With the summer holiday just around the comer, it seems like everybody is busy planning their vacations. Here are some lips that can help you enjoy your holiday without emptying your pocket:
Travel off-season
Go to your desired destination while the demand is low and take advantage of huge discounts. During the peak season, the hotel and flight prices increase quickly, and you’ll likely spend more of your vacation time standing in line due to the rush of tourists. 1.
Eat like a local
Why eat at big chain restaurants when you can experience something new? 2. During your family trip, try new food where the locals eat. This will not just save money, but also provide you with a new and different experience. For smaller meals and snacks, avoid restaurants and try street food or other takeout.
3.
Websites can help you find discount hotel rooms. Look for places that do not charge extra for children if they use the existing bedding. Stay with the locals. If you and your family are going to 8tay for a longer period，renting a small apartment is a good choice.
Choose local transportation
4. Instead, take buses, railways or subways, which are always cheaper. If you are planning to stay for a while, you can consider renting a car. Hiring a car is much easier than carrying your bags everywhere if you are moving around a lot.
Don’t hesitate to bargain
Tourist-heavy places are known for overcharging for just about everything. Clothes, travel goodies, souvenirs, etc. are very expensive at these places. 5. Bargain hard to get the best price.
A. Save on hotels.
B. Surf the Internet while traveling.
C. So it’s best to find out when the off-season starts.
D. Therefore, avoid buying anything there.
E. Planning your meals is another way to reduce your travel costs.
F. For this reason, you shouldn’t feel ashamed to ask for bargains.
G. As a tourist, avoid taking taxis whenever possible, since they are expensive.
Dogs
Almost everyone likes dogs, and almost everyone likes to read stories about dogs.
I have a friend who has a large police dog named Jack. Police dogs are often very clever. Every Sunday afternoon my friend takes Jack for a long walk in the park. Jack likes these long walks very much.
One Sunday afternoon a young man came to visit my friend. He stayed a long time. He talked and talked. Soon it was time for my friend to take Jack for his walk. But the visitor still stayed. Jack became very worried. He walked around the room several times and then sat down in front of the visitor and looked at him. But the visitor paid no attention (注意).He kept on talking. Finally Jack could stand it no longer. He went out of the room and came back a few minutes later. He sat down again in front of the visitor but this time he held the visitor's hat in his mouth.
Here is another story about a clever dog. It was a seeing-eye dog. A seeing-eye dog is a special dog that helps blind people walk along the streets and do many other things. We call these dogs "seeing-eye" dogs because they are the "eyes" of the blind man and they help him to "see". These dogs usually go to special schools for several years to learn to help blind people.
One day a seeing-eye dog and a blind man got on a bus together. The bus was full of people and there were no seats. One man, however, soon got up and left his seat. The dog took the blind man to the seat, but there was very little space. The dog began to push the people on each side with his nose. He pushed and pushed until the people moved down and finally there was enough space for two people. The blind man then sat down and the dog got up on the seat at his side. He lie down and put his head on the leg of the blind man. He was very comfortable and soon fell asleep. Everyone on the bus had to smile at the intelligence (聪明) of the dog in making space for the blind man and, at the same time, making a place for himself.
1.Which of the following words is not very much related to a dog?
A. Intelligent. B. Loyal.
C. Helpful. D. Ambitious.
2.Why did everyone on the bus smile at the seeing-eye dog?
A. Because he was intelligent. B. Because he was helpful.
C. Because he was friendly. D. Because he was cute.
3.Which of the following best describes a seeing-eye dog?
A. A seeing-eye dog is the most intelligent of all dogs.
B. A seeing-eye dog is a special dog that helps the police.
C. A seeing-eye dog is a watchdog.
D. A seeing-eye dog is a special dog that helps blind people.
4.What can be inferred from this passage?
A. All dogs are rude to visitors.
B. All dogs are impolite to passengers on buses.
C. Dogs can be impolite but still loveable.
D. Dogs are greedy.
Baths in Japan
In many western countries people do not bathe (沐浴) every day. Sometimes they bathe only once a week. Sometimes they bathe two or three times a week. They do not bathe often because the weather is cold or because hot water is expensive. They use electricity or wood to boil the water. Electricity and wood cost a lot of money. In cold countries people usually do not feel they are dirty if they do not have a bath.
In Japan people bathe very often. Most people have a bath every day. When the weather is hot they sometimes have two or three baths a day. They bathe in very hot water. Usually the water is almost boiling. They believe that these very hot baths also stop them from falling ill.
Each house has its own bathroom but there are also big bathhouses for everybody. They are found everywhere in Japan. In the bathhouse there is one part for men and one part for women. The bath is usually three meters wide, three meters long and about one meter deep: halfway down there is a narrow (狭窄的) seat that goes all the way around the bath. Many people use the bath but it is not dirty. Before a person gets into the big bath, they wash themselves first, and then get into the big bath. The person stays there for a short time. When they get out of the bath, they wash their body with soap and water. After the soap is all washed away, the person gets into the big bath again. Soap is not used in the big bath.
The water in the big bath is changed quite often. The water is also very hot. In some places people hit the water with sticks first. They do this to make the water cooler. Then the men get into the bath very slowly and carefully. When a man gets into a bath, he says. "Excuse me." He does this because most of the hot water comes directly out of the ground. In other places people boil the water with a big fire. In a small bath at home sometimes people light a fire under the bath. When the water is hot, people in the family take a bath one by one.
1.Which of the following is not true about baths?
A. Taking baths can help people relax themselves.
B. Taking baths can refresh people.
C. Taking baths can keep people clean.
D. Taking baths can make people nervous.
2.What do people use to boil water in many western countries?
A. Electricity. B. Gas.
C. Coal. D. Straw.
3.What is the size of a public bath?
A. Three meters long, three meters wide and about three meters deep.
B. Three meters long, one meter wide and about three meters deep.
C. Three meters long, three meters wide and about one meter deep.
D. One meter long, three meters wide and about three meters deep.
Sweet Dreams While You Sleep
Did you sleep the day away on Friday March 21? Well, you should have done that because it was World Sleeping Day.
This is the day of the year when people around the world care about their sleep and ask themselves questions about sleep.
Why do we need sleep?
Nobody as yet can give a perfect answer to this question. However, lab tests on rats have shown that lack (缺少) of sleep over about four weeks leads to a strong drop in body temperature, great weight loss and finally, death.
How much sleep?
Different people need different amounts of sleep. Eight hours a night is considered the average amount of sleep. For teenagers, the least number of sleeping hours advised by doctors are 10 hours for primary school students, nine for junior highs and eight for senior highs.
Some people seem to get along just well with very little sleep at night. Leading American scientist Thomas Edison, for example thought of sleep to be a waste of time. He did, however take naps (打盹) during the day. On the other hand, Albert Einstein, another great scientist, said he needed at least ten hours sleep a night.
How can we sleep well?
Here are some of the most popular tips for a good night's sleep:
*Listen to your body clock, not your alarm clock (闹钟).
*Use your bed only to sleep.
*Get up and go to bed at the same time (also on weekends).
*Exercise in the morning and in the early afternoon. Don't exercise in the evening.
*Stop looking at that clock while you can't sleep! And don't worry.
*Avoid alcohol (酒精), caffeine (咖啡因) and smoking before going to bed.
*Keep the bedroom dark, quiet, and cool.
1.Which of the following is true according to the passage?
A. Thomas Edison slept very long hours every day.
B. Albert Einstein needed very little sleep.
C. Doctors suggested that primary school students have ten hours of sleep.
D. Doctors suggested that junior highs have eight hours of sleep.
2.Which of the following is not a good sleeping habit?
A. Have a cup of alcohol before going to bed.
B. Keep the bedroom dark, quiet and cool.
C. Get up and go to bed at the same time.
D. Listen to your body clock.
3.What is implied in this passage?
A. Bedrooms can be used for other purposes.
B. Great scientists need less sleep than ordinary people.
C. World sleeping day is the only time when people become concerned about sleep.
D. Results from lab tests on rats may be applicable to humans.
You've heard of the fat suit and the pregnancy suit；now meet AGNES—the old person suit．
AGNES stands for“Age Gain Now Empathy(换位体验)System”and was designed by researchers at MIT's AgeLab to let you know what it feels like—physically—to be 75 years old．“The business of old age demands new tools，”said Joseph Coughlin，director of the AgeLab．“While focus groups and observations and surveys can help you understand what the older consumer needs and wants，young marketers never get that‘Ah ha!’moment of having difficulty opening a jar, or getting in and out of a car．That’s what AGNES provides．”
Coughlin and his team carefully adjusted the suit to make the wearer just as uncomfortable as an old person who has spent a lifetime eating poorly and not doing much exercise．Special shoes provide a feeling of imbalance，while braces on the knees and elbows limit joint mobility．Gloves give the feeling of decreased strength and mobility in the hands and wrists，and earplugs make it difficult to hear high—pitched sounds and soft tones．A helmet with straps(带)attached to it presses the spine(脊柱)，and more straps attached to the shoes decrease hamstring flexibility, and shortens the wearer's step．
AGNES has been used most recently by a group of students working on a design of an updated walker．By wearing the suit they could see for themselves what design and materials would make the most sense for a physically limited older person．Coughlin said the suit has also been used by clothing companies，car companies and retail goods companies to help them understand the limitations of an older consumer．
“AGNES is not the destiny of everybody,”he said．“She is a badly behaved lady who didn't eat and exercise very well．A secondary benefit we’ve found with AGNES is that it has become a powerful tool to get younger people to invest in their long-term health．”
1.AGNES has been developed to ．
A. make the users more comfortable B. 1et us understand old people better
C. help old people move more quickly D. produce new tools for the old-age business
2.According to the article，young marketers never ．
A. feel the same way as old people do B. see the efforts old people make
C. ask what old people need and want D. say“Ah ha!”when they meet with difficulty
3.The 3rd paragraph mainly tells about ．
A. how the AGNES wearer feels B. how AGNES has been developed
C. how old people act D. how AGNES works
4.“An updated walker”(underlined)most likely refers to ．
A. someone who travels a lot
B. a physically limited old person
C. some equipment that helps old people walk
D. a company whose service involves old people
5.Which may be a fact resulting from the“secondary benefit”of AGNES?
A. Young people respect old people． B. Old-age business improves their service·
C. Old people eat and exercise well． D. Young people eat and exercise well．
Rediscovery
I used to be a happy child with a loving family and many friends. I had a ______ that could brighten a cold winter day and I had a special love for life.
At twelve, my life had a huge breakdown. It was then that I _____ OCD (强迫症). I started to wash my hands ten times an hour, and I constantly ______ my kitchen oven to make sure that it was off. This way of lifecontinued for four painful years, and by then, my OCD had led to depression (抑郁). I was no longer the ______ little girl I had been.
In the tenth grade I finally ____ to my mother that I was suffering from depression along with my OCD. My mom took me to a doctor and I started taking _____. Over a few months, the medicine did help the OCD, but I still was struggling with depression.
One autumn evening, I hit rock bottom. I thought suicide (自杀) was the only _____to my depression problem, so I decided to write a suicide note. As I was ______ it, my eyes fell on a photo. It was a ______ of an adorable little girl, wearing her red soccer uniform and holding a bike helmet. She had a bright smile that showed she was full of life.
It took me a few minutes to______who the girl in the photo was. The photo had been taken when I was seven years old. I almost couldn’t believe that smiling child was me. I felt a chill go down my spine (脊柱). It was like my younger self had sent me a ______. Right then and there I knew I couldn’t kill myself. Once I had been a strong little girl, and I had to become ____ like that again.
I tore up my suicide note and _____ that I would not rely only on my medicine. I would have to fight the depression with my mind, too. I could make myself happy again.
It has been two years since I _____ myself. The real reason I am healed is that I took action and refused to let depression ______my life. I learned a lifelong _____: Never give up. Everyone has challenges in life, but everyone can _____. I am living proof of that.
Now I am prepared for whatever _____ life may bring. I have a role model to ______up to for strength, and who is guiding me ______ life. My hero is a seven-year-old girl, smiling back at me from a photo on my desk.
1.A. dream B. thought C. hope D. smile
2.A. prevented B. treated C. developed D. discovered
3.A. checked B. fixed C. touched D. tested
4.A. pretty B. happy C. popular D. lovely
5.A. admitted B. suggested C. showed D. replied
6.A. classes B. medicine C. exercise D. notes
7.A. response B. door C. entrance D. solution
8.A. posting B. copying C. finishing D. revising
9.A. picture B. figure C. model D. shadow
10.A. explain B. realize C. question D. describe
11.A. gift B. card C. message D. letter
12.A. open B. strong C. lively D. athletic
13.A. advised B. doubted C. promised D. imagined
14.A. rejected B. replaced C. recalled D. rediscovered
15.A. risk B. abandon C. ruin D. waste
16.A. lesson B. skill C. class D. experience
17.A. escape B. quit C. recover D. survive
18.A. adventures B. benefits C. opportunities D. challenges
19.A. come B. look C. make D. add
20.A. through B. over C. across D. from
