1 . My wife and I had decided on Ireland for our first big family trip. It’s been about a hundred years since my Irish ancestors left County Carlow for Canada. I’m so-so on U2 (a famous Irish-rock band). Irish pubs in Ontario don’t inspire me much. The most “Irish” thing about me is a ginger(姜黄色) beard and an occasional drink. My excitement for this trip was firmly rooted in the opportunity to drive on the “wrong” side of the road for a couple of weeks.
We arrived in Dublin from the overnight flight with our two kids. After picking up our rental car, we headed west. Wherever we went, I felt an undeniable sense of closeness with strangers. It wasn’t just the faces that looked like they were pulled out of my family’s photo albums. I felt at ease with the simple way of expression here, too and the shared appreciation for a self-deprecating(自嘲式的) joke.
I’ve recently learned the word “anemoia” means missing a time or a place you’ve never known. For me, the word describes the kind of longing I encountered on this trip. I’ve never experienced a longing to know Ireland or even my family’s history beyond a couple of generations. But during an hour-long trip to Inishmore Island, with the North Atlantic waves knocking us about, I felt a desire to repair the connection to my ancestors.
One day on the island, when the rain got worse, we chose a tour bus to take us to Dun Aonghasa, a 3,000-year-old stone fort(堡垒). As I walked around, I started to feel excited. By the time we entered the innermost ring of the fort, I was swimming in enthusiasm for our trip. Dun Aonghasa was full of meaning I couldn’t understand but sensed was valuable to me. For the first time in my life, I could personalize something ancient. I felt that I belonged. Yes, Ireland had many memorable things. But it was a pile of rocks that gave me the ancestral awakening I needed.
1. Which part of the trip to Ireland excited the author?| A．Enjoying local drinks occasionally. | B．Meeting a famous rock band. |
| C．Finding his long-lost family members. | D．Driving differently from usual. |
| A．Proud. | B．Awkward. | C．Comfortable. | D．Confused. |
| A．The desire to connect to his roots. | B．The longing for another trip to Ireland. |
| C．Unforgettable life experiences. | D．Mixed feelings about the good old days. |
| A．It awakened his enthusiasm for nature again. | B．It helped him rediscover himself. |
| C．It started his understanding of Irish culture. | D．It excited his interest in travelling. |
There is so much more to learn about the interesting history and culture of the United Kingdom. Studying the history of the country will make your visit
1. How did Jim feel about England?
| A．Surprised. | B．Nervous. | C．Sad. |
| A．He was a writer. | B．He was a tour guide. | C．He was a glove maker. |
| A．He got a free education. | B．He never went university. | C．He traveled around the world. |
| A．Mount Huangshan. | B．Mount Tai. | C．Mount Everest. |
1.计划安排；
2.相关准备。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Mike,
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Yours.
Li Hua
6 . The grocery store might not be your favorite place to visit when you’re at home, but isn’t it ever fun when you’re in another country? Honestly speaking, they’re one of those strange little destinations that I like to sniff out everywhere I go, much as other travellers head toward clothing stores, libraries, cafés or galleries.
The biggest beauty of the grocery store—whether it’s a huge supermarket or a tiny one—is that it gives you a glimpse into what local people buy to cook. This offers clues into their lifestyles and preferences, and into the agricultural and cooking practices of the country. I stare at the strange fruits and vegetables, the seafood, the cheese, the spices, the breads, and oh, the chocolate... always the chocolate!
Being an environmental nerd ( 痴 迷 者 ) I am, I like paying attention to packaging, which can reflect their attitude towards environmental protection. Italy, for example, has a habit of requiring customers to bag their fruits and vegetables in plastic for weighing, while Sri Lanka leaves everything loose in bins. In Brazil, everything is prepackaged in a layer of plastic.
People in grocery stores tend to be friendlier. They smile, say hello, and sometimes ask questions, which can lead to great conversations. I had a further discussion with a teen-aged cashier in Sri Lanka, over which bag of crunchy mix to buy. He insisted that the one labeled ‘spicy’ would be too hot for me, but I told him I was willing to risk it. He laughed and we ended up talking about my favorite Sri Lankan foods for ten minutes.
The financial savings extend to souvenirs, too. Whether it is ground spices for my mom or chocolates for my kids, the grocery store is the first place I look for unique gifts. It’s interesting then to come home and look at one’s own local grocery store through new eyes. What would a visitor think? What stands out, and what do the food displays say about us as a culture? You might be surprised by what you realize.
1. What is the benefit of visiting grocery stores of other countries in the author’s opinion?| A．Knowing their financial practice. |
| B．Making friends with store owners. |
| C．Buying cheaper food and souvenirs. |
| D．Knowing local people and the country. |
| A．To show their strange lifestyles. |
| B．To show the levels of their wealth. |
| C．To show their packaging advantages. |
| D．To show their environmental awareness. |
| A．Sri Lankans tend to become friendlier. |
| B．Grocery stores are always social places. |
| C．People like to share their ideas about food. |
| D．More cultures can be learned in grocery stores. |
| A．Visiting grocery stores while travelling. |
| B．Buying cultural souvenirs in foreign countries. |
| C．Knowing the grocery culture before travelling. |
| D．Exchanging shopping experience with friends. |
| A．Vienna. | B．Rome. | C．Paris. |
1. What did David do on his most recent holiday?
| A．He had a boat trip. |
| B．He took a balloon flight. |
| C．He climbed a mountain. |
| A．Gifts he needed to buy. |
| B．Things he wished to do. |
| C．Dates he had to remember. |
| A．Australia. | B．California. | C．The Amazon. |
1. When is the talk probably given?
| A．In early July. | B．In the middle of August. | C．In early September. |
| A．To report his travel plan to the UK. |
| B．To share his good memories about Jamaica. |
| C．To recommend a travel destination in the English class. |
| A．The weather. | B．The tropical fruits. | C．The music. |
| A．By living in a different city. | B．By adjusting his attitude. | C．By looking out for himself. |
1. What does Martha think of the beach?
| A．It is boring. | B．It is exciting. | C．It is dangerous. |
| A．A museum. | B．A lake. | C．A gallery. |
| A．Because it is nearby. |
| B．Because she has never been there. |
| C．Because children could get enough exercise. |
