If you’re planning on traveling, there are a few simple rules about how to make life easier both before and after your journey.
First of all, always check and double-check departure (起程) time. It is amazing how few people really do this carefully. Once I arrived at the airport a few minutes after ten. My secretary had got the ticket for me and I thought she had said that the plane left at 10:50. When I arrived at the airport, the clerk at the departure desk told me that my flight was closed. Therefore, I had to wait three hours for the next one and missed an important meeting.
The second rule is to remember that even in this age of credit cards, it is still important to have at least a little of the local currency (货币) with you when you arrive in a country. This can be necessary if you are flying to a place few tourists normally visit. Once I arrived at a place at midnight and the bank at the airport was closed. The only way to get to my hotel was by taxi and because I had no dollars, I offered to pay in pounds instead. “Listen! I only take real money!” the driver said angrily. Luckily I was able to borrow a few dollars from a clerk at the hotel, but it was embarrassing.
The third and last rule is to find out as much as you can about the weather at your destination before you leave. I feel sorry for some of my workmates who travel in heavy suit and raincoats in May, when it is still fairly cool in London or Manchester, to places like Athens, Rome or Madrid, where it is already beginning to get quite warm during the day.
1. Where is the writer most probably from?| A．Italy. | B．The USA |
| C．Britain. | D．Greece |
| A．The author tells people to choose warm places as their travel destinations. |
| B．You don’t have to take credit cards when travelling. |
| C．You should know more about the weather of the place you’ll visit. |
| D．It’s unnecessary to check the departure time carefully. |
| A．how to make life easier | B．how to be well prepared for a trip |
| C．how to enjoy ourselves on a trip | D．how to plan our trip |
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【推荐1】If you’ve ever been on a long-haul (长途的) flight, you’ll know that it can be challenging to keep yourself rested and occupied for that many hours, especially if you’re not flying first-class.
Start by dressing for comfort. Since you’ll be in those clothes for over 24 hours — from the time you leave your home till you reach your destination — you’ll want to make sure that you’re wearing comfortably. Pick out casual clothes with loose-fitting tops and bottoms.
Once you board, monitor the time at your destination and adjust your sleep-wake cycle accordingly, even if it means resisting the temptation of in-flight entertainment to sleep during the night.
Lastly, drink plenty of water to counteract the dry cabin air — shoot for a glass every hour. Bring a big empty water bottle with you on the plane and once you’re comfortably seated and before the plane takes off, ask a flight attendant to get it full.
| A．They aren’t only for your comfort |
| B．Next, pack some creature comforts |
| C．Then, bring about the most advanced device |
| D．Sticking to this new routine will pay off later |
| E．To calm your nerves, do it at the start of the flight |
| F．This way, you don’t have to keep asking for refilling throughout the flight |
| G．Try to avoid looking like you’ve just wrestled a bear when stepping off the flight |
【推荐2】Learning how to apologize is similar to learning any new behavior. It may feel awkward and may not be polished at first.
First of all, wait until the right time and you are in the right place. Although public apology is often appropriate, discretion (谨慎) should be used.
Be direct and brief in your approach. Acknowledge the fact that injury has occurred and then take responsibility for what happened. Be sincere in expressing your regret and demonstrate your willingness to take ownership of the situation.
Even if you follow these steps, be prepared for rejection. Sometimes, the person apologizing has an expectation that the apology will lead to immediate forgiveness and acceptance.
| A．Forgiveness and acceptance may take time. |
| B．To give or receive a good apology is an art. |
| C．But with practice, everyone can learn to do it. |
| D．Listening to the response to our apologies is important. |
| E．Most apologies can and should happen in a private setting. |
| F．In other words, avoid excuses and offer to repair the damage. |
| G．Taking responsibility doesn’t mean accepting blame for everything. |
There is a drive within all of us to create and express ourselves through art. This drive comes from a need to achieve a balance within ourselves. Art refers to the theory and physical expression of creativity found in human societies_and cultures. Its major fields include literary arts, performing arts (e. g. theater and dance) and visual arts (e. g. drawing, painting, photography, film and sculpture).
Art is essential to our culture because it provides us with a deeper understanding of emotions. Through art, we learn to feel joy in times of happiness and we see pain and despair in times of suffering. Creating art allows us to slow down and experience a full range of our emotions, while viewing others’ art can release the emotions within us and allow us to explore our feelings. This can help us heal and grow, and succeed both personally and professionally.
Art encourages critical thinking and promotes communication. Throughout the entire process of creating and appreciating art, we need to make decisions. We use logic and reasoning to find meaning in what we see or create. Art is a medium to share thoughts, ideas and visions that may not be expressed in other ways. Through art, we gain a better understanding of past and present cultures. Yet more importantly, there are no language barriers in art and therefore it is universal.
Art also enhances our lives. The process of experiencing art engages both the body and the mind and provides us with time to reflect. That’s why art is a necessity, not a luxury. It can make a community more beautiful and a workplace more interesting. Our homes reflect our personalities through the art we choose to display. Art can inspire us, make us happy and even motivate us.
We need to express ourselves through art. When we take a closer look at our world and begin to see the art and creativity in it, it can soothe, enrich or encourage ourselves. Art is beautiful , and beauty is an aesthetic quality.
1. What drives people to create and express themselves through art?2. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Art helps people gain a better understanding of past and present cultures, and the language barriers make it difficult for people to appreciate art.
3. What is the passage mainly about?
4. What is your favourite art form? And why?(In about 40 words)
【推荐1】Tips for Traveling with Your Parents
Many of us have fond memories of traveling with our parents as children,which makes going on vacation with them as adults much more special.
Find a point person.
Build in options.
Consider buying insurance.
Emergencies--such as a missed flight or lost luggage--can happen at any age,so it's wise to invest in travel insurance.Many policies cover medical emergencies as well as everyday travel mishaps(小事故).
| A．Be optional. |
| B．It's a chance to return the favor. |
| C．Make sure those who get ill are well attended to. |
| D．As our parents are aging,they should not travel alone. |
| E．Be sure to do your homework as some policies are better than others. |
| F．Having one person in charge can significantly minimize stress and confusion. |
| G．The most important thing is striking a balance between activities and free time to ensure that no one gets exhausted. |
【推荐2】The most attractive national parks on earth provide the most quickest way to discover how amazing the planet is. Visits to the greatest national parks in the world make you experience breathtaking natural wonders.
Arenal Volcano National Park
Anyone who has been to Arenal will probably tell you that “It's paradise”. Arenal Volcano National Park is located in the middle of Costa Rica, Central America. The park has a continuous active volcano. In fact, you can see lava pouring down its sides. Hot springs surround this volcano. Numerous hidden waterfalls and animals-filled forests also surround the volcano.
Yellowstone National Park
America's Yellowstone is a land of great things. First of all, this is the world's first natural park. It is also the continent's largest volcanic zone. Yellowstone provides home to the largest group of bison (野牛) in the world. It seems like Yellowstone shows the crème de la crème (精英) of the American west.
Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park
You are going to China, and in addition to the Great Wall, you probably need to visit a great national park. You shouldn't worry since you are pretty well covered. The Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park is more than magical. It stands among five impressive colored lakes. You will enjoy watching the fresh and clear blue sky above; while the park*s evergreen forests are full of life and energy.
Kilimanjaro National Park
You are in Tanzania again, and you probably might have known Mt. Kilimanjaro. Most of all, it is Africa's highest mountain. All enthusiastic mountaineers dream to climb to the top of it. As a result, the Kilimanjaro National Park is most popular with them. Since great grasslands and wildlife surround the mountain, your trip to Mt. Kilimanjaro becomes more fascinating and inspiring.
1. What do Arenal Volcano National Park and Yellowstone National Park have in common?| A．Their evergreen forests are lively. |
| B．They are full of great grasslands. |
| C．They have splendid volcanoes. |
| D．They are home to African wildlife. |
| A．Arenal Volcano National Park. | B．Yellowstone National Park. |
| C．Jiuzhaigou Valley National Park. | D．Kilimanjaro National Park. |
| A．Costa Rica. | B．China. |
| C．America. | D．Tanzania. |
【推荐3】To see the world is one thing; to have someone to share it with is another
You can have someone to talk to
Traveling alone is fun, but wouldn’t you feel lonely？
You can have someone to share the expenses with
Having a travel mate is a good way of meeting a new friend or even a lifelong partner. You can never count the number of couples who actually found their way into each other’s heart while traveling together in another country.
You can have someone to watch out for you
When you’re in a foreign land, you’ll never be really safe. You don’t know the rules as well as the culture of the people. A travel mate will be perfect to remind you of your duties in the country and to watch your back just in case you get lost. So why don’t you find a travel companion now？
| A．You can meet a good friend |
| B．One of the major headaches in traveling is the costs involved |
| C．How to get along with a travel partner |
| D．Indeed, travel becomes more interesting when you have a travel partner |
| E．Let’s find out how to find a travel partner |
| F．You can enjoy food with your partner |
| G．Having a travel partner can remove the feeling of loneliness |
【推荐1】Many animals recognize their food because they see it. So do humans. When you see an apple or a piece of chocolate you know that these are things you can eat. You can also use other senses when you choose your food. You may like it because it smells good or because it tastes good. You may dislike some types of food because they do not look, smell or taste very nice. Different animals use different senses to find and choose their food. A few animals depend on only one of their senses, while most animals use more than one sense.
Although there are many different types of food, some animals spend their lives eating only one type. The giant panda eats only one particular type of bamboo. Other animals eat only one type of food even when given the choice. A kind of white butterfly will stay on the leaves of a cabbage, even though there are plenty of other vegetables in the garden. However, most animals have a more varied diet. The bear eats fruits and fish. The fox eats small animals, birds and fruits. The diet of these animals will be different depending on the season.
Humans have a very varied diet. We often eat food because we like it and not because it is good for us. In countries such as France and Britain, people eat foods with too much sugar. This makes them overweight, which is bad for their health. Eating too much red meat and animal products, such as butter, can also be bad for the health. Choosing the right food, therefore, has become an area of study in modern life.
1. We can infer from the text that humans and animals ____.| A．depend on one sense in choosing food |
| B．are not satisfied with their food |
| C．choose food in similar ways |
| D．eat entirely different food |
| A．A white butterfly. | B．A small bird. |
| C．The bear. | D．The fox. |
| A．the season changes. |
| B．the food color changes. |
| C．they move to different places. |
| D．they are attracted by different smells. |
| A．food is chosen for a good reason. |
| B．French and British food is good. |
| C．some people have few choices of food. |
| D．some people care little about healthy diet. |
| A．Why choosing the right food is important. |
| B．How to choose the right food. |
| C．The right amount of food for a person. |
| D．Vegetables matter more than meat and sugar. |
【推荐2】SWG3 is a huge building which hosts major club nights in Glasgow, Srotland. Recently, it has applied a system called Bodyheat. The system creates renewable energy from the body heat on the building’s dance floor.
David Townsend, who designed the system, said, “You and I just stand here right now and we’re generating about 100 to 150 watts of energy. When you start dancing, let’s say at a medium pace, you might be generating like 250 watts. And then if we’ve got a big DJ, absolutely playing basslines (低音旋律) and making everyone jump up and down, each of us could be generating 500 to 600 watts of heat energy.”
Dancers’ heat is then captured from the dancefloor and transferred to a series of 200-meter-deep boreholes which can store heat like a battery. The heat energy then travels back to the heat pumps, and is upgraded to a suitable temperature and sent back into SWG3. This will enable people to completely disconnect the venue’s gas, boiler, reducing its carbon emission by about 70 tons of CO2 a year.
The Body heat system costs over ￡600,000 to setup. “If we were to apply the typical air conditioning that is usually used, our costs would probably be about 10 % of that--so ￡60,000,” SWG3 managing director Andrew Fleming-Brown said. “But in the long run, the savings on energy bills will get the spending back in about five years, depending on costs.
“If we can make it work here in this environment, there’s no reason why we can’t take it to other venues, not just here in Scotland and the UK, but across Europe and further areas,” Fleming-Brown said, adding that introducing the system was a leap of faith and that the venue once promised to achieve “net-zero” carbon emissions by 2025.
1. How much energy can two people dancing at a medium pace make?| A．About 200 to 300 watts. | B．About 250 watts. |
| C．About 500 watts. | D．About 1,000 to 1,200 watts. |
| A．To store dancers’ heat. | B．To capture dancers’ heat. |
| C．To send heat energy back to SWG3. | D．To upgrade heat energy to a suitable temperature. |
| A．It is not safe. | B．It is farsighted. |
| C．It is double-edged. | D．It is not cost-effective. |
| A．Build more venues with Bodyheat. | B．Support Bodyheat with grants (拨款). |
| C．Get involved in the research on Bodyheat. | D．Recommend Bodyheat to other venues. |
However, parents often try to choose their children’s friends for them．Some parents may even stop their children from meeting their good friends．The question of “choice” is an interesting one．Have you ever thought of the following questions?
Who choose your friends?
Do you choose your friends or your friends choose you?
Have you got a good friend your parent don’t like?
1. Many teenagers think their _______ know them better than their parents do.
| A．friends |
| B．teachers |
| C．brothers and sisters |
| D．classmates |
| A．go to their friends |
| B．talk with their parents |
| C．talk with their friends on the phone |
| D．have a discussion with their family |
| A．Some parents may want their children to stop to meet their good friends. |
| B．Some parents may even ask their children to stay away from their good friends. |
| C．Some parents may even not let their children meet their good friends. |
| D．Some parents may even not allow their children to meet their good friends. |
| A．Parents should like everything their children enjoy. |
| B．In all families, children can choose everything they like. |
| C．Parents should try their best to understand their children better. |
| D．Teenagers can only go to their friends for help． |
【推荐1】An earthquake is one of the most common natural disasters. It may cause great damage. So it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to protect yourself or your family members.
Fragile items, like those made of glass should usually be placed on a lower surface, near the ground instead of placing them on cupboards higher up. Never place them near your bed, sofas and other furniture where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a strong movement, these pieces will fall on the floor directly and on you.
There is a strong chance of short circuits (短路) and fire breakouts during an earthquake. Make sure you turn off electrical connections and gas immediately when an earthquake happens.
During an earthquake, lie beneath an object that is not easily damaged. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Never use the elevator to go down. Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries happen when people inside buildings try to go out. Use the staircases at all times.
If you are outdoors, do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric poles or tall buildings. If you are driving, stop your car and stay in a safe place. Do not park your car under a tree or any tall object.
If trapped in debris (瓦砾堆), cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can find you. Use a whistle (哨子) if one is available. Never shout for help. Shouting can cause you to breathe in dangerous amounts of dust. Do not light a match because you may burn yourself. Do not move about or kick up dust.
1. The purpose of the passage is to tell readers ________.| A．the damage caused by earthquakes | B．the rescue work after earthquakes |
| C．what to do about earthquakes | D．how to prevent earthquakes |
| A．go out the building at once | B．turn off power and gas immediately |
| C．take shelter under a tree | D．drive to a safe place |
| A．Cover their mouth with a handkerchief. | B．Tap on a pipe or wall for help. |
| C．Use a whistle for help. | D．Light a fire for help. |
【推荐2】If you have a chance to go to Finland, you will probably be surprised to find how “foolish” the Finnish people are.
Take the taxi drivers for example. Taxis in Finland are mostly high-class Benz with a fare of two US dollars a kilometer. You can go anywhere in one, tell the driver to drop you at any place, say that you have some business to attend to, and then walk off without paying your fare. The driver would not show the least signs of anxiety.
The dining rooms in all big hotels not only serve their guests, but also serve outside diners. Hotel guests have their meals free, so they naturally go to the free dining rooms to have their meals. The most they would do to show their good faith is to wave their registration cards to the waiter. With such a loose check, you can easily use any old registration card to take a couple of friends to dine free of charge.
The Finnish workers are paid by the hour. They are very much on their own as soon as they have agreed with the boss at the rate. From then on they just say how many hours they have worked and they will be paid accordingly.
With so many loopholes(漏洞) in everyday life, surely Finland must be a heaven to those who love to take “petty advantages”. But the strange thing is that all the taxi passengers would always come back to pay their fares after they have attended to their business and that not a single outsider has ever been found in the free hotel dining rooms. And workers always give an honest account of the exact hours they put in. As the Finns always act on good faith in everything they do, living in such a society has turned everyone to a real “gentleman”.
1. Which of the following is NOT true according to the passage?| A．While taking a taxi in Finland, you can get off without first paying your fare. |
| B．In a big hotel in Finland, you can enjoy free meals if you’re living in the hotel. |
| C．The bosses in Finland pay the employees according to the registration of their working hours. |
| D．The workers are always honest with their working hours. |
| A．the Finnish society is of very high moral level |
| B．there are many loopholes in everyday life in Finland |
| C．in Finland, most taxi drivers will not charge you anything |
| D．everyone in Finland is like a gentleman, for they have faith in themselves |
| A．Life in Finland | B．A Society with “Foolish” People |
| C．What a Life | D．Honest accounts of the Finns |
【推荐3】Humans make mistakes. Even very experienced surgeons are not infallible. But what if these doctors could combine their knowledge with experience together and create a surgical standard of care, to be performed by machines?
That's the idea behind surgical robots, which may soon carry out most surgeries, from sewing up tiny wounds to performing heart procedures. Lots of these operations are actually already completed with the assistance of robots. However, a recent test suggests that robots in the operating room may soon go a step further, performing on soft tissue completely on their own, from the beginning to the end.
The Smart Tissue Autonomous Robot(STAR) has succeeded in completing surgeries on pigs. "We're the first to test out autonomous robotic surgery with soft-tissue surgery, and when compared to standard operation, it's better," says Peter Kim, a professor of surgery. "Our purpose is not to replace surgeons, but it will make the surgeons better and make the procedures safer."
A recent Mayo Clinic study discovered that most surgical errors-including operating on the wrong site or side of the body, or even leaving tools or objects inside the patient-occur every one out of 22,000 procedures. Though that's rare, robots like STAR would aim to lower the number even further.
In the surgical system called da Vinci, surgeons lay their arms inside instruments and use their hands to control the movement of robotic tools on the operating table from afar. Surgeons control the robot's every major move, and thus its results may vary based on the surgeon's training or experience.
On the other hand, STAR is entirely autonomous. Not only is it able to work on its own and perform surgeries with a more flexible "hand", but it's also able to react to the unexpected incidents. Cutting into hard tissue like bones is one thing, but operating on moving soft tissue is far more complex. STAR can respond to a changing environment, which is similar to how self-driving cars are programmed to not only drive on the high way, but also react to another driver who makes a mistake and gets in your way.
1. What does the underlined word “infallible” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Quite smart. | B．Really creative. |
| C．Rather responsible. | D．Always right. |
| A．It can perform the operation on its own. |
| B．It has been widely used in the operating room. |
| C．It can make surgeries much faster. |
| D．It will take the place of surgeons. |
| A．Robots are trained from afar. | B．Robots always make mistakes. |
| C．Surgery results depend on surgeons. | D．Surgeons have trouble controlling robots. |
