【推荐1】The world is filled with beautiful winter wonderland destinations that are worthy of a visit. Here are a few to help you get your winter vacation research started.

Salt Lake City, Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah is a perfect spot for skiing. Apart from skiing, you can visit Temple Square, the city’s most popular site for tourists. The Mormon Church is open to visitors all year round. They often host free family—friendly movies, plays and music events, making it a great place to find more information about other happenings in Salt Lake City.

Portland, Maine

New England is a great vacation destination any time of the year. The hotel prices are often lower during the winter months because it is considered off—season as tourists generally gather here during the summer and early fill. So if you are looking for a place to get good value for your winter vacation dollars, put Portland, Maine on your list of go—to spots.

Whistler, British Columbia

Whistler, British Columbia is located about 60 miles north of Vancouver. It is particularly favored for its ski season that starts during the third week of November and lasts through April. Whistler has been named on several international “best of” lists. So if you want to go skiing and you are ready to explore Canada’s Coast Mountain Range, then you should look into Whistler vacation rentals（出租）.

Planning your winter wonderland getaway is easy if you know where to look. You don’t have feel like you have to go to a hot, overpriced destination during the winter months. Plenty of snowy, fun—filled destinations will welcome you warmly.

1. Where can you go if you want to enjoy live music performance with your family?

A．Portland, Maine.	B．Temple Square.
C．Whistler.	D．Mormon Church.

2. Who is the most likely to go to Portland, Maine?

A．People who like skiing.	B．People who have flexible schedules.
C．People with tight budgets.	D．People with religious beliefs.

3. What has probably made Whistler win its international reputation?

A．Its sports—loving residents.	B．Its long—lasting ski season.
C．Its low—carbon lifestyle.	D．Its easily—accessible coast.

【推荐2】Seal Island is a 200-meter-long island in South Africa, which is surrounded by 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit waters and covered with over 60,000 seals and some birds. This island has been home to many birds and seals. You may think this island is a paradise. In fact, the island is not famous for the seals or birds. However, the real stars are the great white sharks that leap out of the water to catch the seals they are hunting.

You may think that there is no way for a 15-foot long, 3,000-pound shark to hurl its body out of the water and catch a seal in midair. Actually, these sharks are called “Air Jaws”.

Over the years, the seals have gotten smarter. Now, they go out in groups of seven and eight to feed. They swim down on the sea floor, which gives them extra camouflage (掩饰). When they have to swim near the water surface, they swim in a zigzag (之字形的) pattern. But with all these tricks, they can still be outwitted (以智取胜) by the sharks. Usually, the sharks will take one seal away from its group and force it to swim on the surface, where it is easy to hunt. Sometimes, the seal is lucky and gets away, but most of them die in the process of trying to survive.

Every year, tourists go to see these amazing animals leap out of the water, sometimes flinging (抛) their whole bodies into the air when they want to catch the seals. Some people even want to go into shark cages to see the action from below! This is the reason why this island attracts thousands of tourists around the world every year.

1. What probably makes Seal Island famous?

A．The large number of seals in the water.

B．The way the great white sharks hunt.

C．The beautiful scenery of the island.

D．The special position of the island.

2. Why do the seals swim in a zigzag pattern?

A．To save energy.

B．To warm themselves.

C．To look for food.

D．To avoid the white sharks.

3. What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A．White sharks are dangerous animals.

B．The seals are cleverer than the white sharks.

C．The sharks are successful in hunting the seals.

D．It is easier for the sharks to hunt the seals on the sea floor.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To explain why Seal Island is famous.

B．To show how white sharks hunt seals.

C．To advise us to visit Seal Island.

D．To ask us to protect animals.

【推荐3】If you’re looking for the place that has everything, there’s only one place to visit, and that’s New York. It’s a whole world in a city.
The World of Theatre: All of New York is a stage. And it begins with Broadway. Where else can you find so many hit shows in one place? Only in New York!
The World of Music: Spend an evening with Beethoven at Lincoln Center. Swing to the great jazz of Greenwich Village. Or rock yourself silly at the hottest dance sports found anywhere.
The World of Art: From Rembrandt to Picasso. From Egyptian tombs to Indian teepees. Whatever kind of art you like, you’ll find it in New York.
The World of Fine Dining: Whether it’s a roast Beijing duck (北京烤鸭) in Chinatown, lasagna in Little Italy, or the finest French coqauvin found anywhere, there’s a world of great taste waiting for you in New York.
The World of Sights: What other city has a Statue of Liberty (自由女神像)? A Rockefeller Center? Or a Bronx Zoo? Where else can you take a horse-drawn carriage through Central Park? Only in New York!
1. Which of the following programmes can a visitor have only in New York?

A．To enjoy roast Beijing duck.

B．To taste the finest French coqauvin.

C．To spend an evening with Beethoven.

D．To see the Statue of Liberty.

2. What the writer really wanted to do is to ________.

A．try to persuade readers to pay a visit to New York

B．give readers some information about New York

C．supply readers with some wonderful programmes in New York

D．help readers to get a better understanding of New York

【推荐1】Crystal Cruisers-Luxury Every Day

What do you plan to do this summer vacation? Do you want to travel over the sea, experience the ocean wave and enjoy the wonderful sea scenery? If that’s what you want ,come and sail on a Crystal Cruise ship (游轮).We have three ships: The Crystal Queen, The Crystal Princess, The Crystal Palace.

Come and sail in Luxury (游轮) on cruisers around the Caribbean Sea for 7 or 14 days.

Our seven-day cruise costs $2,000 and our two-week cruise is $3,500.

A typical one week cruise:

Day One- set off from Miami

Day Two- free day in Nassau, in the Bahamas

Day Three- near Haiti

Day Four- Visit Puerto Rico and Antigua

Day Five- free day in Barbados

Day Six- free day in Port of Spain, Trinidad

Day Seven- travel to Caracas, Venezuela

Day Eight- fly home

All food and drinks is included in the price of your cruise (except for the wines).Our cruise ships all have a cinema, a five star restaurant, a theatre, a library and a gym (健身馆).However, you have to pay extra money to enjoy the films and plays.

If you prefer to go on a cruise in another part of the world, we also organize cruises in the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean.

Our ships carry over 2,000 passengers and we have nearly 600 crew members in all.

So come on board today for the holiday of a lifetime!

Call immediately: 020-4455832

I’m sure you will enjoy your luxury cruise ship journey very much!

1. What’s the main purpose of the text?

A．To advertise summer holiday cruises.

B．To offer instruction on how to sail on a cruise ship.

C．To give suggestions on taking summer vacation.

D．To share an experience of a sailing journey.

2. When can travelers wander about Trinidad?

A．On the third day.	B．On the fourth day.
C．On the fifth day.	D．On the sixth day.

3. What can people do on the cruise ships for free?

A．See films in the cinema.	B．Enjoy plays in the theater.
C．Have some wines.	D．Do sports in the gym.

【推荐2】March 7

I am the Phantom, the Ghost Who Walks, in the dorm, in class, all around the school. People don't notice that I exist any more. I like it that way. Sometimes they look at me with sympathy, or say or do something kind, like offering me a bite of a Mars bar. At those times they use the sort of voice people have when they're talking to little children, or pet puppies. Other times they get angry at me and yell. Other times they're cruel and make jokes about me. Mostly it's Sophie, but I don't want to make her sound like she's evil or anything. She just likes people who are loud and funny and noisy. I know it must be awful for them, having me in their dorm. But I did not steal her money. What would I want with money?

Today Cathy got fed up with me, for no particular reason that I know of. She came into the dorm in a bad mood, swearing at everyone and complaining about everything. Then she found some of my undies on her bed, where I'd put them while I was sorting my laundry. She got mad and threw them at me and said: "And don't think we're going to keep feeling sorry for you all year." I was scared and very very sick inside me but I didn't run away like I normally do.

Now we're in Prep again and she has sent me a note:

I'm sorry about yelling at you. I was in a foul after Science, because Hardcastle virtually accused me of cheating. It wasn't anything you did. I'm sorry —I think you're nice and I want to be friends.

Cathy

It's about 20 minutes since she sent it to me. I cannot look at her. I cannot move. I have spent the whole time with my head down, looking at this page. Now I have just started writing again. I want to die or hide or run away. I am scared to look at her. I can handle, have handled, most things in my life, but not this.

From So Much To Tell You…by John Marsden

1. At school, the writer who kept the diary felt ____________.

A．bored	B．excited
C．nervous	D．alienated

2. What might have been the real reason for Cathy's outburst?

A．The writer made a mess of her bed.

B．She didn't do well in her Science test.

C．She was blamed for cheating by her teacher.

D．She supposed the writer had stolen her money.

3. What does the writer think of the people around her?

A．They are sympathetic and kind to her.

B．They are selfish and unhelpful.

C．They are loud and bad-tempered.

D．They are distant and difficult to understand.