1 . My son’s seventh birthday is approaching, so conversation at my house has naturally turned to organizing his party.
For his sixth birthday, we booked the local trampoline(蹦床) park. This worked out well. But the whole event cost us hundreds of pounds. This year, I’m trying to convince him that the dinosaur-themed park down the road offers just as much fun—and you don’t even need to wear special socks! This will be cheaper, because we aren’t required to hire a space—we can simply buy tickets for his mates.
But I still keep pondering over one thing—party bags. Why should a bunch of seven-year-olds, who have already been treated to a day out and a mountain of sugar, also be handed a bag full of pound-shop gifts for simply bothering to show up?
Party bags are an environmental disaster. I reckon my son attends 20 parties per year, and at each party there are 20 kids in attendance, which means 400 plastic bags in total. Within these 400 bags are perhaps 800 plastic toys, almost all of which fall apart on the journey home and then get binned instantly. The waste is shocking, and I don’t want to be part of it.
I know there are some party bag alternatives: one couple I know covered a table with Mr. Men books and got the kids to choose one each. At another party, I saw the hosts fill a bucket with soft toys and crumpled newspaper, and do a lucky dip (抽奖). Admirable efforts.
Even if that is a nice try, and even if the contents in the party bags don’t fall apart, so what? Will our guests think more highly of our child because of the party bags from our party? Will my child’s ability to make and keep friends be improved?
Well, the tradition for kid’s party bags ends with me, and it ends here, and it ends now. Who’s with me?
1. Why does the author recommend the dinosaur-themed park?| A．Because it’s more enjoyable. | B．Because it provides socks. |
| C．Because it can reduce cost. | D．Because it offers free tickets. |
| A．Gifts brought by guests. | B．Gifts prepared by hosts. |
| C．Gifts distributed by parks. | D．Gift a donated by charities. |
| A．Intolerant. | B．Objective. | C．Favorable. | D．In different. |
| A．Be recycled. | B．Be repaired. | C．Be thrown away. | D．Be given away. |
2 . Summer is coming. Are you looking for a part-time job? Here are some possible options.
Lifeguard
Are you a strong swimmer and a good communicator? Would you like a challenge? We are looking for lifeguards for our busy summer season. No experience is necessary as you will get two weeks of training before you start the job. As well as being physically fit, you need to be available for work Mon-Fri, 7- 11 a.m.
Store assistant
We are looking for store assistants for our busy gift store. Applicants need to be reliable, friendly, and enjoy speaking to customers. A second language is preferred as many of our customers are tourists from other countries. The positions are part-time and you need to work from Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Fashion designer
Are you interested in the latest styles? Are you creative and good at art? If so, Dresswise is looking for a young person to create new looks for our teen department. This is a great opportunity to gain experience in the clothing industry. You will need to work four days a week and we’ll pay you for each design we use. We’ll also give you samples of your designs to wear.
Game tester
Are you into technology and creative? Would you like to play and test educational games and get paid for it? This is an exciting part-time job for somebody who loves playing games. We offer flexible hours. If this is for you, write a description of your favorite game and why you like it in no more than 150 words.
If you are interested in any of the above jobs, please contact us at studentunrion @campus.com.
1. What is a shared requirement for lifeguard and store assistant?| A．Communicative ability. | B．A second language. |
| C．Professional experience. | D．A strong body. |
| A．Lifeguard. | B．Store assistant. |
| C．Fashion designer. | D．Game tester. |
| A．Samples of the latest styles. |
| B．Payment for each of your designs. |
| C．Experience in the fashion industry. |
| D．Chances to design clothes for adults. |
3 . Auckland, New Zealand, Jan 29
A Chinese New Year gala, co-organized by the China Cultural Centre and the Huaxing Arts Troupe, was unveiled by Maori Haka. Contemporary dances, cross-talk, Peking opera, Qipao display and violin solo have featured the event, which won thundering applause from local audiences. “Tonight brings back familiar memories from my hometown,” said Sun, a Chinese born in Hubei.
Jersey, Britain, Jan 22
A traditional Chinese dragon dance was performed through St Helier street, which announced the start of Chinese New Year celebration. The event will last from Jan 22 to Feb 5, including tai chi performances, Chinese cuisine stalls and a photo exhibition. The local post office also issued a special stamp, featuring a rabbit holding a cabbage, illustrated by Chinese artist Wang Huming.
Paris, France, Jan 16
After a three-year interval due to the COVID-19, people gathered again to celebrate Chinese New Year. The French capital’s Chinatown has organized a series of celebrations that last from Jan 16 through Saturday including exhibitions of hanfu, music concerts and shows with Franco-Chinese comedians. Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, was present for a parade which attracted over 20, 000 people.
Suva, Republic of Fiji, Feb 5
A Lantern Festival gala was hosted in the Republic of Fiji on Feb 5, joined by about 300 government officials and representatives from Fiji’s Chinese communities. President Maivalili Katonivere, along with first lady, attended the event and gave a speech, in which he said the Lantern Festival is important as the lanterns play a vital role in lighting the path ahead, signifying hope and good fortune.
1. What gala performances could locals enjoy in Auckland?| A．Contemporary dances and music concerts. |
| B．Qipao display and comedy shows. |
| C．Cross-talk and tai chi. |
| D．Peking opera and violin solo. |
| A．On Jan 16. | B．On Jan 29. | C．On Feb 6. | D．On Feb 9. |
| A．Travel. | B．Regional. | C．Culture. | D．Forum. |
4 . Become an Atlantis Jr. Aquarist and spend 3 days working with marine life! Food prepping to feeding the animals to snorkeling (浮潜) and learning about coral reefs, it’s a week of marine adventure!
| Marine Adventure Camp | |
| June 24--28; Monday--Friday | |
| July 8--12; Monday--Friday | |
| July 29--August 2; Monday--Friday | |
| August 12--16; Monday--Friday | |
| 5 days/4 nights Ages: 10 to 14 Price: $595 (not inclusive of room cost) | Camp Hours |
| Monday: 5:45 p. m. to 7:30 p. m. Tuesday: 8:00 a. m. to 3:00 p. m. Wednesday: 9:00 a. m. to 5:30 p. m. Thursday: 9:00 a. m. to 4:00 p. m. Friday: Check out (or you may extend your stay on your own). *Please note: Programming subject to change based on weather conditions. | |
| Package Components | Dress Code |
| 1. Amenity(便利设施）Package —Camp Name Badge —Mask and Snorkel —Messenger Bag —Cap —Towel —Marine Life Guide —Water Bottle 2. Welcome Dinner 3. Lunch for 3 days (venue to be determined) 4. Behind the Scenes with our Sea Keeper Team 5. Behind the Scenes with our Marine Mammal Team 6. Fish food preparation and hand feeding 7. Ruins Snorkel 8. Stingray Snorkel 9. Blue Adventure Snorkel Trip 10. Shark Walk with Stuart Cove | T-Shirts Shorts Swimsuits Water Shoes (Since most water shoes are uncomfortable for the amount of walking they do, especially when wet, you are not allowed to change into water shoes when you prepare to swim.) Sun Block |
Important Notes | |
| All attendees must be able to swim without assistance. All attendees must speak fluent English. Camp name badge must be worn daily. Attendees must be at least 10 years of age. | |
| A．camp hours | B．camp price | C．things to bring | D．daily schedules |
| A．Tom, who has just graduated from high school |
| B．Jerry, who has saved up 600 dollars for summer holiday |
| C．Mary, a local 6 grader who likes swimming |
| D．Edward, who has been offered a position in an aquarium |
| A．Attendees don’t wear water shoes when they go swimming. |
| B．All attendees must check out on the last day of the camp. |
| C．The programs are fixed and no minor changes will be made. |
| D．Attendees will have a 5-day experience working with marine life in the camp. |
5 . Are you confused about what to do next when you plan a birthday celebration for your loved family member or try to help your family prepare for birthdays?
Form a band. If you want to fully enjoy yourselves, instead of turning on the music on the computer or phone, you can invite your classmates to form a band for your family member’s birthday. They can play a much music as you like.
Find a meeting place. Many people like to hold their parties at home.
Invite a special guest. Birthdays are often more memorable than the rest. To ensure your loved one’s party is special, besides gifts, think about someone you can invite that your family member will be happy and surprised to see.
| A．Buy a special cake. |
| B．Make a cake at home. |
| C．It’s not always easy to know where to begin. |
| D．You extremely want to get special birthday gifts. |
| E．It can be a friend your family member expects to see. |
| F．All of you will enjoy you selves in the live music this way. |
| G．But not everyone’s house is big enough for a birthday party. |
6 . Harvest Celebrations
People around the world pick, or harvest food that grows. Then they have a holiday. Let's read about some harvest celebrations!
 Every February, the people of Mendoza, Argentina, harvest their grapes. Then they celebrate for a month! There are parades (游行), shows, and fireworks. They always choose a Harvest Queen, too. |  Chanthaburi, a town in Thailand, is famous for its tasty fruit. People celebrate the fruit at harvest time in May. The Fruit Fair begins with a parade of floats (游行彩车) made from thousands of fruits and vegetables. |
 The Argungu Fishing Festival began in 1934 in Nigeria, a country in Africa. It's a four-day festival held at the end of February to celebrate the end of all farming activities. On the last day there's a fishing contest. People have one hour to catch the largest fish. But it's not that easy. They can only use traditional fishing tools. But many use only their hands to catch the fish. |  France's famous Menton Lemon Festival starts in February. There are big parades with floats decorated with lemons and oranges. More than 200, 000 people from around the world come to Menton for this festival. |
| A．The Harvest Festival in Mendoza. | B．The Harvest Festival in Chanthaburi. |
| C．The Argungu Fishing Festival. | D．The Menton Lemon Festival. |
| A．Argentina | B．Thailand | C．Nigeria | D．France |
| A．The big parades. | B．The Fruit Fair. |
| C．A fishing contest. | D．A Harvest Queen. |
| A．Sport. | B．Business. | C．Science. | D．Culture. |
7 . The tradition of birthday parties started a long time ago. People thought that there was a special danger from evil spirits, so friends and family came together to bring good thoughts and wishes and even presents.
In many English-speaking countries, a twenty-first birthday cake often has a key on top.
In the past in parts of Europe, men who reached the age of thirty and were still single, had to clean the stairs of the City Hall. This way every girl could see that the man didn't have a girlfriend.
After the age of thirty, many people prefer to forget their birthdays rather than celebrate them...children often bring Mum（or Dad）breakfast in bed.
| A．Birthday traditions are around the world. |
| B．At one time, only kings had birthday parties. |
| C．Or the cake itself is sometimes in the shape of a key. |
| D．It's traditional to give flowers and enjoy a special meal. |
| E．Family members put many sweets on the birthday cake. |
| F．They could also see how good he was at cleaning the house! |
| G．Others are more specific to certain ages and certain countries. |
