1 . There are various reasons why people travel. Some tourists go to see battlefields or other historic remains. Others are looking for culture, or simply want to have their pictures taken in front of famous places. Most European tourists are looking for a sunny beach to lie on.
Northern Europeans are willing to pay a lot of money for the sun because they have so little of it. People of cities like London, Copenhagen and Amsterdam spend much of their winter in the dark because the days are so short, and much of the rest of the year in the rain. This is the reason why the Mediterrancan has always attracted them.
Every summer many people travel to Mediterranean resorts and beaches for their vacation. They all come for the same reason: sun! The huge crowds mean lots of money for the economics of Mediterranean countries. Italy’s 30,000 hotels are booked without a break every summer. And 13 million people camp on French beaches, parks and roadsides. About 37 million tourists visit there yearly, or one tourist for each person living in Spain.
But there are signs that the area is getting more tourism than it can deal with. The Mediterrancan is already one of the most polluted seas on earth. None of these, however, is ruining anyone’s fun. Obviously, they don’t go there for clean water. They allow traffic jams and seem to like crowded beaches. They don’t even mind the pollution. No matter how dirty the water is, the coastline still looks beautiful. And as long as the sun shines, ifs still better than sitting in the cold rain in Berlin, London, or Olso.
1. Europeans travel mostly for the reason that ___________.| A．they are interested in different cultural and social customs |
| B．they want to see some famous historic sites |
| C．they would1 like to take pictures in front of famous places |
| D．they wish to escape from the cold and darkness |
| A．all the 37 million people living in Spain are tourists |
| B．there are a large number of tourists visiting Spain |
| C．every person living in Spain has to take care of a tourist |
| D．every family in Spain is visited by a tourist every year |
| A．Polluted water. | B．Crowded buses. | C．Rainy weather. | D．Traffic jams. |
| A．People travel for different reasons. | B．Travelling causes a lot of problems. |
| C．Northern Europeans travel for sun. | D．Europeans are fond of travelling. |
2 . Nowadays, many parents are so busy that they seldom have family meals with their children. But this is wrong.
A Harvard study found that families that eat together are twice as likely to eat their five servings of fruits and vegetables a day as families who don't eat together. Families also eat less fried food when they eat together. Finally, children who regularly eat with family have diets higher in fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamins B6, B12, C and E.
During family meals, parents can set a good example of healthy eating that children may follow. They also display polite table manners. Family meals teach children important skills.
When a family eats together, kids can learn about nutrition and healthy eating. In many studies of schoolaged children, those who eat family meals have a higher level of nutrition knowledge.
When a family eats together, kids learn about food safety, like hand washing before eating.
Children who have company at meals are slimmer than those who eat alone. That's because they eat less, eat more slowly, and talk more. This is a good way to deter obesity in children.
Family meals can help children build vocabulary. Studies showed kids who ate with their families performed better at school and had a broader vocabulary. Family meals offer an opportunity for conversations where kids learn vocabulary—building words to help them read and communicate better.
Children gain a better sense of belonging within the family when they eat together with their parents at home. Family meals offer a time for a family to come together as a group and develop a feeling of belonging. That sense of belonging leads to better selfesteem.
In conclusion, family meals are very important.
1. The writer wants to tell us that .| A．eating together with family is a good chance to teach children |
| B．it's more advantageous for children to eat with their families |
| C．it's desirable for children to eat more regularly |
| D．enjoying family meals is equal to eating a big and delicious dinner |
| A．Having a company meal is easy to become fatter and fatter. |
| B．In the mealtime, parents should set a good example of healthy eating. |
| C．Family meals can help children with a higher level of nutrition knowledge. |
| D．Family meals can make children form the good habit of eating. |
| A．Find. | B．Replace. |
| C．Prevent | D．Improve. |
| A．Why family is important to kids. | B．How to eat in a healthy way. |
| C．How to raise children well. | D．Why family meals are important. |
3 . Over the centuries the French have lost a number of famous battles with the British. However, they’ve always felt superior in the kitchen. France has for centuries had a reputation for cooking excellence, and Britain for some of the worst cooking in the world. But according to a recent survey, that reputation may no longer reflect reality.
In the survey, 71% of the Britons said they cook at home every day, while only 59% of the French said they cook daily. British home cooks spend more time cooking each week and also produce a greater variety of dishes than French home cooks.
The reaction in London was predictably enthusiastic. British food has greatly improved since the 1990s. Once upon a time, the menu for many family meals would have been roast beef, potatoes and over-cooked vegetables, but not now. Home cooks are experimenting with the huge range of ingredients now available in British supermarkets and are preparing all kinds of new dishes, using the cookbooks that sell millions of copies every year. As a result, there’s much more diversity in British food now, compared to French food, which tends to be very traditional.
Some French people say that the survey did not show the whole picture. They agree that during the week French women don’t cook as much as they used to because most of them work and don’t have much time. They tend to buy ready-made or frozen dishes, but many of them make up for it on the weekend. There’s also a difference between Paris and the countryside. It’s true that people in Paris don’t cook much, but elsewhere, cooking is still at the heart of daily life.
For many French people, opinions about British food have not changed. When Bernard Blier, the food editor at a magazine, was asked about British food, he replied: “I don’t go out of my way to try it. It is not very refined. You can say that I’m not a fan at all.”
1. According to the passage, nowadays British people ______.| A．cook less at home than the French every day. |
| B．no longer eat roast beef and over-cooked vegetables. |
| C．are more willing to try cooking all kinds of new foods. |
| D．buy more cookbooks than French people do. |
| A．French women cook less often now. |
| B．The French prefer ready-made dishes. |
| C．French women seldom cook on the weekend. |
| D．Cooking is at the heart of people’s life in Paris. |
| A．He would love to try it. | B．He shows no interest in it. |
| C．He considers it worse than before. | D．He considers it better than before. |
| A．The history of British food. | B．The history of French food. |
| C．The change in British food. | D．The change in French food. |
4 . Many high school students consider a college education useless. Therefore, they choose not to go to college. If you’re one of them, think again. Here are some reasons why you should go to college and receive a good education there.
Schools and universities are the first sources of knowledge. We take that knowledge later on to build our careers after graduation. More knowledge will be gained after you start working, but without an education, that job will not be within easy reach. Knowledge leads to knowledge.
While limited within the walls of the educational institutions, we openly explore other cultures of the world. We come to know that ours is not the only culture. Other cultures have valuable insights to share, enriching our own at last. Education also makes us want to travel and interact with various cultures, broadening our horizons.
When there’s a downturn (衰退) in the economy, those who attended college will be more, likely to find a new job than those who only finished grade school and have a limited skill set. The more education you have, the more chances you will get to improve the quality of your life as you have a better job and earn a higher salary.
When you’re skillful and knowledgeable, you get to “rub knees” with people of similar backgrounds and tastes. It means a good education leads to excellent networking. Good networking can benefit you a lot in your later life.
A good education makes you a more interesting and confident person. You can talk about ideas and events instead of just listening to other people. An educated person doesn’t gossip, have a preference to discuss ideas and listen to what other people have to say.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．Sources of knowledge. |
| B．Benefits of attending college. |
| C．The disadvantages of not being educated. |
| D．The reasons why some people think college useless. |
| A．By giving examples. |
| B．By listing reasons. |
| C．By following directions. |
| D．By offering suggestions. |
| A．Gaining more knowledge. |
| B．Enlarging social networks. |
| C．Becoming a humorous person. |
| D．Experiencing diverse cultures. |
Sharing bread, whether during a special occasion (时刻) or at the family dinner table, is a common symbol of togetherness. Many cultures also celebrate birthdays and marriages with cakes that are cut and shared among the guests. Early forms of cake were simply a kind of bread, so this tradition hits its roots in the custom of sharing bread.
Food also plays an important role in many New Year celebrations. In the southern United States, pieces of corn bread represent blocks of gold for prosperity (兴旺) in the New Year. In Greece, people share a special cake called vasilopita. A coin is put into the cake, which signifies (预示) success in the New Year for the person who receives it.
Many cultures have ceremonies to celebrate the birth of a child, and food can play a significant role. In China, when a baby is one month old, families name and welcome their child in a celebration that includes giving red-colored eggs to guests. In many cultures, round foods such as grapes, bread, and moon cakes are eaten at welcome celebrations to represent family unity.
Nutrition is necessary for life, so it is not surprising that food is such an important part of different cultures around the world.
1. According to the passage, sharing bread______.
| A．indicates a lack of food |
| B．can help to develop unity |
| C．is a custom unique to rural areas |
| D．has its roots in birthday celebrations |
| A．Trust. | B．Success. |
| C．Health. | D．Togetherness. |
| A．using examples | B．making comparisons |
| C．analyzing causes | D．describing processes |
| A．The custom of sharing food. |
| B．The specific meaning of food. |
| C．The role of food in ceremonies. |
| D．The importance of food in culture. |
