【推荐1】Spending money on a vacation may seem like a luxury（奢侈品）—but sometimes, you have to relax yourself. Here's where to go for a good time at an unbelievable value.

Captiva Island, Florida

Keep it simple by looking for seashells, bicycling, or jet skiing; you can even hit the tennis courts. The Summer Getaway package offers a fourth night free and a rate of $ 209 a night, making the average of a four-night stay $156.75.   Kids 12 and under eat breakfast free.

Reykjavik, Iceland

STA Travel Beats specializes in taking travelers to music festivals around the globe. It has an eight-day tour, Icelandic Beats, which takes you to the Icelandic geothermal spas（地热温泉）, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and black sand beaches. End your vacation at the Secret Solstice Festival on June 18. The tour is $1, 218, not including airfares.

Malpais, Costa Rica

You get daily surfing instruction, sunset surf sessions, and yoga in the outdoor, oceanfront yoga studio in a week-long tour. As you get your mind, body, and spirit together, keep it going with healthy meals at the beachfront restaurant. Prices are $2, 895 for shared accommodations（住宿）, $3,095 for private accommodations with shared baths, and $3,595 for private accommodations.

Waterville Valley, New Hampshire

Waterville Valley Resort is surrounded by 100 miles of trails in the White Mountain National Forest. If you get a Freedom Pass, you can save about $100 a day during a six-day tour; the pass enables you daily to have a two-hour mountain bike rental, unlimited tennis, a round of golf and so on. Rates start at $139 a night.

1. How much is a four-night stay in Captiva Island, Florida?

A．$418.	B．$470.25.
C．$627.	D．$836.

2. Which of the following offers the longest tour?

A．Reykjavk, Iceland.

B．Malpais, Costa Rica.

C．Captiva Island, Florida.

D．Waterville Valley, New Hampshire.

3. What is the main purpose of the passage？

A．To advertise four coming events.

B．To encourage people to travel abroad.

C．To introduce famous travelling routes.

D．To suggest places for wonderful vacation.

【推荐2】1. $ 2000/ one bedroom Furnished Apartment with Parking

An employed, non-smoking professional male looks for one-bedroom well-furnished apartment with parking in the Newport area for one month and possibly longer, starting as soon as possible, but it must be available by January 2nd. No pets, no drugs and no parties. The Internet access should be included. I am willing to pay security deposit(定金).

Reply to: hous-tf7ew-2108157286@craigslist.org

2. Room/ Apartment Share for Use as Art Studio

I am looking for a space to rent as a painting studio. It can be stand-alone apartment or a room in a house or an apartment. I do not need to use a kitchen, but need the bathroom. Just need lots of light. I am a responsible, neat adult female. The following towns are convenient: Edgewater, Fort Lee, Englewood, West New York, Cliffside Park, Ridgefield, Palisades Park and Fairview.

Reply to: hous-pax4c-2107692675@craigslist.org

3. $1,900/ Three-bedroom Apartment

I have a nice 1,500-square feet apartment for rent. With 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a big parking area and a nice backyard. It is close to East Orange Hospital and VA Hospital. Major supermarkets and stores are just a short walk away. Hot water is included! Small dogs and cats are OK.

Please just call Tony at 973-886-9094. Thanks.

4. $1,200/ Two-bedroom Lovely Newly-Renovated Apartment

A lovely newly-renovated(新装修的) apartment. Clean and tidy! Living room, dining room, and eat-in kitchen. New appliances: air conditioners and ceiling fans. It is one of Irvington’s best neighborhoods, situated near Union, Hillside and Maple wood border. It is convenient to major highways.

Hurry! Call Louvenia at 908-313-3007

1. It can be inferred that the man in Advertisement 1__________.

A．is a pet lover

B．will live in Newport for about one year

C．is looking for a large newly-furnished house

D．has a car

2. Mr. and Mrs. Smith, who have a son, a daughter and a dog, may
be interested in __________.

A．Advertisement 1	B．Advertisement 2
C．Advertisement 3	D．Advertisement 4

3. Where is Louvenia’s apartment located?

A．In Union.	B．In Irvington.
C．In Maplewood.	D．In Hillside.

【推荐1】

Author	Louisa May Alcott
Country	United States
Language	English
Series	Little Women
Publisher	Roberts Brothers
Original publication date	1868 （1st volume） 1869 （2nd volume）
Media type	Print
Pages	759

The author wrote the books over several months at the request of her publisher, Following the lives of the four March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy—the novel details their passage from childhood to womanhood and is based on the author and her three sisters. Scholars classify Little Women as an autobiographical (自传的) or semi-autobiographical novel.

Although Little Women was a novel for girls, it differed notably from contemporary writings for children, especially girls. The novel addressed three major themes: “family life, work, and true love, all of them interdependent (相互依赖的) and each necessary to the achievement of its heroines' individual identity.”

After reading Little Women, some women feel the need to “acquire new and more public identities” even though they are dependent on other factors such as financial resources. While Little Women showed regular lives of American middle-class girls, it also supported their dreams to do something different and allowed them to consider the possibilities. The book has frequently been adapted for stage and screen.

1. What can be learned about the book?

A．It is a autobiography of Beth March	B．It tells the stories of three sisters.
C．It was originally published in two volumes.	D．It took the author years to finish.

2. What is the book mainly about?

A．Friendship, love and family.	B．Life, work and belief.
C．Independence, love and life.	D．Family life, work and love.

3. Where would this passage most probably appear?

A．In a news report.	B．Ina feature story.
C．In a book recommendation.	D．In a textbook.

【推荐2】July 20, 1969 is a day that will forever go down in the history books as a day that changed the world forever. That was the day when American astronaut and explorer Neil Armstrong was the first person to set foot on the moon.

The moon is located almost 240,000 miles from the Earth. Armstrong and his crew, which included fellow astronauts Michael Collins and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, began their journey into space on the Apollo 11 Lunar Module (登月 舱) on July 16, 1969. Armstrong was the commander of the mission (任务) and he was the one who piloted the aircraft to the surface of the moon. At almost 11 pm on July 20, 1969, Armstrong exited the craft and set foot on the moon, saying the now famous words, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Aldrin later exited the Apollo 11 Lunar Module as he and Armstrong collected samples (样品) from the moon that they could bring back to the Earth with them and study. Also, they took photographs of the moon and its surroundings as well as their footprints on the moon. Michael Collins, the third member of the crew, remained in the command module during this time.

The mission began its return from the moon on July 24, 1969, four days after its historic landing. The Apollo 11 returned, landing just west of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The three-member crew was kept away from others for three weeks just to be sure they were not carrying any unknown diseases or illnesses. After all, it was the first time the moon had been explored, so nobody really knew what to expect. Following that, they were treated as heroes.

1. What do we know about the mission?

A．It ended on July 16, 1969.

B．Michael Collins piloted the craft.

C．Three astronauts were in the craft.

D．Edwin Aldrin was the commander.

2. What does the underlined part “giant leap” refer to?

A．The first time man has landed on the moon.

B．Three members’ successful cooperation.

C．Mankind’s first time to know the unknown.

D．The shortening distance between the moon and the Earth.

3. What did Michael Collins do as the others were collecting samples?

A．He studied the samples.	B．He also collected samples.
C．He took some photographs.	D．He stayed in the command module.

4. Why were the astronauts kept away from others after their return?

A．Because they had become ill.

B．Because they needed to take a good rest.

C．Because they carried unknown diseases on them.

D．Because they might have brought back hidden dangers.

【推荐1】Can you resist cream cakes? I miss my sugar! I’ve decided to lose weight and I had to give up cakes. It’s difficult because I have a sweet tooth and I love cream cakes.

Not having treats can be good for your health. I’ve heard that the Burts, a family of five in South East England，lived sugar free for a whole year after they found out their daughter had diabetes (糖尿病). It wasn’t easy. To avoid temptation, I don’t go to any bakeries, but this family actually owns one, which makes up to 3,000 cakes a week.

They were in shock when the doctor said that their 16-year-old Lucy had to check her blood sugar levels regularly and take insulin (胰岛素). He advised her to eat a normal, balanced diet, but the Burts went further and got rid of sugar altogether.

And how does it feel to live without sugar for a while? Jason Burt said that for a month they felt weak. But later on it all changed. He says he feels “more awake” and full of energy.

And what about the Burt family business? It had to keep using half a ton of sugar a week and any cook worth his salt knows that you have to taste a recipe to know if it’s right. No problem there, says Jason Burt’s wife, Clare. She points out that she’s got lots of people offering to taste the cakes for them. The family is also thinking about selling more delicious products.

I wonder what makes us have a strong desire for sweet food. Anyway, I’ve decided to forget about the sweet taste of sugar for a while. As British model Kate Moss says：“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”

1. From the passage, what do we know about the author?

A．The author runs a bakery.	B．The author hates sweet taste.
C．The author is on a diet.	D．The author’s daughter had diabetes.

2. What did the Burts do after hearing the doctor’s advice?

A．They were shocked.	B．They went too far about it.
C．They avoided sugar completely.	D．They used half a ton of sugar a week.

3. From the passage we can learn it is necessary for a cook        .

A．to make up to 3,000 cakes a week

B．to taste a recipe to know if it’s right

C．to get lots of people offering to taste the cakes

D．to selling more delicious products

4. What does the sentence by Kate Moss mean?

A．Nobody can resist the desire for sweets.

B．There is nothing tasting as good as sweets.

C．Nothing tastes good when the skin feels terrible.

D．It is worthwhile to resist food to look skinny.

【推荐2】Hoyo Azul Tours

Hoyo Azul has more to offer than its simple name. This famous natural pool, whose unexpected existence at the base of a 200-foot (61-meter) cliff (悬崖)surprises and delights visitors, is one of the Dominican Republic’s top destinations for swimming, nature tours, and other activities.

The Basics

Hoyo Azul lies in Scape Park. To reach it, take a guided hike through the park. Those with an interest in nature can get a better understanding of the ecosystem (生态系统) on a full-day ecotour that combines suspension bridges and hiking with a trip to Hoyo Azul. Full-day tours are also available for an easy day trip.

Things to Know before You Go

It offers a variety of tour packages that include a trip to Hoyo Azul.

Bring your own towel and cash for souvenirs (纪念品) and photos.

Floating equipment is available for those who cannot swim.

How to Get There

Cap Cana is just 15 minutes from Punta Cana International Airport. Take an airport taxior bus from there for only a few dollars. Many tours of the area stop at Hoyo Azul.

When to Get There

Budget travelers should head to Hoyo Azul during the low season—from August to early December—for the best deals on accommodations and activities. Warm weather year-round means that swimming, hiking, and other outdoor activities are always a choice.

1. What can you do in Hoyo Azul?

A．Fish.	B．Swim.
C．Camp.	D．Picnic.

2. What does the Hoyo Azul Tour provide visitors with?

A．Old cameras.	B．Cheap souvenirs.
C．Floating equipment.	D．Pocket money.

3. When is the best time for visitors without much money?

A．February.	B．May.
C．July.	D．September.

【推荐3】I waited in line for hours in Central Park for tickets to Shakespeare, so I could share my experience with you. I hope my experience will be helpful to you!

1. Plan for the weather.

You’ll be sitting outside for several hours waiting for tickets. If it’s going to be a sunny day, bring sun cream and water. If you think it might rain, bring your umbrella or raincoat. If the day promises to be unseasonably cool, you’ll be happy you’ve brought a sweater or jacket along.

2. Keep yourself entertained.

Bring an iPad, a good book, some magazines or even some work along with you to pass the time. You’ll be in line for about 3-4 hours, and you’ll be glad to have a crossword puzzle or other games to kill the time once the people-watching starts to get boring.

3. Know the basics.

Free tickets are being given out for the same day’s performance and they are not changeable. That means if it rains, you’re out of luck. That also means that you have to wait for tickets in the morning and attend the evening’s performance the same night (Doors open around 8 p.m. for the 8:30 p.m. show.).

4. Feeling fortunate? Enter the online ticket lottery(抽签获票).

If you don’t want to spend several hours waiting in line for tickets, you can try your luck on the Internet. Once you set up your account, you can enter the online ticket lottery between midnight and noon. You’ll get an email message around noon if you’ve gotten tickets, and you can pick up your tickets at the Delacorte Theater between 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm.

1. Why is a crossword puzzle suggested by the author?

A．To cool you down on a sunny day.

B．To give you something to read.

C．To entertain you while you are waiting.

D．To make iPad games amusing .

2. Which of the following is NOT allowed?

A．Being seated for the evening show at 8:20 p.m.

B．Changing your free tickets for another day.

C．Getting free tickets in the rain.

D．Trying your luck to get free tickets on the Internet.

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

A．To give us some tips on buying online tickets.

B．To make sure you are entertained while you are in line.

C．To call on us to read more books about Shakespeare.

D．To give practical advice about getting tickets.