【推荐1】You don’t have to be a survival expert to stay alive in the desert, as long as you can keep some important tips in mind.

Keep your head covered. It’s been said that the biggest dangers in desert survival are exposure and dehydration(脱水).     1     One of the best defenses against the sun is always having a big hat or other coverings for your head with you. If the top of your head is exposed to the direct sun, or even indirect sun for long periods, your body needs to work hard to keep itself cool.     2    

Cover the rest of your body as well.     3     Finding shade or constructing a shade shelter is one of the first ways for desert survival, as keeping out of the direct sun and not exposing yourself to the heat of the day will help to save water.

Don’t drink the water.     4     Just don’t run out of it all at the first sign of thirst. A better way is to ration (定量供应) it for yourself, taking smaller sips throughout the day.

    5     The more you eat, the thirstier you’ll get, so if you have food with you, take care to only nibble(小口吃) enough to keep the hunger pains away and your energy up.

A．Stay hungry.

B．Drink as much water as possible.

C．Neither of these is to be taken lightly.

D．This goes hand in hand with the first tip.

E．Actually, do drink the water, if you have it.

F．So the first rule in desert travel is covering the head up.

G．And the last thing you want to do is increase your thirst.

【推荐2】Broken Hill was recently awarded one of Australia’s rare National Heritage (遗产) listings, but is that reason enough to make the journey?

Broken Hill, in western New South Wales, is hardly up there as a place of interest of international reputation(名声). It’s miles from anywhere, boiling hot and lacks the more attractive elements that often make a place popular---for example, beautiful beaches, great accommodation(膳宿). But Broken Hill’s reputation is growing with its recent National Heritage Listing award.

We asked Broken Hill mayor to tell us what makes Broken Hill so great. These are some reasons he gave us to visit :

Perfect light

Broken Hill offers breathtaking scenery to discover and explore. The lively colours and perfect light have attracted film-makers and artists here for decades. From the wonders of the day comes an amazing light show at night.

The locals

We are always happy to greet people from “away”. In fact we love it when people come to town to visit. We are a friendly people who make you feel welcome. And we are pretty proud of our city.

The Palace Hotel

The home of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and just a great Broken Hill iconic(标志性的) pub. You can star in your own movie in the centre of town. It is a world-famous landmark and a good water hole for those nice warm days.

The living desert and sculptures

Located 9 km from the city, Broken Hill features 12 sandstone sculptures by artists from around the world as well as local artist Badger Bates. It displays the breathtaking beauty of the real outback (内地).

1. What is the real purpose of writing this passage?

A．To encourage readers to pay a visit to Broken Hill.

B．To explain the causes of awarding Broken Hill.

C．To list the reasons for Broken Hill’s greatness.

D．To express the author’s pride for Broken Hill’s award.

2. Which of the following factor is making Broken Hill better known to the world?

A．Its friendly local people.	B．Its Palace Hotel.
C．Its National Heritage Listing Award.	D．Its sandstone sculptures.

3. Which of the following topics of Broken Hill are mentioned in the passage?

A．Traditional food and friendly locals	B．Pleasant climate and perfect light
C．Beautiful beaches and lively sculptures	D．Splendid Hotel and friendly locals

4. In which section of a magazine can you read such an article?

A．World news

B．Fashion show

C．Art

D．Travel

【推荐3】Self-guided Castle Tours (城堡之旅)

When: from May to October, 2016, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Where: Lamach Castie, 145 Camp Rd, Company Bay, Duriedin

Restriction: All Ages

Ticket Information:

Adult Entry (Castle+ Garden): $29.00

Child Entry (Castle+ Garden): $10.00

With its long history and breathtaking views, Lamach Castle offers you a vision of the past and the present. Open from 9 am. until 5 p.m. every day To gain more of Lamach Castle you may wish to hire an audio visual tour guide.

First Sunday Funday Park

When: Sun 3 May 2016, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Where: Ranui Farm Park, 785 Nicholls Rd

Restrictions: All Ages

Ticket Information: Adults: $10.00

Enjoy a mountain bike ride, go for a run or have a walk. See the animals in the Petting Zoo, or have a go at Archery, Golf Challenge, Paint Ball & the 70-meter Water Slide. This is not a competition, though we do have some prizes to give away.

Book now. Limited spaces available.

Water Slide (滑梯) Mania

When: Tue 14 Apr.2016, 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Where: Town Basin, Dent St, Whangarei

Restrictions: All Ages

Ticket Information: $8 per hour

The Slide provides entertainment for restless kids. It features a three-meter drop height and a 10-meter slide along a soft surface and into a shallow pool at the end. The slide is perfect for kids aged 5-16 years, although kids younger can also have a try. Parents can relax on the grassed area with a marine view and visit the information center just a stone’s throw away.

Ride the Riverside Railway

When: Wed 28 Jan 2016, l:45 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

Where: Brayshaw Park, Blenheim

10.30

Restrictions: All Ages

Ticket Information:

Family (2 Adults& up to 4 Children): $30.00

Adult: $10.00;

Child (under 3-for free!!): $5.00

Experience a leisurely 50-minute, 11km train journey along the banks of the Taylor River from Brayshaw Park Station to Beaver Station and return. For group booking. (03) 578 1716

1. According to the passage, which of the following statements is True?

A．Kids can slide down a IO-meter long river in Water Slide Mania.

B．Kids can be awarded a prize in First Sunday Funday Park.

C．You can visit Lamach Castle on 26 April at 11:00 a.m.

D．Kids have to buy tickets for ell the four events.

2. Tina aged 7; Angela aged 5; Timmy aged 2, together with their parents and grandpa will take the Riverside Railway, How much should they pay?

A．$40.

B．$35.

C．$30.

D．$25.

3. The passage is intended to ________.

A．compare four different holiday events

B．advise people to stay with their family more

C．inform people of the travel agencies

D．get more people to attend the activities

【推荐1】Can you imagine an ancient and quiet place? Well, this is Vicenza, my hometown. Every time I have the opportunity to speak about Vicenza with foreign people who do some sightseeing in Europe, I realize that it gets less credit than it deserves. Everybody knows Venice, Rome, and Florence very well, but only a few know the attraction of Vicenza.

Vicenza has to be taken into special consideration for the important historical buildings by Andrea Palladio, who was born in Padua (1508-1580), one of the most famous architects in the world. It was during the Renaissance and the next four hundred years in which Vicenza was under the protection of the Republic of Venice that the great structures were constructed, making Vicenza well-known throughout Europe and giving it the remarkable and distinctive appearance which it keeps today.

Apart from its historical district, Vicenza is surrounded by beautiful hills and countryside where you can spend time walking, sightseeing, and having delicious meals in the numerous restaurants which serve typical foods and good drinks. Moreover, in Vicenza’s countryside there are splendid villas. This is where many Venetians used to spend their summers, farming their land during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Vicenza is a must-see for people fond of historical works. In addition, there are jazz and classical music concerts, ballets, and theatre performances, mostly during the autumn. It may be that young people feel Vicenza is not a place where they can have fun, but there are also pizzerias and pubs where contemporary music is performed, so they can have a good time there, too. Everyone needs to come to Vicenza to get to know it. They will see and touch the contributions to beauty that it made to the world.

1. When it comes to Vicenza, the author thinks _______.

A．it is actually well worth visiting	B．it lives up to its reputation
C．just a few people really like it	D．foreign visitors are pulled in by it

2. What causes Vicenza’s uniqueness?

A．Influence of the Renaissance.	B．Surrounding hills and countryside.
C．Protection from the Republic of Venice.	D．Buildings designed by Andrea Palladio.

3. Who might take great interest in Vicenza?

A．Those enjoying living a modern life.	B．Those having a preference for fashion.
C．Those showing enthusiasm for art.	D．Those wanting to learn about farming.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Vicenza: a city of unexpected beauty	B．The Renaissance: foundation of Vicenza
C．What do foreign people think of Vicenza?	D．Why is Vicenza attractive to young people?

【推荐2】People who live in Iceland are proud of their country and their origin. Complete independence from Denmark after World War II resulted in the country's fast development. They refuse to permit immigration(移民) though the country has a small population. Their attitude to foreigners is friendly but reserved(保守) .

The Icelanders regard themselves as one big family. Most of them earn their living by farming and people' hopes are centered on the land and its soil. Typical for rural Iceland are the isolated valley farms against mountains. Cultivated grassland stretches out from the buildings.

They mainly raise sheep and cattle. In spring, flocks of sheep are driven to mountain grassland and allowed to wander freely over the summer. When autumn puts its first mark on the mountains, the sheep are rounded up and driven down.

As in all countries where winter and darkness take up most of the year, the center of life is the home. The houses of Iceland were once built of wood, but now cement (水泥) is used in towns and stones in the countryside. During the long winters the Icelanders rarely go out of the house. When they must go out, they put raincoats over their heavy woolen overcoats and furs to keep out the damp.

1. What can we learn about the Icelanders from Paragraph 1?

A．They like friendly foreigners.

B．They take pride in their own country.

C．They are satisfied with their large population

D．They are proud of their original country, Denmark.

2. What do most Icelanders live on?

A．Farming	B．Sheep and cattle
C．Cultivated grassland	D．Plants near the mountains

3. What can we learn from the last two paragraphs?

A．Iceland is cold and damp.

B．The houses are built of wood nowadays.

C．The Icelanders like to live in the center of their houses.

D．Different kinds of animals can be seen on the mountains.

4. It can be inferred from the passage that the best time in Iceland is                  .

A．winter and spring	B．summer and autumn
C．autumn and winter	D．spring and summer

5. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The history of Iceland	B．The rich life in Iceland
C．The development of Iceland	D．The special way of life in Iceland

【推荐3】They say everything is bigger in Texas. While that may be true, some of the best things in Texas are quite small. Case in point: tiny Mount Vernon, a town of just under 3,000 people. But if you do come across Mount Vernon, you might just get an intention to stay. That happens a lot around here, and it’s worth noting how remarkable that is.

Tom Wilkinson was born in Mount Vernon 87 years ago and moved back after he retired from his career as a college English professor in Dallas. Like many of his neighbors, Wilkinson can track his ancestors back to the pioneers who settled here in the 1870s. And like many, he values the simple life you can’t easily find in big cities. “People are still polite. They hold the door open for you.” he says, “We grow strong roots here!”

Preserving and honoring the past has been key to helping Mount Vernon survive. The residents have restored and reopened some of the empty stores, including the old barbershop, built more than 100 years ago. An old general store was turned into a combination space. Wander in on any given day and you might find a book club discussion, a Coffee Ladies meet-up, or a work session for the local genealogy(家谱) group among the tables of people chatting over cups of coffee and plates of food.

Mount Vernon has the kind of big hearts you tend to find in a small town. For instance, when a local policeman was diagnosed with cancer last year, ten-year-old Lola McKellar set up a lemonade stand to raise money for his treatments. In 2015, when a 350-year flood sent water rushing into local homes, an army of volunteers showed up to get a wheelchair-bound neighbor and his wife to higher ground, and then came back to help rebuild.

1. What does the author think of Mount Vernon?

A．Remote.	B．Wealthy.
C．Primitive.	D．Attractive.

2. Why did Tom Wilkinson come back to Mount Vernon?

A．He preferred the simple and natural life.	B．He could continue his language teaching.
C．He could live together with his ancestors.	D．He could meet more neighbors of his age.

3. What can we infer about people’s way of life in Mount Vernon from Paragraph 3?

A．It is in danger of extinction.	B．It is quickly changing over time.
C．It is conservative but harmonious.	D．It is being disturbed by the outside world.

4. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The history of Mount Vernon.	B．The humanity of Mount Vernon.
C．The volunteers of Mount Vernon.	D．The reconstruction of Mount Vernon.