It takes a special person to travel with kids—a parent.Children have their own needs.Their idea of a vacation is more“adventurous”than a parent’s.They need constant inspiration and they can get as tired as they are tiring.
Make sure you have plenty of room while traveling
If you are driving，get a mini-van.Sure，you might be more of a“car”type，and you might have resisted buying a mini—van so far.But pick up a rental van for the vacation just to give the kids a little more room for fighting.
Accommodations along the way can be tricky.Usually it involves a crowded motel for just long enough to sleep，then back in the crowded car.This is not anybody’s idea of a home away from home.An accommodation alternative is to camp，but not everyone enjoys a good early morning wake-up wrestle with a bear as much as I do，so a motel might be required.
Make sure you have plenty of room when you“get there”
Assuming you are actually heading for a destination，make sure to have lots of room when you get there.This part is easy.But it requires thinking outside the box.Forget hotels，motels，and inns.Look for private rental homes.
Probably the biggest destination for families is Walt Disney World in Florida.Good news—Orlando，Kissimmee and the surrounding area is full of private vacation homes for rent.In Florida they call them vacation villas，and they offer all the space of home.
Be prepared for“children being children”events
Sometimes，stress hits you from behind when the unexpected happens.Like a cut or a scrape…or a child getting sick.Sharon Baillie told me that is why she tells all her villa rental guests where the first-aid case can be found，and exactly where to go for medical attention.This is particularly helpful for her many guests from abroad，who are unfamiliar with the US healthcare system.
Booking tickets to theme parks and making reservations for just about everything in advance makes the trip less stressful.Try having your children baby-sat.Hire a local baby-sitter once or twice.Vacation Home owners can set this up for you，and some hotels might be willing to，too.
1.Where does the author prefer to rest on the way to the destination?
A. In a camp. B. In a mini-van. C. At a motel. D. In a car.
2.What does the underlined word“this”in the last paragraph refer to?
A. Booking tickets in advance. B. Hiring a baby-sitter.
C. Making reservations ahead of time. D. Looking for a tour guide.
3.What is the purpose of the passage?
A. To introduce ways of travelling.
B. To advertise vacation homes for tourists.
C. To reduce the stress while traveling abroad.
D. To show how to travel comfortably with kids.
听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1.What time did the speaker expect to hear the alarm?
A. At 7:00. B. At 8:00. C. At9:00.
2.Which piece of the speaker’s clothing was clean?
A. The shirt. B. The pants. C. The tie.
3.Where did the speaker go fight after getting dressed?
A. The kitchen. B. The bathroom. C. The bedroom.
4.How did Karen probably feel in the end?
A. Thankful. B. Worried. C. Surprised.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Why is the man tired?
A. He worked late.
B. He just came back from abroad.
C. He hasn’t been sleeping for two days.
2.Where are the speakers?
A. At home. B. In the office. C. In the cinema.
3.What will the man do next?
A. Send some emails B. Call his boss. C. Watch TV.
4.What are the speakers mainly talking about?
A. A show they both like.
B. The daily work they do.
C. Things they do in their spare time.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What was the boy just doing?
A. Collecting the leaves. B. Cutting the grass. C. Watering the flowers.
2.What is the boy saving up for?
A. A motorbike. B. A computer. C. A car.
3.What will the speakers do later?
A. See a movie. B. Take a walk. C. Run in the park.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.What is the woman doing now?
A. Selling clothes.
B. Selecting a dress.
C. Bargaining with the man.
2.Where will the speakers go?
A. A wedding ceremony. B. A birthday party. C. A concert.
听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1.Which city is the package from?
A. Chicago. B. St.Paul. C. Des Moines.
2.What date was yesterday?
A. December 13th. B. December 14th. C. December 15th.
