The best London hotels near Oxford Street

An expert guide to the top London hotels near Oxford Street—eight minutes' walk or less— including the best hotels for their family-friendly services and budget accommodation.

The London EDITION

Soho, London, England

This place is just off Oxford Street in leafy Fitzrovia. It will suit those who want more than a bed for the night. The multi-functional lobby makes a great entrance, though it's the restored ceiling, old not new, that really grabs the attention. The picture- lined restaurant is an equally successful space. The rooms are a bit like being inside a luxurious cigar box, with their wood-panelled walls and artful fur sofa covers that add a feeling of warmth.

The Langham, London

Marylebone, London, England

An advert from the late 19th century declares that the Langham is situated in the "most healthy, convenient and fashionable position in London. " Today this still holds true； the hotel is right in the centre of London. This is one of London's oldest grand hotels. Everything feels as if it has been running the way it should for a long time. Expect enormous vases of fresh flowers in public areas, oriental furnishings and marble baths in the rooms. This is also home to Michel Roux Jr's Roux, which does tasty French cuisine.

The Grazing Goat

Marylebone, London, England

The hotel is located on New Quebec Street, a quiet road lined with clothing shops and beauty salons about three minutes' walk from Oxford Street. There's something of a village feel to this area of London that is difficult to correspond with the tourist groups moments away—but it's most welcome. Rooms have Egyptian cotton beds,  Aesop toilets and walls in the color of moss green and steel blue. The food menu offers seasonal British foods with the latest trendy ingredients.

1.In The London EDITION, customers are most likely to be attracted by its         .

A.multi-functional lobby B.restored ceiling

C.luxurious cigar box D.wood-panelled walls

2.What do The Langham, London and The Grazing Goat have in common?

A.They are old grand hotels. B.They serve delicious French cuisine.

C.They offer fresh flowers in their bedrooms. D.They are located in Marylebone, London.

3.Which hotel gives customers the feeling of being in the rural area?

A.The London EDITION. B.The Langham, London.

C.The Grazing Goat. D.All the above.

阅读下面短文，根据所给情节进行续写，使之构成一个完整的故事。

The darkness was gathering as she wobbled(颤颤巍巍)in high heels (高跟鞋) along the side of the highway. The car had come to an unexpected stop, and like a normal teenager she did the only thing she could think of..get out and walk.

It was cold and late, and home was far away. This could be a long night. If only someone would stop and offer her a ride. She prayed for help and dragged herself forward.

The lights of a truck shone from behind as it approached. "Maybe he will stop," she hoped. The brake lights flashed on as it stopped. Next moment, the car door opened. A wordless invitation was extended and she understood. Without hesitation, the girl climbed up into the seat and closed the door. Slowly the truck pulled back onto the road and disappeared into the night, never to be seen again.

I woke up in a cold sweat, frightened. Was it a dream or was it a vision? It was unbelievably real, and the girl was my daughter! I jumped from my bed and ran to her room. Her bed was empty.

I stood in horror trying to think why she hadn't come home. As the mental fog began to lift, I remembered she was visiting her friend that evening. Perhaps she stayed there for the night. It was 1:30 a.m., but I raced to the phone and dialed a number.

"Hello?" The voice was heavy with sleep.

"Hey. Sorry to wake you. Becki didn't come home tonight and I was wondering if she stayed at your place."

"No, she left here a few hours ago. She should have been home at least by midnight!" The voice on the other end began to reflect my own panic.

Over the next forty-five minutes I alternated between lying in pray and pacing the floor in anxiety.

At 2:15 a.m. lights appeared as a car turned up our long driveway. I could tell immediately that it was not my daughter's car.

注意：

1. 所续写短文词数应为 150 左右；

2. 应使用 5 个以上短文中标有下划线的关键词；

3. 续写部分分为两段， 每段的开头语已为你写好；

4. 续写完成后，请用下划线标出你所使用的关键词语。

Paragraph 1:

My face pressed against the window and found it was hard to breathe.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paragraph 2:

"Mom, she gave me a ride home." Becki said.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

假如你是李华，你的好友王丽在最近一次考试中成绩下降，不敢面对父母和老师。请你用英语给她写封信，给出你的建议。

要点如下:1. 对她的现状表示担忧；2. 心态很重要，自心是关键；3. 烦恼时找父母或老师寻求帮助；4. 改变学习方法。

注意:1. 词数100左右；

2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    The books in David’s schoolbag felt like bricks as he ran down the street. What he wanted to do was to play basketball with Eric, ___his mother told him he would have to return his sister’s books to the library first. He had ___ set foot in a library and he wasn’t about to do so today. He would just____the books in the outside return box. But there was a ___; it was locked. He went into the building, only a few minutes ___closing time. He put the books into the return box. And after a brief____in the toilet, he would be on his way to the playground to ___Eric.

David stepped out of the toilet and stopped in ___- the library lights were off. The place was __ . The doors had been shut. They ___be opened from the inside, he was trapped(被困) - in a library! He tried to  ___a telephone call, but was unable to ____ What’s more, the pay phones were on the outside of the building. ___the sun began to set, he searched for a light and found it. ____he could see. David wrote on a piece of paper: “ ___! I’m TRAPPED inside!” and stuck it to the glass door. ___, someone passing by would see it. He was surprised to discover that this place was not so unpleasant, ___. Rows and rows of shelves held books, videos and music. He saw a book about Michael Jordan and took it off the shelf. He settled into a chair and started to____.He knew he had to __ , but now, that didn’t seem to be such a ___thing.

1.A.or B.because C.but D.since

2.A.never B.nearly C.ever D.often

3.A.pass B.carry C.take D.drop

4.A.case B.problem C.mistake D.question

5.A.over B.after C.before D.because

6.A.stop B.rest C.walk D.break

7.A.visit B.catch C.meet D.greet

8.A.delight B.surprise C.anger D.eagerness

9.A.lonely B.empty C.noise D.crowded

10.A.couldn’t B.wouldn’t C.shouldn’t D.needn’t

11.A.make B.fix C.use D.pick

12.A.get on B.get up C.get through D.get in

13.A.As B.If C.Though D.Until

14.A.On time B.Now and then C.At last D.By the way

15.A.Sorry B.Come C.Hello D.Help

16.A.Gradually B.Thankfully C.Truly D.Surely

17.A.at most B.after all C.in short D.as usual

18.A.read B.play C.write D.watch

19.A.work B.stand C.sleep D.wait

20.A.cool B.bad C.strange D.nice

    With the news filled with frightening stories about the new corona virus, COVID-19, it’s easy to feel anxious. It’s natural to have some anxiety about any major disease outbreak,and you are not alone in feeling worried.1.

Get your information from trustworthy sources.

You are probably seeing a lot of stories about the corona virus and some of them may contain inaccurate or outdated information. 2.To ensure that you are getting accurate and reasonable information, stick to sources like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization.

Limit how often you check for news updates to once or twice a day.

3., constantly(频繁地) reading or watching news updates can quickly become overwhelming(压倒性的). Instead, decide on a specific time to check for updates so you’re not thinking about the virus all day. Don’t visit news sites or turn on the news outside of these times, and avoid social media if you are seeing too many updates there.

Focus on the fact that most cases are mild and most people recover.

Reports about the corona virus likely sound very scary, so it’s understandable that you’d be afraid. 4.Additionally, most people who get very sick will get better, so try not to worry. Finally, some areas don’t have any confirmed cases, so you may not be at risk at all.

5.

You can help yourself and others feel calmer about the corona virus outbreak by sharing any helpful information you find. If you see a useful update on the corona virus from a reputable news source or government website, post a link on social media or email it to any friend or family members who are worried about the virus.

A.Share helpful information with friends and family.

B.While it is good to stay informed

C.If you want to know the latest information

D.Fortunately, there are things you can do to put your fears at ease.

E.However, 80% of the cases are mild and some people don’t even realize they’re sick.

F.Additionally, you might encounter some myths on social media.

G.Firstly, it is vital to get rid of some unnecessary anxiety.

    US student Ariana Levin, 15, has an unusual way of memorizing speeches: She turns the words into lyrics and sings them.

Then she delivers her speech to the local Gavel Club, which launched (成立) this year to help teenagers to practice public speaking.

“I’m very passionate about music,” says Levin, a sophomore (高二学生) at Walt Whitman High School. So forgetting a speech isn’t her main concern. “My main thing is stuttering (口吃),” she says.

But monthly rehearsals (彩排), presentations and competitions have taught her to take a moment to pause, she says. In that way, she avoids “ums” or “uhs”, which are noted by a club member given the task.

Gavel Clubs are a new initiative (方案) of the Jack and Jill organization in the US. The organization provides opportunities such as leadership development, financial literacy (素养) and volunteer service for kids aged between 2 and 19 years.

“We do group activities to build our character and get us ready for the outside world,” says Chandler Perry, 17, a senior at Friends Academy in New York.

“It’s important for children to be able to enjoy public speaking,” says Mondi Kumbula-Fraser, the Eastern regional director overseeing (监督) 59 Jack and Jill chapters (分部). They’ll use the skill in college and job interviews, she says.

The students gain confidence in an “open and caring environment,” says Mecca Baker, a mother of twin daughters.

On March 10, Perry took part in a competition held by the local chapter.

For her speech, Perry talked about pets and what they do for their owners. “The toughest part was the first time I had to get up on the stage,” Perry says. “I told myself this is only three minutes of my life and I only have three minutes to be the best I can be. I feel like this could help me in my future.”

Taylor Fernandez, of North Babylon, says that he puts on a suit and tie to give his speeches and that he’s learned to project (投射) his voice and to move around the stage to emphasize (强调) what he has to say.

1.What can we know about Ariana Levin from the first four Paragraphs?

A.She helps teenagers to practice public speaking.

B.She improves her speaking skills in a local club.

C.She often forgets words when giving a speech.

D.She prefers public speaking to music.

2.When students join Jack and Jill, they ______.

A.are recommended to take part in speaking competitions

B.take one-to-one speech training classes

C.can learn some practical skills

D.get the chance to become the leader of a chapter

3.What is Chandler Perry’s attitude toward the organization?

A.Worried. B.Doubtful. C.Supportive. D.Critical.

    A foreign degree was once believed to be a sure path to a well-paid job. However, more and more graduates have found that this is not necessarily true.

The number of Chinese studying abroad grew at a slower rate in 2018 compared with 2017, according to a recent report released by the Ministry of Education. In 2018, 662,100 Chinese went abroad to study, up 8.83 percent from a year earlier, while the growth rate was 11.7 percent in 2017.

A major reason for the slower growth is that more and more students have realized that overseas study does not necessarily guarantee a well-paid job, reported China Daily.

According to a 2018 report by the Center for China and Globalization (CCG), about a third of graduate returnees to China earn less than 6,000 yuan a month, while 25 percent make between 6,000 and 8,000 yuan a month.

For example, Lucy Liu, a woman from Beijing, was disappointed after being interviewed by a famous film studio in Beijing. She had just finished her postgraduate (研究生) studies in documentary production at New York University in the United States.

“The pay would be 150,000 yuan for one documentary, and at best I could finish one documentary a year,” Liu told South China Morning Post.

“After spending so much on my studies, I couldn’t accept that pay,” said Liu. She spent about 1 million yuan in tuition and living expenses while studying abroad.

Worse still, it takes over four months for over 50 percent of returned students to land a job, and only 20 percent get job offers before graduation, according to Qi Bin, from Haiwei Career Services, a company that specializes in employment for returnees.

Two major reasons are that they often miss the main job-seeking season while they’re abroad and they lack internship experience, Qi told China Daily.

However, this doesn’t mean studying overseas is useless.

On the contrary, it may provide students with good language and communication skills, an independent character and a global mindset, which are important for their career development, according to Qi.

“Studying overseas cannot guarantee everything, but foreign-educated students have great potential, and at some point their break will come,” Li Qing, a researcher from CCG, told the South China Morning Post.

1.What does the report by the Ministry of Education tell us?

A.Fewer students returned to China after studying overseas in 2018.

B.The growth of Chinese students studying abroad slowed in 2018.

C.Fewer Chinese students went to foreign universities in 2018.

D.More Chinese students found good jobs after studying abroad in 2018.

2.The example of Lucy Liu proves mainly that ______.

A.an overseas degree doesn’t guarantee a good salary

B.the cost of studying abroad is too great for an ordinary family

C.foreign-educated students earn less than those who studied at home

D.it takes a long time to produce a good documentary

3.What does Qi Bin think of studying abroad?

A.It is a waste of students’ time and money.

B.It gives students better internship chances.

C.It limits the possibility of students’ getting jobs that interest them.

D.It provides students with useful skills for their career development.

4.How does Li Qing feel about the future of foreign-educated students?

A.Worried. B.Unsure. C.Positive. D.Challenged.

    However exciting space travel sounds, astronauts must still suffer with bad food. Now, food in space has to be dehydrated ( 使 脱 水 ) or pre-cooked and stored. This means astronauts aren’t really eating fresh food.

New technology may change this. Scientific American reports that a specially-designed oven will be sent into space this autumn with NASA’s NG-12 cargo (货物) mission (太空飞行任务).

Far from the common vacuum-packed (真空包装的) meals, astronauts may get to enjoy freshly baked cookies before the end of 2019.

Why aren’t they baking cookies in space already? For one thing, there’s the risk of a fire. Engineers also have to overcome the challenge of microgravity ( 微 重 力 ), which prevents heat from circling inside ovens the same way it does on Earth.

Astronauts will still have to wait a while before they can have their cookies, though. After baking, the results will be sent back to Earth for safety testing. If successful, this will be the first oven to bake food in space.

“I believe ... that will be game-changing for both science and astronauts,” food technology researcher Maeena Naman Shafiee told Scientific American.

One of the main driving forces behind this project has been NASA’s 2018 research into the effects of “confinement (封闭) and isolation (隔离)”. Unlike on the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts traveling out of Earth’s orbit (轨道) may not be able to speak to their loved ones on future missions, which could lead to negative feelings.

It’s hoped that the chance to bake and sense familiar smells can bring joy to crews (宇航人员).

“Is the ISS going to smell like fresh-baked cookies? We don’t know,” said NanoRacks’ communications manager Abby Dickes. “But that’s a feeling we all know and love ... that will make someone feel at home.”

Baking cookies in space would mark an important step, offering a small comfort in the difficult and unfamiliar environment of space travel. Astronauts have already grown plants aboard the ISS.

With commercial ( 商 业 的 ) space travel now being planned, who knows what other developments may surprise us in the future?

1.What can the new technology help astronauts to do in space?

A.Enjoy fresh cookies.

B.Store more food.

C.Quickly prepare food.

D.Cook many different kinds of home-made meals.

2.Why is it difficult to bake cookies in space?

A.It’s difficult and costly to send food into space.

B.Microgravity stops food from staying in one place.

C.Baking cookies in space would pollute the spaceships.

D.It is hard to heat food properly because of microgravity.

3.What was the main purpose of the cookie project?

A.To improve astronauts’ health.

B.To make improvements in space travel.

C.To encourage more people to travel to space.

D.To make space travel more comfortable for astronauts.

听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。

1.What is the purpose of the talk?

A.To present a prize. B.To introduce a lecturer. C.To recommend a book.

2.Where is Russel working now?

A.In Oxford. B.In Chicago. C.In Virginia.

3.What does Russel think of sleep?

A.It’s seldom studied.

B.It’s just a waste of time.

C.It’s of great importance.

听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1.What is the man doing?

A.Placing an order. B.Selling insurance.

C.Conducting an interview.

2.What did Leaney study for a degree?

A.Finance. B.Education. C.Public Relations.

3.What is an advantage of a smaller business according to Leaney?

A.Greater contributions to the neighborhood.

B.Closer employer-employee relationship.

C.More flexibility in providing services.

4.What is Leaney’s plan for the next two weeks?

A.To visit her parents.

B.To call her relatives.

C.To finish her work.