1 . A night at the movies is always a good idea. But when you leave the theater and realize you just dropped $45 on a ticket and some snacks, you’ll wish you had been patient enough to wait until the movie came out on Netflix. The average movie ticket price in the United States in 2000 was $5.39; now, a ticket is over $9.

The main reason that movie tickets have gotten so expensive is because of inflation (通货膨胀). It was actually more expensive to go to the movies in the 70s than it is now. A ticket in 1978 cost $2.34. If you plug that into an inflation calculator, the same ticket would cost you $9.46 today. According to the National Association of Theater Owners, the average cost for a ticket today is $9.11.

Another reason you need to spend some of your life savings to see a movie on the big screen is that theaters are competing with streaming services that produce their own films, such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. And let’s be honest, sitting at home on your sofa or in your bed is more comfortable than sitting in a cold theater.

Because of streaming technology, theaters have to do something to bring in customers. Attractions—including alcohol, reclining seats (躺椅), surround sound, and 3-D movies are all examples of that. And those upgrades come at a price, leading to more expensive tickets.

“There’s all that extra cost, and it’s really important for theater owners and companies to make that experience as enjoyable as possible,” Patrick Corcoran, vice president of the National Association of Theatre Owners told Marketplace. “Because you’re offering a superb experience—audience expectations are for the latest and greatest technology. Audiences are willing to pay more for a particular experience.”

1. According to the passage, what makes movie tickets so expensive?

A．The viewers are wealthier than before.

B．The movie theatres offer popcorns, alcohol for free.

C．Inflation has made the ticket price appear higher than before.

D．The popular movies with famous stars deserve the high price.

2. We can learn from the passage that ________.

A．Netflix is always a better choice for movie viewers than theatres

B．with comfortable seats, theatres are more attractive than streaming services

C．the viewers actually pay more for the updates of the movie theatres

D．the theater owners and companies update the theaters to make the theatres famous

3. Which of the following would Patrick Corcoran most probably agree with?

A．It’s unwise for viewers to pay so much to watch a movie in the theater.

B．The high price of a movie ticket is supposed to agree with a wonderful experience.

C．It’s a waste of money to provide the latest technology in the theatre.

D．The viewers would prefer to sit at home on the sofas or in the beds.

4. What is the best title for the text?

A．Behind the Increasing Price of Movie Tickets

B．Technological Improvement on Movie Theatres

C．The Competition between Movie Theatre and Streaming Services

D．How to Save the Viewers’ Wallets

2 . A Toronto man is offering a free round-the-world air to the right woman. But _________ apply. You must be named Elizabeth Gallahgher and have a Canadian _________.

Jordan Axani, 28, said he and his then girlfriend, Elizabeth Gallagher, booked heavily discounted round-the-world air tickets in May, but their _________ ended and he did not want her ticket to _________. The ticket had a strict no-transfer (不可转让) _________, but since passport information was not required when _________, any Canadian Elizabeth Gallagher can _________ it.

“I just want to see the ticket go to good use and for someone to _________ a lot of joy,” said Axani. He posted his _________ on a social networking website, and received thousands of e-mails, including thirty from actual Elizabeth Gallaghers with the __________ passports, “More __________, there are hundreds of Canadians who are interested in __________ their name to Elizabeth Gallagher, Axani said. “It was absolutely out of __________, thousands of e-mails, people around the world __________ their stories of travel.”

Axani wrote in his post that he is not __________ anything in return and that the woman who uses the __________ ticket can choose to either travel with him or __________ the ticket and travel on her own.

The __________ is scheduled to start on December 21 in New York City and continue on to Milan, Prague, Paris, Bangkok and New Delhi before __________ in Toronto on January 8. He said the __________ woman will be announced on the website and the trip will be shared online.

1.

A．deposits

B．benefit

C．restriction

D．examinations

2.

A．origin

B．passport

C．accent

D．friend

3.

A．holiday

B．marriage

C．dream

D．relationship

4.

A．go to waste

B．come to mind

C．go on sale

D．come into effect

5.

A．policy

B．order

C．payment

D．schedule

6.

A．applying

B．checking

C．booking

D．bargaining

7.

A．choose

B．borrow

C．use

D．buy

8.

A．sacrifice

B．express

C．experience

D．provide

9.

A．answer

B．offer

C．advice

D．comment

10.

A．right

B．same

C．now

D．real

11.

A．convincing

B．annoying

C．satisfying

D．interesting

12.

A．changing

B．giving

C．lending

D．writing

13.

A．touch

B．question

C．control

D．date

14.

A．admiring

B．sharing

C．advertising

D．doubting

15.

A．leaving

B．dealing with

C．losing

D．looking for

16.

A．single

B．strange

C．regular

D．extra

17.

A．return

B．take

C．reserve

D．hide

18.

A．interview

B．program

C．trip

D．meeting

19.

A．ending

B．calling

C．repeating

D．staying

20.

A．honored

B．lovely

C．intelligent

D．lucky

3 . If you’re looking to buy a gift for your children, why not keep up with the trend and get the best hoverboard?

What is a Hoverboard?

A hoverboard is a two-wheeled personal transportation device. It’s electrical, portable and became highly popular in 2015. Typically, this self-balancing device operates like a powered skateboard.

How Does a Hoverboard Work?

The device may have many designs, but the mechanism itself isn’t complicated. Basically, a standard hoverboard contains:

•Battery: stores the electrical power. Almost all hoverboards use a high-watt lithium-ion battery.

•Gyroscope (one for each wheel): allows riders to tilt (倾斜) the hoverboard while maintaining balance and adjusting their direction.

•Motor (one in each wheel): provides the power to the wheels to keep the rider balanced and upright.

•Logic board: functions as the hoverboard brain. It processes data—your speed, tilt, etc.—and sends information to the motors. This unit controls the power of the board so riders can adjust their speed.

All the above components work together to control the power and tilt of the hoverboards so the rider is balanced, upright and moving at a controlled speed.

Why Buy a Hoverboard?

Undoubtedly, hoverboards are cool. You’ve probably seen kids riding one around the house. They’re a phenomenon and everybody wants in. So, why deny your kids and prevent them from being part of this trend?

Where is a hoverboard legal?

Despite their wild popularity, hoverboards have yet to become “street-legal”. Currently, some places prohibit anyone under 16 from using these devices, and hoverboards are banned in academic institutions and public places, like campus buildings, parks, shopping malls and subway stations. Some places have also put speed limits on the devices and restricted their use to bike paths. However, open areas—including your yard—are free of these restrictions.

1. The logic board of a hoverboard can ______.

A．store electricity	B．power the wheels
C．send information to the riders	D．receive data and give command

2. According to the passage, you can see a hoverboard ______.

A．on campus	B．in parks
C．on bike paths	D．in shopping malls

3. What is the main purpose of this passage?

A．To evaluate a gift’s quality.

B．To suggest a gift option.

C．To compare new hoverboard models.

D．To explain functions of the latest hoverboards.

4 . Everybody knows Charlie Chaplin, a world-famous funny actor. People _______ have laughed at Charlie Chaplin's films _______ tears run down their faces. From his very first _______ they know what will happen. The little man is always with black moustache, wide-open eyes, round black hat and _______ too large for his feet. He’ll _______ through snow, and fall from windows. He’ll fight men who are twice his _______ or fall in love with women, who _______ notice him and try to hug(拥抱) them.

The poor man that Charlie Chaplin _______ in dozens of films makes all kinds of stupid mistakes. He is always in _______, but he never ________.He dreams of becoming a great man.

Even people who ________ understand English can ________ Chaplin's films, because they are mostly ________.It isn't what he ________ that makes people laugh. His comedy(喜剧) doesn't depend on words. It depends on little ________ which mean the ________ thing to people all over the world.

Chaplin raises his thick eyebrows or rolls his eyes. He hides behind a fat lady or under a table to escape from his ________. He dresses well and pretends to be a ________ and important man. It is all so hopeless and ________ that he makes us laugh. This is the ________ of Chaplin's huge success.

1.

A．here

B．everywhere

C．abroad

D．there

2.

A．if

B．once

C．because

D．until

3.

A．disappearance

B．appearance

C．words

D．emotions

4.

A．trousers

B．stocks

C．shoes

D．hands

5.

A．sleep

B．sit

C．play

D．struggle

6.

A．length

B．size

C．greatness

D．width

7.

A．hardly

B．deeply

C．widely

D．luckily

8.

A．played

B．recognized

C．loved

D．fooled

9.

A．joy

B．excitement

C．sorrow

D．trouble

10.

A．comes down

B．gets away

C．goes back

D．gives up

11.

A．don’t

B．can

C．do

D．may

12.

A．understand

B．watch

C．enjoy

D．see

13.

A．frightening

B．silent

C．pleasant

D．moving

14.

A．plays

B．acts

C．expects

D．says

15.

A．actions

B．expressions

C．stories

D．words

16.

A．some

B．different

C．same

D．bitter

17.

A．enemies

B．own

C．characters

D．films

18.

A．poor

B．sad

C．rich

D．beautiful

19.

A．possible

B．impossible

C．instructive

D．tired

20.

A．way

B．beginning

C．theory

D．secret

5 . Music and art festivals are fun and exciting events. If you're panning to go to a festival, it's important to plan your trip carefully to ensure that you re safe and have a good time.

■Bring clothes to keep warm or cool

In addition to your fun festival clothing, pack a raincoat, some light tank tops, and a sweater or sweatshirt. Don't forget longer pants for cool evenings or bad weather. In general, it's best to leave your umbrella at home because they can be dangerous in large crowds.

■Get a cheap tent and sleeping bag for multi - day festivals

A majority of people end up throwing their tent away after long festivals, since they normally break from the use. Pick up a less expensive tent with enough room for you and your friends and pack a comfortable seeping bag for yourself, 1f you don't want to camp at the festival, remember to book an AirBnb or a hotel room nearby!

■Place a first aid kit in a proper place

Before the festival, buy a small first aid kit with band aids, and any medication that you need to take, in case you get minor injuries or a headache. Keep it in a proper place that's easily accessible, like your tent or car.

1. Why should umbrellas be left at home?

A．They take up too much space.	B．The weather will be terrible.
C．They might hurt someone.	D．Travelers prefer raincoats,

2. What do most people do with tents after festivals?

A．Sell them.

B．Return them.

C．Pack them up.

D．Throw them away.

3. What is suggested about the first aid kit?

A．It should be put at hand.	B．It ought to be big enough.
C．It must contain all medicines.	D．It has to be placed in the car.

6 . Race walking shares many fitness benefits with running, research shows, while most likely contributing to fewer injuries. It does, however, have its own problem.

Race walkers are conditioned athletes. The longest track and field event at the Summer Olympics is the 50-kilometer race walk, which is about five miles longer than the marathon. But the sport’s rules require that a race walker’s knees stay straight through most of the leg swing and one foot remain in contact (接触) with the ground at all times. It’s this strange form that makes race walking such an attractive activity, however, says Jaclyn Norberg, an assistant professor of exercise science at Salem State University in Salem, Mass.

Like running, race walking is physically demanding, she says, According to most calculations, race walkers moving at a pace of six miles per hour would burn about 800 calories(卡路里) per hour, which is approximately twice as many as they would burn walking, although fewer than running, which would probably burn about 1,000 or more calories per hour.

However, race walking does not pound the body as much as running does, Dr. Norberg says. According to her research, runners hit the ground with as much as four times their body weight per step, while race walkers, who do not leave the ground, create only about 1.4 times their body weight with each step.

As a result, she says, some of the injuries associated with running, such as runner’s knee, are uncommon among race walkers. But the sport’s strange form does place considerable stress on the ankles and hips, so people with a history of such injuries might want to be cautious in adopting the sport. In fact, anyone wishing to try race walking should probably first consult a coach or experienced racer to learn proper technique, she says. It takes some practice.

1. Why are race walkers conditioned athletes?

A．They must run long distances.

B．They are qualified for the marathon.

C．They have to follow special rules.

D．They are good at swinging their legs.

2. What advantage does race walking have over running?

A．It’s more popular at the Olympics.

B．It’s less challenging physically.

C．It’s more effective in body building.

D．It’s less likely to cause knee injuries.

3. What is Dr. Norberg’s suggestion for someone trying race walking?

A．Getting experts’ opinions.

B．Having a medical checkup.

C．Hiring an experienced coach.

D．Doing regular exercises.

4. Which word best describes the author’s attitude to race walking?

A．Skeptical.	B．Objective.
C．Tolerant.	D．Conservative.

7 . When I was in my first year of high school, I had a terrible time when every area of my life was a disaster. I felt so hopeless and alone that I thought everything was impossible.

On one such day, I was walking from class across the school to catch the school bus home, with my head down, fighting tears of total hopelessness, when a young man came down the sidewalk toward me. Though I had never seen him before, I did not want him to see that I was in such low spirits, so I turned my head away and hoped to hurry past. I thought he'd walk on by, but he moved until he was directly in front of me, waited until I looked up, and then smiled.

Looking into my eyes, this stranger spoke in a quiet voice："Whatever is wrong will pass. You're going to be OK, just hang on." He then smiled again and walked away.

I can't explain the effect of that man's unexpected kindness and caring! He gave me the one thing that I'd lost completely—hope. I looked for him in our school to thank him, but never saw him again.

That was thirty years ago. And I've never forgotten that moment. Over the years, whenever I see someone who is in trouble, I will always think of that young man and try to give a flash of hope in the dark wherever I can. I carry things for people when they are too heavy for them, sit with naughty babies in the waiting room while their mothers are busy, or talk to tired couples at the checkout line or it could be anything.

If you keep your head up, your heart will show you the place that needs hope.
1. Where did the writer meet with the young man？

A．In the school.

B．In the school bus.

C．In the classroom.

D．In the library.

2. From the passage we may infer that the author ________．

A．had known the young man for a long time

B．made friends with the young man afterwards

C．was grateful to that young man very much

D．avoided meeting the young man since then

3. The author has given a lot of help to others in order to ________．

A．show his sympathy to those who are badly ill

B．give others hope of life when they are in trouble

C．realize his promise made to the young man

D．get respect from those who were helped by him

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

A．the young man always tried his best to help those who were in trouble

B．it was the young man's smile and words that made the author feel hopeful

C．the author had never been praised by others before he met with the young man

D．the author traveled to a lot of places to look for the young man but failed

8 . Some of the best cycling routes in the world pass through its most beautiful scenery. Here are some of world’s best bike routes for cyclists who either are up for breaking a good sweat or simply seeing the world without leaving an ugly carbon footprint behind.

The Great Windy Road, Victoria, Australia

If you like a challenge, take on this 243-kilometer windy road along Australia’s south-eastern coast. If a day is all you’ve got, take the 60-kilometer route from Torquay to Bells Beach. There you’ll cycle through rural farmland, enjoy the sweeping ocean views from cliff tops, and snake past the wetlands around Lake Connewarre.

Udaipur City Tour, Rajasthan, India

Biking is arguably the best way to explore Udaipur, Venice of the East.

Cyclists often need to cycle past herdsmen and their goats and camels, sharing narrow, old pavements in this romantic place. But surrounded by ancient castles, temples and grand palaces, Udaipur brings about one of the best biking experiences, allowing cyclists to truly discover rural India.

The Karakoram Highway, China-Pakistan

The Karakoram Highway is the highest international road in the world, reaching an altitude of 4,700 meters at the Khunjerab Pass. Starting in Kashgar, China, cyclists can travel up to 1,200 kilometers on mostly unpaved roads, but the views are as breathtaking as the riding.

Route of the Hiawatha, Idaho-Montana, United States

Take your family out to Montana this summer and cycle along the most scenic disused railroad in the country. The railroad turned bike trail turns into 24 kilometers of leisure biking that takes you over seven trestles(高架桥) and through 10 tunnels, with the longest one, the Taft Tunnel, stretching for 2.7 kilometers.

1. In which tour can you enjoy the seaside scenery?

A．The Great Windy Road.	B．Udaipr City Tour.
C．The Karakoram Highway.	D．Route of the Hiawatha.

2. What can you do on the Udaipur city tour?

A．Go to Venice.	B．Feed wild animals.
C．Visit cultural relics.	D．Enjoy modern architectures.

3. What’s special about the Karakoram Highway?

A．It is a totally undeveloped route.	B．It goes along an abandoned railway.
C．It owns the longest tunnel in the world.	D．It lies higher than other international roads.

9 . Personalized Children’s Story Book

by LOSTMYNAME
£ 19.99
1,800 customer reviews
IN STORE
FREE delivery to China
International delivery available

The Little Girl Who Lost Her Name series is a perfect gift for children – a series like no other. Wonderfully written and illustrated, the series uses every name to create a different story.

The series follows girls who lose their names and head off on wonderful, magical adventures, to track down the missing letters. Along the way they meet lots of strange, wonderful and wise characters, who all help in the search. For example, if the child’s name is Emily, then she’d meet a forgetful elephant, a creative mermaid (美人鱼), a brave Inuit, a misunderstood lion and a friendly yeti (雪人). Each character gives the first letter of their names, and finally, her name is found!

The series is for names between 3 and 12 letters long. If the child has a very short name, don’t worry, as we will throw in an extra story, so every book has at least 24 pages. It is perfect for children between two and six years old, though happy customers have also bought it for newborns. The books are printed especially for you, in a large double-A4 landscape format (版本) on thick, uncoated, environmentally friendly (and quite attractive) paper.

Each book’s length depends on the number of letters in the child’s name and each book has at least 24 pages.

1. What can we learn about the series?

A．It is about the life story of a girl.

B．It mainly uses pictures to tell stories.

C．Each book in it contains 24 stories.

D．It includes different stories about names.

2. Which of the following words can best describe the characters in the series?

A．Clever and helpful.

B．Terrifying and strange.

C．Funny but cold-hearted.

D．Stupid but warm-hearted.

3. Why does the author mention Emily?

A．To describe the main character.

B．To explain how a lost name is found.

C．To prove how colorful the stories are.

D．To introduce children’s influence on animals.

10 . Today's world is not an easy adjustment for young adults. Key skill set for success is persistence (毅力), a characteristic that researchers say is heavily influenced by fathers. Researchers from Brigham Young University discovered that fathers are in a unique position to help their adolescent children learn persistence.

BYU professors Laura Padilla-Walker and Randal Day arrived at these findings after following 325 American families over several years. And over time，the persistence gained through fathers led to higher achievement in school.

"There are relatively few studies that stress the unique role of fathers，"Padilla-Walker said. "This research also helps to prove that characteristics such as persistence-which can be taught-are key to a child's life success.”

Researchers determined that dads need to practice an "authoritative" parenting style. Authoritative parenting is not authoritarian:rigid，demanding or controlling. Rather，an authoritative parenting style includes some of the following characteristics:children feel warmth and love from their father；responsibility and the reasons behind rules are stressed children are given an appropriate level of autonomy(自主权).

In the study，about 52 percent of the dads exhibited above-average levels of authoritative parenting. A key finding is that over time，children raised by an authoritative father were significantly more likely to develop persistence，which leads to better outcomes in school.

This particular study examined 11 to 14-year-olds living in two-parent homes. Yet the researchers suggest that single parents still may play a role in teaching the benefits of persistence，which is an avenue of future research.

1. What is special about the BYU professors' study?

A．It centered on fathers' role in parenting.

B．It was based on a number of large families.

C．It analyzed different kinds of parenting styles.

D．It aimed to improve kids' achievement in school.

2. What would an authoritative father do when raising his children?

A．Ignore their demands.	B．Make decisions for them.
C．Control their behaviors.	D．Explain the rules to them.

3. Which group can be a focus of future studies according to the researchers?

A．Single parents.

B．Children aged from 11 to 14.

C．Authoritarian fathers.

D．Mothers in two-parent homes.

4. Which of the following is the best title for the text?

A．Three Characteristics of Authoritative Fathers.

B．Key Skills for Young Adults to Succeed in Future.

C．Children Tend to Learn Determination from Father.

D．Family Relationship Influences School Performance.