【推荐2】The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County

Hours: 9:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. daily

Closed: January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day

Driving

Plan extra driving time for your visit. The area surrounding the museum will be busy before being opened. We advise you to arrive a few hours before or several hours after the opening time to avoid high traffic times.

Directions

From the 110 Freeway, take the Exposition Boulevard exit and head west toward Vermont Avenue. Turn left on Bill Robertson Lane. The museum’s newly opened Car Park will be on your left hand side and cost $12.

Parking

The museum’s parking lot fills up quickly on game days. We suggest arriving early in the day. All guests and members who plan to visit the museum may park in the museum’s Car Park. If the museum’s Car Park is full, parking is also available in the state-run Lot 3 across the street. Parking in this lot will cost $12 (cash only). Remember that cars parked in Lot 3 after 5:30pm will be issued a parking citation.

Where to eat

If you’re bringing your own food, we invite you to picnic under the trees on the grass in front of the museum. Food and drinks are not allowed inside any of the museum halls and exhibits. We appreciate your help in preserving our museum.

At the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, you can see more than just walls and fossils. We provide not only a typical museum experience, but also hands-on exhibits. What are you waiting for?

1. When can you visit the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County?

A．At 8:00 a.m. on January 1.	B．At 10:00 a.m. on July 14.
C．At 3:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day.	D．At 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Day.

2. What should you know when driving to the museum?

A．Visitors should leave Lot 3 before 5: 30 pm.

B．Members will have a special place to park.

C．People have to park in the museum’s Car Park.

D．Visitors must pay for the museum’s Car Park in cash.

3. What is the purpose of the last paragraph?

A．To advertise coming events.	B．To introduce special exhibits.
C．To encourage people to come.	D．To tell about the museum’s history.

【推荐3】The booking notes of the play “the Age of Innocence ”:

Price: $10.

BOOKING

There are four easy ways to book seats for performance”

——in person

The Box Office is open Monday to Saturday, 10am-- 8 pm.

——by telephone

Ring 01324976 to reserve your tickets or to pay by credit card( Visa, MasterCard and Amex accepted) ——by post Simply complete the booking form and return it to Global Theatre Box Office.

——on line

Complete the on-line booking form at www.Satanfiedtheatre.com

DISCOUNTS:

Saver: $2 off any seat booked any time in advance for performances from Monday to Thursday. Savers are available for children up to 16 years old, over 60s and full-time students.

Supersaver : half price seats are available for people with disabilities and one companion. It is advisable to book in advance. There is a maximum of eight wheel chair spaces available and one wheelchair space will be held until an hour before the show.

Standby : best available seats are on sale for $ 6 from one hour before the performance for people suitable for Saver and Supersaver discounts and thirty minutes before for all other customers.

Group bookings: there is a ten percent discount for parties of twelve or more.

School : school parties of ten or more can book $6 standby tickets in advance and will get every tenth ticket free.

Please note: we are unable to exchange tickets or refund money unless a performance is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

1. According to the passage, you can’t go to the Box Office to book tickets on _______.

A．Wednesdays

B．Thursdays

C．Fridays

D．Sundays

2. From the passage we know that_______.

A．there are only 8 wheelchair spaces in the theatre.

B．you can’t book a ticket at www. Satanfiedtheatre.com

C．a group of ten persons can get 10 percent discount.

D．you can refund money if the performance is on show.

3. If you make a group booking for a group of 20 workers, how much should you pay?

A．$120

B．$150

C．$180

D．$200

【推荐1】Last fall, I happened to overhear a student telling the others he had decided not to sign up for an introductory philosophy course. The demands of his major, he said seriously, meant he needed to take “practical” courses, and “enlightenment” would simply have to wait. For now, employability was the most important.

The students’ conversation fits into a larger alarming narrative about the role of the humanities in higher education. In a time of dizzying technological achievement and of rapid scientific innovation, sceptics of the humanities may question the usefulness of studying Aristotle, the Italian Renaissance or Chinese fiction.

Actually, I regret not interrupting that student to argue for taking that introductory philosophy course. I would have started by reminding him that, for much of America’s history, college graduates were not considered truly educated unless they had mastered philosophy, literature, political theory and history. The key role of higher education was to invite students into the conversations about matters like what it means to be alive and the definition of justice. Fostering engagement with these subjects is still an essential part of the university’s function in society.

I would have also mentioned to the student that he was misinformed about the job market. It is true that many employers are looking for graduates with specialized technical skills, but they also look for other capabilities. As the world is transformed by artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation, the unique human qualities of creativity, imagination and moral reasoning will be the ultimate coin of the realm. All these skills are developed in humanities courses.

Further, I would have argued that while a degree anchored in the sciences is an important precondition for many jobs, it is not the only route. Look no further than the founders of companies such as LinkedIn, Slack and Flickr, who are among the many tech businesspersons with degrees in the humanities, and who credit that training for their success.

Contrary to the widely held belief that humanities majors have a hard time getting jobs, recent studies show that those with humanities degrees are successful in the workplace, experiencing low rates of unemployment and reporting high levels of job satisfaction. The ratio between average median(中位数) incomes for humanities degree holders and those with business, engineering, and health and medical sciences degrees has been shown to narrow over the course of a career.

The case for the humanities can also be understood in less transactional terms and more as a foundational preparation for a life well lived. A humanities education plays a vital role in encouraging citizens to lead an examined life. It fosters critical thinking, self-reflection, empathy and tolerance, the usefulness of which only becomes more apparent as one navigates life’s challenges.

By all means, students should take courses they think practical and follow their interests, but if they also make a point of studying the literature of the Renaissance, or researching into modern poetry, or even taking introductory philosophy, we will all benefit.

1. What do the students’ conversation show?

A．Students feel employment difficult.

B．Students think philosophy less important.

C．Students find scientific innovation amazing.

D．Students consider university courses unsatisfying.

2. What does the underlined part in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Highly valued.	B．Equally applied.
C．Strictly assessed.	D．Greatly improved.

3. The author may agree that humanities _____.

A．discover students’ artistic ability

B．prepare students for graduation

C．raise awareness of social status

D．provide great insights into life

4. Which of the following shows the development of ideas in the passage?
I: Introduction        P: Point        Sp: Sub-point(次要点)        C: Conclusion

A．	B．
C．	D．

【推荐2】A Language Programme for Teenagers

Welcome to Teenagers Abroad! We invite you to join us on an amazing journey of language learning.

Our Courses

Regardless of your choice of course, you’ll develop your language ability both quickly and effectively.

Our Standard Course guarantees a significant increase in your confidence in a foreign language, with focused teaching in all 4 skill areas——speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Our Intensive Course builds on our Standard Course, with 10 additional lessons per week, guaranteeing the fastest possible language learning (see table below).

Course Type	Days	Number of Lessons	Course Timetable
Standard Course	Mon.- Fri.	20 lessons	9:00-12:30
Intensive Course	Mon.- Fri.	20 lessons	9:00-12:30
		10 lessons	13:00-14:30

Evaluation

Students are placed into classes according to their current language skills. The majority of them take on online language test before starting their programme. However, if this is not available, students sit the exam on the first Monday of their course.

Learning materials are provided to students throughout their course, and there will never be more than 15 participants in each class.

Arrivals and Transfer

Our programme offers the full package—students are take good care of from the start through to the very end. They are collected from the airport upon arrival and brought to their accommodation in comfort. We require the student’s full details at least 4 weeks in advance.

Meals/Allergies(过敏)/Special Dietary Requirements

Students are provided with breakfast, dinner and either a cooked or packed lunch(which consists of a sandwich, a drink and a dessert). Snacks outside of mealtimes may be purchased by the student individually.

We ask that you let us know of any allergies or dietary requirements as well as information about any medicines you take. Depending on the type of allergies and/ or dietary requirements, an extra charge may be made for providing special food.

1. How does Intensive Course differ from Standard Course?

A．It is less effective.

B．It focuses on speaking.

C．It includes extra lessons.

D．It give you confidence

2. Before starting their programme, students are expected to _____.

A．take a language test

B．have an online interview

C．prepare learning materials

D．report their language levels

3. With the full package, the programme organizer is supposed to_____.

A．inform students of their full flight details

B．look after students throughout the programme

C．offer students free sightseeing trips

D．collect students’ luggage in advance

【推荐2】Most of us fall back on the classics when it comes time to buy Mother’s Day gifts: flowers, fancy tea or a card. But if you really want to show off this year, you might want to dig a little deeper. This helpful list of Mother’s Day gifts will be of help.

LifeStraw Personal Water Filter (过滤器) $20 (now 15% off)

If she’s been hitting the trail without one, Mom will surely appreciate having a Life Straw in her bag, especially on longer hikes. The lightweight filter can remove dirty and harmful substances from any water source, making it a necessity for outdoor adventures.

Organic Dandy Instant Herbal Drink $ 13

This herbal dandelion-root mixture helped Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo cut coffee out of her diet completely. “The taste is surprisingly similar to coffee, but without the bitterness that would often mess with my stomach,” she says.

Alessi Apostrophe Orange Peeler $40 (now 20%off)

“Every so often, a device enters your life and leaves you wondering how you managed beforehand,” says Strategist contributor Fanny Singer of this Italian orange peeler. “This teardrop-shaped device is designed to make it really easy to slice an orange to separate the peel from the fruit. It’s a pleasant surprise every time I use it.”

WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls, Black Sugar Flavor $5

According to one Strategist staffer who has been drinking bubble tea (珍珠奶茶) since she was in elementary school, these pearls are the best for making bubble tea at home. “The pearls by themselves aren’t sweet, but you can put them in a brown-sugar mixture to get the desired sweetness,” she explains. “Or just add sugar to your milk tea.”

1. What is the present price of LifeStraw Personal Water Filter?

A．$20.

B．$17.

C．$15.

D．$3.

2. Which can be a useful tool for making fruit salads?

A．WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls.

B．LifeStraw Personal Water Filter.

C．Alessi Apostrophe Orange Peeler.

D．Organic Dandy Instant Herbal Drink.

3. What do Organic Dandy Instant Herbal Drink and WuFuYuan Tapioca Pearls have in common?

A．They taste sweet.	B．They can treat diseases.
C．They are related to drinks.	D．They are a must for hiking trips.

【推荐1】One of the important, but seldom-discussed, problems in healthcare reform is how to take care of our aging population as people continue to live longer. According to a new study from the MacArthur Research Network on an Aging Society, by 2050 Americans may live 3.1 to 7. 9 years longer than the government expects. That would mean women would live 89 to 93 years and men 83 to nearly 86 years. The researchers base their conclusion on "rapid advances in biomedical（生物医药）technology that delay the start and progression of major deadly diseases or that slow the aging process・”

While this is good news, especially for the young, the life expectancy, which is in excess of（超过）the government's estimates, would raise costs sharply for Medicare and Social Security. If the study's predictions are accurate, the total cost for those two programs through 2050 could be between $ 3. 2 trillion and $ & 3 trillion higher than the US Census Bureau（人口普查局）and the Social Security Administration currently expect.

And that's only the beginning. With anticipated scientific breakthroughs in coming decades, people could eventually live to 150 years of age, says Dr. Steven Joyal, an official of the Life Extension Foundation (LEF) a nonprofit organization that promotes research on how we can live longer and healthier. The MacArthur paper, in fact, says that some experts believe the average life expectancy could hit 100 by 2060.

What's more, Joyal says, the conquest（战胜）of disease and the slowing of the aging process will lead to a sharp decline in disability, allowing people of advanced age to function as well as they did when they were much younger. "In other words, a 90-year-old person could have the same mental and physical capacity as somebody 40 or 50 years old."

1. What does the new study show?

A．Americans will live much longer by 2050 than they do now.

B．Great progress has been made in the US in public security.

C．Few people pay attention to the health care reform in the US.

D．Fewer Americans suffer from deadly disease now than before.

2. What probably helps American” live much longer?

A．Social security.

B．Biomedical technology.

C．Healthcare reform.

D．New research in health cam.

3. What problem may a longer life expectancy in the US lead to?

A．The aging process will speed up.

B．It adds to the chance of being disabled.

C．The old will have some mental problems.

D．It will increase public costs for the government.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．Life for Senior Citizens in the US

B．The Longer Life Expectancy in the Future

C．The Disadvantage of Longer Life Expectancy

D．What Can Be Done to Support So Many Aged People

【推荐2】What's On?

Electric Underground

7:30 pm-1:00 am Free at the Cyclops Theatre

Do you know who's playing in your area? We're bringing you an evening of live rock and pop music from the best local bands. Are you interested in becoming a musician and getting a recording contract? If so, come early to the talk at 7:30 pm by Jules Skye, a successful record producer. He's going to talk about how you can find the right person to produce your music.

Gee Whizz

8:30 pm-10:30 pm Comedy at Kaleidoscope

Come and see Gee Whizz perform. He's the funniest stand-up comedian on the comedy scene. This joyful show will please everyone, from the youngest to the oldest. Gee Whizz really knows how to make you laugh! Our bar is open from 7:00 pm for drinks and snacks.

Simon's Workshop

5:00 pm-7:30 pm Wednesdays at Victoria Stage

This is a good chance for anyone who wants to learn how to do comedy. The workshop looks at every kind of comedy, and practices many different ways of making people laugh. Simon is a comedian and actor who has 10 years' experience of teaching comedy. His workshops are exciting and fun. An evening with Simon will give you the confidence to be funny.

Charlotte Stone

8:00 pm-11:00 pm Pizza World

Fine food with beautiful jazz music: this is a great evening out. Charlotte Stone will perform, songs from her new best-selling CD, with James Pickering on the piano. The menu is Italian, with excellent meat and fresh fish, pizzas and pasta（面食）. Book early to get a table. Our bar is open all day, and serves cocktails, coffee, beer, and white wine.

1. Who can help you if you want to have your music produced?

A．Jules Skye.

B．Gee Whizz.

C．Charlotte Stone.

D．James Pickering.

2. At which place can people of different ages enjoy a good laugh?

A．The Cyclops Theatre.

B．Kaleidoscope.

C．Victoria Stage.

D．Pizza World.

3. What do we know about Simon's Workshop?

A．It requires membership status.	B．It lasts three hours each time.
C．It is run by a comedy club.	D．It is held every Wednesday.

【推荐3】More Americans expect to work past their 65th birthday and never retire (退休), says a recent study.

The Associated Press with the NORC Center for Public Affairs Research surveyed 1,075 people, aged 50 or older. One-fourth of them said they never plan to retire. Among low-income earners in that age group this is even truer than that for high-income earners.

In America，the age of 65 is the traditional age to retire. Sixty percent of people aged 50 to 64 said they expect to work past their 65th birthday. More than half of those who are already older than 65 said they plan to keep working, too. They said they are working an average of 31 hours per week.

Those 50 years of age or older said finances (财务情况) are the most important factor in the decision on when to retire. A majority of old workers — especially those who are 65 or older — plan to switch their employers, or move into an entirely new profession, as they head into the later years. One-third of people earning less than $ 50,000 a year said they will keep working. About 20 percent of those who earn more than $ 100,000 said they will never retire.

As baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, reach age 65, the United States’ general population will have more old people than ever before. The number of Americans 65 or older jumped by 21 percent — or to 35.5 million — between 2002 and 2012. That number is expected to reach 92 million by 2060.

1. What can we learn from Paragraph 2?

A．Low-income earners are more willing to continue working.

B．High-income earners are not willing to work past 65.

C．1,075 people aged 50 took part in the study.

D．Americans are not sure when to retire.

2. What does the underlined word “switch” mean in Paragraph 4?

A．Request.	B．Assist.
C．Tell.	D．Change.

3. What is the main idea of this passage?

A．America will have more old people.

B．Old Americans have to work past 65.

C．American people will have new jobs after 65.

D．More Americans choose to work for more years.