show girls’ 16th birthdays are just as important as graduations.

【推荐3】Walking Festivals in Britain

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival

The Isle of Wight Walking Festival has almost 70 walks to choose from,ranging from Nature’s Table, a guided short walk and talk around a nature reserve, exploring food sources for wildlife, to a three-day trip to the island. The most important event is a fund-raising walk for the island’s hospice (临终安养院) the coast-to-coast Mountbatten Walk the Wight.

Time:7-15 May

Website:www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk

The Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival

This new festival is a successor (接替者) to the Lincolnshire Wolds Walking Festival. There are coast , countryside, and town walks, themed walks covering wildlife and literature, and full moon walks. The non-walking activities range from mountain biking to well-being classes. Child-friendly options include deer watching and beach workshops.

Time:30 April to 5 June

Website: www.woldsoutdoorfestival.com

The Alton Walking Festival

This festival is now in its 11th year and has a program of 113 walks throughout May. For children, there are short buggy strolls (马车散步) and ghost walks. What are aimed firmly at adults are well-being walks, short trips to vineyards (葡萄园) and the 20-mile journey.

Time :1-31 May

Website : www.alton.gov.uk

The Herefordshire Walking Festival

The annual Kington Walks Spring Weekend features 14 walks in and around the historic Herefordshire drovers’ town, including a pub walk, a dawn bird-watching walk and a tour of Hergest Croft Gardens to see the spring blooms. It’s a good warm-up for the Herefordshire Walking Festival,which celebrated its 20th anniversary last year. It includes a themed walk and several challenging hikes.

Time :18-26 June

Website :www.herefordshirewalkingfestival.co.uk

1. Which of the following websites will people wanting to walk for charity visit ?

A．www.alton.gov.uk.

B．www.woldsoutdoorfestival.com

C．www.isleofwightwalkingfestival.co.uk.

D．www.herefordshirewalkingfestival.co.uk.

2. What do the walking festivals in Lincolnshire and Alton have in common ?

A．They provide fun activities for children.

B．They include non-walking activities.

C．They have a long history.

D．They last for two months.

3. What can visitors do during the Kington Walks Spring Weekend ?

A．See birds and flowers.

B．Go on guided hikes.

C．Tour around the vineyards.

D．Gain knowledge about literature.

【推荐1】Looking for a place where your kids can pet animals? Well, you’re in luck because we’ve got a great list of farms in Northeast Ohio.

Majestic Meadows Alpacas &Boutique

Fun for all ages! Come to pet, feed and interact with all the animals on the farm! It is a perfect place to relax and appreciate the beauty of the outdoors. The 20-acre farm gives you a truly unique interactive experience that gets you up close and personal with all the animals on the farm as you walk through the fields. Open daily. Book in advance to experience the farm!

Downs on the Farm

Downs on the Farm is a non-profit organization doing two things close to their heart—saving animals from dangers and providing a special farm for kids with disabilities to enjoy. There is a petting zoo, train rides and a playground. On the farm, children with special needs can engage themselves in rescues related to special needs.

Hale Farm &Village

Open seasonally, this living history museum features 32 historic structures, craft and trade demonstrations, farm animals and gardens. Costumed interpreters will provide a look into daily life on the farm. Special timed talks and demonstrations are offered throughout the week to add meaningful interpretation of sites and highlight some special history. Admission for children aged 2 and under is FREE.

The Farm in Walnut Creek

On this farm, activities visitors may enjoy during a visit change with the seasons. Visitors have the opportunity to view and hand-feed the animals from a conventional car or a horse-drawn carriage. You can also get close to some of the animals in the petting area. Plus, tour the non-electric farmhouses and take pictures. What is the most exciting is that you can buy local fruits and vegetables at the farm stand.

1. What is required for the visit to the 20-acre farm?

A．A camera.	B．An interpreter.
C．A reservation.	D．A registration fee.

2. Which farm is devoted to rescuing animals?

A．Downs on the Farm.	B．Hale Farm &. Village.
C．The Farm in Walnut Creek.	D．Majestic Meadows Alpacas & Boutique.

3. What can you do on the Farm in Walnut Creek?

A．Take a train ride.	B．Decorate a garden.
C．Purchase produce.	D．Build a farmhouse.

【推荐2】Pacific Coast Holiday

4 Days Coach Tour of Los Angeles - Malibu - Santa Barbara - Central Coast - Monterey - San Francisco

Day 1 Arrival in Los Angeles

Thanks for choosing us and welcome to join our USA group tours. After arriving in Los Angeles, the “City of Angels”, please go to our pre-booked hotel and check in by yourself. In the evening, meet our tour director and fellow travelers at the hotel. The tour director will give a brief introduction about the following schedule.

Accommodation: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX    

Day 2 Have a leisure day in Los Angeles

You are free to travel around throughout the day. Griffith Observatory, Getty Center, Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens, and Hollywood Bowl are all popular attractions. Besides, Grand Central Market is a great place to enjoy the food and get cheap pupusas, carnitas tacos and aguas frescas. You can also choose to take an optional full-day tour to the world’s largest film studio and theme park: Universal Studios. There, you may take a look at Wisteria Alley in the hot-selling TV series “Desperate Housewives”, visit the actual behind-the-scenes production and special photography skills of the movie, and take the tour bus on the spot to experience the exciting scenes in the movie and other interesting activities.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 3 Transfer to visit Malibu, Santa Barbara and Central Coast

On the third day, enjoy a motor coach tour. We’ll head north along the beautiful Pacific coast, pass by the famous Santa Monica and Malibu beaches, and have a stop at the historic end of the Route 66 - Santa Monica Beach. Route 66 established on November 11, 1926, popularly known as the Mother Road, holds a special place in American consciousness. The highway ultimately stretched 2,448 miles from Chicago to Los Angeles. Remember to take a photo in front of the California Lifeguard Tower, which is famous for “Beach Ambulance”. Then, we’ll arrive in Santa Barbara, where a walkway lined with palm trees meets the white sandy beach in distance. After, enjoy the self-paid lunch and admire the Spanish architecture of the city, and then continue going to a quaint central coast town and stay for one night there.

Meals: Breakfast.

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Santa Maria    

Day 4 Continue the journey to Carmel and Monterey, Get to San Francisco and say goodbye

This is the last day of the tour. We will head north to Carmel to visit the shops and galleries where famous artists gather. Then, continue northward to visit the old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Stroll along the wharf to Cannery Row, famous for the novel by John Steinbeck. In the afternoon, we will drive through the fertile Casterville and Santa Clara Valleys to the “city of the bay” — San Francisco.

The trip will be over after we arrive in San Francisco. If you need, we can book a hotel in San Francisco or arrange other visits for you. Hope you have had a wonderful time with us and look forward to serving you again in the near future.

Meals: Breakfast.

1. Which statement is not true according to the passage?

A．Only breakfast will be served by the tourists agency.

B．The travelers will go to the pre-booked hotel and check in guided by their tour director on Day 1.

C．Day 3 will be ended in a quaint central coast town.

D．San Francisco is the last stop of this travel.

2. Which of the following is not an activity on Day 2?

A．Appreciate some art works.

B．Enjoy the food in Grand Central Market.

C．Play a role in the TV series “Desperate Housewives”.

D．Experience some exciting scenes in the movie.

3. On which day may travelers meet some famous artists?

A．Day 1

B．Day 2

C．Day 3

D．Day 4