1 . SPORTS EVENTS

BASKETBALL Central Sports Center, ★City Road All Stars vs. Rockets, Sat. 8:30 p.m., $12 ★Northerners vs. Tigers, Sun. noon, $10	LAWN BOWLS Tans Town B.C ●Tans Town vs. White Vale Sun. 9:00 a.m. Wake Hill B.C ●Wake Hill vs. Colls, Sat. 2:00 p.m.
BUSHWALKING ◆Meet at Wanda Station, Sat. 9:00 a.m. sharp for hour. ◆Walk to Canary Mountains $5, ph 5432868 ◆Meet at Westley Station, Sun. 9:00 a.m. Sharp for full day ◆Walk to Wombat Valley $5, ph 3416384. Bring your own lunch	FOOTBALL St. Martins Sports Center ▼Martins vs. Doonsberg, Sat. 2:00 p.m. $8 ▼Eastside Central vs. Light Hill, Sun 2:00 p.m. $8 ▼Neil Park Recreation Center Neil Park vs. Robinson, Sat. 2:00 p.m. $11 ▼Essen vs. Springwood, Sun. 2:00 p.m. $11

1. Which of the following events can be viewed by the same person?

A．Martins vs. Doonsberg and Wake Hill vs. Colls.

B．Northerners vs. Tigers and Eastside Central vs. Light Hill.

C．Essen vs. Springwood and Eastside Central vs. Light Hill.

D．Neil Park vs. Robinson and Northerners vs. Tigers.

2. Which of the following events is the most expensive to attend?

A．Martins vs. Doonsberg	B．Eastside Central vs. Light Hill
C．All Stars vs. Rockets	D．Neil Park vs. Robinson

3. Which day and time is the most popular for spots events?

A．Sat 8:30

B．Sun noon

C．Sat 2:00 p.m.

D．Sun 2:00 p.m.

2 . Leaving a tip in a restaurant has become a custom in most countries. The word “tip” came from the Latin word “Gratis”, meaning free. Tips are defined as small gifts of money for service in addition to the payment due.

Believe it or not, the practice of tipping has a little interesting history. The custom can be traced back to the Roman era. The Romans were the first civilization to use coins. It is possible the word “tip” came from the word stipend. Tips in Latin means gift. A more common belief is tips were first given in 18th century England. A popular coffee house equipped each table with a coin box. The label of each box read “To insure promptness.” Dropping a coin into the box would result in quick service. Also, the first letter of each word is T.I.P.—tip.

In America and Europe it is customary to tip anywhere from 10% to 20%. Taxi drivers, waiters in restaurants, waitresses in lounges, hotel bellboys, doormen, and disco coat check girls, all expect a little something. People working at these jobs usually receive a low basic salary. Tips are quite necessary to supplement their income. Today most people decide the size of tip according to the quality of the service. If the service and food are not satisfactory, a small tip or possibly no tip will be left. For excellent food and service most people are quite happy to leave a tip.

Christmas is special and expensive for tipping. If one lives in an apartment house where there are doormen, one should give each one of them a gift of $5 or more at Christmastime. The amount will vary depending on how long one has been living there, the size of one’s family, and how many other tips one has given throughout the year. At Christmas also the superintendent of one’s apartment house should be given a gift of $15 or more. Christmas tips are normally given also to the laundryman, newspaper boy, milkman, parking lot attendant, postman, hairdresser or barber. There is some leeway depending on how often they have done the service, how friendly they are, and one’s own economic level.

The world is full of big spenders and people who act like big spenders. Surprisingly, rich people are not “big tippers” unless entertaining guests. It is no use showing off if nobody is there to watch, right? Many throw money around like water to impress a group of friends out for an evening “on the town”. People who usually cannot afford it are the biggest tippers in front of their friends. It is all part of the show to prove a certain level of social success. Nobody wants to look cheap, stingy, or poor in front of their friends. Over-tipping also gives some satisfaction just to see the waiter’s reaction.

For whatever reason, tipping will continue to be practiced in most countries. Tipping does have its place in our modern society. It will also remain a somewhat personal expression of gratitude.

1. Which of the following is true according to the passage?

A．Tip-giving in a restaurant is customary in all countries in the world.

B．The purpose of tip-giving is to show success and your kindness to others.

C．The receivers of tips are usually well-paid.

D．The writer thinks the practice of giving tips originated in Ancient Rome.

2. The letter in the middle of “tip” stands for _________.

A．important	B．immediate
C．insure	D．impossible

3. What is the writer’s attitude toward tip-giving?

A．Tipping does help those who receive a low basic salary.

B．Tipping is reasonable and beneficial.

C．Tipping strengthens the relationship between friends.

D．Tipping implies a way of thanks.

4. What might be the best title for the passage?

A．How to Get Tips	B．Tip Story
C．Who Can Get tips	D．Christmas Tips

3 . Winter is a great time to experiment with new sports. The key is to find one that matches your interests and natural abilities. If you like to walk, keep walking—on snowshoes. If you want to try an endurance sport, go for cross-country skiing. Besides, snowboarding is just great fun.

Not satisfied with these? Try downhill skiing, then. Downhill skiing is not as hard as it used to be—shorter, lightweight, curved skis make any beginner feel like an Olympic winner. These newer skis—along with another type of equipment called ski boards, which are even shorter than skis—help you control your speed and body movements.

Consider testing the latest high-tech skis or snowboards? Check with your local sports shops or the rental places at the ski mountains about sample programmes.

You could also try sledding. Use a wood-framed sled with steel runners or a plastic sled to head down a snowy hill. If you prefer ice to snow, think hockey or figure skating.

Runners can also train during the winter in spite of wet or slippery roads. One of the easiest sports around, snowshoeing can be excellent cold-weather cross-training for runners and cyclists—or anyone wanting to take a wintry walk in the woods. Snowshoes are smaller, lighter, and better than ever. If you want to try them out, you may be able to rent a pair for a day at many of the larger outdoor or sporting goods stores.

Whatever sport you choose, don’t rely on a friend for instruction. You wouldn’t let an inexperienced doctor perform a brain operation on you, but why let one teach you to ski or skate? That’s what instructors are for—to help newcomers start out right. Instructors can give you advice about equipment, techniques, safety, and dealing with injuries if they do happen to you.

Above all, if you want to progress, invest your time in learning the basic skills thoroughly. Everything else you do as a skier, boarder, or skater will be built on these first skills.

1. How many different types of sports are mentioned in the FIRST TWO paragraphs?

A．Six.

B．Five.

C．Four.

D．Three.

2. What do we learn from the passage?

A．Runners and cyclists cannot train because of the wet or slippery roads in winter.

B．Downhill skiing used to be more difficult to learn because of the old-fashioned skis.

C．People cann’t rent snowshoes for a day at their local sports shops or the rental places.

D．In general, first skills are more important in skiing than in snowboarding or skating.

3. Who are the most likely readers of the passage?

A．High school students.	B．Physical educators.
C．Winter sports lovers.	D．Professional athletes.

4 . At the beginning of every school year, I feared coming home with the heavy homework of the first day after a summer of fun. And I feared getting another teacher who had a long list of rules and a stare that could kill a cat.

But there was always one part of beginning a new school year that I enjoyed. I always liked going to the store to arm myself with new school supplies—even if I didn’t need them.

Sure, my pencils, erasers and notebooks from the previous school year may have had some life left in them. But this didn’t matter. Every year, Dad would pile us into the car, take us to Wal-Mart and let us buy the newest and coolest pencils, rainbow-coloured erasers and spiral notebooks.

Besides school supplies, many parents also take their kids on annual shopping spree for new clothes and book bags just in time for school. During the whole process, children are in high spirits, buying a lot of stuff and are back home exhausted.

Every year, most of my classmates and I show up to school on the first day with something smelling like a new car. We’d put our new stationery on top of the desks, just to make sure others see them.

Leftover supplies from past years were always stuffed into the living room desk. Used clothes that had lost their appeal were sent to second-hand shops, where they would be sold for 50 cents a piece.

However, all of the new stuff could only make us excited about going to school for one week, after which the usual boredom and fear come back.

1. What is NOT TRUE about the author at the beginning of a new school year in the passage?

A．He often has to face a new teacher.

B．He doesn’t enjoy the load of work from school.

C．He doesn’t appreciate strict teachers.

D．He obtains new school supplies from the school.

2. Why do the students look forward to getting new pencils every year?

A．Because the old ones are used up.

B．Because new pencils help them to study better.

C．Because they want to show their new stuff off.

D．Because it’s required by the school.

3. The underlined word “spree” in the passage probably means _________.

A．competition	B．considerable embarrassment
C．wild celebration	D．emotional pain

4. How are the old supplies dealt with?

A．They are put aside and forgotten.	B．They are given to poorer children.
C．They are sold online .	D．They are treasured by the students.

5 . Saturday 28 April, 2001: Denis Tito was setting off on his holiday. Mr. Tito’s journey was certainly unusual. So was the transport he chose and the price of his trip.

The 60-year-old multi-millionaire from New York was sitting on board a Russian spaceship. He was on a journey to the International Space Station. It might have been a routine trip for the two astronauts who were traveling with him, but for him it was certainly no ordinary journey. Dennis Tito was the first tourist ever in space, and he had paid the sum of $ 20 million to go there. As the spacecraft left the earth’s atmosphere, Tito drank a glass of fruit juice to celebrate and looked down at the earth’s blue-green surface. Two minutes later, he was sick. Luckily, it was only a minor problem. He soon recovered, and from then on enjoyed a smooth journey. When he arrived at the space station, there was a big smile on his face. “A great trip!” he commented. “I love space.”

For a long time space travel was something for heroes. But all this is going to change. Companies like ProSpace are investing large amounts of money in space travel. They want space and space travel to belong to the public, not just governments. There are other plans, like voyages through space from one side of the world to the other. Maybe we will be able to depart from New York at nine o'clock in the morning, and arrive an hour later --- in Tokyo! Such a schedule would allow the business travel to return to New York on the same day, and still have eight hours for a meeting!

1. Which of the following might be the best title of the passage?

A．Business Travelers.	B．Space Tourists.
C．A space Exploration.	D．A frightening Adventure.

2. According to the passage, Dennis Tito ________.

A．enjoyed his trip very much.	B．was too sick to eat anything in space.
C．suffered a lot during the trip.	D．didn’t think the trip was worthwhile.

3. Which of the following statements is true according to the passage?

A．Tito was the first American tourist in space.

B．Tito contributed all of his wealth to his space trip.

C．Tito visited the Russian Space Station during his trip.

D．Space travel has become a routine for Tito since then.

4. It can be expected from the passage that ________.

A．space travel will belong to the public instead of governments.

B．airplanes will some day reach the speed of space vehicles.

C．we will be able to circle the earth within less than an hour.

D．travel between two places on earth will be made through space.

6 . Currently, it’s the beginning of the rainy season in the heart of Brunei (文莱), and I have never been so sweaty. Last night I was poking at insects larger than I’d ever seen or even, in my worst nightmares, imagined existed, but despite this, I’m still having the time of my life.

I’m on a taxonomy expedition at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre in the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam with a small group of entomologists (昆虫学家), biotech researchers and laypeople (门外汉) like me. We are searching for new species in the rainforest under the guidance of a research organization. Taxon Expeditions is one of a new crop of private organizations that is tapping into the pockets of people who are science-curious but not science-trained. We help to fund this research, and we get to participate in it.

I can’t emphasise how remarkable this is. I spent a lot of time as a child dozing in my Snoopy sleeping bag under the table in my mother’s lab as she worked on her Ph.D. in development genetics. Sequencing DNA in the 1980s wasn’t something that a person just did in a few hours, and it certainly wasn’t done using a device that fitted in the palm of one’s hand. And the result wasn’t then immediately cross-referenced with an offline version of an online public database of more than 5.3 million “DNA barcodes” to see if the organism being sequenced is a newly discovered species.

And the craziest thing about all of this is that the sequencer costs less than £1,000 from a company based in Oxford. I would recommend pairing up with an actual geneticist, a biotech expert and a real entomologist to make sense of the data, but the implications for the future of access to hands-on science are astonishing. Mark my words: we are less than a generation away from an army of layperson bioprospectors (生物勘探员) working the field using a little bit of scientific training and a lot of YouTube online knowledge.

But if a trip to the rainforest with an organisation like Taxon is out of the question, then you can still do research as close as your back garden. The same group that took me to the rainforest went to the Vondel-park in the centre of Amsterdam and identified a new wasp that had never been recorded by science. And yes, the sequencer — while less expensive than a high-end smart-phone — does require a little more training than a touchscreen. But this kind of science is rapidly trickling down to the rest of us, so getting any science kit or apps in the hands of your kids or grand-kids this holiday season is an investment. Because there’s noting like discovery to fuel the future.

1. What can we learn about the writer of the passage?

A．The writer is a biotech researcher.

B．The writer is interested in science despite not being an expert.

C．The writer had spent a lot of money participating in the expedition.

D．The writer is a staff member at the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Center.

2. The underlined phrase “tapping into the pickets of people” probably means “________”.

A．trying to make money from people.

B．attempting to arouse people’s interest

C．trying to develop the potential of people

D．attempting to boost people’s knowledge

3. Why does the writer say that the implications for the future of access to hands-on science are astonishing?

A．Because teaming up with real experts to work on a project is by no means easy.

B．Because scientific devices like sequencers are affordable for the average person.

C．Because the assistance of non-professional bio prospectors aiding in scientific research is less than a generation away.

D．Because affordable devices, basic scientific training, and online knowledge make it possible for the average person to conduct useful research.

4. We can conclude from the passage that             .

A．scientific research is still restricted to some trained experts

B．devices like sequencers are easier to operate than smart-phone

C．one doesn’t need to be scientifically trained to take part in valuable research

D．doing research in one’s own garden can help promote the development of science

7 . Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass

Shanghai Disneyland is a place where every moment is packed with joy, surprises, romance, fantasy and excitement. It's place where friends and families come together to enjoy magical adventures, and with the new Annual Pass, available from January 25, 2019. Guests will be able to enjoy a whole year of never ending magic! Start your year-long magical journey today from the moment you purchase the new Annual Pass!

As a pass Holder, you'll enjoy exclusive benefits, including a full year of events and parties, Disney Character greetings, and discounts on delicious food and merchandise! You'll also receive invitations to special events and so much more!

There are three types of Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass (Different pass types are subject to restrictions specified on the “Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass Calendar”):

Any-day Annual Pass: 365 days of park access, may exclude some park hours for special events Weekday + Sunday Annual Pass: Subject to the pass calendar, offers a minimum of 250 days of park access during pass validity period, includes most weekdays, Sundays, and part of the Summer and Winter Holidays. Sunday Annual Pass: Subject to the pass calendar, offers a minimum of 45 days of park access during pass validity period, includes most Sundays

Pass eligible visit dates are subject to the pass calendar, found on the “Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass Calendar” page on the Shanghai Disney Resort official website and the Shanghai Disney Resort official WeChat Account. Guests will have visibility for the following three months of the Pass calendar (including the current month). The Pass calendar for a new month will be released in the middle of each month. We may restrict the number of persons with access to the Park due to capacity.

Launch Channel:

From January 25, 2019, guests can purchase the Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass through the Shanghai Disney Resort official WeChat account, the Shanghai Disney Resort official WeChat Mini Program “E-gift Ticket,” the Shanghai Disneyland Main Entrance ticket booths, and the Shanghai Disney Resort Reservation Centre at 400 - 180 - 0000 or +86-21-3158-0000. The Annual Pass can be redeemed and used to enter the park from January 25,2019.

From February 15, 2019, guests can purchase the Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass via the Shanghai Disney Resort Official Website and app. The Annual Pass can be redeemed (兑换) and used to enter the park from February 15, 2019.

Annual Pass Holders must redeem their Annual Passes at the Shanghai Disneyland Main Entrance ticket booths during park hours every day.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!

1. Which of the following ISN’T a selling point of the Shanghai Disneyland Annual Pass?

A．Lower prices while shopping in the resort.

B．Meeting your favorite Disney character.

C．Access to special activities.

D．Fast-pass to the not attractions.

2. Which of the following can be learned from the passage?

A．You can’t use an Annual Pass on the day you buy it.

B．Once you buy an Any-day Annual Pass, you can enjoy yourself in Shanghai Disneyland any day in one year.

C．On May 9th, a Pass Holder can know the Pass calendar of August.

D．Weekday + Sunday Annual Pass holders have at least 205 more days of park access than Sunday Annual Pass holders.

3. John can buy a Sunday Annual Pass on January 30, 2019 through the following channels EXCEPT ________.

A．the E-gift Ticket mini program

B．+86-21-3158-0000

C．the Shanghai Disney Resort Official Website

D．the Shanghai Disneyland Main Entrance ticket booths

8 . You may be familiar with the statistic that 90% of the world’s data were created in the last few years. The biggest setback with such a rate of information increase is that the present moment will always emerge far larger than the past. Short-sightedness is built into the structure, in the form of an overwhelming tendency to over-estimate near-term messages at the expense of history.

To understand why this matters, consider the findings from social science about ‘recency bias (倾向)’, which describes the tendency to assume that future events will closely resemble recent experience. People tend to base thinking disproportionately on whatever comes most easily to mind.

It’s also worth remembering that novelty tends to be a dominant consideration when deciding what data to keep or delete. Out with the old and in with the new. That’s the digital trend in a world where search algorithms (算法) are systematically biased towards freshness. They are designed in line with human preference. Such a bias towards the present is structurally rooted in the human weakness that we keep deserting things we once cherished simply because we grow tired of them.

What’s really needed is something thought of as “intelligent forgetting”: learning to let go of the immediate past in order to keep its larger continuities in view. It’s an act similar to organising a photograph album— although with more maths. When are two million photographs less valuable than two thousand?

Many data sets are irreducible and most precious when complete: gene sequences; demographic (人口的) data; the raw, hard knowledge of geography and physics. The softer the science, however, the more that scale is likely to be reversely connected with quality. In these cases, time itself is rather important as a touch stone to judge the value of data. Either we choose carefully what endures, matters and meaningfully captures our past— or its toot print is silently replaced by the present’s growing noise. Mere gathering is no cure-all answer. In an era of bigger and bigger data, the leading warning for those who have to make decisions is that what you choose not to know matters just as much as what you do.

1. What is the major problem with the explosion of recent information?

A．Trends are too quickly produced.

B．People have poor eyesight alter viewing too much information.

C．Present information is given too much emphasis.

D．Prediction for future development largely depends on the past information.

2. What causes widespread preference for newness?

A．That algorithms requires the latest to make accurate prediction.

B．That humans are accustomed to losing interest in old things.

C．That short renewed period is the feature of modern data.

D．That search algorithms keep uncovering the value of the newness.

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Recent past experience is rarely used to provide reference for future events.

B．The quality of geographic knowledge depends on photo sorting rather than full data.

C．Intelligent forgetting refers to replacing the immediate past with far-back data.

D．Time helps us to evaluate data when the quality isn’t in line with quality.

4. What is the passage mainly about?

A．The side effect of digital innovation.

B．The values of complete data in softer subjects.

C．The data discrimination caused by algorithms.

D．The faulty preference for fresh data and ways out.

9 . These summer festivals in New Orleans are few of the hottest happenings the City has to offer for holiday seekers.

Oyster Festival

There’s an old saying that it’s only safe to eat oysters in months ending in ‘R’, which was good advice in the age before refrigeration became a fashion. And that’s exactly why originally the New Orleans Oyster Festival was held in June, to break up the myth as locals never bothered to preserve the creatures with their habit of directly eating the seafood, fresh from the sea. Today, featuring oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico, Oyster Fest is a celebration of the world’s favorite food. If you’ve ever wanted to enjoy the legendary oysters at Drago’s where the recipe originated or take a bite out of an oyster the size of a hamburger. Oyster Fest is for you.

When to Co: June 3-4

Essence Festival

New Orleans holds a special place in African-American life and history so it should be no surprise the city hosts a festival celebrating African-American music and culture in the United States. With free admission, Essence Festival, organized by the African-American women’s magazine of the same name, is a combination of tour days of dynamic speeches and a showcase of African-American artists.

When to Co: June 29-July 2

Cajun-Zydeco Festival

Southern Louisiana is home to a variety of rich, unique cultures, and on a weekend in June in New Orleans, one of them— Cajun— is on lull display. The heart of Cajun country is in south-central Louisiana, a strong showcase of Cajun culture, for which the Cajun-Zydeco Festival emerged. On the particular weekend, you get ready to chew down on traditional food like Cajun gumbo at eateries, buy Cajun crafts, and purchase a Cajun T-shirt.

When to Co: June 24-25

Running of the Bulls

Due to its history, the Spanish influence still shows itself in New Orleans. The architectural style of the French Quarter is actually from Spain, and New Orleans’s annual Running of the Bulls is, in part, a nod to the city’s Spanish heritage. Unlike the Spanish festival in Pamplona, the “bulls” in the Fest are not actual bulls but the women of the Big Roller derby team. However they do chase down white-and=red-clothed festival-goers, if infuriated. Therefore behave yourself or be prepared to run tor life.

When to Co: JuIy7-9

1. Why was New Orleans Oyster Festival held in June in the first place?

A．Because refrigerator could be used to store oysters.

B．Because it was not easy for oysters to go bad in summer.

C．Because oysters could be cooked in various ways to extend storage period.

D．Because New Orleans oysters were usually seized raw.

2. The underlined word “infuriated” is closest in meaning to ______.

A．exhibited	B．color-blinded
C．angered	D．cheated

3. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

A．Oyster Festival nowadays is designed for people seeking the history of oyster harvest.

B．Essence Festival celebrates the freedom of African-American women.

C．Cajun-Zydeco Festival is mainly celebrated through dining and shopping.

D．New Orleans has been stripped of Spanish influence.

4. In which magazine does the passage most probably appear?

A．Vacation Guide.	B．Genuine Recipe.
C．Architecture Vision.	D．Music Billboard.

10 . A line of men tugged on ropes and dropped from the ship into the sea, with a group of Saibs prepared to pull them later from the sea bottom. Nasser, one of the divers, climbed over the railing of the ship and his Saib emptied his basket full of shells onto the deck.

“Get me something to fill my stomach with, boy.” I knew he was teasing as he is my father’s good friend.

“But I’m no longer an errand boy. I’m a diver, like my father was.”

“Your father was bald and deaf, like the rest of us,” Nasser laughed.

The salty Arabian Gulf produced the finest pearls in the world while the salty water also made divers lose their hair. Let alone the high pressure which cost them their hearing. I had shaved my head, in which way I felt more like a real diver. Of course, there’s no need for me to worry about the hair problem.

“I’ve dived the shallow seas before, and I can hold my breath fora whole minute.”

“Just pull your rope before you feel breathless.” He then disappeared into the water again.

I tied a heavy stone to my foot with a rope. Taking one more deep breath. I plugged my nose and jumped. With the stone finally hitting the seabed with a thump. I freed my foot from the rope. I scratched at the rocky ridge (脊), when three oysters dropped into my hands. I even didn’t have enough time to feel surprised at how easy the job was before I felt breathless.

Out of honor, I dragged the rope. Knowing that, tar above, the Saib’s strong arms strained to pull me toward the surface. I reminded myself to endure for a little more time. Just when I thought my lungs would burst, my cars popped and there was light.

Nasser burst through the water. He removed his nose plug and grinned at me looking at the three pitiful shells on the deck. “Not bad for an errand boy.” Seeing me upset with my head down, he patted me “It’s your first for such a depth. You did better than all of us.” Cheering up, I wrapped the empty basket around my neck and raised my chin, “I’m a pearl diver.”

1. According to Nasser, what did an errand boy usually do?

A．Pull divers from the sea.	B．Empty baskets for divers.
C．Serve snacks for divers.	D．Dive for shells.

2. Why did the author have his hair cut?

A．Because he tried to avoid losing hair.

B．Because all divers had shaved hair.

C．Because high pressure made him bald.

D．Because he wanted to look professional.

3. Why did the author get little harvest?

A．Because there were not many pearls in the area.

B．Because he still lacked experience in the job.

C．Because the Saib pulled him up too early without permission.

D．Because the rocky ridge was too rough.