1 . A few years ago, I realized that I had a fear of heights. Sometimes I would feel uncomfortable if I looked down from somewhere high and the higher I got, the worse I felt. However, there were some things that made me nervous when I looked up at them — such as drop towers (急速下降塔).
About a month ago, my family and I went on a trip to Marineland — an amusement park with a sea animal theme. One of Marineland’s attractions is a huge drop tower called the “Sky Screamer”. My dad wanted to ride it, and he wanted to take me with him. He kept encouraging me, and I finally gave in, because I was desired to face my fears.
Going up was terrible. I got stomachaches from just looking at the tower. When we reached the tower, we lined up and got seated on the ride. When it reached a few feet off the ground, it stopped for a moment, before sending us straight to the top at great speed. I squeezed my eyes shut and I held the handlebar (把手) as tightly as I could during the whole ride. A few seconds later my heart was in my mouth and I was screaming my lungs out. At the top, I opened my eyes and looked forward, not down.
I tried to prepare myself for the way down, but it didn’t really help. There I was, with my eyes squeezed (紧紧地) shut, holding the handlebar and again, screaming at the top of my voice. In fact, it was even worse than going up! But when I got to the bottom, I felt relieved. I thanked my dad for forcing me to go on the ride, and I was pleased I had overcome my fears.
So, was the “Sky Screamer” scary? Well, maybe just a little bit.
1. Which of the following wasn’t the writer afraid of?| A．Riding a lift to a higher place. | B．Looking down from a height. |
| C．Looking up at drop towers. | D．Going to a wonderful park. |
| A．Her father’s encouraging words. | B．Her interest in the ride. |
| C．Her desire to face her fears. | D．Her father’s nagging. |
| A．She kept looking down. | B．She kept holding the handlebar. |
| C．She was too frightened to scream. | D．She squeezed her father’s hand tightly. |
| A．The writer volunteered to take the ride. |
| B．The writer’s father forced her to ride with him. |
| C．The ride was less scary on the way up. |
| D．The ride offered the writer a chance to face and overcome her fears. |
| A．A trip to Marineland. | B．Facing a fear. |
| C．A ride to the top of the “Sky Screamer”. | D．A joyful ride on the “Sky Screamer”. |
2 . How to Survive Your Weekends Alone Without Losing It
There can be many, many stories behind weekends spent alone. In the 4 years that I’ve been living on my own now, I’ve managed to spend 208 weekends alone.
Go to a free concert
Coffee shops, libraries and local venues often host free concerts, so see if there is anything going on in your area this weekend. You can really listen to the music, rather than worrying about where your friends are.
Visit a bookstore
If you live near a library or bookstore with seating, take a trip there for a fun day alone.
Take a shopping trip alone
Ease down your shopping stress.
The best part about watching television alone is that you can watch whatever you want. As a couch potato, you put on your cozy clothes and get some snacks, no matter how shameful and embarrassing it is.
Go on a long walk or a hike
Going for a long walk and experiencing nature is often more enjoyable if you are alone, as it is peaceful, quiet, and relaxing. You can stop to appreciate every beautiful flower you pass and you can take a break whenever you want.
| A．Order your favorite snacks |
| B．Marathon a TV show you love |
| C．It’s a mind-blowing success, indeed |
| D．You can also hear the quiet, busy sounds of nature |
| E．Pick up several bargains to satisfy your love for food |
| F．Some people can slow you down or press you to hurry up |
| G．Pick up a book and travel to a different world in your mind |
3 . Here are some Gap Year events for you to choose.
Visitoz
It’s the only organization in Australia that guarantees jobs for young people coming to our country on a Work and Holiday Visa. For young Americans this is a huge chance to get away from home and stand on their own two feet to make their own decisions. And it could also be a very pivotal chance for those kids who itch to own their new lifestyle.
Phone: 4168-6106
Email: info@Dvisitoz.org
The Experiment in International Living
It provides summer abroad programs for high school students who are always aiming to be a “genteel” learner engaging in many foreign countries with “fecund” programs that are designed to equip participants not only with essential cultural skills and, in many cases, language skills, but also with a deeper awareness of and sensitivity to critical global issues shaping the diverse communities and regions we visit.
Phone: 800-345-2929
Email: experiment@worldlearning.org
The International School for Earth Studies
A private and sagacious institution! We are always devoting ourselves to explore and delve students’ dowry and instinct of keeping a kind of sense to touch the earth by making them grow a seed and witness a sprout stretching from the soil. Meanwhile, we will also appeal them to be a forerunner on the marching towards protecting the earth’s environment.
Phone: 819-647-3226
Email: info@earthstudies.ca
Expedition Education Institute
Are you affectionate about intriguing and venerable nature world? Will you burst into a smile with rapture when seeing the nature world become better and better? Do you have a habit of stint and recycling? Expedition Education Institute can provide every ecologist dreamer(students in gap year limited)with this opportunity to be erudite in environment and create a wonderful world!
Phone: 207-322-2973
Email: Info@expeditioneducation.org
1. If you want to learn to be independent which of the following number should you dial?| A．819-647-3226. | B．207-322-2973. | C．800-345-2929. | D．4168-6106. |
| A．Visitoz. | B．Expedition Education Institute. |
| C．The Experiment in International Living. | D．The International School for Earth Studies. |
| A．They help students to be life-long learners. |
| B．They aim at making students become influential persons. |
| C．They help students develop responsibility and creativity. |
| D．They offer a unique opportunity for students to improve academically. |
4 . The best children’s museums in the U.S. feature some exhibits that kids want to see.
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
This museum measures 472,900 square feet and sits on 29 acres of land. Exhibits are all about hands-on learning. For example, dinosaur lovers will go crazy. Now you’re in their world, where kids don’t just look at real dinosaur skeletons (骨架); they can dig for bones in the sand.
Boston Children’s Museum
This century-old Boston hotspot gives kids experiences that will help them learn life skills. The museum became the city’s first “green” museum in 2007, because of its eco-friendly 23,000-square-foot addition and unique waterfront park. Whether your kids are into art, music, building, science, pretend play or all of the above, there’s plenty for them to do or see in the museum.
The Strong National Museum of Play
This museum has too many awesome exhibits to list here, but one of the most popular is the year-round indoor butterfly garden. Reading Adventureland is also a hit for pretend play and helps form a love of books. If you’re a history lover, hit the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Children’s Museum of Houston
Bring your kids to this great children’s museum, and you’ll feel as if you’re stepping into another world! Kidtropolis is a huge pretend city where kids run the show. It’s complete with its own city hall, bank, news center, vet’s office and other common workplaces. Here young inventors can also create their own gadgets (小装置) in the Invention Convention.
1. What is a feature of Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?| A．It gives bone toys to children as gifts. |
| B．It tells children important historical events. |
| C．It makes children learn through experiential activities. |
| D．It encourages children to draw the dinosaur skeletons. |
| A．Bring pet animals. | B．Experience different jobs. |
| C．Watch the space show. | D．Visit indoor butterfly garden |
| A．Children can learn by playing. | B．Children can do role-play games. |
| C．They provide indoor adventures. | D．They have many hands-on activities. |
| A．Attending a meeting. | B．Do the packing. | C．Organise a show. |
| A．On a Wednesday. | B．On a Thursday. | C．On a Friday. |
| A．15%. | B．20%. | C．25%. |
1.劳动经历；
2.你的感受。
注意：1.词数为100左右；
2.短文题目已为你写好。
A Planting Day
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1. 举办时间、地点;
2. 活动内容、安排;
3. 邀请并期待对方参加。
注意：
1. 写作词数应为80左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
参考词汇：中华美食节Chinese Food Festival
Dear David,
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Yours,
Li Hua
1. What does the woman want to do?
| A．Relax herself. | B．Kill time. | C．Get fit. |
| A．During holidays. |
| B．On their birthdays. |
| C．Until the end of this month. |
| A．$10. | B．$25. | C．$35. |
| A．A weight lifting class. | B．A yoga class. | C．A swimming class. |
1.度假方式；
2.你的观点。
注意：
1.词数80左右；
2.题目和首句已为你写好。
Last week, the school English newspaper interviewed 200 students to find out their ways of spending a vacation.
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10 . Pack the car and explore what New York State has to offer. Here are four family-friendly destinations where you and the kids can play, learn and have endless amounts of fun.
Sullivan CatskillsThis year-round water park features 11 attractions, including an activity pool, a rope bridge challenge and slides. The room is kept at 84 degrees, which prevents any outside Catskill cold. It opens from Thursday to Sunday.
Vidbel Mountain HomesteadThis fifth-generation nonprofit farm cares for several animals, many of which are rescues. The farm works to teach children to care for the resident horses, pigs and dogs. This season, the farm is open to anyone who would like to see the animals, with a special focus on child and adult visitors with special needs or dealing with illness. No admission fee.
Bethel Woods Center for the ArtsIt’s a nonprofit organization located at the historic 1969 Woodstock Music Festival site. Guests are welcome to explore the preserved site that held the famous festival. The center also has a museum that features artifacts from Woodstock.
Thomas Cole National Historic SiteThe site has been additionally fitted with digital storytelling equipment intended to engage people of all ages, and while original artworks are on display, there are also things to touch and explore.
1. Where shall the visitors go if they are interested in an influential festival?| A．Sullivan Catskills. |
| B．Vidbel Mountain Homestead. |
| C．Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. |
| D．Thomas Cole National Historic Site. |
| A．Buy a pet. | B．See a doctor. |
| C．Visit some animals. | D．Enjoy some artworks. |
| A．History. | B．Art. | C．Travelling. | D．Geography. |
