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2 . Last weekend, my kids and a few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of washing other people's cars as well. It was very hot outside. And she wanted to give juice for a low cost but not free. I felt happy and decided to help her.
She asked me, “What if we make this ‘a smile car wash’， mommy? ” I couldn't hold back my tears and encouraged her and other kids to go inside the house and come up with ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the kids walked up to me with a board of beautiful signs of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the theme of their exercise was “Smile”. It was natural to see a team of kids 5 to 11 years with the task to do something for others.
All that seemed natural and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to matter to them: their playtime, and the heat outside — they just wanted to help and do something nice!
I helped them make some fresh juice and brought out some waste materials to help clean cars. Passers-by were amazed and one even shouted at them saying “Good kids”. One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. What a heart-warming scene(场景)!
The following weekend, I saw the idea of the week, the theme of which was “Global Kindness”. I was moved by such wonderful and loving kids. They made me smile!
1. Who came up with the idea of washing other people's cars for free ?| A．The mother. |
| B．One of the passers-by. |
| C．The writer's 10-year-old daughter. |
| D．One of the writer's neighbors' kids. |
| A．She was moved by her daughter's kindness. |
| B．She felt sorry for those passers-by in hot day. |
| C．She was sorry for not helping the kids. |
| D．She thought it was very hard for the kids. |
| A．They wanted to earn money. |
| B．They were asked to do that by their teacher. |
| C．They just wanted to help and do something nice. |
| D．They wanted to exercise in smiling. |
| A．She supported the kids' ideas. |
| B．She made some fresh juice for the passers-by. |
| C．She brought out some waste materials to help the kids. |
| D．She gave the kids some money. |
Melbourne is a popular tourist city, and it's easy to see its beautiful beaches and busy city life.
Why it's a great choice: Australia as a whole is considered a safe destination for international travel, and because of that, many solo travelers go there. As an English-speaking country, you won't be faced with any language barriers(障碍). Melbourne is easy to get around because you can walk or bike practically anywhere!
Thailand
Thailand is great for solo travelers — perhaps because it is one of the Buddhist mindsets (佛教的心态), which promote equality among the sexes.
Why it's a great choice: Thailand is known for its friendly atmosphere, and as a popular tourist country, there are plenty of chances to meet other like-minded travelers. It is well known for being very cheap, especially in the north. It's a good choice if you want to get away on a budget. Thailand has a lot to offer, from the party-central Bangkok to beautiful beaches and tropical jungle(热带丛林)．
Bali, Indonesia
Bali is a spiritual place with yoga, spas, healthy food and beaches. The friendly people and attractive culture have made Bali one of the most popular places.
Why it's a great choice: you won't be the only solo traveler in Bali. Everyone is known for being friendly and you're sure to meet some good people along the way. As a Hindu island, Bali is the perfect place for a relaxing and spiritual retreat(静修). The Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud is fantastic—if you like monkeys, anyway.
1. Where can you enjoy beautiful beaches with convenient transport?| A．Melbourne, Australia. | B．Thailand. |
| C．Bangkok. | D．Bali, Indonesia. |
| A．Travelling in Thailand may not cost you quite a lot. |
| B．Women are not treated equally in Thailand. |
| C．You will not have the chance enjoying the tropical scenery. |
| D．People in Thailand are not friendly enough. |
| A．Yoga, spas, healthy food and beaches. |
| B．Meeting some good people along the way. |
| C．Friendly people and attractive culture. |
| D．Fantastic monkeys in the Sacred Monkey Forest. |
| A．A travel journal. | B．A business report. |
| C．A news advertisement. | D．A travel guide. |
4 . Arriving at London Gatwick
Distance(距离) from central London: 28 miles/45 km
For travel information call: +44 (0)870 000 24 68.
How to get to the city centre
By train
The Gatwick Express goes from Gatwick Airport to London Victoria train and underground station in central London.
Trains go every 15 minutes and the journey to central London takes half an hour.
First Class tickets cost £ 25 (single), £ 48 (return).
Express Class costs £ 17 (single), £ 29 (return).
Southern Trains services run four times an hour to Victoria with a journey time of around 35 minutes.
By taxi
There are taxis outside the airport day and night. The journey to central London takes 55-70 minutes. A London taxi takes up to 5 people.
The average(平均的)cost from the airport to central London is £ 75- £ 100.
By car
Gatwick Airport is 28 miles (45 km) south of London. There are 4 car parks next to the airport and there are car rental (租赁) offices open from 8:00 to 18:00. The journey to London takes 60-75 minutes.
All cars pay a special £ 8 charge(收费) to go into central London.
By bus
National Express and EasyBus have services to central London. EasyBus services go every 20 minutes. The journey takes one hour and costs £ 2.
There is one National Express bus an hour. The journey takes 90 minutes and costs £ 7.60.
1. Someone in a hurry to Victoria station had better travel _____.| A．by train | B．by car |
| C．by taxi | D．by bus |
| A．They cost the same. | B．They're available at any time. |
| C．They require a special E 8 charge. | D．They take a similar period of time. |
| A．Gatwick Express. | B．National Express. |
| C．Easy Bus. | D．Southern Trains. |
| A．A short notice. | B．A travel guide. |
| C．A city introduction. | D．A TV advertisement. |
At four o'clock
Luckily for Polly, it was a blind man
6 . Pearl S. Buck was a very popular American writer of her day. She was famous for her books about China. Pearl was born in 1892 in West Virginia, America, but she spent almost half of her 81-year-long life in China.
Pearl spent her youth in Jiangsu Province, China. She learned to speak Chinese before she could speak English. Her mother had travelled widely in her youth and liked literature very much. After being educated by her mother and by a Chinese teacher, Pearl S. Buck went to school in Shanghai at the age of fifteen. She continued her education in the United States at a Woman’s College to study psychology（心理学）. After graduation in 1914, she returned to China. In the 1920s, her family moved to Nanjing, where she taught English and American literature at a university.
As a writer, Pearl S. Buck’s book, The Good Earth, appeared in 1931 and sold quite well in its first year. It has been translated into over thirty languages. In 1938, she became the third American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. By the time of her death in March, 1973, Pearl had published more than seventy books.
1. Pearl S. Buck was born in West Virginia, America in ______.| A．1892 | B．1901 |
| C．1906 | D．1913 |
| A．She lived in Jiangsu Province in her youth. |
| B．She was able to speak English before she spoke Chinese. |
| C．Her mother and a Chinese teacher had educated her. |
| D．She studied at a Woman’s College in the United States. |
| A．education in China | B．experience in America |
| C．The Good Earth | D．psychology books |
| A．Pearl S. Buck’s Family | B．Pearl S. Buck’s Life Story |
| C．Pearl S. Buck’s Books | D．Pearl S. Buck’s Job as a Teacher |
注意：1. 词数100左右；文章的开头已经为你写好，不计入总词数；
2. 可以适当增加细节，使行文连贯；
3. 文中不得透漏个人姓名和学校名称。
| School Life: different activities; richer and more interesting; teachers and students get along well |
| Building and equipment: modern; easy to use; everything run by computer |
| Subjects: more subjects to choose from; most subjects offered on the Internet |
| Ways of learning: learn at school or at home; choose teachers |
Future Schools
In the future, schools will be different in many ways from what they are now.
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8 . Chen Zijiang is a paper-cutting expert whom I interviewed for my article on Chinese Art. Paper-cutting is something that he learned to do from an early age.
“It is a Chinese folk art with a long history,” Mr. Chen told me, “Paper cuts of animals have been found in tombs which date back to the time of the Northern and Southern Dynasty!” He added that by the Southern Song Dynasty, paper-cutting had become an important part of everyday life.
Mr. Chen went on to explain that there are three types of paper cuts which people still make today: paper cuts for decoration, for religious purposes and for design patterns.
Paper cuts used for decoration are often seen on windows and gates. They are often put up during holidays to bring good luck. They are also used on presents. For example, a present for parents whose child has recently been born might show a paper cut of children. Paper cuts which show the Chinese character for double happiness are often used to celebrate weddings.
Paper cuts used for religious purposes are often found in temples. They are also used as offerings(祭品) to the dead. People to whom the dead person was related would make these offerings on special days and during festivals
Paper cuts of the third kind are those used to make patterns on clothing. They are also sometimes used to decorate jewellery boxes. Dragons are very popular patterns for these designs.
The interview is very useful as I’ve got a lot of interesting information for my article. I am also ready to try out paper-cutting for myself.
1. How many kinds of paper cuts did Mr. Chen talk about?| A．One. | B．Two. |
| C．Three. | D．Four. |
| A．bring good luck | B．please guests |
| C．honor the dead | D．make patterns on clothing |
| A．Dragons. | B．Pandas. |
| C．Birds. | D．Double happiness |
| A．It’s boring. | B．It’s satisfying. |
| C．It’s challenging. | D．It’s disappointing |
1. How long will the exhibition last?
| A．Five days. | B．Seven days. |
| C．Nine days. | D．Eleven days. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A ticket for a magic show. |
| C．A great bargain. | D．A chance to join in games. |
| A．Games and Quizzes. | B．Lucky Draw |
| C．Drama on Fun with jokes | D．Story Telling |
| A．call the organizer | B．write to the company |
| C．visit the website | D．e-mail the publisher |
10 . Ways to Improve Social Skills
If you feel like you're not good at social events or you struggle to enter into conversations because you're shy, it can influence your social life and your career(事业). However, you can start improve your social skills by following these ways and soon, you'll be able to enter into conversations with confidence.
Behave Like a Social Person
You can behave like a more social creature, even if you don't feel like it. Don't allow anxiety to hold you back. Make the decision to talk to new people and to enter into conversations even when you’re feeling nervous about it. Over time, it will get easier and you'll quickly start improving your social skills.
If going to a party or spending time in a crowd seems confusing, start small. Go to a restaurant and order your food, and say “Thank you” to the clerk. Practice making small talks gradually.
Encourage Others to Talk About Themselves
Most people really enjoy talking about themselves. Ask a question about a person’s career, hobbies, or family. Show you’re interested in hearing what is being said.
Good manners go a long way in improving social skills. Practice being polite, showing gratitude(感恩), and using good table manners.
Your body language is very important in conversations, pay attention to the type of body language you use. Try to appear relaxed, make appropriate amounts of eye contact, and appear open to conversations.
A. Practice Good Manners
B. Start Small if Necessary
C. Join a Social Skills Support Group
D. Pay Attention to your Body Language
