Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving Day in the USA, falling on the Friday after the fourth Thursday in November.
1.
Many people have a day off work or choose to take a day from their annual leave on Black Friday. Some people use this to make trips to see family members or friends who live in other areas or to go on vacation. Shopping for Christmas presents is popular on Black Friday. Many stores have special offers and lower their prices on some goods, such as toys.
Public life
2.Many people take a day off on the day after Thanksgiving Day. Many organizations also close for the Thanksgiving weekend.
Public transportation systems may run on their normal schedule or may have changes. Some stores extend their opening hours on Black Friday.3.
Background
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving Day, is one of the busiest shopping days in the USA.4.One theory is that the wheels of vehicles in heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving Day left many black marking on the road surface, leading to the term “Black Friday”.
The other theory is that the term “Black Friday” comes from an old way of recording business accounts.5.Many businesses, particularly small businesses, started making profits before Christmas. Many hoped to start showing a profit, marked in black ink, on the day after Thanksgiving Day.
More recently, Black Friday has been exported to nations outside of North America such as the United Kingdom by major online retailers like Amazon or Apple. In 2011, IBM reported online Black Friday sales were up by 24.3%, according to a study that includes 500 retailers.
A. People’s activities.
B. History of Black Friday.
C. Losses were recorded in red ink and profits in black ink.
D. A busy shopping day is a holiday in some states.
E. There can also be jams on roads to popular shopping destinations.
F. There are two popular theories as to why it is called Black Friday.
G. Black Friday is not a federal (联邦政府的) holiday but a public one in some states.
Let’s face it. No one drinks diet sodas for the taste. People drink diet sodas in the hope that it will help them lose weight or at least keep them from gaining it. Yet it seems to have exactly the opposite effect, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Texas said those who drank two or more diet sodas a day had waist size increases that were six times greater than those who didn’t drink diet sodas. ＂What we saw was that the more diet sodas a person drank, the more weight they were likely to gain,＂said Sharon Fowler.
The study was based on data from 474 participants in a large, ongoing research project, where the participants were followed for nearly 10 years.
While the findings are surprising, they also offer some explanations. Nutrition expert, Melanie Rogers, who works with overweight patients in New York, has found that when patients are switched from regular to diet sodas, they don’t lose weight at all. ＂We weren’t seeing weight loss necessarily, and that was confusing to us＂, said Rogers.
So why would diet soda cause weight gain? No one knows for sure yet, but it could be that people think they can eat more if they drink diet sodas, and so over-compensate for the missing calories.
A related study found some sweeteners (甜味剂) raised blood sugar levels in some mice. ＂Data from this and other potential studies suggest that the promotion of diet sodas and artificial sweeteners may be risky, said Helen P. Hazuda, professor at the University of Texas’s school of medicine. ＂They may be free of calories, but not of consequences.＂
1.People drink diet sodas to ____________.
A. enjoy its taste B. stay in fashion
C. achieve weight loss D. gain more energy
2.The new study suggests that drinking diet sodas ____________.
A. causes people to become heavier B. helps people to be healthier
C. makes people much thinner D. offers people more calories
3.We can learn from the passage that ____________.
A. regular sodas make people lose more weight B. diet soda drinkers tend to eat more food
C. diet sodas do help reduce calories D. most blood diseases come from diet sodas
4.The underlined word ＂They＂ in the last paragraph probably refers to ＂____________＂.
A. sweeteners B. diet sodas and artificial sweeteners
C. sodas D. diet soda drinkers and sweetener takers
When I was five years old， my parents would have to pull me home from yet another painful English vacation． I still didn't want to leave． I want to be away from home． I wanted to go somewhere new and exciting． This became the theme of the next twenty years． I'd spend the whole year counting down to my next holiday， and then as soon as I left I'd begin to dread having to return home． Year after year．
Ten years ago， I decided to build a life that I didn't want to escape from． I knew I wanted to travel in the long term， but I didn't have a lot of money or savings， and there is no one paying for my adventures． For five years， I did three jobs while studying full-time at university． I didn't eat out and I didn't buy anything I didn't need． I even moved in with my parents． I was able to save ﹩16，000 over those five years，which was enough to keep me on the road for a couple of years．
But what if two years wouldn't be enough？ Before leaving， I began to spend my time in making plans that would allow me to work anywhere that had an Internet connection． At the time， I was studying for a master degree in physics． While studying， I came up with a list of my interests and skills and began researching into a way to do these anywhere． If I could make money from it and if I could do it online， then it was something worth going after．
I created a writing file that would help me to find free writing jobs． I researched English and physics teaching online， and built travel websites to earn income through sales and advertising． Most of these failed， but I didn't give up．
The work I do has changed over the years and it's still changing now． Now， I pay my traveling through several different things． I'm the Student Travel Expert for About．com， and a senior writer for Too Many Adapters， a travel technology website． In addition， I will have my first book published this summer． I also offer a travel planning service to help readers prepare for their travels abroad．
To reach this point， where I can cover my expenses and travel full-time， took many， many years of hard work． For me， the freedom makes it worth it． With everything set in place， finally my dreams came true．
1.What does the underlined word "dread" mean in Paragraph 1？ ______
A. fear B. forget
C. miss D. consider
2.The author has taken the following jobs except ______ ．
A. placing advertisements online B. offering a travel planning service
C. teaching physics in a university D. free writing on the websites
3.Which of the following best describes the author？ ______
A. open-minded B. kind-hearted
C. cold-blooded D. strong-willed
4.What is the passage mainly about？ ______
A. Why the author desired freedom． B. Why the author needed money．
C. How the author made his living． D. How the author realized his dream．
When young people begin to live independently， home-hunting can be difficult． But they would do well to remember that a new choice is available --- micro-homes．
Fondly called "tiny houses，" these houses have all living necessities in a small package， including kitchen， bedroom and bathroom． Generally under 50 square meters， most tiny houses can hold just one or two people though some claim the space for more． What's lost in size is not lost in designas these homes are often quite modern in design．
Besides an attractive appearance， tiny houses can also have practical features． Making the best of urban space， the 72-to-122-centimeter-wide Keret House in Warsaw， the world's narrowest home， filled in an alley（小巷）． The home Ecocapsule uses solar power， wind power and rainwater collection to enable its owner to live practically anywhere．
Although micro-homes are attractive， there are a few disadvantages to consider before getting comfortable on a minicouch． Moving into a tiny house， you should throw away unnecessary things． It is also mostly impossible to invite guests． And finally， a micro-home is likely a temporary（暂时的） living choice for most people since they will probably start families and own more things．
Though the limitation will scare some， there is usually a benefit． A small size results in low prices and small bills， making tiny houses easier to save up for． And though you won't have many things around the house， it makes it easy and simple to keep it clean． Micro-homes are also eco-friendly， which can't be matched by other homes． They probably aren't for everyone or forever， but when it comes to your next （or first） home， they could be just what you need．
1.What can be learnt about micro-homes from Paragraph 2？ ______
A. People can't take a package into the tiny houses．
B. All of the houses can hold more than two people．
C. These houses are convenient though tiny in size．
D. Such houses are poorly designed due to the small size．
2.The author develops Paragraph 3 mainly ______ ．
A. by example B. by comparisons
C. by order in space D. by causes and effects
3.Micro-homes are especially suitable for ______ ．
A. a young person who has many things
B. a person who doesn't have much money
C. a family wanting to protect environment
D. a family hoping to settle down in a city
4.What can be the best title for the text？ ______
A. East or west， home is the best． B. Micro-homes --- more than tiny!
C. Home-hunting --- no easy matter! D. Tiny or large， this is a choice．
Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours
Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!
Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)
Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.
Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.
Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (7miles)
Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.
1.Which tour do you need to book in advance?
A. Cherry Blossom like Tour in Washington, D.C.
B. Washington capital Monuments Bicycle Tour.
C. Capital City Bike Tour in Washington.
D. Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour.
2.What will you do on the Capital City Bike Tour?
A. Meet famous people. B. Go to a national park.
C. Visit well-known museums. D. Enjoy interesting stories.
3.Which of the following does the bicycle tour at night provide?
A. City maps. B. Cameras.
C. Meals. D. Safety lights.
假定你是李华，了解到你的美国笔友Tom对中国文化有浓厚兴趣，想邀请他一起参观中国画画展（Chinese Ink Painting )。请你写封邮件，内容包括：
1.展览时间、地点。
2.展览内容。
注意：
1.词数:100左右，开头和结尾已写好，但不计入总词数。
2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tomt
How is it going?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
