1 . Biking is an amazing family activity, but finding a route that can accommodate a wide-range of ages can be a challenge.
Lee McNeil and his family are crazy about biking. They have seven children, from 4 to 24 years old. When looking for a route, they look for enough protection from traffic, good surface condition, easy access and interesting views.
With that in mind, here are some great routes for biking with your whole family, as are suggested by McNeil.
Iron Horse Trail
This is the McNeil family’s favourite ride. The route is 26 miles and goes through the 2.1mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.
“Beautiful views, the thrill the tunnel, and places to stop and watch the rock climbers make it special,” McNeil said. “All our kids have taken their turn at braving the black tunnel bravely for the first time, which we celebrate it at the end of the ride.”
How to get there: If you prefer, check http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 for more information.
Centennial Trail
The Centennial Trail runs for 23 miles from Snohomish to Bryant. The trail is wide and smooth, and is safe for kids as it is off the roads. A nice stop is Lake Cassidy east of Marysville. A dock on the lake is fun to explore. It also has picnic tables and washrooms for a convenient lunch time stop.
How to get there: The trail can be accessed from a number of trailheads. For a map, go to http://bit.ly/L5qCeY.
Cascade Trail
The Cascade Trail follows an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade for 23 miles between Sedro-Woolley and Concrete. Because it’s on a railroad grade, the slope is gentle and it makes for an easy family ride.
McNeil said it is a “beautiful ride up the Skagit Valley, with lots of places to watch wildlife along the river.”
How to get there: Go to http://bit.ly/PR4wOW to see a map showing the trail, parking areas and bus stops .
Other good choices
Snoqualmie Valley Trail: http://l.usa.gov/nWGWO
Guemes Island: http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL
Burke-Gilman Trail: http://l.usa.gov/s33li
1. We can learn from the passage that Lee McNeil ________.| A．has a large family |
| B．often travels with his family |
| C．teaches his children how to bike |
| D．spends lots of money on bike rides |
| A．Cascade Trail | B．Iron Horse Trail |
| C．Centennial Trail | D．Burke-Gilman Trail |
| A．see a small valley | B．go through a tunnel |
| C．have a picnic for lunch | D．watch the rock climbers |
| A．http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 | B．http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL |
| C．http://bit.ly/L5qCeY | D．http://bit.ly/PR4wOW |
| A．ask people to learn from Lee McNeil |
| B．tell people how to make a family ride |
| C．introduce some routes for family rides |
| D．encourage more people to ride bikes |
2 .
While museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City are well-known throughout the world, a new crop of museums have sprung up that are set to match the grandmasters. | |
Louvre Abu Dhabi | The creation was born out of an intergovernmental agreement signed on March 6, 2007. It’s a sign of great human history as seen through art, and shows respect for globalism. Having been put into use for about two years so far, it includes important works by René Magritte and Alberto Giacometti. |
Crystal Bridges Museum of America art | The museum, opened in November 2011 in Arkansas, welcomes all with the mission of celebrating the national spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. It explores stories of America by exhibiting and preserving outstanding works that range from the Colonial era to the current day by influential artists. |
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris | Only two years old, this museum celebrates the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent, whose creations, from trouser suits for females to the concept of black as a color, forever changed the way women dress. About 20,000 rare collections are displayed. From the design painting to the pattern, people can see the process of production. The building’s design makes use of advanced building techniques. |
Museo Soumaya | The museum, meeting its first group of visitors in the beginning of 2011, is striking both inside and outside. Housing the largest collection of August Rodin’s sculptures out of France, this private museum also houses the vast and varied collections of Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim. |
| A．To show American spirit. | B．To honor influential artists. |
| C．To preserve outstanding works. | D．To combine art with nature. |
| A．Rare colors. | B．Fashionable clothing. | C．High-tech products. | D．Well-known paintings. |
| A．Louvre Abu Dhabi. | B．Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. |
| C．Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris. | D．Museo Soumaya. |
3 . Learn more about where your food comes from the next time you dine out… Well, thanks to these food apps, you can find the right food with minimal effort.
Seafood Watch was born out of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Its primary goal is to help people eat seafood with less impact on the environment. It functions by helping you understand which types of fish are considered sustainable. For example, blue point oysters from Florida are considered a “best choice”, whereas Pacific bigeye tuna is rated “avoid”.
HappyCow is one of the most convenient apps I’ve come across. You can be anywhere and with a click of a button, find a restaurant near you that offers vegetarian food for people who don’t eat fish or meat. I’ve used this while traveling in big cities like Toronto or remote areas like St. Moritz. It also has a great recipe section if you’re in the mood for cooking.
GoodGuide is a tool that rates food and other products on safety, health and moral principles. They take a look at the product’s ingredients(成分), its environmental impact and the company’s attention to labor rights and helping its community. Products are then scored from a low of 0 to a high of 10. The higher the rating, the better the product from a health perspective.
EWG’s Food Scores is a database created to let consumers make healthier, greener food choices. It was launched in 2014 and has ratings for more than 80,000 products. Their database rates foods on a scale of 1.0 to 10.0, with 1.0 being the best product, based on nutrition, ingredients and how it is processed. Since 2014, there have been over 32 million searches on the site.
1. Which app is best for someone who avoids meat?| A．Seafood Watch. | B．HappyCow. |
| C．GoodGuide. | D．EWG’s Food Scores. |
| A．It helps people eat environment-friendly food. |
| B．It focuses on social responsibilities. |
| C．The lower the rating, the worse the product. |
| D．The more nutritious the food, the higher the rating. |
| A．To introduce knowledge about food. |
| B．To encourage healthy eating habits. |
| C．To advertise four green phone apps. |
| D．To recommend some food-related apps. |
4 . On the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China (CPC), red tourism has gained popularity among tourists who flood in to visit historic sites with a modern revolutionary heritage.
Jinggangshan
This is one of the most crucial and splendid chapters of history of establishing Red China as well as a unique and wonderful ecosystem, which is covered with rich forest, rugged peaks and several memorials to the Red Army. The best time to visit is between April and October, with the most temperature timing April and May when the large azaleas (杜鹃花) bloom.
Open: 8:00-17:00 (Feb. 16-Nov. 15). 8:00-16:30 (Nov. 16-Feb. 15)
Xibaipo
It is an old revolutionary base where the leadership of the Communist Party of China was stationed, drawing up the blueprint for a new country. A memorial hall was built to honor the memory of this site. The lake and the hill here add brilliance and beauty to each other and form pleasant scenery.
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays 9:30-17:00 (Xibaipo Memorial Hall)
The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall
A new exhibition is held with updated display approaches, including phantom imaging (全息影像) and oil painting, which are used to improve visitors' experiences. The exhibition shows four stages of the CPC from its establishment to its achievements.
Open: Tuesdays to Sundays 8:30-18:00 (closed on Mondays)
Former Site of the Editorial Department of New Youth
New Youth started the New Culture Movement and spread the influence of the May Fourth Movement. The site was briefly based in Beijing but moved back to Shanghai in 1920 and also served as the office for the Communist Party of China Central Committee in the 1920s.
Open: Thursdays to Tuesdays 9:00 - 11:30, 13:30 - 16:30 (closed on Wednesdays)
1. Where would visitors learn more about the history of the Red Army?| A．Jinggangshan. |
| B．Xibaipo. |
| C．The Nanhu Revolutionary Memorial Hall. |
| D．Former Site of the Editorial Department of New Youth. |
| A．It focuses on Chinese achievements in art. |
| B．It mainly advertises the coming anniversary. |
| C．It applies modernized methods to the exhibition. |
| D．It briefly introduces the rise and fall of Nanhu. |
| A．At 1:00 p.m. on Mondays. | B．At 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays. |
| C．At 2:00 p.m. on Fridays. | D．At 5:00 p.m on Sundays. |
