1 . The last school bell rings and your kids are off for the summer. For most kids those thoughts of schoolwork and lessons are a distant memory that they won’t be thinking about again until fall. So it’s important for them to continue some learning.

Have Your Kids Hit the Library

Encourage your kids to read by taking them to the library during the summer. If they don’t have a library card，get them one. Many local libraries sponsor summer reading clubs that keep your kids wanting to read. Be sure to let your kids pick their own books out; summer is for fun reading.

Have Your Kids Read Every Day

Ask your kids to read outside in the sun. Join them, read aloud their favorite books, no matter how many times you have read them. Pick a time every day when you all stop and read as a family together. Nothing will stimulate a child to read than to have adults reading with them.

Find Other Ways to Encourage the Kids

If you are planning a family trip, have them check out the map. Let your kids go online and research where you are going. Have your kids check the weather report in the newspaper or what big event is happening and then have them report back on it at dinner time. Have your kids check out magazines or websites for recipes (食谱) that can be prepared.

Learning to express your thoughts. The writing in a logical manner is a skill that is often lost. To help your kids, have them write about things during the summer. If your kids love something such as animals, have them write a short report about them to share with the family. If you are going on a trip, have your kids keep a travel journal.

1. What should parents do in a library according to the writer?

A．Keep a close eye on what their kids read.

B．Help their kids find useful books.

C．Only let their kids read books on subjects.

D．Let their kids choose what they like reading.

2. What does the underlined word “stimulate” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Require.

B．Teach.

C．Encourage.

D．Stop.

3. In Paragraph 4, the writer suggests that parents      .

A．help their kids learn through daily activities

B．encourage their children to use the Internet

C．care about what is happening around the world

D．teach their kids to cook at a young age

4. What’s the best title for the last paragraph?

A．Ask Them to Keep Diaries	B．Ask Them to Write Reports
C．Improve Their Writing Skills	D．Take a Trip with Your Kids

2 . Our guide was excellent! He walked us through all the local villages and took extra time at the end to enjoy a local dinner. He stayed with us longer than he was obliged（迫使）to and made this a fantastic experience.

Tour snapshot

Travel is all about the street food these days, and why not？It's fresh, fast, cheap and a great way to crack into the local scene. Join this Hanoi tour to source the best street eats from markets, food carts, street cafes and other hard-to-find-but-totally-worth-the-effort secret spots.

Highlights

Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do—on the street

Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi's charming old quarter

Learn more about Hanoi's unique food culture

Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine

Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe

Schedule details

Duration：2.5 hours

Meeting point：Sacombank ATM Machine﹣No.1 Dong Xuan street （front entrance of Dong Xuan Market, Corner of Dong Xuan St with Cau Dong St）

Starting time：5：00 PM

Ending point：Café Pho Co-11 Hang Gai St, Hoan Kiem

1. What did the guide do？

A．He showed visitors around by car.

B．He took many photos of visitors.

C．He stayed with visitors for extra time.

D．He enjoyed breakfast with visitors.

2. What does the underlined word "snapshot" mean in the passage？

A．A photograph taken quickly and casually.

B．A brief impression of something.

C．An attempt to score in a game.

D．An act of firing a gun.

3. We can infer from the passage that the ending time of the tour is .

A．5：00 PM

B．5：30 PM

C．7：05 PM

D．7：30 PM

3 . There was a gardener who looked after his garden with great care. To water his flowers，he used two buckets(水桶).One was a shiny and new bucket. The other was a very old and dilapidated one，which had seen many years of service，but was now past its best.

Every morning，the gardener would fill up the two buckets. Then he would carry them along the path，one on each side，to the flowerbeds. The new bucket was very proud of itself. It could carry a full bucket of water without a single drop spilled. The old bucket felt very ashamed(惭愧的)because of its holes: before it reached the flowerbeds，much water had leaked(渗漏)along the path.

Sometimes the new bucket would say，"See how capable I am! How good it is that the gardener has me water the flowers every day! I don’t know why he still uses you. What a waste of space you are!"

And all that the old bucket could say was，"I know I am not very useful，but I can only do my best. I am happy that the gardener still finds a little bit of use in me ，at least.’’

One day，the gardener heard that kind of conversation. After watering the flowers as usual，he said，"You both have done your work very well. Now I am going to carry you back，and I want you to look carefully along the path."

Then the two buckets did so. All along the path, they noticed，on the side where the new bucket was carried，there was just bare earth；on the other side where the old bucket was carried，there was a joyous row of wild flowers，leading all the way to the garden.

1. What was the old bucket ashamed of?

A．Its   past.

B．Its aging.

C．Its   manner.

D．Its leaking.

2. What does the underlined word "dilapidated" probably mean?

A．Dirty.

B．Dark.

C．Worn out.

D．Ordinary-looking.

3. The new bucket made conversations with the old one mainly to________.

A．take pity on the old one	B．laugh at the old one
C．show off its good look	D．praise the gardener's kindness

4. Why was the old bucket still kept by the gardener?

A．Because it was used to keep a balance.

B．Because it stayed in its best condition.

C．Because it had its own advantage.

D．Because it was thought of as a treasure.

4 . The meaning of the word “volunteer ” may be a little different in different countries, but it usually means “one who offers his or her services.” There are many different ways in which people can volunteer, such as taking care of sick people, working in homes for homeless children, and picking up garbage(垃圾) from beaches and parks. Volunteers may work within their own countries or in other countries. They are often people with a strong wish to help those who are less fortunate than themselves. Volunteers don’t expect any kind of pay.
At the root of volunteering is the idea that one person may have the ability to offer services that can help other people. Tracy, a good friend of mine, however, recently came back from India with a ____ of what being a volunteer means. She worked for two and a half weeks in one of Mother Teresa’s homes in Calcutta. The following is her story.
“I first heard about Mother Teresa in my high school, we watched a video(录像) about her work in India and all over the world. I was so moved by her spirit to help others and her endless love for every human being that after I graduated from high school, I too wanted to try her kind of work. So with two friends I flew to Calcutta for a few weeks.”
“I was asked to work in a home for sick people. I helped wash clothes and sheets, and pass out lunch. I also fed the people who were too weak to feed themselves and tried to cheer the up. I felt it was better to share with them than to think that I have helped them. To be honest, I don’t think I was helping very much. It was then that I realized that I had not really come to help, but to learn about and experience another culture(文化) that helped improve my own understanding of life and the world.”
1. According to the text, a volunteer refers to a person who ______.

A．is willing to help those in need without pay	B．can afford to travel to different places
C．has a strong wish to be successful	D．has made a big fortune in life

2. Tracy started her work as a volunteer _______.

A．after she met Mother Teresa

B．after she finished high school

C．when she was touring Calcutta

D．when she was working in a hospital

3. Why did Tracy choose to be a volunteer?

A．She liked to work with Mother Teresa.

B．She had already had some experience.

C．She was asked by Mother Teresa’s example.

D．She wanted to follow Mother Teresa’s example.

4. What is Tracy’s “new idea” (Paragraph 2) of being a volunteer?

A．Going abroad to help the sick.

B．Working in Mother Teresa’s home.

C．Doing simple things to help the poor.

D．Improving oneself through helping others.

5 . They say there are three ways to experience the Grand Canyon; on foot, on mules(骡子) or by air. We chose the first. Up early, my husband and I and our three children couldn't wait to get started. We decided to walk along a lovely path named Bright Angel Trail.

As we set out, I was shocked at how narrow the path was. And I couldn't help noticing that the other tourists weren't like us. They had heavy backpacks, water bottles, and hats. But as usual we were dressed. As the sun rose higher, Arizona's famous heat seemed to roast us. There was no shade and our legs were aching. We decided to go back, with the girl on my back and the boys far behind. By the time we finally got back, our legs were like jelly.

The next day, after we'd had a long rest and a good breakfast, we were ready for another view of the Canyon—by air. After our last walk, this would be the easiest thing in the world.

We called to each other excitedly as the plane took off and circled around the Canyon. But the smiles on our faces disappeared as the pilot tossed(翻转) the plane around, pretending he was going to hit the ground. I shouted, "STOP, TAKE US BACK!" When we finally arrived back on land, once again our legs were like jelly. We hardly spoke as we drove back.

As I said, there are three ways to view the Grand Canyon. We never tried the mules, but personally I'd suggest a fourth: buy yourself a good magazine like National Geographic. That way, you can see the Canyon, without fear or tiredness.

1. Which of the following is true according to the second paragraph?

A．They made a careful preparation before the trip.

B．The children were more joyful than their parents.

C．Bright Angel Trail was not as lovely as they expected.

D．The summer heat prevented them from enjoying the view.

2. The underlined expression "Our legs were like jelly" probably means ______.

A．we were weak	B．we were unhappy
C．we were dissatisfied	D．we were disappointed

3. Which of the following best describes their Canyon trip by air?

A．It proved to be frightening.	B．It was more comfortable.
C．It turned out to be exciting.	D．It made each of them tired.

4. We can infer from the passage that ____.

A．experiencing the Canyon on mules would be the best way

B．one needs to dress less when visiting the Grand Canyon

C．the writer was not serious when she made the suggestion

D．the whole family narrowly escaped from the air accident