1 . Sometimes the stress of work can get to be so high, so it’s nice to get away for a while. However, even on vacation, it can be hard to leave all your worries at the office-especially when you think about the mountain of emails.

Iceland now offers a solution with a service called OutHorse Your Email. The service encourages visitors to disconnect and enjoy the country’s beauty while one of several highly trained Icelandic horses replies to any email. “When visitors travel to Iceland we want them to fully experience everything our nation has to offer,” one official said. “Our OutHorse Your Email service lets them do just that.”

To use the service, you should fill in a form on its website and your personalized out-of- office email will be written by one horse and sent automatically (自动地). The email explains the sender is away on vacation and that they’ve given their email jobs to one of Iceland’s four- legged animals. It then includes the message created by the animal. But how do horses type an email? They’ve got their own specially designed horse-sized keyboards in the fields and are able to walk across the keys. However, that still doesn’t mean coherency (条理性). They’re horses, after all. The result is just meaningless collections of letters.

This might seem like a joke, but is actually meant seriously. Nowadays the line between private life and work has become unclear. The service draws attention to the fact that people have the right to be away from work during their holiday. It also sends a message that Iceland is a unique destination by helping tourists go on a real holiday. It’ll surely put a smile on their face and make them want to vacation in Iceland.

1. What is a problem that people face when they are on vacation according to the text?

A．They prefer work to holidays.

B．They’re required to send emails.

C．They always keep their work in mind.

D．They feel uneasy without work at hand.

2. What can we know about the messages created by the horses?

A．They do not make any sense.

B．They will be reviewed by the sender first.

C．They’re expected to make the receiver laugh.

D．They’re created in the style the sender requires.

3. How does the author feel about OutHorse Your Email?

A．Advanced.

B．Competitive.

C．Educational.

D．Meaningful.

4. What is the main purpose of the text?

A．To show a way to develop the tourist industry.

B．To describe the new role of horses in travel.

C．To encourage people to travel in Iceland.

D．To introduce a new tourism service.

4 . How to plan a party for Mother’s Day

Planning a party for Mother’s Day can be exciting and fun, but if everything is put off to the last minute, it can be stressful. Therefore, we have come up a way to help you plan for it, without adding any more stress to your everyday life!

Four to six weeks before the BIG DAY!

Choose a theme first. Next, make a guest list and pick a date and time.

    1     Decide if you will have it at home, go to a park, or pay for a hall. Think about the day’s activities; what time to eat, what games to play, what crafts to do, etc. Finally you should order your party supplies, including favors, decorations, wrapping paper, plates, cups, etc.

Three weeks before the BIG DAY!

    2    

ASK for RSVP’s(不能参加请回复) by a certain date and time. Place a list of those you invited next to the phone to record RSVP’s.

    3    

If you haven’t received any RSVP’s, call to make sure they are coming. Make it clear that your helpers can still attend and what their duties will be. Order the cake.

One week before the BIG DAY!

Call all confirmed(确认的) guests and remind them of the big day, double checking directions. Buy food and candies. Make up the goodie bags based on confirmations.

One day before the BIG DAY!

Prepare your foods ahead of time.     4     In the evening, when everyone is in bed, clean the house and set up the party spot.

Day of the BIG DAY!

Pick up the cake. Blow up and set out balloons four hours before the event.

    5    

Week after the BIG DAY!

Send out thank you notes to all the helpers and those who gave gifts!

A．Two weeks before the BIG DAY!

B．Decide if it will be indoors or outside.

C．Have fun!

D．Five days before the BIG DAY!

E．If anything can be cooked and reheated, now is the time.

F．Buy games and enough prizes.

G．Send out invitations.

5 . TOKYO (Reuters) Young women in colourful traditional costumes, masks and white stoles braved cold weather in lines and sat seats apart from one another in Yokohama on January 11, to mark Japan’s Coming of Age Day, even though the city is under a state of emergency.

The ceremonies, typically full of kimono-clad women and smartly-dressed men, were cancelled in many cities and parties were discouraged to stop a rise in COVID-19 infections (感染).

On the second Monday in January every year, people who have turned or are about to turn 20 take part in ceremonies in local event halls or other similar places to celebrate the rite(仪式) of passage to adulthood.

The occasion, which is observed with a national holiday, serves in effect as class reunions for some teens and represents one of the major milestones for parents.

“I came as I’ve got my kimono ready and am taking steps to prevent infection. I’m not that worried," Mei Ohno, a college student, told the reporter at Yokohama Arena.

“I’ve just met my old friends after a long time. I’m having a good time. After the ceremony, I’ll take photos with my friends at the station, and then go straight home.”

Of Tokyo’s 23 regions, all but one have cancelled or put off the ceremonies. Instead, mayors’ congratulatory remarks will be offered online. The government last week declared a state of emergency for the capital and three surrounding areas.

Yokohama city, south of Tokyo, went ahead with celebrations at Pacifico Yokohama North convention hall and Yokohama Arena event hall.

“I decided to carry out today’s ceremonies as I strongly hoped everyone takes part in celebrating this once-in-a-lifetime milestone,” said the mayor(市长), in a message read out to attendees who had to take measures to keep themselves from the infection of COVID-19.

Participants wore face masks, had their temperature checks and were asked just to listen to the national anthem, instead of singing it out loud.

1. When do Japanese celebrate Coming of Age Day?

A．When they are 18 years old.	B．On January 11th every year.
C．On the same date each year.	D．On the second Monday in January.

2. Which of the following is this passage probably taken from?

A．A biography.	B．A news report.
C．A travel journal.	D．A personal letter.

3. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A．You don’t have to wear face masks when attending the ceremony.

B．Women celebrating the Coming of Age Day wear modern clothing.

C．There was no Coming of Age Day Ceremony in Tokyo this year.

D．The majority of mayors spoke online to offer congratulations.

4. The underlined word cancelled probably means ________.

A．stopped

B．started

C．held

D．happened

5. Which of the following could be the best title of the text?

A．Celebrating Coming of Age Day is a milestone

B．How to Protect Yourself against COVID-19

C．Celebrating the occasion under COVID’s shadow

D．Tokyo’s celebrations of Coming of Age Day