2 . By day, Robert Titterton is a lawyer. In his spare time he goes on stage beside pianist Maria Raspopova—not as a musician but as her page turner. “I’m not a trained musician, but I’ve learnt to read music so I can help Maria in her performance.”

Mr. Titterton is chairman of the Omega Ensemble but has been the group’s official page turner for the past four years. His job is to sit beside the pianist and turn the pages of the score(总谱) so the musician doesn’t have to break the flow of sound by doing it themselves. He said he became just as nervous as those playing instruments on stage.

“It’s a demanding job. A lot of skills are needed for it. You have to make sure you don’t turn two pages at once and make sure you find the repeats in the music when you have to go back to the right spot.” Mr. Titterton explained.

Being a page turner requires plenty of practice. Some pieces of music can go for 40 minutes and require up to 50 page turns, including back turns for repeat passages. Silent onstage communication is key, and each pianist has their own style of “nodding” to indicate a page turn which they need to practise with their page turner.

But like all performances, there are moments when things go wrong. “I was turning the page to get ready for the next page, but the wind from the turn caused the spare pages to fall off the stand.” Mr. Titterton said. “Luckily I was able to catch them and put them back.”

Most page turners are piano students or up-and-coming concert pianists, although Ms Raspopova has once asked her husband to help her out on stage.

“My husband is the worst page turner.” she laughed. “He’s interested in the music, feeling every note, and I have to say: ‘Turn, turn!’ Robert is the best page turner I’ve had in my entire life.”

1. What should Titterton be able to do to be a page turner?

A．Read music.

B．Play the piano.

C．Sing songs.

D．Fix the instruments.

2. The underlined word “demanding” in paragraph 3 probably means ______.

A．boring

B．tiring

C．challenging

D．creative

3. What does Titterton need to practise?

A．Counting the pages.

B．Recognizing the “nodding”.

C．Catching falling objects.

D．Performing in his own style.

4. Why is Ms Raspopova’s husband “the worst page turner”?

A．He has very poor eyesight.

B．He ignores the audience.

C．He has no interest in music.

D．He forgets to do his job.

5. What does Ms Raspopova think of Titterton’s work?

A．Satisfied.

B．Disappointed.

C．Doubtful.

D．Hateful.

3 . When faced with the decision to get out of bed or have a few more minutes of sleep, which do you choose? Believe it or not, that decision could make a world of difference in the rest of your day.

About 85 percent of Americans use an alarm clock to wake up in the mornings, according to sleep researcher Till Roennenber. And while there are no official numbers on snoozing (打盹), a quick survey of social media makes it clear that hitting the snooze button is a popular choice for many people.

As to how the snooze button will affect your day, scientists have mixed opinions. Some scientists think people who hit the snooze button in the mornings are actually clever, creative and happy while some said that hitting the snooze button will ruin your life, or at least your day. “I feel that hitting the snooze button has got to be one of the worst things that ever happened to human sleep,” researcher Jonathan Horowitz said. “The chances of you ‘snoozing’ and actually experiencing a meaningful rest are close to zero.”

According to some sleep experts, when hitting the snooze button, you are in fact confusing your body and mind, and throwing yourself into a deep state of being sleepy. The body needs some time to wake up, so, when returning to what will be a light sleep for a brief period of time, you are putting your body back into a sleep mode before waking it again. At that point your body won’t know what it wants, resulting in a sort of half awaken state.

If you really want to take advantage of an alarm clock, the key is to form a healthy sleep cycle. Focus your efforts on getting enough sleep each night and waking up at the same time each day so that when your alarm goes off you feel rested.

1. What can we infer about hitting the snooze button from the first two paragraphs?

A．People do it just for fun.	B．It is a common practice.
C．People take it seriously.	D．It is a wise decision.

2. Which of the following can replace the underlined part in Paragraph 4?

A．cheating	B．improving
C．damaging	D．relaxing

3. What do some sleep experts think of hitting the snooze button?

A．It brings people a meaningful rest.

B．It turns people into lazier ones.

C．It helps people adapt to a new day.

D．It affects people to some extent.

4. What is the author’s suggestion according to the last paragraph?

A．Forming a good sleep habit.	B．Waking up a bit earlier.
C．Taking another light sleep.	D．Adding an extra alarm.

5. What is the best title for the text?

A．Secrets behind Snoozing in the Morning

B．Ways to Keep Refreshed after Wake-up

C．The Snooze Button: A Good Choice?

D．Snooze to Avoid the Light Sleep Mode

4 . A friend of mine met with an accident driving in darkness. His legs were so hurt that he couldn’t move. What was the ______ was that he found himself unable to ask for help---his mobile phone went out of ______ as a result of exhausted battery. Nothing could be done but to _____ in cold wilderness. It was eight hours later that day broke, and then ____ of the rescue.

It is almost ______ that he could stand the horror in the darkness for so long. Even more surprising was his ______: “First of all, I checked up my ______ conditions and found myself not in danger. As there was no ______ to call for help, I leaned back in my seat trying my best to keep the wound from ______. In this way I was asleep”

His story _______ my regret for the failure of an exploration adventure that happened last year. A group of young men _______ to explore a mountain cave and got lost. ______to find a way out in the dark cave they were frightened and ran anxiously without a sense of ______. Finally they were dead in fear and exhaustion. According to the ______ people that found them, the place where they got lost was only about 10 meters away from the ______ of the cave. If they stayed on the spot and tried to ______ themselves, they would probably sense a light not far away.

Don’t you think you can compare it with ______ itself? When you meet with difficulty in life, you are lost in darkness.   ______ you it's unclear yet and you needn’t struggle ______. It seems to be negative(消极), ______ a person who can do so must have foresight(远见) and courage in the first place.

1.

A．hopeless

B．worst

C．more

D．best

2.

A．service

B．way

C．control

D．work

3.

A．cry

B．lie

C．wait

D．sleep

4.

A．delay

B．success

C．team

D．arrival

5.

A．untrue

B．unimaginable

C．true

D．useless

6.

A．plan

B．decision

C．explanation

D．excuse

7.

A．physical

B．mental

C．working

D．medical

8.

A．energy

B．way

C．tools

D．strength

9.

A．rotting

B．spreading

C．hurting

D．bleeding

10.

A．finished

B．ended

C．completed

D．made

11.

A．had

B．managed

C．tried

D．meant

12.

A．Willing

B．Unable

C．Determined

D．Deciding

13.

A．hearing

B．sight

C．feeling

D．direction

14.

A．rescue

B．village

C．local

D．brave

15.

A．end

B．top

C．opening

D．side

16.

A．give

B．hug

C．stop

D．calm

17.

A．adventure

B．class

C．life

D．mankind

18.

A．Mind

B．Watch

C．Imagine

D．Warn

19.

A．really

B．immediately

C．carefully

D．hopefully

20.

A．and

B．so

C．but

D．while

5 .
Trip 1 Black Bear Count

There have been fires in this area in the last few years and the Office of the National Park is not sure how many black bears are still living. Some bears have been seen since the fires, and the Office has asked for young people to help count them. The entire trip will last three hours. Bookings necessary.

Cost: Free When: May 8
Trip 2 Garland Valley

Bring your drink and lunch for this walk in a beautiful area of the Blue Mountains. Garland Valley, close to the town of Garland hut, is part of the National Park. Many wild animals live in this area, including many rare birds. This is a great walk for bird-lovers. The trip lasts four hours. Bookings necessary.

Cost: $ 15 When: May 8, May 15
Trip 3 Flashlight Adventure

Put on your warm clothes, bring a flashlight and a pair of glasses, and come for a night walk along the Dungog Valley. A guide will lead the tour. You will see many of the animals on this trip. The guide will tell you about the lives of the animals. Numbers are strictly limited on night trips, so be sure to book early. This walk lasts two and a half hours.

Cost: $ 12 When: May 8, May 15, May 22
Equipment to be needed:

• Please bring enough water and food for all walks.

• Wear good walking shoes—no high heels.

• Wear a hat for day walks.

• Dress warmly for night walks.

• Children must be with an adult.

• Make sure your flashlight works well and bring extra batteries for night walks.

• Follow all instructions from guides during the walks. The mountains are a dangerous place.

Bookings:

Bookings for the above trips can be made by telephone(8934847) or on the Internet at www. Bluemountaintour. com

1. Where are these trips?

A．In a large city.	B．In a park in the mountains.
C．In a special kind of zoo.	D．In three different countries.

2. Which of the trips lasts the longest hours?

A．Black Bear Count	B．National Park Tour
C．Flashlight Adventure	D．Garland Valley

3. Which of the following is NOT necessary for the three trips?

A．Good walking shoes	B．A pair of glasses
C．A sleeping-bag	D．Food and water

4. If you are free on May 22, you can choose_____.

A．Black Bear Count	B．Garland Valley
C．Flashlight Adventure	D．None of the trips

5. What is the best title for the passage?

A．Adventure Travel in America	B．Hunting around the Great Mountains
C．Interesting Trips in the East of the USA	D．Discovery Trips in the Blue Mountains

6 . Many Americans have felt lonely and afraid this year. The Weber family in South Dakota, is no different.

The 11-year-old Emerson Weber has a _______ — She writes lots of letters. One day last spring, she _______ wrote to her mail carrier. “I wanted to thank you for taking my _________ and delivering them. You are very _______to me.”

In no time, Em’s simple thank-you note was _______ around the United States Postal Service (USPS). Many of the workers there who _______ her thank-you note wrote her one back.

Em has a serious letter-writing habit. She _______ active correspondence （联系） with her favorite people. And if you’ve been lucky enough to receive Em’s _______ letters and envelopes, then you have a pretty good idea of the _______ they bring.

A letter from Em is likely to ________ some art, a joke or two, a mention of her younger brother and her love for Taylor Swift. So when she decided to thank the mail carrier for the ________ he provides her, she left ________ out. In went Taylor Swift, in went the little brother, in went the jokes.

Em also wrote, “I’m Emerson. You may know me as the person that writes lots of letters and decorates the envelopes. I want to thank you. The ________ why you are very important in my life is that I don’t have a phone, so how can I ________ my friends? You make it ________ !”

Her local mail carrier, Doug and his co-workers were all so ________ that they shared Em’s note ________ a “Token (信物) of Thanks” inside USPS and they wanted to write back to thank her.

Today, Em got two BOXES of letters from around the country. They are ________ with a sense of kindness. ________ there was something more in these letters. People felt ________ ---some for the first time in a longtime. It was a beautiful moment of silent exchange of love.

1.

A．dream

B．hobby

C．promise

D．lesson

2.

A．even

B．never

C．neither

D．still

3.

A．orders

B．gifts

C．boxes

D．letters

4.

A．eager

B．honest

C．important

D．equal

5.

A．shared

B．guarded

C．hurried

D．joked

6.

A．missed

B．found

C．lost

D．read

7.

A．maintains

B．delivers

C．assists

D．collects

8.

A．face-saving

B．hand-decorated

C．nature-loving

D．problem-solving

9.

A．pain

B．convenience

C．trouble

D．joy

10.

A．demand

B．apply

C．include

D．contact

11.

A．service

B．key

C．equipment

D．work

12.

A．something

B．nothing

C．everything

D．anything

13.

A．idea

B．chance

C．reason

D．desire

14.

A．stay in touch with

B．fall in love with

C．get away from

D．put up with

15.

A．clear

B．possible

C．steady

D．foreign

16.

A．determined

B．frightened

C．annoyed

D．touched

17.

A．as

B．for

C．to

D．with

18.

A．faced

B．compared

C．filled

D．honored

19.

A．For

B．So

C．Or

D．But

20.

A．seen

B．distanced

C．ignored

D．prepared

7 . Christmas Traditions

Since about 400 AD, Christmas day has been celebrated on 25th December. This date was the old mid-winter festival in pre-Christian times, around the time of the longest night and the shortest day. Christmas in the 21st century has many traditions.

Shops can make about 60 per cent of their year's income in the three months before Christmas. So most shops get ready for it in October. The shopping centres are beautifully decorated and stay open late at night. The first time this happened was in 1867 when Macys', a famous shop in New York, stayed open until midnight on Christmas Eve (24th December).

By mid-December, almost every house, shop and street has a Christmas tree. This tradition was started by the Germans as early as 700 AD. In the northern countries of the world, winter is cold and dark and most trees lose their leaves. The beautiful green trees decorated with lights and coloured glass balls give people hope that spring will come again.

Father Christmas is known across the world with his white hair, red coat and big bag of toys. Young children are told that he lives it in the north of Finland and makes toys for them. By tradition, he brings the toys to children at midnight, on the night before Christmas.

On Christmas day a traditional meal is eaten, usually turkey and a rich, spicy cake. Some people hate Christmas. Others feel it is a magical and exciting time. They love seeing family and friends; they also love the traditions. Love it or hate it, Christmas is a time to look back over the old year and forward to the new one.

1. Christmas has been celebrated ________.

A．for over 3,000 years	B．for over 1,600 years
C．since the start of the 21st century	D．for 400 years

2. Christmas is important for shops because ________.

A．they can stay open later	B．they are beautifully decorated
C．much of the income is made	D．more people go shopping

3. Christmas trees are popular because ________.

A．they make people think of Germany	B．they are easy and cheap to get
C．they lose their leaves in winter	D．they make people think of spring

4. Father Christmas is ________.

A．a real person who lives in Finland	B．a magical story for kids
C．a character in a film	D．a real person who makes toys

5. Which of the following statements is Not True?

A．On Christmas day people love to visit friends.

B．Christmas time is loved by some people and hated by others

C．Christmas is a magical and exciting time for all.

D．On Christmas day turkey is a traditional meal.

8 . 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour
The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. for you.
Day 1:Arrival in Beijing
Your guide meets you at Capital Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel.
Enjoy Beijing Duck as welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Beijing downtown
Day 2:The Great Wall & the Summer Palace
Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wall (about 2 hours’ riding) have a break at the Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing tour of the Summer Palace.
Recommended Activity: Beijing Opera Show (Liyuan Theatre, 19:30-21:10 every evening)
Accommodation: Beijing downtown
Day 3:Beijing city sightseeing & Local experience
Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day’s touring: Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City.
After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch.
Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family.
Accommodation: Beijing downtown
Day 4:Beijing Olympic sites
Visit the Olympic sites: Bird’s Nest, Water Cube and Olympic Park, witnessing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites.
After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over.
1. This advertisement is aimed at ________.

A．foreigners who are new to China

B．experts who study history and cities

C．kids who were born in other cities

D．people who are interested in touring

2. If a tourist wants to enjoy Beijing Opera, he should ________.

A．go to Liyuan Theatre in the evening

B．visit the Summer Palace on the first day

C．go sightseeing in Beijing Hutong

D．live and eat downtown in Beijing

3. On which day can tourists enjoy the city’s traditional arts and local lifestyle?

A．Day 4.

B．Day 3.

C．Day 2.

D．Day 1.

4. What does this tour company think can show Beijing is a fast developing modern city?

A．Beijing Capital Airport.

B．Bird’s Nest, Water Cube and Olympic Park.

C．Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City.

D．The Great Wall & the Summer Palace.

5. To make the advertisement work, what should be added?

A．Age requirement.	B．The hotel’s address.
C．Contact information.	D．The guide’s name.