1 . Skin - diving
Skin - diving (潜泳) is a new sport today. This sport takes you into a wonderful new world. It is like a visit to the moon. When you are under water, it is easy for you to climb big rocks because you are no longer heavy.
Here, under water, everything is blue and green. During the day, there is plenty of light.
When fish swim nearby, you can catch them with your hands.
When you have tanks (罐) of air on your back, you can stay in deep water for a long time. But you must be careful when you dive in deep water.
To catch fish is one of the most interesting parts of this sport. Besides, there are more uses for skin - diving. You can clean ships without taking them out of water. You can get many things from the deep sea.
Now you see that skin -diving is both useful and interesting.
1. Skin- diving is a new sport. It can take you to________.| A．the moon | B．a new world of land |
| C．the mountains | D．deep water |
| A．there is plenty of light | B．there is no light at all |
| C．you can find a lot of blue fish | D．everything looks blue and green |
| A．you are very heavy | B．you are as heavy as on the land |
| C．you are not as heavy as on the land | D．you have no weight at all |
| A．catch fish very easily | B．stay under water for a long time |
| C．climb big rocks | D．have more fun |
| A．Skin - diving is a new sport. |
| B．Skin - diving is like visiting the moon. |
| C．The only use of skin - diving is to have more fun. |
| D．Skin - diving is not only interesting but useful. |
2 . Here are our suggestions for keeping busy this week. Dive in!
Take to the waves in Southampton
Always fancied trying your hand at sailing? Now’s your chance. The Southampton Boat Show has plenty of opportunities for visitors to get out on the water to experience boat sailing, power boating or taking a ride on a RIB—all for free.
Discover an island on the Thames
To celebrate Totally Thames, a month-long festival is held at various locations across London. We’ve discovered 21 of the river’s most fascinating islands—all of them with interesting stories to tell. Make the most of it with our map here.
Catch great films in Bristol
Over six days, Encounters Film Festival screens up to 400 films from over 60 different countries. The Bristol festival provides a platform for international filmmakers, and offers a gateway to the likes of the BAFTAs, Oscars and European Film Awards. See here for full details.
Get scientific in London
Experience the latest, best and most challenging science covering all areas of our lives and universe at New Science Live at Excel London. New Scientist Live is a four-day festival full of ideas and discoveries from the team behind the world’s most popular science weekly magazine, featuring four zones—Brain& Body, Technology, Earth and Universe—as well as talks from experts and over 200 exhibitors.
1. We can find out from the text that ________.| A．in Southampton you can enjoy the boating races |
| B．Totally Thames is a fascinating island with interesting stories |
| C．Encounters Film Festival appeals to the moviegoers |
| D．at New Science Live you only experience popular science |
| A．A science weekly magazine. |
| B．A festival where ideas and discoveries are shared. |
| C．A festival to celebrate great scientists. |
| D．An exhibition to show scientific discoveries. |
| A．To introduce some amazing tourist attractions in London. |
| B．To appeal to people to take part in outdoor activities. |
| C．To advise us how to make the most of our time. |
| D．To give tips on various leisure activities to get involved in. |
3 . Here are four activities in October. Go and get yourself out of your house.
1. Hope with Every Step 5K Race
It will be held on Saturday, October 3 at Taglienti Field on the Spruce Mountain High School campus. This event is held in honor of Josh Brochu, 13 and his sister Brook Brochu, 10, both of whom have a rare disease that affects children. All the money collected from the event will go to the A-T Childrens’ Project, a non-profit (非盈利的) organization which raises money for medical research and health centers. Visit www.atcp.org for more information.
2. A Free Movie Supported by Farmington Baptist Church
It will be shown at 7: 00 pm on October on 194 Whittier Road in Farmington. The movie When the Game Stands Tall tells the true story of the De La Salle Spartans High School football team, which set 151-game winning streak (连胜) record. Football coach Bob Ladouceur’s belief was always. “We don’t expect you to play perfectly. but to give a perfect effort.”
3. Wilton Free Public Library’s Birthday Party
The library is turning 100 years old! All are welcome to attend the party celebrating 100 years of the beautiful library building. From 10:00 am to 1: 00 pm on October 3, families are welcome to come to the library for some food and fun! There will be historical displays, fun book-themed food, face painting, and games and presents for kids. Please come and celebrate!
4. The Fourth Annual Pumpkin Festival
It will take place on Saturday, October 10. There will be various family activities, including movies, dog shows and children’s gifts. All events will take place in the Front Street Neighborhood. For more information, please visit the website: farmingtonpumpkinfestival.net.
1. Which is one of the purposes of Activity 1?| A．To raise money. | B．To explore nature. |
| C．To advertise a school. | D．To start an organization. |
| A．Hope with Every Step 5K Race. |
| B．The Fourth Annual Pumpkin Festival. |
| C．Wilton Free Public Library’s Birthday Party. |
| D．A Free Movie Supported by Farmington Baptist Church. |
| A．Activities 1&4 | B．Activities 2&3 |
| C．Activities 2&4 | D．Activities 1&33 |
| A．They are both held every year. |
| B．They can both entertain kids. |
| C．They both need people to sign up online. |
| D．They both provide a chance to taste food. |
| A．At Taglienti Field. | B．On 194 Whittier Road. |
| C．In Wilton Free Public Library. | D．In the Front Street Neighborhood. |
Although traditional pet stores are somewhere you buy an animal to be your friend at home, there’s a new kind of pet store where you spend some quality time with the animals and just walk away, without taking anything. What really matters is the experience.
I visited one of these stores in the Sanlitun area in Beijing. I was targeting call ducks, which are famous for their cute looks and, of course, their sky-high prices, each of them can easily cost a few thousand yuan. Since I was not planning to spend so much on a duck, visiting them in one of these—what I’d call “mini-zoos”—seemed to be the perfect option.
There were a total of five call ducks at the store—among other animals—and we spent a good three hours with them. We got to learn much about them.
Call ducks are not as obedient as cats,so playing with them would include a lot of running from our side and quacking(呱呱叫) from theirs. Also, don’t expect them to be house-trained, one of the ducks actually pooped(排便) while sitting on my leg. But none of these little incidents reduced the pleasure of holding them in my hands and touching their full chests. It was like the whole world’s joy was in my hands, for those call ducks are fun and comforting—something I would hardly ever expect from work.
That’s the magic of animals: You don’t have to own them—simply spending time with them is enough.
1. What can you do in this pet store? (no more than 10 words)2. What are call ducks famous for? (no more than 8 words)
3. What does the underlined word “obedient” in paragraph 4 mean? (1 word)
4. Why did the author say “It was like the whole world’s joy was in my hands.”? (no more than 10 words)
5. Do you like the style of spending time with animals? Give your reasons. (no more than 25 words)
The first time I used the TV to distract my daughter, I felt like a bad parent; I convinced myself I was a “bad” mom—these days I believe the opposite to be true. Screen time makes me a better mom.
Now I know what most of you might be thinking: That’s ridiculous, Only crappy (糟糕的) parents rely on the screen to care for their kids. Plus, experts suggest parents limit media use. And while I do not doubt experts, there are things they fail to consider.
Like most 6-year-olds, my daughter gets worked up and excited easily and watching a cartoon gives her a chance to shut off her mind. And there are other reasons, more selfish reasons. I’m a walk-from-home mom, and give her screen time gives me “me” time. I’m able to write while she watches TV. And while this may sound bad, I believe I’m helping my daughter realize she should rely on herself. When Mommy works, she gets her own snacks, drinks and toys.
There are all the benefits, too. TV has opened dialogues between me and my daughter. TV has also taught my daughter. Thanks to “Super Why”, she knew her alphabet at 2, and thanks to “Sesame Street”, she was able to count to 20 by age 3. And I use the screen as a greater incentive, my daughter earns “table time” when she completes tasks, e.g., making her bed earns 15 minutes while doing her homework gets her 30.
Of course, I have a few rules. During meals, The TV is off; all progress must be supervised(监管) on weekdays, she is limited to two hours maximum. So remember: it doesn’t matter what our kids watch; it matters what they do, what they say, what they feel and how they act, and only you know what is best for them.
1. What did the author feel when she used the TV to distract her daughter for the first time? (no more than 10 words)2. What does the author think of screen time? (no more than 10 words)
3. How can screen time be good for kids whose mothers are working at home? (no more than 10 words)
4. What does the underlined word probably mean in Paragraph 4? (1 word)
5. What can we learn from the author’s experience? Please explain. (no more than25 words)
6 . Teen Party Venues in Nashville, TN
Nashville, Tennessee, known as “Music City,” is home to around 601,000 residents, where you will find a broad range of places to choose from when it comes to planning a birthday party.
Pools and Resorts
If you plan your teen’s party at Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort, your teen and her guests will have a variety of activities to choose from. In the waterpark, guests can float down the lazy river, zip down the slides and play in the humongous wave pool.
Dinner or Dance
Teens looking for something a little more sophisticated or grown up to do on their birthday can have their party at one of the area’s finest restaurants or party venues. Rocketown offers facility rentals for teen events, to help create a safe environment for teens. You can choose which building you would like to rent to plan your teen’s dinner, dance or whatever else you have in mind and be confident knowing your teen’s party will be spectacular.
Bowling and Skating
Jaymar Family Entertainment Center is another fantastic venue for holding a fun teen party. Party packages can help make the planning a bit easier and may include things like bowling for all your guests, a private party room, food and drinks, etc. Teens that enjoy roller skating can hold their party at one of the Skate Centers in Nashville.
Additional Venues
Parents who are looking for something a little different to plan for their teen’s party could take the group to Nashville Paintball for some paintball action. Whether your party guests are new to paintball or old pros, the entire group is sure to have a great time. Alternatively, you can take your teen and his buddies to Climb Nashville for some climbing fun, which offers birthday and private parties that may include climbing, instruction, snacks and drinks.
1. Which place offers a private party room?| A．Rocketown. |
| B．Jaymar Family Entertainment Center. |
| C．Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort. |
| D．Nashville Paintball. |
| A．Have dinner. |
| B．Learn to climb. |
| C．Float down the river. |
| D．Enjoy roller skating. |
| A．You can rent facilities in Rocketown. |
| B．You cannot hold a party in the waterpark. |
| C．Jaymar Family Entertainment Center offers party packages. |
| D．You may enjoy yourselves at Nashville Paintball. |
| A．In a feature story. |
| B．In a geography textbook. |
| C．In a leisure magazine. |
| D．In a business website. |
7 . There are almost limitless things to do at the seaside. For an enjoyable summer day or night, some that are the most fun can be simple, inexpensive or absolutely free.
Frolic: Summer at the seaside is for as many activities as you can stand in the sand. Play frisbee (飞盘), sand volleyball or any beach-free sport. Jog or run while you feel the soft sand each step. If it’s nice and windy, go fly a kite!
Picnic: If you’re a bit lazy as you sun and relax on the beach, you can buy take-out from nearby shops. If you’re there with a big family outing, you may prefer to pack and bring baskets of your favorite foods and drinks.
Sand castles: For anyone who wishes they were still kids, building castles in the sand is fun at the seashore. If you’re feeling really creative, add fishes, frogs and whatever else your modeling skills can construct.
Explore: If there are hiking or biking trails along the shore or nearby, take an action to discover what’s around to be collected. Seashells and washed-up ocean flora (植物群) are fun to hunt, although finding a valuable diamond ring in the sand is much more satisfying.
Socialize: Meet all kinds of people. If kids are with you, they’re natural socializers, and will easily join others in games and other fun things to do together. Set up a volleyball net on the beach, and soon others will join the game.
Nothing: For some people the top activity at the seaside is inactivity. That means doing absolutely nothing. After all, you’ve come to the beach to relax on the warm sand, and nowhere in the world is there a more comfortable place for it.
1. In the first paragraph the author ________.| A．advertises a scenic spot |
| B．describes the beautiful seaside |
| C．shows visitors can do many things at the seaside |
| D．introduces the things that can be brought to the seaside |
| A．Tips on safety. | B．Full preparation. |
| C．Famous players. | D．Lively and enjoyable activity. |
| A．Having a picnic with your family. |
| B．Making friends with all kinds of people. |
| C．Playing many kinds of games at the beach. |
| D．Searching for valuable jewelry in the sand. |
| A．you can still relax yourself |
| B．you might feel uncomfortable |
| C．you miss a chance to enjoy yourself |
| D．you are not advised to go to the seaside again |
| A．a diary | B．a report | C．a textbook | D．a guidebook |
One of the most fun and fulfilling things during the season is to throw a Halloween party and boogie through the night with friends and family. When pumpkins, witch's hats and spiders make their annual appearance you can tell Halloween is approaching.
Whether it's a party for children or just one for adults, there are so many great treats, games, music and activities that you can enjoy yourselves in the city.
Dark Mirror-themed Party
With a scary theme - Dark Mirror (黑暗之镜), Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu this year will host a big Halloween party on October 31st with these elements: Ghost Parade, Haunted House, Costume Contest and so on. Participants could enjoy live music show, dance and play “trick or treat” games in the public outdoor area.
Venue：Lan Kwai Fong Chengdu, 1 Shuijing Street
Halloween Carnival Party
The Chengdu Happy Valley Amusement Park is to host a Halloween Carnival Party that features magic performances, live rock bands performance and lots of wicked events for participants. The Halloween season in the park will last till November 11 with admission from 80 to 150 yuan.
Venue: 16 Xihua Avenue
Beer Nest Halloween Party
The Beer Nest I and Beer Nest II will be decorated in a haunted (闹鬼的) house style and there will be scary movies playing on the big screens of the Beer Nest II. Entertaining activities, such as food & drink specials, live DJs, cool music and Spooky Kids Workshops, will be held and a professional markup artist from Sweden will be there for those who want to make an impression Halloween night.
Halloween E-sports Night Party
The Halloween E-sports Night to take place on October 31 is one of the highlights of the E-sports Cartoon and Animation Festival to be held in Chengdu Eastern Suburb Memory on October 31-November 1. It will offer relevant activities including cosplay showcases, e-sports competition and live music shows as a platform to communicate with celebrated anime artists and cartoon lovers.
Venue：4 Mid-section，South Jianshe Road
1. How can we tell Halloween is approaching?| A．People are eating pumpkins. | B．Witch's hats are sitting on the head. |
| C．Spiders are weaving nets at the corner. | D．Families or friends are getting together. |
| A．Dark Mirror-themed Party. | B．Beer Nest Halloween Party. |
| C．Halloween Carnival Party. | D．Halloween E-sports Night Party. |
| A．Cosplay. | B．Food. |
| C．Music. | D．Magic. |
| A．Make cartoon shows. | B．Attend E-Game competitions. |
| C．Learn to arrange cosplay shows. | D．Exchange ideas with anime artists. |
| A．The party will be held in two places one after another. |
| B．Scary movies will be played in the public outdoor area. |
| C．A Sweden artist is expected to bring joy to the party. |
| D．The party will be decorated in a traditional Chinese way. |
9 . If you are interested in art, there are four art activities to be held in Beijing.
Paintings of Xu Beihong
Over 100 paintings by modern China's painting master Xu Beihong are on show at the National Art Museum, including his oil and ink (墨) works.
Xu is skilled at describing birds and animals. His works creatively combine Western methods with traditional Chinese art, which has a big influence on modern Chinese artists.
If you go:
9:00am-5:30pm, from September to November (closed on Mondays). 1 Wusi Avenue, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 010-6403-4951
Musical performances for Japanese anime (动漫) lovers
Music Fans Classical Orchestra will provide a performance for Japanese anime and music lovers, bringing together great works by famous Japanese writer Joe Hisaishi, including melodies (旋律) in Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the sky and director Takeshi Kitano's film Kikujiro.
If you go:
7:30pm, November. Beijing Concert Hall, 1 North Xinhua Street, Xicheng district. 010-6605-7006.
Opera Film Carmen
The French opera film Carmen will be shown in Beijing on Saturday. It will be played in French, with English and Chinese subtitles (字幕).
Based on the novel of the same name by Prosper Merimee, Carmen was the last work of the famous French writer Georges Bizet, telling stories of the working class and ordinary people. It's also one of the popular operas in the world.
If you go:
1:30 pm, September. National Center for the Performing Arts, 2 West Chang'an Avenue, Xicheng district. 010-6655-0000
The Merchant of Venice
Beijing Comedy Theater will put on William Shakespeare's work The Merchant of Venice. It will be played in Chinese.
If you go:
7:30 pm, Dec 15-17; 2:30 pm, Dec 16. Beijing Comedy Theater,11 Chaoyangmen North Street, Dongcheng district, Beijing. 400-610-3721
1. Where can you go if you are free in October?| A．Beijing Concert Hall | B．National Art Museum |
| C．Beijing Comedy Theater. | D．National Center for the Performing Arts |
| A．010-6605-7006. | B．010-6403-4951. |
| C．010-6655-0000. | D．400-610-3721. |
| A．It's a British film. |
| B．It's about to be played on Sunday. |
| C．It's about stories of ordinary people. |
| D．It's based on Georges Bizet’s best work. |
| A．7:30 am on Dec 15. | B．2:30 pm on Dec 17. |
| C．7:30 pm on Dec 16. | D．2:30 am on Dec 16. |
| A．Carmen. | B．Kikujiro. |
| C．Castle in the sky. | D．The merchant of Venice. |
10 . A year ago, we bought our son a bike for his birthday. In this way he could stay more active. Plus, we didn't have to push a tricycle around the neighborhood.
I thought he even wanted to sleep with his bike. He got on, rode, and had a huge smile on his face. When we went out for a walk, he would ask me politely if he could ride his bike. I said yes. Then he would play for a long time and didn’t want to go home. He rode in every season: winter, spring, summer and fall.
This year, we had him join in a program called SprocKids started by our local mountain bike club. As you can imagine, my little mountain biker showed great interest in it. On the first night, he tried riding over the obstacles (障碍物), which made me worried and frightened. One obstacle was even taller than me, but he persisted.
Later, one day, he found an old bike in the storeroom. It was mine. He called me out and said, ''Mommy, will you go biking with me? '' I was surprised because I hadn’t biked since high school, but I decided to cycle with him.
I was highly rewarded for my efforts. On the one hand, I took part in an activity with my child. And I didn't have to do all the work by pushing or carrying him. It was an activity he loved and he told me about every path and every move excitedly. On the other hand, we developed a closer bond (关系).
In my opinion, it's very important for kids to stay active. And parents' encouragement is very important for them to stay active. But words of encouragement are not enough. It's better if parents can do a physical activity together with their kids.
1. Getting a bike for his birthday, the author's son ________.| A．loved it very much |
| B．wanted a better gift |
| C．just rode it for fun at times |
| D．spent much time learning to ride it |
| A．He never gave up. |
| B．He hardly succeeded. |
| C．He changed his mind. |
| D．He became frightened. |
| A．She wasn't active in high school. |
| B．She hasn't ridden her bike for many years. |
| C．She bought a new bike to cycle with her son. |
| D．She once dreamed of becoming a mountain biker. |
| A．It takes her too much time. |
| B．It completely changes her. |
| C．It greatly benefits her. |
| D．It is very tiring. |
| A．Kids love to spend time outdoors. |
| B．Encouragement is very important to kids. |
| C．Children should be encouraged to ride a bike. |
| D．Parents should do physical activities with their kids. |
