Nowadays, people are spending more hours on work. However, taking some time off is important for refreshing yourselves. If you’re having trouble making time for a break, the recent research by the UCLA’s Anderson School suggests that treating your weekends like a vacation can make you happier.
The findings are based on a series of experiments. In one study of 441 workers, half of the test subjects were instructed to have a normal weekend, while the others had to “treat their weekend like a vacation.” The next Monday, the weekend vacationers reported that they felt happier and were generally more satisfied than those who had had a normal weekend. The vacationers also reported they spent more money in vacation mode—about $ 130 compared to $104. But it wasn’t the money that bought them happiness. The researchers controlled for the amount of money both groups could spend. The vacationers were still happier than the ones who had experienced a typical weekend.
The reason the vacation approach may have worked wonders: The vacation mindset allows people to be more attentive to the present moment. “We’re always trying to get through things to check off our to-do lists and treating the weekend like a vacation pushes us out of our continuous ‘doing’ mode,” said Cassie Holmes, a professor at UCLA’s Anderson School.
The study showed that getting into a vacation mindset during the weekend is relatively easy. Even if you can’t take the entire weekend “off”, you can manage to steal a piece of the weekend to gain the benefits of a vacation mindset.
1. What does the research of the UCLA’s Anderson School suggest?2. Why may the vacation approach have worked wonders?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
When the researchers controlled for the amount of money both groups could spend, the vacation group was unhappier than the other group.
4. What would you do to get into a vacation mindset at weekends? And explain why.(In about 40 words)
There are many places to go on safari (观赏野生动物) in Africa, but riding a horse through the flooded waters of Botswana’s Okavango Delta must rank as one of the world’s most exciting wildlife journeys.
Several safari camps operate as the base for this adventure, providing unique rides twice a day to explore deep into the delta. The camps have excellent horses, professional guides and lots of support workers. They have a reputation (名声) for providing a great riding experience.
The morning ride, when the guides take you to beautiful, shallow lakes full of water lilies, tends to be more active. It is unlike any other riding experience. With rainbows forming in the splashing water around you and the sound of huge drops of water bouncing off your body and face, it is truly exciting. You are very likely to come across large wild animals, too. On horseback it is possible to get quite close to elephants, giraffes and many other animals. The sense of excitement and tension levels rise suddenly though, as does your heart rate, as you move closer to them.
In the evening, rides are usually at a more relaxed and unhurried pace. With golden light streaming across the grassy delta and the animals coming out to eat and drink. Sedate though they are, rides at this time of day are still very impressive. As the sun’s rays pass through the dust kicked up by the horses, the romance of Africa comes to life.
Back at the camp you can kick off your boots and enjoy excellent food and wine. Looking back on your day, you will find it hard to deny that a horseback safari is as close as you will ever come to answering the call of the wild.
1. What does the underlined word “They” in Paragraph 2 refer to?2. How does a tourist feel when he or she moves closer to the wild animals on horseback?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
The passage tells us about the riding experience in the Okavango Delta and the author introduces it mainly by following space order.
4. Please introduce the most exciting trip you’ve ever taken. (In about 40 words)
3 . A voyage on one of Aiden’s two government approved boats will be a memorable experience for both the novice and experienced angler(垂钓者).You’ll enjoy the tradition of catching such species as mackerel and cod off the beautiful Cavendish coast of Prince Edward Island. Located just minutes from Cavendish, in the attractive village of North Rustic, Aiden’s Deep Sea Fishing has been providing excitement, fun and most of all, fish, to our customers for almost half a century.
The summer vacation is coming up. Sign up and join us on one of our three daily sailings and catch some fresh fish for your supper! All you need to take on board is your smile. We’ll supply the rods, tackle, bait and on few occasions, the raincoat. Oh yes, you can keep the fish without payment. Afterwards you can visit our Fish Market located next door and also tour Prince Edward Island (PEI). No visit to the Island is not complete. Rolling hills， woods, reddish white sand beaches, ocean waves and the famous red soil have given Prince Edward Island a reputation as an island of outstanding natural beauty in North America. The author Lucy Maud Montgomery drew inspiration from the island during the late Victorian Era for the setting of her classic novel Anne of Green Gables (1908). Today, many of the attractions that Montgomery found on the island are still enjoyed by thousands of tourists all over the world.
Come to fish off the coast of the beautiful Cavendish beach. With three sailings daily between June 14th and September 18th.
Sailing Times
Morning 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Afternoon 1:15 PM to 4:15 PM
Evening 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Pricing and Payment (All prices in Canadian dollars.)
Adults： $40.00
Children： $30.00 (Under 12)
Reservations： 902-963-3522
Group charters available upon request
1. What does the underlined word “novice” (Para.1) mean?2. How long a history does Aiden’s Deep Sea Fishing have?
3. How much will they pay if one couple together with two children aged 5 and 10 sign up for the fishing trip?
When 16-year-old Violet Brill looks out her window, she doesn’t see only grass and trees—she sees a great meal. Her father, famous plant expert Steve “Wildman” Brill, carried her along on his foraging(觅食)tours from the time she was a little girl.
In the past decade or so, a renewed interest in foraging for edible(可食用的) plants has begun to appear—an interest that has truly blossomed recently.
“I think we’ve had a lot of time to get outdoors, and look around,” says Adele Nozedar, author of Foraging for Kids. “There is rapid growth in foraging in the past year.”
Kids are natural-born foragers. Take them out into the woods and they’ll happily gather fallen leaves, or root around in the undergrowth for hidden treasures. Foraging is definitely a gateway to nature. Kids learn quickly that it’s not just a bunch of green stuff outside. All those plants have a purpose.
And by encouraging a love of nature, foraging also encourages a love of the environment. “Having a strong connection to the land means you’re more likely to protect it,” says Dave Hamilton, author of Family Foraging. “And you can’t get much more connected to the land than eating from it.”
Plus, foraging brings good news for parents of picky eaters: When kids search for and pick their own food, they’re more likely to be invested in it. Foraging for wild edibles encourages kids to try new, nutritious foods—especially kids who tend to turn their noses up at the vegetables on their plates.
For instance, Hamilton remembers taking a group of boys camping and asking them to gather enough lambsquarters for dinner. They came back with three days’ worth of the greens, which he turned into a pesto(青酱).
“They absolutely loved it,” he says. “There’s something empowering about finding your own food, especially for kids.”
1. What interest has begun to appear recently?2. According to Dave, what is the benefit of foraging?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
Parents of picky eaters welcome foraging because the foraged foods are new and nutritious.4. In addition to the benefits mentioned in this passage, what do you think are some other benefits of foraging? (In about 40 words)
Miss Joan enjoyed picking apples with her students. She smiled as she led her students to the bus that would take them to the Greenly Apple Orchard(果园).
The bus stopped in front of the Greenly Apple Orchard and the class got off quickly and quietly.
Mr. Greenly was there to greet them. "Let's see! There are eighteen children and two adults at three dollars each. That will be sixty dollars, please."
Miss Joan held the brochure(小册子) in her hand. "It says that the price is two dollars each," she pointed out.
"We've had to raise the price," Mr. Greenly stated.
"You sent me this brochure after we made our reservation(预订)," Miss Joan complained, "and it says two dollars!"
"Miss Joan, if you look at the bottom of this brochure," Mr. Greenly said, "you'll notice a very important statement."
Sure enough, in very tiny letters, it said, "Prices are subject to change without notice."
Miss Joan was determined to keep her good mood. She took three twenty-dollar bills out of her own purse and handed it to Mr. Greenly.
"Now children, do you all have your baskets?" Miss Joan called out. "Remember, each of you can pick as many apples as possible."
Mr. Greenly said, "You can't pick as many apples as possible."
Miss Joan was not smiling now. "The brochure says, 'ALL YOU CAN PICK'!"
Mr. Greenly pointed to the tiniest letters Miss Joan had never seen. It also said, "Terms and conditions of group reservations are subject to change without notice."
Miss Joan's good mood was now history, so she said in a calm and quiet voice, "We are going home, give me our money back, please."
1. How much did Miss Joan think she should pay for picking apples at first? (no more than 3 words)2. Why couldn't children pick as many apples as possible?(no more than 9 words)
3. What did Miss Joan do at last? (no more than 8 words)
4. How did Miss Joan feel from at first to at last? (no more than 8 words)
Go, commonly known in China as weiqi, is a board game for two players that needs logical (逻辑的) strategies. To win, the player must use black and white playing pieces to surround more field than the other player. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago. It enjoys a wide fan base, mostly in East Asia—but it is becoming more popular in other areas of the world.
Schreiber, vice chair of Berlin Go Association, was introduced to the game 16 years ago, but thought the game rather boring at first. Similarly, Urban, chair of Berlin Go Association, accidentally discovered a book on Go on his mother’s bookshelf when he was 37 years old. “I tried to understand the rules because I love board games and I did not get it,” added Urban. But they both found the game more and more interesting after practice. “It’s like speaking to another but with your hands. You make a very direct message,” explained Schreiber.
Schreiber recommended children learn Go because he believed it could be beneficial for them. “They learn that there is always someone stronger and they learn that it’s okay to lose. They learn how to improve from their mistakes and say tomorrow will be better than today,” he explained.
To the experienced players, Go can be very addictive, as it carries meanings not just in leisure, but also in culture. Many are too quick to judge other people’s cultures. Confucius said, “Tell me, I’ll forget; Show me, I may remember; Involve me, and I will understand.” With Go, people only get stronger if they play against different players. With culture, one need to go and talk to people, even better if in their language. If you can’t, maybe it’s enough to use the Go board as the language.
As cooperation between China and Germany deepens in many aspects of life, efforts have been made to further popularize Go in Europe. The European. Go Congress has been hosting annual competitions since 1983. Training courses are also offered, and professional players from China are invited to deliver lectures for game loves in Europe.
1. When was Go invented in China?2. How did Schreiber and Urban feel about Go after practice?
3. Why did Schreiber recommend children learn Go?
4. What has happened as a cooperation between China and Germany deepens?
