1 . Summer is around the corner, and you may already be dreaming about how you’ll spend your break. Chances are, staying in school is not your top pick. But for 13-year-old Simone Jones of Philadelphia — and more than 2 million other students in the U.S. — going to school in the summer is the only choice. That’s because Simone goes to a year-round school.
In fact, year-round schools have almost the same number of vacation days as traditional-calendar schools. In a year-round school, summer break is usually shortened to about four weeks; the remaining vacation time gets spread out over the rest of the year. Simone, for example, gets a few weeks off in the fall, winter, and spring.
That extra time off during the school year can be a good thing. “Everyone thinks a year-round school is hard,” says Simone. “But the little breaks take a lot of pressure (压力) off us.”
Reorganizing the year can prevent summer learning loss — that is, forgetting what you’ve learned from the prior (之前的) school year. However, there is a downside. In fact, some schools have tried year-round schedules (时间表) only to turn back when it was difficult to carry out. Try setting up a soccer game with another school when you’re on a break every few weeks. Planning family trips can be difficult too, especially if siblings (兄弟姐妹) are on different school schedules.
What does summer vacation mean in our culture? It’s an American tradition, a time to create lasting memories. But is tradition a good enough reason to keep it around? Summer break began 120 years ago, when it was very hot in the summer, so schools started closing. Today, we have air conditioning. And most parents work. For many kids, summer days are spent mostly indoors, playing video games and watching TV. Clearly the world has changed. Is it time for summer break to change, too?
1. According to the text, Simone Jones _____.| A．suffers from summer heat | B．studies at a year-round school |
| C．has become tired of going to school | D．keeps forgetting what she’s learned at school |
| A．The number of vacation days. | B．When students go to school every day. |
| C．What subjects students may choose. | D．How the holidays are organized. |
| A．problem | B．choice | C．danger | D．duty |
| A．was started in the early 19th century | B．doesn’t have to be that long any more |
| C．is a tradition for people to keep alive | D．is a good time for kids to enjoy themselves |
1. What were the students invited to do?
| A．To have dinner. |
| B．To take part in a party. |
| C．To attend a meeting. |
| A．To play the violin. |
| B．To dance with Harry. |
| C．To sing a pop song. |
| A．John. | B．Rose. | C．Jane. |
3 . After a long period of lockdown, now it is time to relax. Head out to find surprising holiday decorations to warm your heart and make your season bright. Come on, light shows are waiting for you.
Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk
Take a walk by the ocean and experience a holiday light display along the Long Beach Boardwalk, dusk to 9 p. m. daily and weekends through mid-January, from Long Beach to Park Avenue.
Free, 516-432-6000. You can also check the stores along Park Avenue for more holiday lights.
Town of Islip Holiday Light Show
Bring the family to see the lights from the comfort and safety of personal vehicles as you drive through the 1/8-mile light display on the grounds of historic Brookwood Hall. Decorations have been given by Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Public Works staff.
Cheap, 516-433-6742. From 5 p. m. to 8 p. m. Dec. 22; Brookwood Hall Park.
Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show
The Suffolk County’s drive-through display features two miles of holiday-themed lights; opens from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. through Dec. 30. Closed Dec. 24-25. Tickets will be sold at the gate and payment can be made with credit cards only, no cash, $25; $22 on Dec. 30.
Monday through Friday; 631-543-6622.
Christmas House
Indoor family-friendly walk through holiday experience, highlights include a real snow room: 3 to 11 p. m. Monday-Thursday; 3 p. m. to 1 a. m. Friday; 10 a. m. to 1 a. m. Saturday; 10 a. m. to 11 p. m. Sunday through January. Guests must wear masks, maintain social distancing and purchase tickets with assigned arrival time in advance online.
$30 for adults, $25 for kids aged 10 and younger, 631-591-0455.
1. Which light show is for nothing?| A．Christmas House. |
| B．Holiday Lights on the Boardwalk. |
| C．Town of Islip Holiday Light Show. |
| D．Suffolk County Holiday Lights Show. |
| A．516432-6000. | B．516433-6742. |
| C．631-543-6622. | D．631-591-0455. |
| A．Visit the real snow room. |
| B．Take the family members. |
| C．Book tickets with credit cards. |
| D．Buy tickets ahead of time. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线(\)划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1．每处错误及其修改均仅限一词;
2．只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。
It was my best friends, Tina’s birthday last Saturday. Maria, Anna and I go to visit her. She lives in Rose Street not far away our school. In the morning we bought some presents and got here by bus. Tina, her parents and grandparents were very glad to see us. We gave the presents who we bought to Tina and she was very much happy. Then Maria and Anna helped Tina’s mother preparing lunch. I helped set the table but cut the cake excitedly with Tina. All of you had a great time. At 4 o’clock in an afternoon, we said goodbye and went back home.
1. When is Mary's birthday?
| A．On August 15th. | B．On August 16th. | C．On August 12th. |
| A．At 1: 40 p. m. | B．At 2: 00 p. m. | C．At 2:20 p. m. |
| A．No, she won't, because she'll meet her sister at the station. |
| B．Yes, she will, but she will be late for the party. |
| C．Not sure. Perhaps she won't be able to come. |
| A．Making a plan for their anniversary. |
| B．Preparing for backpacking. |
| C．Booking a hotel. |
7 . The coming week will be very wonderful with so many events for you to refresh your hearts.
Dark drama
An interactive, experimental drama will be staged. The show uses topical events from 2020 such as the breakout of COVID-19 and the return of Chang’e V.
7:30 pm, Jan 2-Jan 6, at Eastern Avant-garde Theatre of China. Tel: 6527-6911.
Rising stars
Young musicians who are actually students at Beijing No.101 High School will feature in a concert. The talented youngsters will play works by Beethoven and other famous composers.
7:30 pm, Dec 30 at Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie. Tel: 6605-7006.
New Years Eve Concert
The China Philharmonic Youth Chorus will present a New Year’s Eve Concert, conducted by Wu Lingfen. Piano will be played by Peter Seivewright and trumpet by Ying Cai. Some excellent programmes will be displayed.
7:30 pm, Dec 31 at Forbidden City Concert Hall. Tel: 6559-8285.
Movie Anniversary Spectacular
Chinese movie stars will display their talents to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Chinese cinema. They will sing theme songs and share their personal thoughts with the public.
7:30 pm, Jan 1, at the Great Hall of the People, west of Tian’anmen. Tel: 8589 -5049.
1. When can you enjoy the concert performed by middle school students?| A．7:30 pm, Dec 31. | B．7:30 pm, Dec 30. | C．7:30 pm, Jan 1. | D．7:30 pm, Jan 2-Jan 6. |
| A．Enjoy a concert by students. | B．Watch a drama. |
| C．Hear movie stars sing theme songs. | D．Attend a concert by a chorus. |
| A．The Great Hall of the People. | B．Eastern Avant-garde Theatre of China. |
| C．Forbidden City Concert Hall. | D．Beijing Concert Hall. |
| A．Sue’s. | B．Jim’s. | C．Tracy’s. |
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2. 只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
It is Mother’s Day today. Though it’s a western festival it’s popular in China now. Mom has a full - time job, so she has to do most of the houseworks. She is a great mother. Both Dad or I planned to do something on Mother’s Day. We got up earlier in the morning. Dad cleaned the house, and then went on shopping. When he comes back I found a bunch of flowers in her hand. I asked Mom to stay in the sitting room and I cooked in kitchen. The dishes what I cooked were Mom's favorite. At dinner we said to her “Happy Mother’s Day!” Mom was grateful and moving.
10 . Happy New Year
Celebrations in the Philippines
In the Philippines, celebrations are very loud in order to scare away evil beings. There is often a midnight feast featuring twelve different round fruits to symbolize good luck for the twelve months of the year. Other traditional foods include sticky rice and noodles, but not chicken or fish, which can be seen as bad luck for the next year’s food supply.
Celebrations in Japan
Japan uses the Gregorian calendar and celebrates New Years on January 1. Families eat soba noodles, and sushi for dinner, and ring bells 108 times at midnight to clear away the previous year. Adult relatives give money to the children in their families, and many people send postcards to their friends and families, making sure that they arrive on January 1.
Celebrations in Italy
Like U.S. southerners, Italians eat vegetable and pork on the New Year, which means “head of the year.” After big family dinners on New Year’s Day, Italians go to their local square for huge firework displays and public concerts. Italians are also known to wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring luck for the year to come.
Celebrations in Russia
Russia’s New Year celebrations have been greatly affected by the country’s history. As religion and Christmas celebrations were banned in the Soviet Union, New Year’s celebrations often had Christmas traditions such as decorated trees, which were relabeled(确认) as New Year Fir Trees. As the ban left, these traditions stayed part of the New Year’s Day celebration.
1. Which country celebrates the New Year with midnight feast?| A．Philippines. | B．Japan. | C．Italy . | D．Russia. |
| A．To scare away evil beings. | B．To clear away the past. |
| C．To welcome the friends. | D．To bring luck for the new year. |
| A．It includes traditions of Christmas. |
| B．People wear red underwear on New Year. |
| C．There are firework displays and concerts. |
| D．People usually send postcards to their friends |
