If you read a newspaper or listen to a newscast recently, you may hear or read a strange word, “staycation”. Staycation is 1. new word the American press is using 2. (describe) vacation very close to your own home, 3. simply staying at home during your vacation. It is a combination (合成) of the words “stay” and “vacation”.
According to many news reports, these staycations are very popular among American families this year. Why? The high price of gasoline for cars and airplanes has made it very costly for Americans to travel 4. (compare) to past years. When you combine this with the weak American dollar, it all adds up to people deciding to stay close to home 5. their traditional summer vacations. Without doubt, some places are more 6. (interest) to “stay at home” than others. And if you live in a very small town, well, you may just want to skip your vacation and save your time up to next year.
Everything is increasingly 7. (expense) nowadays, and let’s face it --- a vacation just may not be in your plan this year. You don’t have to give up family fun just because you can’t get away; instead, follow my tips for an 8. (economy) staycation filled with old favorites and new adventures! Staycations have 9.(achieve) high popularity in modern society in which 10. (employ) levels and gas prices are high.
A ship was wrecked (失事) and only two of the men aboard were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. Not knowing what else to do, the two ______ agreed that they had no ______ but to pray to God.
____, to find out whose prayers were more ______, they agreed to divide the territory (领地) between them. What the first man ______ for was food. The next morning, he saw a fruit bearing tree on his side of the island, and he was able to eat its _______ But the other man’s side of land remained ______.
After a week, the first man became ______ and decided to pray for a wife. The next day, a woman swam to his side of the island. But on the other side of the island, there was ______. Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes and more ______. The next day, like magic, all of these things were ______ to him. However, the other man still had nothing.
____, the first man prayed for a ship so that he and his wife could ______ the island, and in the next morning he found a ship at his side of the island. The first man ______ the ship with his wife and decided to leave the other man on the island, considering him unworthy to receive God’s blessings ______ none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming, “Why are you leaving your ______ on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered. “His prayers were all unanswered and so he doesn’t ______ anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice ______ him. “He had only one prayer, which I ______. He prayed that all your prayers would be answered. Had it not been for that, you would not have ______ any of my blessings.”
1.A. enemies B. survivors C. applicants D. volunteers
2.A. ability B. symbol C. choice D. excuse
3.A. So B. Because C. Otherwise D. Moreover
4.A. powerful B. cheerful C. skillful D. harmful
5.A. accounted B. reached C. prayed D. prepared
6.A. leaves B. fruits C. roots D. branches
7.A. hopeful B. helpful C. useless D. fruitless
8.A. lonely B. doubtful C. selfish D. nervous
9.A. something B. nothing C. anything D. everything
10.A. wives B. fiance C. products D. food
11.A. given B. sold C. donated D. congratulated
12.A. Suddenly B. Gradually C. Finally D. Fortunately
13.A. leave B. occupy C. visit D. share
14.A. checked B. decorated C. boarded D. controlled
15.A. if B. as if C. though D. since
16.A. relative B. partner C. male D. colleague
17.A. gain B. acquire (获得) C. deserve D. miss
18.A. yelled B. comforted C. laughed D. opposed
19.A. hated B. answered C. ignored D. treasured
20.A. received B. appeared C. overlooked D. accepted
Are you new to experiencing relationships ? Well, let me give you some advice on how to have a healthy relationship with your partners.
1. Be an honest person with them. Don’t hide things from them, and don’t lie. Don’t be afraid to say things that aren’t flattering about yourself. Getting them to trust you is the most important thing in any relationship. If there is no trust, there’s nothing there. 1.
2. Make sure you give them respect. Now, respect isn’t just simply treating them nicely. 2. You have to learn to adjust to their liking. Basically, learn to study your partner’s moods, wants and needs. Don’t just think about yourself, but think about what your partners need as well.
3. Make sure you are encouraging to your partners. Always be willing to help them and give them honesty and positive things at the time3.. Make them feel you are someone they can count on and build a future with.
4. Make sure you have a good sense of humor with them. Laughter is the key to happiness. Laugh a lot with them, and joke with them4., Laughter may seem silly, but it’s the secret to a lot in life. It will keep the sparks alive.
5. Make sure the communication is good. This usually goes along with trust, so always communicate how you feel even if it’s something that upsets you. 5. If they did something that made you unhappy, tell them about it in a respectful manner. It’s important to communicate this to them, not to keep it bottled up.
A.There is a lot more to it.
B.Show them your personality.
C.Instead of screaming, talk to them.
D.Laughter keeps the relationship strong and lasting.
E.So please be honest and they’ll learn to open up to you.
F.Don’t expect too much in a relationship.
G.Your partners should be able to count on you when necessary.
Chiang Mai is proud of the city’s 700- year history, which has rich traditional relics and unique culture. It is located 700 km north of Bangkok and is situated among the highest mountains in the country. Chiang Mai means “the new city” in Thai. King Mengrai founded the city as the capital of the Lanna Kingdom on April 12,1296. Therefore, Chiang Mai not only became the capital and cultural center of the Lanna Kingdom, but was also to be the center of Buddhism in northern Thailand. King Mengrai , a very religious leader, founded many of the city’s temples (寺庙) that remain important today.
It is one of the few places in Thailand where it is possible to experience both historical and modern Thai Culture. The city has old temples next to modern stores. It has more than three hundred temples, among which some are the most beautiful and honorable in the entire Buddhist world, giving the city an atmosphere (氛围) of calmness.
The old city of Chiang Mai has various dialects, architecture, traditional values, festivals, handicraft and classical dances. In addition, it has hill tribes and their wealth of unique culture. Chiang Mai city features old-world beauty and charm as well as modern enjoyment and convenience. It is also filled with natural resources including mountains, waterfalls and rivers. Nowadays there are many activities and attractions both in the city and the surrounding province, including river rafting , elephant riding and golf.
The quality of living is excellent. Accommodation and food are of the highest standard at a very low cost. Entertainment is plentiful with numerous festivals, outdoor activities and great nightlife. A number of elephant camps, numerous outdoor activities, a variety of handicraft workshops, various cultural performances, and breathtaking scenery make Chiang Mai one of Asia’s most attractive tourist destinations.
1.What can we learn from the first Paragraph.?
A. Chiang Mai is a new city in Thailand.
B. Chiang Mai is the cultural center all over the world.
C. Many temples in Chiang Mai have several hundred years of history.
D. Bangkok lies among the highest mountains in Thailand.
2.Which words best describe the life in Chiang Mai according to the passage?
A. Old and hopeless.
B. Busy and polluted.
C. Poor and inconvenient.
D. Calm and attractive.
3.What is the purpose of the text?
A. To introduce the city of Chiang Mai.
B. To educate the locals of Chiang Mai.
C. To instruct the visitors of Chiang Mai.
D. To show the author’s respect for Chiang Mai.
Too much work and too much wine go together like biscuits and cheese, a new international studies finds. Employees who work more than 48 hours a week are 11 percent more likely to over-consume (过渡消费) alcohol than those who work standard time, Finnish researchers say. The study looked at more than 300,000 people in Australia, Europe and North America. No differences were seen between men and women, says the study, published in the British Medical Journal.
Risky alcohol consumption is considered as more than 14 drinks a week for women and more than 21 drinks a week for men. About 20 percent of Australians drink at levels that put them at risk of lifetime harm from injury or disease. Drinking alcohol can affect the liver or cause brain damage, heart disease, high blood pressure and increase the risk of many cancers.
Study author Marianna Virtanen said while alcohol might help ease the stress of working long periods of time, risky consumption could lead to difficulties in the workplace, such as poor performance. The European Union Working Time Directive ensures that workers in EU countries have the right to work no more than 48 hours a week, including overtime. “ But many people , for example well-educated managers and professionals, work much longer hours to achieve faster promotions (晋升), salary increases, and more control over work and employment,” said Prof. Virtanen from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.
1.Which place of the following is NOT referred to about the study?
A. Australia
B. Europe.
C. North America.
D. South America.
2.How many drinks is regarded as risky alcohol consumption for women?
A. No more than 14 drinks a week.
B. More than 14 drinks a week.
C. More than 21 drinks a week.
D. Between 14 and 21 drinks a week.
3.Some people work overtime in order to _______.
A. get promotions earlier.
B. get more retirement pay.
C. change more jobs.
D. Make themselves famous among colleagues.
4.What’s the main idea of the passage?
A. Too much work can lead to alcoholism.
B. The bad effect of drinking alcohol.
C. The different standard on alcoholism.
D. Too much wine can lead to hard work.
UK 5 Days
Today:
A chilly (寒冷的) and frosty start for many this morning, followed by a day of sunshine and local showers. The showers will be slow moving and heavy at times, particularly in the east with a risk of thunder.
Tonight:
Showers will ease this evening and clear spells (一段时间) will develop, causing a widespread frost. However, rain will push into the northwest during the early hours, turning heavy at times.
Friday:
Rain, locally heavy, will continue southwestwards through the day with strong winds. Elsewhere, it will be bright with some sunshine.
UK outlook for Saturday to Monday:
Rain across central parts on Saturday will ease and move northwards. Largely dry elsewhere with some misty sunshine. A mixture of sunshine and showers on Sunday and Monday, turning warmer.
Updated at 04:04 on Thur. 31 Mar.
UK 6-30 days
UK outlook for Tuesday 5 Apr. to Wednesday 13 Apr.:
A generally unsettled picture is likely next week, with showers or longer spells of rain affecting the majority of the UK, but with some drier and sunnier interludes (间歇). Temperatures will probably be around normal for most, but central and southeastern areas may see some warmer air moving up from the continent at times. The week after next will probably continue to be changeable with showers or longer spells of rain crossing the UK, but with some brighter and drier interludes in between. Temperatures may become rather low across the north and northwest later next week.
Updated at 12:36 on Wed. 30 Mar.
UK outlook for Thursday 14 Apr. to Saturday 30 Apr.:
It is likely to be changeable with a mixture of sunny spells and showers. However, some longer drier spells are also likely, particularly in northwestern areas. Overall temperatures will remain around normal for the time of year but with some warmer spells developing at times.
Updated at 12:37 on Wed.30 Mar.
1.The weather of tonight is similar to Friday in that_________
A. it has strong winds. B. it has frosts.
C. it has heavy rain. D. it is mainly sunny.
2.From Saturday to Monday, it may be rainy in the _______.
A. east B. west
C. south D. north
3.What will the weather be like in Britain from April 5 to 13?
A. It will be quite dry. B. It will be rather cold.
C. It will be generally rainy. D. It will be hot in the north.
4.Which part of Britain may have little rain in the second half of April?
A. The southeastern areas. B. The northeastern areas.
C. The northwestern areas. D. The southwestern areas.
