Dear headmaster, As president of Sullivan Junior High School’s student council, I have been chosen to write to you on behalf of the eighth grade class. We would like to propose an eighth grade promotion trip to Sea World in San Diego, California. We chose Sea World for several reasons. In science class, we have been studying oceans and the marine life. Going to Sea World would provide us with the opportunity to visit these creatures and to better understand their habitats. This could be a once in a lifetime experience for those of us who have never been outside Arizona. We will have lots of fun and learn at the same time. The close location of San Diego was also a factor in planning this trip. San Diego can be reached by bus in about six hours. If the buses leave Sullivan after school on Friday afternoon, we should arrive in California in time to have a late dinner and get settled into our hotel rooms before midnight. |
You may be asking yourself. “How will this trip be financed?” We are suggesting that the school host an “Oceans of Fun” night for family, friends, and community members for a small fee. The activities would be organized and supervised by eighth grade students. Some of our ideas for the night include a Surfer’s Snack Shop with homemade treats for sale, Pirate Pete’s Treasure hunt, and a short production of “A Whale of a Tale.” This would the best chance to show our ocean animal reports. Many of the eighth grade students have gone to school together since kindergarten. We believe that this trip would be a fantastic way to celebrate friendships. This trip may also be one of the last times we see our friends because students from Sullivan Junior High School attend four different high schools. We invite you to our next student council meeting on December 7, 2013, to discuss your thoughts and work out any concerns you still may have. Thank you for taking the time to consider our request for an eighth-grade promotion trip. Sincerely, Julie Martino |
1. Who has written this letter? What is she?
2. What idea has the author mainly expressed in Paragraph 4?
3. Why has the author written this letter?
4. Why does the author mention that many students have gone to school together since kindergarten in Paragraph 5?
2 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Energetic. | B.Dangerous. | C.Romantic | D.Famous. |
A.Do proper exercise. | B.Enjoy the rest of her life. |
C.Spend more time with her family | D.Keep away (远离) from traveling |
A.It was her last adventure. | B.She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
C.She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D.It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
A.A business trip to China | B.Stroke, a dangerous disease |
C.How I overcame the fear of disease | D.Why I still travel to the wild |
3 . Travelling with friends can be an amazing experience where you could make lifelong memories or it could ruin your friendship.
Communicate and respect each other. Everyone has personal preferences when travelling— from getting the bed closest to the bathroom or sitting in the airplane’s window seat. But sometimes things don’t go as you like. In this case, share your requirements directly with your travel companions.
Don’t disappear. When travelling with a group — or even just one other person — you may want some alone time. That’s completely fine, but make sure your friends know where you are and have a way of contacting you.
Get off your phone. Of course, your friends will understand if you need to take a call from a family member, or in the event of a work emergency, but other than that, try to stay off your phone.
A.Give each other some space. |
B.Include at least one activity for everyone. |
C.So it’s important to make sure you and your friend(s) are on the same page. |
D.At the same time, listen to their concerns and be respectful of them. |
E.Don’t respond to less important work contact or send messages frequently. |
F.It’s especially true of travelling in foreign countries or unfamiliar places. |
G.And remember that consideration and respect go a long way. |
For beach vacations that get you out of town and invite you and your family to dive into culture, consider a trip to Panama City. Here, you will enjoy beaches and city exploring. Book your stay at the Westin Playa Bonita, where you can book a room starting at $222 a night. There are various programs, including beach Olympics, star observation and Spanish lessons.
Jupiter, Florida
This place offers you quality time you can spend with your loved ones. Book your stay at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, with rates for a family of four starting at $207 a night. Here, you can shoot baskets at the basketball courts, take a dip in the pool or teach your children beach yoga.
San Diego, California
The West Coast is a great spot for cheap beach vacations, so tell your family to pack their bags for a visit to San Diego. A cheap $10 Uber ride from the airport will have you pull up at the Kona Kai Resort & Spa. Here, a family of four can stay in a Deluxe Guest Room starting at $159 per night. Your kids can practice cannonballs at the pool after a visit to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Kihei, Hawaii
For west coasters who are growing bored with their background, fly to the islands of Hawaii. Stay at the Aston at the Maui Banyan, with a charge of $179 a night for a family of four. Here, you’ll see some of the best sunsets of your life while your kids play in the Pacific. And if you set about cooking a fancy meal, you’ll enjoy suites that come with a full kitchen.
1. Which of the following charges you least a night?A.The Westin Playa Bonita. |
B.The Kona Kai Resort & Spa. |
C.Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. |
D.The Aston at the Maui Banyan. |
A.Observe fantastic stars. |
B.Visit a world-famous zoo. |
C.Admire beautiful sunsets. |
D.Play some beach sports. |
A.They are all intended for family trips. |
B.They all offer rooms with a full kitchen. |
C.They all pick up visitors from the airport. |
D.They all provide basketball courts on the beach. |
5 . Some people love travelling while some prefer to stay at home. If you don’t love travelling, you can make a change now. Why?
Travelling takes you out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is comforting.
Travelling is a good way to expand your mind. It gets you out of a routine and makes you use your brain, your ears and your eyes. While travelling, there are a lot of things that have to be taken in: new sights, new flavours, new noises, etc.
Have you ever thought about travelling abroad as a volunteer? You can benefit a lot from this kind of trip.
A.Because you can really benefit a lot from travelling. |
B.All of them require your complete attention. |
C.It is not as expensive as you might expect. |
D.This kind of trip is really popular with people. |
E.Travelling can help you remove your fears. |
F.You are exposed to many new things. |
G.But it doesn’t always give you the opportunity to grow. |
6 . You want to have fun and adventure and so you decide to travel somewhere to do it. Sounds like a simple enough thing. And basically it is. But what is adventure? That is the key here and the answer can be different for different people.
For those who love sports, adventure travel can have a whole different meaning than for those who like history. The physical travel types that you can find include such adventure travel as white water rafting ( 白 浪 漂 流 ), kayaking or climbing and hiking to some mountains somewhere. To the hiker, backpacking across Ireland might be their adventure. For this type of person, adventure travel almost always includes something physical. Often the goal is to push their body’s limits and test their individual endurance (耐力).
For those who less want to climb mountains, adventure travel might mean traveling to Nepal and taking in the local festivals. Wine tasting in Italy is also vacation adventure for the more relaxed traveler who enjoys peace and comfort. Anything that is opposite to the normal scope (范围) of the traveler’s lifestyle defines (定义) adventure.
Adventure travel is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all type of vacation. Adventure depends on the person’s physical limits, how much money the person has and what the person enjoys doing. Going beyond the normal is adventurous for many. If your life is quite busy, then sitting on a beach in the moonlight with your family might be adventure for you. The point is not what you do but that you have a good time and that it is an adventure for YOU — not for the person next to you.
Do not sit home this year when vacation time rolls around. Go beyond your normal routine and try something new. If you usually spend your vacation sunbathing on a beach, try hiking, instead, through the mountains. Look around you, think beyond your comfort zone and head out on an adventure vacation.
1. For a quiet traveler, he is most likely to choose .A.backpacking across a country |
B.wine tasting in a bar |
C.hiking to some mountains |
D.white water rafting |
A.whether you enjoy yourself |
B.whether you try something dangerous |
C.where you go for the traveling |
D.what you do in the traveling |
A.adventure travel always includes something dangerous |
B.adventure travel will cost you a large sum of money |
C.anything that goes beyond the normal is adventure travel |
D.adventure travelers like to do things to the limits of their body |
A.tips on adventure travel |
B.who is interested in adventure travel |
C.what is adventure travel |
D.popular places for adventure travel |
7 . Many people like traveling. Travel in Canada has become exciting as a number of lakes make it attractive. In fact, Canada has more lakes than any other country which contains fresh water. In addition to lakes, Canada has a number of beaches as it has a long coastline on its north, east, and west. Travelers from around the world come in large numbers to enjoy the sunbath on various beaches.
Niagara Falls lies on the border between Canada and the US. It is now popular for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Niagara Falls is most attractive during the summer season when the weather condition is charming and attractive. At the Canadian side, floodlights illuminate both sides of the falls for several hours after dark and the whole scene becomes magnificent.
When traveling in Canada, travelers can enjoy doing the shopping in Toronto which is considered a leading city. It symbolizes the spirit of independence. Migrants from Europe, Latin America and Asia inhabit the place and make it a plural society. Ottawa, on the other hand, is the capital of Canada and center of political activities.
Vancouver is an enlightening city in Canada which was named after British Captain George Vancouver, who explored the area in the 1790s. The city is a leading industrial place in Canada. Another tourist attraction in Canada is the capital city of British Columbia, Victoria. The city is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.
Travel in Canada is being made easy because of a higher standard of transportation facilities. Besides, very few people know that Canada is a country with high wages per hour. In addition to a popular tourist destination, Canada is an economic powerhouse of North America, particularly in agricultural products. The Canadian dairy industry exports milk products around the world.
1. What attracts travelers most in Canada according to the first paragraph?A.Coastlines and sunbaths. | B.Lakes and beaches. |
C.Animals and plants. | D.Mountains and water. |
A.Canada and the US. | B.The beauty of Niagara Falls. |
C.The importance of the falls. | D.The hydroelectric power. |
A.It is the political center of Canada. | B.It displays the Canadian bravery. |
C.Its people come from different countries. | D.Travelers can buy something cheap there. |
A.To tell us a history story. | B.To compare Vancouver and Victoria. |
C.To remind us to keep him in mind. | D.To introduce the city of Vancouver. |
8 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking said you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.
Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveller were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveller wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角). If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show .A.people’s interest in time travel |
B.the special features of the book |
C.the long history of time travel |
D.the contribution of H. G. Wells |
A.have similarities in many ways |
B.push the invention of the first spaceship |
C.have proved wrong by some time travellers |
D.suggest the possibility to invent the time machine |
A.the traveller is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
B.the traveller goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
C.the grandfather’s death makes the traveller’s birth impossible |
D.The reunion of the traveller and his grandfather brings happiness |
A.Unclear. | B.Skeptical. |
C.Supportive. | D.Unconcerned. |
9 . Khotyn Fortress
Built in the 13th-14th century, it lies on the bank of the Dniester River in Khotyn, of western Ukraine. It is also in the historical northern Bessarabia region which was split in 1940 between Ukraine an Moldova. And it is near to the Old Kam'yanets Castle of Kamianets-Podilskyi, which was also used as a famous defensive structure. It is convenient to book the hotels nearby it at low prices, such as Premier Club, Reikartz Kamianets-Podilsky and so on.
Kamianets Podilski Castle
It lies in the Khmelnytsky Region, Ukraine. This architectural treasure is about 800 years old. Its architecture which unites best western and eastern traditions fits into the nature perfectly. The castle consists of minaret buildings , a town hall , an Orthodox church and a Polish Catholic church. Its beauty has been attracting tourists from all over the world for many years
Vorontsov Palace
It is an historic palace lying at the foot of the Crimean Mountains near the town of Alupka in Crimea. It is one of the oldest and largest palaces in Crimea, and one of the most popular tourist attractions on Crimea's southern coast. The construction of the palace began in the early nineteenth century, according to a project by English architect Edward Blore and it was supposed to be the palace for Prince Mikhail Semyonovich Vorontsov to spend summer.
The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans
It was built between the years 1864-1882 according to the designs of the Czech architect Josef Hlavka. The Residence, whose buildings are now part of Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2011.
1. What can we know about Khotyn Fortress?A.It served as defence work. |
B.It is open to the public for free. |
C.It is the oldest building in Ukraine. |
D.It was divided into two parts in 1940. |
A.The Kamianets Podilski Castle. |
B.The Khotyn Fortress. |
C.The Vorontsov Palace |
D.The Residence of Bukovinian and Dalmatian Metropolitans. |
A.A travel magazine. |
B.A science brochure. |
C.A research paper on history. |
D.A geography textbook. |
10 . While it’s wonderful to share a special trip and new experience with friends or family, there’s an attractive case for travel alone from time to time. Solo travel can work for anyone.
You needn’t discuss with others.
It can be challenging to talk over a trip and time away from work with another busy person in your life,
You’re your own great partner.
Meet new people.
If you are a born open person, traveling alone can be a wonderful way to meet locals and make new friends. Often, people who are alone appear more approachable (亲近的) to others.
For some reason, service at hotels and restaurants seems better when you’re traveling alone. People tend to admire those who travel by themselves.
A.Enjoy great service |
B.Do everything you want |
C.and it’s even more difficult when you try to make plans with a group |
D.If things don’t go well, the entire trip can be terrible |
E.You could be chatting with some interesting people at a sidewalk cafe |
F.If you seldom spend important time alone |
G.Here are good reasons why you should try it |