1 . In this most unusual year, the gift of giving will feel especially good. These tips can help make the season merry and bright for everyone.
What’s Different This Year
Hot Ticket Items May Be Extra Hot: Some companies have scaled back their holiday ordering this year to trim inventory, so popular products might sell out fast — in stores and online. So if you see a good price for an item on your list, be sure to grab it. And plan to ship gifts at least two weeks before Christmas Eve.
Online Sales Will Start Early
This year, it maybe more like Cyber Season, with online promotions and sales starting right after Halloween. With concerns about crowds, retailers will likely save a lot of their inventory for online sales. To avoid parking lot chaos, try to pick up your purchases first thing in the morning or later in the evening, when wait times should be shorter.
Outlets Are Online Too
If one of your holiday shopping traditions is a trip to the outlets, you can still experience the thrill of the bargain hunt—from home. Shoppremiumoutlets.com is the virtual version of the country’s largest outlet company. In someways, it’s even better than an in-person trip because you can shop by item or category and immediately see what different retailers have in stock, rather than going store to store .
When to Shop
Not on Thanksgiving: Many stores that opened their doors on the holiday last year have announced that they will be closed this year. One upside for shoppers is rock-bottom prices as some stores liquidate (清仓). The downsides: They might not be around if you need to return something or use a gift card. In other words: Bankruptcy buyers beware.
1. Which is the best time to send gifts?| A．October 30. | B．December 9. | C．December 15. | D．December 24. |
| A．Shoppers can only buy items online. |
| B．Shopping on Thanksgiving is the best choice. |
| C．Popular products might sell out fast only in stores. |
| D．Shoppers may see a good price for an item right after Halloween. |
| A．People who are money-less. | B．People who like shopping at home. |
| C．People who are retailers. | D．People who are fond of bargains. |
2 . Many people wake up in the morning and watch their mobile phones first and then they watch their mobile phones last before they go to bed. Our mobile phones are never far away from us. Data show that we watch them every 12 minutes on average. Since we are bound to be inseparable from mobile phones, we should obey the relative “cell phone manners”. The following five things are best avoided.
● Talk on the phone at mealtimes
An absolute no-no for most (81%) of us. Yet half of us have been with others who've done it. And more than a quarter of young adults admit to it.
Even looking at the screen at the dinner table is not acceptable — for some. More than four in five people aged 55and over think it's unacceptable to check messages, compared with around half (46%) of 18 to 34-year-olds.
● Listen to loud music on public transport
Three-quarters (76%) of us object to watching videos and playing video games loudly on public transport, as well as listening to music, but it doesn't stop us doing it.
● Be on the phone when you should be listening
You’re at the cashiers but on the phone mid-conversation. Do you hang up, say a polite “hello” and pack away your bread and goods — or chat on regardless?
It's a source of frustration for many a shop worker, receptionist and waiter. One hotels checkout worker was so annoyed when a customer refused to end her call that she refused to serve her.
● Walk while looking at your phone
They are always getting their head down, eyes fixed on the screen — and they're right in your path. Twitter user @tiredhorizon has a public warning for them. Put away your phones in public buildings, hospitals and near reversing lorries.
● Play with devices while watching TV with others
Four 10 (41%) adults think is unacceptable to use a phone while seated with he family on the sofa in front of TV.
For the older generation (those over 55) it's more of an issue — 62% object to it — than for younger adults — only one in five are against it.
1. Which one of the following is unacceptable according to the text?| A．Play with cellphones while watching TV alone. | B．Talk on the phone at mealtimes. |
| C．Listen to loud music at home. | D．Talk with others while working |
| A．It's unacceptable for some to stare at the phone screen at the dinner table. |
| B．Watching videos and playing games loudly on the subway will annoy many people around. |
| C．Strict bans on playing phones while walking on the road have been made. |
| D．The old are more against playing a phone in a family get-together than the young. |
| A．Art & Movie. | B．Travel. | C．Business. | D．Health & Life. |
3 . Application and Essays
You can apply to Stanford by submitting online either the Coalition Application or the Common Application.
Both applications include essay prompts for your personal essay. In addition to the personal essay, you also need to reply to the Stanford Questions, which you can access in either application once you add Stanford University to your list of colleges.
When you apply to Stanford, we encourage you to indicate potential majors and career interests in the application, but please know you are not bound by these selections in any way.
Stanford Questions
We ask applicants to choose one of the three topics below and write a short essay.
◆ Reflect on an idea or experience that makes you genuinely excited about learning in Stanford.
◆Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate know you belter.
◆Tell us about something that is meaningful to you, and why? How to Submit Required Materials
◆We suggest using Coalition or Common Application online forms whenever possible to Submit documents, which is the speediest method.
◆If online submission is not possible; school personnel may send materials as an email Attachment to personnel@ stanford.edu.
◆When ordering college transcripts, please use credentials@stanford.edu as the contact email.
◆If your checklist is not complete by the deadline, simply continue to check your Application Status Portal until we have received all items.
1. What is necessarily included in an application?| A．A personal essay. | B．Career interests. |
| C．Personal hobbies. | D．The selected major. |
| A．Writing an essay to include the three topics. |
| B．Writing a note about something that interests you. |
| C．Writing an essay on what inspires your learning in Stanford. |
| D．Writing a note to recommend something meaningful to your roommate. |
| A．personnel@ stanford.edu | B．credentials@ stanford.edu |
| C．Application Status Portal. | D．Coalition or Common Application. |
4 . Welcome to the Sydney Opera House
Ticket Info and Guided Tours
Visitors can enjoy the Sydney Opera House foyer for free, but for a more insightful visit, you'll need to book a tour.
There are several different ways to experience the Sydney Opera House, and multiple tours are available including back-stage passes and walking tours.
Tour Type Adult （AUD $ ） Child
Guided Walking Tour $ 42 $ 22
Guided Walking Tour + Dinner $ 73 $ 52
Guided Walking Tour + Tasting Plate $ 82.20 $ 64. 80
Backstage Tour $ 175 $ 175
Opening Hours and the Best Time to Visit
The Sydney Opera House is open year-round with the following opening hours：
● Monday—Saturday ： 9am—8 ： 30pm
●Sunday： 9am—5pm
As for the best time of day, it's recommended to book the earliest Sydney Opera House tour of the day to beat the crowds. To enjoy sunny weather with fewer crowds, try visiting in the shoulder season (October, November, February, or March )
Points of Interest
●The Steps
Before entering the Opera House, take a picture of the building from the steps outside.
●The Sails
Step beneath the sails on a guided tour and enjoy harbor front views.
●The Concert Hall
The Concert Hall is the largest venue with seats for more than 2000 people. It features contemporary live music shows and highly -regarded orchestral (管弦乐的)performances. It is also here that you will find the world's largest mechanical tracker-action pipe organ.
● Opera Bar
After your tour, head to the Opera Bar for a bite to eat or drink in the sun.
● Badu Gili
Badu Gili, which is ‘water light’ in the language of the Gadigal people-takes place most evenings after sunset at 9pm, 9：30pm, and 10pm. The seven-minute display is free to view.
1. How much will a guided walking tour for two adults cost?| A．$ 64. | B．$ 84. | C．$ 128, | D．$ 168. |
| A．9：30 am, a Monday in February. | B．10：00 am, a Sunday in December. |
| C．5：00 pm, a Friday in September. | D．6：00 pm, a Saturday in March. |
| A．A local language. | B．A pipe organ. | C．A light show. | D．A dinning area. |
5 . There are many oceans and lakes in the United States where you can gain unexpected experiences. Here are some of most stunning ones found throughout the United States.
Ocracoke Beach, North Carolina
Ocracoke Island has 16 miles of undeveloped sandy shoreline. It is a barrier island of the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and it is a part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Ocracoke is fairly remote and can only be reached by public ferry, private boat or private plane. The beach is perfect for swimming, fishing, surfing, sunbathing, fishing and even camping. Certain portions of the beautiful sandy beach can be enjoyed by off-road vehicles.
Sand Beach, Maine
Located on Mt. Desert Island, Sand Beach offers visitors to Maine an amazing beach destination. Visitors to Acadia National Park have the opportunity to enjoy all of the beauty and excitement of this park. This beach is wonderfully sandy and is even a safe place to enjoy swimming. Bordered on both sides by rocky headlands, visitors can also appreciate the tide pools as well as some unique wildlife living in the headlines.
Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii
Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States if not the world, Poipu Beach is located on the south shore of Kauai and is part of Poipu Beach Park. The beach is composed of a string of golden sandy crescent shaped beaches. Visitors to Poipu can have hours of fun snorkeling, boogie- boarding, swimming, and surfing. The best surfing spots are located slightly offshore, the reef establishes wavebreaks which make good surfing for surfers of all experience levels.
South Ocean Beach, Mary land
Located on the fascinating Assateague Island, South Ocean Beach is a beautiful Atlantic coast beach. This shoreline is drivable, giving visitors the opportunities to enjoy all the miles of the beach and all of the activities of the beach, South Ocean Beach even offers some fantastic surfing conditions in the region as well.
1. What can visitors do when they’re in Sand Beach, Maine?| A．Enjoy rare species. | B．Go camping. |
| C．Take a walk. | D．Watch a game. |
| A．On foot. | B．Hiring a ferry. |
| C．By car. | D．Riding a bike. |
| A．Bird watchers. | B．Beach lovers. |
| C．Fashion designers. | D．Landscape architects. |
6 . Imagine standing on one spot where the only direction is south. You can experience it if you join a group of just 128 passengers for your tip to the pole of the world. Your icebreaker ship, 50 Years of Victory, will take you to the North Pole, which is more commonly associated （联系） with fairy tales.
Days 1&2--From Helsinki to Murmansk
Your adventure begins from Helsinki, Finland’s capital. From Helsinki, you’ll join your fellow passengers on the flight to Murmansk, Russia, where you’ll start your voyage to the North Pole and get to know 50 Years of Victory.
Days 3-6--Travelling towards the north in the Arctic Ocean
Being on Victory and feeling the icebreaker as it cuts through the Arctic pack ice is an experience you’ll never forget. You’ll have plenty of time to get to know your shipmates, and be treated to lectures and discussions about the trip by Our expedition （远征） team while seeing various birds. There are other things you can do, such as swimming and playing basketball.
Day7--90°North
Take photos, call your family and wave a flag; just be sure to enjoy your moment at the pole. If environmental conditions permit, you can jump into the icy waters around the North Pole. We’ll also attempt to send passengers high above the pole in our hot-air balloon to celebrate this great moment (highly weather dẹpendent).
Days 8 & 9--Travelling towards the south in the Arctic Ocean
As you head further south, you may get lucky and spot polar bears hunting for seals.
Days 10 & 11--Franz Josef Land
This group of 191 islands lies entirely within the Arctic Circle. Here you’ll explore Cape Flora and discover historic remains from three ill-fated arctic adventures.
Days 12 & 13--Getting off Victory in Murmansk and flying to Helsinki
When you return to Murmansk, it will be time to say goodbye to 50 Years of Victory. You’ll be sent to the airport for your flight to Helsinki.
1. What can passengers do from Day 3 to Day 6?| A．Break the pack ice in the Arctic. | B．Get to know more about the trip. |
| C．Feed a variety of birds on board. | D．Compete with your shipmates in skiing. |
| A．Taking a hot-air balloon ride. | B．Sending passengers deep into the icy waters. |
| C．Contacting your family by telephoning. | D．Waving flags and taking photos in the wind. |
| A．From Day 3 to Day 6. | B．From Day 8 to Day9. |
| C．On-Days 10 & 11. | D．On Days 12 & 13. |
7 . Planning a vacation is one activity your family is sure to enjoy as there are plenty of options to choose from. To help you decide, here are four of the best cities for family vacation.
Washington, DC
The nation's capital is a treasure place of fun, family activities that just happen to be rich with history. Start off exploring the National Mall and you'll find the Washington, Lincoln t and Jefferson monuments all within walking distance. Then there are the war memorials: Vietnam, Korean, and WWII.
Boston
Can't get enough US history? A trip to Boston just might be for you. Go back in time by taking a tour of the USS Constitution, aka Old Ironsides. From there, walk The Freedom Trail where you'll come across such landmarks as the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old North Church, Paul Revered house, and the Bunker Hill Monument.
Los Angeles
There is always something to do in Los Angeles. For starters, enjoy a beach day on the miles and miles of coastline. Malibu, Redondo, Manhattan, Venice, and Hermosa are just a handful of sunny SoCal beaches. In need of some culture? Get your art and architecture on at the Getty Center, where admission is free though you do have to pay to park.
San Francisco
If Southern California isn't your speed, perhaps Northern California is. And San Francisco is a great place for a family to explore. Start by driving, or walking, across the Golden Gate Bridge On the west side of the oily is over 1 ,000 acres known as Golden Gate Park, home to gardens, trails, playgrounds and much more.
1. Which is suitable for you if you are interested in some late American presidents?| A．Washington, DC. | B．Boston. |
| C．Los Angeles. | D．San Francisco. |
| A．The Bunker Hill Monument. | B．The Golden Gate Park. |
| C．The Getty Center. | D．The Freedom Trail. |
| A．Drive across the Golden Gate Park. | B．Enjoy some gardens or playgrounds. |
| C．Learn some culture and architecture. | D．Visit some famous monuments. |
8 . Computer programmer David Jones earns ￡35 000 a year designing new computer games, yet he cannot find a bank ready to let him have a credit card. Instead, he has been told to wait another two years, until he is 18. The 16-year-old works for a small firm in Liverpool, where the problem of most young people of his age is finding a job. David’s firm releases two new games for the fast growing computer market each month.
But David’s biggest headache is what to do with his money. Even though he earns a lot, he cannot drive a car, take out a mortgage (抵押贷款), or get credit cards. David got his job with the Liverpool-based company four months ago, a year after leaving school with six O-levels and working for a time in a computer shop. “I got the job because the people who run the firm knew I had already written some programs,” he said. David spends some of his money on records and clothes，and gives his mother 50 pounds a week. But most of his spare time is spent working.
“Unfortunately, computing was not part of our studies at school,” he said. “But I had been studying it in books and magazines for four years in my spare time. I knew what I wanted to do and never considered staying on at school. Most people in this business are fairly young, anyway.” David added, “I would like to earn a million and I suppose early retirement is a possibility. You never know when the market might disappear.”
1. In what way is David different from people of his age?| A．He has a handsome job. |
| B．He cannot have a credit card. |
| C．He graduated with six O-levels. |
| D．He often goes out with friends. |
| A．How to get more spare time. |
| B．Buying a car suitable for him. |
| C．How to deal with his income. |
| D．Releasing two new games each month. |
| A．He received lots of job offers. |
| B．He lost interest in school studies. |
| C．He was eager to help his mother. |
| D．He wanted to earn his own living. |
| A．Positive | B．Critical | C．Worried | D．Hopeless |
Whatsonstage.com is the UK’s biggest and best online guide to the performing arts including theatre, opera, classical music, dance and so on.
◆ The Lion King
Musical: The stage adaptation of the Disney film taken from an original African story. A young lion grows up and learns that taking over the pride requires wisdom and maturity(成熟).
Place: Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street, London
Telephone: 0870 243 9000
Date: Friday, 18 Nov. 2015
Ticket price: ￡37.5
◆ Oliver
Musical: Dickens’ story of a boy in a London workhouse and his adventures on the way to his family. The songs include “Food glorious food”, “You’ve got to pick a pocket or two”, “Who will buy this wonderful morning”, “I am reviewing the situation” and “Consider yourself at home.”
Place: Theatre Royal, Catherine Street, London
Telephone: 020 7494 5061
Date: Thursday, 17 Nov. 2015
Ticket price: ￡25, but now save 20%
◆ Jersey Boys
Musical: It tells the story of Frankie Valli and the Four seasons: the blue-collar kids from New Jersey formed a singing group and became famous. The musical features many of the group’s popular songs such as “Big girls don’t cry”, “Oh, what a night” and “Can’t take my eyes off you”.
Place: Prince Edward Theatre, Old Compton Street, London
Telephone: 0870 850 9191
Date: Saturday, 19 Nov. 2015
Ticket price: ￡22.5
◆ Alls Well That Ends Well
Play: A romantic story. Helena, daughter of a poor physician, loves Bertram, son of a Countess(女伯爵).
Place: Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Park Street, London
Telephone: 020 7401 9919
Date: Sunday, 20 Nov, 2015
Ticket price: ￡40.5
1. If Mary is available on Friday, which of the following should she call to buy a ticket?
| A．0870 850 9191 | B．020 7494 5061 |
| C．0870 243 9000 | D．020 7401 9919 |
| A．Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre |
| B．Lyceum Theatre |
| C．Prince Edward Theatre |
| D．Theatre Royal |
| A．To show the importance of Whatsonstage.com |
| B．To give some information about the performing arts. |
| C．To introduce some famous English theatres. |
| D．To teach readers how to use the online guide. |
10 . The popular streaming service Netflix announced plans to exclude (排除) tobacco use from any of its new shows and movies that target younger audiences, specifically those below the age of 15. According to media reports, the decision comes from pressure from Truth Initiative, a large non-profit organization aiming to get rid of tobacco and make its use “a thing of the past”.
Smoking is a bad habit and no parents want their kids to start smoking. As such, excluding the vice (坏习惯) from television shows and movies young people watch makes good sense. I’ll acknowledge that Netflix’s decision to exclude smoking is a good one — but it’s a wildly inconsistent standard. What about other vices? For example, the use of bad language?
As parents of three young boys, my wife and I are trying to expose our children to good things. We want to encourage them to grow up to become responsible men who see the value and potential in every person. We want to see them avoid the landmines that so often entrap young people today.
Sadly, typical television shows and movies contain material that’s the exact opposite of that. It’s often said that companies only produce what people will consume — and there’s some truth in such a claim. But the organization I work for has long had an online site that helps parents know about what's in a movie, show or music album. We don’t tell you whether you should watch or listen — we simply let you know what it’s about — and let you decide. It’s our most popular site, attracting millions of visits each month.
Netflix might be surprised how many new customers they would win if they started producing content that parents actually want instead of themes that regularly stand in opposition to the values of the millions of moms and dads like me who want to see our kids accomplish more in life rather than simply avoiding the smoking habit.
1. Why did Netflix plan to cut smoking from youth-targeted content?| A．Because of appeals from parents. |
| B．Because of the influence of media reports. |
| C．Because of requests from young audiences. |
| D．Because of pressure from a tobacco control organization. |
| A．Bad habits. | B．Comfort zones. |
| C．Unrealistic dreams | D．Improper friendships. |
| A．It teaches parenting skills. |
| B．It promotes youth programs. |
| C．It advertises movies and shows. |
| D．It serves as an entertainment guide. |
| A．It is helpless. |
| B．It is far from enough. |
| C．It is against popular values. |
| D．It is a warning to tobacco makers. |
