1 . The Biggest Stadiums in the World

People have been pouring into stadiums since the days of ancient Greece. In around 80 A.D., the Romans built the Colosseum, which remains the world’s best known stadium and continues to inform contemporary design. Rome’s Colosseum was 157 feet tall and had 80 entrances, seating 50,000 people. However, that was small fry compared with the city’s Circus Maximus, which accommodated around 250,000 people.

These days, safety regulations-not to mention the modern sports fan’s desire for a good view and comfortable seat — tend to keep stadium capacities (容量) slightly lower. Even soccer fans tend to have a seat each; gone are the days of thousands standing to watch the match.

For the biggest stadiums in the world, we have used data supplied by the World Atlas list so far, which ranks them by their stated permanent capacity, as well as updated information from official stadium websites.

All these stadiums are still functional, still open and still hosting the biggest events in world sport.

·Rungrado 1st of May Stadium, Pyongyang D.P.R. Korea. Capacity: 150,000. Opened: May 1,1989.

·Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U. S. Capacity: 107,601. Opened: October 1, 1927.

·Beaver Stadium, State College, Pennsylvania, U. S. Capacity: 106,572. Opened: September 17, 1960.

·Ohio Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, U. S. Capacity: 104,944. Opened: October 7,1922.

·Kyle Field, College Station, Texas, U. S. Capacity: 102,512. Opened: September 24, 1927.

1. How many people could the Circus Maximus hold?

A．104,944.

B．107,601.

C．About 150,000.

D．About 250,000.

2. Of the following stadiums, which is the oldest?

A．Michigan Stadium.

B．Beaver Stadium.

C．Ohio Stadium.

D．Kyle Field.

3. What do the listed stadiums have in common?

A．They host big games.	B．They have become tourist attractions.
C．They were built by Americans.	D．They are favored by architects.

2 . Public toilets around the globe have a reputation for being dark, dirty and dangerous. Tokyo recently unveiled new restrooms in two public parks that aim to address those concerns. For one thing, they are brightly lit and colorful. For another, they are transparent. This way, those who need to go can check out the cleanliness and safety of the toilets without having to walk inside or touch a thing.

Japan has long experimented with toilets, resulting in lids that open, and close automatically and seats that warm up. But the new toilets—designed by Shigeru Ban, the Pritzker Prize-winning architect—are made out of a “smart glass.”

The toilets were installed in Tokyo in September. Set up in front of a cluster of trees in the Shibuya District, the toilets stand out like a Mondrian painting.

When occupied and locked properly, the colored glass toilets become frosted (磨砂的) and opaque (not transparent). When the door is unlocked, an electric current rearranges the crystals in the glass to allow more light to pass through, creating a transparent effect. The toilets were presented as another futuristic and aesthetically (美学地) pleasing example of the country’s technological advancements.

The predecessor to Tokyo’s transparent toilets appeared in Switzerland in 2002, when designer Olivier Rambert unveiled two glass restrooms in the city of Lausanne. They had a safety feature that automatically opened the doors and turned the glass transparent if sensors detected no motion for 10 minutes. That could possibly help users who fall unconscious and need medical attention.

1. What’s the purpose of the design of new restrooms?

A．To make the parks tourist attractions.

B．To settle the problems with public toilets.

C．To maintain the standards of public toilets.

D．To achieve a breakthrough in toilet construction.

2. How does the “smart glass” function?

A．By cutting off electricity.	B．By giving off colorful light.
C．By sensing the health of people.	D．By changing the order of crystals.

3. What can we learn about the transparent toilets?

A．They cause the concerns about privacy.

B．They are decorated with artists’ paintings.

C．They are pioneered by Japanese architects.

D．They combine technological and artistic elements.

4. Which can best describe the safety feature of glass restrooms in Switzerland?

A．Conventional.	B．Humanized.
C．Simplified.	D．Recreational.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

China will build the world’s largest national park system, said Li Chunliang, deputy head of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, at a news conference on Sept 19. The system     1     (expect) to be built with “the largest scale of protection, the     2     (diverse) geographical features and the highest conservation value in the world,” China Daily reported.

    3     some world-famous national parks which are uninhabited (无人居住的), national parks and nature reserves in China are home to a large number of human residents. “We will encourage local residents from around the parks     4     (participate) in environmental protection, nature education and ecotourism services. That     5     (give) them real benefits and enhance their sense of the national parks       6    (belong) to the people,” said Li.

As such, the country’s     7     (protect) areas are intended to “protect not only ecosystem but also cultural relics within each region; and serve as ecological     8     (demonstrate) zones     9     humans and nature coexist     10     (harmony) and economic development doesn’t come at the expense of biodiversity”, noted China Daily.

4 . Dinosaur Attractions

The Field Museum

Even beyond its impressive dinosaur exhibit, the Field Museum is a must-see destination for the whole family. The Evolving Planet display follows the evolution of life on our planet from the very beginning, when life was a single-celled organism, to the appearance of mankind.

Fee: Adults $38.00; Children (6-18) $17.50, (5 and under) free

Museum of the Earth

This museum is kid-friendly thanks to its large number of hands-on activities. There is a vast collection of fossils(化石), such as large, complete skeletons(骨架) and those of small sea animals. The Discovery Lab at the museum is an interactive space for kids to play and learn in. They can even search for fossils and keep what they find.

Fee: Adults $18.00; Children (13-19) $10.00, (12 and under) free

Dinosaur World

This park offers animatronic(电子的) dinosaurs that bring to life many prehistoric scenes and it features fossils from dinosaurs found in Florida. Although this park has plenty to offer, food isn’t one of them. However, there is a lovely picnic area where families can bring their own lunches and enjoy the bright Florida sunshine.

Fee: Adults $26.00; Children (10-19) $15.00, (9 and under) free

Cabazon Dinosaurs

Cabazon Dinosaurs, located in Riverside County, California, is an unusual roadside attraction that has been there since 1975. Home to over fifty larger-than-life dinosaur statues, this park is a fantastic place to let kids run wild. Visitors can hunt for fossils and participate in a dinosaur dig. Featured a lot of movies, this park is a great way to spend a few hours.

Fee: Adults $13.00: Children (8-18) $11.00, (7 and under) free

1. At which place may visitors learn about the development of life on Earth?

A．The Field Museum.	B．Dinosaur World.
C．Cabazon Dinosaurs.	D．Museum of the Earth.

2. How much should a teen and his parent pay for their visit to the Discovery Lab?

A．$54.00

B．$46.00

C．$36.00

D．$28.00

3. What is the shared feature of the four dinosaur attractions?

A．Interactive spaces.	B．Hands-on activities.
C．Kid-friendly design.	D．Dinosaur-themed movies.

5 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Have you ever been to Ocean Park, which is situated on the southern side of Hong Kong Island? It is one of the     1     (large) marine parks in the world     2    (cover) more than 870,000 square metres.

With about 30 years of history, Ocean Park has become one of the major tourist     3    (attraction) in Asia. Apart from entertaining visitors with thrill rides and a wide variety of shows, the park prides     4     (it) on its education and conservation programmes.

Ocean Park consists of two sections, the Headland and the Lowland, which     5     (connect) by a 1.5 km long cable car (缆车) system offering wonderful views of the southern side of Hong Kong and the South China Sea. The Headland is known     6     its many thrill rides including the Dragon, Eagle. Crazy Galleon, Ferris Wheel, Ocean Park Tower and so on.

The Headland also contains the Ocean Theatre,    7     dolphins and sea lions amuse visitors each day with their lively performances. Providing more     8     (enjoy) and education are the world-class Atoll Reef Aquarium (水族馆), the Shark Aquarium and the Pacific Pier.

At the Lowland, visitors can take a ride on    9     big hot air balloon that is 22 metres in diameter which takes them high into the air. Visitors can also see the giant pandas     10     (give) by the Central Government of China at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Giant Panda Habitat.

6 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Last Thursday, the 18th-century Rhode Island farmhouse that inspired the 2013 horror movie The Conjuring     1     (sell) to a Boston house developer, Jacqueline Nunez, for $ 1. 525 million. Nunez and Jennifer Heinzen,     2    seller, jointly announced the sale on Facebook.

Nunez plans to continue the business     3     (start) by Heinzen. Guests will be able to continue the nightly explorations there. Day-time tours will resume (恢复) soon.

“This purchase is personal for me,” Nunez told The Boston Globe. “It’s around my own     4     (curious). Since I was a child, I     5     (be) in love with horror movies, like The Conjuring. I look forward to experiencing strange things in the house.”

However, one of the conditions in the contract is     6     the new owner will not live in the house year-round. “Because the energy is so powerful,” Heinzen told The Boston Globe later. “It is intended     7     (protect) the buyer.”

The Conjuring wasn’t filmed in the house but was based on the     8     (experience) of a few families that lived there in the 1970s.

“I’m not afraid     9     the house,” she said. “I don’t think the energy here is     10    (harm). Things that will happen here may frighten me, but will not hurt me.”

7 . People like to celebrate when they move into a new home. Maybe it’ s the first flat someone has owned, a couple’ s first home since getting married or maybe a growing family has moved to a bigger house. For whatever reason, the home is new. It represents a change and an exciting new beginning, with walls to paint, rooms to decorate and neighbors to meet. And what better way to meet people than to throw a party?

Parties to celebrate moving into a new home are called “house-warming” or “flat-warming” parties. If you think about it, they are appropriate names because an empty house with no people or furniture in it is a cold shell of a place. A house full of people, on the other hand, often requires some open windows or air conditioning to keep from getting too hot.

So what are house-warming parties like? Usually, the hosts invite their new neighbors as well as their friends. They usually provide some food and drinks and guests usually bring house-warming gifts. The gift might be something for the house，like a plant, or something for the guests to share, like a bottle of wine. There may be a dress code or theme. For example, if it is a “Hat Party”, people will wear unusual or funny hats. This helps break the ice by making people laugh. This makes it easier to meet new people and creates a fun and cheerful atmosphere.

There’ s an old saying that home is where the heart is. When people throw a house-warming party,they’ re opening their hearts as well as their homes to the people around them. So if you’ re ever invited by new neighbors to a house-warming, go! Then invite them to your home another time. Your home might already be warm, but new friends are the surest way to warm your heart.

1. People hold a house-warming party to celebrate ______.

A．finding a new job	B．having a new baby
C．getting married	D．moving into a new home

2. Why is the name “house-warming” appropriate according to the writer?

A．It’s the opposite of a house-cooling party.

B．A house or flat with people in it seems to be lively.

C．When people drink wine at these parties they get very warm.

D．At these parties there is always a fire that people sit around to warm themselves.

3. What does the underlined phrase “break the ice” mean in a social situation?

A．It means to get conversation flowing(流畅).

B．It means to make a hole in the ice through which to fish.

C．It means conversation is very difficult because people don’ t know each other.

D．It means the atmosphere at a house-warming party is very cold and unfriendly.

4. Why does the writer suggest that you invite people to your home?

A．It can show your politeness to your neighbors.

B．Everyone should have a house-warming.

C．Making new friends will make you happy.

D．Inviting them will warm up your cold house.

8 . Connecting authors with audiences and helping readers discover new books, independent bookstores contribute greatly to the literacy and culture of the United States.

The Haunted Book Shop in Mobile, Alabama

Located in the charming downtown area of Mobile, Alabama, it is a heaven for writers in another way as well. It has a Writer’s Room where local authors can schedule time to write in a cool environment with easy access to reference books. It hyper-categorizes its fiction so that it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Beyond books, a friendly cat usually greets customers at the door.

Bart’s Books in Ojai, California

It occupies bookshelves which expand onto the grounds surrounding the shop. The outdoor shelves were designed to appear like Parisian booksellers along the Seine. The naturalistic setting represents the love of nature that draws many people to the Ojai Valley, and it is proud of being the world’s biggest outdoor bookstore. It has a wide variety of books in its collection of over 130,000 new and used books.

Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia

It is a beloved bookstore in historic Decatur Square in Decatur, Georgia. Specializing in finding the perfect books for children, people want every young reader who walks into the shop to see themselves reflected in the books on the shelves. Kids have even more opportunities to have fun, thanks to book-themed summer camps, a summer reading program.

Page & Palette in Fairhope, Alabama

It is a striking, memorable bookshop in Fairhope, a peaceful community in Alabama. It has been an independent, family-owned bookshop for three generations and has been considered a local landmark for decades. They host events for both nationally known authors and local up-and-comers. Kids will delight in stuffed animals and toys in addition to children’s books.

1. What makes The Haunted Book Shop different from other shops?

A．Its reading program.	B．Its writing workshop.
C．Its abundant collection.	D．Its outdoor bookshelves.

2. Who is more likely to visit Bart’s Books?

A．A booklover fond of cats.	B．An author expert in history.
C．A teenager tired of city and noises.	D．An amateur enthusiastic about writing.

3. What do Little Shop of Stories and Page & Palette have in common?

A．They appeal to children.	B．They become landmarks.
C．They have a long history.	D．They hold summer camps.

9 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. Where should the visitors’ dogs stay?

A．In the farmhouse.

B．In the car park.

C．In the animal center.

2. What was the cafe in the past?

A．A theater.

B．A schoolhouse.

C．A swimming pool.

3. What can the visitors learn from the skills workshops?

A．Gardening.

B．Harvesting.

C．Basket- making.

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. Why does the man want to move house?

A．He can’t afford the rent on his own.

B．He wants to find a cleaner place.

C．He can’t bear his noisy neighbor.

2. How much does the man need to pay per month?

A．1,200 dollars.

B．700 dollars.

C．500 dollars.

3. How will the man go to work every day?

A．By bus.

B．By subway.

C．By car.