1 . Picking a Pet Caretaker
The way to find the pet caretakers
Just make a search based on your requirements. Up to 10 pet caretakers will be informed, and it won’t be long before someone is available to get in touch with you. You can send as many messages as you like to find the perfect match, and it’s free.
The time to meet your pet caretaker
As soon as the booking is complete, we strongly recommend that you take your pet to meet the pet caretaker before he or she gets the job.
Check your account to get reply
Some of our quickest pet caretakers should respond within a few hours. You will receive an email to let you know any positive information, but remember to check your account from time to time just to be sure.
About the cost and payment
How much does it cost? When do I have to pay? Once you’ve picked and booked your pet caretaker, you’ll get his or her information including his or her phone number and email address. The price indicated on the website includes the fee and the pet caretaker’s total compensation（薪酬）. We also offer three packages（套餐）to help frequent users to save on our services.
For more information, you can surf the website www. Holidog. com.
1. What should people do to find a good caretaker?| A．Send as many messages as possible online. |
| B．Pay the website ahead of time. |
| C．Respond to him or her as quickly as possible. |
| D．Find the ways to get in touch with him or her directly. |
| A．Getting to know the pet caretaker. |
| B．Asking the pet caretaker about the packages. |
| C．Going to meet the pet caretaker with the pet. |
| D．Making a clear request about the pet caretaker. |
| A．Buying a pet from Holidog. |
| B．Applying for the packages on Holidog. |
| C．Hiring a pet caretaker from Holidog. |
| D．Sending the messages to Holidog. |
2 . The 9th day of the 9th lunar month is the traditional Chongyang Festival, or Double Ninth Festival. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar (阳历). In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number “6” was thought to be of Yin character meaning feminine or negative, while number, “9”was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means “double”. Also, as double ninth is pronounced the same as the word to mean “forever”, both are “Jiu Jiu”, the Chinese ancestors considered it a lucky day worth celebration. That's why ancient Chinese began to celebrate this festival long time ago.
The custom of climbing to a height to avoid popular disease was passed down from long time ago. Therefore, the Double Ninth Festival is also called “Height Ascending Festival”. The height people will reach is usually a mountain or a tower. Ancient literary figures have left many poems describing the activity. Even today, people still crowd to famous or little known mountains on this day.
On this day, people will eat Double Ninth Gao (or Cake). In Chinese, gao (cake) has the same pronunciation with gao (height). People do so just to hope progress in everything they are engaged in. There is no fixed ways for the Double Ninth Cake, but super cakes will have as many as nine layers, looking like a tower.
The Double Ninth Festival is also a time when chrysanthemum (菊花) blooms. China is proud of different species of chrysanthemum and people have loved them since ancient times. So enjoying the flourishing chrysanthemum also becomes a key activity on this festival. Also, people will drink chrysanthemum wine. Women used to stick such a flower into their hair or hang its branches on windows or doors to avoid evilness.
In 1989, the Chinese government decided the Double Ninth Festival as Seniors Day. Since then, all government units, organizations and streets communities will organize an autumn trip each year for those who have retired from their posts. At the waterside or on the mountains, the seniors will find themselves merged into nature. Younger generations will bring elder ones to the country or send gifts to them on this day.
1. Why did ancient Chinese celebrate Double Ninth Festival?| A．Because the government forced them to. |
| B．Because there was a beautiful story about it. |
| C．Because it was passed down from old times. |
| D．Because they thought double ninth means lucky. |
| A．Because gao(cake) has the same pronunciation with height. |
| B．Because people do so to hope for progress. |
| C．Because it is delicious. |
| D．Because it is a traditional food. |
| A．wear | B．do |
| C．eat | D．drink |
| A．People will enjoy chrysanthemum with friends. |
| B．People will make and eat cakes while admiring the moon. |
| C．The young will send gifts to their parents or grandparents. |
| D．People will climb mountains whether they're famous or not. |
| A．give some information | B．call on people to visit China |
| C．give advice on festivals | D．call on people to climb mountains |
3 . What is soy(大豆)? And is soy bad for you? Nature is so amazing that everything is there. Soy is such a wonderful creation. The food is one of just a handful of complete vegetarian proteins. Soy products, for example, tofu, contain some important substances. Because your body is unable to produce these important substances, they must come from food sources.
Regular intake of soy may help with reducing high blood pressure. In fact, a review study found that soy protein may significantly help your body work. Soy is also one of 13 foods that help to lower blood fat naturally.
The main function of soy is to benefit the heart. If you eat a number of heart- health- claim-approved protein foods, such as soy and nuts, you can get a drug-like cholesterol(胆固醇) reduction. So just because of the good effect, don't miss these foods. Add some of them to your diet.
“Soy foods have a lot of nutritional value that makes them especially appealing to folks interested in eating a heart- healthy diet,” says Leman. “Whole soy foods have fiber and are low in fat. Soy foods can replace less heart-healthy choices, like red and processed meats.”
In part, that's because healthy cholesterol levels benefit heart health. Many experts believe that soy is beneficial to the heart because analyses of the effect of soy have continuously shown that soy protein reduces cholesterol.
If you're wondering, “Is soy bad for you?” The answer could be “Yes”, if you're allergic(过敏的) to it. Soy is one of the top seven allergens in the United States—along with milk, eggs, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and wheat. An allergy to soy is common in children. See a doctor if you have any of the signs of allergy, and also learn the key facts about food allergies.
1. How does the author begin the text?| A．By listing data. | B．By quoting poetry. |
| C．By asking questions. | D．By making comparisons. |
| A．It is good for the heart. | B．It is convenient to cook. |
| C．It cures several diseases. | D．It is more delicious than meat. |
| A．It can't reduce cholesterol. | B．It is harmful to some people. |
| C．It contains as much protein as milk. | D．It won't cause allergic reactions. |
| A．Who Is Not Suitable to Eat Soy? |
| B．What Soy Really Does to Your Body? |
| C．What's the Best Way to Eat Soy Foods? |
| D．How Can You Avoid the Risk of Eating Soy? |
4 . On a cold January evening, Austrew sat in her car in a Nebraska parking lot, wondering whether she was going to a comedy class. For 20 minutes, the 33-year-old journalist and mom of two sat with some thoughts of self-doubt, “I can't do this. I'll be the worst one.” Then she turned off the engine, took a few deep breaths, and worked up the courage to go inside with a little hope.
For Austrew, trying comedy was the first small step to improve her self-confidence. “I've lacked self-confidence all my life,” she says. “I didn't have the courage to try anything new.” So she made a list of all the things she was afraid to attempt and then asked herself, “What if I didn't let my excuses win?” The comedy class was her biggest target and her family firmly supported her.
Her fear disappeared as soon as she walked into the class. Her classmates were also beginners, and she discovered that she was perfectly capable of earning a few laughs and making new friends. Over the next two years, Austrew went on to deal with other what-ifs, including writing a book. “Self-confidence is like a muscle—you have to exercise it constantly,” she says.
Some people are blessed with a seemingly unshakable positivity, but most people need to learn how to pull themselves up by their own efforts. Psychologists say we tend to experience our least self-confidence in our teenage years and spend much of our adult lives slowly rebuilding it. Staying positive has been tough in the past year. Since the pandemic(流行病) began, more and more adults have been reported signs of depression or low self-worth. Thankfully, like Austrew, we can also learn to feel better about ourselves and strengthen our feelings of hope. Of course, anyone experiencing the terrible signs should seek professional help.
1. How did Austrew feel before she took the comedy class?| A．Scared and unsure. | B．Excited and curious. |
| C．Confident and proud. | D．Hopeless and helpless. |
| A．To become modest. | B．To build her self-confidence. |
| C．To celebrate her recovery. | D．To realize her childhood dream. |
| A．Her difficulty in learning comedy. |
| B．Her capability of making new friends. |
| C．Her positive efforts to conquer herself. |
| D．Her fear of getting along with beginners. |
| A．Signs of the pandemic. |
| B．Ways to get self-confidence. |
| C．New medical discoveries about depression. |
| D．People's experiences in their teenage years. |
5 . I was in a strange city I didn’t know at all, and what's more, I could not speak a word of the language. On my second day I got on the first bus that passed, rode on it for several stops, then got off and walked on. The first two hours passed pleasantly enough, then I decided to turn back to my hotel for lunch. After walking about for some time, I decided I had better ask the way. The trouble was that the only word I knew of the language was the name of the street in which I lived, and even that I pronounced badly. I stopped to ask a newspaper-seller. He handed me a paper. I shook my head and repeated the name of the street and he put the paper into my hands. I had to give him some money and went on my way. The next person. I asked was a policeman. He listened to me carefully, nodded and gently took me by the arm. There was a strange look in his eyes as he pointed left and right and left again. I nodded politely and began walking in the direction he pointed.
About an hour passed and I noticed that the houses were getting fewer and fewer and green fields were appearing on either side of me. I had come all the way into the countryside. The only thing left for me to do was find the nearest railway station.
1. The writer preferred to walk back to his hotel because______.| A．he had no money to buy a ticket |
| B．he wanted to lose himself in the city |
| C．he tried to know the city in this way |
| D．it was late and there were no buses passing by |
| A．didn't know where the hotel was |
| B．didn't understand what the writer said |
| C．could understand what the writer said |
| D．didn't want to take the money from the writer |
| A．was kind but didn't understand the writer |
| B．told the writer where to take a train |
| C．knew what the writer really meant |
| D．was cold-hearted and didn't help the writer |
| A．The writer got close to the hotel where he stayed. |
| B．The writer got to the hotel with the policeman's help. |
| C．The writer found he was much farther away from the hotel. |
| D．The writer found the hotel in the direction the policeman pointed. |
6 . The following is the information about plays which will be on these days.
Big and Little
It is a play written by Botho Strauss and directed by Laurence Strangio, featuring (由……主演) second-year Performing Arts students. It is about a lonely woman living in a big city. From the play, we can learn how to get along well with our friends, our family, our lovers, and with ourselves.
When:15-17 March, 7:30 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus (校园)
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions (优惠票价) $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
Love Play
It is written by Moira Buffini and directed by Trent Baker, featuring Performing First-year Arts students. It follows a series of unexpected meetings that have taken place in the same place in London across 2,000 years, through the centuries from the Romans to the Elizabethans to the present day. Love Play is a comedy that challenges the reasons and ways we want love.
When: 17-19 April, 8 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
Smashed
It is a play written by Lally Katz and directed by Suzanne Chaundy, featuring second-year Performing Arts students. Smashed is about friendship, time travel and death. Writing for the age, Helen Thomson calls the play “a wonderful memory of childhood on the edge (边缘) of adulthood.” Smashed thinks well of invention, imagination and girl power.
When: 24-26 April, 8 pm
Where: Drama Theatre, Centre for the Performing Arts, Building 68, Clayton campus
Tickets: Adults $10, Concessions $5
You can get the tickets at the door.
1. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?| A．All the plays begin at 8 pm on Clayton campus. |
| B．The tickets have different prices but all are sold at the door. |
| C．Love Play is a comedy which has a different idea about love. |
| D．All the plays are performed by second-year Performing Arts students. |
| A．friendship, time travel and death |
| B．the life experience of a lonely woman |
| C．the life of a Performing Arts student on Clayton campus |
| D．unexpected meetings in London during the past 2,000 years |
| A．A student has started a dreamlike journey. |
| B．Love always takes place on an unexpected situation in London. |
| C．The ability of girls should be thought highly of. |
| D．We often regret what we have done in our childhood. |
7 . The Rockford police chief and some city officials want to put video cameras in all 100 police cars. They think this will reduce the number of lawsuits (诉讼) filed against the city. In the last five years, Rockford has paid out more than five million dollars to settle about four lawsuits.
The chief said, “If cameras had been in those cars, we wouldn’t have had to pay any money. We’re always pulling over drunks of drug users who try to fight the police officers or shoot them. Then they always say that the police started basting them first or started shooting at them first.”
The cost of fixing cameras will be about $500 per car. The city council (市正厅) will make a final decision on the proposal (提议) next Monday. Ten of the 13 council members, when asked about the proposal, said that they liked the idea. One member said that it is money-saving and it makes common sense. If this is agreed, cameras can be fixed in all the cars within six weeks.
The police officers fully support camera use. One office said that too many people think the police are liars; cameras would show citizens that the police tell the truth. “The money that we’ve been spending on lawsuits will be better spent our more cameras,” said one officer.
The citizen response to the idea of police car cameras is mixed. One person said that the police should have started doing this years ago when video cameras were invented (发明). But an elderly man said that cameras might be misused. “These police are trying to stick their nose into everything,” he said. He was going to attend the council meeting to stop the proposal. He hoped that other citizens would join him.
1. What is the purpose of fixing video cameras in cars?| A．To help settle about 40 lawsuits. | B．To reduce the number of crimes. |
| C．To please officials of the city council. | D．To collect evidence in favor of the police. |
| A．The council will turn it down. | B．Most council members support it. |
| C．Ten council members question it. | D．Ten council members will tell the truth about it. |
| A．He makes no comment. | B．He is strongly against it. |
| C．He thinks it needs to be improved. | D．He doubts whether it is practical. |
8 . The dogsled (狗拉雪橇) race was about to begin. Julie’s team of dogs was lined up at the sating gate. Julie stood behind them. The air was so cold that she could see her breath. The other teams were lined up, too, and the dogs were excited. Julie kept her eyes on the clock. At exactly ten o'clock, she and the other racers shouted, “Mush!” The dogs knew that meant “Go!” They jumped forward and the race began!
Julie had trained months for this race, and she hopes she and her dogs would win. Hour after hour, day after day, Julie’s dogs pulled the sled in order to get in shape for the race.
Now, they ran over snowy hills and down into frozen valleys. They stopped only to rest and eat. They wanted to stay ahead of other teams. The racers got them to go a thousand miles across Alaska. The dogs, thick fur coats helped keep them warm in the cold winds and weather. In many places along the way, the snow was deep. Pieces of ice were as sharp as a knife. The ice could cut the dogs’ feet. To keep that from happening, Julie had put special booties (短靴) on their feet.
At first, the dogs seemed to pull the sled very slowly. They were still getting used to the race.
But on the the third day out, they began to pull more quickly. They worked as a team and passed many other racers. Once, one of the sled’s runners slid into a hole and the sled was broken. Julie could have given up then, but she didn’t. She fixed it and they kept going.
When they finally reached the finish line, they found out that they had come in first place! It was a great day for Julie and her dogs.
1. What does the passage tell us about the race?| A．It was a single-day race. | B．It was a race for children. |
| C．It was a race of a thousand miles. | D．The racers came from different countries. |
| A．They were fed enough food. | B．They wore warm clothes. |
| C．They were put on special shoes. | D．They were trained to get up early. |
| A．They were the first to reach the finish line. | B．They had an accident and gave up. |
| C．They ran slowly and lost the race. | D．They ran faster at the beginning. |
| A．A Girl and Her Dogs | B．Winter Sports in Alaska |
| C．Training for a Dogsled Race | D．The Story of a Dogsled Race |
9 . Paper is one of the most important products ever invented by man. Wide spread use of written language would not have been possible without some cheap and practical material to write on. The invention of paper meant that more people could be educated because more books could be printed and distributed. Together with the printing press, paper provided an extremely important way to communicate knowledge.
How much paper do you use every year? Probably you cannot answer that question quickly. In 1900 the world's use of paper was about one kilogram for each person a year. Now some countries use as much as 50 kilograms of paper for each person a year. Countries like the United States, England and Sweden use more paper than other countries.
Paper, like many other things that we use today, was first made in China. In Egypt and the West, paper was not very commonly used before the year 1400. The Egyptians wrote on a kind of material made of a water plant. Europeans used parchment for many hundreds of years. Parchment was very strong; it was made from the skin of certain young animals. We have learnt of the most important facts of European history from records that were kept on parchment.
1. What's the meaning for the word 'parchment'? ________| A．The skin of young animals. |
| B．A kind of paper made from the skin of certain young animals. |
| C．The paper used by European countries. |
| D．The paper of Egypt. |
| A．More jobs could be provided than before. |
| B．More people could be educated than before. |
| C．More books could be printed and distributed. |
| D．More ways could be used to exchange knowledge. |
| A．Around 1400. | B．Around 1900. | C．Around 400. | D．Around 900. |
| A．China. | B．Sweden. | C．Egypt | D．Japan. |
10 . Wonderful Movies
Hoop Dreams
It tells about the story of two African-American high school students in Chicago and their dreams of becoming professional basketball players. Originally intended to be a 30-minute fort film, it eventually led to five years of filming. It was premiered at the 1994 Sounce Film Festival where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary.
The Karate Kid
12-year-old Dre Parker could have been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's test career move has landed him in China. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has no here to turn but a kind man, Mr. Han, who is a master of kung fu. He tells Dre that kung is not about fighting, but maturity and calm.
Raging Bull
It is an American sports film directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted by Paul Schrader d Mardik Martin from Jake LaMotta's autobiography Raging Bull: My Story. It stars Robert De Niro as Jake LaMotta, an Italian-American middleweight boxer who destroyed relationship with his wife and family.
Moneyball
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Un fair Game, is a book by Michael Lewis, published in 2003, about the Oakland Athletics baseball team and its general manager Billy Beane. Its locus is the team's organizing a competitive baseball team. A film based on the book starring Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill was released in 2011.
1. Which movie is set in China?| A．Hoop Dreams. | B．Raging Bull. | C．The Karate Kid. | D．Moneyball. |
| A．It has won an award. | B．It is adapted from a true story. |
| C．Its topic is about sports. | D．It is directed by a foreigner. |
| A．Michael Lewis. | B．Brad Pitt. | C．Jonah Hill. | D．Billy Beane. |
