1 . Coach your favourite sports to poor children in schools. Help these children to get a structured sporting education and see their joy as they pick up new skills. If that’s not enough sport for you, you can even get involved in playing with local teams in your evenings and at weekends.
Description
As a volunteer sports coach, you and your group will head to 3 schools each day to coach your chosen sport or a variety of them. Sports coaching volunteering involves not just teaching the kids, but also acting as a good role model. Children are aged about 10–13 and are often new to playing sport in a structured environment. You don’t need to be a top player to take part (though any champions are welcome!) — it’s your patience and drive that will make the biggest effects.
Which sports to coach?
Sports coaching volunteers can choose to specialize in coaching just one sport, but often we find that it is best to combine several sports for more variety. The freedom to choose between different sports makes the weeks even more diverse. Follow the links to find out more about each sport.
Accommodation
·The accommodation is located in a leafy suburb 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre and the seafront.
·Sports volunteers share accommodation with childcare and teaching volunteers.
Food
All dietary requirements can be catered for, as long as we know about them in advance. Coaching children in sport will make you hungry — many volunteers choose to supplement (补充) their meals with snacks bought in the local shops, just 10 minutes’ walk away. There is a volunteer kitchen where participants can do any cooking they wish outside of mealtimes.
Want to go travelling afterwards?
We can arrange a week-long Garden Route tour after your time on the project. Follow the link to find out more about the Garden Route Tour.
1. What can a volunteer do in the evenings if he wants to do more sports?| A．Drive to the supermarket. | B．Pay a visit to 3 schools. |
| C．Match with local teams. | D．Have a Garden Route tour. |
| A．Being a top player. | B．Being skilled in various sports. |
| C．Being able to cook well. | D．Being motivated and patient. |
| A．A web page. | B．A news magazine. |
| C．A travel guide. | D．An education paper. |
2 . NEW! ChiIdren’s Activity Guide
Winter at Home, a Smithsonian at-home activity guide
“Winter at Home” is a new 40-page activity guide that uses the vast collections and special knowledge of the Smithsonian to arouse learners’ creativity and imagination. The guide is filled with hands-on activities, puzzles and games that students can do to explore topics in STEM(Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), history, culture and the arts. The guide features bilingual(双语的) Spanish /English language content.
“Winter at Home” invites learners to look at their homes and neighborhoods in new ways. Learners are encouraged to have fun at home, with activities such as inviting a bird to breakfast at your windowsill, decoding a message in your bathroom mirror and recreating art-works using clothing from your closet.
This learning guide will be printed and distributed in select cities and is available for free download. An initial distribution of 100,000 copies will be sent to pick-up sites.
Here are some of the activities featured in the guide that you can also access on the Smithsonian Learning Lab:
• Learners can create portraits using objects found in their homes, inspired by the work of artist Marisol Escobar and tips from educators at the National Portrait Gallery.
• Learners can learn about Japanese art and make a mini paper folding screen at the National Museum of Asian Art.
• Learners can explore light and shadows and experiment with various at-home extension activities from the Smithsonian Center for Learning and Digital Access’ “Talk with Me Toolkit”. If you are interested in this guide and want to learn more information about it, don’t hesitate to send your email to Winterathome@theSmithsonian.com!
1. How can learners become more creative and imaginative according to the guide?| A．By teaching themselves two languages. |
| B．By increasing their cultural awareness. |
| C．By learning materials on STEM, the arts, etc. |
| D．By exploring their homes and neighborhoods. |
| A．It suggests learning through interesting activities. |
| B．It charges learners based on how long they use it. |
| C．It stresses the importance of getting close to nature. |
| D．It will be printed and distributed all over the country. |
| A．Learn to paint portraits. |
| B．Learn Japanese paper folding. |
| C．Make light and shadow experiments. |
| D．Talk with educators from the Museum. |
3 . One of the best ways to sightsee your way through a new city is with the help of a local. With this in mind, U. S. News rounded up several Chicago’s best guided tours. You’ll gain a cultural and historical understanding of the Windy City during these tours.
Chicago Food Planet
The three-hour tour centers on the West Loop neighborhood’s amazing food scene and the history and culture of the area. Ticket prices cost $65 for adults and $50 for children ages 12 and younger. Tours are offered Thursday through Sunday at 1 p. m.
Absolutely Chicago Segway Tour
The 8-mile journey on easy-to-ride, two-wheeled, battery-powered vehicles lasts about 21 hours. It has many of the city’s most popular attractions, including Millennium Park, Grant Park, Monroe Harbor, the Field Museum. Tickets cost at least $76, depending on date and time. Note that riders must be at least 12 years old. Tours are offered daily.
Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago
This tour combines bicycling, food and beer. The four-hour, 13-mile ride is from Gold Coast to Lincoln Park neighborhoods with stops for pizza, beer, cupcakes and hot dogs. Tickets for adults, which include the bike rental as well as food and drinks, cost $86.99 for weekday rides (weekend rides are slightly more expensive). Participants must be at least 21 years old.
Chicago Pizza Tour
On this 31-hour tour, you’ll visit four independently run neighborhood pizzerias and taste six or more pieces. Many reviewers insist that the tour is about more than just pizza and covers Chicago history, architecture and culture. Tickets cost $60 for adults and $36 for children.
1. What can you do on Absolutely Chicago Segway Tour?| A．Taste some pizza. | B．Enjoy some beer. |
| C．Visit a museum. | D．Go to Lincoln Park. |
| A．Chicago Food Planet. | B．Absolutely Chicago Segway Tour. |
| C．Bobby’s Bike Hike Chicago. | D．Chicago Pizza Tour. |
| A．To promote food sales. | B．To introduce Chicago. |
| C．To share a travel review. | D．To recommend some tours. |
4 . I do not agree with the statement that advertising is not good for us as consumers.
Through advertisements, consumers can know about new products in the market. They can be food, or even more expensive items like cars and houses. This gives consumers more choices. From a variety of brands, they choose the brand that suits them or the one that they like.
Advertising does have a positive role to play in modern society, helping us choose between competing goods.
Over the years, advertising has developed into a major industry.
The fact is that the presence of some unethical advertisers does not mean that the whole basket is bad. Generally, advertisements do more good than harm.
| A．It has also become a type of culture. |
| B．It makes us plan to buy food, clothes and gifts in a healthy way. |
| C．In most cases, advertising does not just make us go shopping. |
| D．If not for advertisements, they will not know about the different brands. |
| E．Many advertisements are drawing our attention to products with new features (特征). |
| F．Moreover, due to advertisements, competition exists when companies advertise. |
| G．In fact, I think that advertisements are necessary and can be good for consumers. |
5 . Rome can be pricey for travelers, which is why many choose to stay in a hostel (旅社). The hostels in Rome offer a bed in a dorm room for around $25 a night, and for that, you’ll often get to stay in a central location (位置) with security and comfort.
Yellow HostelIf I had to make just one recommendation for where to stay in Rome, it would be Yellow Hostel. It’s one of the best-rated hostels in the city, and for good reason. It’s affordable, and it’s got a fun atmosphere without being too noisy. As an added bonus, it’s close to the main train station.
Hostel Alessandro PalaceIf you love social hostels, this is the best hostel for you in Rome. Hostel Alessandro Palace is fun. Staff members hold plenty of bar events for guests like free shots, bar crawls and karaoke. There’s also an area on the rooftop for hanging out with other travelers during the summer.
Youth Station HostelIf you’re looking for cleanliness and a modern hostel, look no further than Youth Station. It offers beautiful furnishings and beds. There are plenty of other benefits, too; it doesn’t charge city tax; it has both air conditioning and a heater for the rooms; it also has free Wi-Fi in every room.
Hotel and Hostel Des ArtistesHotel and Hostel Des Artistes is located just a 10-minute walk from the central city station and it’s close to all of the city’s main attractions. The staff is friendly and helpful, providing you with a map of the city when you arrive, and offering advice if you require some. However, you need to pay 2 euros a day for Wi-Fi.
1. What is probably the major concern of travelers who choose to stay in a hostel?| A．Comfort. | B．Security. |
| C．Price. | D．Location. |
| A．Yellow Hostel. | B．Hostel Alessandro Palace. |
| C．Youth Station Hostel. | D．Hotel and Hostel Des Artistes. |
| A．It gets noisy at night. | B．Its staff is too talkative. |
| C．It charges for Wi-Fi. | D．It’s inconveniently located. |
6 . With its wonderful coastline and many historic sites, Croatia is the ideal destination for the family wishing to combine beach with a bit of culture.
BEST TIME TO GO
High season for Croatia is from July to August but the Croatian coast is wonderful from spring on. Swimming is generally possible from May to September when the sea is still around 23°C. But if you arrive in April, you may enjoy Carnival in Rijeka.
COST
Croatia is still reasonably inexpensive as a Mediterranean destination, but prices go up in July and August. Privately-run rooms are also often a better bet than hotels, which tend to be unfriendly. If you haven’t made a reservation, the local tourist offices or travel agencies will be able to help. There is usually a 30% discount for stays longer than three nights. The agencies offer a very reasonable deal on a flight plus car hire.
GETTING AROUND
Croatia is a small country; it only takes a few hours at most to travel from one region to another. It might be worth staying in one place for the whole holiday and doing day trips. The buses, rather than the trains, reach the places of great distance.
1. When is Croatia most visited?| A．In May. | B．In September. | C．In July. | D．In April. |
| A．They tend to be unfriendly. |
| B．They offer a 30% discount. |
| C．They charge a little more in winter. |
| D．They arrange flight plus car hire at good price. |
| A．A book review. | B．A science report. |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．A diary. |
7 . America's Most Beautiful Places to Visit in Spring
Washington, D.C.
Every spring, Washington, D.C.is blanketed in pink with cherry blossoms. To celebrate the event, come to the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which takes place from the last week in March to the second week in April. You can view the flowers or take part in festival events.
Charleston, South Carolina
No list of beautiful spring cities would be complete without mention of Charleston, South Carolina. Delight in hanging plants, cobblestone streets, and historical castles. And because of year-round pleasant temperatures, you might even hit a beach day in March or April.
North Cascades National Park, Washington
The North Cascades is home to everything from mountains to forests to grassland, and the scenery changes seasonally. In spring—the snow disappears to bring strong waterfalls, and wildflowers spot the land. Different areas will present totally unique plants, so give yourself a few days to take in the sights.
Central Park, New York
New York is the city that never sleeps, no matter what the season, but springtime is the best time to take a walk through Central Park. It is one of the most filmed locations in the world. A spring time promises walks past Victorian houses, a brief visit to ancient shops, and of course long walks by the lake.
1. Which is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?| A．March 15. | B．April 1. |
| C．March 8. | D．April 28. |
| A．cherry blossoms and various celebrations |
| B．pleasant weather and historical castles |
| C．strong waterfalls and wild flowers |
| D．Victorian houses, old shops, and long walks |
| A．Central Park, New York | B．North Cascades National Park |
| C．Charleston | D．Washington, D.C. |
8 . If you’re new to San Francisco, paying the city a visit, or simply looking for a new playground for you and your dog, here are four of the finest dog parks in San Francisco.
Corona Heights Dog Park
Often visited by residents from all over the city because of its nearness to the Randall Museum, Corona Heights Dog Park offers pets and owners breathtaking view after a steep hillside climb, and a fenced dog area that allows dogs to let loose without a leash（狗链）. Owners will also enjoy the playground, tennis courts and basketball courts.
Dolores Dog Park
The grounds of Dolores Park once served as camps for those who were left homeless by the 1906 earthquake, but now are often visited by crowds of Mission District people. Four-legged friends can also wander about carefree off-leash while making friends with other members of the doggie community.
Pine Lake Dog Park
Famous for its place as a rest stop for hundreds of species of birds to fly to and from warmer climates, Pine Lake Park is also prized by city dogs and their owners for their nice hiking paths, picturesque lake suited for swimming, and off-leash area on the park’s west end that lets dogs run free.
Buena Vista Dog Park
With a history of 146 years, Buena Vista Park is San Francisco’s oldest park. Dogs and owners with plus energy will love burning it on this park’s steep paths and winding staircases. Dog owners should have good control over their dogs, as it’s quite easy for dogs to get separated when going through Buena Vista’s many twists and turns.
1. Why do dog owners take their pets to Dolores Dog Park?| A．To let them socialize. | B．To give them rescue lessons. |
| C．To help them lose weight. | D．To increase their physical activities. |
| A．Dolores Dog Park. | B．Pine Lake Dog Park. |
| C．Buena Vista Dog Park. | D．Corona Heights Dog Park. |
| A．Dogs can go climbing. | B．It is close to a museum. |
| C．Dogs must be on a leash. | D．It is suitable for swimming. |
