Tracy Caulkins is known as the first American to set an American record and win an American title in each of four swimming strokes（泳姿）: breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, freestyle.
Tracy Caulkins was born in Minnesota and lived in Iowa until she was six. She began swimming when she was eight, after the family had moved to Nashville, Tennessee. While unwilling at first to swim in cold water or get her face wet, she began to train in earnest (认真地) as her talent became clear. Though her father worked for the public schools, the family sent her to a private school when the public schools could not accommodate (适应) her training schedule.
At age 13, Tracy Caulkins took part in the trials(选拔赛) for the 1976 Olympics, but did not make the team. She continued to win national and international titles, and was disappointed in 1980 when the U.S. didn’t attend the Moscow Olympics. She continued to train and compete.
In 1981, Tracy Caulkins began college, graduating in 1985. In college, she continued competing and training, though she had slowed down from her peak (顶峰) years.
Caulkins trained especially hard for the 1984 Olympics, and not only made the team, but was captain of the swim team and at Los Angeles, won three gold medals and was named Sportswoman of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee. After that she retired from swimming, and was a commentator (解说员) for swimming events as well as taking advantage of her fame to do business.
Tracy Caulkins married Australian swimmer, Mark Stockwell, in 1991, their romance having begun at the 1984 Olympics when he jumped into a warm-up pool to introduce himself. They married in Nashville and moved to Australia, where they had three children. Caulkins continued to be professionally involved in sports.
1.Tracy Caulkins was sent to a private school because _____.
A. the schedule of the public school wasn’t suitable for her
B. her parents had to work in the school
C. her family had moved to Nashville, Tennessee
D. she showed strong interest in swimming
2.Which Olympic Games did Tracy Caulkins attend?
A. The 1976 Olympic Games. B. The 1980 Olympic Games.
C. The 1984 Olympic Games. D. The 1992 Olympic Games.
3.Give the correct order of the following events in Tracy Caulkins’ life.
a. She was named Sportswoman of the Year.
b. She became a commentator.
c. She got married.
d. She went to college.
e. She attended the Olympics.
A. d; e; a; b; c B. d; e; c; b; a C. d; a; e; c; b D. d; e; a; c; b
4.When was Tracy Caulkins born?
A. In 1963 B In 1953 C In 1960 D Not mentioned
One of the best-known American writers of children’s books is Alfred Strong, or Doctor Strong, as he is better known to readers everywhere. Now, an art show called “Doctor Strong From Then to Now” is travelling around the United States. The pictures and drawings show the history of Doctor Strong.
Doctor Strong first became famous almost fifty years ago when his first children’s book was published. Since then, he has written forty-five books that have sold more than one hundred million copies around the world.
Doctor Strong’s books are known for their easy use of words and colorful, hand-drawn pictures. These drawings bring life to his imaginary creatures. The Cat in the Hat, Horton the Elephant, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and hundreds of others.
The San Diego Museum, in California, organized the art show. It included about three hundred Doctor Strong’s original(最早的) drawings and some of his writings.
Most of Doctor Strong’s books, although written in a funny way, have serious messages. For example, in Mc Elligot’s Pool, he describes the danger of pollution. He discusses the arms race in The Butter Battle Book, written in 1984.
Doctor Strong is almost eighty-four years old now. He says he never planned to write stories just for children. He says he writes stories that interest people of all ages. He says he uses easy words so that everyone, even a child, can understand.
1.Alfred Strong is a famous _______ in the United States.
A. doctor B. artist C. writer D. reader
2.Doctor Strong first became famous in __________.
A. his eighties when an art show was travelling around the United States
B. his fifties when his drawings and writings were published
C. 1984 when his book Mc Elligot’s Pool was published
D. his thirties when his first book was published
3.Doctor Strong’s books are very popular in America because __________.
A. they are stories about animals such as cats, elephants and so on
B. they are written in easy words with colorful pictures
C. he organized the art show in California
D. they are written in a funny way
4.His purpose in writing many such books is __________.
A. to show his original pictures and drawings
B. to organize a special art show of his own
C. to make his readers laugh or smile when they read his books
D. not only to interest people but also to uncover some serious social problems
Ice Hotel Quebec, located 30 minutes west of Downtown Quebec City, Canada, is only open during the winter season. The hotel is made entirely of ice. The two galleries at the Ice Hotel Quebec feature events such as ice painting and ice sculpture(冰雕) competitions.
Things to Do
Guests have a choice of different winter vacation activities, including cross-country skiing, ice skating, dog sledding (狗拉雪橇)， ice fishing and sliding(滑行). Ice Hotel Quebec has a sauna( 桑拿浴)，so remember to pack your bathing suit.
Rooms & Suites(套房)
The hotel offers 18 rooms and 14 theme suites built from 12,000 tons of snow and 400 tons of ice. The walls at Ice Hotel Quebec are four feet thick and allow the hotel to keep a temperature of -2℃ to -5℃.
The furniture at the hotel is made of snow and ice, including the beds. The beds are equipped with a thick foam mattress(泡沫床垫)and an extra thick sleeping bag. That is enough to prevent you from catching a cold.
Vacation Tip
Ice Hotel Quebec offers 30-minute guided public tours daily from 10:30am to 4:30pm. It costs $15 CAD for adults, $7.5 for children (under eight), $13for students\seniors (above sixty), and $42 for families.
Plan This Vacation
Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada will be open for its sixth season from January 5th to April 1st. Costs for overnight stays start at $199CAD per person.
If you’re looking for something really different to do on your next trip, think creatively and plan to visit the truly unusual Ice Hotel Quebec!
1.If you visit the Ice Hotel, you can enjoy the following EXCEPT___________.
A. going fishing B. going skating
C. appreciating ice sculptures D. holding an ice party
2.Sleeping is not a problem in the Ice Hotel because ____________.
A. the rooms are made of ice
B. the temperature is as high as -2℃
C. the sleeping bags are warm
D. the walls are four feet thick
3.If Mr. Smith attends a 30-minute public tour with his wife and seven-year-old twin sons, he should pay at least_________.
A. $37.5 CAD B. $45 CAD C. $42CAD D. $199 CAD
Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school. It doesn’t take much further thought to know that adults will feel better and do better at work as well. Whether you work at home, on the farm, at the office, at school, or on the road, it is not a good idea to have no breakfast.
If we have no breakfast, we are likely to become tired when our brains and bodies run low on fuel (食物). By mid-morning, a lot of us grab a cup of coffee or eat a sugary candy bar to wake up again. This might work for a few minutes, but by lunch time we are hungry. Eating a good breakfast sets the tone for the rest of the day.
Having no breakfast is a popular way to lose weight, but not a smart one. Many people believe that they will lose weight if they have no meals, but that just isn’t true; the body expects to be refueled a few times a day, starting with a healthy breakfast. Eating breakfast is good for losing weight. In fact, people who eat breakfast are more likely to keep a healthy weight.
A healthy breakfast should have some protein (蛋白质) and some fiber (纤维). Protein can come from low fat meats, eggs, or beans. Fiber can be found in whole grains, vegetables and fruits. A good example of a healthy breakfast might be something simple like a hard boiled egg, an orange, and a bowl of whole grain cereal with low fat milk. Stay away from sugary foods and white bread because they are digested (消化) quickly and will leave you hungry and tired in several hours. Protein and fiber will keep you feeling full until lunch time.
1.The first paragraph mainly tells us that ______.
A. it is necessary to have a good breakfast every day
B. many adults are too busy to have breakfast every day
C. many adults go to work without having breakfast
D. many children go to school without breakfast
2.According to the passage, we feel tired at work probably because __.
A. we need to have a cup of coffee B. we don’t have a good breakfast
C. our brains don’t work any longer D. we don’t have enough sleep at night
3.What does the underlined sentence in Paragraph 2 mean?
A. Having a good breakfast can help you to finish your work.
B. Eating a good breakfast is enough for the whole day.
C. Breakfast is really the most important meal in a day.
D. You will be happier if you have a good breakfast.
4.We can learn from the last paragraph that ______.
A. it is healthy only to have beans and eggs for your breakfast
B. you mustn’t have meat for your breakfast
C. you should eat sugary foods if you feel hungry
D. you should eat something which has protein and fiber for breakfast
You and I have principles(原则). And we also have opinions. I have _____ about what I think is right or wrong or good or ______. But they are only opinions---I could be wrong! I _____ try to build my life around my opinions, but I will try to _____ my principles.
A 15-year-old boy learned a(n) ______ lesson about life principles. On his way home he found a woman’s ______ that contained $127 as well as her ID card. _______ hesitation, he hopped(快速跳) onto his bike and went over to her _______---about a mile away. He told her he _____ her wallet and she gave him a big hug and twenty dollars.
That evening the boy told his parents about the event and his father said, “I don’t think you should have ______ $20 for doing what you should have done. A person shouldn’t be ______ for being honest.”
He thought about his father’s _____ and decided he would return the money. He biked to the lady’s home and ______ her back the twenty dollars. She didn’t want to take it, but he told her she _____ to---that his father pointed out ______ to him that he had never ______ before.
When principles ______ our every action and decision, we actually change. These great principles _____ our lives and make us into persons of character. That boy is _____ to be raised by a wise father who had the ______ to say, “Those are my principles.”
1.A. opinions B. wishes C. decisions D. suggestions
2.A. well B. mistaken C. right D. bad
3.A. shan’t B. won’t C. can’t D. don’t
4.A. change B. advise C. follow D. make
5.A. valuable B. easy C. difficult D. funny
6.A. bag B. wallet C. suitcase D. box
7.A. About B. For C. Without D. In
8.A. factory B. school C. office D. house
9.A. checked B. searched C. threw D. found
10.A. accepted B. supplied C. received D. borrowed
11.A. rewarded B. praised C. forgotten D. blamed
12.A. actions B. worries C. words D. excuses
13.A. took B. gave C. put D. set
14.A. attempted B. preferred C. planned D. had
15.A. anything B. everything C. something D. nothing
16.A. guessed B. taught C. met D. realized
17.A. guide B. do C. interrupt D. allow
18.A. limit B. shape C. prevent D. keep
19.A. unlucky B. careful C. brave D. lucky
20.A. right B. courage C. wisdom D. chance
—How did you find your visit to Qingdao, Joanna?
—_____________.
A. Oh, wonderful indeed. B. I went there alone.
C. First by train and then by ship D. A guide showed me the way
