1 . Whether you’re after a quiet beach holiday or an adventure-packed trip, with over 700 islands and 30 territories, the Caribbean offers many choices. Here we will provide practical tips to help you plan your dream Caribbean vacation.
Choosing the Best Time to Visit
Generally speaking, the Caribbean has a tropical climate with hot and humid weather year-round. Hurricanes are common during the summer months, so it’s advised to avoid travel during this season if possible. The best time to visit typically starts in November and runs through April. Be sure to check local weather forecasts before your trip.
Experiencing the Local Culture
The Caribbean is home to a variety of cultures. The local culture is a key part of the Caribbean experience, so make sure to soak up as much as you can. Visit museums and historical sites to get a deeper understanding of the local heritage, or explore local festivals for a display of music, dance, and art. Moreover, the people of the Caribbean are well known for their friendliness, so don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation.
Planning Your Activities
Whether you’re into diving, hiking, shopping, or simply lying on the beach, you will be able to pick between endless activities. Besides, you can try your hand at deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, or even bungee jumping. If you’re looking for something more laid back, take a guided tour of the island’s botanical gardens or explorer its national parks. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to review safety guidelines and pack all the necessary equipment before your adventure.
In conclusion, the Caribbean offers a diverse travel experience that caters to different preferences and budgets. With careful planning and a bit of research, you can plan a vacation that is truly unforgettable. So don’t wait — start planning your dream Caribbean trip today!
1. Which month is the best time to visit the Caribbean?| A．July. | B．December. | C．August. | D．June. |
| A．Visitors can experience different cultures and activities. |
| B．Visitors can have the opportunity to play local music. |
| C．Visitors have to be concerned about the safety of accommodation. |
| D．Deep-sea fishing is not allowed for the reason of ocean protection. |
| A．A fashion magazine. | B．A shopping guide. |
| C．A geography textbook. | D．A travel brochure. |
2 . Jon Pedley is making a big change. He is giving up his life as a businessman for a life of helping others. He is trading his beautiful farmhouse in England for life in a mud hut (小屋) in Uganda, East Africa.
Pedley admitted that he had not always led a very positive life. At times he drank too much and got in trouble with the law. “I had always put the pursuit (追求) of money in front of everything else. As long as I was all right, I didn’t care who I was hurting,” says Pedley.
But a visit to Uganda in 2007 gave Pedley a new outlook on life. He was amazed at what he saw and how much the people there appreciated the work he was doing. “I worked there for a few days and these people who have nothing were thanking me by giving me bags of potatoes, which are a fortune for them,” he said. Now Pedley is selling his business, his $1.5 million farmhouse, and his expensive car—and moving into a hut made of mud and boards in a small Ugandan village. There he will help run an organisation that hopes to improve the quality of life for people in the village of Kigazi. He will help to build schoolrooms for children and tanks to hold clean water for villagers. Today, people in Kigazi must walk two miles to a hospital, so Pedley will help to build doctors’ offices, too.
Pedley’s organisation will also work with English teenagers who are in trouble. The teens will be sent to a “camp” in Uganda that Pedley will run. The teens will live in mud huts and help to build water, health, and education facilities (设施) for kids in Kigazi, many of whom have lost their parents to poverty or disease. Pedley hopes the teens will see a side of life that might help them turn around their own lives and set them on a new and more positive path.
1. Which of the following best describes Pedley in the past?| A．Negative. | B．Creative. | C．Positive. | D．Selfish. |
| A．Do business with the local people. |
| B．Help farmers increase potato output. |
| C．Help villagers with building work. |
| D．Introduce tools to improve English teaching. |
| A．To encourage them to make friends with locals. |
| B．To inspire them to live a more positive life. |
| C．To train them to become doctors in the future. |
| D．To make them learn about different cultures. |
| A．From a millionaire to living in a mud hut. | B．A life-changing adventure. |
| C．A rich man becoming homeless. | D．More money, more worries. |
3 . A huge fire broke out on 2 September 1666 in London. The fire, known as the Great Fire of London, was the worst fire in the history of London. It burned down more than three quarters of the old city.
The fire started in the very early hours of Sunday morning in the house of the king’s baker. A strong wind blew the fire from the baker’s house into a small hotel next door. Then it spread quickly into Thames Street. That was the beginning.
At that time, most of the buildings in London were made of wood, so it was easy for the fire to spread quickly. By eight o’clock, three hundred houses were on fire. By Monday, nearly a kilometre of the city was burning along the Thames River. On Tuesday, which was considered the worst day, the fire destroyed many well-known buildings, including the old St Paul’s Cathedral.
The fire burned until finally hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire were destroyed to create a firebreak. The fire then died out eventually with nothing left to burn.
1. Why is the fire of 1666 called the Great Fire of London?| A．The fire broke out in the capital of England. |
| B．The fire was the worst fire in the history of London. |
| C．People in England will never forget the fire. |
| D．The fire spread fast into Thames Street. |
| A．In the house of the king’s baker. |
| B．In Thames Street. |
| C．In the house of the baker’s neighbour. |
| D．In St Paul’s Cathedral. |
| A．It started in a baker’s house. |
| B．It broke out on a Sunday morning. |
| C．A hotel was next to the baker’s house. |
| D．Most of the buildings in London were wooden. |
| A．The old St Paul’s Cathedral. |
| B．Hundreds of buildings in the path of the fire. |
| C．Hundreds of wooden houses. |
| D．All of the above. |
4 . Are you looking for a winter vacation destination? Try these four resorts (度假胜地) and it will certainly give you an unforgettable experience.
Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah
Solitude Mountain is a place often recommended by tourist agents. It’s a place to go if you love skiing in winter but hate waiting on lift lines. Loving a bargain doesn’t hurt either since the accommodations here are less expensive.
Key West, Florida
The crowds thin out and the prices fall in Key West in winter. Key West has a remote, romantic feel. It has inspired many poets and literary greats. It will inspire you to literally celebrate the sunrise. Surely, there are nightly sunset celebrations!
Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico, is a popular winter spot. Besides skiing, you’ll be able to experience all the culture and sights, including the thousand-year-old Taos Pueblo, the only living Native American community that is regarded as a World Heritage Site.
Big Sky, Montana
Big Sky, Montana, has more than 5,800 acres of skiing area spreading across a few mountains, with a vertical (垂直的) drop of 4,350 feet, as well as 85km of Nordic tracks. It’s a good idea to head for Big Sky for the fantastic skiing in winter because then it has been called “the least crowded resort ever”.
1. Which of the following best describes Key West?| A．Modern. | B．Romantic. | C．Realistic. | D．Serious. |
| A．It is the name of an American. | B．It is a hotel in Mexico. |
| C．It is an ancient community. | D．It is a national park. |
| A．Big Sky | B．Key West | C．Taos | D．Solitude Mountain |
5 . While English is getting more important in our schools, Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. But Chinese can be more difficult to learn. At least 16-year-old Piao Chenglong thinks so. “English is easier for me. Chinese characters (汉字) have too many strokes (笔画),” said Piao. “But I want to learn it. I want to study at Beijing University when I grow up.” Piao is from Korea. He came to China in 2008.
In Korea, there are more than 300, 000 Chinese learners like Piao. Some Korean students begin to learn to write the language on their first day at school. To help students learn Chinese, Korea holds speaking competitions for high school students every year.
Chinese isn’t just popular in Korea. People from all the world want to learn it. The Ministry of Education of China says that nearly 130 million people from 85 countries are learning Chinese. This number will be increasing to 800 million in the coming years.
In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. Some American middle schools have Chinese classes. Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots (中国结). Some even try to write and draw in the Chinese way!
People want to learn Chinese because China is becoming such an important country. Foreign countries want to understand China better to help them with business. The Chinese government is also helping the world learn Chinese. It has sent more than 200 Chinese teachers to more than 60 countries in the world. Many more Confucius Institutes (孔子学院) will be set up in the world. These institutes will teach Chinese to foreign students.
1. Which of the following is the topic sentence for the text?| A．Chinese has become popular among foreign kids. |
| B．Chinese can be more difficult to learn. |
| C．In America, Chinese is the second most popular foreign language after Spanish. |
| D．Students learn to make jiaozi and tie Chinese knots. |
| A．China. | B．America. | C．Korea. | D．Spain. |
| A．making jiaozi |
| B．writing and drawing in the Chinese way |
| C．tying Chinese knots |
| D．singing Chinese songs |
| A．Because Chinese is getting more important in their schools. |
| B．Because Chinese characters have too many strokes. |
| C．Because the number of people learning Chinese will be 800 million. |
| D．Because China is becoming more and more important in the world. |
| Cox’s Hotel Tel: 87058366 E-mail: www.coxshotel.co.uk Website: www.coxshotrl.co.uk Opening times: Coffee shop: 9:00am-6:00pm Everyday Tea room: 10:30am-5:30pm Monday—Thursday Pub (酒吧): 6:00pm-11:30pm Friday- Saturday | Hamilton Zoo Over 600 animals: tigers, pandas… Opening hours: 9: 00am-5: 00pm Monday- Sunday An adult: ￡ 15 A child (under 12 years old): ￡ 10 Tel: 23653692 |
| Sunshine Club For young people from 12 to 18 years old Include games, music, dancing and more. Every Saturday: 6: 30am-9: 30pm 28 Oxford Street, London Tel: 76239652 Price: Just￡3 a time | Cartoon Museum Come and see the best of British cartoon art. There is something for everyone, including popular cartoon characters and a great shop full of funny books and cards. Price: free Opening times: Tuesday-Saturday: 10: 30am-5: 30pm Sunday: 11: 00 am-6: 00 pm Tel: 65235873 |
| A．A 10-year-old kid. | B．A 14-year-old kid. |
| C．A 19-year-old man. | D．A 30-year-old woman. |
| A．In the Cartoon Museum. | B．At Cox’s Hotel. |
| C．In the Sunshine Club. | D．In the Hamilton Zoo. |
| A．￡10 | B．￡15 | C．￡25 | D．￡4 |
7 . Better China Trip aims to be a bridge for you in China. Whether you are here on business or simply for sightseeing, we offer you a city-to-city transportation, tour guide, and interpreter service. We can also try to assist you in answering any questions you might have with your business in China. For sightseers, we aim to ensure you see the highlights of any particular city or location you want to visit. You can either research your trip by yourself and bring us a preferred itinerary (旅行日程), or make use of our expert local knowledge to suggest one to you. You’d better discuss it with us before you start out; simply email or ring us up. You can also register your personal information, and book any service you need. The following are our services that you can order.
We have Beijing car rental, Beijing van (货车) rental, and Beijing driver services. Better China Trip provides car rental services in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Guilin, etc.
Services available:
1. Car, van and bus rental for business/shopping/sightseeing.
2. Translators and interpreters from Chinese to English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Russian, etc.
3. Beijing airport transfers (pick-up and drop-off).
4. Hotel and air or train tickets booking.
5. Tour guides&services for the Great Wall, Tian’anmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Ming Tombs, etc.
6. Tickets booking for Kungfu shows, magic, Peking Opera, etc.
7. Health care: traditional Chinese massage (推拿), foot massage, body massage.
8. Experiencing local Beijing Hutong life by tricycle.
Contact us:
You can visit our website at: www.betterchinatrip.com.
Tel:010 84026538 (within China); 008610 84026538 (outside China);
Email: bctrip01@gmail.com
MSN (Microsoft service Network): bctrip01@gmail.com
1. Whom will Better China Trip serve mainly?| A．The citizens who live or work in Beijing. |
| B．Whoever has language difficulty in China. |
| C．Whoever travels or does business in China. |
| D．The athletes coming to Beijing for big games. |
| A．Before you start out. |
| B．When you arrive in Beijing. |
| C．When you have any trouble. |
| D．After you start your travel. |
| A．getting a passport to go abroad |
| B．tour guides who speak many languages |
| C．driving you to any place at any time |
| D．getting the tickets to a Kungfu show |
On March 19, Malala Yousafzai, a 15-year-old Pakistani student and women’s education activist, returned to the classroom for the first time since being violently attacked by a member of the Taliban — a terrorist organization-on October 9,2012. Malala was shot on her way home from school in Mingora, Pakistan. A Taliban group took responsibility for the attack, claiming that the attack should serve as a warning toothers. Members of the group believe girls are not permitted to go to school. Malala was attacked because she was asking for girls’ rights to education in Swat Valley, Pakistan.
Malala recovers from the attack at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England. After a long period of recovery, Malala is starting as a nine-year student at Edgbaston High School. It is the oldest independent girl school in Birmingham, England. Though she has no plans to return to Pakistan, Malala still speaks out as a voice for change in her country and everywhere.
“I am excited that today I have achieved my dreams of going back to school. I want all girls in the world to have this basic opportunity,” Malala said in a statement. “I miss my classmates from Pakistan very much but I am looking forward to meeting my teachers and making new friends here in Birmingham.”
Malala has been an Internet blogger, or writer, since she was 11 years old. In 2011 she was awarded Pakistan’s National Peace Award for her bravery in writing about difficulties of life and education in the shadow of Taliban. She has spoken publicly about children’s rights and been nominated for an international children’s peace prize.
After the attack in 2012, support for Malala poured in from around the world. The United Nations declared November 10 Malala Day. Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the day honors Malala and shows the world that people of all sexes, all backgrounds and all countries stand behind the heroine.
1. When was Malala violently attacked by Taliban? (No more than 10 words)2. What would Malala do though she couldn’t return to Pakistan?(No more than 12 words)
3. Why did The United Nations declare November 10 Malala Day7 (No more than 12 words)
4. What does the underlined words mean? (No more than 3 words)
5. What do you think of Malala? Please share your reasons. (No more than 25 words)
9 .
Have you ever been to Taiwan, China’s biggest island? Do you want to pay a visit there? We’ll show you the best of Taiwan island. A four-day tour. | |
| Places | |
| ▲Sun Moon Lake A beautiful lake. A small island. On one side of the island, the lake looks like the sun，and on the other side it looks like the moon. That is why people call it the Sun Moon Lake. ▲Ali Mountain The nearest mountain around the Sun Moon Lake. A nice experience to have a party with Gaoshan people. A wonderful place to see a very beautiful sunrise. ▲People Lake A great place for swimming, fishing, boating and eating delicious fruit and fresh fish. ▲Gao Xiong A great place to spend a full day shopping. | |
| Price | Book(预定) now |
| Only￥5，000 Including: Round-trip plane tickets between Beijing and Taiwan. Bus service around Taiwan. Great tour guide service. | Office hours Monday—Friday: 9:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m. Tel: 6459-9561 Book by phone now for next month |
| A．September on 7th | B．September on 8th |
| C．September on 10th | D．September on 11th |
| A．Sun Moon Lake | B．Ali Mountain | C．People Lake | D．Gao Xiong |
| A．4:00 pm on Sunday | B．7:00 am on Monday |
| C．4:00 pm on Wednesday | D．7:00 am on Saturday |
| A．News. | B．Sports. | C．Education. | D．Travel. |
| A．In a hospital. | B．At a ticket office. | C．On a plane. |
