1 . Taking toddlers to the hairdressers isn’t always a walk in the park. But worry no more. There are lots of great kids’ hair salons in Singapore that make the whole process a breeze.
LA Kids Cowboy
Wouldn’t it be good if you or your partner could head somewhere for a quick cut and have the kids’ hair cut at the same time? Sure would, which is why we’re loving LA Kids Cowboy. It’s Singapore’s first parent-child haircut and styling concept. Cut s are a great value of $20, making it a cheap and cheerful barber for kids.
Bonbon Blowout Bar
Bonbon Blowout Bar comes with individual tablets and sweets, so haircuts won’t seem like such a terrible affair for kids. The full-service salon provides haircuts, styling, and hair perm services for children from $28; and if it’s their first haircut, your kid will even bring home a First Haircut Certificate!
BabySpa
If you’re looking for a baby haircut, look no further. At BabySpa, your kids’ hair is in good hands. The wonderful stylists will ensure the gentles t of haircuts while your baby watches Barney, sitting in a toy car. BabySpa also offers a bathing service for kids up to age two.
Kids ‘N’ Me
This kids’ hairdressers over at United Square are a firm fan favorite. It’s down to the experienced hairstylists, who are known and loved for their awesome kids’ haircuts for football matches, from simple “short back and sides” to a full-on Mohawk. We hear children can even have their hair sprayed with temporary hair d ye for special occasions!
1. Where will a boy probably have a haircut for a football match?| A．At LA Kids Cowboy. | B．At Bonbon Blowout Bar. |
| C．At BabySpa. | D．At Kids ‘N’ Me. |
| A．An adult haircut. | B．A toy football. | C．A bathing service. | D．A Haircut Certificate. |
| A．Parents. | B．Hairstylists. | C．Children. | D．Athletes. |
2 . As far as fantastic drives go, few can compete with Highway 395. Here’s what you need to know before starting a road trip along it.
▲ What to Know About Driving on Highway 395
Highway 395 begins in Hesperia, a city about 90 minutes east of Los Angeles. It then continues for 1,300 miles until its end point at the Canadian border (边界). While the entire drive is beautiful, its most famous section runs from the Los Angeles area up to Reno, Nevada.
▲ Where to Stop Along Highway 395
CONVICT LAKE
Convict Lake, one of California’s clearest bodies of water, is a beloved destination for photographers. During your drive, you can pull over for a photo, or quickly hop on a boat and cast a fishing line to see what you can catch.
MAMMOTH MOUNTAINM
Just around the corner, you’ll find Mammoth Mountain, one of America’s best ski destinations. Mammoth is renowned for its extended ski season, often lasting until July, and offers excellent terrain (地形) for all skill levels.
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
During your drive, pay n visit to Yosemite National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here, you can watch climbers make their way up Half Dome, feel the power of Yosemite Falls, and enjoy the beauty of Tuolumne Meadows.
▲ When to Drive on Highway 395
Because many attractive places along Highway 395 are all-season destinations, there’s really no wrong time to depart on this road trip. However, it’s important to remember the road can get rather dangerous in winter. Check the highway website before leaving to ensure you’re aware of the conditions.
1. Where is this text probably taken from?| A．A travel website. | B．An official document. |
| C．A science report. | D．A geography textbook. |
| A．They are places suitable for sports fans. |
| B．They show the historical changes in America. |
| C．They have beautiful views and excellent terrain. |
| D．They offer chances for people to get close to nature. |
| A．It starts in Los Angeles and ends in Canada. |
| B．There isn’t a bad time to start a road trip along it. |
| C．No special preparations are needed before leaving for it. |
| D．Its most famous destinations are in the Los Angeles area. |
3 . Smart Home Products for Living a Connected Life
What makes something a smart home product? Generally, it’s defined by its ability to connect to a Wi-Fi network, allowing users to interact with it from their smartphones.We’ve rounded up some cool, diverse offerings that you’ll love to have in your home.
Nest Cam IQ
walmart.com
$299.00
The Nest Cam IQ is a beautifully designed home security camera that can recognize faces. It can warn you if there’s a stranger in your home. The device also supports two-way communication via built-in microphones and a powerful speaker.
Apple HomePod
bhphotovideo.com
$349.00
The Apple HomePod has better audio quality than any other smart speaker available today. Available in white or space gray, the Siri-powered device also allows you to control a number of devices with your voice.
August Smart Lock Pro
amazon.com
$279.99
The August Smart Lock Pro is compatible (兼容的) with most locks. A mobile app allows you to manage access to the lock, check its usage history, and get informed when someone opens the door. You can control it and check on the state of your door with voice commands.
Logitech Harmony Elite
amazon.com
$249.99
The Logitech Harmony Elite is one of the best universal remote controls available on the market. It can control just about every piece of electronics you own (it supports over 270,000 devices!) in every room of your house or apartment, including TVs, streaming devices, and sound systems.
1. What can the Nest Cam IQ help you do?| A．Keep your home safe. | B．Check the locks of your house. |
| C．Control electronics with your voice. | D．Properly use your smartphone camera. |
| A．Nest Cam IQ. | B．Apple HomePod. |
| C．August Smart Lock Pro. | D．Logitech Harmony Elite. |
| A．Society. | B．News. | C．Technology. | D．Education. |
4 . Going away for your mini break? Bring these long weekend essentials to make the most of the leave.
ECCO Offroad Athletic Sandals, £ 59.38
Whether you’re off on a city break or exploring beaches, chances are you’re getting your steps in this holiday, which will be hard going on your feet. These ECCO sandals are specially designed and most comfortable when hiking, with an EVA footbed and ECCOFLUIDFORM design offering extra cushioning (减震) and flexibility.
Kindle(2022 release), £ 84.99
Every travelling bookworm’s best friend is now smaller and lighter, at just six inches screen width. With 16GB storage, you can download thousands of books to keep you busy on any long holiday journeys, and the battery life now lasts up to six weeks on one single charge, but may vary depending on use.
PowerAdd Portable(便携式的)Charger Power Bank, £15.99
Portable chargers have gained popularity recently, but this one is genuinely pocket-sized without any loss of the charging power. The power bank itself can be fully charged within a speedy two hours, and delivers roughly two charges for an iPhone 15. At10.5cm length, and 99g weight, you can easily slip this into your bag without feeling weighed down.
Lixada Sling Chest Bang, £29.99
Give yourself some extra pence of mind with this anti-theft crossbody bag, which helps you keep your valuables secure and within easy reach. The chest bag has an extreme slim design at less than half an inc h thick, which makes it lightweight and easy to fit under your clothes.
1. What is an advantage of ECCO Offroad Athletic Sandals?| A．Reasonable price. | B．Light weight. |
| C．Great comfort. | D．Maximum security. |
| A．ECCO Offroad Attletic Sandals. | B．Kindle(2022 release). |
| C．PowerAdd Portable Charger Power Bank. | D．Lixada Sling Chest Bag. |
| A．Holiday makers. | B．Bag lovers. | C．Nature explorers. | D．Electronics enthusiasts. |
5 . Here are some of the world’s most unusual events.
☆ World Ice Golf (高尔夫) championship, Greenland.
For more than 10 years the World Ice Golf championship has been seen as the most extreme golf competition in the world. In 1997, architect Rolf Henning-Jensen was asked to design the world’s first ice golf course among huge icebergs (冰山) and heavy snows of Uummannaq, a small town on the west coast of Greenland- 600km north of the Arctic Circle. There golfers face extreme temperatures as their first task to deal with. Then it will take player time and patience to accommodate themselves to white “green” and orange balls to play with. Determined by weather conditions, this event is scheduled for March each year in Greenland.
☆ Balloon Fiesta, the United States.
Have you ever been taken to the sky in a hot air balloon? The yearly Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta gives you the chance to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the city and countryside. Since 1972, perfect October weather, blue skies and wind known as the “Albuquerque Box” have worked together to allow balloonists to control their way thanks to the direction of blowing winds. This is the only place in the world to enjoy balloons flying in the blue skies each October.
☆ El Colacho, Spain.
The world’s most dangerous festival takes place every year in a small Spanish village Castrillo de Murcia near Burgous. El Colacho means devil’s (魔鬼) jump and in fact this is the act of baby-jumping. Its purpose is to force a devil to leave the child’s body. Men dressed as devils jump over small babies to guard them against illness and bad spirits. Many consider the festival to be dangerous as “jumping devils” could hurt babies. But locals believe the action protects their babies from bad things and organise the jump in the streets, so people can watch or even join.
1. What does the schedule of World Ice Golf Championship depend on?| A．Transport. | B．Weather. | C．Economy. | D．Golfer’s time. |
| A．It is held in autumn | B．It is held every two years. |
| C．It is known as “Albuquerque Box” | D．It is known for watching birds in the sky. |
| A．To wish babies good health. | B．To celebrate babies’ birthdays. |
| C．To attract large numbers of visitors. | D．To catch the bad spirits hidden in the babies. |
Aging Wisely Life from Fifty to Seventy-five Years Viola B. Mecke, Ph.D., ABPP With retirement, life is expected to be easier. Four stages of retirement are described, showing how pleasures and contentment mix with complexities of bring fears, problems that may loneliness, and sorrows. www.xlibris.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book $28.99 | $16.99 | $3.99 | Cosmic Quest C. Argon Cosmic Visitors were high-energy carriers from the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way galaxy. They needed to rent abandoned earth bodies for their planets’ DNA diversity and Cosmic Quest. www.authorhouse.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book $31.99 | $20.99 | $3.99 |
The Black Three Gene Skipworth Grayville never had a black basketball player. Now it has three. A block doctor just moved to the town whose three sons took Weston to the Ohio State basketball championship. www.authorhouse.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book |Audiobook $23.99 | $13.99 | $3.99 | $9.99 | Jazzy and Rhumbì Dorl Seider This heartwarming and adventurous tale is told from the perspective of two smart kitties, Jazzy Girl Muffin and Rhumbi Boy, who secretly influence their humans Boy, who secretly influence their humans to love and rescue more animals. www.xllbris.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book $40.99 | $32.99 | $3.99 |
Tackle Box Troubles Fish Tale #1: Sammy Spinner Susan Duke Sammy Spinner is the newest fishing lure to join Tackle Box Troubles. Can Sammy learn fishing tips to catch really big fish, or will he find himself in trouble? www.xlibris.com Hardback | Paperback | E-book $22.99 | $14.99 | $5.99 | The Origin and Future of Mankind Shaun Dowling Shaun Dowling describes in detail how the universe was formed, how our planet developed, when life appeared, and how it has evolved over time. www.authorhouse.com Paperback | E-book $21.55 | $4.99 |
| A．Cosmic Quest. | B．Jazzy and Rhumbi. |
| C．Tackle Box Troubles. | D．The Origin and Future of Mankind. |
| A．They are all intended for kids. | B．They each have a digital version. |
| C．They all have three different prices. | D．They can be downloaded from the same website. |
| A．A book review. | B．A library poster. | C．An academic column. | D．A book advertisement. |
7 . English Grammar Aids
Practice English Grammar
The app is available for both IOS and Android. Its main interface (界面) is a pleasing chart of your progress in each module. Tapping on one of these modules takes you to a section where you can see the grammar lessons in the form of flashcards. While the app is free with basic lessons, you have to purchase more content if you want access to every module.
Learn English Grammar
This app, too, has lessons covering different subjects and has sections to review and test your knowledge. Its testing system is a little more fun than Practice English Grammar's. You play simple games to enter the correct answers to quiz questions. This app is free for both IOS and Android, but you must pay for the complete range of content.
English Grammar Test
For testing your grammatical skills on Android devices (设备), you should also check out English Grammar Test. This app has a clean and attractive look, and feels professional and trustworthy. It also does a nice job of explaining why your incorrect test answers were wrong. Plus, you can enjoy its whole content without spending a penny!
Grammar Up
For brushing up on your grammar in a business setting, Grammar Up is a great choice. The app is free as a sampler on IOS and Android, and $5 for all the tests. Grammar Up offers some feedback (反馈) in the form of graphs showing where your grammatical strengths and weaknesses lie, and this may help you decide where to concentrate your learning efforts.
1. What can we learn about Practice English Grammar?| A．The app is only available for Android. | B．You play games to know answers to questions. |
| C．The grammar lessons are shown on flashcards. | D．You can have access to every module for free. |
| A．Grammar Up. | B．English Grammar Test. |
| C．Learn English Grammar. | D．Practice English Grammar. |
| A．Its testing system is a lot more fun. |
| B．They needn't pay money to use the app. |
| C．It gives feedback in the form of graphs. |
| D．Its interface is a chart of their progress in each module. |
| Box Office Instructions |
| Discounts/ Service charges: We offer children (12 and under), seniors (65 and over) and students (student ID card required) discounts on all seats. Please call the Box Office to know about any other possible discounts. |
| Returns/ Exchanges: We are happy to offer returns or exchanges of tickets bought up until the close of the last business day before the show with a $3.00 per ticket fee for this service. The box office must be informed directly in order to exchange tickets to another date (this service is not available online). |
| Friendly reminders: Latecomers will not be permitted to enter the hall until a suitable break in the performance. Children must be seated where they can be looked after by parents. Please show consideration for other audiences by not talking during the performance, and please encourage children to do the same. Cameras and recording equipment are not allowed to be used in our theatre. Please turn off all cell phones while enjoying the performance. |
| Will call: Please tell us at the time of booking if you would like your tickets mailed to you, otherwise they will be held for pickup at the box office. |
1. We can learn from the passage that exchanges of tickets bought ________.
| A．are free of charge |
| B．are not available until the last business day |
| C．will not be given a big cash discount |
| D．need to contact the box office directly |
| A．Latecomers will not be permitted to enter the theatre. |
| B．There is a special area for children in the theatre. |
| C．The audience is not allowed to take photos in the theatre. |
| D．Children can talk in a low voice during the performance. |
| A．can receive their tickets by mail | B．can see the performance online |
| C．can’t take cell phones to the theatre | D．can’t return tickets in any case |
