Plan on traveling around the USA? There are a number of outstanding websites that can make your American dream come true.
www.101usaholidays.co.uk
This is the latest offering that features 101 holiday ideas to the USA. It’s a diverse selection, ranging from touring in the footsteps of Martin Luther King to a golfing break in Arizona and a cycling and wine-tasting trip in California’s Napa Valley. Narrow down what you’re looking for—whether by price, region, theme and who will be traveling—and then just the photos of the relevant holidays remain on view. It’s a really clever design.
http://byways.org
The National Scenic Byways Program covers 150 memorable roads. Some are natural scenic routes, such as Route 1 along the California coast. Others focus on history (such as Route 66) or man-made attractions (the Las Vegas Strip). For each, you’re provided with a map telling the route’s length and how long is allowed.
www.oyster.com
This is the best website for reviews of hotels in US cities and tourist sites. There are photos of each hotel. Importantly, these are not promotional photos provided by the hotels, but more honest and revealing ones taken by inspectors. From the 243 hotels reviewed in New York, you can narrow down what you are looking for by locations, facilities and styles, or just pick out a selection of the best.
http://seaworldparks.com
SeaWorld in San Diego can make dreams come true, but the price is not affordable for the majority of people. So turn to long-established http://seaworldparks.com, giving big discounts on tickets, hotel and dining at SeaWorld.
1.The text is probably from _________.
A. a science report B. a news article
C. a travel brochure D. a book review
2.Travel ideas for wine lovers are available at _________.
A. www.101usaholidays.co.uk B. http://byways.org
C. www.oyster.com D. http://seaworldparks.com
3.What can be inferred from the text?
A. You can see some man-made attractions driving along Route 66.
B. The National Scenic Byways Program covers all American roads.
C. Photos on www.oyster.com can be trusted by tourists.
D. http://seaworldparks.com is a newly established website.
Each morning Grandpa was up early sitting at the kitchen table, reading his book. His grandson wanted to be just like him and tried to copy him in every way he could.
One day the grandson asked, “Grandpa, I try to read the book just like you, but I don’t understand it, and I forget what I understand as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the book do?”
The grandpa quietly turned from putting coal in the stove and replied, “Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water.”
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandpa laughed and said, “You’ll have to move a little faster next time,” and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned. Out of breath, he told his grandpa that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, so he went to get a bucket instead. The grandpa said, “I don’t want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You’re just not trying hard enough.” The boy again dipped the basket into the river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandpa the basket was empty again. Out of breath, he said, “Grandpa, it’s useless!”
“So, you think it is useless?” the grandpa said, “Look at the basket.”
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean.
“Grandson, that’s what happens when you read the book. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you’ll be changed, inside and out.”
1.What puzzled the grandson most was _________.
A. why he forgot what he read soon B. whether it was useful to read books
C. what kind of book he could understand D. how he could read books like his grandpa
2.Why did Grandpa ask his grandson to fetch a basket of water?
A. To get him to realize the use of reading books. B. To punish him for not reading carefully.
C. To clean the dirty basket in the river. D. To train him to run faster.
3.What lesson can we learn from the story?
A. The old are always wiser than the young. B. It is foolish to carry water with a basket.
C. You can’t expect to remember all you read. D. Reading books can change a person gradually.
4.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Grandpa and Grandson B. Carrying Water in a Basket
C. Baskets and Books D. Reading for Total Changing
–Would you have helped her had it been possible?
--Yes, but I __________ busy with my work.
A. was B. had been
C. have been D. am
The discovery of new evidence led to ______________.
A. the thief having been caught B. the thief to be caught
C. catch the thief D. the thief being caught
The big fire lasted as long as 24 hours ______________ it was brought under control.
A. after B. before
C. since D. while
_________, I’ve never seen anyone who’s as capable as Kate.
A. As long as I have travelled B. Now that I have travelled so much
C. As I have travelled much D. Much as I have travelled
