7 . If you’re a thrill seeker, here are several festivals and celebrations from around the world that will get your blood pumping.

Spain: Baby-Jumping

The Spanish village of Castrillo has some interesting ideas about childcare. Since the 17th century, the village has been holding a yearly ceremony in which babies are laid out on mat in the street. Actors dressed as devils then skip over them. It supposedly removes the children’s original sin. Nobody would blame you if you held your breath until the jumping part is over.

Italy: Fruit Battle

If oranges seem harmless to you, that’s probably because nobody has ever thrown one straight at your head. Every year in February the Italian town of Ivrea puts on an orange battle, in which the town overthrow a bad emperor. A horse-drawn cart carrying oranges and players representing the emperor’s evil helpers is drawn into the square. The people on foot have special uniforms. Cuts and hurts are to be expected. The orange juice in a cut is certainly an acquired taste. The battle looks like chaos, but there is an important limit: throwing oranges at the horses is strictly forbidden.

Japan: Extreme Log Ride

Once every six years the Onbashira festival takes place in the Lake Suwa region in Japan. The purpose of the festival is to replace the 16 logs that stand at the corners of the four buildings of the Suwa Grand Shrine. The celebrations begin in the mountains in April when 16 carefully chosen fir trees in the mountains are cut down using traditional logging tools. They are then dragged down to the temple without the use of mechanized equipment. So people have to work in large teams to hold them up mountains and across rivers. The entire journey, usually about 10 kilometers, is dangerous. This can result in many injuries and death.

1. Why should the actors in Spain dress as devils while skipping over babies?

A．To practise their breath.	B．To make children happy.
C．To challenge themselves.	D．To remove the children’s original sin.

2. What do the three festivals have in common?

A．They all look like chaos.	B．Cuts and hurts are to be expected.
C．They are all dangerous and thrilling.	D．People should have special uniforms.

3. Where can we find this passage?

A．Travel magazine.	B．Diary record.
C．Geography booklet.	D．Science report.

8 . The following beach destinations range from ocean-side to lake-side locations, each one offering unique and quality experiences.

 Channel Island

You’ll have difficulty finding a more scenic and adventurous beach getaway with an abundance of sea life. Whales and dolphins visit the area every year. You can also camp on one of the islands in Channel Islands National Park. Hiking, exploring tide pools, diving, surfing-the activities are boundless.

 Gulf Islands National Seashore

Imagine cotton candy-blue water, sugar-white sand and lots of lemonade-yellow sun and the picture will look a lot like Gulf Islands National Seashore. Spend a day at Perdido Key or overnight at Fort Pickens campground. Or consider the “Coastal Curiosities” activity at historic Fort Pickens.

 Indiana Dunes National Park

The park hugs 15 miles of the southern shore of Lake Michigan. From camping to flying kites to a sunset stroll, this lakeshore will continually attract you. You will enjoy 45 miles of trails over rugged dunes (沙丘), mysterious wetlands, and peaceful forests. There are eight beach access points along the shoreline and most parking lots are open from 7 AM until 30 minutes after sunset.

1. Which destinations are ocean-side locations?

A．All the three destinations.

B．Channel Islands & Indiana Dunes National Park.

C．Channel Islands & Gulf Islands National Seashore.

D．Gulf Islands National Seashore & Indiana Dunes National Park.

2. Which destination best suits people travelling by car?

A．Channel Islands	B．Gulf Islands National Seashore
C．Perdido Key	D．Indiana Dunes National Park.

3. What activity can you enjoy in all the three destinations?

A．Surfing in the ocean	B．Going camping
C．Watching sea life	D．Hiking over dunes.

9 . When I was in high school, I spent most of my holidays going back to my hometown to enjoy life with my family. Being a member of my family _________ me happiness.

My brother was born when I was a senior high school student. It is _________ that children’s eyes are bright and _________. I looked at my brother’s eyes that _________ looked around the world, and I felt his curiosity about _________. He wasn’t even_________ to grab a bug and play with it. When he _________ the cuckoo (布谷鸟) call, he immediately learned to _________ it. And he would shake his _________ to learn how to fly like a butterfly. Before that, I never realized that a child’s ____________ ability was so amazing.

One time, my little brother ____________ the stones on the ground to look for the ants underneath (在······底下). He ____________ his snacks with the ants, looked up at me and said, “Sister, the ants are ____________!” He is learning to share.

As a sister who loves her brother so much, I came to realize the feeling of my parents’ ____________. I want to ____________ the best to my brother and accompany him while growing up.

1.

A．brings

B．visits

C．comes

D．waits

2.

A．forced

B．kept

C．looked

D．said

3.

A．evil

B．firm

C．pure

D．soft

4.

A．curiously

B．sadly

C．politely

D．proudly

5.

A．food

B．nature

C．grass

D．water

6.

A．afraid

B．brave

C．excited

D．delighted

7.

A．noticed

B．saw

C．caught

D．heard

8.

A．pass

B．forget

C．imitate

D．carve

9.

A．head

B．arms

C．shoulders

D．lips

10.

A．living

B．leading

C．learning

D．admiring

11.

A．picked off

B．picked on

C．picked out

D．picked up

12.

A．made

B．ordered

C．shared

D．offered

13.

A．angry

B．hungry

C．thirsty

D．full

14.

A．worry

B．trouble

C．hate

D．love

15.

A．give

B．avoid

C．enjoy

D．hide

10 . Even though the solar term Start of Autumn — which fell on Aug 7 this year — means the cooler weather of autumn is about to come, the summer heat is still here to stay, at least for a while. Here are four traditional Chinese treats that could help you cool off at the dinner table during such hot weather.

Plum syrup

Plum syrup, originally from Beijing, is sweet and sour plum juice. It’s especially popular at kebab (烤串) restaurants, where people rely on plum syrup to ease the hot feeling brought by spicy dishes. It’s believed that the cool juice takes away the body’s inner heat.

Grass jelly

This is a jelly-like dessert especially popular in Taiwan and cities in the South. The jelly has a clear dark brown color and tastes slightly bitter. A typical jelly dessert is served chilled in a bowl, sometimes with added fruits and peanuts.

Tapioca pudding

Native to Indonesia, tapioca is a starch made from cassava root. It was first introduced to Guangdong province and is now served in almost every dessert shop in China. Tapioca is usually processed into pearl-like balls to be used in drinks and desserts made with mango, red bean or papaya.

Cold rice cake

This snack is typically enjoyed by people in Sichuan province. It’s made with sticky rice, and usually cut into square pieces. It’s kept in cold water before being served, usually coated with brown sugar syrup.

1. If you are eating hot pot, which of the following is your best choice?

A．Plum syrup.

B．Grass jelly.

C．Tapioca pudding.

D．Cold rice cake.

2. Which of the following statements is mentioned in the passage?

A．Grass jelly tastes sweet.

B．Tapioca pudding originated in Guangdong.

C．Sichuan people are fond of Cold rice cake.

D．Plum syrup can make the body’s heat increase.

3. Where can we find this article?

A．Science magazine.

B．Health report.

C．Everyday news.

D．Food spotting.