1 . Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific. It is one of the smallest countries in the world. But for those who are interested in adventure and sport, there is a lot to do. Vanuatu’s islands offer visitors two of the most exciting and dangerous activities in the world: volcano (火山) surfing and land diving.
Volcano Surfing
On Tanna Island, Mount Yasur rises 300 meters into the sky. Yasur is an active volcano, and it erupts (喷发) almost every day, sometimes several times a day. For centuries, people have climbed this mountain to visit the top. Recently, people have also started climbing Yasur to surf the volcano. In some ways, volcano surfing is like surfing in the sea, but in other ways it is very different.
Land Diving
Most people are familiar with bungee jumping, but do you know bungee jumping started on Pentecost Island in Vanuatu and is almost fifteen centuries old? The activity, first called land diving, is part of a religious ceremony (仪式). A man ties tree vines (树藤) to his legs. He then jumps head-first from a high tower to touch the earth with the top of his head — without breaking the vine. Every spring, island natives (men only) still take part in this amazing activity.
1. According to the passage, Mount Yasur .A.is no longer active | B.is on Pentecost Island |
C.erupts almost every day | D.rises 800 meters into the sky |
A.People can climb it easily. | B.People can make money. |
C.People can watch snow on it. | D.People can surf the volcano. |
A.It is not dangerous at all. |
B.It was first called “bungee jumping”. |
C.It is a traditional activity in Vanuatu. |
D.It came to Vanuatu from another country. |
2 . The holiday season is upon us. These are a few places you can visit without breaking the bank while having a fun and relaxing experience.
Lakowe Lakes
Lakowe Lakes is a beautiful golf resort 45 minutes away from the city of Lagos. You can rent an apartment for a couple of days.
A trip to Lakowe Lakes will involve activities like fishing at the lake, pedal boat rides,golfing on an 18-championship golf course, bike riding, movies under the stars, outdoor barbeques and spa treatments.
Inagbe Resorts
Inagbe Resorts is an excellent choice for whoever wants a getaway from the city especially families. Individuals or families looking for a quiet place with a beach would love Inagbe.
There are facilities like swimming pools, basketball courts and children playing grounds. It offers different kinds of activities such as watersports, horse rides and quad biking.
Calabar Carnival(狂欢节)
Calabar Carnival is still one of the best carnivals out of Nigeria. This week-long event, held every December, is filled with fun moments, parades and display of culture. It is also known as Africu's biggest street party.
This will be an opportunity to explore Calabar, the national museums, Tortuga island, Mary Slessor house, Drill Ranchm Tinapa resort and the national park.
The Gambia
The smiling coast of Africa will make you live more happily than you have ever been.There is an experience for everyone based on your how much money you spend.
Explore the city of Banjul, go birdwatching,attend a cooking class, watch crocodiles at the crocodile pool, discover the slave roots of Kunta Kinte, go fishing, lake a hike and visit a village market.
1. What common fun do both Lakowe Lakes and The Gambia provide?A.Bike riding. | B.Watching birds. |
C.Going fishing. | D.Outdoor barbeques. |
A.Lakowe Lakes. | B.Inagbe Resorts. |
C.Calabar Camival. | D.The Gambia. |
A.Rent a house. | B.Attend a cooking class. |
C.Watch movies under the sky. | D.Learn about the national park. |
3 . “The failure to play is now a serious issue and it calls for action for change,” says Sir Ken Robinson, a leading expert in education, creativity and human development. This is the driving force behind Outdoor Classroom Day - a global teacherled campaign, supported by Dirt is Good, a company producing daily chemical products.
Outdoor Classroom Day, taking place on 17th May and 1st November this year, will see schools around the world swap the inside for the outside and take learning into the playground and beyond to make playtime a key part of the school day. This might involve using natural objects like stones to do sums, or going on an insect hunt to encourage curiosity. By now, Outdoor Classroom Day has grown from a grassroots movement to a global campaign that is expected to benefit five million children and over 40,000 schools from all around the world in 2018.
This is helping to change the trend that sees many schools selling up or building on their playgrounds and cutting back on playtime to make more room for academic studies, while at home children’s lives are increasingly filled with organized activities intended to help them learn. Today globally 61% of parents surveyed in the Dirt is Good Qualitative Study said that children don’t know how to play without using technology.
Outdoor Classroom Day is making playing time happen, with 22% of participating schools having increased their playtime since joining the campaign. 93% of teachers surveyed saw improvements in children’s creativity after playing outside, and 97% believe that time outdoors is necessary for children to reach their full potential.
Scientific studies show that real play - the active, physical, selfdirected play - is essential for children to develop key life skills that are not taught elsewhere. Few would question the value of developing creativity, leadership, resourcefulness, and curiosity.
1. What do children do on Outdoor Classroom Day?A.Have a day off and go playing anywhere. |
B.Have P. E.classes on the playgrounds. |
C.Learn and play by using natural things outside. |
D.Play on their own without the teachers’ guidance. |
A.Technology helps children learn better at home. |
B.Parents prefer to home school their children. |
C.Schools stop providing playgrounds. |
D.Adults ignore the importance of playtime. |
A.To introduce. | B.To persuade. |
C.To entertain. | D.To advertise. |
4 . What will the future school look like is difficult to make clear, but most experts agree that the school will be electronic in the future .
" Present-day schools will no longer exist in the next century," says a report in The Age. "At that time, future schools will become community-style centers, which run seven days a week,24 hours a day. ” At the same time, computers will surely become a central part of the school in the future.
According to The Age, the distant learning will be popular and students will listen to teachers on computers. Going into classrooms on their computers, students will study at any time, which is very easy for them. However, it is necessary for students to go to the actual school in order to develop some social skills.
The Seashore Primary School is an imaginary school in the future created by the Education Department of Australia. At this school, all the teachers and students have laptop computers . Teachers check messages and call students back on a special telephone system and students use telephones to search for information or speak to their experts who teach their lessons. Besides, all the lessons are related to all sorts of subjects and all the students have their own learning plans created by teachers .
As one headmaster says, a laptop computer is students5 library, data storage (数据存储)as well as the bridge to a wider world. Technology has changed the emphasis of future learning. Thus, well pay more attention to the learning of kids rather than the teaching.
1. According to the report in The Age, students in future schools will _______.A.have no teachers | B.study at a set time |
C.mainly study online | D.never go to actual school |
A.telephones are important in Australia |
B.how future schools will work |
C.every student needs a learning plan |
D.students enjoy getting in touch with teachers |
A.The Schools in the Future |
B.Great Changes in Technology |
C.The Seashore Primary School |
D.Actual Schools to Be Replaced |
5 . Researchers have found that men and women consumed 15% more calories when looking at their phones while eating. They also eat more fatty food. The groundbreaking(开创性的)study suggests that staring at a phone screen may distract(使分心)dinners from how much food they are actually eating. "It may prevent the correct understanding of the brain over the amount of food ingested(摄取)," said researchers who filmed 62 volunteers eating alone.
The men and women, aged 18 to 28, were invited to help themselves to a choice of food—ranging from healthy options to soft drinks and chocolate—until they were satisfied. In three trials, the volunteers were recorded eating no distractions, using a smart phone or reading a magazine.
On average the volunteers ate 535 calories without the distraction of a smart phone but 591 when using a mobile. Those in the sample who were classed as overweight ate 616 calories while using their phones. When using their mobiles, the volunteers also consumed 10 percent more. They also eat more when reading a magazine.
"Smart phone use during a meal increased calorie and fat intake," said Marcia Gilberto, a lead author of study carried out at the federal University of Lavras in Brazil and University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands. He added: "Tablets and smart phones have become the main "distracters" during meals, even early in childhood, so it is important to pay attention to how this may impact food choices."
1. Why people would eat more when looking at the phone while eating?A.Looking at the phone makes people at ease. |
B.Staring at the phone may distract diners from the amount of food ingested. |
C.Food becomes more delicious when the diners look at the phone. |
D.Staring at the phone improves the eaters' appetite(食欲)for food. |
A.About 560. | B.About 591. | C.About 616. | D.About 535. |
A.Staring at a phone screen may distract people's attention. |
B.To call on people to put their smart phone down while eating. |
C.Using a smart phone at mealtimes can lead to consumed more calories. |
D.Reducing calories is very important for people's health. |
A.what should people do to keep fit. |
B.why do people get overweight when eating with smart phones. |
C.how should people keep weight when eating. |
D.how does smart phones during dinner influence food choices in childhood. |
6 . It is generally acknowledged that young people from poorer social-economic backgrounds tend to do less well in the education system. In an attempt to help the children of poor families, a nationwide program called “Headstart” was started in the US in 1965. A lot of money was poured into it. It took children into pre-school institutions at the age of three and was supposed to help them succeed in school. But the results have been disappointing , because the program began too late. Many children who entered it at three were already behind their peers(同龄人) in language and intelligence and the parents were not involved in the process. At the end of each day, “Headstart” children returned to the same disadvantaged home environment.
To improve the results, another program was started in Missouri that concentrated on parents as the child’s first teachers. This program was based on research showing that working with the family is the most effective way of helping children get the best possible start in life. The four-year study included 380 families who were about to have their first child and represented different social-economic status, age and family structure. The program involved trained educators visiting and working with the parent or parents and the child. The program also gave the parents some guidance, and useful skills on child development.
At three, the children involved in the “Missouri” program were evaluated with the children selected from the same social-economic background and family situations. The results were obvious. The children in the program were more advanced in language development, problem solving and other intellectual(智力的) skills than their peers. They performed equally well regardless of social-economic backgrounds or family structure. The one factor that was found to affect the child’s development was the poor quality of parent-child interaction. That interaction was not necessarily bad in poorer families.
The “Missouri” program compares quite clearly with the “Headstart” program. Without a similar focus on parent education and on the vital importance of the first three years, some evidence indicates that it will not be enough to overcome educational unfairness.
1. What caused the failure of the “Headstart” program ?A.The large number of poor families. |
B.The late start of the program. |
C.The disapproval from children. |
D.The long period of time. |
A.The number of family members. | B.The intelligence of their parents. |
C.The parent-child communication. | D.The teacher-student relationship. |
A.By making comparisons. | B.By listing figures. |
C.By giving examples. | D.By drawing conclusions. |
7 . One night many years ago, an old couple entered a small hotel in Philadelphia. The couple went up to the front desk, hoping to get a room for the night. “Could you give us a room?” the husband asked.
The clerk looked at the couple and explained that there were three meetings in the town. “ All of our rooms are taken,” the clerk said. “But I can’t send you out into the rain at one o'clock in the morning. Would you be willing to sleep in my room? It’s not exactly a suite(套间) , but it will be good enough to make you comfortable for the night.”
As he paid his bill the next morning, the old man said to the clerk, “You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you.” The clerk looked at them and smiled. And the three of them had a good laugh.
Two years passed. The clerk received a letter from the old man. It contained a ticket to New York, asking the young man to pay him a visit. The old man met the clerk and led him to the corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. He then pointed to a great new building there, and told him, “ This is the new hotel for you.”
The old man’s name was William Waldorf-Aster, and that building was the first Waldorf-Astoria hotel. The clerk who became its first manager was George C. Boldt.
1. What was the weather like when the couple went into the small hotel?A.It was very cold. | B.It was raining. |
C.It was snowing. | D.It was sunny. |
A.In one of the hotel rooms. | B.In the meeting room. |
C.In the clerk’s room. | D.In another hotel. |
A.He was kind and helpful. |
B.He was skilled in running business. |
C.He became rich by managing hotels. |
D.He treated people on the basis of their backgrounds. |
A.Where there is a will there is a way. | B.After rain comes fair weather. |
C.It’s easier to say something than to do it. | D.One good turn deserves another |
8 . Don’t let the heat keep you away from New Orleans. For one thing, the hotel rates are the lowest they’ll be all year. For another, with wonderful events, you’ll barely notice the heat. Come and see what we’re all about in summer.
FESTIGALS
Festigals is an annual festival that celebrates, and supports women of all backgrounds and causes related to women’s well-being. It features a variety of New Orleans-themed activities, designed for women and by women. It usually includes famous female speakers.
DATES: June 5-7, 2020
RED DRESS RUN
The run usually begins in French Quarter, although the exact location is only announced to those who registered. The runners, with drinks in hand, continue their route through the French Quarter and spend the rest of the day celebrating. Participants can sign up online on the official website. Registration usually includes donations to local charities, and beers for the run. You must be 21 or older to participate.
DATE: August 8, 2020
PRICE $65
RUNNING OF THE BULLS
Instead of running from real bulls, New Orleanians gather in the traditional colors of Spain’s bull run and chase runners with plastic bats on their rollerblades (旱冰鞋). Thousands of runners gather early in the morning in Downtown to participate in the run, wearing all white with a bit of red.
DATES: July 10-12, 2020
NOLA CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL
This year’s festival has expanded to two weekends, taking place June 19-21 and June 24-28. Guests can enjoy live music performances, local chefs, kids activities, salsa dancing and more. While the official fest takes place June 26-28, there’s plenty to do leading up to and following Caribbean Fest. To learn more about this year’s fest, visit here.
1. What is special about Festigals?A.It shows great concern for females. |
B.It features New Orleans’ local food. |
C.It is celebrated in hot summer. |
D.It is open to women only. |
A.Runners have to run all day long. |
B.Runners can sign up on the spot. |
C.There is an age limit for runners. |
D.It provides free food and drinks. |
A.FESTIGALS. |
B.RED DRESS RUN. |
C.RUNNING OF THE BULLS. |
D.NOLA CARIBBEAN FESTIVAL. |
9 . Everyone needs friends.There is an old saying, "Friends are God’s way of taking care of us." But how do you find real friendship and keep it?
The American writer Sally Seamans tells young students some smart ways to make friends.Sally says finding friendship is just like planting a tree.You plant the seed(种子)and take care of it to make it grow.
First, you should choose a friend.What makes a good friend? It is not because a person has money or good looks.A good friend should be kind and patient(耐心).For example, if you have a bad day, a good friend should listen to your complaints and do his best to help.To make a good friend, you cannot be too shy.You should make each other happy and share your lives.
But things cannot always be happy.Even the best friends have fights.What should you do when you have a fight with your friend? You have to talk to him or her.When there is no one around, have an honest talk.If he or she doesn't want to talk, you could write a letter.
There are three steps to being friends again:
Tell him or her how you are feeling; say what your friend has done wrong, and explain why you did this or that.Remember that friendship is the most important thing in your life.
1. Sally wants to tell students the ways to .A.make friends | B.plant trees | C.get happy | D.keep fit |
A.be lovely and cool | B.have good looks |
C.have lots of money | D.be kind and patient |
A.buy a present for | B.never say a word to |
C.write a letter to | D.have dinner with |
A.Teenagers and friendship. | B.Finding and keeping friendship |
C.The trouble of growing up. | D.Good friends around you. |
10 . Linda was a sixteen-year-old girl in Britain. She was feeling bad for several days. Her mother took her to a hospital and the doctors found out that she had cancer.
Linda’s life changed. She began to go to the hospital often for treatment (治疗),and she also became depressed.
The hospitals and the doctors were good, but Linda did not have hope herself. Linda’s mother called a flower shop close to the hospital. “I want some beautiful flowers for my daughter. She is a teen girl with cancer. ” She told the shop owner. Later, the flowers arrived. Then Linda saw something unusual. It was a card. It read:
Linda,
I own (拥有 )this flower shop . I had cancer when I was fifteen years old. I am 24 years old now. Good luck. My heart goes out to you.
Yours,
Alice.
Linda smiled. She finally felt some real hope. She found the will (意志)to live.
Little things make a big difference. All of us can give little things like kindness, encouragement and hope to others.
1. Why was Linda feeling bad for several days?A.Because she was seriously ill. | B.Because she had no friend. |
C.Because her life changed. | D.Because her mother was ill. |
A.safe | B.serious. | C.sad. | D.excited |
A.Her mother. | B.A doctor. | C.A shop owner. | D.Her friend. |
A.She became hopeful about life. |
B.She wanted to work with Alice. |
C.She thanked her mother a lot. |
D.She liked the card very much. |
A.Be kind to yourself. |
B.Little things make a big difference. |
C.Try something different. |
D.Be kind to others. |