1 . Books are excellent gifts. Here are four of the year’s most talked-about titles.

Ordinary Monsters | By J. M. Miro

Miro has temporarily abandoned literary fiction in favour of a new series of historical fantasy novels. Ordinary Monsters is about a group of children with magical gifts who come together and pool their powers to escape the bad shape-shifting man that’s going after them.

Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces | By Elamin Abdelmahmoud

The soundtrack to The O. C., a drama series, and the strange beauty of Highway 401 were important factors in developing selfhood of Abdelmahmoud. This book describes his own experience of moving from Khartoum, Sudan, to Kingston, Canada, in the early 2000s at age 12.

A Magic Steeped in Poison | By Judy I. Lin

Harry Potter has his magic stick. And Ning, the heroine of Lin’s first novel, has tea, which in her world carries magical properties. Lin has created a pleasing Young Adult fantasy rich in Chinese mythology (神话). In this book, Ning enters a competition to find the most gifted tea master, Shennong.

A Ballet of Lepers | By Leonard Cohen

Unlike many other posthumous (死后出版的) works, you can count on Cohen’s to be worth your wait. Before his death, he said that the novel contained in the book, which was never published, was likely better than The Favourite Game, a novel he published during his lifetime. This book also includes a radio play script (剧本) and a handful of short stories.

1. Which book is a mirror of the author’s life story?

A．Ordinary Monsters.	B．Son of Elsewhere: A Memoir in Pieces.
C．A Magic Steeped in Poison.	D．A Ballet of Lepers.

2. What do the first and third books have in common?

A．They are about teamwork.

B．They are based on an imaginary world.

C．They both involve Chinese characters.

D．They draw inspiration from other novels.

3. What can be inferred about A Ballet of Lepers?

A．It is a collection.	B．It is Cohen’s best novel.
C．It is a fantasy novel.	D．It is adapted from a play.

2 . We take the kids out every once in a while, but they get bored if we choose places like restaurants or shopping malls. Here are some of the best places for kids in Hyderabad.

Snow World

If you and your kids love snow, then Snow World, which you can visit between 11:00 am and 8:00 pm, is where you need to be. The best thing is that you can even enjoy the snow during summers; you can make a snowman, have snow fights with your kids, ride the ice cars or do some fun ice skating. And when you get hungry, you can grab a bite of some tasty food in the ice hotel.

The Jump Zone

Who says your kids cannot have fun when the weather gets warm in Hyderabad? Drive to the Jump Zone, which allows kids aged 5 ~ 12 to play and remains open from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm, and enjoy its vast indoor play area, where there are slides, dance floors, toys to ride on, and jumping castles.

Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City, which remains open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, has everything you need for fun and entertainment in one place. Your kids will be amazed by the beautiful gardens, amazing sets for movies, and strange streets. They can also enjoy exciting rides and games there.

Nehru Zoological Park

Nehru Zoological Park, which remains open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, is a great place to let your kids spend quality time with different animals. In this vast park you can see over 100 species of animals in their natural habitat. Other fun activities include elephant rides, train rides, and the Dinosaur Park. It also has an excellent food court where you can sit and enjoy tasty food and drinks.

1. Which place has the longest opening hours?

A．Snow World.	B．The Jump Zone.
C．Ramoji Film City.	D．Nehru Zoological Park.

2. What does the text say about the Jump Zone?

A．It doesn’t welcome kids of all ages.

B．It is especially crowded on warm days.

C．It doesn’t have enough room for sliding.

D．It attracts kids who love playing outdoors.

3. What do Snow World and Nehru Zoological Park have in common?

A．They both offer training sessions.

B．They both provide a place for dining.

C．They both are suitable for extreme sports.

D．They both offer a chance to see wild species.

3 . Five Star Yellowstone Tour

Discover the world’s oldest national park, Yellowstone, on this grand wildlife tour. Our professional guides will give you a 5 star customer service experience on your all inclusive tour without any additional taxes or booking fees.

Starting at approximately 7 am, we will be rolling out the red carpet for you and all you have to do is to sit back and enjoy the ride. We provide snacks, bottled water, and cooked food for lunch. This tour’s main focus is on the wide variety of wildlife, Yellowstone’s rich historic landscapes as well as the fascinating prospect formed by the Yellowstone Supervolcano for over millions of years. Binoculars (双筒望远镜) are provided to help you appreciate the scenery better.

Whether you are an amateur photographer, a science or history enthusiast or just want to explore the outdoors, this tour has something for everyone. Our fun but professional guides will give you a first class tour in a very comfortable tour bus.

Tour snapshot

Duration: 10-12 hours

Taking Covid-19 safety measures: Click here

Hotel pickup offered

Group size: 9

Ticket type: Mobile

Available language: English

Book in advance

Scheduled date: Check availability

Total fees: $300 per adult (age 13-99); 40% discount (age 1-12)

Reserve now & pay later: Learn more

Free cancellation: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Now you’re all set! Have a great time.

1. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A textbook.	B．A website.
C．A scenery magazine.	D．A travel report.

2. What can we know about the tour?

A．It has both mobile and paper tickets.

B．It is a 9-people group with extra fees.

C．It offers snacks, breakfast, binoculars and hotel pickup.

D．It highlights wildlife, historic sights and volcanic scenery.

3. What should you do for the booking?

A．Pay $180 per child for the tour.

B．Pay at once after your reservation.

C．Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

D．Consult the guide to check available date.

4 . Everybody knows that Massachusetts is a great place to see fall leaves. But surely there   are other places to catch the leaves turning green to reddish-golden? The short answer is yes.

Aspen, Colorado

Aspen—as its name suggests—doesn’t fail to impress with its backdrop of majestic snow-capped mountains. Head to the Maroon Bells to look into mirror-like lakes to see double: on a calm day, the mountains and trees are reflected in the still waters.

Bavaria, Germany

Take a trip into a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Not only can you catch breathtaking views—such as castles emerging from red, green and golden trees—but you can experience the region’s fall traditions, such as the “Almabtrieb” event, bringing in the cattle from the grasslands, and local parish (教区) fairs, called “Kirchweih-Feste” where beer is everywhere.

Catskills, Upstate New York

If spotting fall in one state isn’t enough, head to the Catskills, where you can see five states at once. Head to the Northern Catskills of Greene County, to the “Five State Lookout” in Windham, where you can view treetops in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as beautiful scenery of the Hudson River Valley.

Edinburgh, Scotland

This city is made for fall with its tree-lined streets and big open parks. Head to Princes Street Gardens, which is home to some of the city’s most typical monuments, such as the storybook-style Gardeners’ Cottage and the Scott Monument, or take a hike through Holyrood Park, marveling as the russet tones (红褐色) cover the rolling hills which climb up to the famed Arthurs Seat offering full views of the city and beyond.

1. What is a special view of the Maroon Bells?

A．Typical monuments in Scottish style.

B．Beautiful castles among golden trees.

C．Clear lakes with reflections of surroundings.

D．Mountains completely covered with snow.

2. In which place can people see five states at the same time?

A．Aspen, Colorado.	B．Catskills, Upstate New York.
C．Bavaria, Germany.	D．Edinburgh, Scotland.

3. Why does the author write the text?

A．To explain how to develop hobbies in the fall.

B．To stress the importance of traveling in the fall.

C．To introduce some places to appreciate fall leaves.

D．To describe how lo enjoy fall leaves with your own eyes.

5 . David lost his beloved dog Baya before Christmas two years ago. Baya was active and cute. David’s family spent many days _________ for their furry (毛茸茸的) family member. The kids said they wouldn’t want any _________ from Santa Claus. They just wanted to get their dog back. All attempts to find her turned out to be _________. Baya was nowhere to be found. It seemed that the family wouldn’t have any more _________.

Two years later, a homeless dog _________ alone on a busy road. Someone _________ it to the Animal Protection Association (协会). Thanks to the microchip (芯片) planted in the dog, the association was able to _________ the owner. They _________ David. When David got a phone call that they were going to get Baya back, the family were pretty _________.

Obviously, Baya is __________ to living in this home. She is quite __________ of where her feeding bowl is. Even though Baya isn’t the dog she used to be, David is confident she’ll become her old __________ again. He said, “She was a very healthy and __________ dog. She’s not like that anymore, but we’re going to get her back. Our whole family are taking __________ of her. Kids play with her happily. She’s __________ her joyful nature. We will love her even more.”

1.

A．preparing

B．searching

C．paying

D．begging

2.

A．calls

B．honor

C．gifts

D．rescue

3.

A．fruitless

B．generous

C．worthwhile

D．different

4.

A．advantage

B．challenge

C．decision

D．hope

5.

A．continued

B．appeared

C．hid

D．returned

6.

A．sent

B．forced

C．followed

D．invited

7.

A．refer to

B．rely on

C．track down

D．cheer for

8.

A．appreciated

B．impressed

C．recognized

D．contacted

9.

A．frightened

B．excited

C．confident

D．curious

10.

A．addicted

B．related

C．adapted

D．reduced

11.

A．aware

B．uncertain

C．afraid

D．proud

12.

A．native

B．self

C．partner

D．owner

13.

A．calm

B．average

C．pretty

D．active

14.

A．care

B．notice

C．control

D．advantage

15.

A．removing

B．identifying

C．recovering

D．reserving

7 . There are hundreds of great national nature reserves in China. Now feast your eyes on the following amazing ones.

Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve

Qinghai Lake, China’s largest saltwater lake in Qinghai Province, is a key body of water for lots of animals and birds. As an important stopover, migratory birds (候鸟) would rest in this area during their movement trip every year. The reserve became a national nature reserve in the year of 1997.

Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve

The only Bayanbulak Wetland, in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is at the foot of Tianshan Mountains, which makes itself suitable for migratory birds. Bayanbulak means “rich spring water” in Mongolian, meaning that the area is rich in water. Every year, swans (天鹅) from different places fly here for nesting, which became a national swan reserve in 1986.

Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve

As one of the largest wintering places for swans in China, this reserve in Shandong Province mainly protects whooper swans (大天鹅), which make it different from other nature reserves. In 2007, it was changed into a national nature reserve. Now every year, thousands of whooper swans arrive here to spend the winter, making it an important resting and wintering place for themselves.

Sanya Coral Reef (珊瑚礁) National Marine Nature Reserve

This reserve focuses on protecting coral reefs and their living environment in Sanya City, Hainan Province. In 1990, it became a national nature reserve. This reserve is on the coast, so the area of the reserve has good water quality and many kinds of creatures,

1. What do the first reserve and the second reserve have in common?

A．The area of wetland.	B．The geography of them.
C．The year of becoming the national reserve.	D．The friendly environment for migratory birds.

2. What makes the Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve special?

A．Its saltwater lake.	B．The whooper swans.
C．Its rich spring water.	D．The warm climate.

3. Which place best suits coral lovers?

A．Bayanbulak National Nature Reserve.	B．Qinghai Lake National Nature Reserve.
C．Rongcheng Swan National Nature Reserve.	D．Sanya Coral Reef National Marine Nature Reserve,

8 . The list of music festivals seems to double each year, so we think we’d save you some time by presenting our picks that reflect a deep sense of place.

New Orleans Jazz Festival

This week-long festival was established in New Orleans, America in 1970 to celebrate the city’s status as the birthplace of jazz. Headliners that attended the first celebration included singer Mahalia Jackson and pianist Duke Ellington. Over the years, this festival has grown to showcase much more than jazz. Attendees have long enjoyed the latest hit-makers alongside booths and exhibits featuring Louisiana’s native cuisine, arts, and crafts.

Newport Folk Festival

Founded by George Wein in 1959 and best known for introducing the world to the likes of Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, Newport Folk Festival is one of the oldest music festivals in America. Like New Orleans Jazz Festival, this Rhode Island event gives a false impression about the types of music one can expect to find, although it has been remaining true to its roots.

Interceltic Festival

When most people hear the word “Celtic”, they think of Ireland. But this festival takes place each summer in the heart of the seaport town of Lorient in northwestern France. While emphasizing music and dance, the ten-day festival also provides a platform for colorful expressions of Celtic art, food and drink, theater, literature, and sports.

Roskilde Music Festival

England’s Glastonbury, Hungary’s Sziget, and Denmark’s Roskilde are Europe’s three biggest music festivals. Roskilde stands out not only for its impressive and eclectic music, but for its nonprofit approach. All concert incomes are donated to support charities, music and cultural programs since its founding in 1971. With lake swimming, an on-site skate park, and an annual “naked run”, the event has earned a name for being a week-long summer camp for adults.

1. Which festival is held in Louisiana?

A．Interceltic Festival.	B．Roskilde Music Festival.
C．Newport Folk Festival.	D．New Orleans Jazz Festival.

2. Who started Newport Folk Festival?

A．Joan Baez.

B．Bob Dylan.

C．George Wein.

D．Mahalia Jackson.

3. What do the last two festivals have in common?

A．They include some sports.	B．They emphasize one type of music.
C．They donate all their profits.	D．They last for the same period of time.

9 . One third of adults over 65 in America have never used the Internet, and half don’t even have Internet access at home. In San Francisco, “the center of tech”, 40% of older adults do not have basic digital literacy skills.

This situation is becoming appalling as over 10,000 Americans turn 65 every single day. By 2050,22% of Americans will be 65 or older. Meanwhile, technology is developing very fast. This means that a large number of people will be unable to proficiently use emergent technology.

Many people believe that seniors aren’t required to participate in our tech future because they’ll be retired and relaxed soon. But this is the farthest thing from the truth. Baby boomers are currently experiencing a different boom: With more people getting older than ever before, their life expediencies are also increasing dramatically. With medical advancements, the number of American people projected to live into their 90’s has doubled since 1965.

However, they don’t have strong financial or educational support. This is not a problem; it’s a crisis. More than half of employees over 50 have been laid off in what’s being called ”forced retirement“. And few organizations are actively helping older employees make the transition from full-time jobs to part-time ones. For those fortunate enough to be employed, 3 out of 5 older workers experience prejudice.

The easiest solution is to teach digital literacy. If baby boomers want to survive the forthcoming retirement crisis, they should get enough digital knowledge and skills to operate today’s tools and tomorrow’s platforms. With every crisis comes an opportunity. Tutoring, customer service, editing, research, book-keeping, and other virtual assistance-based work open the doors. But again, digital knowledge is first required to live in our high-tech society and gig economy. So try to get more online and navigate the growing number of sites and apps.

1. What does the underlined word “appalling” probably mean in paragraph2?

A．Confusing.

B．Terrible.

C．Controllable.

D．Inspiring.

2. What problem may baby boomers face?

A．A crisis after retirement.	B．Being knocked out in the future.
C．Failing to receive good healthcare.	D．Tending to double their life expediencies.

3. What is the last paragraph mainly about?

A．The features of high-tech jobs.	B．The way out for baby boomers.
C．Potential industries in the future.	D．The importance of developing technology.

4. What does the author advise baby boomers to do?

A．Have a good sense of crisis.	B．Avoid retiring at an early age.
C．Look for many part-time jobs.	D．Improve digital literacy actively.

10 . The day had started out as usual for Mrs. Ito until the late afternoon, when the news of the destructive tsunami waves came over the radio.

At last, 12:30 a.m. came as the radio warning had said and nothing happened. She could hear passing people say the tsunami waves must have missed the islands and they laughed as they were returning to their homes. Mrs. Ito went into her living room and looked down the street. It was calm.

Then, a sudden flash-like lighting lit the sky over Hilo Bay and a deafening explosion broke the night’s silence. The first large wave of the tsunami had burst Hilo’s electric power plant. Suddenly, all the lights in Hilo went out.

Next thing Mrs. Ito heard was a rumbling sound. Before she knew it, the wave roared into her house. She was knocked to the floor as her house began to spin (旋转) and finally tore apart. Terrible yelling and crying sounds came from her neighbors’ homes. Desperately, Mrs. Ito grasped for anything to stay above water. Suddenly, something heavy fell on her. The floorboards opened up and she became trapped. She used every bit of strength in her body to struggle out of the boards and managed to squeeze free. Then she blacked out.

When she woke up, she found herself being washed back and fourth as the water rose. She couldn’t see anyone else and listened for the sound of ocean waves. There were no waves, so she figured she had to be floating over flooded land. Mrs. Ito carefully tried to stretch her foot to touch bottom but it was too deep. Not knowing how to swim, she hung on tight to her tiny makeshift (临时的) raft.

At sunrise, she spotted two boats on the horizon. She saw in the distance a radio station tower light. She remained at peace and kept her head down. She thought that death was just a matter of time away. She thought the people on the boats hadn’t seen her. Then the boats came closer and closer. Mrs. Ito was seen and saved.

1. Which word can describe people’s reaction to the radio warning according to paragraph 2?

A．Shocked.

B．Anxious.

C．Disappointed.

D．Relaxed.

2. What can be inferred about the tsunami?

A．It struck the islands as expected.

B．It destroyed a radio station tower.

C．It attacked Hilo’s electric power plant.

D．It occurred at noon without any warning.

3. What happened to Mrs. Ito during the tsunami?

A．She got stuck in the flooded land for days.

B．She was rescued by people on the boats luckily.

C．She attempted to float on the ocean with a board.

D．She was hit by a heavy object and lost memories.

4. What is the text mainly about?

A．Mrs. Ito’s story of surviving the tsunami.

B．The recovery of the islands after the tsunami.

C．The damage caused by a destructive tsunami.

D．The effects of the tsunami on local people’s life.