1 . No visit to London is complete without checking out its fantastic selection of museums and galleries. Here are some of the best (in no particular order). Take your pick, then use the London attractions map to work out how to get there and which one to visit next.
1. British MuseumBritish Museum has been displaying global historic artifacts discovered by British explorers. Opened in 1759, it was the first national museum to be open to the public in the world. Highlights include the Rosetta Stone, the Parthenon Sculptures and Egyptian mummies.
Address: Great Russell St, WC1B 3DG
Price: Free (permanent collections); admission charge applies for temporary exhibitions.
2. Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)As you walk through the museum's mix of Victorian and contemporary architecture, you’re as likely to see an exhibition with vast collections including everything from potteries and fashion to wallpapers and jewellery, spanning 5 ,000 years.
Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 2RL
Price: Some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge. Admission is free.
3. Natural History MuseumExplore our planet’s living wonders at the Natural History Museum. Inside the striking building, favorites include the Dinosaurs gallery, the blue whale model and the state-of-the-art Darwin Centre, where you can see hundreds of bones of animals as well as scientists at work. Address: Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD
Price: £ 14 for adults; £ 11 for people( 13-17 or ages 62 + ) or students with ID; £ 6 for children (3-12).
4. Imperial War Museum LondonA powerful museum shining a light on the history of conflict from the First World War to today. IWM is made up of permanent galleries, such as the ace Curiosities of War exhibit, and temporary displays, exploring recent conflicts and terrorist attacks.
Address: Lambeth Road, SEI 6HZ
Price: Free
1. Which museum requires an entrance fee?| A．British Museum. | B．Victoria and Albert Museum. |
| C．Natural History Museum. | D．Imperial War Museum London. |
| A．It has many historic collections. |
| B．It's the world's first national museum opened. |
| C．It requires admission for temporary exhibitions. |
| D．It is the most famous museum in London. |
| A．Living dinosaurs. | B．Fantastic buildings. |
| C．The scientist Darwin. | D．A model of a blue whale. |
2 . That untouched plate and look of disgust on your child’s face at mealtime might be a sign of much bigger issues. Picky eating, even at moderate levels, is linked with psychiatric (精神疾病的) problems, including anxiety and depression in kids, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. It found that the mental problems worsened as picky eating became more severe. The issue is serious enough that health care providers should intervene (干预), the paper concludes.
For parents, the issue can be a nightmare as children skip entire food groups like fruit and vegetables. “We need to do a better job of giving advice to these parents,” said Nancy Zucker, study co-author. “The first key message is that you are not to blame. The second key message is that it is more complicated than we think.”
The study screened more than 1,000 children aged 2 to 5, and found 20 percent were picky eaters. The researchers stress this goes beyond kids who just hate onions or have certain dislikes. More than 17 percent of kids were classified as moderate picky eaters: These children had a very limited range of foods they would eat and they would not try anything else. About 3 percent were considered severe picky eaters: Their sensitivities to smell or taste were so strong that even eating outside of the home was difficult. As they get older, it could be hard for them to go out with friends or eat at school.
Picky eaters are more sensitive to the smell of food, and have a stronger sense of disgust than other kids, the study found. This ability to experience the world more intensely may also make it harder for them to control their emotions or focus, the researchers suggest. “These are just sensitive kids, they see things more intently (专注地), they feel things more deeply and that is both in their own internal experience and the world around them. So they have more vulnerabilities (脆弱性) to experience taste more vividly, but also more emotions more strongly,” Zucker said.
The researchers also note that the term picky eating may now be obsolete (过时的). They suggest that the condition might be better described as avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID).
1. The study tends to indicate that mild picky eating ____.| A．doesn’t affect kids’ health or lessons |
| B．may not be caused by mental problems |
| C．is unavoidable to become more severe |
| D．is also harmful and should be treated timely |
| A．should have done more for their kids |
| B．should give more advice to their kids |
| C．must have their kids eat more fruit and vegetables |
| D．don’t need to feel guilty about their kids’picky eating |
| A．Picky eaters are weaker and not very determined. |
| B．Picky eaters can’t control their emotions or behaviours. |
| C．Picky eaters are more sensitive to the world around them. |
| D．Picky eating affects a person’s contact with others seriously. |
| A．Picky eating is actually a disease, not a habit. |
| B．ARFID is a much more technical expression. |
| C．The term picky eating has been used for too long. |
| D．The term picky eating tends to hurt kids’feelings. |
3 . Pineapple is a kind of fruit that is rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants (酶和抗氧化剂). The nutritional content of canned pineapple is different from that of raw pineapple. According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), canned pineapple is typically higher in calories and sugar. It also contains fewer vitamins and minerals. If you choose canned pineapple, try to get it with no added sugar or look for a variety that is canned in fruit juice instead of sweet liquid.
Pineapple contains a great amount of vitamin C, a water-soluble antioxidant that fights cell damage. This makes vitamin C a helpful fighter against problems such as heart disease.
Pineapple may help you keep standing tall and strong. One cup of raw pineapple pieces contains 2.6 mg of manganese, a mineral that’s important to developing strong bones. A 1994 study suggested that manganese, along with other small amounts of minerals, may be helpful in preventing bones becoming weak and breaking easily in aged women.
Pineapple can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration, a disease that affects the eyes as people age, due in part to its high amount of vitamin C and the antioxidants it contains. Like many other fruits and vegetables, pineapple contains dietary fiber, which is important and necessary for keeping you regular and in keeping your intestines (肠) healthy.
“Because pineapple is a great meat tenderizer, eating too many can lead to the pain of the mouth, including the lips and tongue,” said San Diego-based nutritionist Flores. “But, it should disappear within a few hours.” But if the feeling continues, or if you experience breathing difficulties, you should seek medical help immediately, as you could have a pineapple allergy.
Flores pointed out a possible negative to pineapple’s high levels of vitamin C. “Because of the high amount of vitamin C that pineapple contains, eating large quantities may cause some serious problems,” she said. Eating undeveloped pineapple or drinking undeveloped pineapple juice is dangerous. Undeveloped pineapple is poisonous to humans and can lead to severe diarrhea (腹泻) and vomiting.
1. Considering nutrition, raw pineapple _____.| A．is both higher in calories and sugar |
| B．has less advantage than other fruits |
| C．has an advantage over canned pineapple |
| D．can be used in a variety of processed foods |
| A．It benefits people’s health very much. |
| B．It can help people reduce the risk of cancer. |
| C．It likes to grow in wet lands and has low production. |
| D．It is popular among old people because of its sweetness. |
| A．It can make the tongue unable to taste. |
| B．It can lead to increased blood pressure. |
| C．It can bring about an allergy to other fruits. |
| D．It can result in the pain of mouth and even allergic conditions. |
| A．To introduce nutrition facts of pineapple. |
| B．To show medical advantages of pineapple. |
| C．To encourage people to eat more pineapple. |
| D．To present health benefits and harm of pineapple. |
4 . When Stephen Mills spotted a dusty old safe (保险箱) in a museum in Canada, he thought he’d try to crack the code (破解密码), “just like in the movies”. But when he began turning the dial, he wasn’t expecting a Hollywood ending.
For years, anyone who visited the Vermillion Heritage Museum in Alberta would have passed by a large, black metal box. Staff knew it had come from the long-gone Brunswick hotel and was donated to the museum in the 1990s, but its code and contents remained a mystery for decades — until Mills unexpectedly cracked the code.
Mills, who lived in Fort McMurray, Alberta, was visiting the museum with his family last month over a holiday weekend. As they wandered around the exhibits with the museum guide, Tom Kibblewhite, they spotted the safe.
Kibblewhite told the family what he told all other guests: the 900kg black box with a silver dial had remained closed for generations. For years, the safe has confused volunteers at the museum. The manufacturer was unable to provide advice on how to open its thick door.
A locksmith (锁匠) once suggested that years of inactivity might have slowed down the gears, making it inoperable. But Mills, who is a “mechanically-minded person”, asked whether he could give it a try. “Kibblewhite kept saying no one had opened it and that it was a mystery what was inside,” Mills said. “I thought this would be a great thing to do for a laugh for the kids. Maybe they can find some interesting historical things in it — like a time capsule.”
After pressing his ear against the cool metal, he began spinning the dial. With numbers ranging from zero to 60, he turned clockwise (顺时针方向地) three times to 20, counter-clockwise two times to 40, and then clockwise one time to 60. He was astonished to hear a click. “I jumped up and told everyone I’m buying a lottery ticket (彩票),” he said.
1. What does the underlined sentence in the first paragraph mean?| A．He didn’t think he would open the safe. |
| B．The museum trip was like a Hollywood film. |
| C．He didn’t want to turn the dial in the beginning. |
| D．It was unbelievable for him to win a lottery ticket in the end. |
| A．The dial on the safe was broken. |
| B．It was a donation from a rich businessman. |
| C．It was one of the most valuable exhibits in the museum. |
| D．It has been long closed since it was brought to the museum. |
| A．To tell people how fast time flies. |
| B．To remind visitors of the time limit. |
| C．To indicate the safe’s special meaning. |
| D．To explain the content of the safe. |
| A．Mills won a prize for cracking the code. |
| B．Mills had plenty of luck to break the code. |
| C．Mills knew what the code was in advance. |
| D．Mills tried a dozen times until he cracked the code. |
5 . Offering Free Homestay in Singburi Thailand in Exchange for Short Term ESL (非母语英语课程) Teaching Peetim’s ESL Homestay offers volunteers lodging (寄宿), food, laundry and Thai culture in exchange for teaching English in her private schools. Peetim’s homestay is in a village near Singburi, a small town about 2 hours’ drive north of Bangkok. Her home is spacious, safe, clean, and quiet. There are several bedrooms, bathrooms, and classrooms — and some refrigerators in different spots. Every room has reliable, fast wifi. It’s only 10 minutes’ drive to KFC and 5 minutes’ drive to a large supermarket. Besides, several small stores are within walking distance. A motorbike into town is 60 baht (铢，泰国货币单位) roundtrip.
Peetim’s husband has a large mat for teaching Thai boxing. You can prepare your lessons and Peetim can provide you with curriculums. Student skill level is pretty low, so plan to teach basic vocabulary and simple conversations. Pictures and videos are great. For the younger learners, use plenty of games and songs. Peetim’s housekeeper doesn’t speak English, but Peetim is fluent. She can provide you with an invitation letter to get a volunteer visa for up to 3 months at 2700 baht. The homestay is free, but many volunteers pay Peetim as much as several thousand baht per month. Utilities (公用事业) in Thailand are 1000-3000 baht, depending on electricity use. Food in Thailand is 100-300 baht, depending on your diet and appetite. Peetim communicates through Facebook rather than by email.
Phone: 080779479
Facebook website addresses:
http://www.peetimhomestay.com/
If you have a lot of luggage, you can ship most of it using Kerry Logistics express mail service. They are fast, reliable, and surprisingly cheap.
Ship packages to: Peetim Homestay
45 Moo, 6 Phromburi
Singburi, THAILAND
1. Who is the advertisement mainly intended for?| A．Young English learners. | B．Local college students. |
| C．Native English speakers. | D．Foreign tourists. |
| A．teach the students basic English |
| B．sing and dance with the students |
| C．prepare the curriculum themselves |
| D．teach the students with Peetim together |
| A．She can speak English a little. |
| B．She is a user of Facebook. |
| C．She will cook for roomers. |
| D．She offers roomers free shipping. |
6 . Thirteen-year-old Madison Williams was studying in her bedroom when Leigh Williams, her mother, told her that a little boy fell into a septic tank(化粪池）and no one could reach him.
Madison and Leigh ran to a neighbor's yard, where they found the boy's worried mother and other adults surrounding the tank opening. It stuck out a few inches above the ground and was 11 inches in width-slightly wider than a basketball-with a hatch(盖子)that had been moved unnoticed. The two-year-old boy had slipped in and was drowning in four feet of waste water inside the eight-feet-deep tank.
Madison surveyed the situation. She was the only one who could fit through the small hole. Without hesitation, she told the adults, "Lower me in. Inside, the tank was dark, and the air was smelly . In the process , she jammed her left wrist against a hidden pole , injuring the muscles in her wrist so severely that the hand was left useless.
Rather than tending to her injury ,Madison tried to feel the underwater boy. Minutes went by before she saw the outline of his foot. Madison shot her good hand out and grasped the foot tightly "Pull me up!" she shouted. Then, ten minutes after Madison had entered the tank, she and the boy were lifted out.
But the boy wasn't out of trouble. He had lacked Oxygen long enough that he wasn't breathing. He was placed on his side, and an adult hit him hard on the back. It was only when Madison heard him cry that she knew he was all right . It took Madison longer to recover than the boy, who was taken to hospital and left hospital that same night .She, however, experienced months of painful treatment, for the injury that she had postponed tending was more severe, which, says neighbor Mary Holley, made the girl's actions all the more impressive.
1. What most likely caused the boy to fall into the septic tank?| A．The tank was very hard to be noticed. |
| B．The boy was curious about the unknown. |
| C．The hatch was not in the correct position. |
| D．The tank opening stood out on the ground. |
| A．The injury to her wrist became worse |
| B．She wasn't sent to hospital in time. |
| C．She paid all her attention to the boy. |
| D．Serious infection set in to her wound. |
| A．Modest. | B．Optimistic. |
| C．Courageous. | D．Hard-working. |
| A．A lucky little boy. | B．A terrible drowning accident. |
| C．A hidden septic tank. | D．An admirable teen hero. |
7 . Do you often feel like you want to wash your hands again and again? Or do you ever have the urge to line up the items on your desk? These all may be symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (强迫症), or OCD, which affects about 2 percent of the world's population.
Those who suffer from OCD have difficulty finding successful treatment because doctors don't clearly understand its causes. But now, a new study has given hope for a future cure.
For the study, which was published in the journal Nature in October, researchers observed humans, dogs and mice. They discovered four genes that may be responsible for obsessive-compulsive behaviors in humans.
But why observe dogs and mice to learn about humans?
"Dogs, it turns out, are surprisingly similar to people," study author and geneticist Elinor Karlsson, of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, US, told NPR. "They're chasing their own tail or chasing shadows like normal, but they're doing it for hours."
In the study, researchers made a list of about 600 genes in mice, dogs and humans that they thought might cause OCD, reported NPR. They then compared those genes in two large groups of people – those who don't have OCD and those who do. In the end, they identified just four genes with mutations (突变) in the OCD group. The genes are active in a neurological pathway (神经通路) in the brain, which is believed to help control actions. But the mutations could block the neurological pathway.
For example, for people without OCD, when they finish washing their hands, a signal will come, telling them to stop. But for people with OCD, the neurological pathway is blocked, so the message isn't getting through. As a result, the person will continue to wash their hands.
"OCD and anxiety are kind of like learning disorders," Marcos Grados, an OCD researcher at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told NPR. "Often with OCD, people have a fear of germs (细菌). You can't touch tables or door knobs (把手) and every time it's the same sensation (感觉). You didn't learn that the last time you touched a door knob, nothing happened. It's like touching it for the first time ever."
However, that doesn't mean people who have these genetic mutations will always have obsessive-compulsive behaviors, the researchers said. That's because the disorder also relies on other things, such as one's environment.
According to reports, various existing treatment methods have low success rates in patients. But now that we know where OCD comes from, let's hope we will soon find an effective way to treat it.
1. What did researchers recently find about OCD?| A．They found a possible cure for it. | B．It is a common problem among animals. |
| C．It can be caused by genetic mutations. | D．It can be passed on to the next generation. |
| A．Enjoy shaking hands with others. | B．Touch door knobs from time to time. |
| C．Keep washing their hands. | D．Enjoy the company of friends. |
| A．They have four missing genes that control their behavior. |
| B．Some part of their neurological pathway is damaged. |
| C．Their brains are not sensitive to behavioral signals. |
| D．Their brains can't receive messages to stop repeated actions. |
| A．OCD causes more trouble than anxiety. |
| B．A genetic mutation is the main cause of OCD. |
| C．Environment plays a more important role in OCD than genes. |
| D．It's possible to find effective treatment for OCD. |
8 . Seoul is a modern city full of delicious food options (选择) as well as great attractions, historical sights, and places to shop.
Best time to visit
The best month for sightseeing in Seoul is during the warm weather between summer and early fall.
Getting around
In Seoul, you have three main forms of transportation: train, subway, and taxi. The fastest option to get around Seoul is the Airport Railroad Express train. It has two options: the express and the all-stop. While the all-stop option is cheaper, it’s about 15 minutes slower than the express.
Seoul has one of the largest subway stations in the world with 14 lines. It may seem a bit awful, but once you get used to it, it’s pretty easy.
Another option to get around Seoul is to rent a car. This is one of the least used options as Seoul has a convenient public transportation system.
Places to visit
Everland — the largest theme park in Korea.
Lotte World — a great theme park for kids with never-ending thrill rides.
Seoul Tower — a symbolic skyscraper where you can take breathtaking views of the city.
TrickEye 3D museum — if you love photos, you will find strange photos in this museum.
Where to stay
There are lots of places to stay at Seoul. Below are our top recommendations (推荐):
Myeongdong is tourists’ popular option. It has great shopping malls, great food, and lively nightlife. You can stay at the Aloft Seoul Myeongdong.
Gangnam is another popular district, which has become famous thanks to the song Gangnam Style. One of the best areas in Gangnam is Garosugil,where you will find cafes, art galleries, retail (零售) stores. A great hotel option in this area is the Dormy Inn Premium Seoul Garosugil.
1. When is the best time to visit Seoul?| A．January. | B．February. | C．September. | D．December. |
| A．Everland. | B．Seoul Tower. | C．Lotte World. | D．Garosugil. |
| A．Myeongdong is a shop favored by tourists. |
| B．Gangnam has become popular because of a hit song. |
| C．Renting cars is the most common way to get around Seoul. |
| D．The all-stop train offers a more comfortable but more expensive service. |
9 . Every man dreams of having a good car. With luxury cars, like Bentley, Lamborghini and Rolls-Royce, going into the world of SUVs, if you have deep pockets, you will be spoilt for choice.
◆Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Using a new aerodynamic system allows it to set a car lap record of 6: 44 97 at Nurburgring, one of the longest and most challenging circuits in the world. Plus, carbon fiber can be seen everywhere, which makes the car strong and lightweight. There’re only 900 being built and you’11need to cough up $517, 770 to buy one.
◆Aston Martin DBX
The DBX is Aston Martin’s maiden SUV product. It features a choice of two gas engines—a 4.0-liter V8 from Mercedes and a 5.2-liter V12 from its own. The price is predicted to be around $250, 000.
◆Audi E-tron
Being an eco-friendly motoring. it is an all-electric SUV that makes up for its rather ordinary appearance with design, luxury and technology. At the front and back are electric motors which insure progress is rapid. In addition to plenty of storage space, the Audi E-tron provides side cameras instead of side mirrors and air suspension that adapts to the terrain (地 形). Hand over $74, 800 and it’s yours.
◆Tesla Roadster
Tesla Roadster will turn most heads, Zero to 60 in 1.9 seconds means it will leave most cars for dust. The top speed is 250 mph, which is also unheard of for most cars—let alone an a11-electric one. Having advanced autonomous driving systems and a huge touchscreen for surfing the Internet, it won’t make you regret for paying $200, 000.
1. What’s special about Lamborghini Aventador SVJ?| A．It offers two gas engines. | B．It is an all-electric SUV. |
| C．It uses lightweight materials. | D．It has the most challenging circuit. |
| A．Lamborghini Aventador SVJ. | B．Aston Martin DBX. |
| C．Audi E-tron. | D．Tesla Roadster |
| A．Self-driving systems. | B．A gas-saving engine. |
| C．Side cameras. | D．Much storage space. |
10 . As a first responder, you never know what type of situation you might walk into, or who you’ll meet along the way. That’s definitely been the case for Jeffrey Lanenberg, a 51-year-old paramedic(急救医务人员) since 1984.
Ten years into the job, Lanenberg received a call that reported that a man in his early 30s had fallen down in the Mall of America. When Lanenberg and his partner arrived at the scene, they found the young male face down on the ground. He had gone unconscious, making weak attempts to breathe. His wife stood beside him holding their small son in horror. They quickly rushed to defibrillate(除颤) and calm the man to keep him under control. After Lanenberg dropped the patient off at the neighboring hospital, he thought about the man and his family for a long time.
Lanenberg thought he had experienced everything under the sun until one random visit to Office Max three years ago, where he met a man repeatedly walk back and forth while staring at him. As it turned out, the man was the patient he had saved 20 years earlier.
＂You gave me 20 years more than I ever thought I’d have,＂ the man said. He thanked Lanenberg repeatedly and told him he had someone he wanted him to meet. He stepped around the corner and reappeared with a 20-something-year-old man. Lanenberg instantly knew that it was the son he had seen standing by his mother all those years ago.
＂That day changed my life,＂ Lanenberg said. ＂Before that, everything was about work…When I talk to my beginner-training class, I tell them you never know the impact you can have on someone’s life.＂
1. What did Lanenberg do with the young man?| A．He gave the man the first aid. | B．He cured the man at the scene. |
| C．He only sent the man to hospital. | D．He took care of the man’s wife and son. |
| A．It was unbelievable. | B．It was a common routine. |
| C．It was a matter of course. | D．It was a dangerous situation. |
| A．Lanenberg helped bring up his little son. |
| B．Lanenberg donated to support his family. |
| C．Lanenberg gave him the present happy life. |
| D．Lanenberg taught his son to be a new doctor. |
| A．He changed his attitude to his job. |
| B．He was rewarded with much money. |
| C．He got a promotion to be a team leader. |
| D．He took up teaching work to train newcomers. |
