Most people like to escape the summer heat with a trip to the beach or a swim in the local pool, but here’s a better choice for you: Coudersport Ice Mine.
The mine was a roadside attraction in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains for many years until it was suddenly closed down for some reason. But after being closed for nearly a quarter of a century, this hidden summer getaway was once again open to the public in 2014, reports Living on Earth.
The mine isn’t just a great place to escape the summer heat; it’s also something of an unsolved mystery. Strangely, the cave only produces ice in the summertime, and it tends to produce more ice when the surrounding temperature gets higher. When winter falls and snow covers the hilltops, the ice in the cave melts. The cave is so mysterious that some locals even say (falsely) that the cave is man-made.
Originally discovered in 1894, the mine was first used to store meat and for ice harvesting. By the early 1900s, however, it was changed into a tourist attraction. Inside the cave in the summer it gets cold, like walking into a fridge.
Though the cave remains largely mysterious, there are theories. Experts say that cold winter air gets into the cave through cracks in the rocks, and due to the unusual interconnection of the cracks here, that cold air gets concentrated into the cave. The reason ice only forms in the summer is because of the seasonal humidity (湿度) increase in the surrounding atmosphere, along with an increase in groundwater, which becomes exposed to the freezing air. In the winter, warm air trapped in the rocks from the summer escapes and melts the ice.
Part of the charm of the Coudersort Ice Mine, though, is that it keeps much of its mystery. Perhaps it’s best to simply think of it as a long-lost hole in the mountain where Old Man Winter sleeps. At any rate, it’s a great place to escape the heat of summer. If you’re interested in checking it out, you can get more information from its Facebook page.
1.What does the history of Coudersport Ice Mine tell us?
A. It had shut down for about 35 years.
B. It had been closed down only once.
C. It used to be open only in the summer.
D. It first attracted attention a century ago.
2.What was the cave originally used for?
A. Producing heat. B. Attracting tourists.
C. Keeping food fresh. D. Storing newly harvested crops.
3.How does the cave work in the summer according to experts?
A. Its cracks trap a lot of water.
B. It produces more cracks in the rocks.
C. Its humidity increases and it gets hotter.
D. The cold air from its cracks freezes the water.
4.What does the author think of the mystery of Coudersport Ice Mine?
A. It should be kept secret forever.
B. It makes the cave more attractive.
C. It gets deeper if you are interested in it.
D. It is related to the tale of Old Man Winter.
With so many people in the world telling us we can’t succeed, we need to hear people telling us we can.I remember my high school English teacher telling me not to apply to Cornell University because they wouldn’t accept me and even if they did I wouldn’t be able to do the work. I almost didn’t apply but a few days later I saw Ivan Foldfarb, a former teacher, in the hallway and asked him about Cornell. He said, “If you get in, then you go. You can do it.” His words made all the difference. I applied and was accepted.
Too often we think it’s our role to inject a dose（一次剂量）of “reality” into someone’s life. We think we must point out how bad the economy is and how horrible the job market is and how the sky is falling.
I say there are enough pessimists and “realists” in the world. The world needs more optimists, encouragers, and inspirers. The world needs more people to speak into the hearts of others and say “I believe in you.” “If you have the desire then you also have the power to make it happen.” “Even if you fail, it will lead to something even better.”
When it comes to encouragement I know that every one of us loves working for and with people who bring out the best in us. We love being around people who uplift us and make us feel great.
And while we’ll always remember the negative people who told us we couldn’t accomplish something, we will always cherish and hold a special place in our heart for those who encouraged us.
Today I want to encourage you to be an encourager. Today decide to be that person who instills a positive belief in someone who for that needs to hear your encouraging words. Encourage someone who is feeling down. Fuel your team with your positive energy.
Share encouragement. It matters and we all need it.
1.Why did the author’s English teacher tell him not to apply to Cornell University?
A. Because the author had no talent.
B. Because the author was a bad student.
C. Because the teacher thought little of the author.
D. Because the teacher didn’t want the author to attend university.
2.What can we infer from Paragraph 3?
A. The world is lack of “reality”.
B. The economy is becoming worse and worse.
C. We have to face a negative world every day.
D. We take it for granted that we should reveal “reality”.
3.What does the underlined word “uplift” in Paragraph 5 mean?
A. to increase something.
B. to raise something to a higher position.
C. to give hope or encouragement to somebody.
D. to make somebody unhappy or disappointed.
4.What’s the best title of the passage?
A. Be an encourager. B. Always be optimistic.
C. Failure is the mother of success. D. Get away from negative people.
Jennifer van den Broeke tried riding her son and daughter around Amsterdam, the capital city of the Netherlands, on her old bike with two child seats, but it was sometimes unsafe. That was when she decided to join the growing Dutch army of pedaling parents using so-called transport bikes.
Now Jennifer’s 8-month-old son Jasper and 3-year-old daughter Benthe can climb into the wooden box of her new transport bike so she can ride them around town. “With the kids and the shopping bags and everything, this is just easier,”said Jennifer. “It’s a very strong bike.”
The transport bike, called a bakfiets in Dutch, is making a comeback decades after butchers, bakers — maybe even candlestick makers, who first began using them to carry their wares (物品) around the narrow streets of this nation’s towns and cities. The bikes, with two or three wheels, have a wooden or plastic box on the front or between the front and back wheels.
Nowadays cars and vans crowd city streets. Regular bikes have remained popular, but for parents with a couple of kids, the car was often the only option.Not anymore.
Maarten van Andel, a 46-year-old native, started making cargo bikes last year when he was looking for a cheap way to transport his two children around Amsterdam. “It’s a timesaving device,” he said. “It’s a lot quicker to get around town with your kids in a bakfiets than in a car.”
Henry Cutler, who runs an Amsterdam cycle store, says there are 5,000-10,000 floating around Amsterdam. He sometimes sounds like he’s selling not just bikes, but a way of life. “We are trying to promote products that change people’s perspective about living. Bikes are not fast, but does life have to be fast?” he said.“Many families with small children want to try it because they believe it is a better and easier way to get around,” said Erik Oddershede, the manager of the Danish national bicycle shop organization, Danske Cykelhandlere.
1.What do we know about the transport bike?
A. It sometimes causes safety problems on the road.
B. It usually has a wooden or plastic box at its back.
C. It was once common decades ago in the Netherlands.
D. It is now widely used by Dutch butchers and bakers.
2.What does the author mean by saying “Not anymore”?
A. Parents with two or more kids have another choice.
B. Regular bikes have become more and more popular.
C. Maarten Van Andel was more interested in cargo bikes.
D. Nowadays there are fewer traffic problems in the city.
3.Who says that people should live at an unhurried pace?
A. Henry Cutler. B. Erik Oddershede.
C. Maarten Van Andel. D. Jennifer Van den Broeke.
4.What is the text mainly about?
A. The traffic problems in Amsterdam.
B. The lifestyle of people in Amsterdam.
C. The sales of transport bikes in Amsterdam.
D. The popularity of a bakfiets in Amsterdam.
Amazing natural landscapes
Volcanoes and Coastal Cliffs in Hawaii
With their volcanoes, valleys, waterfalls and towering coastal cliffs, the islands of Hawaii have some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery on earth. No wonder Hawaii, especially the island of Kauai, is Hollywood’s favorite location for movies. Don’t forget to enjoy all these scenic splendors by taking a helicopter flight and going hiking.
When to visit: the off-season, when the best rates are available and the islands are less crowded, is spring (April to June)and fall (September to November).
Spectacular Mountains in Nepal
The small country of Nepal is situated in the Himalayan Mountains at the foot of Mount Qomolangma. Eight of the 14 independent mountains on earth that are more than 8,000 meters high above sea level are located in the country, offering strikingly beautiful mountainous scenery with hiking opportunities.
When to visit: October and November, the start of the dry season, are the best months to visit Nepal.
Mountains and Oceans of the National Parks of Western Canada
Deep in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, you will find world-class and jaw-dropping scenery, centered around glacial lakes. Wildlife is abundant in these areas, especially in Jasper National Park, which is well-known for wildlife viewing and home to some of North America’s rarest animals including grizzlies, bisons and wolves.
When to visit: the Canadian Rockies and Canada’s West Coast are best visited in summer. If you want to avoid the tourist crowds, travel in June or September.
Impressive Landscapes of New Zealand
New Zealand is a land of natural diversity. You’ll see things that you won’t see anywhere else in the world. Within a day or two’s drive, you can see great mountains, subtropical forests, and miles of coastline with sandy beaches. Don’t miss Abel Tasman National Park.
When to visit: the best time to visit New Zealand is between October and April, with high season (meaning high prices and low availability for hotels) between mid-December and the end of January.
1.When might be the best time to visit the islands of Hawaii?
A. In January. B. In May.
C. In July. D. In December.
2.Where should wildlife lovers go?
A. The island of Kauai. B. Jasper National Park.
C. The Himalayan Mountains. D. Abel Tasman National Park.
3.What can be done in New Zealand?
A. Shooting films. B. Watching grizzlies.
C. Touring glacial lakes. D. Exploring subtropical forests.
你发现你的好友小明最近很苦恼，并得知：为了让他专注学习考上理想大学，家人打算让他母亲不再跟随父亲外出打工，而在学校旁租房专门陪读。对于是否接受这个决定，他左右为难，拿不定主意。
请给小明写封邮件劝慰他，内容包括：
1．分析父母为什么做这个决定；
2. 建议他接受或者拒绝，并说明理由。
注意：1．词数100左右（开头、结尾已给出，不计入总词数。）
2．可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Xiaoming,
Are you feeling better now ?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hoping you’ll be cheerful soon !
Yours,
Zou Kai
请改正下面短文中的错误。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。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（∧），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：在错的词下画一横线，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仅限一词；
2．只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
I love camping. It is my favoritest way to spend the summer vacation. Last year, my family and I went camping in the countryside. It was one of the most excited experiences I had never had. We slept in a tent and went on a long walk every day. We cook over a fire and the food always tasted wonderfully. For a whole week, I saw lovely mountain views or breathed fresh air. At night, I heard the gentle wind blowing in the tree, and I felt so peaceful. It doesn’t cost many to camp, and what I believe it’s the best way to get close nature and enjoy its beauty.
