Last year I ruined my summer vacation by bringing along a modern convenience that was too convenient for my own good：the iPad. Instead of looking at nature，I checked my email. Instead of paddling a small boat，I followed my Twitter feed (推特简讯)．Instead of reading great novels，I stuck to reading four newspapers each morning. I was behaving as if I were still in the office. My body was on vacation，but my head wasn't.
So this year I made up my mind to try something different: withdraw (退出) from the Internet. I knew it wouldn't be easy，since I'm bad at selfcontrol. But I was determined. I started by giving the iPad to my wife.
The cellphone signal at our house was worse than in the past，making my attempts at cheating an experience in frustration (沮丧)．I was trapped，forced to go through with my plan. Largely cut off from email，Twitter and my favorite newspaper websites，I had few ways to connect to the world except for the radio—and how much radio can one listen to，really？I had to do what I had planned to do all along：read books.
This experience has had a happy ending. With determination and the strong support of my wife，I won in my vacation struggle against the Internet，realizing finally that it was I，not the iPad，that was the problem. I knew I had won when we passed a Starbucks and my wife asked if I wanted to stop to use the Wifi.“I don't need it，” I said.
However，as we return to postvacation life，a harder test begins：can I continue when I'm back at work?
There are times when the compulsion to know what's being said right now is great. I have no intention of giving up my convenience completely. But I hope to resist the temptation (诱惑) to check my email every five minutes，which leads to check my Twitter feed and a website or two.
I think a vacation is supposed to help you reset your brain to become more productive. Here I hope this one worked.
1.What do we know about the author's last summer vacation?
A. He was determined to enjoy the beautiful view.
B. His iPad ruined his plan of finishing a great novel.
C. He felt satisfied that he had stuck to his usual timetable.
D. He hated himself for acting as if he were working on vacation.
2.What did the author do to keep away from the Internet this year?
A. He handed his iPad to his wife.
B. He cut off his cellphone signal.
C. He refused to cheat in his house.
D. He listened to the radio most of the time.
3.When back at work，the author will probably choose to ________．
A. stay away from the Internet forever
B. continue to read more and more books
C. keep control of when and how to use the Internet
D. stop checking what is being said right now completely
4.What is the author's opinion of a great vacation in the passage?
A. A vacation is having nothing to do but read all day.
B. A vacation proves that a life of pleasure is overvalued.
C. A vacation is a period of time to do whatever one wishes to.
D. A vacation means a change of pace to make one more creative.
Listed here are four of the thousands of impressive museums around the world.
The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao，Spain
Built in 1997，the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the newest in the world.It has transformed the industrial city of Bilbao into a travelers' desired destination.The beautiful architecture of the museum has provided a dramatic background for movies and commercials.
The Louvre in Paris，France
Probably the most famous Louvre also holds the most famous painting in the world，the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci.Crowds can be found any day surrounding the small，but mysterious painting of the smiling woman.But，the Louvre is much more than a home to the “Mona Lisa”．The Louvre is visited by more people each year than any other museum in the world.
The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia，America
Just opened in its new downtown location in 2012，the Barnes Foundation is “unique”in that it is a completely reproduced display from one man's private collection.Dr.Albert C．Barnes started collecting art in the early 20th century and collected，among others，the largest number of original Renoir paintings in the world.
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence，Italy
Walking on the marbled floors feels like stepping back in time.The building itself is a beautiful palace—like structure with frescoes(湿壁画) decorating the ceilings and walls.Viewers are bowled over(印象深刻) by the works by Botticelli，such as “The Birth of Venus”．Classic artworks from nearly 1，000 years ago describe religious events of the time.
1.Which of the following is the most popular?
A. The Louvre.
B. The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
C. The Barnes Foundation.
D. The Uffizi Gallery.
2.What makes the Barnes Foundation particular?
A. Its structure. B. Its collection.
C. Its location. D. Its history.
3.What type of writing is this text?
A. An activity poster.
B. An exhibition announcement.
C. An art show review.
D. A travel guide.
假如你是李华，你的美国朋友Tom听说在中国通过扫描二维码（scan QR codes）就可以轻松实现移动支付（mobile payment），感到不可思议。请你写封邮件告知移动支付在中国的相关情况。内容包括：
1. 移动支付在日常生活中的功能；
2. 移动支付对我们生活的影响。
注意:
1. 词数100左右。
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
Dear Tom,
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏词符号（∧），并在其正下方写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（ ）划掉。
修改：在错的词下面划一横线，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。
Last term an English speech contest is held in our school. Seen the notice, many students took interest in it. My English teacher Miss Li thought it was a good chance for me to improving my English and encouraged me to take part. So I decided to have a try. During the prepare, my teacher offered me great help. She not only polished with my speech draft and also corrected my pronunciation. As a result, my speech improved great. Then the day for the competition came, and I did good job and got first prize! I owed it all to my teacher. Without his help, I wouldn’t have got so a good result.
请根据首字母和汉语，在空白处填入适当的单词或单词的正确形式。
1.Give the speakers clues about your listening, such as a nod of a__________ (赞成) or a smile.
2.This kind of animal lives between the surface of the ocean and a d__________ (深度) of about 3,300 feet.
3.Astronauts in flight must a___________ (适应) to weightlessness..
4.Alice, if you meet the following r____________ (要求), you can apply for the post as a shop assistant.
5.The prison was ordered to tighten s__________ (安全；保障) after a prisoner escaped yesterday.
6.The document contains sensitive information and is not suitable for free d_____________ (分发).
7.Amanda complained to the company about its awful service and they sent her a written a__________ (道歉).
8.Drive along the road which is p____________ (平行的) to the coastline, and you will enjoy the beautiful scenery.
9.This activity is o____________ (可选择的), so you can choose not to take part in it.
10.The activity was impressive and all the young people p_____________ (参加) in it learned valuable lessons from it.
11.On my way home last night, I heard a baby crying desperately ahead of me, which made me s__________ (害怕的) to death.
12.When I approached and saw a little cat, I was a__________ (意识到的) that it was the cat that produced the sound.
13.It is strongly r____________ (推荐；建议) that the machines should be checked every day.
14.She c__________ (安慰) herself with the thought that it would soon be spring.
15.The young couple always quarrel with each other after they got married. I think they will d__________ (离婚) sooner or later.
阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（不多于3个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。
In recent years, a new idea 1. is called a “naked marriage” has arisen as the cost of living goes up. It has become a new trend for many young people in China. With a small marriage certificate in hand, they get married. And for the couples in a “naked marriage”, this certificate also contains other 2. (meaning).
A resident from Chengdu said, “There are many people like us born in 3. 1980s. Our families cannot afford 4. (buy) us new apartments, cars, let alone diamond rings. I think that's very normal for regular families. We must make a better future on 5. (we) own.”
A graduate of Sichuan University said, “The most important element in a marriage 6. (be) love. I believe our living conditions will 7. (gradual) get better.”
A professor says a “naked marriage” is in direct contradiction to China's 8. (tradition) marriage customs. However, as living costs continue to rise, this phenomenon may become more popular in the future.
But not all people have a positive opinion about a “naked marriage”. According to a survey 9. (conduct) by sohu.com, only about 40% of the 3, 500 people surveyed like the idea of a “naked marriage”. About 80% of men support a “naked marriage”, 10. there are also 70% of women not supporting the idea because they think these marriages are not stable.
