【推荐1】A great family day out doesn’t have to be expensive. Sometimes just going for a walk can be fun, educational, and a chance to make special memories together and share some quality time. Here are a few of our family-friendly favorites.

Blickling Estate, Norfolk

This four-mile multi-use path has a surface that’s great for pushchairs. If you’re out for a family walk and the kids won’t leave the house without their pushbikes, then this is perfect for them. Please bear in mind that you’ll need to book a ticket before visiting.

Coughton Court family walk, Warwickshire

Get your boots on and go for a gentle walk at Coughton Court. This walk will take you across a field with grass and flowers. You’ll need to book a ticket before visiting, though.

Corfe Common history walk

A gentle walk exploring historic Corfe Castle. The kids will love checking out the castle ruins. Don’t forget to book a ticket before visiting.

Crom wildlife walk

This walk through the nature reserve at Crom, Northern Ireland is filled with wildlife. You could also come across one of the oldest yew trees in Ireland. This easy walk is great for all the family to get some fresh air. Booking a ticket before visiting is a must.

Sutton Hoo, Suffolk

This is a great walk for little legs. This beautiful area is home to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of all time. Even though no tours or guides are currently offered, you can still walk around the ancient places. Tickets are required before visiting.

1. What do we know about Blickling Estate?

A．It is pushchair-friendly.	B．It is famous for its wildlife.
C．It is an adventurous place for adults.	D．It is home to the oldest yew trees.

2. Which walk should you choose if you want to see the castle ruins?

A．Coughton Court family walk.	B．Corfe Common history walk.
C．Crom wildlife walk.	D．Sutton Hoo walk.

3. What do these five walks have in common?

A．They have guides.	B．They need to be booked ahead of time.
C．They are unfit for seniors.	D．They include exploring historic buildings.

【推荐2】

Hope Book Club A book club is a small group of persons that are reading the same book in order to share different feelings and opinions about the book. The book club meets once a month for an hour of lively discussion. All students (3+), teachers and parents are welcome! Here you can discover a new world, learn new ideas and make new friends! What you should do: ★You will read the book on your own and then discuss your reading in the book club. ★You must keep up with your reading so that you can join as a part of your group. The book club will decide what pages or chapters you will read. ★You should take down notes and thoughts as you read. ★Everyone in the book club is expected to join in the discussion. More tips: ★Keep our place clean. ★No pets and no smoking. ★Take good care of books and return them on time. ★You must ask for leave if you cannot join in the discussion. Fees: Kids from 3-7: Free; Kids from 8-18: 10 dollars a month; Adults: 15 dollars a month. If you are interested, call 487-256-656 or 487-266-545, send an email to hopebook@yahoo. com or visit our website at www. hopebookclub. com.

1. What tips should you pay attention to according to the text?

A．Keep quiet all the time.	B．Bring your cats or dogs.
C．Read your own favorite books only.	D．Ask for leave if you cannot join in the discussion.

2. How much should a couple with a 6-year-old son pay for being in the club for two months?

A．30 dollars.

B．60 dollars.

C．75 dollars.

D．90 dollars

3. How many ways are mentioned here to get more information about the club?

A．One.

B．Two.

C．Three.

D．Four.

【推荐3】Dog Fancy

Cover Price: $ 59.88 　　Price: $ 12.00 　　($ 1.00/ issue) 　　You Save: $ 47.88 (80%)

Issues: 12 issues / 12 months
Details:

Dog Fancy is information driven and provides opportunity for reader interaction. Every issue includes a fold-out four-color poster. Your complete guide to help you better understand, care for and enjoy your dog.

Dog for Kids
Cover Price: $ 23.94          Price: $ 12.99     ($2.17 / issue)          You Save: $ 10.95 (46%)
Issues: 6 issues /12 months
Details：

Dogs for Kids offers interactive and educational activities, which is intended for children (ages 8 to 12) who love dogs and puppies. Each full-color issue has training tips, fun activities to do with dogs, games, puzzles and posters. Dogs for Kids has received the Maxwell Award for Special Interest Magazines from the Dog Writer’s of America for 2 years in a row.

The Bark
Cover Price: $ 19.80          Price: $ 15.00 ($ 2.50 /issue)          You Save: $ 4.80 (24%)
Issues: 6 issues /12 months .
Details:

The Bark magazine is designed to include everything related to dog culture. Each issue includes stories, essays, poetry, reviews, interviews and artwork related to the relationship between humans and dogs. The Bark is not a how-to-care-for-your-dog magazine. It’s a magazine about living with dogs, which is your magazine: touching, smart and simply wonderful.

Dog World
Cover Price: $ 48.88          Price: $ 15.00 ($1.25 / issue)          You Save: $ 33.88 (69%)
Details:

Dog World is written for the dog enthusiast, including professionals in the pet industry. Articles entertain and educate readers about dog health — care, nutrition, appearance, training and behavior and the law. Dog World is a must-read for its devoted, loyal dog-loving readers.

1. Who would be most interested in the above magazines?

A．Wildlife protectors.	B．Pet dog owners.
C．Story book writers.	D．City zoo managers.

2. Which magazine saves most?

A．Dog Fancy	B．Dogs for Kids.
C．The Bark.	D．Dog World.

3. Which magazine might be the most popular with children?

A．Dog Fancy.	B．Dogs for Kids.
C．The Bark.	D．Dog World.

【推荐1】An electric flying vehicle called Skai was shown yesterday near Los Angeles, California. Skai is made by Alaka’i Technologies. The vehicle has six rotors（旋翼）on the roof and seats inside for five people.

Like a drone（无人机）, the vehicle from Alaka’i Technologies takes off and lands vertically（垂直地）. It’s one of many similar electric flying vehicles in production, including ones from Boeing and Airbus. But most of them are powered by batteries, which can add a lot of weight. The Skai instead uses very light hydrogen fuel cells to run its rotors, giving it a range of 400 miles（644 kilometers）and the capacity to carry 1,000 pounds（454 kilograms）in people or goods, the company says.

Alaka’i says it’s planning a test flight near its Massachusetts headquarters. It will be flown by an on ⁃ board pilot（飞行员）, but the technology exists to eventually fly it remotely and even autonomously. However, it will be years before the Federal Aviation Administration（FAA）allows the autonomous flight of passenger vehicles, said Thaddeus Lightfoot, who helps companies navigate FAA rules.

“Drone⁃ like vehicles such as the Skai must first simply prove their airworthiness, like any common plane. After that, getting commercial certification is another complex process. The technology is interesting, but the regulatory road will be very long,”said Lightfoot, adding that the idea of allowing people to fly in a large aircraft without a pilot is“well outside the current regulatory system.”

Hanvey, CEO of Alaka’i Technologies, said that it could take at least a decade before the company realizes his goal of electric flying vehicles ferrying passengers over major cities at   nearly 120 mph. Before that, he hopes to see Skai aircraft used by first responders to send in food or water following disasters like hurricanes or wildfires. It could also serve as a mobile cell tower, staying in the sky for up to 10 hours over a neighborhood to provide communication services, he said.

1. What is the advantage of the Skai?

A．It is quite light.	B．It uses batteries.
C．It carries more people.	D．It lands autonomously.

2. What can we infer about the pilotless flight of passenger vehicles?

A．It costs a lot.

B．It saves energy.

C．It is not readily available now.

D．It will soon get approved by FAA.

3. According to Thaddeus Lightfoot, what should the Skai do first?

A．Prove its safety to fly.	B．Conduct a test flight.
C．Get a commercial license.	D．Obey the International Air Law.

4. Where is the Skai probably first used according to Hanvey?

A．In the countryside.	B．In some major cities.
C．In mountainous areas.	D．In disaster⁃stricken areas.

【推荐2】A device that stops drivers from falling asleep at the wheel is about to undergo testing at Department of Transport laboratories and could go on sale within 12 months.

The system, called Driver Alert, aims to reduce deadly road accidents by 20%-40% that are caused by tiredness. Airline pilots can also use it to reduce the 30% of all pilot-error accidents that are related to fatigue.

Driver Alert is based on a computerized wristband. The device, worn by drivers or pilots, gives out a sound about every four minutes during a car journey. After each sound the driver must respond by squeezing the steering wheel (方向盘). A sensor in the wristband detects this pressing action and measures the time between the sound and the driver’s response.

Tiredness is directly related to a driver’s response time. Usually, a watchful driver would take about 400 milliseconds to respond but once that falls to more than 500 milliseconds, it suggests that the driver is getting sleepy.

In such cases the device gives out more regular and louder sounds, showing that the driver should open a window or stop for a rest. If the driver’s response continues to slow down, the sounds become more frequent until a nonstop alarm warns that the driver must stop as soon as possible.

The device has been delivered to the department’s laboatories for testing. If these tests, scheduled for six months’ time, are successful, the makers will bring the product to market within about a year.

1. According to the text, Driver Alert____________.

A．aims to reduce tiredness-related accidents

B．has gone through testing at laboratories

C．aims to prevent drivers from sleeping

D．has been on sale for 12 months

2. How should a driver respond to the sounds from Driver Alert?

A．By sounding a warning.	B．By pressing the steering wheel.
C．By checking the driving time.	D．By touching the wristband.

3. When the driver gets sleepy while driving, Driver Alert ____________.

A．moves more regularly	B．stops working properly
C．sounds more frequently and loudly	D．opens the window for the driver

【推荐3】Scientists from the Faculty of Engineering, Information and Systems at the University of Tsukuba designed a text message mediation robot that can help users control their anger when receiving upsetting news. This device may help improve social interactions as we move towards a world with increasingly digital communications.

While a quick text message apology is a fast and easy way for friends to let us know they are going to be late for a planned meeting, it is often missing the human element that would accompany an explanation face-to-face, or even over the phone. It is likely to be more upsetting when we are not able to perceive the emotional weight behind our friends’ regret at making us wait.

Now, researchers at the University of Tsukuba have built a handheld robot called OMOY, which was equipped with a movable weight driven by mechanical components inside its body. By shifting the internal weight, the robot could express simulated emotions. The robot was used as a mediator for reading text messages. A text with unwelcome or frustrating news could be followed by a persuasion by OMOY. The robot tries to make the user not get upset, or even expresses sympathy for the user. “With the medium of written digital communication, the lack of social feedback redirects focus from the sender to the content of the message itself,” author Professor Fumihide Tanaka says.

The mediator robot was designed so that it can help suppress the user’s anger and other negative interpersonal motivations. The researchers tested 94 people with a message like “I’m sorry. I am late. The appointment slipped my mind. Can you wait another hour?” The team found that OMOY was able to reduce negative emotions. “The mediator robot can relay a frustrating message followed by giving its own opinion. When this speech is accompanied by the appropriate weight shifts, we saw that the user would sense the ‘intention’ of the robot to help them calm down,” Professor Tanaka says.

1. What influence may the message mediation robot have on society?

A．It can improve social health.	B．It can control a person’s emotion.
C．It can promote social communication.	D．It can increase digital communications.

2. How can the robot express simulated emotions?

A．By shifting its internal structure.	B．By moving its inside weight.
C．By changing the colour of its body.	D．By observing its user s expression.

3. What does the underlined word “suppress” mean in paragraph 4?

A．Prevent.

B．Enrich.

C．Express.

D．Conduct.

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Ways To Improve Social Interactions	B．Messages Upset Humans Reading Them
C．Robots Help Control Negative Emotions	D．Science Involved In Robot Communication

【推荐2】Coming up with a list of places to visit can be challenging. To save your trouble, we have completed a list of the top tourist attractions in the world.

Eiffel Tower, Paris

Built in 1887, it’s the symbol of Paris and one of the most photographed buildings in the world. A visit to the Eiffel Tower is a must for all travelers. No other landmarks in the world inspire such a strong feeling of love for travel as this single iron structure (钢铁建筑).This is a city where travelers of all kinds can find the experience they're after.

The Statue of Liberty, New York City

America is full of great sights and places to visit, but it's the Statue of Liberty that symbolizes the United States. This symbol of freedom in New York City was gifted by the French to the American people in 1886. The best thing to do is to take a ride up to her crown (王冠) and get the view over the city.

The Acropolis, Athens

Standing above present-day Athens, the Acropolis draws you up and in. Follow in the footsteps of the ancients as you walk up the same steps that have been walked on since 438 BC. Views out over the city are amazing as you walk between the ancient buildings. Near the end of the day, you'll want to watch the sunset from the stairs near the entrance.

Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

If you’ve visited places like the Colosseum in Rome or the Acropolis in Athens, built over 2,000 years ago, you may think you have a good handle on ancient sites. But the Pyramids of Giza take ancient to a whole other level. These were built over 4,500 years ago. A sunset camel (骆驼) ride around the buildings is a wonderful experience.

1. Which can best describe the Statue of Liberty?

A．It’s the highest in the world.	B．It’s designed in 1886.
C．It’s a present from France.	D．It’s a single iron structure.

2. What can you do at the Acropolis?

A．Take a camel ride.	B．Enjoy the sunset.
C．View New York City.	D．Explore ancient Rome.

3. Which of the following is the oldest?

A．Eiffel Tower.	B．The Acropolis.
C．Pyramids of Giza.	D．The Statue of Liberty.