1 . From going to work to traveling, here are some backpacks you can use in several different situations.
SZLX backpack
This backpack is described as “designed for travel” and you can see why—as unzipped and open, it looks a bit like a carry-on bag. It has two zip pockets and an inside compartment (隔层). With a shoe compartment and a bag for wet clothes, it is a great choice for traveling and regular use.
Della Gao backpack
This backpack will have you feeling safe, with lockable zips (拉链). It has three main compartments and at 17 inches, has a large overall space for keeping important items. It’s a wise choice for business travel, university or if you’re going on holiday with high-value items.
Lekesky backpack
Looking like a cross between a lunch bag and a backpack, the Lekesky bag is actually a bit of both, with two pockets alongside a main compartment. The bag also has a separate lunch compartment, able to store food for nine hours with an ice bag. The bag comes in black/white as well as green/white.
Maxtop backpack
If what you’re after in a backpack is a lot of space, then this bag will be the one for you. It comes with metal zippers and a USB port, plus it can be folded up when not in use. It also has a D-ring for you to hang a key or other items if desired.
1. Which backpack best suits a person carrying expensive items?| A．Della Gao backpack | B．Lekesky backpack |
| C．SZLX backpack | D．Maxtop backpack |
| A．It comes in four different colors. |
| B．It is great for keeping food. |
| C．It can be folded up when not in use. |
| D．It has a bag for wet clothes. |
| A．Sports. | B．Health. | C．Lifestyle. | D．Culture. |
2 . Marvelous Scenic Walks Near London
There are plenty of walking routes in London. If you fancy something a bit more rural, then the green and pleasant land has plenty to offer.
Goring Gap and the Thames PathIf you’re in the mood for a gentle rural walk, the Thames Path is far from boring. The 5-mile footpath follows the curve of the river, winding past wildflower meadows (草地).
Post-walk pub: Pangbourne’s seventeenth-century pub The Swan serves high-end dishes. Bag a table on the riverside or keep toasty by one of its open fires.
Box HillTo admire this spots rural views, first you’ve got to jump across 17 stepping stones and climb 272 steps to the top of Box Hill, where the path begins. The total distance is 6.8 miles.
Post-walk pub: The cavernous Tree on Box Hill has an attractive menu and huge beer garden, or sample a glass of Juniper Hill at Denbies Winerie.
A South Downs Ridge (山脊)If you’ve already done the classic Seven Sisters clifftop walk or can’t face all those hills, this is a long but lovely alternative. The route covering 14.3 miles snakes along a ridge and a river valley.
Post-walk pub: There are always 10 real beers at the old-school pub The Wellington.
Chess Valley in the ChilternsChess Valley in the Chiltern Hills isn’t home to any chess masters, but it used to produce a kind of water plant. This walk of 4.9 miles follows the river, winding through rolling meadows and woods.
Post-walk pub: The George & Dragon is a simple old coaching pub on the High Street with a log fire, real beers and giant burgers.
1. Which of the following walks covers the shortest distance?| A．Box Hill. |
| B．A South Downs Ridge. |
| C．Chess Valley in the Chilterns. |
| D．Goring Gap and the Thames Path. |
| A．The pubs are pretty and old-fashioned. |
| B．Visitors can relax at special pubs after walks. |
| C．There are rivers winding through the meadows. |
| D．The food served there is expensive and of high quality. |
| A．A geography book. | B．A travel brochure. |
| C．A fashion website. | D．A science magazine. |
3 . Four Best Language Exchange Apps
HelloTalk
HelloTalk is a language exchange application that allows you to talk with others from around the world for free. You can write a brief summary about yourself in your profile（简介）, choose your native language and select the language and level that you’re currently learning. Then you’re able to search for native language partners from around the world! What sets HelloTalk apart from similar apps is that native speakers can edit your messages and correct your grammar while you chat together.
Lext Talk
Lext Talk is an application that allows users to connect with people from around the world. Once your profile is complete, you can select which language you speak and which language you’d like to learn. A very convenient feature that Lext Talk offers is its map. Users can use Lext Talk’s map to search for language partners in their areas, or find a partner in a specific region.
Doongle
Like the feature of Lext Talk but you have an Android phone? Don’t worry, there’s a similar app for all Android users too! Doongle allows its users to share voice messages, photos and more. Like Lext Talk, Doongle also has a map feature. Doongle offers a particular group chat feature, where you can talk about English grammar or share tips on how to make a pizza with others.
italki
With italki, you get to choose your teachers based on your interests and goals. You pay per lesson but you get what you pay for. You can choose to take lessons anytime and anywhere to your liking. If you don’t know which teacher to choose, don’t worry. All teachers will have a video introduction of themselves and you could also judge by looking through previous re—views from students.
1. What’s special about HelloTalk?| A．It is the best application to learn grammar. |
| B．Users’ errors can be corrected in the message. |
| C．HelloTalk offers quality lessons at a low price. |
| D．Users can choose language partners by gender. |
| A．HelloTalk. | B．Lext Talk. | C．Doongle. | D．italki. |
| A．Doongle doesn’t have a map feature. |
| B．HelloTalk doesn’t offer a text chat feature. |
| C．Lext Talk is not suitable for Android users. |
| D．italki doesn’t offer much detail of teachers. |
4 . Watercolor Painting Classes
The following is something related to watercolor painting classes for people online.
What is the Watercolor Academy
The Watercolor Academy is much more than just a painting course. Here, you will also become a member of a unique art community where you can exhibit your artworks, get professional opinions on your creative progress, have your art questions answered, and communicate with your academy visitors.
Contents
Learn how to paint watercolors in our fun and practical art classes taught by professional artists in London. Our lively, fun Watercolor Painting Courses are designed to debunk (揭穿) the myth that painting with watercolors and inks is difficult—through our tutors’ lively instruction and encouragement, students will lose their depression and create lively artwork.
Schedule
Classes meet once a week on their scheduled day. Review our schedule to find out when course terms start and end, and please see the registration page for class days and times. We believe that with time, encouragement and the proper instruction, anyone can learn to draw and paint exceptionally well. Our school has served the Minneapolis & St. Paul community for over 25 years as artists and teachers.
Fees
The price for a group of 2 to 5 people is $ 100 per person. For 6 or more participants, the cost is $60 per person. The price for a private class starts at $ 200 for an individual. If you choose the private class, you will be able to select the painting of your choice and schedule the day and time that works well for you and the instructor. Call 970-429-2777 to book a private watercolor class.
1. What can students do in the Watercolor Academy?| A．Give a lecture on painting. | B．Present their own good works. |
| C．Set up a unique art community. | D．Learn to give professional opinions. |
| A．To show watercolor painting is fun. | B．To make students professional artists. |
| C．To make students more lively. | D．To make watercolor painting easy for its students. |
| A．It can last for many hours. | B．The class is given by famous artists. |
| C．The students can schedule their class time. | D．It requires students to work well. |
5 . Here are three of the best language leaning apps for mastering a new language, so take out your phone and download one of them!
Drops
Drops is a really good language-learning app for users who have a tight (紧的) study time. By spending just 5 minutes a day on this app, you will start to master a new language. It might sound unrealistic, but the app ensures that you don’t get bored. One of the biggest benefits of using Drops is that it gives you a beautiful explanation of all the words you are learning. Drops also brings fun games to make you interested in learning. However, you need to pay $15 every month if you want to use its functions or take its fast-learning courses.
Duolingo
Duolingo brings a series of fun courses that are easy to understand. One of the best things about Duolingo is that it learns and adapts to users’ learning style and provides lessons and exercises that bring the best results. Learners love Duolingo’s reward system which encourages them to study hard. The best part is that all the courses are free. However you have to pay if you want to get rid of ads and have offline access to the lectures.
Memrise
The special feature of this app is that it uses real native speakers to teach you their language. They create local videos that you can watch on the app. This is useful as you not only get the context (语境) of the words but also hear the clear pronunciation. Memrise teaches you a new language by showing you fun videos and offering fun games. The app is available for a free trial of three classes but you need to pay for your membership if you want to learn offline or unlock all the courses.
1. Drops is the most suitable app for learners ______.| A．who can not concentrate on learning | B．who can not spare much time to learn |
| C．who are used to learning from videos | D．who are slow in learning a language |
| A．Its fast-learning courses. | B．Its local videos. |
| C．Its fun games. | D．Its reward system. |
| A．It offers all the courses for free. | B．It helps users remove advertisements |
| C．Its teachers can be native speakers. | D．It is more suitable for offline learning. |
6 . The following top places that are worth visiting in China are recommended on the tourism website.
Gannan
Located in south western Gansu province and the northeast of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Gannan has both Tibetan culture and spectacular plateau (高原) landscape. With the average altitude of 3, 000 meters above sea level, you can experience Tibetan culture and enjoy the plateau scenery, grand grasslands, Tibetan villages, unique mountain peaks, and hidden wonderlands without the risk of altitude sickness in October.
Yading
Yading, a place where you can gain insight into the Tibetan minority culture, can be available via Daocheng. The golden fall colors here are splendid. The red bushes of Hongcaodi combined with the yellow leaves under the clear blue sky are believed to exhibit the colors of heaven. The temples in these mountains represent the local Buddhist culture.
Kaili
Kaili is one of the best places as a base for exploring minority cultures. In Kaili, the museum, the Sunday market, and the villages nearby with their unique culture and architecture are all worth a visit. It is said that in Kaili“grand festivals occur there every three days, while minor ones occur every day.” Autumn is a perfect season for outdoor activities, when you can enjoy the flesh air and cool weather.
Mongolia Autonomous Region
October is a great time to visit Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. At this time, travelers can go to the quiet Ejina to enjoy the wonderful scenery of the area’s unique populous Euphratica Forest (胡杨林). The particularity of its geographical position has blessed Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with rich travel resources including plains, deserts, sparkling lakes, and massive herds of cattle and sheep. You can even experience the Mongols’ ancient sporting traditions like horse racing and wrestling.
1. What can you enjoy in the four places?| A．Plateau scenery. | B．Minority cultures. |
| C．Traditional sports. | D．Temple visit. |
| A．Unique architecture. | B．Altitude sickness. |
| C．Buddhism temples. | D．Geographical location. |
| A．Summer. | B．Spring. |
| C．Fall. | D．Winter. |
7 . The perfect gift for your favorite young readers!
The NYRB Children’s Book Club will be the perfect gift for your favorite young readers!
We’ve grouped some of our books by age and interest and will send one book every other month for a year to the lucky child. All are “forever books”. To order a Children’s Book Club subscription (订购), please call 800-354-0050 or visit www. nyrb. com/cbc.
First Chapter Books
Age: 5-9
Fun tales of family, friendship, fantasy and frustration will even attract the youngest children.
Books: Hickory, The School For Cats, Wee Gillis Jenny’s Moonlight Adventure, The Sorely Trying Day He Was There From The Day We Moved In
Fee: $77.95 with free US shipping
Whimsical Early Readers
Age: 3-7
Fun with words, yucky (难以下咽的) gourmet food, and a hare—and—tortoise—like race are a few of the subjects of these silly books.
Books: Three Ladies Beside The Sea, Junket Is Nice, The Marzipan Pig, Mud Pies And Other Recipes, The Two Cars
Fee: $77. 95 with free US shipping
Early Chapter Books
Age: 5-9
Page-turners featuring tall tales of the sea, and a little boy who keeps interrupting (打扰) his father’s story.
Books: Wolf Story, Jim At The Comer, Jenny Goes To Sea 9 Jenny And The Cat Club 9 Beyond The Pawpaw Trees, The Mousewife
Fee: $82, 95 with free US shipping
Heroes
Age: 8-14
Real and fantastical adventures inaction-packed stories that take place in small-town America, Ireland, war-torn Holland, India, and mystical Cythera.
Books: Winter In Wartime, The Island Of Horses, The Village By The Sea, The Lost Island, The Adventures Of Anatole, Lizard Music
Fee: $60.95 with free US shipping
1. Who are the books fit for?| A．College students. | B．Little children. | C．Office workers. | D．Young parents. |
| A．2-5. | B．3-7. | C．5-9. | D．8-14. |
| A．First Chapter Books. | B．Whimsical Early Readers. |
| C．Early Chapter Books. | D．Heroes. |
8 . News Around the World
If you feel pressured for your work, here are four pieces of news you can scan and relax.
Across the River in Rome
A man has walked across the Tiber River in Rome. As a tightrope artist, he is skilled at walking on a tightrope. But this time the tightrope is 135 meters long and 20 meters above the river, which is the longest and highest. The man sets a new Italian record. He said this walk was difficult with wind and rain.
A new spoon for astronauts
Nikolas Grafakos makes a special spoon for astronauts, which helps astronauts eat more easily during long trips to Mars. Normal spoons are a little longer for astronauts and hard to eat with at zero gravity. The new spoon is something between a spoon and chopsticks. You hold it in your hand and press it at the end. It is easier to deliver food to our mouth, making it possible for astronauts to eat more kinds of food.
Pink Chocolate
Have you seen a kind of natural pink chocolate? Some people don't accept that, saying that the pink chocolate is rare and must cost a lot. Others say that in general, all cocoa beans turn into dark chocolate. During the process of making, they unbelievably change colour. They suppose there must be something strange about the gene of cocoa beans. Or maybe it is just white chocolate with some fruit.
Car Jumps and Rolls
A stunt driver set a Guinness World Record. This is his 21st Guinness World Record title. To jump with a car, he must get everything prepared and make exact calculations ahead of time. The car goes for 160 meters away and then; the car jumps. It flies 15.37 meters and even rolls in the air.
1. What does the man mentioned in paragraph 2 do?| A．A stunt driver. | B．A tightrope artist. |
| C．A spoon inventor. | D．A chocolate maker. |
| A．It is longer than the normal one. | B．It is helpful for astronauts to eat less. |
| C．It is hard for astronauts to use on earth. | D．It is easier for astronauts to use in outer space. |
| A．Fly 15.37 meters high. | B．Set a Guinness World Record. |
| C．Walk 20 meters above the river. | D．Drive his car for 160 meters away. |
9 . 
DON'T MISS! This October IBS invites you on board and join our exclusive English Adventure Camp. The program highlights English 4 Skills, Thai language, Mathematics, and Science subjects. Moreover, campers will be exposed to a variety of FUN learning experiences and challenging activities that focus on improving students' learning capabilities and creativity through IBS integrated learning approach. Our challenging indoors and outdoors activities are carefully designed not only to develop personal skills and talents, but also improve TEAMWORK. What is more interesting is the adventure trip to the Dusit Zoo that will provide an authentic (真实的) leaning experience on different animal species, habitats and fantastic sightseeing just only for IBS kindergarten campers.
● Academic Improvement
Maximize the skills and comprehension in English 4 Skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing), Thai language, Mathematics and Science. The integrated leaning approach will prepare campers for higher education.
● IBS Young Genius Scientists
Train students thinking and working skills through various hands-on science experiments. This will encourage learners to observe, predict outcome, collect data and effectively conclude the new knowledge.
● Global Awareness Activities
Develop a sense of natural care and global awareness in students through the “IBS LOVE EARTH PROJECT" which allows kindergarten campers to creatively design their own toys out of recycled materials.
● IBS Educational Games
FUN educational games that create leadership and TEAMWORK.
● IBS Adventure Trip
Authentic leaning experiences on different animal species and habitats at the Dusit Zoo. Schedule: Monday-Friday (9:00 a.m-2:00 p.m.)
IBS: Tel 0-2377-5023-4
INTERKIDS BLINGUAL SCHOOL
1. What is unique about IBS Adventure Camp?| A．It offers activities on a daily basis. |
| B．It aims to train future group leaders. |
| C．It focuses on campers' academic performance. |
| D．It provides learning experiences at the Dusit Zoo. |
| A．Academic Improvement | B．IBS Educational Games |
| C．IBS Young Genius Scientists | D．Global Awareness Activities |
| A．To advertise a school camp. | B．To broaden students' horizons. |
| C．To introduce an academic journey. | D．To develop campers' integrated skills. |
10 . Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh
The over 70-acre Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is a scientific centre for the study of plants, as well as a popular tourist attraction. It is the second oldest botanic garden in Britain. Originally founded in 1670 as a garden to grow medicinal plants, its living collection consists of more than 15,000 plants.
Open daily from 10 am(except December 25 and January 31). Closed at 4 p.m.(Nov—Feb. ) 6 p.m.(Mar. and Oct.), 7 pm(Apr.—Sept. )
Entry: Free(Tel: 01315 527171)
The Dingle Garden, Wales
The Dingle Garden is set in the heart of beautiful mid-Wales. The four-acre garden is south-facing with paths that wind down the slope to a lake and small waterfall. The beds are colour-themed to look good all year round. This peaceful garden, full of wildlife, is the perfect spot for a relaxing wander at any time of year.
Open daily 9 a.m.—5 p.m. Only closed for one week at Christmas.
Entry: Adults £3, seniors £3, children free(Tel: 01938555145)
Groombridge Place, Keat
Groombridge Place in Kent, set in 200 acres of wooded parkland, has been the inspiration for books, films and television programmes. Inside the garden walls at Groombridge Place lies a hidden world. For three hundred years these gardens were unseen, except by a favoured few. The gardens were laid out in the 17th century. In the 18th and 19th centuries new plants were introduced and many trees were planted.
Late Mar.—early Nov.: Open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm(or dusk if earlier)
Entry: Adults £8.95, seniors and children £7.45(Tel: 01892861444)
Hidcote Manor Garden, Gloucestershire
Hidcote garden covers 10.5 acres of gently sloping ground. It was designed by a plant collector who sponsored and participated in plant hunting expeditions to secure rare and unusual species for this extremely pretty garden.
Open from the end of March to early November.
March 24 to July 1 and during September, open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, closed on Thursdays and Fridays. July 2 to August 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., closed on Thursdays. October 1 to November 4, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Thursdays and Fridays.
Entry: Adults £7.27, children £3,36, family £18.18（Tel: 01386 438333）
1. From the text we can learn that Royal Botanic Garden ________.| A．is the oldest botanic garden | B．has a few medicinal plants |
| C．opens daily from 10 am to 4 pm | D．is free of charge for visitors |
| A．Royal Botanic Garden. | B．Groombridge Place |
| C．The Dingle Garden. | D．Hidcote Manor Garden. |
| A．cover a large area | B．are closed during winter |
| C．display rare and unusual species | D．are crowded with visitors in summer |
