Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure？Riding the train can be a real adventure. That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak. I often take a four-hour trip to visit my children. Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen.
Last week when I was on the train, there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation—in another language. It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train. I think it was annoying.
Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two-day trip by train. She said her two daughters were worried at the thought of driving for three days to reach her home, although she had no trouble driving. The train ride was the only choice for her. She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.
She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents. That is a very good question. Both of us are old and have children. She asked that same question from time to time.
There are always many people on the train from all walks of life, different countries, and many languages. Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and learn all kinds of cultures. If you get hungry, you can buy food in the food car at any time. If you need to use the restroom, there is always one for you.
It surely beats driving the car, which has to stop for food and restrooms. And it is better than taking the bus.
1.According to the passage, the purpose of the author’s train ride was ______.
A．to do business B．to see her children
C．to visit places of interest D．to see her old friends
2.In the author’s opinion, on the train Amtrak ______.
A．the services are quite good B．the food is terribly expensive
C．all the passengers are polite D．all the passengers are American
3.What is the best title for this passage?
A．A painful experience on the train B．A wonderful lady
C．Train ride—a cultural experience D．The history of Amtrak
Because of the change in the American public school system over the last several years, now many parents choose to home-school their children. There are many reasons behind this. Let’s take a look at a few of them.
For some parents, they have religious (宗教的) reasons for home-schooling. The public school system does not have religious teachings, so these parents want to put religion into the children’s daily school activities. This might include teaching religion-based courses rather than coursework that is taught in public schools.
For some parents, they do not feel that their local school system offers their children the best learning opportunities. So they want to take matters into their own hands. This may be because the local school has low educational standards (标准) or for some other reason the parents think it necessary to take their children out of the system. Sometimes the parents just feel the children will get a better education at home.
Some parents may not be rich enough to send their children to a private school, so the next best thing in their eyes is home-schooling. Thus they can teach their children what they like.
One should remember that the laws about home-schooling vary from state to state. In some states, the parents are required to hand in monthly attendance records (出席记录) to their local school system. What’s more, most states require state testing at certain periods such as the CRCT.
1.The writer wrote this passage mainly to _______.
A．advise parents to home-school their children
B．explain why some parents choose to home-school their children
C．tell us the advantages and disadvantages of home-schooling
D．praise home-schooling and private schools
2.Paragraph 3 tells us that some parents choose home-schooling because ______.
A．school teachers are not strict with their children
B．their children don’t do well in their studies at school
C．their children don’t like going to school
D．they are not satisfied with the school education
3.What does the underlined word “vary” in the last paragraph mean?
A．Increase B．Change C．Spread D．Keep
4.How many reasons for home-schooling are mentioned in the passage?
A．2 B．4 C．3 D．5
Monday: Here I am, in the middle of nowhere. This camping trip idea is not getting off to a very good start. It’s raining and the tent leaks. The hiking seemed to take forever, and I still can’t understand how it could all have been up hill! How did I ever let my brother talk me into this? When we get home—if we ever get home—he’s going to have to do something great to get back on my good side. Maybe he should sponsor a shopping spree（狂购）at the mall!
Tuesday: Things are looking up. The sun came out today, so we were able to leave the tents and dry out. We’re camped at the edge of a small lake that I couldn’t see before because of the rain and fog. The mountains are all around us, and the forest is absolutely beautiful. We spent most of the day dragging out everything out of our backpacks or tents and putting it where the sun could dry it out. Later in the afternoon we tried to catch the fish for dinner, but the fish were smarter than we were. At night we built a fire and sang songs happily.
Wednesday: We hiked to the far side of the lake and climbed to the top of a small peak. From there we could see how high the other mountains were and how far the forest spread around us. On the way up we passed through a snowfield!
Thursday: I caught my first fish! We followed the stream that fed the lake. After about two miles, we came to a section that Carol said looked “fishy”. She had a pack rod(竿), which can be carried in a backpack. I asked to cast it, and I caught a fish on my first try. Carol caught a few more. But they were just too pretty to eat for lunch so we put them back in the stream.
Friday: I can’t believe we are going home already. It will be nice to get a hot shower, sleep in a real bed, and eat junk food, but the trip has been wonderful. We’re already talking about another camping adventure next year where we canoe down a river. It’s hard to believe, but I think this city girl has a little country blood in her veins.
1.The writer went on this camping trip because________.
A．she enjoyed camping
B．she wanted to go fishing
C．she was influenced by her brother
D．she was tired of staying at home
2.The whole morning of Tuesday, the writer ________.
A．hiked along the lake B．dried out her belongings
C．climbed the mountain D．caught the fish for dinner
3.It can be inferred that Carol had a pack rod with her because ________.
A．she could not afford to buy a regular fishing pole
B．she needed it to get their main source of food
C．she thought the writer of the journal might need it
D．she expected to go fishing while they were hiking
4.It is likely that the writer will ________.
A．go on another camping trip
B．invite Carol to go fishing together
C．make her brother buy her something
D．convince her brother to go camping
Learners of English, especially self-taught learners may have trouble in understanding speeches by native speakers. The following ways might help improve their listening ability.
First of all, do things step by step. It is not good to listen to something beyond your level. Better choose a suitable course and start with the first book. Go on to the second book only after you are sure you understand the first one.
Secondly, stick to one course of study. Don’t change books often. Never let your attention be attracted by another course just because it seems to be more “fashionable”.
Thirdly, listen to the English news program over the radio from time to time. Better go through the news stories in the Chinese-language newspaper first. That will make it easy for you to understand the English news on the radio.
Fourthly, if you have time, listen to some interesting stories in “Special English from the V.O.A. or other listening materials of the same level as that of your textbook”.
1.This is a piece of advice to learners of English on how to ________.
A．improve their listening ability
B．read fast
C．write better English and read faster
D．speak correctly
2.If you want to understand the English news program on the radio, you should ________.
A．read the Chinese-language newspaper step by step
B．read again and again the Chinese-language newspaper
C．go through the Chinese-language newspaper first
D．be able to recite the Chinese-language newspaper
3.The author advised that once you have taken up a course, you ________.
A．should stick to it
B．should begin with the last book
C．should take up other courses if they are more fashionable
D．shouldn’t do anything else
4.In this passage, V.O.A. stands for ________.
A. a book B. a magazine C. a text-book D. a radio station
I fell in love with Yosemite National Park the first time I saw it, when I was 13 . My parents took us there for camping. On the way out, I asked them to wait while I ran up to EL Capitan, a 36 rock of 3,300 feet straight up. I touched that giant rock and knew 37 I wanted to climb it. That has been my life’s passion ever since— 38 the rocks and mountains of Yosemite. I’ve long made Yosemite my 39 .
About 15 years ago I started seeing a lot of 40 , like toilet paper, beer cans, and empty boxes, around the area. It’s 41 me why visitors started respecting the place 42 and treated such a beautiful home-like place this way.
I tried 43 trash myself, but the job was too big. I would 44 an hour or two on the job, only to find the area trashed all over again weeks later. Finally, I got so 45 it that I decided something had to change.
As a rock-climbing guide, I knew 46 about organizing any big event. But in 2004, together with some climbers, I set a date for a 47 . On that day, more than 300 people 48 . Over three days we collected about 6,000 pounds of trash. It was amazing how much we were able to 49 . I couldn’t believe the 50 we made —the park looked clean!
Each year volunteers come for the cleanup from everywhere. In 2007 alone, 2,945 people picked up 42,330 pounds of trash and 51 132 miles of roadway.
I often hear people 52 about their surroundings. If you are one of them, I would say the only way to change things is by 53 rather than complaining. We need to teach by 54 . You can’t blame others 55 you start with yourself.
1. A．narrow B．loose C．distant D．huge
2. A．gradually B．recently C．immediately D．finally
3. A．describing B．climbing C．imagining D．painting
4. A．lab B．palace C．garden D．home
5. A．waste B．goods C．material D．resources
6. A．over B．within C．beyond D．against
7. A．less B．least C．more D．most
8. A．breaking down B．digging out C．throwing away D．picking up
9. A．wait B．spend C．kill D．save
10. A．tired of B．used to C．satisfied with D．delighted in
11. A．everything B．nothing C．something D．anything
12. A．picnic B．concert C．cleanup D．party
13. A．looked around B．called back C．dropped out D．showed up
14. A．accomplish B．overcome C．demand D．receive
15. A．contact B．difference C．plan D．visit
16. A．covered B．designed C．crossed D．measured
17. A．argue B．quarrel C．talk D．complain
18. A．questioning B．watching C．doing D．thinking
19. A．example B．research C．method D．explanation
20. A．when B．unless C．although D．if
Our football team _____ every match so far this year, but we still have three more games to play.
A．was winning B．had won C．has won D．wins
