1 . College. It means that you are finally going to leave your parents’ nest and experience a lot of personal freedom and independence. You’ll wear whatever you want. You’ll make new friends. And you are definitely ready to enjoy your time in “paradise”.
However, college might be different than you have considered. When an English speaking contest was held in Beijing, about two-thirds of the 62 college students recalled their frustrations about their life in college.
Many of them said they didn’t know what they were supposed to do in college. “Most of the time, I lingered around in my dorm, idling hours and hours away, watching entertainment shows or soap operas on the Internet, or chatting with roommates, ”Huang Xuan, 23, from Guangxi University, said of his first two years of college life.
However, one day his mum asked him about his future plans after college. It was then that he realised his future would be ruined if he kept up such self-indulgence.
Li Yan, 20, from Shenzhen University, suffered a loss of not being one of the “marked” students. She was neither the chairman of the Student Union nor the one with the highest scholarship. Sun Tingting, 21, from Suzhou University of Science and Technology, dominated all the exams with the highest scores, but she felt confused because when she was free, she could think of nothing else to do and no one else to talk to. Zhang Xin, 19, from Beijing Foreign Studies University, began to re- examine what “college” means after she noticed many graduates from elite schools ending up in a job that does not pay well. “Our future is not guaranteed by our college, but rather by how we reshape ourselves in college.”
“Young people are experiencing ‘growing pains’,” said Li Fang, a mental health consultant. In the process of self-discovery, she thinks many Chinese young people suffer more than their peers in the West. Their independence comes much later. They are so used to relying on their parents that when independence suddenly comes in college, it can be difficult.
“Relax,“ Li advised. “This is part of growing up.”
1. The underlined expression “idling hours and hours away” in paragraph 3 can be replaced by “________”.| A．killing time | B．making use of time |
| C．saving time | D．valuing time |
| A．They are no longer the “best” students. |
| B．They have no friends to talk to in their spare time. |
| C．They have trouble communicating with their parents. |
| D．They realise that good college doesn’t guarantee a good job. |
| A．They often abandon themselves to watching TV or shows on the Internet. |
| B．They are accustomed to counting on their parents before coming to college. |
| C．They have never left their parents’ nests. |
| D．They are definitely ready to enjoy their time in college. |
| A．Learn from their peers in the West. |
| B．Consult a psychologist. |
| C．Relax and consider this as part of growing up. |
| D．Stop relying on their parents and learn to take responsibility. |
1. How long is the lecture about ants?
| A．60 minutes. | B．45 minutes. | C．30 minutes. |
| A．In Theater A. | B．In Theater B. | C．In Theater C. |
| A．David Crocker. | B．Monica Chaddha. | C．Jane Smith. |
| A．At 2:00 p. m. | B．At 2:30 p. m. | C．At 3:00 p. m. |
4 . Stepping out of your comfort zone (区域) helps you to improve yourself and become a happy and fun person. You’ll experience greater enjoyment as you try out new experiences.
Unplug (拔掉插头)
Take a break from today's interconnected world.
Go to another country
You will experience new cultures, different customs, unique landscapes and another language from travel.
Try diving, skydiving or a roller coaster ride. If those are too frightening, try giving a speech or taking a dance class. Once you overcome your inner fear, you will have a sense of satisfaction that comes from overcoming it.
Talk with someone new
This doesn’t have to be a complete stranger. Start a conversation with someone new at work, the barista (咖啡师) in your local coffee shop, a neighbour or someone in the queue.
| A．Do something that is fearful for you |
| B．Become uncomfortable with the Internet |
| C．You can end your conversation with your friends anytime |
| D．Leave your phone at home, turn off the TV and the Internet |
| E．Here are some ways that can probably lead you to a new life |
| F．See if you can continue the conversation for 30 seconds or longer |
| G．Besides, using cash from different countries is also good for your brain |
5 . Listed below are some nice family-friendly museums in Chicago, pick one that interests your kids most and take your little ones there to have fun.
Shedd Aquarium (水族馆)
It was open to the public on May 30th, 1930. Visitors with limited movement can use easy slopes (斜坡) to reach the exhibits, which are also explained to children through an app.Families can spend the night in the aquarium during the special event called Asleep with the Fishes.
Elmhurst History Museum
It’s a museum about history that has won awards and was created in 1957. It shows different exhibits about many history-related subjects, has a fun interactive exhibit about its own history, and offers various public programs, tours of exhibits, and special events for the community. The museum is a fantastic place for families to visit for a day or two, and it even has places for picnics and holiday train journeys.
Chicago Children’s Museum
Founded in 1982, the museum displays impressive exhibits for children, featuring dinosaur bones, a play area only for babies and a famous and fun climbing area for children.Moreover, the museum offers various exhibitions and daily art classes for children, which are free of charge. Visiting the museum on the weekend is a good choice for economical family amusement.
Field Museum of Natural History
With millions of things in its store, it was established in 1893. Disco ver more than 4billion years of life on Earth through interesting displays and interactive events, and discover protection campaigns worldwide. It is now considered as famous as the Smithsonian Institution, established in 1846 in Washington, and the American Museum of Natural History, which originated in 1869 in New York.
1. What is special about the Shedd Aquarium for family visitors?| A．They can go on a picnic there. |
| B．They can sleep overnight there. |
| C．They can surf the Internet. |
| D．They can learn the history of Chicago. |
| A．Have discounts on holidays. | B．Watch dolphins’ exhibitions. |
| C．Take a fun climb. | D．Take free art classes on an app. |
| A．Shedd Aquarium. | B．ElmhurstHistoryMuseum. |
| C．Chicago Children’s Museum. | D．Field Museum of Natural History. |
6 . Four Best Online English Courses
Udemy: English for Beginners
This 77-hour course is among the bestselling courses. The design based on real need makes it easy to adapt to even the busiest schedules. It opens to students with no knowledge of the language. Learners will become good enough to speak clearly and confidently and understand the language well enough to follow movies and TV.
Price: $109
Time to complete: 20 weeks
Coursera: English for Career Development
Coursera is supported by the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ office of English learning. Coursera teaches English for business skills like job searching, resumes and interviewing. Learners can start at any time.
Price: $100
Time to complete: 40 weeks
Alison: English for Career Development
This self-paced (自定进度的) course takes a unique approach to teaching business English. English language learners learn the basics of searching, applying, and interviewing for jobs in the United States. Though all parts of the course are free, certification costs $30 and is available only to those who receive 80 percent or higher on their assessments (认证).
Price: Free
Time to complete: Self-paced
Perfectly Spoken: English for Daily Use
This course helps non-locals with the kinds of English used on the street and on vacation. It covers common expressions, such as what to say when meeting and greeting people, and how to express feelings. The course includes the language used when traveling, ordering at a restaurant, and during the United Kingdom holidays.
Price: $90
Time to complete: 36 weeks
1. How much should learners pay for Udemy?| A．$30. | B．$90. | C．$100. | D．$109. |
| A．They are free of charge. |
| B．They must be finished in 40 weeks. |
| C．They focus on business English. |
| D．They are suitable for pupils. |
| A．Perfectly Spoken. | B．Coursera. | C．Alison. | D．Udemy. |
7 . Top Chinese Restaurants in the Greater Seattle Area
Dumpling Generation
As the name implies, baskets of steamed dumplings are the move here. The wrappers are hand-rolled—not too thin or thick—and the fillings are savory and juicy. Ifyou prefer a strong taste, get the dumplings that include Chinese chives (韭菜), which have large, flat leaves that aren’t afraid to announce their presence.
Xi’an Noodles
Biang biang noodles take their name from the satisfying sound you hear when chefs slap dough (面团) on the counter. The impact creates the specialty noodles of the northwest Chinese city of Xi’an. These chewy, hand-ripped noodles center in most dishes on the menu. Order them as a soup,or as a bowl tossed with spicy cumin (孜然) lamb or just some chili hot oil.
Friendship BBQ
The Northeastern-Chinese-style grilled baroque restaurant is actually the Seattle branch of a New York-based chain. Meats and seafood come coated in a cumin-forward seasoning with your choice of spice level. Don’t miss the side dishes, including the garlic eggplant, which is roasted until the flesh is covered with a garlic sauce. Despite its authentic taste, you’ll constantly be wowed by its cool new recipes. That’s probably what sets it apart in the Chinese food scene.
Imperial Garden
The dim sum menu contains all the favorites and any extras make great takeaway. But Imperial Garden’s star remains the Peking Roast Duck—shaved pieces of meat topped with long narrow pieces of shiny duck skin,served with steamed pancakes. While the restaurant uses white tablecloths and is spacious enough to accommodate large banquets, the vibe (氛围) isn’t formal.
1. What do Dumpling Generation and Xi’an Noodles have in common?| A．Steamed foods. | B．Plain taste. |
| C．Handmade dishes. | D．Northwestern origin. |
| A．It’s not locally owned. | B．It has innovative spirit. |
| C．It features roasted dishes. | D．It has casual atmosphere. |
| A．Imperial Garden. | B．Dumpling Generation. |
| C．Friendship BBQ. | D．Xi’an Noodles. |
| A．A puzzle show. | B．A film. | C．A football match. |
1. What is the weather like today?
| A．Rainy. | B．Snowy. | C．Sunny. |
| A．At 5: 30. | B．At 6: 00. | C．At 6: 30. |
| A．Whistles. | B．Maps. | C．Cameras. |
| A．Go surfing. | B．Go hiking. | C．Go boating. |
1. What is the man?
| A．A doctor. | B．A host. | C．A teacher. |
| A．Cassie’s friend | B．Cassie’s mother. | C．Cassie’s friend’s mother. |
| A．One year. | B．Four years. | C．Five years. |
| A．She gets bored with it. |
| B．She enjoys it in general. |
| C．She always works overtime. |
