1 . On the banks of the beautiful Macquarie River, Bathurst is a town of pretty tree-lined streets, beautiful parks and wonderful heritage buildings. Many activities are held there year-round. Here are some for you.
The Lazy Sunday Afternoon
January 1
Join us for the Lazy Sunday Afternoon as we show you local award-winning wine from Three Views Vineyard. Please call in advance to book. Enjoy cheap wine tastings and a selection of cheeses. For those who do not want to drive, a pick-up is available.
International Museum Photograph Day
January 15
Celebrate International Museum Photograph Day with a selfie at Bathurst Regional Council Museums with free entrance. To win a prize for the most imaginative photographs, just use the marking Museum Photograph Day Bathurst when you post on Facebook.
Bathurst Miniature Railway
From February 1 to February 16
Bathurst Miniature Railway operates every third Sunday of the month. It is located next to the Tennis Centre in Durham Street. The club started in 1977 and today operates nearly 600 meters of race track in Durham Street Bathurst. Over the years more tracks for your enjoyment of sports have been added.
Challenge Bathurst
From November 28 to December 1
Challenge Bathurst is a great opportunity to drive your own street car or track racing car on the famous Mount Panorama Racing Circuit. With the most exciting 6.2 kilometers of bitumen (沥青) on the planet open for your speeding enjoyment, you won’t want to miss your chance to gain an unforgettable experience.
1. What do we know about the Lazy Sunday Afternoon?| A．It is held monthly. | B．It is free of charge. |
| C．It refuses to offer pick-up service. | D．It requires booking ahead of time. |
| A．A man loving food and wine. | B．A girl fond of taking pictures. |
| C．A kid expecting free car rides. | D．A teenager wanting to play tennis. |
| A．To introduce some events in Bathurst. | B．To advertise some summer activities. |
| C．To show races on the Bathurst streets. | D．To provide opportunities for indoor sports. |
2 . When leaving school, I was pleased that my exam results meant that I could study engineering at university. But I also wanted to travel before starting my course. A friend of mine told me about the Schools Exploring Society, an organization which helps students take a gap year （a year between leaving school and going to college）. It has three foreign journeys a year, taking 16-20-year-olds on science and nature trips. I love being outdoors, and a mountaineering trip to Alaska was on offer. So I signed up immediately.
There was one problem, though. I had to raise a large amount of money for the trip. It was a big task, but I managed to make it. I washed cars, worked in a cafe and also sold off some of my old books, clothes and CDs. Then, just before starting out, I started worrying. Can I do this? Am I fit enough? What if I see a bear?
Seventy of us traveled to Alaska. The first two days after arrival were spent in a school hall preparing our equipment and five tons of food. Then we left for the beautiful Talkeetna Mountain. On the trip we dug paths and recognized plant species. Then we climbed a mountain that was over 6,000 feet high. It was tiring but exciting.
Looking back, a gap year was so right for me. I learned a lot about accepting other people for what they are. We had to help each other and it made me less selfish. My gap year has also made me more able to concentrate. Now, whenever Tm worried about anything, I think I did Alaska-I can do this!
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that the author .| A．hadn’t taken foreign trips before |
| B．made the trip together with his friends |
| C．was not satisfied with his exam results |
| D．was going to study engineering at a college |
| A．His body was not strong. |
| B．He couldn’t afford the trip. |
| C．He had no outdoor experience. |
| D．He had little time to prepare for the trip. |
| A．was well worth it |
| B．got him interested in plants |
| C．made him fall behind others in study |
| D．helped him know more about himself |
| A．To explain how to prepare for trips. |
| B．To advise on how to spend a gap year. |
| C．To describe his experience in his gap year. |
| D．To encourage students to do part-time work. |
3 . Wouldn’t it be wonderful to travel to a foreign country without having to worry about the headache of communicating in a different language?
In a recent Wall Street journal article, technology policy expert A lec Ross argued that, within a decade or so. We’ll be able to communicate with one another via small earpieces with built-in microphones. That’s because technological progress is extremely rapid. It’s only a matter of time. Indeed, some parents are so convinced that this technology is imminent that they’re wondering if their kids should even learn a second language.
It’s true that an increase in the quantity and accuracy (准确) of the data loaded into computers make them cleverer at translating “No es bueno dormir mucho” as “It’s not good to sleep too much.” Replacing a word with its equivalent (同义词) in the target language is actually the “easy part of a translator’s job”. But even this seems to be a discouraging task for computers.
It’s so difficult for computers because translation doesn’t—or shouldn’t—involve simply translating words, sentences or paragraphs. Rather, it’s about translating meaning. And in order to infer meaning from a specific expression, humans have to interpret a mass of information at the same time. Think about all the related clues that go into understanding an expression: volume, gesture, situation, and even your culture. All are likely to convey as much meaning as the words you use.
Therefore, we should doubt whether a machine is able to translate the world around us. If people from different cultures can offend each other without realizing it, how can we expect a machine to do better? Unless engineers actually find a way to breathe a soul into a computer, undoubtedly when it comes to conveying and translation meaning using a natural language, a machine will never fully take our place.
1. What does the underlined word “imminent” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?| A．Ready. | B．Coming. | C．Helpful. | D．Advanced. |
| A．Their data is not adequate (充足的) enough. |
| B．The real meaning of words can change. |
| C．Their accuracy needs big improvement. |
| D．A soul hasn’t been breathed into them. |
| A．Proper translation can be difficult for humans. |
| B．Slight difference mean little in translation. |
| C．Some machines will translate our world properly. |
| D．Cultures deserve more attention than words used. |
| A．A new language translating machine |
| B．Translation will become easier |
| C．Who Will Be a Better Translator |
| D．Will Language Barrier (障碍) Actually Fall |
4 . When something on your fruit or vegetable looks strange, it isn't unusual to throw it to the side. without any hesitation. But some “unusual" parts of fruits and vegetables actually contain abundant amounts of health benefits or they may offer other little known uses. Those stings in your banana are no different.
Often thrown away with its skin, banana strings, which are scientifically called phloem bundles, are just as nutritious as the rest( inner pat) of the fruit. They are packed full of fibre, vitamin A, and vitamin B6 and other nutritional content, Phloem can be found in all plants, which is responsible for the transport of nutrients.“ Phloem bundles are made up of living cells that send food products and sugar to all the different parts of the plant," says Rebecca Lee, a registered nurse and the founder of remediesforme. com. And that is exactly what those strings do in the banana, transporting necessary nutrients throughout the delicious fruit so that it can grow up properly.
“They are not disgusting, and they just help the banana grow and become delicious," Dr. Elizabeth Trattner A. P. DOM, Doctor of Chinese and Integrative Medicine, told Reader's Digest. “It is fine to eat and although is structure is a little different from the inside.
Those phloem bundles can also be used to determine if your banana is ready to eat. If all of the nutrients haven't been transported completely in a balanced way throughout the fruit yet, then the phloem bundles stay on more tightly, meaning the banana is under ripe. Then the opposite occurs with ripe and over ripe bananas, as the strings can be removed more easily. But if your bananas do end up bring over-ripe. throw them away? Absolutely not!
1. What are the strings of a banana?| A．It’s nutrition producers. | B．It’s transporting cells. |
| C．It’s fleshy inner parts. | D．It’s protective skins. |
| A．The banana is not ripe enough. | B．The phloem's structure is tight. |
| C．The nutrients are distributed fully. | D．The phloem bundles become longer. |
| A．The ways to deal with over -ripe bananas. | B．The reasons for bananas being over -ripe. |
| C．The steps of stopping bananas being ripe. | D．The links between phloem and ripe bananas. |
| A．A biology textbook. | B．A research paper. | C．A medical brochure. | D．A health magazine. |
5 . Head to Music City for a variety of great lodging (住宿) options. Whether you want to check out Downtown or head to the eastern part of the city, there’s something for everyone.
◎ Gaylord Opryland
Located in the downtown and Music Row area, it is home to two different fine dining options within its estate (庄园), three casual-style restaurants, and six options for fast food. Other great conveniences include an indoor pool, a hot tub, free WiFi, refrigerators and more.
◎ Hermitage Hotel
Also located in the downtown area, the Hermitage Hotel was named after the estate of late President Andrew Jackson. Guests can enjoy countless conveniences that will help to make their vacation absolutely unforgettable, including a fitness center, business center, free WiFi, and an on-site laundry facility.
◎ Radisson Airport TN
Located within miles of the International Airport, this is a fantastic option for those who are flying into the city as it offers free transportation service to and from the airport. The lodging features free WiFi, ATM machines on-site, and a free daily newspaper. Some great options for entertainment are also offered here, including an indoor heated pool, hot tub, gift shop, and fitness center.
◎ Hilton Garden Inn
Located just a mile away from the Country Music Hall, this downtown site provides convenience and wonder for any Music City adventure. Guests will be able to enjoy accommodations such as free WiFi and paid breakfasts. Plus, each room comes equipped with microwaves and refrigerators for added convenience. When you are not relaxing in your comfortable room, guests can take a dip in the indoor heated pool.
1. Which would a customer particular about food most probably choose?| A．Gaylord Opryland. | B．Hermitage Hotel. |
| C．Radisson Airport TN. | D．Hilton Garden Inn. |
| A．It supplies fast food options. |
| B．It is related to Andrew Jackson. |
| C．It is near the Country Music Hall. |
| D．It offers free transportation service. |
| A．They provide Internet service. |
| B．They offer an indoor heated pool. |
| C．They are located in the downtown. |
| D．They are equipped with microwaves. |
6 . "What kind of rubbish are you?" This question might normally cause anger, but in Shanghai it has become a special "greeting" among people over the past week. On July 1st, the city introduced strict trash-sorting regulations （条例〉that are required to follow and expected to be used as a model for our country. Residents must divide their waste into four separate categories and toss （投放）it into specific public dustbins. They must do so at specified times, when monitors are present to ensure correct trash-tossing and to ask the nature of one's rubbish. Individuals who fail to follow the regulations face the possibility of fines and worse. They could be punished with fines of up to 200 yuan （ $ 29）. For those who repeat to go against them, the government can add black marks to their credit records, making it harder for them to get bank loans or even buy train tickets.
Shanghai government is responding to an obvious environmental problem. It generates 9 million tons of garbage a year, more than London's annual output, which is rising quickly. But like other cities in China, it lacks a recycling system. Instead, it has relied on trash pickers to sift （筛选）through the waste, picking out whatever can be reused. This has limits. As people get wealthier, fewer of them want to do such dirty work. The waste, meanwhile, just keeps piling up.
Many residents appear to support the idea of recycling in general but are annoyed by the details. Rubbish must be divided according to whether it is food, recyclable, dry or harmful, the distinctions among which can be confusing, though there are apps to help work it out. Some have complained about the rules concerning food waste. They must put it straight in the required public bins, forcing them to tear open plastic bags and toss it by hand. What they complain most is the short periods for dropping trash, typically a couple of hours, morning and evening. Along with the monitors at the bins, this means that people go at around the same time and can keep an eye on what is being thrown out； no one wants to look bad.
1. What do we know about the trash-sorting regulations in Shanghai?| A．They are the first of their kind. | B．They are tied to one's bank account. |
| C．They have the highest fines. | D．They're aided by monitors. |
| A．There are fewer and fewer trash pickers. |
| B．It aims to build a new recycling system. |
| C．It faces more and more serious garbage problems. |
| D．People throw the rubbish here and there. |
| A．Limited time for tossing the trash. |
| B．Confusing distinction among the categories of trash. |
| C．Being fined due to improper behavior. |
| D．Being watched by monitors when throwing the garbage. |
| A．A Good Way of Trash-sorting |
| B．A New Era of Garbage Classification |
| C．A Great Time in Dealing with Litter |
| D．An Effective Solution to Rubbish Problem |
7 . Clara Daly was seated on an Alaska Airlines flight route from Boston to Los Angeles when a flight attendant asked an urgent question over the loudspeaker： "Does anyone on board know American Sign Language?" Clara, 15 at the time, pressed the call button. The flight attendant came by and explained the situation. "We have a passenger on the plane who's blind and deaf," she said. The passenger seemed to want something, but he was traveling alone and the flight attendants couldn't understand what he needed.
Clara had been studying ASL for the past year to help with her dyslexia （读写困难）and knew she'd be able to finger spell into the man's palm. So she untied her seat belt, walked toward the front of the plane, and knelt by the aisle （过道）seat of Tim Cook, then 64. Gently taking his hand, she signed, "How are you? Are you OK?" Tim asked for some water. When it arrived, Clara returned to her seat.
She came by again a bit later because Tim wanted to know the time. On her third visit, she stopped and stayed a while. "He didn't need anything. He was lonely and wanted to talk," Clara says. So for the next hour, that's what they did. She talked about her family and her plans for the future （she wants to be a politician）. Tim told Clara how he had gradually become blind over time and shared stories of his days as a traveling salesman.
"Even though Tim couldn't see her, she looked attentively at his face with such kindness," a passenger reported. "Clara was amazing," a flight attendant told Alaska Airlines in a blog interview. "You could tell Tim was very excited to have someone he could speak to, and she was such an angel. " Tim's reaction: "Best trip I've ever had."
1. Why was an urgent question asked over the loudspeaker?| A．The attendants wanted to learn American Sign Language. |
| B．The attendants couldn't understand the passenger. |
| C．The attendants wanted to use American Sign Language. |
| D．A special passenger wanted to learn American Sign Language. |
| A．Clara asked for some water for Tim. |
| B．Clara stayed with Tim for an hour. |
| C．Clara shared her life story with Tim. |
| D．Clara told Tim what time it was. |
| A．He needed someone to talk to. |
| B．He was interested in Clara's future plans. |
| C．He was afraid and lonely on the plane. |
| D．He wanted to share his experience with Clara. |
| A．Polite. | B．Outgoing. |
| C．Thoughtful. | D．Energetic. |
