1 . 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. |
2 . Flu season generally fades away in March and April, but will the coronavirus go with it? Whether the coronavirus that's quickly spreading around the world will follow the flu season and fade away with spring's arrival is unsatisfyingly uncertain. And many scientists say it's too soon to know how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather.
Dozens of viruses exist in the coronavirus family, but only seven afflict（折磨）humans. Four are known to cause mild colds in people, which are common, while others are more novel, deadly, and thought to be transmitted from animals like bats and camels. Health officials have labeled this new virus SARS-CoV-2 and its disease COVID-19. The prospect that summer could delay a pandemic is tempting. Earlier this year, Donald Trump tweeted about China's efforts to contain the virus, saying they would be successful, "especially as the weather starts to warm.”
Viruses that cause influenza or milder coronavirus colds do tend to subside in warmer months because these types of viruses have what scientists refer to as "seasonality," so the president's comments have some scientific backing. But it's highly uncertain that SARS-CoV-2 will behave the same way. Those currently studying the disease say their research is too early to predict how the virus will respond to changing weather.
"I hope it will show seasonality, but it's hard to know," says Stuart Weston, a researcher at the University of Maryland, where the virus is being actively studied. As of Tuesday morning, more than 800,000 coronavirus cases had been confirmed in 74 different countries, with experts saying the disease is likely to keep spreading.
And relatively recent research suggests that dry, cold air may also help viruses stay unbroken in the air or travel farther as they become airborne.
Scientists assume that low humidity, which often occurs in winter, might weaken the function of the mucus（粘液）in your nose, which your body uses to trap and drive foreign bodies like viruses or bacteria away. Cold, dry air can make that normally thick mucus drier and less efficient at trapping a virus.
1. When does flu season usually die down?| A．Early autumn. | B．Late Summer. |
| C．Late Spring. | D．Mid Summer. |
| A．Frightening | B．Decent | C．Critical | D．Unfamiliar |
| A．Several of the coronavirus family are thought to be dangerous to human. |
| B．COVID-19 will disappear as flu virus with it getting warmer. |
| C．It's unknown how the dangerous virus will behave in warmer weather. |
| D．The dry cold air may help viruses spread farther and faster. |
| A．The reason why people easily get viruses in winter. |
| B．Viruses do agree with the dry and cold atmosphere in winter. |
| C．If you stay at a warm room, you can't get any viruses. |
| D．The low temperature in winter is the main reason for viruses to spread. |
| TICKET TYPE | DISCOUNT * | NOTES |
| Standard returns | 20% | return within 60 days of outward trip |
| same day returns | 25% | ticket cannot be altered or refunded |
| children | 40% | children between 4 and 11 |
| students | 25% | student card must be shown |
| senior citizens | 25% | senior card must be shown |
| groups(10-25people) | 15% | discount on each section of the trip |
| globe-trotter tickets | According to the ticket | Railpass, tourist Card, Econopass |
*Only one discount may apply to each fare.
CHANGES AND REFUNDS
Tickets may be refunded not later than 5 minutes before the departure of the train for a charge of 15% of the ticket price, or the journey may be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price.（Not applicable to same day returns.）
CHANGES FOR SAME DAY TRAVEL
You may change your ticket once without charge for a journey on the same day as the original ticket.
INFORMATION OF INTEREST TO TRAVELLERS
When you buy your ticket it is up to you to check that the dates and times of the journey on it are exactly as you requested.
Ticket control and access to each train platform will be open until 2 minutes before departure of the train
Each traveller may take one suitcase and one item of hand luggage. You may also check in 15kgs of luggage not later than 30 minutes before departure, at no extra charge.
If you would like to charter a train, or make reservations for over 25 passengers travelling together, call the Sales Department.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．describe the policies of changes and refunds. |
| B．provide some information about train ticket. |
| C．introduce the luggage allowance on the train. |
| D．compare the discounts of different ticket types. |
| A．20% | B．25% | C．45% | D．50% |
| A．You can get your ticket price refunded if you are 2 minutes late for the train. |
| B．Extra money will be paid on checked luggage of 15 kgs an hour before departure. |
| C．Same day returns can be changed to another day for a charge of 10% of the ticket price. |
| D．Travelers should ensure they are ready to board the train with at least 2 minutes to spare. |
4 . Smart phones, tablets, fitness trackers, headphones and most of the electronic devices we use today are made of metal, plastic and glass. But electronics don’t have to be. Sala de Medeiros and her colleagues found a way to turn an ordinary piece of paper into a simple electronic keypad. Many teams around the world are working on paper-based electronics. But this new device is different from any other device. It’s the first to power itself and also resist water and dust. The user’s touch gives it all the power it needs to run.
No single moment inspired her paper keypad. Instead, she focused on devices other engineers have been working on. Then she discovered that high cost was a problem with some flexible electronics. So she decided to work with low-cost materials.
Teflon(聚四氟乙烯) is a chemical coating that keeps food from sticking to pots and pans. Similar com-pounds(复合物) can also make paper waterproof. So she started testing the chemical but the one that was sup-posed to do the best job didn’t work at all. After some research, Sala de Medeiros found out that this chemical reacts with air. She had to buy special equipment that forbade any air getting in the way. Now, the chemical works as planned. Then the team placed a stencil(钢板) with the shape of a circuit(电路) onto the back of the paper and sprayed on several layers of materials. Finally, the team flipped over the paper and printed a keypad of numbers on the other side. They also added a tiny Bluetooth chip, which let their paper device talk to a computer. The source of electricity comes from the tap of a finger. When you’re typing we can create the energy by touching or rubbing.
The electronic keypad is regular paper most people could afford but wouldn’t easily get wet or dirty. It also should fit in your pocket.
1. Which of the following is the unique feature of the new device?| A．It’s the first device made of paper. | B．It has little electricity or metal. |
| C．It gets powered through touch. | D．It has no trouble cleaning itself. |
| A．It was exposed to the air. | B．It was of low quality. |
| C．It damaged the equipment. | D．It kept food stuck to pots. |
| A．The process of creating the device. | B．The significance of the research. |
| C．The application of the device. | D．The way to develop Teflon. |
| A．Cleaned up. | B．Cut up. | C．Held onto. | D．Turned over. |
5 . Research shows students learn better when they’re well nourished. Healthy eating has been linked to higher grades, better memory, faster information processing and improved health leading to better school attendance, according to registered dietitian Elisa Zied, author of Feed Your Family Right. On the contrary, unhealthy eating habits can negatively affect learning. Researchers have studied many areas related to eating and learning.
Skipping breakfast can have a negative impact on learning. A higher percentage of breakfast eaters passed a biology exam in one study of college students. It’s also important to eat a high-quality breakfast. In a study of students between the ages of twelve and thirteen, the average mark increased as breakfast quality improved.
Even with breakfast, the brain can run out of fuel before lunch. In one study of students between the ages of seven and nine, having a mid-morning snack improved memory. The children who ate a smaller breakfast and lunch but consumed a mid-morning snack experienced a smaller decline in immediate and delayed memory. Attention wasn’t affected, however. Zied recommends yogurt with blueberries; this fruit has been proven to be linked to better memory in studies. A hard-boiled egg is also a good snack choice.
Kids who eat healthily are more likely to attend school. Without proper nutrition and adequate calories, students often don’t have enough energy to power the brain, resulting in tiredness and learning problems. In fact, alertness(机敏) improved significantly in students eating breakfast in one study of high school students published in the journal Pediatrics.
A study of public school students published in the Journal of School Health linked high intake of sweetened drinks, such as sugary sodas, to lower scores in math tests. A diet high in junk food and sugary sodas is also linked to childhood obesity, which could result in lower cognitive(认知的) functioning, according to the Yale University research. On the other hand, students with healthy eating habits are less likely to be overweight and more likely to learn well.
1. What is an effective way for students to improve their memory?| A．Eating a big breakfast on a regular basis. |
| B．Staying away from junk food in daily life. |
| C．Eating something healthy at about 10:00 am |
| D．Adding yogurt with strawberries to their daily diet. |
| A．Students will have better attendance at school after eating healthily. |
| B．Students will have a good performance as long as they are well fed. |
| C．A high-quality breakfast will make a difference to students, learning. |
| D．Every student has a strong awareness of eating breakfast. |
| A．They would become less confident at school. |
| B．They would grow too overweight to work out. |
| C．They would become unwilling to attend school. |
| D．They would fall behind other students at school. |
| A．The impacts of eating habits on students’ learning |
| B．The advantages of healthy eating habits |
| C．Some suggestions on how to learn better |
| D．The link between diets and learning |
6 . 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 |
7 . Galapagos Giant tortoises (巨型陆龟), sometimes called Gardeners of the Galapagos, are creatures of habit. In the cold dry season, the highlands of the volcanoes are covered in cloud which allows plants to grow despite the absence of rain. In the lower areas, however, plants are not available all year round. Adult tortoises thus spend the dry season in the higher areas, and go back to the lower, relatively warmer areas where there are plentiful eatable plants when the rainy season begins. The tortoises often take the same migration routes over many years in order to find perfect plants and temperatures. The timing of this migration is important for keeping their energy levels high.
Researchers used GPS to track the timing and patterns of tortoise migration over many years. They expected the migration to be timed with current environmental conditions because many other migratory animals do it that way. However, tortoise migration is weakly related to current conditions such as rain and temperature. It is unclear at this point whether they are basing their migration decisions on memories of past conditions or if they are simply incorrectly assessing current local conditions.
Luckily, probably because of their long lives of up to 100 years and large body size, bad timing of migration has smaller effects on giant tortoises compared to small, short-lived animals. Giant tortoises can go up to a year without eating and survive, while other migratory animals might eat more often to keep their energy levels high.
Giant tortoises are important ecosystem engineers in the Galapagos, and their migration is key to the survival of many plants. How the difference in tortoises' migration time will affect the rest of the ecosystem is still unclear. It is quite possible that the mistiming of migration will keep increasing in the future. "One concern is that at some point in the future," says Bastille-Rousseau, lead author of the study, "migration may not be a perfect strategy for tortoises. There may be a reduction in the number of tortoises doing these long travels. This would likely have great effects on the whole ecosystem."
1. What do we know about Galapagos giant tortoises?| A．They prefer low temperatures. |
| B．They like living in the highlands. |
| C．They always hate the rainy season. |
| D．They seldom change migration routes. |
| A．The weather has much to do with it. |
| B．It disagrees with current conditions. |
| C．The research has strong effects on it. |
| D．It is decided by the tortoises' memories. |
| A．Their restless energy. | B．Their different body shape. |
| C．Their habit of eating healthily. | D．Their ability to go without food. |
| A．Migration is the only choice for giant tortoises in the future. |
| B．Damage to the ecosystem will reduce the number of giant tortoises. |
| C．Giant tortoise migration plays a major role in Galapagos’ ecosystem. |
| D．Giant tortoises protect the ecosystem by their different migration time. |
8 . Robots are now being employed not just for dangerous tasks, such as discovering mines or rescuing people in disasters. They are also finding application as household helps and as nursing assistants. As the number of machines increases, which are equipped with the latest artificial intelligence and take on a growing variety of specialized and everyday tasks, the question of how people see them and behave towards them becomes ever more urgent.
A team led by Sari Nijssen of Radboud University and Markus Paulus, Professor of Developmental Psychology at Ludwig-Maximilians- Universitat (LMU), have carried out a study to determine the degree to which people show concern for robots and behave toward them based on moral principles.
According to Sari Nijssen, the study set out to answer the following question: "Under what circumstances would adults be willing to sacrifice robots to save human lives?" The participants were faced with a hypothetical (假设的) moral dilemma:Would they be prepared to put a single person at risk in order to save a group of injured persons? The intended victim presented in the situations was either a humanoid robot that had been humanized (人性化的) to various degrees or a robot that was clearly recognizable as a machine.
The study suggested that the more the robot was humanized, the less likely participants were to sacrifice it. Situations that included vivid stories in which the robot was described as a merciful being or as a creature with its own understandings, experiences and thoughts, were more likely to stop the study participants from sacrificing it in the interests of anonymous (无名的) humans.
"This result indicates that our study group attached a certain moral status to the robot," says Paulus. "One possible suggestion of this finding is that attempts to humanize robots should not go too far. Such efforts could come into conflict with their intended function—to be of help to us."
1. What has become a concern about robots?| A．How to treat them in life. | B．How to humanize them. |
| C．How to use them effectively. | D．How to find more applications. |
| A．where to experience risks. | B．when to sacrifice a robot. |
| C．which robot to work with. | D．what robots should be like. |
| A．Humanized robots offer less help to people. |
| B．Certain moral status should be attached to robots. |
| C．Humanizing robots too much may be improper. |
| D．Conflicts often happen between humans and robots. |
| A．Robots, a Must for Future | B．Robots Saved, People Take the Hit |
| C．Humanized Robots, a New Trend | D．Humanized Robots Replace Human |
9 . For more than 60 years, Lego bricks (乐高) have sparked children's imaginations. Now, a new version of these toys is in the works. They’re Lego Braille Bricks, and they’re being tested around the world.
Lego Braille Bricks are designed to help people learn Braille. That’s a system of writing in which letters are represented by raised dots. People who are blind or visually impaired use their fingertips to read it.
According to the World Health Organization, 36 million people worldwide are blind. In the United States, it’s estimated that only 10% of blind children learn Braille. Lego Braille Bricks can help change that. The small dots on the bricks are arranged as Braille letters. Blind children can use these dots to learn Braille.
Lego plans to launch Braille Bricks next year. For some schools and institutions, Braille Bricks will be free. Each will contain about 250 bricks. Along with the alphabet, the bricks will feature numbers and math symbols.
The Danish Association of the Blind was one of the first organizations to come up with the idea of using Lego bricks to teach Braille. Thorkild Olesen is the president of the group. Olesen is blind. He says many teachers don’t have the tools and skills to help kids learn Braille. So they teach with audio tools, such as audio books. “Like any other people, we need to express ourselves in writing,” Olesen said. “Audio is great. But it can never replace Braille. Braille is the single most important tool for us in order to learn to spell correctly, write, and gain literacy like sighted people.”
1. Braille is .| A．a new toy for blind children. |
| B．a new version of Lego bricks. |
| C．a writing system for blind people. |
| D．a kind of book for blind people. |
| A．raised dots. |
| B．numbers and math symbols. |
| C．Braille letters. |
| D．printed letters. |
| A．art. |
| B．numbers. |
| C．math symbols. |
| D．English letters. |
| A．In the US, one in ten blind children learn Braille. |
| B．Lego will send Lego Braille Bricks to some schools for free. |
| C．Lego Braille Bricks will help more blind children learn Braille. |
| D．Many teachers are now teaching Braille with Lego Braille Bricks. |
10 . Vacation Deals Online
Sunbridge vacations
Booking with Sunbridge gives you the Sunbridge Advantage. This means one simple price covers everything. Unlike other websites, we don’t fool you with a low price for airfare, then sneak (偷偷地做) in charges for hotel, rental cars, and food until you’re paying more than you wanted. Our price is all inclusive and can’t be beat !
The Sunbridge Advantage also includes our Sunbridge Resort Ambassadors. Two of our friendly, helpful staff members will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel.
Punta Senca Resort
Punta Senca Resort features one of the finest Caribbean beaches. The facilities(设施) include garden areas with quiet relaxation space and over two miles of paths for walking and jogging. The beauty of the garden space is improved by thousands of tropical flowers, native sculptures, and three spectacular fountains.
Punta Senca is one of our most family-friendly attractions. One option any family should consider is our Family Package, in which up to two children under ten years old stay and eat free. We know you love your family, but we also know that sometimes different family members prefer different activities. While Mom and Dad are cared for in our Spa and Wellness Center, our friendly staff can help the kids explore the island through a variety of activities including horseback riding, sailing lessons, and bike trips.
Punta Senca also features a variety of restaurants offering exciting dining experiences. We have a steakhouse, a bakery and coffee shop, a home-style Italian restaurant, a seafood restaurant serving fresh-caught fish from local fishermen, and a casual bar and grill for dining on the beach.
Guest review
Sara P. 09/23/2019
My family and I went to Punta Senca for a week and it was fine. But just that——fine. I really was expecting something a little more special. For example, I was shocked to find the different restaurant options weren’t all open every night of the week. Most nights, only two or three of the restaurants were open. And I really was unimpressed by the food.
1. What is the main benefit of the Sunbridge Advantage?| A．A relatively low total price. | B．A small hotel charge. |
| C．A discount on food. | D．A low airfare. |
| A．It provides special food for children. |
| B．It has different recreation options. |
| C．It has playground equipment. |
| D．It offers group transportation. |
| A．Delightful | B．Unpleasant |
| C．Rewarding | D．Ordinary |
