A volunteering vacation can be a meaningful way to spend your time off, but to make the trip satisfying both for you and the cause you are supporting, several factors need to be considered. Here is some advice on planning the ideal vacation:
1. There are hundreds of causes to volunteer for, and finding one close to your heart will lead to a more worthwhile trip. Possibilities include wildlife conservation, education, environmental protection, health and nutrition. Also, consider any personal and professional skills that you can contribute. 2.
Choose your destination and setting. Your volunteering trip will be more enjoyable if you use it to reach a favorite destination. If Southeast Asia is on your mind, helping with tree-planting programs in Bali would benefit the environment and let you appreciate the scenic island. 3.
Is volunteering outdoors in a hot or snowy climate appealing, or do you prefer being in an air-conditioned office?
Ask the right questions. 4. Be aware that most volunteering programs require a weeklong commitment. Ask other questions like: How many hours of work per day is required? Are there days off? Will you be working individually or as part of a team? And what are the goals of your efforts? 5. Ask if the cost includes only accommodations or meals and transportation too.
A. Figure out your cause.
B. Find a well-respected organization.
C. And think about the surroundings you want.
D. Your duty there is to help, as well as to rest and relax.
E. The more you know about your trip, the more successful it will be.
F. Despite the word “volunteer”, these vacations usually cost you some money.
G. If you’re a doctor, for example, working at a health clinic could be an ideal fit.
The BeiDou Navigation Satellite System（BDS）is a Chinese satellite navigation system. It consists of two separate satellite constellations（星座）. The first BeiDou system, officially called the BeiDou Satellite Navigation Experimental System and also known as BeiDou-1, consists of three satellites, which since 2000 has offered limited coverage and navigation services, mainly for users in China and neighboring regions. Beidou-1 was decommissioned at the end of 2012.
The second generation of the system, known as COMPASS or BeiDou-2, became operational in China in December 2011 with a partial constellation of 10 satellites in orbit. Since December 2012, it has been offering services to customers in the Asia-Pacific region.
In 2015, China started the build-up of the third generation BeiDou system（BeiDou-3）in the global coverage constellation. The first BDS-3 satellite was launched on 30 March 2015. Up to January 2018, nine BeiDou-3 satellites have been launched. BeiDou-3 will eventually consist of 35 satellites and is expected to provide global services upon completion in 2020. So far, China has sent 27 BeiDou satellites into space. When fully completed, BeiDou, the world’s fourth navigation satellite system, following GPS in the United States, GLONASS in Russia and Galileo in the European Union, will provide an alternative global navigation satellite system to the United States owned Global Positioning System（GPS）, and is expected to be more accurate than the GPS. It was claimed in 2016 that BeiDou-3 will reach millimeter-level accuracy（with post-processing）, which is ten times more accurate than the finest level of GPS.
According to China Daily, in 2015, fifteen years after the satellite system was launched, it was generating a turnover of $31.5 billion annually for major companies such as China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp, AutoNavi Holdings Ltd, and China North Industries Group Corp.
1.What does the underlined word “decommissioned” in the 1st paragraph mean?
A. out of service B. out of control
C. under repair D. under work
2.How many BeiDou-3 satellites had been sent into space by January 2018?
A. 3. B. 9.
C. 27. D. 35.
3.Which of the following statements about BDS is true according to the passage?
A. Beidou-2 began to operate in December, 2012.
B. Beidou-1 cannot cover all the Asia-Pacific regions.
C. Beidou-3 had reached the finest accuracy of GPS by 2016.
D. BDS ranks fourth among the existing navigation satellite systems in the world.
4.What is the passage mainly about?
A. The service of BDS.
B. The accuracy of BDS.
C. The development of BDS.
D. The comparisons among the satellite systems.
If you’ve been diagnosed with high blood pressure, you might be worried about taking medication to bring your numbers down. Chronic（慢性的） stress may contribute to high blood pressure. More research is needed to determine the effects of chronic stress on blood pressure. Occasional stress also can contribute to high blood pressure if you react to stress by eating unhealthy food, drinking alcohol or smoking.
Take some time to think about what causes you to feel stressed, such as work, family, finances or illness. Once you know what’s causing your stress, consider how you can rid or reduce stress. If you can’t rid all of your stressors, you can at least handle them in a healthier way. Try to:
Change your expectations. For example, plan your day and focus on your strengths. Avoid trying to do too much and learn to say no. Understand there are some things you can’t change or control, but you can focus on how you react to them.
Focus on issues you can control and make plans to solve them. If you are having an issue at work, try talking to your manager. If you are having a conflict with your kids or spouse, take steps to resolve it.
Avoid stress triggers（诱因）. Try to avoid triggers when you can. For example, if rush-hour traffic on the way to work causes stress, try leaving earlier in the morning, or take public transportation. Avoid people who cause you stress if possible.
Make time to relax and to do activities you enjoy. Take time each day to sit quietly and breathe deeply. Make time for enjoyable activities or hobbies in your schedule, such as taking a walk, cooking or volunteering.
Practice gratitude. Expressing gratitude to others can help reduce your stress.
If you successfully control your blood pressure with reducing stress, you might avoid, delay or reduce the need for medication.
1.Which of the following is likely to be a stress trigger?
A. Going to work during rush-hour traffic. B. Leaving earlier to do something.
C. Taking public transportation to work. D. Staying away from stressful people.
2.According to the passage, which one is a healthy way to deal with stressors?
A. Being occupied with activities.
B. Answering violence with violence.
C. Doing something within one’s ability.
D. Refusing to solve the issues you can control.
3.What is the purpose of writing the passage?
A. To inform us of some effects of stress.
B. To tell us cures for high blood pressure.
C. To warn us of the dangers of high blood pressure.
D. To instruct us to control blood pressure by reducing stress.
4.In what section of a newspaper can you probably read the passage?
A. News. B. Health.
C. Diet. D. Entertainment.
Last April, on a Sunday, we took one of our “nowhere” drives. My husband was quietly driving along a back road. I was occupied in the front passenger seat watching the scenery.
I noticed out of the corner of my eye that my husband was struggling to look out of my window. This frightened me, since his eyes should be on the road in front of him. I asked him what he was looking at out of the windows, and he quietly replied, “Nothing.”
After a few minutes, I looked over at my husband and noticed a tear running down his cheek. I asked him what was wrong. This time he told me, “I was just thinking about Pop and a story he had once told.” It had something to do with Pop, his friend from childhood, and I wanted to know the story, so I asked him to share it with me.
He said, “When I was about 8 years old, Pop and I were out fishing and he told me that the pine trees know when it is Easter.”
I had no idea what he meant by that, so I pressed him for more information.
He continued on... “The pine trees start their new growth in the weeks before Easter because spring is drawing near. If you look at the tops of the pine trees, you will see the yellow shoots(嫩芽). As the days get closer to Easter Sunday, the tallest shoot will branch off and form a cross. By the time Easter Sunday comes around, you will see that most of the pine trees will have small yellow crosses on all of the tallest shoots.”
I turned to look out of the window and I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a week before Easter, and you could see all of the trees with the tall yellow shoots stretching to the sky.
The tallest ones shone in the sunlight like rows of tiny golden crosses. May you find your Easter season filled with beautiful golden crosses!
1.How did the author feel when she found her husband looking outward while driving?
A. Curious. B. Calm.
C. Afraid. D. Excited.
2.Why did the husband cry?
A. He saw something strange out of the window.
B. He was scolded by his wife for driving carelessly.
C. He was too frightened to drive the car on the road.
D. He thought of an old friend and was moved by his story.
3.What can we infer from the text?
A. The author knew Pop’s story very well.
B. Pop was traveling together with the couple.
C. The author was amazed at the appearance of pine trees.
D. Pine trees have something to do with the origin of Easter.
4.What does the author intend to tell us?
A. We should be careful while driving.
B. Pine trees are more beautiful before Easter.
C. Easter should be decorated with golden crosses.
D. Easter promises hope with the coming of spring.
If you’re new to San Francisco, paying the city a visit, or simply looking for a new playground for you and your dog, here are four of the finest dog parks in San Francisco.
Corona Heights Dog Park
Often visited by residents from all over the city because of its nearness to the Randall Museum, Corona Heights Dog Park offers pets and owners breathtaking view after a steep hillside climb, and a fenced dog area that allows dogs to let loose without a leash（狗链）. Owners will also enjoy the playground, tennis courts and basketball courts.
Dolores Dog Park
The grounds of Dolores Park once served as camps for those who were left homeless by the 1906 earthquake, but now are often visited by crowds of Mission District people. Four-legged friends can also wander about carefree off-leash while making friends with other members of the doggie community.
Pine Lake Dog Park
Famous for its place as a rest stop for hundreds of species of birds to fly to and from warmer climates, Pine Lake Park is also prized by city dogs and their owners for their nice hiking paths, picturesque lake suited for swimming, and off-leash area on the park’s west end that lets dogs run free.
Buena Vista Dog Park
With a history of 146 years, Buena Vista Park is San Francisco’s oldest park. Dogs and owners with plus energy will love burning it on this park’s steep paths and winding staircases. Dog owners should have good control over their dogs, as it’s quite easy for dogs to get separated when going through Buena Vista’s many twists and turns.
1.Why do dog owners take their pets to Dolores Dog Park?
A. To let them socialize. B. To give them rescue lessons.
C. To help them lose weight. D. To increase their physical activities.
2.Which dog park is popular with bird lovers?
A. Dolores Dog Park. B. Pine Lake Dog Park.
C. Buena Vista Dog Park. D. Corona Heights Dog Park.
3.What is special about Buena Vista Dog Park?
A. Dogs can go climbing. B. It is close to a museum.
C. Dogs must be on a leash. D. It is suitable for swimming.
假定你是李华，计划暑假去澳大利亚旅行，请给你的澳大利亚网友Tom写一封邮件询问相关信息。内容包括：
1. 当地景点及费用；
2. 当地特色及文化；
3. 注意事项。
注意：1. 词数100左右；
2. 可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：特色specialty
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