1 . The New York See It All Tour is exactly what it sounds like: an all-inclusive guided tour of New York City.
Central Park
One of the most famous parks in the world, Central Park is a man-made wonder. Not only is it the first public park built in America, but it is also one of the most frequently visited parks, with over 25 million guests per year. Set in the middle of busy Manhattan, its grounds serve as a safe harbor, not only for athletes, and musicians but also for lots of migratory birds each year. One can spend an entire peaceful day wandering its grounds, gazing upon nearly 50 fountains, monuments, and sculptures or admiring its 36 bridges.
Hudson River Park
Hudson River Park is a waterside park on the Hudson River that extends from 59th Street south to Battery Park in the New York City district of Manhattan. Bicycle and pedestrian paths, including the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, span the park north to south, opening up the waterfront for the public to relax. The park includes tennis and soccer fields, children’s playground, dog run, and many other features.
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park, located in the heart of Greenwich Village, is a very popular and often crowded square. People from all backgrounds gather to this large square dotted with trees.
Central Park Zoo
The Central Park Zoo is a small 6.5-acre zoo located on Central Park in New York City. The zoo began in the 1860s, making it the first official zoo to open in New York. The zoo was improved in 1934, with the addition of many new buildings ranged in a quadrangle around the sea lion pool. Finally, the zoo was repaired in the mid-1980s and reopened in 1988, replacing the old-fashioned cages with naturalistic environments.
1. What can we learn about Central Park?A.It is the first public park built in the world. |
B.It is a man-made park. |
C.It especially attracts pedestrians and artists. |
D.It was the most crowded park when first built. |
A.Central Park. | B.Central Park Zoo. |
C.Washington Square Park. | D.Hudson River Park. |
A.In the 1860s. | B.In 1934. |
C.In 1988. | D.In the mid-1980s. |
2 . 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. |
3 . September is one of the very best months to visit France. Not only will you get to enjoy plenty of sunshine and warm weather, but the tourist season is beginning to wind down-which means cheaper airfares, lower prices at hotels, and fewer crowds. If this is your first trip to France, here is some handy information to help you get started planning your vacation!
Go Wine Tasting
September is the beginning of the grape harvest season in France, meaning there are plenty of wine-related events and festivals around the country. So September is a great time to visit the vineyards(葡萄园) around the country and go wine tasting. The Bordeaux, Loire and Burgundy regions are all lovely and great places to visit vineyards. Besides that, going to the castles of the Loire region in between visiting vineyards on such warm and sunny days is also very enjoyable.
Take a Barge Cruise
The temperatures are slightly lower, but plenty of sunshine makes for perfect conditions to enjoy a barge cruise on the canals of France. With such comfortable weather and beautiful scenery at this time of year, nothing equals hanging out on the deck of a barge.
Visit the Museums
Many museums in France have extended opening hours during the summer to accommodate the extra tourists and locals, and some museums also have extended opening hours into September. Wandering around the Louvre will take you into a wonder world, where you can enjoy world-famous art. Going out of the Louvre, you can walk to the modern and fashionable Champs Elysees to do some shopping.
Besides the above, riding a bike through France’s villages is also a welcome activity for young visitors in September. So, don’t hesitate and start to plan your September trip to France now.
1. Which of the following can best describe France in September?A.Hot and quiet | B.Cool and noisy. | C.Warm and quiet. | D.Cold and noisy. |
A.Paris | B.Bordeaux. | C.Burgundy. | D.Loire. |
A.December | B.July | C.May | D.February |
4 . L. Bean Quad backpack
If you need a backpack that can carry large and small objects and is comfortable to wear, this is the backpack for you. The reasonable price and customers’ 100% satisfaction makes this a great buy any way you look at it. While it’s not the most beautiful backpack on the planet, it does look nice at first sight.
Kanken 15” backpack
This Kanken bag is a great choice for school kids of grade one to six or adults with narrow shoulders. Weighing under 450g, it’s easy and comfortable to carry this bag around. The simple design with a lot of eye-catching colors may have you fall in love with it at once.
Timbuk2 Command backpack
If you want to safely carry your laptop and look stylish, the Timbuk2 Command backpack is the one for you. The soft back is made for a comfortable wearing experience. The clean coloring and lines of the bag may make you more “grown-up”.
Amazon Basics backpack
With a lowest price among all these backpacks, the Amazon Basics backpack is a great choice for college students on a tight budget. There are tons of storage choices in this backpack, so it’s easy to forget exactly where you placed a certain object. It is a basic black backpack with a few designs and is never going to appear on a fashion T stage.
1. What makes L. Bean Quad backpack attractive?A.The color and the design. |
B.The style and the quality. |
C.The cost and the public praise. |
D.The lightweight and the simplicity. |
A.Kanken 15” backpack. |
B.L. Bean Quad backpack. |
C.Amazon Basics backpack. |
D.Timbuk2 Command backpack. |
A.Fashion. | B.Price. | C.Comfort. | D.Storage. |
5 . Last Sunday, an earthquake struck the Napa Valley area of northern California. It happened in the middle of the night, becoming the strongest earthquake to strike the Napa Valley in 15 years. No one was killed, but many people were treated in hospitals.
I said to my seven-year-old twins, Brad and Brett, and three-year-old Meghan, “We have so much, and these poor people in trouble now have nothing. We’ll share what we have with them.”
I filled a box with foods and clothes. While I was doing this, I advised the boys to choose their toys and donate some of their less favourite things. Meghan watched quietly as the boys took out their old toys and put them together. Then she walked away. A few minutes later she came back with Lucy, her much-loved doll. She put the doll on top of the other toys.
“Oh, dear,” I said. “You don’t have to give Lucy. You love her so much.” Meghan said, “Lucy makes me happy, Mummy. Maybe she’ll make another little girl happy, too.”
I looked at Meghan for a long moment. She taught me a lesson. It’s easy to give something that we don’t want any more, but hard to give what we cherish (珍爱), isn’t it?
1. How many children does the writer have?A.One. |
B.Two. |
C.Three. |
D.Four. |
A.The earthquake caused many deaths. |
B.The earthquake is the biggest in history. |
C.The earthquake happened at night. |
D.The earthquake hit the city of California. |
A.An old toy. |
B.Clothes. |
C.A doll. |
D.Food. |
A.A Family Story |
B.The Spirit of Giving |
C.A White Night |
D.A Sad Experience |
6 . There are a variety of free magazines that kids can receive in the mail. Kids love getting mail, so these magazines will bring double joy!
Animal Wellness Magazine
If your child loves animals, a free copy may provide him or her with hours of educational entertainment. This magazine is especially wonderful if you have a dog or a cat at home and want your child to learn about pet care.
Kids Discover Online
This is an excellent online resource (资源) where elementary school children can learn about different aspects of science and social studies topics. It gives you access (使用权) to 30 units with 200 topics.
National Geographic Kids
The content there is various. You can gain even more access by creating a free account. There are educational articles on dozens of countries around the world, as well as articles on animals, planets, and more. Aimed at children aged 8 to 14, this magazine is a great choice for learning and fun.
Sports Illustrated Kids
If you have children that are sports fans, look no further than the Sports Illustrated Kids. They can get analysis of recent games, forecasts about next season, and fun games. It’s all free, and your son or daughter will love getting to know the latest sports news.
1. Which will you choose if your son is fond of keeping a rabbit?A.National Geographic Kids. | B.Kids Discover Online. |
C.Animal Wellness Magazine. | D.Sports Illustrated Kids. |
A.It is a magazine designed for teens. |
B.It covers a variety of different topics. |
C.It is only meant for kids who like fun games. |
D.It helps kids know about over 200 countries. |
A.Kids who are big fans of physical exercise. |
B.Kids who are interested in insects. |
C.Kids who are curious about the universe. |
D.Kids who dream of being a weather forecaster. |
7 . Priest (牧师) had a cat that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to come down. The priest persuaded (劝说) and offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not come down. The tree was not strong enough to climb, so the priest decided that if he tied a rope to his car and drove away so that the tree would bend down, he could then reach up and get the kitty. He did so, checking his progress in the car again and again, then worked out if he went just a little bit further, the tree would be bent enough for him to reach the kitty, But as he moved a little further forward, the rope broke.
The tree went “boing!” and the kitty at once sailed through the air out of sight. The priest felt terrible. He walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they’d seen his kitty. Nobody had seen a lost kitty.
So, he prayed, “God, I just give this kitty to your keeping.” And then he went on about his business.
Several days later he was at the grocery store, meeting one of his church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to see cat food. Before this woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he asked her, “Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?”
She replied ,“You won’t believe this.” and told him how her little girl had been begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the child begged again, so the mom finally told her little girl. “Well, God gives you a cat, you can keep it.” She told the priest, “I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask God for a cat. You won’t believe this, but saw it with my own eyes. A cat suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its paws spread out. and landed right in front of her.”
1. The priest drove his car to bend the tree in order to ________.A.get his kitty down from the tree | B.play with his kitty happily |
C.offer the kitty some warm milk | D.see if the rope was strong enough |
A.Because he knew clearly that she didn’t like a cat. |
B.Because the woman was his church member. |
C.Because he thought she would live on cat food. |
D.Because he couldn’t imagine she had her own cat. |
A.God. | B.Her neighbor. | C.The priest. | D.Her church member. |
A.A Flying Cat | B.A Lucky Girl | C.God Sent a Cat to a Girl | D.An Unlucky Priest |
8 . Festivals around the world
RakshaBandhan
This is a Hindu festival held in August. Sisters give their brothers a rakhi, a bracelet made of thread. In return, the brothers promise to care for their sisters.
Moomba
This takes place each year in Melbourne, Australia. There are boat races in the Yarra River, parades and art shows.
US Independence Day
This is held on 4th July. The US flag is flown from buildings and people hold parties to celebrate the birth of the nation.
Bastille Day
On 14th July, people in France celebrate this occasion with flags and fireworks. It marks the start of the French Revolution.
May Day
The 1st of May is the day when northern Europeans welcome spring. People wear green leaves and dance outdoors.
Carnivalin Riode Janeiro
This is a four-day festival when thousands of people in costume dance the samba through the streets.
Joanof Arc
Joan of Arc, the French girl-soldier, is honoured on the 30th of May. It was the day she was burnt to death by the English in 1431.
1. Which of the following is NOT one of the activities on the Moomba Festival?A.Boat races. | B.Parades. |
C.Art shows. | D.Dancing the samba. |
A.US Independence Day. | B.May Day. |
C.Bastille Day. | D.Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. |
A.Moomba. | B.Bastille Day. |
C.Raksha Bandhan. | D.Joan of Arc. |
9 . Within your family, are you the “boss”, the “peacemaker”, the “baby” or the “king”?
Firstborn — The “Boss”
First-time parents often have very high expectations for their eldest children.
Middle child — The “Peacemaker”
Typically, parents don’t give middle children as much attention as the firstborn or the youngest.
Youngest child — The “Baby”
By the time the youngest family member is born, most parents have loosened their rules.
Only child — The “King of the Castle”
Life in the family of an only child often revolves around him or her.
A.Thus, they tend to have more freedom. |
B.That often causes them to feel they are ignored. |
C.Early-born children experience a better social environment. |
D.These kids don’t have to share their toys or their parents’ time. |
E.Many researchers believe your position in the family influences your personality. |
F.As a result, these kids are often responsible, organized, bossy, successful achievers. |
G.The relationships between birth order, personality, and behavior confuse many researchers. |