1 . Italy’s cheap old homes continue to appeal to hundreds of interested buyers, among whom was Roy Patrick, a 67-year-old British who deals in antiques in Italy. Patrick bought an old school house in the mountain village of Carrega for $16,500. It’s both an adventure and a joy.

Patrick bought the property quite by accident. When told about the wonders of the village, he toured there to take a look and was instantly struck by the 1930s school building. “The house is particular and the view is unique: The way the sun goes down over the mountains, you’d say ‘wow’. It’s a fantastic wonderland,” says Patrick.

The property was offloaded by the local government to boost the populations of communities in decline. Since the purchase, he’s been visiting every two weeks and finds it has many charms. “Top of the list is the friendliness of the local residents, followed by the breathtaking views I get out of the windows looking across the valley,” he adds.

Patrick’s initial encounter with his new home was less than promising. He had to climb through a window to open up the building, which had been shut for decades and whose door was jammed, with the keys nowhere to be found.

However, a later structural disaster turned into a positive story. When an unstable chimney (烟囱) collapsed due to a heavy snow, a neighbor volunteered to climb onto his roof to make it safe. The locals are so welcoming that they are ready to help newcomers.

During the restoration needed to make the old school habitable, Patrick unexpectedly unearthed a great many treasures: dusty piles of old text books, inkwells, pupil registers and other historical items.

Patrick has some advice for those with the thought of buying a house in Carrega: There is absolutely nothing, just great views, pure air and clean surroundings. No bars, supermarkets, or restaurants. A vehicle is essential to move around. However, Carrega does spring to life in the summer when vacationers arrive to relax. “There are nights when people throw a party with loud music,” says Patrick. “Otherwise it’s just singing birds and total silence.”

1. What led to Patrick’s purchase of the old schoolhouse?

A．The locals’ friendly attitude.	B．Its location and rising value.
C．Its uniqueness and surroundings.	D．The government’s housing welfare.

2. What was the government’s intention of selling the property?

A．To attract more settlers.	B．To boost local tourism.
C．To preserve village traditions.	D．To reform education system.

3. What’s one of Patrick’s added bonuses of getting the house?

A．Acquiring more personal space.	B．Digging up some historical finds.
C．Enjoying a more active social life.	D．Getting free home decoration service.

4. How does it feel most of the time living in Carrega?

A．Quiet.	B．Lively.
C．Modern.	D．Convenient.

2 . Our economy runs on consumption, especially during the holidays—we as consumers are overwhelmed by emails and ads about the newest holiday gifts. Buying a brand new gift for a loved one, we may feel generous and not feel the environmental impact. But with millions of people doing the same, the resources spent really add up.

Journalist Annalise Griffin recommends people rethink the value of gift-giving and shop in an effective eco-friendly way.

A gift doesn’t have to be expensive, says Griffin. In the holiday shopping rash, it’s easy to forget why we give in the first place. She thinks it’s wise to adopt a more open-minded approach. For instance, pack a gift box with homemade cookies or get the whole family in on the act of paring down by tie-dyeing（扎染）white clothes from a local secondhand store. They may not be pricey but the love behind it counts.

As for green shopping, Griffin practices her way of buying used items instead of new ones. She mentions several websites and online communities where people can buy, give away or trade secondhand items. Her go-to for shopping for clothes and housing items include the more familiar eBay and Poshmark. For vintage（复古）goods, she recommends shopgoodwill. com.

Whether we’re making a commitment to cutting out extra spending or showing concern for the environment, it’s vital to share our ideas with the loved ones. It may be hard to convince a teenager not to buy the latest iPhone, so having these conversations early on can go a long way.

1. What is the author’s purpose of writing Paragraph 1?

A．To clarify the meaning of holiday consumption.

B．To argue for the use of emails and advertisements.

C．To raise the problem brought by gift shopping.

D．To complain about waste in our everyday life.

2. What does the underlined phrase “paring down” in Paragraph 3 probably mean?

A．Reducing the expenses.	B．Protecting the environment.
C．Spending the holidays.	D．Sharing the housework.

3. Which gift is Griffin most likely to recommend?

A．A brand new suitcase.	B．A secondhand book.
C．An expensive vintage bag.	D．An outdated iPhone.

4. What message does the author seem to convey in the passage?

A．Without gifts, without love.	B．Great gifts always look cheap.
C．Bargaining matters when you shop.	D．Give meaningful gifts without buying new.

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.

From her home in Dubai, Erica Shaw logs onto GoNabit.com, one of the     1    (new) group-buying websites in the Gulf region. “Well, first thing in the morning, I usually do check and see    2    I have any emails or texts from the night before, just     3    (see) what the deal of the day is.”

The mother of three is just one of the many people in the region     4    (take) advantage of online group-buying that’s all the rage(时尚). It’s not only a way of saving money,     5    also introducing you to a lot of the new facilities that     6    (offer)here in Dubai. Group-buying is a     7    (recent) developed shopping strategy originating in China. Several people connect over the Internet. The group then agrees to purchase    8    item or a service and benefit by paying less. The business benefits by selling multiple items     9    once. Similar group-buying sites have popped up in Europe and America. Even though these websites     10    (be) up and running for a few years, here in the Middle East it’s a fairly new phenomenon.

9 . The Best Eco-Friendly Gifts

For the eco-conscious, we’ve rounded up our favorite eco-friendly gifts to send to your love.
Reusable Produce Bags (Price: $ 33)
Website: Sears. com

This pack of seven teusable bags are plastic free and made from 100 percent biodegradable cotton. The set includes one cotton net bag, three produce bags, and three food bag. Double stitching and durable seams mean these bags are built to last, and they’re machine washable for easy cleaning.

Wood Bookmarks with Tassels (Price; $ 25)

Website: Etsy. com

Teachers often like to hand out small gifts to students at the end of the year, and this set of wooden bookmarks is a sustainable, affordable way to let students know you care. (Plus, they’re a great reminder to read over holiday breaks!) The bookmarks come with colorful tassels as well, making it easy to mark your place while reading.

Personalized Notebook (Price: $ 13)

Website: Journal. com

This customizable journal is a great gift to jot down notes, used as a daily thought journal, or as a place to keep travel memories or even grocery lists. The cover is made from eco-friendly heavy cotton paper. The pages are recycled cartridge paper that’s perfect for fountain pens and ink as well as other media.

Greener Bamboo Cutting Board (Price: $ 90)

Website: Amazon. com

This bamboo cutting board is naturally bacteria resistant and made from 100 percent Moso bamboo that’s grown in organic soil. One side of the board has a deep juice-catching groove that’s perfect for capturing juices as you cut. After cutting, simply flip the board to the other side for a beautiful presentation large enough for veggie arrangements, watermelon, and more.

1. What can remind you to read?

A．Reusable Produce Bags.	B．Personalized Notebook.
C．Wood Bookmarks with Tassels.	D．Greener Bamboo Cutting Board.

2. Which may offer more information about kitchen tools?

A．Etsy. com.

B．Sears. com.

C．Journal. com.

D．Amazon. com.

3. What do the listed gifts have in common?

A．They all are expensive.	B．They are popular with students.
C．They are made of cotton paper.	D．They are sustainable and eco-friendly.