1 . Lawn Games for Adults That’ll Make You Feel Like a Kid Again
Experts say that engaging in playful activities through adulthood can help lower stress, improve cognitive (认知的) functions, and build social bonds with others, which is so much more than what your phone can do for you. So what are you waiting for? Round up the family, grab one of these lawn games for adults, and let the good time stroll.
Spikeball Game Set $ 59.99
The flexible, hula-hoop-sized net stands on its foldable legs and can be taken to the beach or the park to give four players plenty of space to run around. Start the two-on-two game by bouncing a ball off the net, sending it flying toward your opponents—they have three passes between them to send the ball back over to your team. When they miss, you score, and the first one to get to 21 wins.
The Pocket Shot $ 25.00
Who doesn’t love lining up cans and shooting them down with a slingshot? It’s demanding yet thrilling. The Pocket Shot is a super powerful slingshot that shoots at two or three times the rate of a regular slingshot. It’s super tiny, so it fits in your pocket.
Giant 4-Connect-In-A-Row $ 79.99
Two players at a time try to insert their red or blue coins into the wooden frame to form a vertical or horizontal line of all the same color. It’s way more challenging than you’d think.
1. According to the first paragraph, in what way can lawn games benefit adults?| A．Helping with pressure relief. |
| B．Improving their strength and flexibility. |
| C．Stopping their phone use. |
| D．Helping them gain strong build. |
| A．Two. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．They need two players. | B．They are cheap to buy. |
| C．They take skills to play. | D．They are of pocket size. |
| A．He's a popular accountant. |
| B．He's a new media player. |
| C．He's a computer gamer. |
3 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter
While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.
Joshua Tree National Park, California
With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.
Virgin Islands National Park, St. John
Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.
1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?| A．Yellowstone National Park. | B．Joshua Tree National Park. |
| C．Grand Canyon National Park. | D．Virgin Islands National Park. |
| A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there. | B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs. |
| C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter. | D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather. |
| A．Hiking. | B．Skiing. | C．Swimming. | D．Hunting. |
4 . There are three things you can watch forever: Instagram feeds, YouTube videos and water. Among them, water is definitely something no one argues about, and there are many unusual water attractions that you can find around the world.
Bangkok Floating Markets
There are many floating markets where goods are sold from boats. While modern markets are more popular, floating markets still are a huge attraction for local tourism. Any visitors can purchase local foods and traditional handcrafted (手工的) souvenirs. Bargaining is a part of experience. So, start low and get the price you are ready to pay.
Bregenzer Festspiele
The Bregenz Festival is held every year from July to August in Vorarlberg. It has the world’s largest stage on the water. The performances are different every year but they are usually united by one theme. The decorations are very impressive and are worth seeing.
Marina Bay Stadium
This stadium was built as a temporary solution while Singapore National Stadium was rebuilt. The stadium was used for the opening and closing ceremonies during 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. It was a floating platform where the Formula One Grand Prix event was successfully held.
Archipelago Cinema
Archipelago Cinema is probably one of the world’s most scenic open-air cinemas that floats in the middle of a lake. The cinema was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, who built it using techniques popular among local people. This cinema stage was built specially for the film festival Film on the Rocks Yao Noi.
1. What is special about Bangkok Floating Markets?| A．Local foods are free to taste. |
| B．Visitors can make boats by themselves. |
| C．Bargaining for a good price is an experience. |
| D．Performances on water are impressive to see. |
| A．Archipelago Cinema. | B．Marina Bay Stadium. |
| C．Bregenzer Festspiele. | D．Bangkok Floating Markets. |
| A．They both hold ceremonies every year. |
| B．They both used local building techniques. |
| C．They were both built for a special purpose. |
| D．They both provide visitors with sports events. |
5 . Eye Opener Volunteer
Description
For about 30 years, the Museum of Science Eye Opener Program has been working with the Boston Public Schools to bring the exciting world of science to second grade students from across the city. Each year, about 3, 000 students from over 45 Boston schools visit the museum to explore, ask questions and find answers. Since 1986, funds from the Germeshausen Family Foundation have supported the Eye Opener Program in providing a guided museum experience for second graders.
With the help of a large corps of volunteers, the program introduces these students to the museum and gives them a chance to engage in science. Eye Opener volunteers encourage exploration and the excitement of discovery as they share the museum with the children. They achieve these goals through conversation, hands-on experiments, exploration of exhibits, and Practicing scientific thinking skills with program participants.
Responsibilities
Each Tuesday morning, the students are grouped into sets of 4 to 6 with a pair of volunteers who give them a tour of the museum. Tours last about two hours and are tailored to the interests of the students.
Learn the lay-out of the museum to share and explore with second graders the exhibits which May be interesting to them.
Encourage children to observe, compare, describe, ask questions and share ideas.
Know museum emergence and safety procedures.
Work in close collaboration with a diverse group of volunteers.
Minimum Qualifications
● Patience, sensitivity, and understanding.
● Willingness to work with young children and high school students of all backgrounds and abilities.
● Interest in informal science education.
Additional details
Commitment: Four-to six-month commitment.
Time: Tuesday mornings (9:30-12:30) throughout the school year.
Training: Attendance at the New Volunteer Orientation session is required.
1. The Museum of Science Eye Opener Program aims at ________.| A．encouraging teenagers to visit the museum |
| B．guiding young girls fall in love with science |
| C．directing Boston schools to teach science |
| D．helping kids engage in science in the museum |
| A．Pay a visit to the museum any day they like. |
| B．Learn about what they are interested in. |
| C．Take a tour of the museum in a group of two. |
| D．Look around the museum for 4 hours each time. |
| A．work on Tuesday mornings | B．get a diploma in science |
| C．have a sense of humor | D．volunteer for at least one year |
6 . Have you heard of the BBC series Who Do You Think You Are? In one programme in the series, model Jodie Kidd learns that she is the great-granddaughter of the newspaper owner Lord Beaverbrook, who was a politician during both world wars. Jodie also discovers that her great-grandfather on her mother’s side of the family built ships during World War I and received letters from the King of England and Winston Churchill. And on the subject of kings, Olympic athlete Matthew Pinsent finds that he is related to Edward I, one of the most famous kings in British history.
Davina McCall, presenter of Big Brother, knows her mother’s side of the family is from France. She goes to Paris and finds out that her great-grandfather, Celestin Hennion, was famous throughout France as head of the French police. He once received a medal from King George V for organising security for the king’s trip to France in 1914.
However, Jerry Springer learns that his parents escaped from Nazi Germany three days before the start of World War II but other family members died in the war. And actress Kim Cattrall discovers that her grandfather, from Liverpool, the UK, left his family including three young daughters. He didn’t go far. Forty miles down the road in Manchester, he started another family.
Finally, Nigella Lawson, a famous cook whose father was a British politician, discovers that her grandfather was a thief from the Netherlands. After being sentenced to prison, he escaped to England, which is how the Lawsons ended up in London.
1. Which of the following persons makes a living by playing sports?| A．Jodie Kidd. | B．Lord Beaverbrook. | C．Matthew Pinsent. | D．Davina McCall. |
| A．Come on! Try again! | B．I am sorry to hear that. |
| C．Why are you late again? | D．Thanks! You did a good job. |
| A．were told that their parents died in a war | B．learned something about their grandfathers |
| C．are very popular actresses | D．live in the Netherlands |
| A．deals with family histories | B．talks about the life of famous stars |
| C．helps people improve themselves | D．shows you how to succeed |
7 . The best-sellers of Amazon’s self-help list
With Mental Health Awareness Week in full swing, we’ve turned to the best-sellers of Amazon’s self-help list. Here are the most popular books over the past year.
Quiet
Fearne Cotton
Written to control the inner voice that says you can’t and silence what Fearne calls ‘brain-chatter’ that holds you back and stops you from believing in yourself. It’s a handbook to help deal effectively with modern life filled with expert advice and ideas you can put into practice.
Can’t Hurt me
David Goggins
Sharing his astonishing life story—from poverty, prejudice, and physical abuse to a U.S. Armed Forces icon and one of the world’s top endurance athletes. David Goggins reveals that most of us only ever tap into just 40% of our capabilities. Goggins refers to this as ‘The 40% Rule’, with his story lighting a path that anyone can follow to push past pain and reach their full potential.
The Wim Hof Method
Wim Hof
If you’re fascinated by Wim Hof and his amazing achievements. Think, barefoot marathons over deserts and ice fields. As an endurance (耐力) athlete, he’s multiple broken world records bearing the most extreme temperatures through the power of the mind. Exploring the ways to activate your potential and go beyond your limits. Taking control of both your body and life by releasing the great power of the mind Hoff explains his method for surviving extreme conditions.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck
Mark Manson
“Don’t hope for a life without problems. There’s no such thing. Instead, hope for a life full of good problems.” Manson makes the argument, backed by academic research and amounts of toilet humour, that improving our lives depends not on our ability to turn lemons into lemonade, but rather learning to stomach lemons better.
1. Which of the following encourages self-confidence?| A．Quiet. | B．Can’t Hurt me. |
| C．The Wim Hof Method. | D．The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck. |
| A．They are short story writers. | B．They are world-class athletes. |
| C．They suffer from physical abuse. | D．They advocate living a good life. |
| A．Share inspiring personal experiences. | B．Explore the potential of the human brain. |
| C．Provide guidance for better mental health. | D．Find approaches to amazing achievements. |
8 . How You Can Learn a Language in Only 10 Days
Most people recognize the many benefits of learning a foreign language: You can travel to foreign countries and feel comfortable, be a more productive and attractive employee in today’s competitive job market, and immerse (沉浸) yourself in the vast cultures around the world. In addition, scientific studies have shown that learning a new language helps to keep memories sharp and naturally improves brain function.
But do you know that you can learn a new language in as little as 10 days? The Pimsleur Approach to learning new languages help users pick up new languages quickly .Even the FBI and National Security Agency have purchased the Pimsleur Approach.
The Pimsleur Languag Programs
The entire Pimsleur Approach is what language learning should be: quick, fun and easy. You will learn a new language effortlessly without any reading, writing or computer use. The Pimsleur Approach has a 100 percent guarantee: speak in 10 days or you don’t pay.
Who is Dr. Pimsleur?
Pimsleur Approach is a language educator. He noticed that children have an amazing ability to learn new languages quickly. He spent his life developing this course to let you, as an adult, learn a new language as easily as a child would. You might not realize it, but you have already learned one language using the Pimsleur Approach.
Limited availability of special offers
The company is currently offering new customers a special offer of 50 % discount on tuition fees.The programs which normally cost $100 are now available for just %50. Better yet, they are also offering a money-back guarantee. So, if you find you are not learning as fast as they said, simply return it for a full payment.
For more information, please click here.
1. According to the first paragraph, ________ .| A．most people have learned a foreign language |
| B．you can find a job easily if you know a foreign language |
| C．learning a foreign language can improve brain function |
| D．it is hard to stay in a foreign country if you do not know its language |
| A．ask your money back | B．learn it again for free |
| C．change your teacher | D．ask Dr.Pimsleur for help |
| A．is the owner of the Pimsleur language programs |
| B．is a language educator who studies children’s languages |
| C．once worked for the FBI and National Security Agency |
| D．developed a course helping adults learn a new language easily |
| A．From an educational magazine. |
| B．On the Internet. |
| C．On a poster. |
| D．From the latest newspaper. |
| A．introduce an effective language-learning environment |
| B．present a language educator’s experiences |
| C．appeal to potential customers to use the approach |
| D．call on more adults to learn foreign languages |
9 . New England holds some special museums. They are devoted largely or entirely to the work of just one person. And they are the artists’ birthplaces or onetime homes. Here are four examples of such museums.
Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum
The name Cyrus E. Dallin (1861-1944) might not be familiar, but several of the artist’s sculptures (雕塑) are, especially those related to Native Americans. A good example is his “Appeal to the Great Spirit” standing in front of the Museum of Fine Arts. Born in Utah, he lived in Arlington for the final four decades of his life. The museum is in the Jefferson Cutter House, an 1830 Greek styled building.
Norman Rockwell Museum
Rockwell (1894-1978) was America’s well-known artist. The museum, founded in 1969, moved into its present location, Robert A.M. Stern-designed building in 1993. Its 998 paintings and drawings are the largest single collection of Rockwell's artworks.
Kids 16 and under: free; adults: $20; the old: at a 10% discount (折扣)
Edward Gorey House
Edward Gorey (1925-2000) was an artist, but he was also an author and clothes designer. Gorey bought this 18th-century house in 1979 and lived there for the rest of his life. Edward Gorey House is also known as the Elephant House. Gorey had respect for animals. The activities of the house, from art education to exhibits, show Gorey's support of animal well-being.
Gibert Stuart Birthplace and Museum
Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828) is responsible for what may well be the most familiar work of any American artist, His drawing of George is the basis of the first president’s portrait (画像) on the dollar. Stuart painted more than a thousand portraits throughout his life.
1. What do we know about Cyrus E. Dallin?| A．He built the Jefferson Cutter House. |
| B．He lived in Arlington for half a century. |
| C．He was best known for his Greek styled sculptures. |
| D．He created famous works related to Native Americans. |
| A．$36. | B．$40. | C．$60. | D．$72. |
| A．Edward Gorey House. | B．Norman Rockwell Museum. |
| C．Cyrus E. Dallin Art Museum. | D．Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum. |
10 . Travel Peru
Amazon Rainforest TourA short flight from Cusco takes you from the Andes into the Amazon rainforest. From there, you'll spend one day travelling by boat to your accommodation in the middle of the forest. You can then spend three days exploring the rainforest with a local guide and enjoying the plants and animals unique to the rainforest.
Machu Picchu TourThis four-day walking tour will take you on amazing paths through the Andes Mountains on the way to the city of Machu Picchu. After reaching your destination, you will have a day to explore and be amazed by this ancient city. Especially amazing is the Incas' dry stone method of building Inca builders cut stones to exact sizes so that nothing was needed to hold walls together other than the perfect fit of the stones.
Cusco TourSpend four days enjoying the unique Spanish and local Indian culture high in the Andes at Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire from the 13th until the 16th century. Stay in a local hotel, visit the museums, admire the architecture, enjoy the excellent local food, and go shopping at the local markets.
Lake Titicaca TourEnjoy the beautiful countryside as you spend a day driving along the new highway connecting Cusco to Lake Titicaca. There, a boat will take you to stay with a local Uros family on an island for three days. Both the island and the Uros homes are made of water plants from the lake.
1. What is scheduled on Machu Picchu Tour?| A．Cutting dry stones. | B．Fixing stone walls. |
| C．Exploring the ancient city. | D．Enjoying unique animals. |
| A．Water plants. | B．Lake Titicaca. |
| C．The local island. | D．The beautiful sight. |
| A．They are in the rainforest. | B．They are on foot. |
| C．They have a local guide. | D．They last four days each. |
