【推荐1】You're riding in the car on this family vacation. Suddenly your dad slows down. And you may see the following：

1. Bubblegum Alley

San Luis Obispo, California

Some call it art; others call it just plain gross. Bubblegum Alley is covered from top to bottom with wads of chewed gum, a tradition that was started mysteriously by locals in the 1950s. Some artists even created images of funny faces and the American flag.

2. Blue Whale

Catoosa, Oklahoma

Not ready to dive the depths of the ocean to see a blue whale? No problem. Just visit this 80-foot-long cement beast, which even has a slide and diving board so visitors can take a dip in the pond. When the artist died, the whale fell into disrepair. Neighbors couldn't stand to see the grinning whale fall apart, so they fixed it and now keep it bright with gallons of blue paint.

3. Lonesome Legs

Amarillo, Texas

Just what are these large legs doing in a cow pasture? According to artist Lightnin' McDuff,   they   represent a poem   about a traveler who finds a bodiless statue of an Egyptian pharaoh (法老) called Ozymandias. Using concrete over a steel frame, McDuff constructed the legs to appear as if they were   made of weathered sandstone. And the socks? A prankster (恶作剧的人) keeps adding them—even though McDuff always removes   the unwanted addition.

4. Giant Penguin

Cut Bank, Montana

Bundle up (使……穿暖)when you visit   this statue, because temperatures here can get   as low as 47 degrees below zero. As a nod to the frosty conditions, a local businessman built the 27-foot-tall penguin out of 10,000 pounds of concrete. The creator left for warmer weather, but the statue—7 times the height of a real emperor penguin—still stands, welcoming visitors to its chilly home.

1. What led to the formation of the Bubblegum Alley?

A．Artists made it by creating images of funny faces and the American flag.

B．It’s covered with pieces of chewed gum.

C．It spread for some unknown reason.

D．Artists guided this trend.

2. The following are descriptions about these sites, which is TRUE?

①The Blue Whale has been ruined.

②Visitors can entertain in the whale.

③The socks were added by the designer.

④The legs were made of weathered sandstone.

⑤The penguin is located in a very cold area.

⑥The statue of penguin is 6 times higher than a real emperor penguin.

A．①②③

B．④⑤⑥

C．①④⑤

D．②⑤⑥

3. What impression of these sites does the author give you?

A．Funny.

B．Strange.

C．Amazing.

D．Usual.

【推荐2】In many cases, you ability to understand the local language directly affects the quality of your travel experience. For some travelers, the challenge of learning a new tongue is one of the joys of travel, and as a result, they spend much of their time in conversations with local citizens. Others will find that just learning to read the most common signs and use every-day greetings is enough.?

No matter which view you agree with, it’s necessary to take some time to learn some of the simple phrases of the new language before you go. One way of finishing this task is by listening to the new language. A phrase book can help expand your vocabulary, but hearing the sounds of the different spoken words is an excellent activity that can be done right in the comfort of your home. You can see movies in the new language or listen to the tapes or CDs. You can also download some listening material from the Internet. Just spending 15 minutes a night will improve your language skills.

When you arrive in the new land, begin by greeting new friends in their own tongue. This may come easy or it could take some time to learn, but it’s interesting. If you can’t do this, then it means that you will need more practice and patience to learn these very important words. You can go out during the day and begin one-one-one conversations with shop owners, business-men hand taxi drivers. This should not be one until you have learned some of the most common phrases, but one you begin to go shopping in a second language your communication skills will start to improve rapidly. You can also watch the local TV or listen to the local radio. For example, the advertisements(广告)will help you recognize the correct pronunciation of local street names.

1. What does the underlined word “tongue” in Paragraph I refer to?

A．language	B．sign
C．vocabulary	D．greeting

2. When could a traveler start one-one-one conversations with local people?

A．When he has mastered enough grammar rules

B．The moment he steps in the place he is visiting

C．After he has many movies in the local tongue

D．Once he has learned some of the most common phrases

3. What’s the last paragraph mainly about?

A．How to prepare for traveling

B．How to enjoy oneself during traveling

C．How to learn a new language during traveling

D．How important it is to learn a new language well

【推荐3】When I was a boy, my parents and I traveled from New York City to the Pennsylvania countryside for a weeklong taste of rural life. We stayed in a guesthouse on a farm, joining the daily routines and eating meals with the farmer and his family. We got up early to see the cows as they were milked. I even tried my hand at milking one, and then joined the farmer as he released the cows into the field afterward.

Decades later I still have vivid memories of that trip which made me realize the value of a vacation, of seeing new things, meeting new people and sharing memorable experiences with family members. To this day, I still consider that family trip when I plan to take time off with my wife and kids. Vacations are a time for resting and connecting. As a bank manager, I spend much of my workday encouraging my customers to save their money. One of the reasons I give is that we should all have enough for a family vacation every year. In our busy lives, family is what we should be saving our money and time for.

For my family, our vacation starts when we begin planning the trip. We talk about destinations and our budget (预算) ahead of time. Among the things we discuss: Can we save money by renting a house instead of spending six nights in a hotel? Would it be better to buy groceries and cook for ourselves rather than eat out every night? Involving (使参与) the kids in planning the vacation makes sure that they have a great vacation too. I prefer to visit historical sites and museums while they love to fish and swim. So I build in some relaxation time for us all so that the vacation can work for everyone.

Each year, setting aside vacation time to spend together is especially important to us. A relaxing environment opens the doors to all kinds of conversations—deep, silly or meaningful. There’s no pleasure from the usual everyday tasks. What matters is that everyone is having a great time.

1. Why did the author and his parents go to the countryside when he was young?

A．To milk the cow.	B．To meet the farmer and his family.
C．To experience country life.	D．To enjoy the scenery.

2. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?

A．The author encouraged his customers to save their money for family vacation.

B．The author met new people and new things during the trip.

C．The trip helped the author understand the meaning of vacations better.

D．The author involved his kids in planning the vacation to cut their budget.

3. What is this passage mainly about?

A．The author had a good time in the countryside.

B．The author advised others to spend vacations with their families.

C．The author tried to enjoy the holidays with his family.

D．The author realized the value of family vacations and put it into practice.

【推荐1】For those looking to explore these natural wonders, all around the world there are volcanoes you can get up close to.

Vesuvius, Italy

Obviously the most famous volcano in the world, Vesuvius is considered currently dormant(休眠的), but that doesn't mean that it won't erupt at some point.Visiting Vesuvius is   more about Mount Vesuvius's past, particularly the destruction of Pompeii in A.D. 79. Though the volcano.seems harmless, the destruction of Pompeii was during a dormant phase of Vesuvius as well.

Elevation(海拔): 4,203ft

White Island, New Zealand

Making headlines recently for an eruption that killed at least five people, White Island, which is uninhabited, is usually a popular tourist attraction. It is also central to New Zealander culture,playing an important role in Maori legends. To access the island, one must take a boat tour, and then one can hike.

Elevation: 1,053 ft

Kilauea, Hawaii

The most active volcano in the world is in Hawaii where volcanoes hold local cultural legends.Nearby is also the Thurston Lava Tube which can be visited, as well as the surrounding lush jungles. The volcano is located on the Big Island, so visiting other attractions, such as Honolulu is a good choice.

Elevation: 4,009 ft

Sakuraji'ma, Japan

Less than 5 miles away from the city of Kagoshima, Sakurajima erupts almost every day.

Visiting the area is very easy, with ships leaving the city every 15 mins. Once there, Visitors can take a hike or visit the observatory, which is the closest spot to safely view the eruption. The lava has created interesting produce, including the world's largest carrot and the smallest orange.

Elevation: 3,665 ft

1. Which volcano is the highest?

A．Sakurajima, Japan	B．Kilauea. Hawaii.
C．Vesuvius, Italy.	D．White Island. New Zealand.

2. What is the similarity between White Island and Kilauea?

A．They belong to New Zealand.	B．They have jungles around them.
C．They become headlines recently.	D．They are very important in local culture.

3. What can visitors do when visiting Sakuraji'ma?

A．Taste the smallest orange.

B．Enj oy destruction of Pompeii.

C．Listen to local cultural legends.

D．Go to attractions of the city of Kagoshima.

【推荐3】The following ads come from UW (University of Washington) newspaper called The Daily.

1. If you are looking for a job only for the summer, how many choices do you have?

A．One.	B．Two.
C．Three.	D．Four.

2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the ads?

A．If you are good at swimming, you can try a job at 206-555-3989.

B．All the companies advertising on the Daily are trustworthy.

C．As a student, you don't need to pay a deposit when renting rooms.

D．The fees for parking near University of Washington are the same.