1 . Unique and Weird New Year's Eve Traditions
German
In some parts of Germany, they do lead （铅）pouring. Pour a dollop （团）of lead into cold water and the shape it dorms may be telling you about the year to come. A heart shape, naturally, means love will come your way. A crown predicts wealth and fortune. A star indicates happiness. But if you see a cross, you're almost dead!
Latin America
If you are in Latin America, make sure you have some colourful underpants to ring in the New Year. End — of — the — year partiers put on colourful underwear to ensure certain types of outcomes of the following year, red for love and yellow for success.
Naples, Italy
Neapolitans like throwing things out of the windows, at least on New Year's Eve. Furniture, kitchen machines, grandma.. Well, maybe not the last one. Let's hope not, anyway. This tradition is meant to symbolize an out — with — the — old gesture and get a new beginning of the new year. These days people are a bit more mindful of what they throw into the street below.
Spain
In 1909, winegrowers in the Alicante region of Spain had a brilliant idea: Start and promote an annual tradition that would involve people in having to buy and eat more grapes. Everyone must eat 12 grapes on New Year's Eve to pray for wealth of the coming year. Now, it's a popular custom in Spain. But the problem is that people have to eat a grape for each bell striking at midnight.
1. Germans would like to see the following shapes of lead Except ________.| A．a heart | B．a cross |
| C．a star | D．a crown |
| A．They hate cooking at home. |
| B．They are more careful about what to throw now. |
| C．They throw their grandma out of the window. |
| D．They like making gestures in front of the windows. |
| A．They buy lots of wine. |
| B．They pray with 12 grapes. |
| C．They eat as many grapes as possible. |
| D．They eat a grape for each bell striking, |
2 . Your Perfect 2-Day Custom Private Tour in Paris
To keep you safe during COVID-19, what you can expect during your visit
• Face masks required for travelers and guides in public areas.
• Hand sanitizer（消毒剂） available to travelers and staff.
• Guides required to regularly wash hands.
Overview
Spend two perfect days in Paris exploring the city just the way you want on a private, fully customized tour. Whether you want to see the city's most significant attractions or discover treasures, your local guide designs an itinerary （旅行 日 程）,just for you and arranges all necessities, so you don't have to worry about anything. Your tour can be aimed toward personal interests like art, history, food and wine, architecture or fashion.
• 2-day tour in Paris with a private guide.
• Explore Paris your own way with a fully customizable tour, accompanied by a knowledgeable insider guide.
• Visit top Paris attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre and Montmartre.
• Get suggestions on what to do and see based on your interests.
• Enjoy care-free sightseeing - your guide takes care of all planning and necessities.
Included
• Local guide.
• Public transport costs (taxi ride, bus, metro etc.).
• Custom tour planning and hotel service for your two days.
Not included
• Full-day private car (can be booked for €395/day).
• Museum tickets (we can buy them for you, at cost).
Additional info for travelers
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking.
• Not wheelchair accessible.
• Near public transportation.
• No heart problems or other serious medical conditions.
• Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level.
• Operated by Discover Walks.
1. What must the tourists or the guides do during their tour in Paris?| A．The tourists have to wear face masks at any place. |
| B．The guides have to wash their hands regularly. |
| C．The tourists have to hire a local guide by themselves. |
| D．The guides have to confirm the booking. |
| A．The tour can be adjusted to the tourists' own interests. |
| B．The tourists can enjoy free sightseeing. |
| C．The tourists can use private cars for free. |
| D．The tourists can take advantage of wheelchairs. |
| A．The tour takes into consideration health condition of the applicants. |
| B．The tourists have to take care of their own luggage. |
| C．The tour includes all Paris tour attractions. |
| D．The tourists can only take public transport. |
3 . Our skies are filling up with satellites (卫星). Starting in May 2019, the firm SpaceX has deployed (部署) around 700 Starlink satellites into Earth orbit (轨道) over 11 launches. SpaceX plans to deploy 12000, and perhaps later 42000, satellites with the aim of providing access (使用……的机会) to the entire world.
These satellites have the promise to change the way that the night sky looks. For comparison, there are 2600 satellites currently orbiting Earth. These days, spotting (发现) a few satellites in the sky is still an exciting activity.
There are many online tools available to predict when you might get a glimpse (一瞥) of a Starlink satellite. One, called Find Starlink , takes your location (位置) and tells you what time and where in the sky to look. Even with the help of a tool it can still be a game of chance, but if you try a few times, you will eventually see something.
To get the best chance of seeing a Starlink satellite, pick a clear night. Try to get away from light pollution by going to a park or an open field, for example. Let your vision (视力) adjust to (适应) the darkness, then keep an eye out for moving sources of light in the sky. Satellites are only visible (可见的) when they reflect (反射) sunlight back to Earth. Because of this, the best time to look is just after sunset or just before sunrise, when sunlight is still reflecting off the satellites but it is dark enough to see them.
If you can’t tell whether you are looking at is a satellite or something else, there are a few simple rules to tell the difference. If a point of light is steady (稳定的) and not moving compared with everything else, it is a star. If it is a bright light moving slowly compared with the stars, it is a planet. If it is a bright flash moving extremely quickly across the sky in seconds, it is a meteor (流星).
1. Why does the firm SpaceX plan to send more satellites into space ?| A．To change the view of the night sky. |
| B．To offer more exact location data to the army. |
| C．To provide information for scientific research. |
| D．To make Internet available to the whole world. |
| A．Choosing a clear night. |
| B．Staying away from light pollution. |
| C．Looking at moving light after sunrise. |
| D．Making your eyes used to the dark sky. |
| A．A star. | B．A planet. |
| C．A meteor. | D．A plane. |
| A．SpaceX has launched 11 Starlink satellites onto Mars. |
| B．Satellites are only visible when they take in sunlight. |
| C．The best time to look at satellites is before sunrise as well as after sunset. |
| D．There are many ways available for people to spot a Starlink satellite online. |
4 . Vancouver
Natural Resources
As a major centre for the global forestry industry, Vancouver is host to many international forestry conferences and events, and the natural home of the massive BC forestry business. Companies such as Canfor and West Fraser Timber Co., the second and third largest lumber (木材) producers in the world, are headquartered in Vancouver. Vancouver is also a major centre for the mining industry.
International Trade
International trade is a key part for Vancouver’s economy. The city has Canada’s largest port and is one of North America’s major gateways for Pan-Pacific trade. The Port of Vancouver ranks first in North America in total foreign exports and second on the West Coast in total goods volume.
Banking and Finance
The headquarters for HSBC Canada is located in the Financial District in downtown. Canada’s third largest commercial entity (实体), Jim Pattison Group is a so based in Vancouver.
International Relation
Vancouver is a major centre for diplomacy (外交) and foreign relations. Most countries of the world have consulate (领事馆) or general offices in the Central Business District. In fact, many major diplomatic conferences are hosted by the city-including the world famous G7 summit with President Clinton, APEC, and the World Trade Organization. Greenpeace has its world headquarters in the city. Therefore, Vancouver was among the first North American cities to declare itself a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone.
Tourism
Tourism is a leading industry to Vancouver. The Whistler-Blackcomb Resort is among the most popular skiing resorts in North America, and was the site of the downhill events of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Vancouver’s beaches, parks, waterfronts, and mountain backdrops and its multi-cultural character attract more and more tourists.
Films
Vancouver was also called “Hollywood North”, for hosting the production of about ten percent of Hollywood’s movies. Many U.S. television and film series are shot exclusively in Vancouver. This has partly been because of the favourable Canadian dollar exchange rate.
1. Which of the following descript in about Vancouver is NOT true according to the passage:| A．The Port of Vancouver ranks first in North America in total foreign exports. |
| B．Vancouver is a film production centre and called “Hollywood North”. |
| C．International forestry conferences and events were held in Vancouver. |
| D．Vancouver is a leading centre for the global agriculture and industry. |
| A．Jim Pattison Group. | B．WHO. |
| C．Greenpeace. | D．The 2010 Winter Olympics. |
| A．a business magazine | B．a geography book |
| C．a financial newspaper | D．an entertainment book |
5 . A teenager of 17 walks into a corner store and grabs a Coca-Cola, but the cashier refuses to sell it to him because he is underage. That rule is expected to soon become reality in parts of Mexico, as lawmakers in several states push legislation (立法)to keep junk food away from children. know it can sound a bit difficult but we have to take action now," says Lopez, a lawmaker in Oaxaca's Congress.
More than 70,000 Mexicans have died from COVID-19, the world's fourth-highest recorded death toll, tracked by Johns Hopkins University. 89% of those who died in Mexico had an underlying medical condition such as obesity, diabetes (糖尿病)，high blood pressure and heart problems. That has led to a new urgency to change diets so that the younger generation doesn't suffer those illnesses.
The critics, however, say the leaders are using preexisting health conditions in COVID-19 patients to distract from a weak government response to the virus outbreak. Yet few people would deny that the country consumes large amounts of sugar-sweetened drinks and processed snacks with little nutrition --- or that Mexico has a major weight problem.
Oaxaca's governor approved the state's junk food prohibition last week. Legislators still have to complete the legal systems, and punishment could include fines and even jail. Lopez says legislators from all over the country have called her for advice. Many other states are debating a junk food ban. However, a nationwide law would not be easy. "There are powerful commercial interests that least want it to happen, but we must prioritize the well-being of our children," Lopez says.
1. What is Lopez 's attitude towards the junk food?| A．Negative. | B．Neutral. |
| C．Positive. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Keep distance. | B．Avoid illnesses. |
| C．Break away. | D．Shift attention. |
| A．Selling children junk food has been banned nationwide in Mexico. |
| B．Most Mexicans who died of COVID-19 had other health problems. |
| C．The younger generation doesn't suffer any weight problems. |
| D．People who break the prohibition in Oaxaca will only be warned. |
| A．Teenagers. | B．Legislators. |
| C．Soft drink companies. | D．State governors. |
6 . Having friends may well keep you healthier and help you deal with stress better. Some studies show that people with close friends have a greater ability to fight disease than people who are alone.
Make friendship a priority. Find the time to be with friends even if it means letting the lawn go unmoved or the dishes unwashed for a while. When you can’t get together, use the phone to keep in touch.
Open up to close friends. Maintaining a deep friendship requires a level of “heartfelt” intimacy. Don’t be afraid to express your inner fears and disappointments. Listen to your friends when they have problems, but offer advice only when it’s wanted. Help raise friends’ self-esteem when they are shaken by a job loss, or other such events.
Have different friends for different activities, such as going to the movies, singing in a choir, and joining in a bowling league.
Don’t wait for a friend to ask a favor. When a friend has the flu, offer to go to the store or drive his or her children to their after-school activities.
Never take a friendship for granted. Like a good marriage, friendship needs care and patience. Become a joiner. Find a group that matches your interests.
Talk to strangers. Conversations started in museums, laundry rooms, or bookstores can lead to firm friendship.
Enroll in an adult－education course. A classroom is an ideal place to meet others with similar interests.
1. People with close friends have a________ ability to fight disease than people who are alone.| A．less | B．greater | C．poorer | D．little |
| A．at any moment | B．only when they are happy |
| C．only when they want it | D．only when you are glad |
| A．Make friendship a priority. | B．Open up to close friends. |
| C．Never take a friendship for granted. | D．All the above. |
| A．You should have different friends for the same activities. |
| B．You should wait for a friend to ask a favor. |
| C．You should avoid talking with strangers in museums, laundry rooms, or bookstores. |
| D．You should never take a friendship for granted. |
7 . The California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento totals 100,000 square feet. Completed at a cost of $16.1million, the museum opened in May 1981. There are more than 40 exhibits, including 21 old locomotives (火车头) and carriages, some dating back to 1862. Here, visitors can learn a lot about the railroad history in California and the West in America.
Hours & Tickets
The museum is open from 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. daily (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day). Tickets are sold until 4:30 p. m. $12 adults, $ 6 students, children aged 5 and under are free.
Parking
A small number of metered parking spaces are available on the streets of Old Sacramento. However, these spaces are not for guests visiting longer than 90 minutes. All-day parking is available in large public garages (车库) at both ends of Old Sacramento.
Food Service
The Silver Palace Restaurant in the Central Pacific Railroad Passenger Station serves good food at the right prices. It is just one block southwest of the main entrance to the museum. There are many other restaurants throughout Old Sacramento.
Other Offerings
Guided tours and films about the museum are offered daily. There are many other chances at the museum, too, including some historical attractions within Old Sacramento State Historic Park.
1. Which of the following is TRUE about the museum?| A．It is open all year round. |
| B．It is more than 160 years old. |
| C．It may attract visitors interested in railway history. |
| D．The old locomotives there were all made in California. |
| A．$10 | B．$20 | C．$24 | D．$30 |
| A．worth a visit | B．famous for its expensive food |
| C．far from the museum | D．the best one in Old Sacramento |
8 . WELCOME TO STAFFORD HOUSE STUDY HOLIDAY
A TYPICAL DAY
At our centers, we have classes in either the morning or the afternoon. When you arrive, you can ask ONLY the Director of Studies when your classes will be. Here is what a typical day at Stafford House looks like.
| Morning Classes | Afternoon Classes |
| Breakfast 7:30—8:45 | Breakfast 7:30—8:45 |
| Classes 9:00—12:30 | Activity 9:00—11:30 |
| Free Time 11:30—12:30 | |
| Lunch 12:30—13:30 | Lunch 12:30—13:30 |
| Activity 14:30—17:00 | Classes 14:00—17:30 |
| Free Time 17:00—18:00 | |
| Dinner 18:00—19:00 | Dinner 18:00—19:00 |
| Free Time 19:00—20:00 | Free Time 19:00—20:00 |
| Evening Activity 20:00—22:30 | Evening Activity 20:00—22:30 |
YOU'VE ARRIVED!
We hope you will enjoy your stay with us. Our aim is to make sure that you can have fun and are happy and safe. We also want to make sure that you can take away special memories and improved language skills with you.
This booklet will provide information on how to make your study successful and enjoyable. After you have read it, if you have any question, please ask the Center Director. He or she is looking forward to welcoming you.
1. How long does the breakfast time last?| A．For half an hour. | B．For an hour. |
| C．For an hour and 15 minutes. | D．For two hours. |
| A．The Director of Studies. | B．The Center Director. |
| C．The Activity Manager. | D．The Student Welfare Officer. |
| A．To make sure students can have fun and are happy and safe. |
| B．To ensure students can take away special memories with them. |
| C．To make sure students can improve their English language skills. |
| D．To ensure students can make new friends from other countries. |
9 . The world has many beautiful sounds. we can hear the songs of birds and laugh of people. We can listen to cool music and news reports. And all this is due to(归功于) our ears! They bring us a world of sounds.
But some people can’t hear any sound at all. Some are born deaf. Others can hear well in their childhood, but too many loud sounds hurt their ears later on.
In China, 6 children out of 1000 have hearing problems when they are born. They can not hear ordinary sounds clearly. Children who have hearing problems usually also have learning problems at school.
A lot of things can cause hearing problems. For example, too much earwax is not good for our hearing and noise louder than 85 decibels(分贝) can hurt our ears and make us lose our hearing for a short time or even forever.
Hearing is a problem for all of us. So we should do our best to give our ears special care. Don't forget the following:
Try to stay away from places with too much noise. If you have to go, wear earplugs(耳塞). A pair of earplugs can cut the noise by 30 decibels. When swimming, remember to put earplugs into your ears to stop water from getting in. Never put anything sharp into your ears. If you think you have too much earwax, ask your parents to help you clean it out.
Keep these things in mind! Then you won’t ask “WHAT?” when you are older.
1. In the first paragraph, the writer wants to .| A．tell us many beautiful sounds. | B．describe the sounds. |
| C．teach us how to use ears. | D．show the importance of ears |
| A．耳膜 | B．耳鸣 | C．耳垢 | D．耳疾 |
| A．a little earwax | B．learning problems at school |
| C．noise louder than 85 decibels | D．earplugs that can only cut noise by 15 decibels |
| A．Hearing problems caused by diseases(疾病). | B．People with hearing problems. |
| C．Ways to protect our ears. | D．Danger of loud noise |
10 . When my family moved to America in 2010 from a small village in Guang Dong, China, we brought not only our luggage, but also our village rules, customs and culture. One of the rules is that young people should always respect elders. Unluckily, this rule led to my very first embarrassment in the United States.
I had a part-time job as a waiter in a Chinese restaurant. One time, when I was serving food to a middle-aged couple, the wife asked me how the food could be served so quickly. I told her that I had made sure they got their food quickly because I always respect the elderly. As soon as I said that, her face showed great displeasure. My manager, who happened to hear what I said, took me aside and gave me a long lecture about how sensitive (敏感) Americans are and how they dislike the description (描述) “old”. I then walked back to the table and apologized to the wife. After the couple heard my reason, they understood that the problem was caused by cultural differences, so they laughed and were no longer angry.
In my village in China, people are proud of being old. Not so many people live to be seventy or eighty, and people who reach such an age have the most knowledge and experience. Young people always respect older people because they know they can learn from their rich experience.
However, in the United States, people think “growing old” is a problem since “old” shows that a person is going to retire or that the body is not working well. Here many people try to keep themselves away from growing old by doing exercises or jogging, and women put on makeup, hoping to look young. When I told the couple in the restaurant that I respect the elderly, they got angry because this caused them to feel they had failed to stay young. I had told them something they didn’t want to hear.
After that, I changed the way I had been with older people. It is not that I don’t respect them any more; I still respect them, but now I don’t show my feelings through words.
By Jack
1. Jack brought the couple their food very fast because _______.| A．the manager asked him to do so | B．he respected the elderly |
| C．the couple wanted him to do so | D．he wanted more pay |
| A．people dislike being called “old” |
| B．people are proud of being old |
| C．many people reach the age of seventy or eighty |
| D．the elderly are the first to get food in restaurants |
| A．lost his job in the restaurant | B．made friends with the couple |
| C．no longer respected the elderly | D．changed his way with older people |
| A．The more Jack explained, the angrier the couple got. |
| B．Jack wanted to show his feelings through words after his experience. |
| C．The manager went back to the table and apologized to the couple. |
| D．From this experience, Jack learned more about American culture. |
