Reports tell us that Americans work more and vacation less than people in other major industrial countries. Still，millions of Americans do try to get away from home for a week or two in the summer months. Some might even have the time and money to spend longer on vacation.
For example， many retired Americans can be found driving around the United States in big recreational vehicles，known as R. V. ’s. These serve as a home away from home. In fact，it might even be their only home as they see the country.
Some American families get in their cars and drive to historic places like Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. There，they can experience what life was like for early Americans. If that is not exciting enough， also in Williamsburg is a water park and an amusement park with rides.
Other Americans visit national parks like Yellowstone or Yosemite out in the West. They want to spend time with nature. Or they take their vacation by a lake or the ocean. They might swim or fish. But many just want to sit and enjoy the feeling of doing nothing，except maybe read a book.
Some families fly to other countries on vacation. Or they go on a cruise ship(大型游轮）and stop in different ports. Cruise ships are like floating cities.
But not everyone goes someplace special on vacation. This might be the only time for people to work on things like home improvement projects. And while they do that，they might think of all the fun their friends are having.
1.What can be the best title for the text?
A. Americans work more and vacation less.
B. Where Americans go on their summer vacations.
C. Different places for summer vacations.
D. Not all Americans take summer vacations.
2.If you want to spend time with nature，you can do the following things except ________.
A. to visit national parks B. to see the country
C. to stay by a lake D. to visit historic places
3.Which of the following is NOT true?
A. People choose different destinations depending on different interests.
B. People interested in history can have fun in Colonial Williamsburg.
C. All the people take vacations only to do nothing but relax themselves.
D. Not all Americans can afford time and money to go on a vacation.
4.What does the underlined sentence of the passage mean?
A. They fully enjoy doing their work on home improvement projects.
B. They think of their work at home as a special kind of vacation.
C. They can imagine what fun their friends are having on vacation.
D. They might envy their friends having time going on vacation.
When the weather is good, most children would like to play outside. So we asked some kids and their parents whether the following toys kept them happy.
All Surface Swingball, $35.99
Played by Martin, nine, and five-year-old Alex in Crewe, Cheshire.
Mother Jennifer says, “The boys thought the toy was excellent and really wanted to play with it. It can be played with alone or with another child. It’s for the right age range but I believe the toy can be played with by all ages and is suitable for the whole family.”
Rubberwood Quoits Set, $13.99
Played by Jessica, four.
Mother Lucy Hayburst, 37, in Chichester, West Sussex, says, “Jessica played with this toy for a few minutes but quickly stopped playing with it. Since we bought this toy for her, she only played several times. The quality is very good. It can be played with by one child or more. Besides, I believe it’s more suitable for older kids.”
Wooden Animal Skittles, $14.99
Played by Matthew, two.
Father Richard Lee, 36, from Dartford, Kent, says, “Matthew was very interested in the toys and liked to play with them, but that only lasted for around five minutes. The skittles were fun at first but that feeling soon disappeared. Two or more children can play with the toy together. And I think they are most suitable for kids aged between three and seven. Our youngest son, Ethan, just kept trying to eat the lion’s head.”
First Tailball Net Set, $22
Played by James, five.
Mother Sarah Schwar, 39, from Grays, Essex, says, “James loved the toy.” He enjoyed balls so it was perfect for him. We used it in the summer as it was easy to take on trips. It is suitable for kids over five years old. I think the price is fair and your children deserve it.”
1.What did Jessica think of Rubberwood Quoits Set?
A. Frightening. B. Expensive.
C. Wonderful. D. Boring
2.Which toys are suitable for kids aged three?
A. Wooden Animal Skittles & First Taiball Net Set.
B. Rubberwood Quoits Set & First Taiball Net Set.
C. All Surfacce Swingball & Wooden Animal Skittles.
D. All Surface Swingball & Rubberwood Quoits Set.
3.What can we learn from the text?
A. Toys should be chosen according to children’s ages.
B. Each toy has its own advantages and disadvantages.
C. Parents should encourage kids to play with toys patiently.
D. All parents are concerned with the usage and prices of toys.
A survey has shown that what you do on a plane can be determined by which nationality is listed on your passport.
According to the results of an international passenger survey, Australians are the biggest drinkers on board with 36 percent choosing to down the hatch, compared to 35 percent of Americans and 33 percent of Brits.
The Airline Passenger Experience Association(APEX) spoke to around 1,500 people, aged 18 and older, who have traveled by plane at least once during the last three months and were living in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, China, Singapore, Australia and Brazil.
The results found Chinese travelers are most likely to nod off once the seat-belt sign switches off. They are also the first to take out their credit card for some in-flight shopping and the biggest fans of gaming. Americans on the other hand like to use their time in the air more productively---- when not drinking---- choosing to work while flying at 35,000 feet.
Meanwhile, Brits and Germans are the best at making chat with random strangers----spending 50 percent more time than any other nationality. Comparatively, Brazilians conduct their conversations online via email, messaging apps or social media.
Despite plane food having a bad reputation, seven out of ten interviewees said they were happy to eat up on the selection of in-flight snacks and meals. In-flight magazines were also popular with four out of five passengers.
The international flyers did however express their desire for better in-flight entertainment. “The industry has greatly improved the comfort, entertainment and onboard service, and passengers are accepting those improvements” said Russell Lemieux, APEX executive director. “At the same time, passengers are demanding more from their air travel experiences which will drive more improvements touching all aspects of the journey.” he added.
1.What can you probably see in the flight according to the passage?
A. Brazilians choose to drink.
B. Americans do in-flight shopping.
C. Germans chat to kill the time.
D. The Chinese switch off the seat-belt sign.
2.When on board the plane, ______.
A. passengers from one nation have little in common
B. most passengers like to read in-flight magazines
C. more than half of the passengers don’t enjoy plane food
D. most people tend to use in-flight time to have a good sleep.
3.What can we learn from the last paragraph?
A. Flyers care little about entertainment.
B. Flyers are not satisfied with the improvements.
C. Flyers are expecting better flight experiences.
D. Flyers have more and more demands from airlines.
4.What’s the purpose of the passage?
A. To entertain readers with interesting stories.
B. To encourage people to behave well in public.
C. To criticize impolite behaviors on the plane.
D. To inform readers of the results of a survey.
On plenty of drives with my mom through my childhood, she would suddenly pull over the car to examine a flower by the side of the road or rescue a beetle from tragedy while I, in my late teens and early twenties, sat impatiently in the car.
Though Mother’s Day follows Earth Day, for me, they have always been related to each other. My mom has been “green” since she became concerned about the environment. Part of this habit was born of thrift (节俭). Like her mother and her grandmother before her, mom saves glass jars, empty cheese containers and reuses her plastic bags.
Mom creates a kind of harmonious relationship with wildlife in her yard. She knows to pick the apples on her trees a little early to avoid the bears and that if she leaves the bird feeders out at night, it is likely that they will be knocked down by a family of raccoons (浣熊). Spiders that make their way into the house and are caught in juice glasses will be set loose in the garden.
I try to teach my children that looking out for the environment starts with being aware of the environment. On busy streets, we look for dandelions(蒲公英) to fly in the wind; we say hello to neighborhood cats and pick up plastic cups and paper bags. This teaching comes easily, I realize, because I was taught so well by example. Mom didn’t need to lecture; she didn’t need to beat a drum to change the world. She simply slowed down enough to enjoy living in it and with that joy came mercy and an instinct(直觉) for protection.
I am slowing down and it isn’t because of the weight of my nearly forty years on the planet, it is out of my concern for the planet itself. I’ve begun to save glass jars and reuse packing envelopes. I pause in my daily tasks to watch the squirrels race each other in the trees above my house.
Last summer, in the company of my son and daughter, I planted tomatoes in my yard. With the heat of August around me, I ate the first while sitting on my low wall with dirt on my hands. Warm from the sun, it burst on my tongue with sweetness. I immediately wanted to share with my mom.
1.Why does the author say Earth Day is connected with Mother’s Day?
A. Because Mother’s Day falls shortly after Earth Day.
B. To show that all the older women in her family are environmentalists.
C. To show how much her mother cares about the environment.
D. Because her mother shows her how to be friendly to nature on Mother’s Day.
2.Which of the following is NOT related to Mom’s “green life”?
A. Rescuing a beetle from a certain tragedy.
B. Saving glass jars or empty cheese containers
C. Setting a caught spider free in the garden
D. Picking dandelions on busy streets
3.What can be learned from the last paragraph?
A. Tomatoes are the author’s favorite fruit.
B. It is her mother who taught the author to plant tomatoes.
C. Planting tomatoes is a way of protecting environment.
D. The author really appreciates her mother’s teaching.
4.The writer’s attitude towards her mom’s behavior changed in the order of ______.
A. understanding — negative— supporting
B. supporting — doubtful — negative
C. negative — understanding — supporting
D. doubtful— negative— supporting
I found these problems are easy ____________.
A. to be worked out B. to work them out
C. to work out D. to be worked them out
The flowers will die soon unless often ________.
A. watering B. to water
C. water D. watered
