●A Land of Mountains and Ice ●Man at Peace with Nature
●A Land of Adventure ●A Summer Where the Sun Never Sleeps
SAREK NATIONAL PARK
—EUROPE’S HIDDEN NATURAL TREASURE
I wake up to the sound of the wind buffeting the cloth of my tent. Even though the sun is brightly shining, telling whether it is morning or night is impossible. Iʼm above the Arctic Circle, where in summer the sun never sets. Checking my watch, I see that it is 7:30 a.m. I leave my tent and walk over to the mountain edge. Spreading out before me, branches of the Rapa River flow through the valley below. I’m in the remote far north of Sweden in Sarek National Park, a place with no roads or towns.
Sarek’s mountains used to be covered by vast sheets of ice. Around 9,000 years ago, this ice melted, leaving behind about 100 glaciers. Soon after, reindeer began to arrive. Following the reindeer were the Sami people, who made this territory their home. Getting here is quite difficult, so apart from the Sami very few people have ever seen Sarek. In 1909, Sarek was made a national park in order to keep the land in its natural state. Though the Sami are allowed to continue their traditional way of life in the park, no one else can live here, and all new development is banned within park boundaries. At the far side of the valley, an ancient Sami cottage is visible. Close by, there are a few reindeer feeding on grass.
For hundreds of years, looking after reindeer was a way of life for the Sami. They used the reindeer’s meat for food, their bones for tools, and their skin for making clothes and tents. Since reindeer were always on the move, the Sami would pick up their tents and accompany them. Today, most Sami have houses in villages near Sarek and live a modern life just like their neighbours. But every spring, a small number of Sami still follow their reindeer into the valleys of Sarek, living in tents or old cottages and enjoying their traditions. I am not a Sami, but in Sarek I’ve adopted some of their habits. For example, this morning my breakfast is flat bread warmed over a fire, dried reindeer meat, and some sweet and sour berries that I found growing near my tent.
After breakfast, I pack my bag and set out again. Since I must carry all of my food and supplies with me, my bag weighs about 30 kilograms. If today is anything like yesterday, it will be full of sweat and hard work as I hike over this difficult land to my destination on the other side of the valley. However, I cannot complain. Being in such a beautiful and wild place makes me feel blessed to be alive. Here I am, alone under this broad sky, breathing the fresh air, and enjoying this great adventure. What could be better?
2. Nature Club
3. Volunteer Club
4. Debate Club
| A. Chinese traditional B. classical C. country music D. hip-hop |
1.
2.
3.
4.
IS EXPLORING SPACE
A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY?
NASA satellite image of Typhoon Goni
Countries around the globe are spending billions of dollars and lots of time on various space missions, whether to Mars or other planets much further away. Some people argue that we should stop wasting time and money exploring space. Instead, we should feed the world’s poor and find immediate solutions to other problems, such as pollution and fatal diseases. However, others feel this is a shallow view which fails to realise how exploring space helps us.
Firstly, exploring space has already made a difference in the fight against world hunger. It has directly resulted in the many satellites that now orbit Earth. A number of the satellites record data on land and weather patterns. Then the data is transmitted to scientists on Earth. After careful analysis, the scientists can provide useful recommendations and advice for farmers. As a result, space-based science has helped farming in its efforts to grow enough food to feed Earth’s increasing population.
Secondly, space exploration has already promoted technological improvements that benefit us all. High-end products around the world are made to a higher standard now because of advanced technology which was first created to meet the requirements for space exploration. For example, space technologies have helped the research and development of different types of new material. They have also helped companies make better heart monitors and other machines that doctors regularly use. Today, space technologies are widely used in all kinds of industries, and everyday products such as GPS, memory foam pillows, and smartphone cameras are changing our lives.
Finally, sending astronauts into space has helped people to think about the world’s problems and even to find ways to solve them. Seeing pictures of our planet as an island in a black sea made people realise that our planet’s resources are limited. In order to provide for such a rapidly increasing population, scientists are trying to find other planets that could one day be our new home. The greatest attention at present is on Mars because it is closer to Earth. In the future, humans may live on both planets.
In closing, exploring space provides the world with many different benefits. Therefore, it should continue so as to provide new and better solutions to people’s short-term and long-term problems.
| A. Space exploration has already promoted technological improvements that benefit us. B. Sending astronauts into space has helped people to think about the world’s problems and even to find ways to solve them. C. Different opinions about space exploration. D. Exploration space provides the world with many benefits, so it should continue. E. Exploration space has made a difference in the fight against world hunger. |
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| A. Staying up the Whole Night on New Year’s Eve B. Spring Festival Couplets C. New Year paintings D. The Poster Bearing the Character “Fu” Paper-cut for Window Decoration E. Paying New Year Calls F. Spring Festival Goods G. Red packets H. Gift Money to Children I. Dinner of the New Year’s Eve |
How to Survive a Stampede (蜂拥)
At least 154 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a stampede accident that occurred in Korea, during a Halloween gathering, local authorities said early Sunday morning. What should we do in case of similar crowding and trampling (踩踏) accidents? Here are a few tips to increase the chances of survival in an incident.
If you are in a crowd, a first and most important thing is to make yourself familiar with your surroundings and mentally notice alternate exits. No matter where you are, make sure you always know how to get out.
Keep an eye on the crowd.
Be aware of the general atmosphere of the crowd, as panic situations can often be expected. When in danger, a few seconds can make all the difference, giving you the possibility of taking advantage of your escaping route.
If you find yourself in the middle of a moving crowd, do not fight against the pressure, do not stand still or sit down, because you could easily get trampled. Move in the same direction of the crowd, keeping your hands up by your chest like a boxer — it gives you movement and protects your chest.
If you fall, get up quickly. If you can’t keep moving by crawling in the same direction of the crowd, or if that is not possible, then cover your head with your arms and curl up. Do not lay on your stomach or back, as this dangerously exposes your lungs.
A. Look for exits.
B. Protect your head.
C. Avoid any choke points.
D. Keep pace with the crowd.
A. Eat at home B. Go to bank often C. Carry less money D．Keep a record of money E. Choose water first F. Save your changes |
Tips on How to Save Money
It's important for you teenagers to know how to save money. If you think it's a difficult task anddon't know how to do it, please do as the following.
Make it a habit to write down all that you have spent. And when you find out the total amount that you have paid at the end of the month, you will realize the importance of saving money.
If you have gone to a shop to buy something and get back some changes, then you can save them in your money jar. And you'll be surprised at the huge amount of money after days.
Maybe you enjoy hosting parties. Invite your friends over to your house instead of a restaurant. You can have a barbecue or play games. It's a great way to have fun, but at a lower cost.
Do you like drinking cola or coffee very much? Instead of buying cola, coffee or other drinks with a meal, drink water. Water is better for your health, and drinking it saves you money, too.
Do you have the habit of not leaving a store without buying anything? The only way to stop that is carrying less money around with you, which will not even help you buy a drink.
Follow these tips above, make small changes in your life, and watch your money grow.
How to Introduce Yourself in Class
Introducing yourself to a class, whether you are the student or the teacher, can feel frightening. Here are some suggestions that can help.
This will make you appear more confident. This will also help you speak more clearly than if you were to stay seated. It may feel awkward to stand up, but your introduction will be over more quickly than you think.
Even if you are super nervous, smiling will make your voice sound calmer and will help you mask that nervousness. It also shows your classmates and your teacher that you are friendly and approachable.
You want everyone to be able to hear you, so when you introduce yourself, do so in a clear, loud voice. Don’t be shy or stare down at the ground.
Give your name first.
It’s helpful to give your first name, pause, and then give your first and last name, like “Hello, my name is June, June Thompson.” The repetition makes it more likely that others will remember your name.
If you are involved in sports or have pets or like to travel, the end of your introduction is a good place to give this information. You could say something like, “When I’m not studying, I like to train for and run in half-marathons.” This gives your classmates and teacher a memorable activity to tie to your name.
A. Speak with confidence.
B. Offer personal details, like hobbies or interests you have.
C. Think something positive.
D. Smile when you speak.
E. Stand up when it’s your turn to introduce yourself.
When it comes to learning English, lots of people hate learning idioms. However, if you don’t learn idioms, you may not always understand everything you hear or read in English. So, let’s try these tips to make remembering the idioms a piece of cake.
You’d better develop a good habit of taking notes when you learn English. When you hear or read new words or expressions and you don’t understand them, write them down in your notebook. Then you can go to ask your teacher for help or look them up in your dictionary.
Sometimes the context can help you know the meaning of an idiom. For example, if two students are talking about one of their classmates, they say something like “She always has the right answer. She’s a real teacher’s pet.” You know they are talking about a clever girl. Then you can know that “teacher’s pet” means “their favorite student of the teacher”.
If you think you know how to use an idiom, then don’t hold your tongue! Practice it with your friends or in class. It’s the only way to really learn how to use it.
A. Practice
B. Take notes
C. Read them aloud
D. Use context
Saving money can be hard. There is always something fun to buy. If you really want to save money, it will be easier if you set a goal. Then make smart spending choices and look for ways to earn money.
Set a specific goal for something you want to buy. Saving will be easier if you have an amount in mind. For example, if you want to buy a bike, your goal might be the cost of the bike. You should add the price of a helmet. Your goal might be just to save as much money as you can. You might reward yourself with ice-cream every time you save $100.
Keep your money in a piggy bank in your closet. You can also use an envelope or a shoebox. Put it where it can’t be lost or stolen. It is also good to keep it out of sight. You might not want to spend it if you-forget it is here.
Draw a long box with $0 at one end and the amount of money you want to collect at the other end. Mark lines along the chart for each $5 or $10. When you add money to your savings, color part of the box. It will show how close you are reaching your goal!
Maybe you want to save money for a video game. You might also want to take a trip with your friends. Put money in different piggy banks for more than one thing.
When you get money, put it into savings quickly. You will be less likely to spend it. If you know that you are going to get money, plan how much is going into savings. You don’t have to put all of your money in savings. However, if you want to reach your goal quickly, keep out only a small amount.
A. Saving for more than one thing
B. Spending less money
C. Buying what you really want
D. Keeping record of your savings
E. Making a saving plan
F. Keeping your money safe
