Thank you for your interest in the Toronto Greeters Program. Toronto Greeters offer free visits to Toronto's lively neighborhoods and districts so you can discover the real Toronto.
Request Volunteer Greeters
We have lined up a large number of energetic, knowledgeable volunteer Torontonians, who are ready, willing and able to show you their favorite parts of Toronto. Tell us when you'll be visiting, when you have two to four hours of free time and what neighborhood you would like to see. We'll match you up with a greeter who shares your area of interest and you'll be all set to go. Please give us at least one-week notice to make the match. It is also important to note that greeter visits cannot be arranged for the first day of arrival in the city - just in case you are unavoidably delayed on your arrival.
Multilingual Greeters
The City of Toronto is one of the most multi-cultural cities in the world and celebrates over 100 different cultures. Residents speak over 180 languages and our city motto is Diversity is Our Strength. Toronto Greeters offer visits in a variety of languages.
Visitor Feedback
“I would like to give you positive feedback on the program that you are managing and the people that keep it going. The stories and explanation that Martin told me about the city were really interesting! I confirm that Toronto (and Canada in general) is a great place to visit, with wonderful people. You have a very nice and welcoming spirit in your community! You have a magic all around the city that makes a foreigner feel at home."
-- Eric Dan, Mexico
1. Who is the Toronto Greeters Program intended for?| A．Volunteers. | B．Visitors. |
| C．Torontonians. | D．Language learners. |
| A．One week. | B．A day. |
| C．Two to four hours. | D．Less than an hour. |
| A．Surprising. | B．Tiring. |
| C．Satisfying. | D．Inspiring. |
2 . Endurance (耐力) cyclist Mark Beaumont has announced plans to go around the world in 80 days on his bike, which would break the present record. To be successful, Beaumont will have to complete the 18,000 mile route in less than half the time he took when he set the record nine years ago. He will also have to knock about 40 days off the present world record.
Beaumont, 34, will begin his difficult journey on 2 July and will have to travel 240 miles a day to get around the world on time. Beaumont set the world record in 2008, completing his cycle around the globe in 194 days.
As a warm-up to the trip, he will first cycle around the coastline of Britain. The 3,500-mile, 15-day training ride will be at “80 days” pace and will see Beaumont cycle for 16 hours and 240 miles per day.
The cyclist said his average day would see him on the bike at 4:00 and riding for four sets of four hours with half-hour breaks in between. “I’ll get off the bike at 9:30 at night, get some sleep until the alarm goes off at 3:30 and then get back on the bike.”
He said: “I cycled around the world nine years ago but that was unsupported, wild man-style, trying to find clean water and a place to sleep. This time it is Tour De France-style. I have a support team behind me and it is just about performance. That makes a huge difference.”
Beaumont said he thought cycling round the world “sounds like a good idea”. He said he had cycled across Scotland as a 12-year-old boy and had been doing endurance rides for the past 20 years. “I know what I’m taking on,” he said. “It scares me, but I believe this is possible.”
1. What’s the present around-the-world-cycling record?| A．About 40 days. | B．80 days. |
| C．About 120 days. | D．194 days. |
| A．He will take part in a 15-day training first. |
| B．He cycles16 hours and 240 miles per day. |
| C．He starts cycling at 3:30 am every day. |
| D．He will have two breaks during the cycling every day. |
| A．Beaumont has a support team |
| B．it will probably cost less money |
| C．Beaumont needn’t find places to sleep |
| D．the cycling equipment is more advanced |
| A．Excited. | B．Scared. |
| C．Confident. | D．Uncertain. |
3 . Robots will have taken over most jobs within 30 years leaving humanity facing its “biggest challenger ever” to find meaning in life when work is no longer necessary according to experts.
Professor Moshe Vardi, who works in Rice University, says that many middle-class professionals will be assisting the work of machines within the next few decades leaving workers more leisure（休闲）time than they have ever experienced and as a result, the rise of robots could lead to unemployment rate greater than 50 percent.
“We are approaching a time when machines will be able to do better than humans at almost any task,” said Vardi, “Robots are doing more and more jobs that people used to do. I believe that society needs to face question before it’s upon us. If machines can do almost any work humans can do, what will humans do? The question I want to put forward is, ‘Does the technology we are developing finally benefit mankind?’”
Prof. Vardi said existing robotic and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies were already getting rid of a growing number of middle-class jobs and that pace of advancement in the field is increasing.
But Prof. Vardi is not sure that a workforce of human like robots will be good for mankind. “A typical answer is that if machines will do all our work, we will be free to pursue leisure activities,” he said. “I do not find this a promising future, as I do not find the idea of leisure-only life appealing. I believe that work is essential to human well-being.” He added, “Humanity is about to face perhaps its greatest challenge ever, which is finding meaning in life. If machines can do all the work or even 50 percent of the jobs that we used to do, what will people do?”
1. According to the text, what is human’s “biggest challenge ever”?| A．The most challenging jobs. |
| B．Seeking the significance of life. |
| C．The rise of unemployment rates. |
| D．No necessary work for humanity. |
| A．Whether robotic and AI technologies are good for humans. |
| B．Whether robots can rule humans within 30 years. |
| C．The unemployment rate is increasing greatly. |
| D．The development of robots is rapid enough. |
| A．Realistic and comfortable. |
| B．Unpleasant and unattractive. |
| C．Entertaining and pleasing. |
| D．Disgusting and annoying. |
| A．will be in short of labor force |
| B．can have a surplus of products |
| C．have to face fierce competition |
| D．may lose the value of life |
4 . A year ago, I decided to create a more environmentally friendly kitchen, focusing on reducing the single-use products such as plastic bags and paper towels. I’m not going to sugarcoat my experience. It takes com mitment and a willingness to change long-held habits. In creating my kitchen, I tried a lot of different alternative products and some plain old com mon sense； the result, however, has been worth the effort. I’m recycling more and relying less on single-use products and I’m saving money too.
I’m not kidding when I say that I used to really love plastic storage bags, so this was, perhaps, the biggest challenge for me. Switching to reusable storage bags is a financial investment, but the cos is reasonable considering that I previously spent at least $ 100 annually on single-use plastic bags and wrap. I willcheck online periodically for recycling updates, where a zero-waste box for kitchen items is offered, from party supplies to mixed-materialfood containers.
I’m a clean freak (怪人) and used to go through an amount of paper towels on a daily basis, butit’s easy enough to take old T-shirts ortowels and cutthem up to use to wipe down surfaces. I’m also a fan of bamboo paper towels, which have the look and feel of traditional paper towels, yet are made from a highly renewable source and also break down in just 45 days. Better yet, they can be reused up to 100 times. As for kitchen sponges (海绵擦), I keep an eye out for those made with natural and recyclable materials.
When purchasing household items online from companies like Amazon or Jet, I will ask to have them shipped in as few boxes as possible or as small a box as possible if a single item is to be sent. I’ll let the company know that they should pay more attention to how It is packaging items for delivery.
1. What is the author’s main purpose of creating her kitchen?| A．To save money. | B．To reduce waste and recycle more. |
| C．To change her long-held habits. | D．To make it cleaner and more practical. |
| A．M ake attractive. | B．Getinterested. |
| C．Show off. | D．Give up. |
| A．Begins to recycle more single-use plastic bags. |
| B．Goes through an amount of paper towels on a daily basis. |
| C．Checks online periodically to buy zero-waste box. |
| D．Chooses to use the recyclable or reusable kitchen items. |
| A．She has strong environmental awareness. |
| B．She is used to traditional paper towels. |
| C．She has a good knowledge of financialinvestment. |
| D．She prefers to have her purchases packed in small boxes. |
5 . Welcome to your future life!
You get up in the morning and look into the mirror. Your face is firm and younglooking. In 2035, medical technology is better than ever. Many people at your age could live to 150, so at 40, you're not old at all. And your parents just had an antiaging (抗衰老的) treatment. Now, all three of you look the same age!
You say to your shirt, "Turn red." It changes from blue to red. In 2035, "smart clothes" contain particles (粒子) much smaller than the cells in your body. The particles can be programmed (编程) to change your clothes' color or pattern.
You walk into the kitchen. You pick up the milk, but a voice says, "You shouldn't drink that!" Your fridge has read the chip (芯片) that contains information about the milk, and it knows the milk is old. In 2035, every article of food in the grocery store has such a chip.
It's time to go to work. In 2035, cars drive themselves. Just tell your "smart car" where to go. On the way, you can call a friend using your jacket sleeve. Such “smart technology" is all around you.
So will all these things come true? "For new technology to succeed," says scientist Andrew Zolli, "It has to be so much better that it replaces what we have already." The Internet is one example—what will be the next?
1. We can learn from the text that in the future .| A．people will never get old | B．everyone will look the same |
| C．red will be the most popular color | D．clothes will be able to change their pattern |
| A．Milk will be harmful to health. |
| B．More drinks will be available for sale. |
| C．Food in the grocery store will carry electronic information. |
| D．Milk in the grocery store will stay fresh much longer. |
| A．Food and clothing in 2035. | B．Future technology in everyday life. |
| C．Medical treatments of the future. | D．The reason for the success of new technology. |
6 . Summer is the most popular season to visit Texas since there is so much to see and to do. While visiting the Lone Star State this summer, don’t miss visiting some of these attractions and taking part in some of Texas’ best summer vacation activities.
Visit SeaWorld
There are sea life shows，adventure camps，thrilling rides and a water park. A great many activities are waiting for you at SeaWorld.
Windsurf at South Padre
With miles of shallow (浅的)，calm water in the Lower Laguna Madre and strong winds conning off the Gulf of Mexico，South Padre Island is a windsurfer’s dream.
Swim at Barton Springs
Barton Springs is in the famous Zilker Park. It was formed when Barton Greek was built. Since its opening, Barton Springs has become one of the most popular swimming pools in the state.
Take part in an outdoor adventure
In the scenic Texas Hill Country, Lake Buchanan Adventures offers different kinds of activities, including boating, hiking, camping and more.
Camp and hike in Big Bend Park
Big Bend offers a great number of outdoor activities in an old way. Backpacking, mountain biking, fishing, boating, hiking, nature watching and camping - you name it. If it can be done outdoors, it can be done in Big Bend.
Enjoy saltwater fishing
Saltwater fishing in Texas is as good as anywhere else in the USA. More and more fishermen have been discovering this in recent years and packing their bags and rods (鱼竿)to make good use of Texas, world - class saltwater fishery.
1. The underlined phrase “the Lone Star State” in Paragraph 1 is another name for .| A．Texas | B．San Antonio | C．South Padre | D．Gulf of Mexico |
| A．sea life shows | B．adventure camps |
| C．climbing | D．exciting rides |
| A．San Antonio. | B．South Padre. |
| C．Barton Springs. | D．Texas Hill Country. |
7 . Like Indiana Jones (a fictional character), who undertakes daring adventures in his spare time, my father is a businessman by day and a thrill-seeker by night.
His enthusiasm rubbed off on me, and I have been lucky to be his companion on many adventures. We started out by riding America’s fastest, most twisted roller coasters. After that a whitewater rafting trip through the Grand Canyon（峡谷）on the Colorado River started our search for other extreme thrills across the globe.
Amazing thrills awaited us at every corner of the world. Skydiving was especially thrilling when performed from a helicopter over the breathtaking Swiss Alps. We have bungee jumped from the world’s highest platform, Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa. Most recently, in Interlaken, Switzerland, we attempted canyoning（溪降运动）.
Anyone who loves a challenging thrill should try canyoning. Our adventure began with a 90-foot rope down a canyon wall into a rushing ice-cold river. Then we crossed the bone-chilling water toward the mouth of the river, our final destination, where the reward for the journey would be a whole view of the beautiful Interlaken basin. We slid over slippery rocks at one moment, jumped from waterfalls and swam through underwater tunnels the next. Back and forth we alternated, climbing rope ladders before going back into the fresh mountain water. Certainly, danger was waiting for us in each of these activities, but that very danger provided the rush. Canyoning was indeed one thrill after another, from beginning to end.
While canyoning is possible only in certain places, thrills and adventure can be found anywhere. Our beginnings in the U.S. showed us just that. We continue to seek the big thrills, but in doing so, we have learned to seek lesser excitement in daily life as well. After all, we can’t go canyoning every day, and small thrills are better than none for us thrill-seekers.
1. What do we know about the author’s father?| A．He is a very successful businessman. |
| B．He is doing a part-time job. |
| C．He likes Indiana Jones very much. |
| D．He enjoys experiencing adventures. |
| A．relate to | B．keep off |
| C．affect | D．confuse |
| A．Jumped down from waterfalls and swam across the icy water. |
| B．Jumped down a canyon river and crossed it. |
| C．Climbed over a rope ladder and swam through underwater tunnels. |
| D．Climbed down a canyon wall and swam across the rushing icy river. |
| A．Small thrills in daily life are worth a try as well. |
| B．We had better go abroad to experience canyoning. |
| C．Canyoning is not suitable for everyone. |
| D．America is the most proper place to experience adventures. |
8 . As you grow rapidly through your teenage years，you will experience a lot of changes. The changes may seem difficult and they may seem to happen quickly. Don't panic（恐慌）！You will deal successfully with them！You are a young adult now！
With more responsibility，you will find more freedom to make your own choices. This is a time to be well informed（知晓）about your choices so that you can make healthy balanced decisions that will help shape your future. You may already know your career path or you may have no idea at all what you want to do. Both situations are fine！Work hard and the right opportunity will present（展现）itself to you.
Young adulthood means greater freedom and more choices. You will probably want to be independent. But try not to shut your family out of your life. You should learn to think of others even though you are old enough to look after yourself. Your family have been with you since you came into this world.
It is also perfectly natural in this time for you to spend more time with your friends than your family. Choose your friends wisely. A true friend will stand by you no matter what happens. This period is part of the life cycle. There are some people who will be with you throughout life's journey and there will be some people with whom you par（分离）and go separate ways. Leaving school can be hard. The reality is that you may not ever see all of your classmates again.
You are a young adult. It is your life. No one can live it for you. The choices that you make from now on will be your choices. So making the right choices will be important to you. Life is for living. Enjoy your life wisely！
1. Who do the underlined words "some people" in Paragraph 4 probably mean ___________?| A．your parents | B．your classmates |
| C．true friends | D．your relatives |
| A．a period of complete freedom |
| B．too hard for young people to get through |
| C．an important time for the young to make the right choices |
| D．a very important period for young students to leave their parents |
| A．Teenagers | B．Teachers. |
| C．Young parents | D．Adults. |
9 . For Zack, the shave was more than just a way to fund lifesaving research. It was a way to honor his late brother, Taylor Frink.
Taylor, a volunteer firefighter in North Carolina, was killed in a car accident last September. Before his passing, Taylor was an eager supporter of St. Baldrick’s. He went bald（秃头）for the cause in 2015, supporting kids with cancer and raising money to find cures.
As a local hero, Taylor was beloved by the community. When he died, more than 1,000 people attended his funeral to pay their respects. Zack looked up to his brother and this was the reason why he decided to become a junior firefighter himself. They did everything together, Zack remembers.
Zack knew his brother had planned to shave again in 2016, so without hesitation he decided to fill his shoes and registered to shave at the local St. Baldrick’s event in Kinston, N.C.
“He was always goodhearted, and I want to make my brother proud,” shares Zack.
As part of Zack’s kindnesses, he raised more than $ 1,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation primarily by selling T-shirts he designed. Leading up to the event, Zack also visited his city council, commissioner’s office and challenged the local official department to get involved.
“We are not going to let Taylor's name be forgotten. That is what I love about St Baldrick’s,” says Jean Culbreth, volunteer event organizer. “Zack gets it. He gets that what he is doing is keeping his brother’s name alive.”
The day finally came and Zack took his seat under the clippers（剪具）, not only to honor his brother but to help kids with cancer. It was a special moment for all, and by the end of the day the event had raised more than $22,000!
1. Why did Taylor Frink go bald?| A．Because he suffered from cancer. |
| B．To attract people’s sympathy for him. |
| C．Because he wanted to look cooler. |
| D．To help raise money for cancer cures. |
| A．He followed Taylor’s example. |
| B．He sold clippers to raise money. |
| C．He decided to work at St. Baldrick’s. |
| D．He persuaded his workmates to join his cause. |
| A．Zack designs T-shirts for children with cancer. |
| B．Zack has tried to get official support. |
| C．Zack raised more than $ 22,000 by selling his T-shirts. |
| D．Zack works hard for St. Baldrick’s to get his name remembered. |
| A．the result of the volunteer event |
| B．the reason for raising money |
| C．the aim of Zack’s behavior |
| D．the meaning of Taylor’s death |
10 . Look at the map of Spain and point at the center. You've located the country's capital and one of Europe's most beautiful cities: Madrid. This popular destination is considered a city of contrasts with its abundant historic sites, resting in the shadows of modern skyscrapers.
History
This city of over 3 million people is proud of Western Europe's largest royal palace, and some consider it to be Madrid's most beautiful building.
Inside the Royal Palace 2,800 rooms are decorated in glory with museum-quality furniture and artworks. Tourists can tour 50 of these large and splendid rooms.
Art
The Internationally respected Prado Museum is the largest and most impressive art gallery in Spain. Opened in 1819, it is filled with works of art that feature the world's most comprehensive collection of Spanish paintings.
Shopping
Madrid has some of Europe's best shopping, and potential buyers love to look through the stores looking for bargains. But for 500 years, shoppers have gathered to an extremely large outdoor flea market known as the Rastro where they find everything from antiques to CDs.
Entertainment
No trip to Madrid is complete without seeing a performance of Spain's famous art form, flamenco. Every day, flamenco performers sing, dance or play the guitar in small cafes and grand theaters alike.
Food
Madrid has a wide variety of restaurants, but because the Spanish typically eat late at about 9 or 10 p.m., it's difficult to find good dinner food earlier. If you get hungry before then, the best solution is to try a tapas bar where light snacks are served. Be sure to try the jamon, a kind of dry-cured ham: Spain is famous for it.
1. What do we know about the Royal Palace in Madrid?| A．It has 50 rooms for visit. |
| B．It can hold 2, 800 people. |
| C．It's been visited by 3 million people. |
| D．It is thought to be the largest in Europe. |
| A．For discount. |
| B．For artworks. |
| C．To sell various goods. |
| D．To sell antiques and CDs. |
| A．Having dinner earlier. |
| B．Enjoying flamenco. |
| C．Visiting Prado Museum. |
| D．Drinking in a tapas bar. |
