1 . Los Angeles is always a popular holiday destination. To fully enjoy your travel there, you should know its food, weather, and also traffic. While driving in L. A. is similar to that in other areas, there are a few specific rules to note.
HOV lanes (车道)
On many L. A. freeways, one or more lanes at the far left are used as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They usually have limited access and you can only enter or exit where there is a break in the double yellow line. Most HOV lanes require a minimum of two people in the car; some require three. Vehicles towing trailers (拖车) are NOT allowed in the HOV lane, regardless of how many people are in them.
Toll (收费) lanes
On certain freeways, the HOV lanes are double-purposed as toll lanes for people driving alone who have a FasTrak, an electronic toll collection system. Therefore, you also have to have one in that lane as a HOV, which is inconvenient if you’re just visiting. FasTrak is in effect on parts of the 110 freeway between the 405 and 10 freeways, and on parts of the 10 freeway east of Downtown L. A.
Cell phones
It is against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving without using a hands-free device. Holding a cell phone to your ear while driving will land you with a ticket.
Alcohol
Driving under the influence is taken seriously in L.A. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, but you can be charged with lower levels if they show you can’t function normally. Placing an opened bottle of alcohol in the passenger area while driving (or sitting) is illegal. Any opened container of alcohol has to be transported in the trunk.
1. What do you know about HOV lanes?| A．They encourage people to share cars. |
| B．They are on the far right of freeways. |
| C．They are intended for larger vehicles. |
| D．They allow cars to enter over the double yellow line. |
| A．Driving on the 110 freeway with a FasTrak. |
| B．Putting the cell phone in the car while driving. |
| C．Riding with an opened bottle of alcohol in back seats. |
| D．Going below the blood alcohol limit of 0. 08%. |
| A．A traffic law. | B．A road map. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A report. |
2 . An increasing number of students worldwide are considering studying abroad. The application process varies from country to country. If you’re looking for a university with a strong international outlook but feel swept over by all the application options, here is some guidance to get you started.
UK
International students must apply to universities in the UK through a system known as Ucas. This system allows students to apply to up to five universities with just one application. It costs £20 for a single choice or £25 for more than one choice.
The application consists of a series of questions to determine the student’s schooling and predicted grades. The biggest part of the application form is the personal statement, in which applicants should describe their personal interests and related experiences.
Switzerland
Switzerland has four official languages and is bordered by five countries so it is no surprise that its universities are among the most international in the world. International applicants may need to take an entrance exam if they have a foreign school certificate, and must also prove that they have a good grasp of the French language, usually through taking a language exam. The full application costs 50 Swiss Francs for a holder of a Swiss diploma and 150 Swiss Francs for holders of foreign diplomas.
Canada
International applicants have to write up a personal profile as part of their application, which is very similar to the personal statement required for a UK university application. Students will also have to prove their English-language competency—there are nine ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard, which are listed on many university websites.
Singapore
The process of applying to a Singaporean university is very much alike, but overseas students may be delighted to find that the domestic applicants have to cover the same procedures: filling out an online application form and submit identification documents, supporting documents and an application fee of S$20.
1. Which country requires international applicants know French well?| A．UK. | B．Switzerland. |
| C．Canada. | D．Singapore. |
| A．The application system. | B．The number of universities. |
| C．The application cost. | D．The personal statement. |
| A．Applicants need to pay a lot. | B．It is much simpler than elsewhere. |
| C．It’s no different for native students. | D．The competition is even more fierce. |
3 . Thailand's southern beaches attract travelers with their clean water and dramatic cliffs (峭壁), but there's more to explore in this Southeast Asian country.
Lopburi for history buffs
Bypass the tour groups at the ancient city of Ayutthaya and head two hours north of the capital, Bangkok, for a peaceful walk through Thai history. Lopburi, one of Thailand's oldest cities, boasts Khmer-era temples and the uncrowded ruins of King Narai's Palace, which was built in the 1600s. It's also known for the monkeys that gather at Phra Prang Sam Yot temple in the center of town.
Ban Krut for beach bums
In Ban Krut, travelers will find one of the cleanest and quietest stretches of white sandy beach within driving distance of Bangkok. This sleepy seaside community, known mostly by locals, is a five-hour drive or six-hour train trip down the Gulf of Thailand. Don't miss the magnificent Wat Tang Sai, a huge, fairy tale castle-like Buddhist temple.
Cave for holiday hikers
Hiking trails, wetlands and forests make Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park a weekend adventure worthy of topping your Thailand to-do list. The park's crown jewel is the extraordinary Phraya Nakhon Cave. Come early to catch the picturesque chamber flooded with morning sunshine that spotlights the royal pavilion that sits inside.
River Kwai for nature lovers
Most visitors come for the beaches, but the rivers and parks in Thailand's Kanchanaburi province have much to offer. Scenic trails and waterfalls abound in Sai Yok and Erawan national parks. Just two hours from Bangkok is the bridge made famous in the book Bridge over the River Kwai by French author, Pierre Boulle, and the 1957 Academy Award-winning 1957 film adaptation of the same name. Stay on the river at one of Kanchanaburi's many floating hotels, where you can travel to your front door.
1. From which of the following can you learn more about Thai history?| A．Ban Krut |
| B．Kanchanaburi |
| C．Phraya Nakhon Cave |
| D．Lopburi |
| A．Visit temples. |
| B．Meet lovely monkeys. |
| C．Go hiking. |
| D．Go to the beach. |
| A．River Kwai was made famous by a book and a film |
| B．Tourists can stay at the floating hotels on River Kwai. |
| C．Most visitors visit Thailand for rivers and parks |
| D．Travellers can find Khmer-era temples in Ban Krut. |
4 . You signed up for soccer, and played every game of the season. Sure, you're not the best player on the team, but most days you gave it your all. Do you deserve a trophy (奖杯)?
If the decision is up to Carol Dweck, the answer would likely be no. She's a psychology professor at Stanford University, California. She says a player doesn't have to be the best to get a trophy. But those who receive an award should have to work for it. She suggests trophies go to the most improved player, or the one who contributed most to the team spirit, as well as to those who play the best.
“The trophy has to stand for something,” Dweck told TFK. “If we give a trophy to everyone, then the award has no value.” Dweck argues that giving kids trophies for particular reasons, such as improving in a sport, teaches kids that adults value hard work and trying our best.
Others say that there's no harm in giving awards to all kids who play a sport, regardless of how they played or whether or not they improved.
“I think we should encourage kids' participation in sports,” says Kenneth Barish, a psychology professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York City. “A trophy is one way to encourage kids' efforts.”
Barish argues that when we single out only the best or even the most improved players with a trophy, we are teaching kids the wrong lesson. We are sending the message that winning is everything. “Winning is only part of the equation (等式),” Barish told TFK. “Playing sports also teaches kids about teamwork and the importance of exercise.”
There will be plenty of opportunities for kids to learn about competition as they get older, says Barish. They'll soon realize that only one soccer team wins the World Cup and only one football team wins the Super Bowl. For now, he thinks there's nothing wrong with letting all kids who play a sport feel like winners. That means trophies for everyone.
1. According to Carol Dweck, which player should receive a trophy?| A．Tony, the most attractive player of the soccer team. |
| B．David, a soccer player who is both clever and funny. |
| C．Peter, who is ready to help his partners to score goals. |
| D．Jim, a soccer player who tries his best to win the game |
| A．There is no sense in giving a trophy to everyone. |
| B．Kids fond of playing sports should be rewarded. |
| C．Kids should be given trophies for trying their best. |
| D．It is necessary to encourage kids' participation in sports. |
| A．honor | B．choose |
| C．value | D．stress |
| A．Who deserves a trophy? | B．All kids deserve a trophy |
| C．What does a trophy deserve? | D．Best player deserves a trophy |
5 . Ready or not, here they come: Scientists who played hide-and-seek with rats found that their furry subjects seemed to love the game- and they were remarkably good at it.
The researchers taught six adolescent male rats how to play a one-on-one version of hide-and-seek. They equipped a large room with cardboard barriers and small containers to serve as hiding places for humans and rats, respectively. The game started when the rat was placed in a small box in the middle of the room. If the rat was the “seeker,” the scientist would hide and then remotely open the box. If the rat was the “hider the scientist would crouch (蹲伏) by the box when the rat came out. This prompted the little rodent to running quickly for cover. All six rats learned how to be the seeker. Five of them were able to handle hiding as well.
Compared with something like playful wrestling, hide-and-seek is more complex for several reasons. It requires an understanding of the rules, a clear grasp of players’ distinct roles and the ability to assume different roles on different rounds. This unconventional experiment sheds light on the sophisticated sense of play in these tiny rodents, and also hints at the evolutionary usefulness of this type of play.
Peggy Mason, a neurobiologist (神经生物学家) at the University of Chicago, said that she was most impressed by the discovery that the rats didn’t just learn hide and seek—they wanted to play it. Play probably helps young animals learn how to socially interact, Mason said. She pointed to evidence that when rodents are prevented from playing during early development, they don’t grow into normal adults. Instead, they become anxious, they don’t play well with others and they aren’t great parents.
1. What can we know about the experiment?| A．Rats do better than other creatures in hide-and-seek. |
| B．Rats may enjoy themselves in hide-and-seek. |
| C．Rats prefer hide-and-seek to other games. |
| D．Rats may be subject to humans in hide-and-seek. |
| A．The scientist’s getting close. |
| B．Potential danger out of the box. |
| C．Its sense of safety under the cover. |
| D．Other rats’ call for help. |
| A．Unique | B．Outdated |
| C．Easy | D．Demanding |
| A．Deep anxiety over their kids’ growth. |
| B．Unwillingness to get on well with their kids. |
| C．A lack of confidence in their kids. |
| D．Absence of play in their early life. |
6 . “The Lion King” is one of Disney’s highest earners. But behind “The Lion King”, a true story of Sundiata Keita is still largely invisible outside his own country.
Known as the Lion of Mali, Sundiata was the founder of the Malian Empire, the largest kingdom in West Africa. His empire expanded more than 1,000 miles from the Atlantic coast all the way to the Niger River. Sundiata ruled from 1235 to 1255.
Sundiata’s father, King Naré Maghann Konaté, was told by fortune tellers that if he married an ugly woman she would give birth to a son who would become a mighty and magnificent king. He already had a wife named Sassouma Bereté and a son named Dankaran Tourman. However, Konate took Sogolon Kedjou as his second wife. She gave birth to Sundiata, who was born disabled. Though the king favored him, both Sogolon and Sundiata were unfairly teased for his disability.
Sundiata became a great leader among his people, sparking resentment from his half-brother Tourman who wanted the throne for himself. When Konaté died, many suspected that he had been murdered. Fearful of an attack on their lives. Sogolon took Sundiata and the rest of her children and fled. The Mandinka people were taken over by the cruel and unfair King Soumaoro Kante of the Sosso people.
In need of their true leader, the people sent word for Sundiata to return and take his rightful place as the king. Outside of the country, Sundiata built alliances with the king of Mema and other local rulers. He gathered an army to free the Mandinka people and defeat the Sosso king. Upon his victorious return, he adopted a new title for himself. “Mansa,” which means king or emperor in Mandinka. Sundiata’s kingdom became one of the most wealthy and powerful empires in history.
1. Why is the movie “The Lion King” mentioned in paragraph 1?| A．To show us one of Disney’s achievements. |
| B．To encourage a view of the movie. |
| C．To introduce a true story. |
| D．To tell us its popularity among the public. |
| A．Because she was a recognized beauty. |
| B．Because he expected her to produce a great successor. |
| C．Because she adored him for his immense power. |
| D．Because he was not content with his first wife. |
| A．Inspiration. | B．Anger. |
| C．Admiration. | D．Guilt. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A diary. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A novel. |
7 . Our national park system invites visitors to choose their own adventures in the most beautiful spots in the U.S. Here’s our selection for the most exciting and unusual national park activities.
Rock-Climbing: Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a climber’s paradise. Since 1969, the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service has been training newbies and accompanying seasoned climbers on trips in the park’s many climbing areas.
Snorkeling: Virgin Islands National Park
You’ll want flippers, a mask and snorkel to explore the best trail in St. John because it’s actually underwater. The snorkeling trail at Trunk Bay is a 225-yard swim lined with signs describing the fish, coral and plants that live in the warm turquoise waters.
Orienteering: Prince William Forest Park
Set off on a modern-day treasure hunt at Prince William Forest Park. Leave the GPS system at home for an orienteering adventure using Just a map and compass to follow clues around one of the park’s 30 courses. You can choose to set your own pace, whether it’s a slowpoke family stroll while the kids master the compass or a competitive jaunt to race to the final clue.
Hiking: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Hikers can set off on a great adventure on foot any time of year in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. With more than 800 miles of trails, there are plenty of options including scenic strolls through fields of wildflowers and strenuous climbs to the top of the park’s glorious waterfalls.
1. Which park may a diver favor?| A．Yosemite National Park. |
| B．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| C．Prince William Forest Park. |
| D．Great Smoky Mountains National Park. |
| A．GPS system. | B．Treasure. |
| C．Compass. | D．Pacer. |
| A．Enjoy beautiful scenery. | B．See underwater creatures. |
| C．Play hunt game. | D．Receive climbing training. |
8 . Welcome to Oxford University Museums
Ashmolean Museum
Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the oldest museum in the UK and one of the oldest in the world. It houses the University’s extensive collections of art and antiquities, ranging back over four millennia.
Location: Beaumont Street Tel: 01865278000
Open: Tue. Sun. 10: 00-17: 00.
Charge: Admission is free; special exhibitions are ticketed and a charge may apply
Note: For group bookings Tel:01865278015
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The University Museum of Natural History houses the University’s collections of zoological, entomological, paleontological and mineral specimens. With 4. 5 million specimens it is the largest collection of its type outside of the national collections.
Location: Parks Road Tel: 01865 272950
Open: 10: 00-17: 00 daily
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
Museum of the History of Science
The Museum of the History of Science is housed in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building. It contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments.
Location: Broad Street Tel: 01865277280
Open: Tue.Sun.12: 00-17:00
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Booking required for groups of 15 or more
Pitt Rivers Museum
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects from every continent and from throughout human history.
Location: Parks Road enter via the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Tel:01865270927
Open: Tue. Sun. and Bank Holiday Mondays: 10: 00-16: 30
Charge: Admission is free
Note: Groups must book in advance
1. If a group of 20 students want to visit the oldest museum in the UK, they should call_______| A．01865277280 | B．01865278015 |
| C．01865270927 | D．01865272950 |
| A．Ashmolean Museum. | B．Museum of the History of Science. |
| C．Oxford University Museum of Natural History. | D．Pitt Rivers Museum |
| A．Ashmolean Museum is on the Broad Street. |
| B．Pitt Rivers Museum contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments. |
| C．We don’t have to book in advance if our group want to visit the University Museum of Natural History. |
| D．We can enter the Pitt Rivers Museum through the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. |
9 . The Visitor Oyster card
A Visitor Oyster card is the cheapest way to pay for a single adult journeyin London. It’s a plastic smartcard. You can use it on the bus, tube, tram, DLR,London Overground and most National Rail services. It’s much cheaper thanbuying individual tickets, in some cases costing 50% less than the price of a regularpaper ticket.
How to get a Visitor Oyster card
You can buy a Visitor Oyster card online. Your card will be delivered by post.The card costs £5 and you choose how much money you want to add to the card.This means you can start using the card the moment you arrive in Central London.
How does the Visitor Oyster card work?
The Oyster card works on a pay-as-you-go system. You start by adding money to the card. Then you travel, the cost of the fare will automatically bededucted from your Visitor Oyster card. For example, if you add £20 to thecard and make a tube journey of £2.30, you will have £17.70 left on the card.
A few more points:
·A child under the age of 11 travels free when accompanied by an adult.
·You’ll save more money if you use the tube several times. The Visitor Oyster cardis “capped (给……定上限)” at £6.80 per day.
·You’ll pay more during peak times. Peak fares apply from Monday to Friday (6:30am—9:30 am; 4:00 pm —7:00 pm), except for public holidays.
·Reuse the Oyster card by adding credit at a tube station, Oyster ticket shop orVisitor Centre.
·Receive a discount on the Thames Clippers River Bus services.
1. What can we learn about the Visitor Oyster card?| A．You can’t use it during public holidays. |
| B．You can have it mailed directly to your home. |
| C．You can get a free Oyster card if you order online. |
| D．You can receive a 50% discount at any shop in London. |
| A．£2.30. | B．£3.40. |
| C．£6.80. | D．£9.20. |
| A．On the Internet. | B．At a bus station. |
| C．At a tube station. | D．In convenience stores. |
10 . For Western designers, China and its rich culture have long been an inspiration for Western creative.
“It’s no secret that China has always been a source(来源) of inspiration for designers,” says Amanda Hill, chief creative officer at A+E Networks, a global media company and home to some of the biggest fashion(时尚) shows.
Earlier this year, the China Through A Looking Glass exhibition in New York exhibited 140 pieces of China-inspired fashionable clothing alongside Chinese works of art, with the aim of exploring the influence of Chinese aesthetics(美学) on Western fashion and how China has fueled the fashionable imagination for centuries. The exhibition had record attendance, showing that there is huge interest in Chinese influences.
“China is impossible to overlook,” says Hill. “Chinese models are the faces of beauty and fashion campaigns that sell dreams to women all over the world, which means Chinese women are not just consumers of fashion — they are central to its movement.” Of course, not only are today’s top Western designers being influenced by China—some of the best designers of contemporary fashion are themselves Chinese. “Vera Wang, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu are taking on Galliano, Albaz, Marc Jacobs—and beating them hands down in design and sales,” adds Hill.
For Hill, it is impossible not to talk about China as the leading player when discussing fashion. “The most famous designers are Chinese, so are the models, and so are the consumers,” she says. “China is no longer just another market; in many senses it has become the market. If you talk about fashion today, you are talking about China—its influences, its direction, its breathtaking clothes, and how young designers and models are finally acknowledging that in many ways.”
1. What can we learn about the exhibition in New York?| A．It promoted the sales of artworks. | B．It attracted a large number of visitors. |
| C．It showed ancient Chinese clothes. | D．It aimed to introduce Chinese models. |
| A．They are setting the fashion. | B．They start many fashion campaigns. |
| C．They admire super models. | D．They do business all over the world. |
| A．learning from | B．looking down on | C．working with | D．competing against |
| A．Young Models Selling Dreams to the World |
| B．A Chinese Art Exhibition Held in New York |
| C．Differences Between Eastern and Western Aesthetics |
| D．Chinese Culture Fueling International Fashion Trends |
