1 . Marvelous Scenic Walks Near London

There are plenty of walking routes in London. If you fancy something a bit more rural, then the green and pleasant land has plenty to offer.

Goring Gap and the Thames Path

If you’re in the mood for a gentle rural walk, the Thames Path is far from boring. The 5-mile footpath follows the curve of the river, winding past wildflower meadows (草地).

Post-walk pub: Pangbourne’s seventeenth-century pub The Swan serves high-end dishes. Bag a table on the riverside or keep toasty by one of its open fires.

Box Hill

To admire this spots rural views, first you’ve got to jump across 17 stepping stones and climb 272 steps to the top of Box Hill, where the path begins. The total distance is 6.8 miles.

Post-walk pub: The cavernous Tree on Box Hill has an attractive menu and huge beer garden, or sample a glass of Juniper Hill at Denbies Winerie.

A South Downs Ridge (山脊)

If you’ve already done the classic Seven Sisters clifftop walk or can’t face all those hills, this is a long but lovely alternative. The route covering 14.3 miles snakes along a ridge and a river valley.

Post-walk pub: There are always 10 real beers at the old-school pub The Wellington.

Chess Valley in the Chilterns

Chess Valley in the Chiltern Hills isn’t home to any chess masters, but it used to produce a kind of water plant. This walk of 4.9 miles follows the river, winding through rolling meadows and woods.

Post-walk pub: The George & Dragon is a simple old coaching pub on the High Street with a log fire, real beers and giant burgers.

1. Which of the following walks covers the shortest distance?

A．Box Hill.

B．A South Downs Ridge.

C．Chess Valley in the Chilterns.

D．Goring Gap and the Thames Path.

2. What do the listed scenic walks in the text have in common?

A．The pubs are pretty and old-fashioned.

B．Visitors can relax at special pubs after walks.

C．There are rivers winding through the meadows.

D．The food served there is expensive and of high quality.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A geography book.	B．A travel brochure.
C．A fashion website.	D．A science magazine.

2 . If having to make a choice between reading an e-book and a printed book, which would most people choose? Some would go for an e-book while some still prefer the hard-printed book.

Undoubtedly, e-books do have benefits. Firstly, changes to an electronic publication are relatively easy to make. They are quicker to obtain. E-books are more easily updated. The printed books on many subjects can become outdated very quickly. Secondly, e-books can be easily and quickly kept up to date. You usually get far more than just the e-books. Most e-books are sold with bonuses and related information that usually do not come with the purchase of a printed book. Moreover, they take up less space. Instead of a big library, you can fit literally thousands of books on your computer. It also makes it easier to share this information with families and friends.

For nearly twenty years, additionally, futurists have been predicting the development of printed books. The conventional view has been that digital e-books are on the verge of replacing paper books. However, this has not been the case. A printed book has its advantages too. Firstly, it is an object that can be carried and used alone. It needs no electric outlet (插座), no batteries, nothing. Secondly, e-books will always require some forms of support that the printed book does not need.

I believe that the online publishing has not taken off because people want real books. What is being published online more and more are pamphlets (小册子) and things that really do not need to be in print. These are stuff that people throw away afterward. More often, people do not want to read a book on the computer. What could be better than a paper book? It lasts a long time. These books are designed to last a long time without disappearing.

To sum up, there is no denying that the printed book is still very much preferred over its digital cousins. Reading electronic publications is just not the same when it comes to books. People are still very interested in real books and notebooks.

1. What can we know about an e-book?

A．It will never be out of date.	B．It always gives you an added bonus.
C．It can deliver information quickly.	D．It has taken the place of printed books.

2. Which statement would futurists probably agree with?

A．Printed books will disappear.	B．Printed books can be used alone.
C．E-books have many restrictions.	D．E-books have no drawbacks.

3. What is one cause of the failed online publishing?

A．The low demand for book industry.	B．The expectations from people.
C．The guidance of policy.	D．The desire for the printed books.

4. What does the author think of the future of the printed book?

A．Hopeless.

B．Unpredictable.

C．Costly.

D．Promising.

3 . What if someone told you about a kind of grass as tall as the tallest trees? A grass as strong as steel? Would you believe that person? You should, for that grass is bamboo   (竹子), which has more than 1,000 uses. It is not just a material for making useful products. Young bamboo is eaten, often mixed with other vegetables.

Bamboo grows in many parts of the world. In the USA it grows in many states like Virginia and Florida. Most bamboo, however, is found in wet and warm climates, especially in Asia and on the islands of the South Pacific Ocean.

In most Asian countries, bamboo is nearly as important as rice. This unusual material is used to not only build large buildings but also make water pipes, musical instruments and paper. There are over 1,000 kinds of bamboo. No wonder the lives of nearly half the people on earth would change greatly if there were no longer any bamboo.

1. According to the text, bamboo is actually a kind of         .

A．grass

B．steel

C．tree

D．vegetable

2. Where does most bamboo grow?

A．Only in Asia.	B．Only in the USA.
C．In wet and warm climates.	D．All over the world.

3. What is bamboo used to do in paragraph 3?

A．Build large buildings.	B．Make water pipes.
C．Make musical instruments and paper.	D．All of the above.

4. How many kinds of bamboo are there according to the text?

A．Over 1,000.

B．Over 800.

C．Over 600.

D．Over 400.

4 . As global warming becomes more and more serious, each one of us must take action to help.

First, diet.

Changing what you eat could easily have a significant effect because animal agriculture creates about 14% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (排放).     1     Each kilo consumed produces 26.5 kilos of CO2 emissions, five times more than chicken or turkey. Changing to plant-based diets could reduce emissions greatly.

Second, travel.

Nearly all transport relies on fossil fuels. In the US, driving one mile in an average 2016 car emits 404 grams of CO2 equivalents per mile. But taking nearly any other means of transport will reduce CO2 emissions.     2    

Third, energy.

    3     But a few quick changes can make a difference. Switch from incandescent (白炽灯) lights to LEDs. They use a quarter of the energy and last 25 times longer. And taking for showers, the average water heater is set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. But bringing it down by 20 degrees can save 250 kilograms of CO2.

Fourth, waste.

Think before you buy. The fashion industry creates about 10% of global greenhouse emissions and consumes more energy than flight and shipping combined.     4     If you' re buying food, bring your own containers and just get the amount you need.

Last but not least, plant a garden.

Plant a garden instead of building a yard out of cement (水泥), the production of which creates 8% of global CO2 emissions a year.     5    

So from a burger to a cyclist, no one thing will have a big influence, but lots of little things can.

A．Almost every household appliance needs it.

B．When you do make a purchase, try to buy it in large quantity.

C．Planting a garden helps reduce CO2 emissions and produce oxygen.

D．Each of us contributes a particular amount of CO2 into the atmosphere.

E．As we all know, the environment around us is getting worse and worse.

F．After walking, cycling is the best choice because it almost has no emissions.

G．In 2017, beef was found to be one of the most damaging foods to the climate.

5 . More people than ever are interested in learning to speak Chinese. The challenge that many face is finding the best resources to learn this new language. Fortunately, there are 4 amazing tools that can make learning Chinese much easier.

HelloTalk

This is an app that connects anyone interested in learning a foreign language to a native speaker who is willing to engage in conversation with learners, and help them practice and master their new language. It includes a voice-to-text feature that is perfect if you cannot understand your conversation partner. The text- to-voice feature that is included helps you to learn the proper pronunciations.

iTalki

No tool is going to take the place of one-on-one interaction(互动) with a real person. This is why iTalki is one of the most popular online language learning systems. If you join the iTalki community, you will be connected with an instructor who is a native speaker. They will work with you one on one to improve your vocabulary and conversational language skills.

FluentU

FluentU has made a wide variety of videos for your viewing pleasure. Each one is in Chinese and is a real-world movie or video. With FluentU, you can interact with the videos, pause and get pronunciation and definition information. In addition to this, there are quizzes(小测验) added to the videos to help you evaluate your own progress.

Pleco

This mobile app was designed specifically to help users learn Chinese. It includes an OCR reader that can be used to scan(扫描) Chinese language characters for translation, the ability to translate Chinese words from other apps and web pages, a document reader and an audio translator. It also comes with several dictionaries and the ability to create flashcards.

1. What’s the advantage of iTalki over other tools?

A．Providing one-on-one instruction.	B．Providing various learning videos.
C．Providing the text-to-voice feature.	D．Providing interesting playing games.

2. What do HelloTalk and FluentU have in common?

A．They offer the most famous learning tools.	B．They record your learning process directly.
C．They help you improve your pronunciation.	D．They provide you with various funny videos.

3. Which tool can translate Chinese words from web pages?

A．HelloTalk.

B．iTalki.

C．FluentU.

D．Pleco.

6 . Brightly—Raise Kids Who Love to Read

We believe reading has the power to improve kids’ lives and link members of a family by creating a space in which children and the adults in their lives can spend quality time together. But we also know how hard it can be to find the right book. That’s where Brightly comes in.

Editorial Mission

Brightly provides passionate parents, educators, and caregivers with the tools they need—such as tips and advice, book recommendations, and Brightly Storytime—to keep kids connected to books. We take pride in working with a diverse group of contributors, authors, and partners who cover a wide range of topics for readers of all ages in order to develop a love of books and reading in children.

Brightly Shop

Over the years, countless readers have come to us searching for gifts for the young bookworms in their lives. While it’s always been our mission to provide content that offers great book recommendations, your feedback has helped us realize the value of a more browsable, store-like experience.

The Brightly Shop helps to find exceptional book gifts for kids by offering a diverse collection of age-appropriate titles for kids ages 0–8. Whether you’re looking for a baby shower gift, birthday present, or just want to treat the child in your life to a great book, each title in the Shop is hand-selected by our editorial team—with more added every week—to bring you a satisfactory book buying experience.

We hope you’ll take a moment to browse our Shop and let us know what you think! Send us an email at shop@readbrightly.com.

Contact

We’d love to hear from you! Reach out by emailing hello@readbrightly.com—we’re listening!

1. What does Brightly think of reading?

A．It demands proper guidance.	B．It requires quality family time.
C．It helps to keep families connected.	D．It promises to interest people of all ages.

2. What can readers do at the Brightly Shop?

A．Leave their feedback.	B．Update its weekly book list.
C．Share their reading experiences.	D．Get a free book on their birthdays.

3. What’s the text mainly intended to introduce?

A．The power of reading.	B．A pretty useful website.
C．How to choose books for kids.	D．How to make kids love reading.

7 . This is the five-day trip for those seeking a short getaway to the perfect island of Bali!

Day 1 Begin Your Stay at Alaya Resort(酒店), Ubud

Your private driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you to Alaya Resort in Ubud, the cultural center of Bali. Surrounded by rice fields, the hotel offers an outdoor pool and a fitness center. You can spend the afternoon enjoying these hotel facilities. In the evening you can head into the town for local cuisines and a look around the craft shops.

Day 2 Explore the Central Bali Temples

Today’s adventure takes you to the must-see sites with a private driver. Going down about 300 steps, you’ll get to a breathtaking 11th-century complex—Pura Gunung Kawi Temple, the final resting place of past dominators, located deep in a valley and known as the “Valley of the Kings”. Visits to other different temples will bring a close to the day.

Day 3 Sunset Performance

You ‘l 1 checkout of the Alaya Resort Ubud and take the scenic drive to Benoa in South Bali. You’ll visit Balinese temples and watch an amazing sunset performance by local dancers, which is characterized by complicated body movements, shining costumes and the accompaniment of traditional music. You’ll stop off at a restaurant and try food typical of local cookery.

Day 4 Leisure Day in Bali

You have the entire day free to relax in Bali. You can choose to shop for local products or relax by the beach. At sunset, you’ll notice how everyone gathers at the beach bars to watch Bali’s truly magical sunset.

Day 5 Departure Day

After breakfast at your hotel, a private driver will drive you to the airport, marking the end of your trip.

1. What can you do in Alaya Resort?

A．Visit craft stores.	B．Have a swim.
C．Watch live concerts.	D．Enjoy free drive service.

2. What can we know about Pura Gunung Kawi Temple?

A．It’s the burial ground of ancient rulers.

B．It’s a newly-developed tourist attraction.

C．It’s an annual vacation spot for royal families.

D．It’s a meeting place for leaders from around the globe.

3. On which day will you appreciate a local dance show?

A．The first day.	B．The second day.
C．The third day.	D．The fourth day.

8 . There are a variety of free magazines that kids can receive in the mail. Kids love getting mail, so these magazines will bring double joy!

Animal Wellness Magazine

If your child loves animals, a free copy may provide him or her with hours of educational entertainment. This magazine is especially wonderful if you have a dog or a cat at home and want your child to learn about pet care.

Kids Discover Online

This is an excellent online resource (资源) where elementary school children can learn about different aspects of science and social studies topics. It gives you access (使用权) to 30 units with 200 topics.

National Geographic Kids

The content there is various. You can gain even more access by creating a free account. There are educational articles on dozens of countries around the world, as well as articles on animals, planets, and more. Aimed at children aged 8 to 14, this magazine is a great choice for learning and fun.

Sports Illustrated Kids

If you have children that are sports fans, look no further than the Sports Illustrated Kids. They can get analysis of recent games, forecasts about next season, and fun games. It’s all free, and your son or daughter will love getting to know the latest sports news.

1. Which will you choose if your son is fond of keeping a rabbit?

A．National Geographic Kids.	B．Kids Discover Online.
C．Animal Wellness Magazine.	D．Sports Illustrated Kids.

2. What do we know about Kids Discover Online?

A．It is a magazine designed for teens.

B．It covers a variety of different topics.

C．It is only meant for kids who like fun games.

D．It helps kids know about over 200 countries.

3. Who is the Sports Illustrated Kids intended for?

A．Kids who are big fans of physical exercise.

B．Kids who are interested in insects.

C．Kids who are curious about the universe.

D．Kids who dream of being a weather forecaster.

9 . Wildlife Volunteer Programs for Teens

Age: 14-17
Duration: 2 weeks
Wildlife Orphanage Program, Zimbabwe

At one of the most successful wildlife care centers in Zimbabwe, volunteers work with wildlife ranging from monkeys to lions. These animals have been abandoned, injured, or rescued from illegal wildlife traders. Tasks include preparing food, cleaning out yards, and contributing enrichment ideas. Leisure time can be spent visiting Victoria Falls and Hwange National Park.

Age: 13-15
Duration: 4 weeks
Sea Turtle (海龟) Conservation Program, Greece

With this program, teens can help the endangered sea turtle while working alongside experts. Volunteers can expect long walks along the beach watching over sea turtles nesting areas or building fences to protect them from natural enemies. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to explore ancient ruins and sample delicious Greek cuisine.

Age: 17-19
Duration: 3 weeks
Yucatan Peninsula Program, Mexico

With this program, volunteers will learn about the issues facing the marine (海洋的) ecosystem, including pollution, overfishing, and climate change. Teens will gain valuable skills on how to conduct deep sea research and identify fish species. During free time, participants can explore Mayan ruins set in tropical (热带的) jungles.

Age: 16-18
Duration: 2 weeks
Preserving Nature’s Wonders Program, Galapagos

Volunteers joining this program help restore the natural habitat of native wildlife, which is in danger of losing its habitat. This program gives teens an experience of a lifetime where they can swim with sea lions and spot rare wildlife in one of the last untouched places on earth.

1. Where should teens go if they want to look after wounded animals?

A．Zimbabwe.

B．Greece.

C．Mexico.

D．Galapagos.

2. What can volunteers in the Sea Turtle Conservation Program do during their free time?

A．Visit a national park.	B．Enjoy tasty local food.
C．Set foot in an untouched place.	D．Explore ancient ruins in tropical jungles.

3. Which program is suitable for 19-year-olds with a 4-week holiday?

A．The Wildlife Orphanage Program.	B．The Sea Turtle Conservation Program.
C．The Yucatan Peninsula Program.	D．The Preserving Nature’s Wonders Program.

10 . Thanksgiving is basically a harvest-related festival which celebrates communal harmony. Though this festival is said to have originated in America, a number of other countries also celebrate harvest-related festivals. The festival is observed with different names and in different seasons. In Australia we can see a number of harvest festivals.

Apple Festival & Grape Festival

The harvest for apples and grapes takes place in the month of March in Australia in the granite belt, a special area. The festival is celebrated for 3-4 days. During the festival, various cultural and fun events are organized. Activities like grape crushing competitions, apple picking competitions, street carnivals (狂欢), and grand parades are also part of the festival.

Renmark Orange Week Festival

In August or September, the large orange growing area along the Murray River in South Australia holds a festival in Renmark, which is called the Renmark Orange Week. All kinds of games, competitions and fun last for a week during the carnival. Fireworks are another feature of the festival. The two varieties that are being harvested in Australia are the Valencia, which is from October to May and the Navel, which is from May to October.

Cane Festival

The cane is harvested from June to December in Australia. Most of the cane crop is grow n in Queensland and some in Maclean, New South Wales. And June is time for cane festivals. Just before harvest, the cane is burnt to remove dead leaves and to drive out pests. Machines are being used to cut the cane to the ground.

Wheat Festival

Wheat is harvested in the month of December and is usually finished by the end of January. Harvesting is done by machines. A new harvester invented by Headlie Taylor makes it easier to harvest crops which get flattened or damaged by bad weather.

1. Which festival takes place in June?

A．Cane Festival.	B．Wheat Festival.
C．Renmark Orange Week Festival.	D．Apple Festival & Grape Festival.

2. What can people do during Apple Festival & Grape Festival?

A．Appreciate fireworks.	B．Taste delicious grape wine.
C．Join in apple eating competitions.	D．Take part in grand parades.

3. What can be known from the text?

A．Wheat Festival begins in January.

B．Harvest-related festivals originated in America.

C．Oranges are being harvested in Australia all the year round.

D．Renmark Orange Week Festival takes place in the granite belt.