One rainy afternoon I was sitting at home feeling so bored._____ feeling sorry for myself，I wanted to meet people and have new _____ so I decided to start volunteering.I found a website where I could volunteer on a farm in France.
Volunteering _____ so many opportunities to have fun and share _____ stories.It was the first time for me to work on a farm.It was almost a(n) _____ holiday as food and accommodation were provided.It was not one _____ holiday，however，as I had to _____ fifteen horses and sheep！I soon discovered that I was a(n) _____ farmer but it did not matter because I made some great friends and also improved my _____．
However，you do not ______ go abroad to volunteer.I have had plenty of adventures at home as volunteering can become a ______．For example，I love ______ so I had a good laugh waving my arms in order to ______ my local choir(合唱团)．At university，I organized a concert for charity with my friends.It was really ______ to find bands and raise money for a cause.
It is true that you feel good volunteering but there are also other ______．I once volunteered as a steward (干事) at a charity sports event where the organizers ______ gave me cupcakes from an expensive London bakery to thank me for my ______．I also volunteered in a charity shop so I found loads of nice cheap clothes to ______ my wardrobe.
While this is all fun，my favourite aspect of volunteering is ______ and sharing stories.My terrible ______ at farming has given me funny stories to tell!
1.A. Apart from B. Due to C. Instead of D. But for
2.A. experiences B. discoveries C. opportunities D. changes
3.A. recommends B. demands C. offers D. seizes
4.A. popular B. fantastic C. familiar D. important
5.A. impressive B. free C. cheap D. special
6.A. unique B. regular C. typical D. convenient
7.A. attend to B. research into C. hunt for D. communicate with
8.A. skillful B. suitable C. hard－working D. awful
9.A. English B. French C. Russian D. Chinese
10.A. normally B. basically C. naturally D. necessarily
11.A. hobby B. trend C. job D. reality
12.A. dancing B. writing C. singing D. performing
13.A. greet B. control C. organize D. conduct
14.A. powerful B. hopeful C. meaningful D. successful
15.A. adventures B. advantages C. factors D. achievements
16.A. generously B. cautiously C. equally D. proudly
17.A. services B. patience C. determination D. choices
18.A. decorate B. replace C. beautify D. update
19.A. creating B. imagining C. choosing D. completing
20.A. offence B. shame C. attempt D. annoyance
How to Plan for a Perfect Holiday
People often dream of a perfect holiday with white sands，blue beaches and so on.But traveling or sometimes even planning a trip can be more of a stress.Here are some tips to make your holiday a memorable one.
·Set a budget.Before making a plan for the holiday，the most important thing is to set a budget.1.
·Plan ahead.The first thing you need to do is to be sure of what you need from this trip.Do you want to experience the local culture or just have fun on those sandy beaches？2.
·Read up before you go.3.Buy a good guidebook and read up on the culture，history，local attractions of the place.You can read the local publications online or surf the Net for more information.The more you know，the better you can enjoy the place and its traditions.
·Pack light and right.4.Avoid carrying unnecessary things around.A heavy luggage may sometimes influence your holiday spirit.Carry clothes that are comfortable and right for the season.As much as possible try to put everything you need in a single carry－on bag.
·5.Unreasonable expectations can lead to unwanted stress，so enjoy the holiday by managing what you can with the time you have.Enjoy each moment，whether good or bad.
A．Always book your stay.
B．Have realistic expectations.
C．Pack only the important things.
D．Plan your trip according to your needs and likes.
E．It helps you to plan and enjoy the trip within your limits.
F．Prepare yourself before visiting an unknown holiday place.
G．All you need is to get away from busy people and the world.
Here are some activities for families in Edmonton，the capital of Alberta，Canada.
West Edmonton Mall
It is the province's top tourist attraction. There is truly something for everyone with 800 stores, 10 world－class attractions, two hotels and over 100 dining venues. There're lots of parking spots, but it can be hard to find one later in the day, so plan to arrive early. You can also take a bus if you want to avoid driving in this busy area of the city.
Tip: Get a 10% discount when you buy your tickets online.
Fort Edmonton Park
The park brings Edmonton's history to life and is the perfect kid－friendly attraction. This trip down the memory lane will introduce your family to four periods in Edmonton's history. You'll want to spend at least three hours so your family will have time to take part in as many activities as possible.
Tip: If you want to skip the trouble of carrying a lunch with you, pre－order a picnic lunch basket from the Jasper House Bakery.
High Level Bridge and Streetcar
It is enjoyed by kids of all ages. The beautifully restored streetcars and informative conductors will take your family on an unforgettable trip down the memory lane. You'll also enjoy a stunning view of the river from the world's highest streetcar bridge.
Tip: If you plan your trip on Saturday, you'll also be able to enjoy a visit to the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market.
Telus World of Science
It is a hands－on educational experience the whole family will enjoy. Your admission includes the exhibit galleries, science demonstrations and full－dome shows.You can enjoy high－quality educational 3－D movies，but the cost is not included in the admission.
Tip: On a clear night, you can get a close－up look at the stars with the help of the observatory telescopes.
1.Why would we like to go to West Edmonton Mall by bus？
A. We can't find the parking lot.
B. There are too many supermarkets.
C. The traffic of the city is very busy.
D. The route to the mall is not familiar to us.
2.Where could we pay a visit if we are interested in Edmonton's history?
A. West Edmonton Mall.
B. Fort Edmonton Park.
C. High Level Bridge and Streetcar.
D. Telus World of Science.
3.When does the author advise us to go to the Old Strathcona Farmer's Market？
A. Early in the morning. B. At lunchtime.
C. At weekends. D. At night.
4.We have to buy extra tickets if we____.
A. enjoy watching 3－D movies
B. visit the exhibit galleries
C. do some shopping in the mall
D. join in the activities in the park
There is an interesting，but at the same time a sad phenomenon now：there is a rise in the number of singers and bands that have little to do with good music.Many singers or bands know little about what good music means. What is the cause of this rise?
Most of these singers have taken music as a“job” because it is a good source of making money.And if you have a good appearance and also expensive clothes to show off at your concerts or at different appearances in public, then your voice is not as important as it should be.The public will prefer to admire more the most interesting parts of your body，whether you are a girl or a boy.They will even forget about the fact that you are there to show your music skills ，not your dancing，which is important too，but not at such a high level.
Therefore，we can see many young girls on TV who look very good but who have nothing to do with music.They choose to wear very provocative(挑逗性的)clothes to catch attention，but when it comes to singing they are a complete mess and one doesn't need to have an ear for music to notice their lack of talent.But anyway，they have concerts and they enjoy travelling from one place to another.It is the public's fault because they accept this and are pleased with this commercial music.People who enjoy this kind of music are generally young people while adults prefer listening to old good bands.
However，the young generation should understand while appearance is important，it is less important than talent and a good voice.If somebody has a great voice and wants to become a singer，he should take some special courses in this area，because they will help him improve singing abilities.
1.The passage shows that many singers consider music as_____.
A. an art serving the public
B. a good way of making money
C. a way of living fully
D. a fashionable lifestyle
2.From the passage we can learn that____.
A. appearance is the most important thing in the world of music
B. all people who have received training in singing can become famous
C. adults should help young people improve their abilities
D. a singer's talent and voice are the most important factors
3.What do you think is the author's attitude towards the rising number of new singers and bands？
A. Critical. B. Supportive.
C. Tolerant. D. Worried.
4.What kind of article does this passage belong to？
A. Entertainment. B. Sport.
C. Comment. D. Story.
Is losing weight as simple as doing a 15－minute writing exercise？In a new study，women who wrote about their most important values，like close relation－ships or religion，lost more weight over the next few months than women who didn’t.“We have this need to feel self－integrity，”says Christine Logel of the University of Waterloo.“When something threatens your sense that you're a good person，like failing a test，we can buffer(减缓)that self－integrity by reminding ourselves how much we love our children，for example.”
For this study，the researchers recruited 45 female undergraduates，of whom 58%were overweight.Each woman was weighed，and was then given a list of important values，like creativity，music or relationships with friends and family members.Each woman ranked the values in order of how important they were to her.Then half the women were told to write for 15 minutes about the value that was most important to her.The other half，a control group，were told to write about why a value far down on their list might be important to someone else.
The women came back months later to be weighed again.Women who had written about an important value lost an average of 3.41 pounds，while women in the control group gained an average of 2.76.
“How we feel about ourselves can have a big effect”Logel says.Maybe when one of the women who wrote about an important value went home that night，she felt good about herself and didn’t eat to make herself feel better.Over a few months，that could make a real difference in her life.
1.How can a 15－minute writing exercise of important values affect people？
A. They will feel proud of themselves and gain weight gradually.
B. They may feel good about themselves and then eat less than usual.
C. They may continue writing and decide to become a professional writer.
D. They will never have meals at night to make themselves lose weight.
2.What were the females required to do in the study？
A. The overweight women wrote about the value most important to them.
B. Only the control group was given a list of important values.
C. Both groups ranked the values in order of importance to them.
D. Each woman was weighed three times in the process of the study.
3.Which of the following people may lose weight according to the new study？
A. Mary who wrote about her own adventure.
B. Catherine who described her illness in her writing.
C. Shirley who wrote how much she loved her children.
D. Alice who complained her boss in her diary.
4.Which of the following might be the best title for the passage？
A. Women Values Losing Weight
B. Losing Weight Is Very Simple
C. Writing Benefits Women a Lot
D. Writing Contributes to Losing Weight
Welcome to Holker Hall & Gardens
Visitor Information
How to Get to Holker
By Car: Follow brown signs an A590 from JB6, M6. Approximate travel times: Windermere-20 minutes, Kendal-25 minutes, Lancaster-45 minutes, Manchester-1 hour 30 minutes.
By Rail: The nearest station is Cark-in-Cartmel with trains to Carnforth, Lancaster Preston for connections to major cities & airports.
Opening Times
Sunday-Friday (closed on Saturday)11:00 am-4:00pm,30 March-2nd November.
Admission Charges
| Hall & Gardens | Gardens |
Adults: | £12.00 | £8.00 |
Groups | £9 | £5.5 |
Special Events
Producers: Market 13th April
Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks. Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas.
Holker Garden Festival 30th May
The event celebrate its 22nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening, making it one of the most popular events in gardening.
National Garden Day 28th August
Holker once again opens is gardens in aid of the disadvantaged. For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide.
Winter Market 8th November
This is an event for all the family. Wander among a variety of shops selling gifs while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment.
1.How long does it probably take a tourist to drive to Holker from Manchester?
A. 20 minutes. B. 25 minutes.
C. 45 minutes. D. 90 minutes.
2.How much should a member of a tour group pay to visit to Hall & Cardens?
A. £12.00. B. £9.00.
C. £8.0 D. £5.50
3.Which event will you go to if you want to see a live music show?
A. Producers’ Market. B. Holker Garden Festival.
C. National Garden Day. D. Winter Market.
