Fun doesn’t have to be expensive
Everyone likes to have fun, but not everyone has much money to spend. Here are some free or cheap ways to enjoy yourself.
Get outside
Going outside in good weather can be a lot of fun, especially if you go with a friend. 1.
If you live in a city, you can go window-shopping. Or you can explore an old part of town and admire the buildings.
Try a hobby
While you’re out, take pictures of things you find. Planning and taking pictures can make you aware of the beauty all around you. Photographic equipment can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. You probably already own a camera or a cell phone that can take pictures. Other creative hobbies can also be done with basic materials. 2.
Find an event
Libraries often hold free public events. 3. And while you’re there, borrow a book or movie for free. Museums and universities also hold free events.
If you can’t find a free event, you can volunteer at an event that requires tickets. People who organize concerts and plays need help. 4. Sometimes they reward volunteers with free tickets.
Meet a friend
Relationships are often the best things in life. 5. Invite a friend for a walk, an event or a time working on your hobby. Hosting doesn’t have to be difficult. If your friend comes in the afternoon, you don’t have to serve a meal. You can sit and talk, play board games or card games or watch a movie.
A. A friend in need is a friend indeed
B. Stop by one to find out what’s going on.
C. Hike or bicycle on a nearby path or in a park
D. Whatever you do, find someone to share it with.
E. It’s a good idea to stay at home to watch a movie
F. You could set up or take down chairs or greet visitors.
G. Drawing and writing require nothing more than a pencil and paper.
Among my peers, the most common reasons to sit in front are: poor vision, poor hearing, and harder to fall asleep (my main reason).
That’s about it. I’ve sat in the back and I’ve sat in the front, and I’ve seen no difference in how professors treat me. In fact, I sat in the front of my math class and still fell asleep a lot. I went to office hours for that class regularly and asked the professor if it bothered him and he said he understood completely. I put in the work outside the classroom and performed well on exams, and that’s what ends up on the transcript (成绩单).
From my
experience, going to office hours regularly, emailing questions that may be beyond the scope of class just out of your own curiosity, and reading ahead of time so you can ask good relevant questions are the best ways to give a professor a good impression. Where I’ve sat in the classroom hasn’t noticeably affected a professor’s opinion of me in the slightest.
Typically, sitting at the front indicates to me that you want to hear everything I say and want to have more one-on-one questioning with me. Sitting in the middle suggests that you want to fit in, and will be better at group work. Sitting in the back usually means that you want to play with your phone. The people in the front seats will often get the highest grades, dropping as the rows go back. Yes, of course, this is a tendency and not a law, and there are exceptions. But I must point out that for some older professors, they actually can’t see the people in the back well.
I have not noticed where to sit has any effect on attentiveness, participation and respectful behavior. I have noticed though, that students who sit in the back row are almost always disrespectful and inattentive. I have not observed any correlation between achievement and seat location, even though when I was a student myself, I usually preferred to sit in the front.
1.According to the author, the best ways to impress professors do NOT include _____.
A. preparing for the class in advance B. asking questions through emailing
C. going to office hours regularly D. sitting in the front in every class
2.What does the word underlined “correlation” in paragraph 5 probably mean?
A. Connection. B. Balance.
C. Difference. D. Separation.
3.What is the author’s opinion of students sitting in the front?
A. They may be better at group work.
B. They may want to stay awake in class.
C. They want to play with their phones.
D. Their grades are always the highest.
4.What is the author’s purpose of writing the passage?
A. To persuade students to sit in the front.
B. To analyze the advantages of sitting in the back.
C. To show the effect of seating on study results.
D. To discuss different seat locations in the class.
Everyone looks forward to progress, whether in one’s personal life or in the general society. Progress indicates a person’s ability to change the way he is living at the moment. Progress must lead to a better life and a better way of doing things. All these, however, remain true only in so far as people want to accept technology and move forward by finding new and more efficient ways of doing things.
However, at the back of the minds of many people, especially those who miss the “good old days”, efficiency comes with a price. When communication becomes more efficient, people are able to contact one another no matter where they are and at whatever time they wish .The click of a button allows people miles apart to talk or to see each other without even leaving their homes. With the communication gadets, such as mobile phones and ipads, people often do not take the effort to visit one another personally. A personal visit carries with the additional feature of having to be in the person’s presence for as long as the visit lasts. We cannot unnecessarily excuse our selves or turn the other persons off.
With efficiency also comes mass production. Such is the nature of factories and the success of industrialization today. Factories have improved efficiency. Unskillful tasks are left to machines and products are better made and produced with greater accuracy than any human hand could ever have done. However, with the improvements in efficiency also comes the loss of the personal touch when making these products. For example, many handcrafts(手工艺品) are now produced in a factory. Although this means that supply is better able to increase demand, now that the supply is quick and efficient, the demand might fall because mass production lowers the quality of the handcraft and it is difficult to find unique designs on each item.
Nevertheless, we must not commit the mistake of analyzing progress only from one point of view. In fact, progress has allowed tradition to keep up. It is only with progress and the invention of new technology that many old products can be brought back to their old state. New technology is required for old products to stay old.
It is people’s attitude towards progress that causes the type of influence that technology has on society. Technology is flexible. There is no fixed way of making use of it. Everything depends on people’s attitude. The worst effects of progress will fall on those who are unable to rethink their attitudes and views of society. When we accept progress and adapt it to suit our needs, a new “past” is created.
1.According to Paragraph 1, progress can benefit people when they are willing to _______.
A. live a better life B. look for better methods
C. change ways of living D. accept technology and advance steadily
2.The underlined word “gadgets” is closest in meaning to _______.
A. tools B. messages
C. barriers D. skills
3.The author explains “efficiency comes with a price” by _______.
A. describing a process B. using examples
C. following time order D. making classification
4.What can be concluded from the last paragraph?
A. Progress can suit the needs of daily life.
B. People review the past with great regret.
C. Technology should be introduced in a fixed way.
D. People’s attitude decides the use of technology.
Sydney Trains is one of the most economical, reliable and convenient ways to travel throughout Sydney and its surrounds.
Our network, the NSW Trains Intercity, covers suburban Sydney and extends to the Hunter, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands and South Coast regions.
The network is made up of several colour-coded lines. Trains from different lines can share the same platform, so check display screen and listen to announcements.
Ticket prices are generally based on the distance traveled. You can visit transportnsw. Info for details.
Getting to the City.
In Sydney, if you’re near a train station, you’re on your way to the city. Every rail line leads directly or indirectly to the City Circle. It’s the loop around the central business district of Sydney. Most City stations are underground so look out for the sign on street level.
Automatic ticket gates
Large stations have automatic gates for entry to, and exit from, the station. If you have an Opal card or a ticket which has a magnetic stripe you must use the automatic gates. You may use the wide gate for wheelchair, pram or luggage access. Station staff will assist you.
Night Ride buses
Most trains do not operate between midnight and 4:00 a.m. For your convenience a special Night Ride bus service is available between these hours on most Sydney suburban lines.
Track work
In order for the tracks to the maintained, we sometimes have to replace train with buses, particularly at weekends, Please check the track work section for the latest service alterations on your line.
1.To get more information about ticket pries, travellers had better________.
A. go to the City Circle B. visit a website
C. check display screen D. listen to announcements
2.What service is offered to travelers in need at most big stations?
A. A free Opal card. B. Earlier entry to the station.
C. Help from station workers. D. A ticket with a magnetic stripe.
3.Which is the best convenient time to travel by Sydney Trains?
A. At midnight. B. On Sunday afternoon.
C. Between midnight and 4:00 a.m. D. At 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
George Max showed up in a well-maintained lorry. He brought some tools, such as something to light a fire with, a smoker, a long-handled brush, a metal hive(蜂箱)tool, and a hive. As George moved about, he said in a low and calm voice, “You’d be amazed how many people call me with a swarm(一大群)like this; and by the time I come, they’ve destroyed the whole thing, down to the last bee.”
George said this swarm of bees was breath-taking, about 15,000 bees. He placed the hive in a proper place. Holding the smoker close to the swarm, he pumped the bellows(风箱). Smoke has a calming effect on bees. George said this group was easy to deal with. They were heavy with honey, and their main purpose was to hold the group together until they could find a new hive.
He went on smoking the swarm and let the bees pour into the hive. Most bees would only follow the queen to a new living place (yes, she has ladies-in-waiting that tend her every need). By dusk, most of the bees had disappeared into the hive.
“Alright, it appears that we’ve got them all,” I looked hopefully in George’s direction. He paused. “If you don’t mind, we’ll wait a bit longer,” he said. “They have sent out scout bees, and I want to be sure we don’t leave any behind.” So we waited. And, look! Scout bees returned.
If the hive is healthy, the population of bees will be on the increase. When the queen senses that it’s time for the hive to split, she will lose weight so she can fly, and then leave the hive with a large part of the bees. The bees left behind will hurry to hatch another queen and rebuild.
If some day you come across a swarm of bees in your backyard, call in a local beekeeper. Then sit back and enjoy the show. Get your camera, because you’ll want to share this amazing phenomenon with everyone you know, especially children. And if you’ve gone this far, you might as well buy a hive of your own. We did.
1.George thought the bees weren’t difficult to handle mainly because ______.
A. they were in huge quantity
B. his smoke had a healing effect on them
C. the bees were keeping together the group
D. they didn't need a new hive
2.George wanted to wait a little longer because ______．
A. there might be some bees that hadn’t come back
B. those bees which he had sent away didn’t return
C. the longer he stayed, the more honey he’d collect
D. the queen hadn’t turned up
3.We can infer from the last but one paragraph______．
A. the queen must keep fit to control others
B. the queen will leave if she finds no one supports her
C. fatty queens are not welcome in a hive
D. there is only one quee
n in a hive
4.How is the whole passage mainly developed?
A. By analyzing causes.
B. By giving examples.
C. By giving descriptions.
D. By making comparisons.
假如你是李华。最近你所居住的涉外小区里车辆乱停乱放现象很严重。请你根据所给提示，给小区负责人史密斯先生写一封信反应这个问题。要点包括：
1.分析原因
2.你的建议
注意：1．词数100左右（开头和结尾已经给出，不计入总词数）；
2．可根据内容适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Mr Smith,
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
