1 . Travelling the world is a common thing for most families these days. One destination that may seem quite appealing to people, would be South Africa. Let’s learn more…
Lovely Beaches
Families can spend time at popular beaches here in South Africa. The beaches on the Atlantic are known for their powder white sand and icy cold waters – perfect for surfing. At iconic Boulders Beach, you can even swim with the penguins in summer. Beaches on the Indian Ocean are fantastic and tourists can enjoy the sun and the warm waves washing back and forth to the shores.
Wildlife and game reserves
All the animals that you have come to know through documentaries can potentially be seen here. There are public and private wildlife and game reserves all across the county. Among all these wildlife parks, Kruger National Park in the North stands out as the largest and most famous. Most reserves offer game drives and some even offer closer interaction with selected wild animals.
Adventure filled
When it comes to exciting activities, South Africa satisfies its tourists with different activities to choose from, such as skydiving, white water rafting, paragliding, and shark cage diving. The kids are never left out as there are lots of fun activities available to them as well as interesting places to visit. For all first-time visitors to the African continent, South Africa has to be the first stop!
1. What can you enjoy if you go to Beaches on the Indian Ocean?| A．Warm waters. | B．White sand. |
| C．Kite surfing. | D．Game drives. |
| A．The size. | B．The activity. |
| C．The scenery. | D．The location. |
| A．Pet keepers. | B．Old couples. |
| C．Families with kids. | D．Food lovers. |
2 . Water is everywhere, from soil to the cells inside our own bodies. Depending on factors like location, age, and sex, the average human is between 55-60% water. So what role does water play in our bodies, and how much do we actually need to drink to stay healthy?
The water in our bodies works to adjust temperature, and to nourish(滋养) the brain and other body parts. Water isn't only in our blood. An adult's brain and heart are almost three quarters water, while lungs are 83% water.
If we are mainly made of water, why do we still need to drink so much? Well, each day we lose two to three liters(升) through our sweat, urine(尿) and even just from breathing, which helps our bodies get rid of waste. While these functions are necessary to our survival, we need to compensate for the water loss. Keeping a balanced water level is essential to avoid dehydration(脱水), which can have bad effects on overall health. Dehydration is usually caused by over consumption of water in a short amount of time. It can cause obvious drops in energy, mood and blood pressure. In severe cases, it will cause headache, and even death.
However, on a normal basis, maintaining a well-hydrated system is easy to manage for those of us who are fortunate enough to have access to clean drinking water. For a long time, it’s commonly believed that we should drink eight glasses a day. But now it is suggested that the amount of water we need to drink depend largely on our weight and the environment. The recommended daily intake varies from between 2.5-3.7 liters of water for men, and about 2-2.7 liters for women.
While directly drinking water is the healthiest, coffee or tea can also be alternatives to make up for water loss. Water within food makes up about a fifth of our daily water intake. Fruits and vegetables like strawberries and cabbage are over 90% water, and can provide valuable nutrients as well. Drinking well also has various long-term benefits. Studies have shown that it can lower the chance of stroke(中风) and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. No matter what it is, getting the right amount of liquid makes a healthy life.
1. Which of the following belongs to the functions of water in our bodies?
| A．Removing body waste. | B．Increasing temperature. |
| C．Causing drops in energy. | D．Improving blood pressure. |
| A．Reduce in. | B．Increase in. |
| C．Make up for. | D．Hold back. |
| A．We should drink eight glasses a day. |
| B．Only directly drinking water is healthy. |
| C．All people should drink 2.5-3.7 liters of water. |
| D．Weight will influence the amount of water we need to drink. |
| A．A health magazine. | B．A doctor’s diary. |
| C．A food magazine. | D．A travel brochure. |
3 . If you are looking for something extraordinary on your vacation beyond Canada, we have some recommendations to you.
Paris
From its Haussmann-designed boulevards to the winding backstreets of the Marais and Montmartre, Paris' history as a center of culture, ideas and arresting architecture remains vivid. Drink coffee in Place des Voges; read books on the banks of the Seine at Shakespeare and Co.; or eat classic French dishes in a restaurant in St Germain. Throw in sights from the Louvre to Notre Dame, Les Invalides to the Eiffel Tower, and you're looking at the world's most picture-perfect city.
Rome
Rome is home to some of the world's most breathtaking architectural sites and Renaissance art. It's impossible not to feel the pull of the past when spending time in the Italian capital. Get lost in Rome's royal atmosphere at the Coliseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum. Brave the queues and wonder at St Peter's and the Sistine Chapel, while learning about how the Vatican and Christianity came to take power.
Hong Kong
The views of the towering skyscrapers(摩天大楼) of Hong Kong Island from Victoria Harbor are typical, while the Mid-Level Escalators make exploring the central district's bars, restaurants and backstreets a breeze. Across the water, Kowloon's neon(霓虹灯) streets are more lively and reward brave tourists with an up-close view of the real Hong Kong. Beyond are some of the greenest hiking spaces and emptiest beaches in Asia.
Hawaii
Thick forests. Vast sandy bays. And that gorgeous ocean. Hawaii is undoubtedly some kind of paradise. Unlike any other US state, thanks to its location far out in the Pacific, this is a place for adventurers, sun seekers and dreamers. Chill on Waikiki Beach, wonder at the the landscape in Volcanoes National Park or bring a surfboard and make like the locals by riding some of the best waves the world has to offer.
1. Where should you go if you want to have typical French food?| A．Montmartre. | B．St Germain. |
| C．Louvre to Notre Dame. | D．Les Invalides. |
| A．Adventurous life. | B．Architecture and art. |
| C．Sunshine on the beach. | D．Classic coffee and food. |
| A．They are large in size. | B．They are located in Asia. |
| C．They are located by the sea. | D．They are paradise for surfing. |
4 . On the outside, 12-year-old Luna seems like an average kid. It’s not until you get to know her that you learn that Luna is anything but average.
Born with a heart defect (缺陷) called dextrocardia, Luna has had three open-heart operations and continues to pursue (追求) her interests in art and fashion. But when Luna was approached by sport shoe company Saucony to design a shoe for sale across the country, it came as quite a surprise.
“This is so incredible. I got to use my art and creativity for something new that I’d never thought I’d be able to design,” Luna said. She is one of six patients from Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) who have partnered with Saucony to design their own shoes to launch the “Shoes with Soul” campaign.
“Rather than just a donation, we wanted to create an experience and a moment that would raise not only money, but also awareness to highlight all the amazing work that’s being done at BCH,” says Chris, Saucony’s vice president. “Specifically, we wanted to give some of the BCH kids an opportunity to share their stories and their talents with the world.”
Luna’s design is fashion. “On the tongue, they digitalized one of my drawings, and then on bottom it’s a really bright pink color, and on the inside, the sole of the shoe is actually another drawing I did of a sunset,” she said. “Thinking about kids everywhere around the world wearing my shoes is amazing. It blows my mind.”
The income from the shoe sales will benefit the Boston Children’s Hospital Cardiac Fitness Program, which encourages kids to “find your possible” through personalized exercise programs tailored for each individual patient’s heart condition.
“It feels really good to help people and it’s really something I can relate to,” says Luna. “The advice I would give a kid or someone like me is never giving up. There are a lot of kids out there with your condition and you’re not alone.”
1. What happened to Luna according to the passage?| A．She failed to design shoes for sale. |
| B．Luna had over three open-heart operations. |
| C．She got an unexpected chance to design shoes. |
| D．She suffered from a serious heart attack after she was born. |
| A．They had a talent for design shoes. |
| B．They had great interests in art and fashion. |
| C．The shoe company wanted to create a chance to display their talents. |
| D．The shoe company wanted to provide a way to donate money to them. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Excited. | C．Stressed. | D．Bored. |
| A．He who laughs last laughs best. | B．Where there is life, there is hope. |
| C．Helping others is helping ourselves. | D．Stick to your dream even if there are difficulties. |
5 . It’s cold and dark outside, and your bed is so warm and comfortable. Going for a run seems like such a bad idea. But before you put your running shoes away, it might be worth giving that crazy idea a try.
According to The Huffington Post，an outdoor run in winter, instead of running on a treadmill (跑步机), burns more calories (卡路里) because the body is working hard to regulate (调节) its temperature. Besides, research shows that race times are faster in cold weather than in warmer temperatures—and quicker runs burn more calories. Similarly, cold weather also makes the heart work harder to distribute blood through the body, making that vital muscle even stronger.
Outdoor exercise also turns up your energy and rids you of the stress and depression that build up every day. The heat and humidity in summer can drag you down and tire you faster, but cold weather is refreshing. It adjusts you to your surroundings, making you feel energetic.
Of course, the threat of smog in some builtup areas is a further problem to winter exercise. Heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer are all dangers of running in smog. The combination (结合) of air pollution and exercise increases the potential problems. If you do choose to run outside on smoggy days, take a path in a park or residential area to avoid polluted air, and go early in the morning, before rush hour. But staying inside on smoggy days and waiting for the next clear day to run is best.
1. How does cold weather benefit runners compared with warm weather?| A．They can run more slowly. | B．They can take in more calories. |
| C．Their hearts can work harder. | D．Their body temperature can get lower. |
| A．It makes runners tired easily. | B．It builds up their energy quickly. |
| C．It lessens runners’ stress. | D．It causes heart attacks. |
| A．Stop driving cars. | B．Run late in the morning. |
| C．Do more exercise. | D．Avoid outdoor exercise. |
| A．We can refresh ourselves with a winter run. |
| B．We should go to run in a park everyday. |
| C．It’s much better to take outdoor exercise in summer. |
| D．We’d better run on treadmill to reduce stress. |
6 . I was not organized, while my roommate Lucy was extremely neat. Each of her objects had its place, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled everything. I always looked for everything. Over time, Lucy got neater and I got messier. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got tired of each other.
War broke out one evening. Lucy came into the room. Soon, I heard her screaming, “Take your shoes away! Why under my bed!” Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I jumped to my feet and started yelling. She yelled back louder.
The room was filled with anger. We could not have stayed together for a single minute but for a phone call. Lucy answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could tell right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she hung up, she quickly crawled under her covers, sobbing. Obviously, that was something she could not go through. All of a sudden, a warm feeling of sympathy rose up in my heart.
Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, made my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, even on her side. I got so into my work that I even didn’t notice Lucy had sat up. She was watching, her tears dried and her expression one of disbelief. Then, she reached out her hands to grasp mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me, “Thanks.”
Lucy and I stayed roommates for the rest of the year. We didn’t always agree, but we learned the key to living together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.
1. How is Paragraph 1 mainly developed?| A．By analyzing causes. | B．By showing differences. |
| C．By describing a process. | D．By following time order. |
| A．She couldn’t find her books. | B．She heard the author shouting loud. |
| C．She got the news that her grandma was ill. | D．She saw the author’s shoes under her bed. |
| A．she wanted to show her care | B．she was asked by Lucy to do so |
| C．she was scared by Lucy’s anger | D．she hated herself for being so messy |
| A．My Friend Lucy | B．Hard Work Pays Off |
| C．Learning to Be Roommates | D．How to Be Organized |
7 . Shenzhen is an ideal shopping place for visitors. The following is a list of the most popular shopping areas in the city.
North Huaqiang Area
The most prosperous shopping area in Shenzhen, it is home to dozens of market places for electronic products, clothing and jewelry. Some market places each house hundreds of shops, from flagship stores selling big brands to small shops where you can bargain.
It is also a great place to dine, with plenty of restaurants offering various Chinese dishes and foreign brands like Pizza Hut, Hagen Dazs and AijiSen.
Dongmen Area
One of the oldest commercial centers in Shenzhen, this area highlights a walking street flanked by humming stores. It is a good place to buy clothes, handbags, fashion accessories, jewelry, handicrafts, toys and small electronic gadgets.
MixC Shopping Mall
It is the city’s largest shopping mall and one of the most luxurious, selling clothes, cosmetics and fashion accessories. There is a large indoor ice skating rink, a movie theater and a supermarket selling many imported goods. You can also find quite a few foreign restaurant brands here, including Pizza Hut, Starbucks and a Japanese noodle house.
Shekou
Sitting by a beautiful cove in Western Nanshan District, this quiet place is frequented by many expatriates living in Shenzhen. There are stores selling antiques, collectibles, handicrafts and souvenirs, as well as bars and restaurants offering western food.
1. What can you do at North Huaqiang Area？| A．Skate. | B．Enjoy Chinese food. |
| C．Watch a film. | D．Buy antiques. |
| A．In North Huaqiang Area. | B．In Dongmen Area. |
| C．In MixC Shopping Mall. | D．In Shekou. |
| A．A text book. | B．A museum guide. |
| C．A news report. | D．A travel magazine. |
8 . A message appeared in my Facebook Messenger inbox. It was from a woman I met briefly through a friend. “Hello, lady. Invite you to join my next challenge group — we’ll be focusing on fitting in 30 minutes of exercise, balanced nutrition and motivation. Let me help you reach your goals!”
I laughed and ignored it. Though I’m a little fat, I’m healthy. But the meaning behind the message stuck with me all day. The more the day went on, the heavier her message weighed on me. The insecurity about my body was brought to life by one little Facebook message. That got me thinking about stepping away from social media.
But what drove the nail into my Facebook coffin was when I posted a photo — and five minutes later my son asked how many “likes” it got.
Likes equal acceptance and approval, which need to come from within. I unknowingly set a dangerous example as it won’t be long before he has his own phone and the freedom to post his own pictures. I didn’t want him to wait for his friends to “like” them and like and accept him. He should know his self-worth doesn’t rely on what others think or click.
I deactivated my Facebook account. At first I felt lost. I missed the mindless scrolling while waiting in lineups. I carried a book with me. I’d been in the habit of checking Facebook as first thing in the morning and last thing at night, so I had to come up with some new habits.
And the results were immediate once the fog of Facebook disappeared. We were much happier as a family because I was completely present and the break left me feeling better about myself, my family, my home and my life.
1. Why did the author feel the message heavier on her?| A．Her figure attracted others’ attention. | B．Her passion for keeping fit decreased. |
| C．Her fitness began to worry her. | D．Her private information was given away. |
| A．Difficulties in getting “likes”. | B．Possible influence on her son. |
| C．Problems with online safety. | D．Lack of time for reading. |
| A．Changed. | B．Canceled. | C．Hid. | D．Set. |
| A．Return to a Normal Life | B．Hello, Happiness |
| C．Develop a Good Habit | D．Goodbye, Social Media |
9 . Giant pandas could be left hungry and struggling to survive by global warming, scientists have warned. A new study predicts that climate change is certain to wipe out much of the bamboo on which the bears rely for food. Prime panda habitat in China could be completely lost by the end of the century. Human development adds to the threat by blocking the bears' access to places where bamboo is less affected by rising temperatures.
The research focused on the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi province, which is home to around 275 wild pandas. The animals make up around 17% of the entire wild giant panda population. Qinling pandas have been isolated for thousands of years due to a long history of human habitation around the mountain range. Their limited range makes them particularly sensitive to the loss of food resources.
Bamboo, which carpets the forest floor where the pandas live, is the single item in the bears' diet and also provides essential food and shelter for other animals. The plant's unusual reproductive cycle limits its ability to adapt to climate change. One species studied by the scientists only flowers and reproduces every 30-35 years. Tuanmu's team pointed out that three main bamboo species were likely to disappear in the Qinling Mountains as the climate warmed.
"We will need advance actions to protect the current giant panda habitats," said leading researcher Mao-Ning Tuanmu, from Yale University in the US. "We need time to look for areas that might become panda habitat in the future, and to think now about connection between good panda habitats and habitats for other species."
Conservation efforts should now aim to protect areas that have a better chance of supplying pandas with food, despite climate change. Natural "bridges" could also be created to help the pandas escape from a bamboo shortage. Looking at the climate impact on the bamboo can help us prepare for the challenges that the panda will likely face in the future.
1. What does the author want to tell us in paragraph 1?| A．Human activities prevent giant pandas travelling for food. |
| B．Giant pandas could be short of food for two reasons. |
| C．Giant pandas are faced with the danger of starvation. |
| D．Global warming will ruin the bamboo in China. |
| A．It is hard for this bamboo to get used to climate change. |
| B．It takes decades to flower and produce once again. |
| C．Three main bamboo species have disappeared. |
| D．Giant pandas live on a single food resource. |
| A．We should get giant pandas away from present habitats. |
| B．We should help giant pandas remove other species. |
| C．We should set up a nature reserve for giant pandas. |
| D．We should plant more bamboos for giant pandas. |
| A．Threat to the survival of Giant Pandas |
| B．Effect of Climate Change on Giant Pandas |
| C．Research on Disappearance of Bamboo |
| D．Measures to Protect Giant Pandas |
10 . The Board of Education of the Islip Union Free School District is accepting applications for this key leadership role, director of Schools, in the 2,788 student K-12 school district located on the south shore of Islip Town approximately 50 miles from Manhattan. The Board is seeking an experienced educational leader who has the following characteristics:
•Knowledge of K-12 curriculum and instruction, technology, the budget process, finances, labor relations, and community engagement.
•Experience as a successful classroom teacher and an effective educational leader in New York State.
•A strong commitment to academic excellence, and with outstanding communication and leadership skills.
New York State SDA or SDL certification required.
The Board is prepared to offer a regionally competitive salary package. An application and a brochure describing the position and the school district can be found at: www.esboces.org.
Application deadline: December 18, 2020. Send letter of intent and resume to: Islip UFSD. Director Search passes them on to Dr. Julie Davis Lutz, Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Suffolk BOCES, PO Box 454, Medford, NY 11763. Or directly email: suptsearch@esboces.org.
1. What is the advertised position you can apply for?| A．A teacher. | B．An assistant. |
| C．An educational leader. | D．An operating officer. |
| A．Financial support. | B．Rich experience. |
| C．Extraordinary skills. | D．Adequate knowledge. |
| A．Beyond December 18, 2020; www.esboces.org. |
| B．By December 18, 2020; www.esboces.org. |
| C．Beyond December 18, 2020; suptsearch@esboces.or |
| D．By December 18, 2020; suptsearch@esboces.org. |
