One of my favorite hobbies is exchanging old-fashioned, paper-with-a-stamp-on-it postcards with random strangers around the world.
The Postcrossing Project was created by Paulo Magalhaes in 2005. He liked getting mails—especially postcards. He thought others did, too—but how could he connect with them? That’s when he came up with the idea of an online platform (postcrossing.com): There, postcard lovers like me can sign up to send a postcard to someone who has registered online, and receive a postcard in return.
Along with a randomly selected address, participants get a unique code to put on the postcard. When the postcard arrives, the recipient registers that code with the site, which then causes the sender’s address to be given to another postcrosser in turn. In practice, this means that for nearly every postcard I send (a few get lost in the mail) I get one back. And since I never know who will send me a card or where in the world they live, every trip to the mailbox holds the potential for a wonderful surprise.
Privacy-conscious Americans might worry about sharing their address with strangers overseas. But postcrossers are friendly, polite, respectful folks—in more than 450 cards exchanged, I've yet to have a bad experience.
On days when the international news is depressing, postcrossing is my comfort. There’s nothing like getting a card from a child in China just learning to write in English, or a grandmother in Belarus describing her most recent gardening success to remind me that we truly are members of one global family, far more similar than we are different.
It seems like such a small thing to send out a postcard. But as travel and communication technology continue to shrink the world, it’s important to remember that it isn’t just for diplomats and politicians to represent our country anymore. All of us have the power—and perhaps the responsibility—to be ambassadors, to show the best of your country to the world.
And it's good to know that what you need to accomplish this is not necessarily complicated or expensive. It can be as simple as a postcard.
1.Why did Paulo set up postcrossing.com ?
A.To discuss personal hobbies with strangers.
B.To exchange postcards with others in the world
C.To collect different postcards from other countries..
D.To provide a platform for communication online.
2.According to the passage, postcrossers __________.
A.don't know who will send them postcards
B.are sure to get a postcard back immediately
C.often choose a receiver's address carefully
D.register every postcard they receive online
3.What did the writer learn from postcrossing?
A.The international news is usually depressing.
B.Americans are more conscious about privacy.
C.Postcrossers sometimes describe their bad experience.
D.The whole world is actually a big family.
4.What does the underlined word "this" refer to?
A.Choosing a diplomat to represent a country.
B.Having the responsibility to be an ambassador.
C.Showing the best of your country.
D.Shrinking the world with communication technology.
Dreaming of summer picnics filled with family and fun? We’ve come up with 4 of the top picnic areas across the US.
Cumberland Islands, Georgia
Just a few hours south of Savannah, this national seashore is a wonderful picnic place. It’s an unspoiled place in the Deep South with over 50 miles of hiking trails (小径). Covered in Spanish moss, the trails are lined with trees and since it’s still a rural area, the stars line up for a grand show at night and create the perfect evening starlit picnic opportunity.
Grant Park, Chicago
If you are looking for delicious food in Chicago, go for a taste of a 20-day, lake-front, foodie festival that happens in October each year. Grab a spot near the fountain to enjoy your picnic, appreciate the city scenery and lake views and relax with family and friends. If you are there on July 4th, be sure to plan the day to include the fireworks display at the Navy Pier.
Cranberry Islands, Maine
Here, you’ll enjoy natural picnics with island views. The islands are a delightful group of islands about 20 minutes offshore from Acadia National Park. You can visit the islands by private boat or ferry service. Bring a picnic basket along for the ride as it’s a romantic picnic area to take your special someone or go for a family outing to visit the islands.
Big Sur, California
The Point Lobos State Reserve is a small gem. Besides the coastal wildlife there are rare plant communities, and unique geological formations. It’s good to have a picnic there. We recommend bringing a telescope, because much of the wildlife can be seen only at a distance.
1.Why does the writer advise us to go to Cumberland Islands?
A.Because they are just next to Savannah.
B.Because they have a grand show every night.
C.Because they are almost covered in Spanish moss.
D.Because they keep their original ecology (生态).
2.Where can you enjoy observing wildlife with a telescope?
A.At the Navy Pier. B.At the Point Lobos State Reserve
C.At Acadia National Park. D.In the Deep South.
3.Where can we most probably read this passage?
A.In a personal dairy. B.In a science report.
C.In a geography textbook. D.In a travel magazine.
假设你是李华，你校拟举办茶文化讲座。请你给留学生朋友Robert写封邮件邀请他参加。
内容包括：
1．讲座的时间、地点
2．活动安排
3．喝茶的好处
注意：
1．词数100左右
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯
3. 开头和结尾已为你写好
Dear Robert,
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Looking forward to your coming.
Yours,
Li Hua
短文改错（共10小题；
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两赴，每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（Λ），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1）．每处错误及其修改均限一词。
2）．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
One Sunday, I was reading my book while it suddenly occurred to me that it was my mother birthday the next day. However, I forgot it complete. I was worried that I didn’t prepare any present to her. At that moment, idea of online shopping came to my mind. I clicked the mouse and search some famous shopping websites. Having compared the price of many dress, I chose one with a reasonable price which I supposed my mum would appreciate it and bought it as soon as possible. The next day I received the dress as expected without get out of my room. You see, online shopping is very convenient that it has made our life colorful.
1.2.3.4.5.
6.7.8.9.10.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式(每空至多3词)。
When an important holiday comes, I usually think of what gifts to buy or prepare for my family members. It is the act itself rather than the thing you buy that 1.(matter). Either a small present, a text message or a phone call can mean a lot to the receivers. 2., I had never got anything from my son, who is a university student. Parents never forget to celebrate their children’s birthday, but their children seem to be very 3. (forget). They seldom do something in return.
Life is unpredictable, and you never know what will happen tomorrow. When my son came back during the summer vacation, my wife and I, as usual, 4. (meet) him at the station. 5.arriving home, much to my surprise, my son took out a wrist watch and gave it to me, 6. (say) it was a birthday gift for me. It is a very fashionable watch, 7. shows not only hours, minutes and seconds but days as well. You can imagine how surprised and excited I was at that moment.
Some people say children get too much care and love from their parents and just take them for granted. It is natural for people to have such concerns and 8.(worry), but things may not turn out as badly as9. (expect). We need to look more at the positive side of life, as a famous writer once said, “Life is 10.best classroom one can never get.”
Every act of kindness starts with something small, something we all can and should do every single day. I’m Will Ruhio, one of the _______ of BYUtv’s Random Acts show. We take hidden cameras to unexpected places to _______ random acts of kindness. We’ve filmed acts _________ from building disabled-friendly facilities(设施) for those who are badly _______ them but can’t afford them to returning a lost wallet.
On Random Acts, it may be a neighbor or a colleague who recognizes a need and _______an incredible chain reaction of service._______ the story of Emmalene Meyers for example. Like many young girls, Emmalene was_______to be a ballet dancer, but her physical disability makes even everyday tasks a(n)_______. Instead of seeing a limitation, Emmalene’s friend Lily _______________ an opportunity. Lily imagined Emmalene’s dream being brought to life onstage and persuaded Random Acts to help make her plan __________.
So, where can you start? The key is to be like Lily: look for an opportunity to make a__________ to those in need, and then take action to make it happen. Being __________ and involved in service is __________ like any other goal you want to achieve. You have to __________ it.
After two seasons of hosting Random Acts, the joy of __________ burdens and brightening lives doesn’t fade. I sometimes __________Random Acts might lose its feature eventually, but that couldn’t be further from the __________. When I finally meet the people we’ve been working to __________ and see their genuine shock and appreciation, it __________ me in the feel every time. I cry more than anyone else on the show.
Be that person doing acts of kindness out of the __________ of your heart—be the nice you want to see in the world!
1.A.photographers B.actors C.viewers D.hosts
2.A.expose B.conduct C.arrange D.advocate
3.A.changing B.counting C.ranging D.transforming
4.A.in search of B.in need of C.in defense of D.in favor of
5.A.sets off B.sets aside C.keep off D.take off
6.A.Retell B.Take C.Create D.Explain
7.A.anxious B.proud C.afraid D.unwilling
8.A.exception B.dilemma C.competition D.challenge
9.A.provided B.seized C.spotted D.missed
10.A.successful B.acceptable C.reasonable D.available
11.A.choice B.difference C.promise D.decision
12.A.generous B.caring C.ambitious D.sociable
13.A.never B.even C.still D.just
14.A.put up with B.make up for C.work at D.take in
15.A.bearing B.carrying C.reducing D.overcoming
16.A.admit B.realize C.remember D.assume
17.A.truth B.deadline C.destination D.boundary
18.A.entertain B.surprise C.locate D.please
19.A.relieves B.discourages C.hits D.satisfies
20.A.whisper B.curiosity C.faith D.goodness
