1 . Feel like a family day trip outside London? Here are some of the best choices.
Harry Potter Studio
The Harry Potter Studio tour is one of the easiest day trips from London. Just read the directions on the website where you buy tickets and follow the crowds from the train to the bus. It is a unique experience. A walk through the studio allows families to appreciate every little detail that was put into the production of the Harry Potter movies from the costumes to the sets. Visitors can view the Potions Classroom, board the Hogwarts’ Express, and walk through the Dursley’s house.
Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in the UK. It is surrounded by a river and gardens, making it a relaxing and peaceful place. Leeds Castle is open for self-guided tours, and there are kid-friendly shows. Leeds Castle has a wonderfully-designed maze (迷宫), which has a surprise at the center that will appeal to all ages, not just children looking for a place to play. Leeds Castle also has a big playground, one part of which is set aside for small kids while the other inspires teenagers in an old game of hide-and-seek.
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is used by the current British royal family. This makes it the longest-occupied palace in Europe. Afraid that your young children might feel dull? Don’t worry. There is a kids’ audio tour available as well as an activity that features crafts (手工艺), coloring and dress-up for little ones. And in the summer months, parents will be happy to know that there is a place to get an ice cream for their kids centrally located in the castle complex (建筑群).
1. What can visitors do on the Harry Potter Studio tour?| A．Buy some costumes. |
| B．Ride on a special train. |
| C．See Harry Potter movies. |
| D．Study in the Potions Classroom. |
| A．Visitors must go on a tour with a guide. |
| B．The gardens are meant for hide-and-seek. |
| C．Kids can have a fun time on the playground. |
| D．The maze is especially popular among grown-ups. |
| A．Tiresome. | B．Comfortable. |
| C．Adventurous. | D．Interesting. |
2 . Later this month, Tate Britain will host its first Van Gogh exhibition since 1947. Here we've rounded up 4 of his best paintings before the show.
Potato Eaters
Potato Eaters was Van Gogh's first major work and, despite a distinct lack of colour, it was one that he was most proud of. His aim was to represent the difficulties of country life, so the farmers are painted in earthy tones with rough faces and bony hands. He was more concerned with conveying his message than achieving technical perfection in this painting.
Irises
Van Gogh finished almost 142 pieces during his stay in the Saint Remy de Provence asylum (精神病院), where he was a voluntary patient from 1889 to 1890. This piece was started shortly after he arrived there. The hospital garden provided much inspiration for the artist during his stay there. Originally, the flowers in this work were painted purple but the red pigment (色素) faded over time and has now turned blue.
Cafe Terrace at Night
Despite being painted more than 130 years ago, this cafe still exists in France and has since been renamed the Cafe Van Gogh. This artwork marks the first time Van Gogh's famous post-impressionistic star-filled sky was seen in a piece, and it was painted on the ground, in person, rather than from memory. While the artwork doesn't bear his signature, it's widely known to be Van Gogh's, as he mentioned Cafe Terrace at Night in a number of his letters.
Wheat Field With Cypresses
This piece was inspired by the view from Van Gogh's asylum window and was finished on the spot. The work was the title of three paintings that offer an insight into his stay at the hospital.' Van Gogh was 80 pleased with the summer landscape that he made three copies there, one of the same size—which hangs in the National Gallery and two smaller copies which he planned to gift to his mother and sister.
1. Which painting did Vincent van Gogh take most pride in?| A．Irises. | B．Potato Eaters. |
| C．Cafe Terrace at Night. | D．Wheat Field With Cypresses. |
| A．Purple. | B．Blue. | C．Red. | D．Yellow. |
| A．They were the same in size. | B．They had more than one copy. |
| C．They were signed by the artist, | D．They were painted on the ground. |
3 . TRAVEL PERU
Amazon Rainforest Tour
A short flight takes you from the Andes into the Amazon rainforest. From there, you’ll spend one day travelling by boat to your accommodation in the middle of the forest. You can then spend three days exploring the rainforest with a local guide and enjoying the plants and animals unique to the rainforest.
Machu Picchu Tour
This four-day walking tour will take you on amazing paths through the Andes Mountains on the way to the city of Machu Picchu. Then, you will have a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas’ dry stone method of building. Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing was needed to hold walls together other than the prefect fit of the stones.
Cusco Tour
Spend four days enjoying the unique Spanish and local Indian culture high in the Andes at Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th century. Stay in a local hotel, visit the museums, admire the architecture, enjoy the excellent local food, and go shopping at the local markets.
Lake Titicaca Tour
Enjoy the beautiful scenery as you spend a day driving to Lake Titicaca. There, a boat will take you to stay with a local Uros family on an island for three days. Both the island and the Uros homes are made of water plants from the lake.
So come and experience what Peru has to offer. For more brochures about Peru, contact us at tourinfo@travelperu.org.
1. If Jack is a lover of Inca culture, which tours would you like to recommend?| A．Amazon Rainforest and Machu Picchu | B．Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca |
| C．Cusco and Lake Titicaca | D．Machu Picchu and Cusco |
| A．All the four tours last for four days. |
| B．All the places can be reached by boat. |
| C．All the destinations are remote and poor places. |
| D．Visitors have to stay with the locals all the way. |
| A．To sell more brochures to visitors. |
| B．To try to attract more visitors to Peru. |
| C．To invite more people to visit a website. |
| D．To introduce readers the tourism of Peru. |
4 . For a scholar focusing on Australia' s public diplomacy (外交活动), working as a recreational manager in China may never be part of his career path. But Bradley does have lots to say now about his special experience at a resort in the picturesque tropical coastal city of Sanya in South China's Hainan province.
The 33-year-old Australian is actually a student in international relations completing his PhD through Griffith University. He came to Beijing for a cooperative research at Peking University less than two years ago. Such an academic life was just added color with a chance offered by the cultural exchanges project, "I'm in China".
"What I liked most about the experience was it was something completely different that you would never be able to do as a regular tourist," Bradley said in an interview. Bradley was chosen to work as a recreational manager for a Chinese wedding.
The film crew took them to many "amazing sites" and the staff at the resort taught them a lot about how to "incorporate modern Chinese features while still keeping traditional customs", Bradley said.
"I would have to say two things stick out as the most memorable: the helicopter ride and talking with the staff at the hotel about how they organize weddings here in China," he said.
That was Bradley's first time to be in a helicopter, and he was too absorbed with the "stunning" view of the beautiful coastline.
"I think it is so important to show other Australians the different landscapes China has to offer. I think so many Australians, when they think about China, imagine the historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things to see in Shanghai but have no idea about other beautiful places, like Sanya or the many other places people have been taken to in this TV series," Bradley said.
"I'm in China" is a project sponsored by China Intercontinental Communication Centre and other institutions under the guidance of China's State Council Information Office. It invites foreign natives worldwide to experience unique jobs and participate in activities that one can find nowhere else except in China. More than 10,000 photos and articles were submitted from around the globe by over 6,00 applicants.
1. Bradley actually is ________.| A．an Australian PhD student | B．a regular Australian tourist |
| C．a recreational manager | D．an Australian diplomat |
| A．get rid of | B．take advantage of | C．take in | D．keep off |
| A．The beautiful scenery of Sanya and special activities. |
| B．Flying in a helicopter and organizing Chinese wedding. |
| C．The historical sites of Beijing and the exciting things in Shanghai. |
| D．Chinese traditional customs and many amazing sites. |
| A．unique but unattractive to foreigners |
| B．special but helpless to know about China |
| C．uninteresting and rejected by foreigners |
| D．unique and popular with foreigners |
5 . Up to 40% of all food in the United States is wasted. Producing food that people don’t consume swallows up roughly 20% of America’s cropland and agricultural water, and produces greenhouse gas emissions(排放物) equal to 37 million passenger vehicles each year. Yet, 37 million Americans lack consistent access to adequate and nutritious food.
NRDC’s Food Matters Initiative partners cities to confront food waste. Food Matters is piloting all-round, cutting-edge strategies that are easy to follow and share. The first two strategies--and arguably the most critical ones--are to estimate a local baseline level of food waste and then assess the potential for rescuing surplus food. A baseline is necessary in order to understand the scale and natural of the problem. It is also a prerequisite(先决条件) to assessing any progress made, which will help inform future program development.
Using a calculator tool NRDC developed based on the Food Matters research models ,the Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office of Resilience had a better understanding of the qualities of wasted food and where it was likely occurring. This allowed the city to focus the attention on the solutions that were more closely related to the situation in Atlanta.
As in many cities across the U.S., much of the food wasted in Atlanta occurs in households and consumer-facing businesses such as restaurants. Armed with this information, the Mayor’s Office of Resilience, creates a restaurant challenge encouraging restaurants to work on the entire system of reduction, rescue, and recycling. After 90 days and participation from 6 restaurants at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson airport, the program rescue 21,000 meals and saved owners over $62000.
Atlanta’s restaurant challenge is one of a handful of examples where cities have engaged(吸引) consumer-facing food businesses to reduce their food waste. New York led the charge with a Mayor’s challenge to restaurants .Denver recently completed a series of neighborhood restaurant challenges. Nashville has an ongoing Mayor’s Food Saver Challenge including not just restaurants but other food businesses as well. Several other cities and countries throughout the country have similar business engagement success stories.
1. What are the data mainly about in paragraph 1?| A．the harm of food waste | B．the cause of food pollution |
| C．the importance of food safety | D．the solution to food waste. |
| A．It makes new plans for banning food waste |
| B．It helps the city better work on the solutions. |
| C．It tests the work efficiency of the government |
| D．It increases the potential for recycling food waste. |
| A．Inspiring customers to order food based on actual need |
| B．Teaching waiters to deal with food waste in the greener way. |
| C．Encouraging restaurants to reduce food waste in every process . |
| D．Making restaurants compete with each other in waste recycling. |
| A．Restaurant challenges only work in America |
| B．More and more cities are focusing on food waste . |
| C．Food businesses are the main sources of food waste . |
| D．It is difficult to complete the restaurant challenges. |
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn wasn't a new book when my mother was young. It's the story of Francie Nolan struggling up in a tenement slum(贫民区)through the cracks in the pavement to reach the sun.It may be the best book I've ever read about poverty,parenthood, the immigrant experience,and just about everything else.My firstborn daughter is named
Francie Nolan.To buy:$18,amazon.com.
The Maltese Falcon,by Dashiell Hammett
My all-time personal favorite. I love this book, all of it: the plot,the characters,the dialogue,much of which was lifted verbatim(逐字逐句地)by John Huston for his screenplay for the beloved movie of the same name.The single best monologue in fiction appears toward the end,when Sam Spade tells Brigid O'Shaughnessy why he's giving her to the police.
To buy:$14,amazon.com.Gilead,by Marilynne Robinson
Oh-so hard to choose!But I'll go with Gilead.An uplifting tale of love in its many forms,told in a style in which every word is perfect.A joyous read.
To buy:$15,amazon.com.Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity,by Andrew Solomon
If you think 700 pages on the many ways in which unusual kids(autistic, deaf, criminal, genius)can stretch(延伸)their families' conception(理解) of love doesn't sound like summertime reading,Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity will teach you otherwise.
To buy:$37.50,amazon.com.1. What is special about The Maltese Falcon?
| A．It can't be bought online. | B．It was made into a film. |
| C．It's about how to be a parent. | D．It tells how to treat the loved. |
| A．$52.50. | B．$29. | C．$32. | D．$55.50. |
| A．Gilead |
| B．The Maltese Falcon. |
| C．A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. |
| D．Far From the Tree:Parents,Children and the Search for Identity. |
7 . It is important to protect yourself from harmful rays. But if you think a high-factor sunscreen keeps you safe from harmful rays, you may be wrong. Research in this week’s Nature shows that while factor 50 reduces the number of melanomas(黑素瘤)and delays their occurrence, it can’t prevent them. Melanomas are the most aggressive skin cancers. You have a higher risk if you have red or blond hair, fair skin, blue or green eyes, or sunburn easily, or if a close relative has had one. Melanomas are more common if you have periodic intense exposure to the sun. Other skin cancers are increasingly likely with long-term exposure.
There is continuing debate as to how effective sunscreen is in reducing melanomas—the evidence is weaker than it is for preventing other types of skin cancer. A 2011 Australian study of 1,621 people found that people randomly selected to apply sunscreen daily had half the rate of melanomas of people who used cream as needed. A second study, comparing 1,167 people with melanomas to 1,101 who didn’t have the cancer, found that using sunscreen routinely, alongside other protection such as hats, long sleeves or staying in the shade, did give some protection. This study said other forms of sun protection—no sunscreen—seemed most beneficial. The study relied on people remembering what they had done over each decade of their lives, so it’s not entirely reliable. But it seems reasonable to think sunscreen gives people a false sense of security in the sun.
Many people also don’t use sunscreen properly applying insufficient amounts, failing to reapply after a couple of hours and staying in the sun too long. It is sunburn that is most worrying—recent research shows five episodes of sunburn in the teenage years increase the risk of all skin cancers.
The good news is that a combination of sunscreen and covering up can reduce melanoma rates, as shown by Australian figures from their slip-slop-slap campaign. So if there is a heat wave this summer, it would be best for us, too, to slip on a shirt, use sunscreen and slap on a hat.
1. What’s people’s common expectation of high-factor sunscreen?| A．It will protect them from sunburn. |
| B．It will keep their skin smooth and fair. |
| C．It will work for people of any skin color. |
| D．It will delay the occurrence of skin cancer. |
| A．Sunscreen can prevent all kinds of skin cancers. |
| B．The studies are based on direct observation of the subjects. |
| C．The studies may help people select the most effective sunscreen. |
| D．Daily application of sunscreen helps reduce the incidence of melanomas. |
| A．Staying in the shade whenever possible. |
| B．Using covering up instead of sunscreen. |
| C．Using both covering up and sunscreen. |
| D．Applying the right amount of sunscreen. |
| A．No Way to Stop Harmful Rays! |
| B．Does Sunscreen Prevent Skin Cancer? |
| C．Did You Use Sunscreen in the Right Way? |
| D．Skin Cancer—The Biggest Threat to Human Beings! |
8 . Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center
Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center is a shelter for endangered and illegally-traded foreign animals confiscated (没收) by the U.S. Wildlife Service. It carries out the motto "Preservation through Education" by educating visitors about the preservation of the environment and the inter-dependence of all living things.
Field trips
The Center hosts field trips for schools and camps throughout Southern California. Each field trip lasts two hours, consisting of a one-hour gathering and a one-hour tour of the facility with lessons associated with California State Science Standards.
Throughout the field trip, students learn about the latest developments in environmental protection and the ways in which wildlife interacts with various ecosystems. The students also receive an up-close and hands-on experience with our rescued foreign wildlife. The tour includes different environmental exhibits that show the ways students can help protect animals in the wild.
Public tours
Guided tours of the Center introduce visitors to over two hundred rescued foreign wildlife. Each tour is led by a staff member, and features fun animal facts, hands-on animal encounters. surprising rescue stories, environmental exhibits, and original approaches to going green. Visitors may only see the animals on a guided tour, for both your safety and the safety of our animals.
The guided tour lasts approximately 45-60 minutes. Visitors are served on a first-come, first-served basis. No reservations are required. However, tours may sell out. We suggest larger groups schedule a private tour.
Our regular public tour’s times are subject to change without notice. Please call in advance for the most up-to-date information
1. What is Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center intended for?| A．Helping study wildlife abroad. |
| B．Collecting money for animal shelters. |
| C．Raising awareness of wildlife protection. |
| D．Deepening our understanding of rare animals. |
| A．Share stories of rescuing animals. | B．Take part in foreign wildlife rescue. |
| C．Explore why species get endangered. | D．Learn how wildlife affects ecosystems. |
| A．Large groups are served first. | B．Animals are not available. |
| C．Booking ahead is needed. | D．Tours 'times are flexible. |
9 . “Are personal sad stories a must to win talent shows?” “Shouldn’t talent be judged on the basis of itself without needing a sad story of struggle to win?” These are questions Sanya Malhotra posed on a recent Facebook post.
This morning I came across this interesting post by Sanya Malhotra. She revealed that she loved dancing and dreamt of becoming an actress, but got defeated in “Dance India Dance” because her background story wasn’t sad and inspiring enough. That’s when she started doubting her artistic gift.
This really set me thinking. Why are people attracted to sob stories? Why do we always appreciate only those people who have achieved something after going through a lot of hardships? Why does the headline of a newspaper “Taxi-driver’s Son Stands First In UPSC Exam” find more readers? I think it is because most people, who are in a similar situation, find it comforting that someone has succeeded with so many hardships. I know it is really very difficult for people with financial, health, or family problems to overcome obstacles and succeed. I really feel proud of them and I am often touched and inspired by their stories.
Now come back to what Sanya has said. I think this is a talent show rather than a story-telling competition. When it comes to a competition of singing or dancing or any fine arts, all the competitors should be judged without any bias (偏见). No one should lose because they don’t have a sad story of struggle to tell. It’s very unfair. They can be given opportunities otherwise, but should not be judged because of their stories.
Maybe, the TV channels do it to attract more viewers, because the most important element of any reality show is these touching stories. But as Sanya has said, it’s unfair to those who haven't such a story and are equally talented.
1. What do we know about Sanya Malhotra?| A．She entered a talent show. | B．She won “Dance India Dance”. |
| C．She had a sad story to tell. | D．She was rejected in a film. |
| A．experienced many hardships | B．is a famous actress in Indian |
| C．has a great gift for gymnastics | D．used to be confident in her artistic talent |
| A．A Millionaire Donated Money To Harvard University. |
| B．A Gifted Indian Teenager Won “Dance India Dance”. |
| C．An Armless Girl Was Admitted To Harvard University. |
| D．A Freshman Paid Off Loans By Getting A Part-time Job. |
| A．Winners Should Be Determined By Public Judges |
| B．Sanya Malhotra Displayed A Great Artistic Gift |
| C．Competitors Should Not Be Judged By Sob Stories |
| D．Talent Shows Competitors Can Tell Their Stories |
10 . If you are home-alone, or live alone, and somebody comes to the door, shout out “I got it” so that it seems like someone else is there with you and you are not alone. But actually before that, there are lots of preventive(预防的) actions to take.
Give your apartment a safety check
It’s a good idea to give your apartment a once-over for safety concerns—ideally before you even move in. Complete this safety checklist.
Can any of your valuables be seen from the street?
Can you see who’s at the door without opening it?
Do you have all your mail held at the post office when you travel?
Have all the locks of your doors been changed since you moved in?
Become friends with your neighbors
If you’re shy, then you’d probably prefer anything else to chatting with neighbors. But make an effort to be friendly. In one way or another, your neighbors will be more willing to lend a hand to a friend than they are to help out a stranger in times of trouble.
Be smart about spare keys
Thieves and other illegal types know exactly where to check for spare keys.
So don’t think you’re being clever by hiding them in the mailbox, or underneath a carpet. Instead, you had better leave them to a friend or trusted neighbor.
Always lock the door
Lock your doors, every single time. Even if you’re just going to the garbage dumpster(垃圾大铁桶) quickly, or only stepping inside to catch something you forgot.
It may seem like overkill — especially if you live in a relatively safe district. But it only takes that one moment for someone to steal in.
1. Why does the author advise you to shout “I got it” in Paragraph 1?| A．To protect yourself. | B．To answer the door. |
| C．To call out loudly. | D．To welcome the guests. |
| A．Hide spare keys in the mailbox. |
| B．Take all the keys with you if possible. |
| C．Leave the keys to someone you trusted. |
| D．Have your keys ready as you leave. |
① Never change the locks.
② Close the door in time.
③ Make friends with neighbors.
④ Put spare keys under the carpet.
⑤ Keep valuables seen from the street.
⑥ Have a safety check about the apartment.
| A．①②④ | B．②③⑤ |
| C．③④⑥ | D．②③⑥ |
