1 . From coast to coast, Canada is a beautiful country filled with an endless variety of landscapes and many well-known jewels to explore, which offers a perfect getaway option sure to suit everyone.
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BCVancouver Island is the largest island on the Pacific Coast of North America. This spectacular island offers some awesome adventures, including hiking, diving, surfing and camping. Your weekend getaway to Vancouver Island kicks off with a beautiful ferry ride. The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry passes close to the beautiful Gulf Islands and rocky coves, so keep an eye out for seals and whales! The trip by car and ferry, or bus and ferry, takes about four hours from downtown Vancouver.
WHISTLER, BCWhistler, one of the largest ski resorts in North America, is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts all year round. From powder hounds (粉雪滑雪) in winter to water sports, biking, and hiking during the summer, there is plenty to explore. In addition, Whistler was a major part of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
KELOWNA, BCKelowna is popular with tourists as it is the premier wine destination in British Columbia. Spending the day tasting the local wines and eating at some of the winery restaurants is a perfect way to enjoy a summer’s day here. Golf, hiking, biking, and boating on the lake are all popular summer activities here as well.
1. What do we know about VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC?A.It is the largest island of North America. | B.It can be reached by train. |
C.It is a good place for visitors to camp. | D.It was a major part of the 2010 Winter Olympics. |
A.Hiking. | B.Biking. | C.Diving. | D.Skiing. |
A.Research paper. | B.Travel brochure. | C.Geography textbook. | D.Travel journal. |
2 . To encourage all students to get an education, even if their parents can’t afford it, a primary school in the Indian state of Chahattisgarh is asking parents to simply plant saplings (树苗) instead of paying school fees. The parents have to take care of the sapling and plant a new one if it dies. Compared with the cost of traditional school fees, it’s a small price to pay. And it comes with the added bonus of helping improve local air quality.
The school is Shiksha Kuteer in the city of Ambikapur in the east of the country. It is reported that at least 35 students between the ages of five and six are studying there. The initiative was set up by a group of local professionals and business owners in response to India’s rapidly increasing education fees. “Shiksha Kuteer has opened in the village for students who have no money to pay fees,” local villager Sevak Das said.
The government now spends just 3.9 percent of its budget on education, which means parents are left to pay for high school fees, as well as paying for books and other school things. A national survey made last year showed that between 2011 and 2017, private expenditure (支出) increased by 175 percent to $100 per student each year. That might not sound like a lot, but for many families, particularly in poor areas, it’s not affordable, especially at the primary school level. The lack of government spending is damaging the education system, too. The 2017 Annual Status of Education report found that nearly 20 percent of Grade 2 students, aged seven to eight, didn’t recognize the numbers between one and nine.
But by offering such a way to get students into schools, Shiksha Kuteer is encouraging education in everyone. 700 saplings have been planted across the village over the last year and more and more people in other areas would like to adopt such an approach.
1. Which of the following can best describe Shiksha Kuteer’s approach?A.No pains, no gains. |
B.Kill two birds with one stone. |
C.Two heads are better than one. |
D.There are two sides to every question. |
A.It is surrounded by trees. |
B.It is run by the locals. |
C.It was set up for poor children. |
D.It aims to protect the environment. |
A.Cautious. | B.Doubtful. |
C.Uncaring. | D.Positive. |
A.The affordable way to encourage education in India. |
B.The heavy financial burden on parents in India. |
C.The big challenges of improving India’s education system. |
D.The effects of the Indian government spending little on education. |
3 . I was born in Detroit. My father, Robert, made his first fortune selling paint to the car industry. My mother, Hazel, was a telephone operator.
Our house in Detroit was beautiful, right off the Detroit Golf Club. We spent much of the time fishing and riding horses. It was one of the few times in my life that I had my father’s undivided attention.
When I was 7, my parents decided to move to Los Angeles. But my parents didn’t move out to L. A. immediately. Instead, they remained in Detroit for a year. I was sent on ahead, probably so my parents could enjoy their social life without disruption. My father put me on a train in Detroit, tipped a porter to keep an eye on me and when I arrived I was taken to the Hollywood Military Academy, where I had been registered.
My father had been so successful that he was able to retire. I admired his success, but he was strict and didn’t hesitate to punish or hit me for the slightest offence. I came to hate him, and I became rebellious(叛逆的). The four boarding schools I attended were like an extended Hollywood family. Many stars sent their kids there so they could work on movies without distraction. I became connected to the film industry through my friendships. I already was determined to become an actor. My father hoped I’d join his company, but I wanted nothing to do with it or him. Instead, I decided to try my luck in the picture business.
In 1950, when I was 20, I had a screen test. When the head of the studio, Darryl Zanuck, saw the test, he signed me. The day I found out, I felt absolutely great. Suddenly I was recognized. Through the years, my father voiced doubt about whether I’d make it. My mother’s support was our secret and canceled out his discouragement. At the end of his life in 1964, my father finally told me, “Nice job” about my film work. That’s the praise I got.
1. What does the underlined word “disruption” mean in the third paragraph?A.Interruption. | B.Destruction. |
C.Separation. | D.Consideration. |
A.She openly encouraged his career choice. |
B.She had no involvement in the author’s film work. |
C.She convinced the father to be more supportive of the author. |
D.She secretly supported him despite the father’s discouragement. |
A.Distant but respectful. | B.Close but insecure. |
C.Trusting and encouraging. | D.Supportive and caring. |
A.A Life-changing Screen Test Success |
B.The Experience of Growing Up in Detroit |
C.A Father’s Approval: Struggles and Recognition |
D.The Influence of Boarding Schools on My Career |
4 . How to Celebrate Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends, and being thankful for the people and things in their life.
Invite family and friends a month ahead of time. Make a list of family and friends that you would like to celebrate Thanksgiving with. Let them know that you will be celebrating Thanksgiving and that you would like them to come. Letting them know ahead of time will allow them to make plans if they need to travel.
Choose a potluck (自带餐) for the Thanksgiving meal. A potluck meal will make it easier for you to cook. If you choose this type of meal, ask your guests what they would like to bring. Make a list of the dishes they will be bringing.
Make a shopping list. Make a list of all the things you will need to prepare the meal. Buy dry ingredient (食材) one or two weeks ahead.
A.Buy the turkey two or three weeks ahead. |
B.Then the host provides the rest of the food. |
C.You know that some people may refuse you. |
D.Buy fresh ingredients five to seven days in advance. |
E.It is celebrated by having a big meal with a turkey. |
F.If you don’t feel like making a turkey, order pizza or takeout. |
G.Make other dishes to help you feel the Thanksgiving spirit. |
5 . I have been a professional skateboarder for 24 years. For much of that time, the activity that paid my rent and gave me my greatest joy was marked with many labels, most of which were ugly.
When I was about 17, three years after I turned pro-skater, my high school “careers” teacher scolded me and told me that I would never make it in the workplace if I didn’t follow directions clearly. He said I’d never make a living as a skateboarder, so it seemed to him that my future was bleak.
Even during those dark years, I never stopped progressing as a skater. There have been many times when I’ve been frustrated because I can’t join in some formal training. I’ve come to realize that the only way to master something is to keep it -- despite the bloody knees, twisted ankles, or mocking crowds.
So here I am, 38 years old, a husband and father of three, with a lengthy list of responsibilities and obligations. And although I have many job titles -- CEO, Executive Producer, Senior Consultant, Foundation Chairman, Bad Actor -- the one I am most proud of is “Professional Skateboarder”. My youngest son’s pre-school class was recently asked what their dads do for work. My son said, “I’ve never seen my dad do work.”
It’s true. Skateboarding doesn’t seem like real work, but I’m proud of what I do. My parents never once questioned the practicality behind my passion. I hope to pass on the same lesson to my children someday. So, find the thing you love. My 13-year-old son is really gifted skater, but there’s a lot of pressure on him. He used to skate for recognition, but now he brushes all that stuff aside. He just skates for fun and that’s good enough for me.
1. What does the underlined word “bleak” in Paragraph 2 probably mean?A.Uncertain. | B.Special. | C.Glorious. | D.Impressive. |
A.Keeping to his promise. | B.Adapting to school life. |
C.Moving to better places. | D.Sticking to his own choice. |
A.To show his son’s cleverness |
B.To suggest his son’s dislike of his work. |
C.To stress the features of his job in his son’s eyes. |
D.To indicate his son’s care for his work and life. |
A.Neglect what others think. | B.Do the things you love. |
C.Set a good example for parents. | D.Be what your parents want you to be. |
1. If you happen to be the 200th customer to buy Cholesterol blockTM, what will you do?
A.Be able to buy it at a low price. |
B.Be the luckiest one online. |
C.Try it free of charge. |
D.Change your diet. |
A.They are diseases. |
B.They are side effects. |
C.They are medicines. |
D.They are cholesterol. |
A.In a travel guide book. |
B.On a university bulletin board (布告牌). |
C.In a health magazine. |
D.In a doctor’s prescription. |
7 . A cast net is a kind of fishing net (渔网) that is designed to be thrown out into the water and then pulled back with fish.
A basic cast net is a big circle of netting with weighty edges (边缘). As a general rule, a cast net is designed to be thrown by hand, but it’s also possible to use a net thrower, especially for big nets.
Cast nets are designed for use in water which isn’t deep and is free of objects such as plants and rocks. To use a cast net, the fisherman throws the lightweight net out onto the water, where it spreads out.
Nowadays, people can use more advanced tools to catch fish.
A.Learning to properly use cast nets can take time. |
B.Before fishing, one must buy some advanced tools. |
C.But some of them still enjoy using a traditional cast net. |
D.People have been using cast nets for thousands of years. |
E.That’s because these nets can be hard to control by hand. |
F.The fish are kept in a certain water area to avoid running away. |
G.Then it begins to fall very rapidly thanks to the weighty edges. |
8 . Bottle gardens are loved by many people. What’s a bottle garden? A bottle garden is exactly what it sounds like: a tiny garden planted in an object like a bottle._
By following some tips, you’ll have your bottle garden planted and thriving (茁壮成长) in no time. The first step in creating a bottle garden is selecting (挑选) the bottle. Clear bottles can allow the most sunlight to enter.
Then you should keep in mind that bottles with openings big enough to fit your hand through can make planting easier.
When the bottle is ready, put inside some rich soil and plants suitable for a bottle garden. Once you grow the plants in the way you like, remember to place your bottle in a bright space which won’t have direct sunlight. East-facing windows often work well for this purpose.
A.How do the bottle gardens work? |
B.Such gardens don’t have a very long history. |
C.They make thoughtful and eco-friendly gifts. |
D.Why would anyone want to grow a garden in a bottle? |
E.If you choose a colored bottle, select plants that prefer low levels of light. |
F.If not, you’ll have to use tools to work the soil and plants inside the bottle. |
G.You can also use a grow light if your home doesn’t have any suitable windows. |
9 . Being part of a club is such a great experience for people of all ages. Here are five benefits of joining a club.
You can meet new people.
Usually, the people you meet are easy to get along with because you both have something in common: your interest in the club.
You can learn new skills.
Everyone in a club has a job to do. Your work might be something that you’re already great at or something that you don’t have much experience with.
The idea of joining a club between work, school, friends and family may seem overwhelming (令人难以应对的). However, once you get used to your role in a club and learn to manage your time, you will find there is still enough time left for other things that need to be done daily.
You can gain experience for the future.
The skills you learn will not only allow you to succeed in that profession but will also look great on a resume (简历) if you join a club that is similar to the career you want to enter! If you dream of becoming a lawyer, for example, you will be thankful for the practice you got from being part of such a club.
You can improve confidence.
Joining a club requires courage.
A.You can stick to your plan. |
B.A confident person is popular. |
C.There is something to learn either way. |
D.You can get better at time management. |
E.At first you may not be sure if you will ft in. |
F.As they say, teamwork makes the dream work. |
G.Many clubs have monthly meetings or meet a few times a week. |
10 . A book club can be a good way to develop new friendships and an appreciation (欣赏) of reading. Or it can be a big failure.
Choose the right types of members.
A book club isn’t necessarily something you want to do with all of your good friends, but it can be an excellent way to hear opinions from different types of people.
Most book clubs meet once a month, but there’s no rule that says you have to. Some clubs meet every two or even three months, because the members are so busy. In the beginning, choose a day that works well for most members. Of course you can change it as needed. But consistency (连惯性) is really the most important thing.
Have a facilitator (协调者).
Discussion groups that are facilitated tend to have higher levels of happiness because they stay on topic better. Either hire a professional facilitator or have someone within the group responsible for keeping things running well.
Keep the discussion lively.
The facilitator should always be armed with a list of questions worth discussing, although they’re not always necessary. Be prepared, but be flexible(灵活的).
A.Set up proper meeting times. |
B.Decide how to pick out a book. |
C.Remind the members to read carefully. |
D.Life experience can influence people’s thoughts on literature. |
E.If things are going off topic, be ready to move those into discussion. |
F.The direction it takes really depends on how it’s planned and managed. |
G.It can be the same person always, or you can take turns doing the job at each meeting. |