Where to enjoy a picture-perfect white Christmas?

Quebec City, Canada

When the narrow streets of Quebec City are covered in snow, it feels like you’ve wandered into a beautiful Victorian Christmas card which has come to life. Enjoy the friendliness of this charming Canadian city with joyous outdoor concerts, holiday markets and Quebec Adabra — an evening festival of music, lights, animation (动画) and architectural projections held city-wide.

London, England

The capital is bursting with holiday cheer. Bright Christmas lights brighten up Oxford Street, Covent Garden and Carnaby Street. Skating people can go for a seasonal spin in Somerset House, Hyde park, Canary Wharf and the Tower of London. Love holiday music? St. Martin-Fields hosts an inspiring line-up of Christmas concerts while London’s most famous Christmas tree entertains visitors in Trafalgar Square.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague’s beautiful architecture provides a dramatic setting for its Christmas activities. At the foot of the Church of Our Lady before Tyn, the Old Town Christmas market sells Christmas gifts and treats to the thousands of shoppers who visit it each December. Carol (圣诞颂歌) singers perform seasonal favourites while a well-decorated Christmas tree adds to the joyous atmosphere.

Rovaniemi, Finland

For a storybook Christmas, Rovaniemi in Finland is hard to beat. Lapland’s capital becomes a winter wonderland. The area is lit by the impressive northern lights，and they can be witnessed around the city from mid-August to early April. This magical place is also the official home of Santa Claus himself and visitors of all ages can meet everything about Christmas at Santa Claus Village right at the Arctic Circle.

1. Why does the author mention the Victorian Christmas card?

A. To indicate Quebec City is beautiful.

B. To show it always snows at Christmas.

C. To tell us Christmas is a lively holiday.

D. To suggest that we buy Christmas cards.

2. Where can you skate in London at Christmas?

A. In Oxford Street.

B. In Covent Garden.

C. In Canary Wharf.

D. In Trafalgar Square.

3. What makes a Christmas in Prague more attractive?

A. The unique gifts offered to tourists.

B. The great architecture of Prague.

C. The Old Town Christmas market.

D. A well-decorated Christmas tree.

4. What is special about Rovaniemi?

A. Its scenery attracts visitors of all ages.

B. It is a winter wonderland full of magic.

C. Its Christmas celebrations last long.

D. It is where Santa Claus comes from.

  Last Friday a storm swept through two villages in the New Territories,   61    (destroy) fourteen homes. Seven others were so badly damaged 62    their owners had to leave them, and fifteen others had broken windows or roofs. One person was killed, several were   63     (serious) hurt and taken to hospital, and a number of other people received smaller hurt. Altogether over two hundred people were homeless after the storm.

  A farmer, Mr. Tan, said that the storm began early   64   the morning and lasted for over an hour. “I   65     (eat) with my wife and children when we heard a loud noise” he said, “ A few minutes later our house fell down on top of us. We tried our best   66    (climb) out but then I saw that one of my    67      (child) was missing. I went back inside and found him, safe    68  very frightened.”

  Mrs. Wu Mei said that her husband had just left for work    69     she felt that her house was moving. She ran outside at once with her children    70   were watching TV.

       Soldiers helped to take people out of the flooded area and the welfare department brought them food, clothes and shelter.

One of the best ways to change your looks and improve your health is to lose excessive weight．There are plenty of tips and various techniques to help you cope with the problem．
Say good-bye to sugar
（36） __．Sugar is added to most products to make themmoreaddictive．People like the sweet taste and get used to eating pretty soon．Do not use sugar at all or minimize its amount while cooking．
Enjoys fruits and vegetables
Eating fruits and veggies is absolutely necessary when you are on a diet and need minerals，vitamins and other nutrients to stay energetic and alert．（37）because we tend to snack on fast food instead．In order not to get bored with vegetables and fruits，be creative and invent something new，such as colorful salads or smoothies．
Get enough sleep
It has been scientifically proved that people who do not get enough sleep eat more．（38） _．It is stressful for the whole organism tostay up late at night．Go to bed before midnight．Avoid snacking on fatty and sugary foods before bedtime．Stop drinking caffeinated drinks a few hours before you go to bed so that you could fall asleep easier．
Reduce the amount of meat you consume
Eating less meat is good for a variety of reasons．（39） _．One of the most expected recommendations you might hear from a specialist is that you should reduce the amount of consumed meat if your goal is weight loss．
（40） ______
Being physically active is good for you and not boring at all．It does not require any special skills or equipment．Practice sports for entertainment．Only then will you be able to fully enjoy it and keep on exercising further．

A．They need calories to stay alert
B．We need to burn excessive calories to keep healthy
C．Nowadays it is close to impossible to find foods that would not contain sugar
D．People used to be healthier many years ago only because they could not afford meat
E．Exercise for Fun
F．Exercise regularly
G．Most of us would avoid fruits and vegetables．

    Why play games? Because they are fun. Besides, following the rules, planning your next move, acting as a team member, these are all “game” ideas that you will come across throughout your life.

    Think about some of the games you played as a young child, such as rope-jumping and hide-and-seek. Such games are entertaining and fun. But perhaps more importantly, they translate life into exciting dramas that teach children some of the basic rules they will be expected to follow the rest of their lives, such as taking turns and cooperating.

     Many children’s games have a practical side. Children around the world play games that prepare them for work they will do as grown-ups. For instance, some Saudi Arabian children play a game called bones, which sharpens the hand-eye coordination(协调) needed in hunting.

     Many sports encourage national or local pride. The most famous games of all, the Olympic Games, bring athletes from around the world together to take part in friendly competition. People who watch the event wave flags, knowing that a good medal is a win for an entire country, not just the athlete who earned it. For countries experiencing natural disasters or war, an Olympic win can mean so much.

     Sports are also events that unite people. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. People on all continents play it----- some for fun and some for a living. Nicolette Iribarne, a Californian soccer player, has discovered a way to spread hope through soccer. He created a foundation to provide poor children with not only soccer balls but also a promising future.

    Next time you play your favorite game or sport, think about why you enjoy it , what skills are needed, and whether these skills will help you in other aspects of your life.

28. Through playing hide-seek, children are expected to learn to ________.

 A. be a team leader                   B. obey the basic rules

C. act as a grown-up                  D. predict possible danger       

29. The underlined part in Paragraph 2 most probably means that games can _________.

   A. describe life in an exciting way   

   B. turn real-life experiences into a play

   C. make learning life skills more interesting

   D. change people’s views of sporting events

30. According to the passage, why is winning Olympic medals so encouraging?

   A. It inspires people’s deep love for the country.     

   B. It proves the exceptional skills of the winners.

   C. It helps the country out of natural disasters.      

   D. It earns the winners fame and fortune.

31. What can be inferred from the passage?

   A. Games benefit people all their lives.       

   B. Sports can get all athletes together.

   C. People are advised to play games for fun.   

   D. Sports increase a country’s competitiveness(竞争力).

The Board Meeting had come to an end. Bob started to stand up and knocked into the table, spilling his coffee over his notes. “How embarrassing! I am getting so clumsy in my old age.”

Everyone had a good laugh, and soon we were all telling stories of our most embarrassing moments. It came around to Frank who sat quietly listening to the others. Someone said, “Come on, Frank. Tell us your most embarrassing moment.”

Frank laughed and began to tell us of his childhood. “I grew up in San Pedro. My Dad was a fisherman, and he loved the sea. He had his own boat, but it was hard making a living on the sea. He worked hard and would stay out until he caught enough to feed the family. Not just enough for our family, but also for his Mom and Dad and the other kids that were still at home.”

He looked at us and said, “I wish you could have met my Dad. He was a big man, and he was strong from pulling the nets and fighting the seas for his catch. When you got close to him, he smelled like the ocean. He would wear his old canvas, foul-weather coat and his bibbed overalls. His rain hat would be pulled down over his brow. No matter how much my mother washed them, they would still smell of the sea and of fish.”

Frank’s voice dropped a bit. “When the weather was bad he would drive me to school. He had this old truck that he used in his fishing business. That truck was older than he was. It would wheeze and rattle down the road. You could hear it coming for blocks. As he would drive toward the school, I would shrink (畏缩) down into the seat hoping to disappear. Half the time, he would slam to a stop and the old truck would belch (喷出) a cloud of smoke. He would pull right up in front, and it seemed like everybody would be standing around and watching. Then he would lean over and give me a big kiss on the cheek and tell me to be a good boy. It was so embarrassing for me. Here, I was twelve years old, and my Dad would lean over and kiss me goodbye!”

He paused and then went on, “I remember the day I decided I was too old for a goodbye kiss. When we got to the school and came to a stop, he had his usual big smile. He started to lean toward me, but I put my hand up and said, “No, Dad.” It was the first time I had ever talked to him that way, and he had this surprised look on his face. I said, “Dad, I’m too old for a goodbye kiss. I’m too old for any kind of kiss.” My Dad looked at me for the longest time, and his eyes started to tear up. Then he turned and looked out the windshield. “ You’re right,” he said. “ You are a big boy....a man. I won’t kiss you anymore.”

Frank got a funny look on his face, and the tears began to well up in his eyes, as he spoke. “It wasn’t long after that when my Dad went to sea and never came back. It was a day when most of the fleet (船队) stayed in, but not Dad. He had a big family to feed. They found his boat adrift with its nets half in and half out. He must have gotten into a strong wind and was trying to save the nets and the floats.”

I looked at Frank and saw that tears were running down his cheeks. Frank spoke again. “Guys, you don’t know what I would give to have my Dad give me just one more kiss on the cheek…to feel his rough old face… to smell the ocean on him… to feel his arm around my neck. I wish I had been a man then. If I had been a man, I would never have told my Dad I was too old for a goodbye kiss.”

66. When his father drove him to the school, Frank would shrink down into the seat hoping to disappear because ________.

    A. he was ashamed of his father’s old truck

    B. he thought he was old enough to go to school alone

    C. he didn’t want his schoolmates to see his father

    D. he hated the way his schoolmates stared at his father

67. In Frank’s eyes, when his father said “You are a big boy… a man.”, he probably felt ____.

    A. disappointed B. hurt C. excited  D. proud

68. According to the story we can conclude that Frank’s father ________.

    A. was quite confident in his skills in fishing

    B. loved his children but hardly expressed it

    C. seldom gave up faced with challenges

    D. was full of devotion to his family

69. By saying the sentence “I wish I had been a man then…”, Frank meant ________.

    A. he was fed up with his father kissing him goodbye

    B. he deeply regretted what he had done to his father

    C. he was then too young to refuse a goodbye kiss

    D. he hoped that his father would forgive him

70. Which of the following may be the best title for this passage?

    A. The Smell of the Ocean       B. We All Need Love

    C. A Goodbye Kiss               D. Father’s Embarrassment

In Australia, many road signs are both in English and Chinese, ____ it easier for Chinese tourists to travel.

A. making    B. made

C. make    D. makes

________ more time，we are sure to finish the task in time．

A．Given              B．To give               C．Giving    D．Give

I am in my father’s house in Connecticut, sitting at a crowded table with my brother, my two sisiters and all our partners, talking about a tree.

“He doesn’t want it cut down.” My sister says when my father has gone to bed and none of us speaks of the tree in his presence. “He says he usef to climb it when he was a boy.”

When I was last here, a year and a half ago, for my father’s 90^th birthday, Hurricane Irene drove seawater into the roads. The large tree that hangs over the houses swayed (摇摆)alarmingly, but it stayed up.

Last October, Hurricane Sandy acused a great deal of damage. Six months on, many of the surrounding houses are on sale, but the tree that hangs over the house still stands.

“That tree,” my brother says, “has survived the two worst storms of the last 100 years.”

Though my brother thinks highly of the amazing staying power of the tree, my sister says that the tree should never have been planted: it stops light from reaching the house. My other sister’s partner says that all trees fall down eventually. There is plenty of evidence for what he says: throughout the neighborhood, the ramains of similarly sized trees lie on their sides, with their roots in the air. During this discussion, I offer to pay a quarter of whatever is required to remove the tree.

“A guy I talked to,” my brother says, “told me it could cost us$10,000.”

As night wears on, the discussion becomes increaslingly meaningless. There is no point in reaching any kind of agreement, since the decision is not for us to make. It’s my father’s tree, and he has refused to cut down the only thing in the neighborhood older than him.

21.When does the discussion take place?

A. After lunch

B. After supper

C. At the weekend

D. Before their father’s 90^th birthday

22. What can we learn about the two storms that the tree has survived?

A. The first storm happened a year ago.

B. The second storm lasted for six months.

C. The first storm damaged the tree more than the second one.

D. They were the two worst storms of the last 100 years.

23. What is the author’s opinion about the tree?

A. He admires its amazing staying power

B.He thinks it should never have been planted

C. He would like to have it removed

D. He wants to sell it for some money

24. According to the text, the tree_________

A. is more than 90 years old

B. has survived two storms in its life

C. will fall down after the author’s father’s death

D. is the only large tree in the neighborhood

 Jessie was very excited, just as I had imagined, ______ her stolen motorcycle yesterday.

   A. finding        B. found           C. having found       D. to find

The West began to take more notice of the East. The fifth volume of an enormous work re-assessing the Chinese contribution to science and technology is to be published next year. The first volume, which was published twenty years ago, set the tone for the whole work. In it, evidence was given to show that many inventions which, until then, western historians had claimed for Europe, were made first in China. The attempt to rewrite the intellectual history of the world was not received without protest by some respectable historians. However, the evidence that has been presented so far in the first four volumes has persuaded many historians who were doubtful at first. China’s invention of paper, printing, the magnetic compass and gunpowder has never been quarrelled, but this new history has added advanced bridge design, mechanical clocks, paddle boats and many other inventions to the list.

In the four volumes published so far no attempt has been made to explain why China has not kept up with the West in science and technology in modern times. It is probable that the answer is to be found in the social and economic history of China, where an unchanged society under a relatively kind regime（政治制度）of upper classes contrasts with the potentially revolutionary and energetic society of the West at the end of the Middle Ages. In recent years, the Chinese government has been making every effort to catch up with the West again, and there is little doubt that the gap is being reduced year by year. But will China avoid the West’s mistakes?

(Note: Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN 13 WORDS.)

62. So far, how many volumes have been published?

_________________________________________________________.

63. What was confirmed by the evidence in the first volume published?

_________________________________________________________.

64. The subject of this five-volume work is _______________________________________.

65. According to the passage, what’s the probable reasons for China not keeping up with the west?

_________________________________________________________.

       The pressures of    41       (provide) full-time care for a loved one with a learning disability can be felt throughout the whole family. When I was younger, I remembered my parents taking      42     (turn) to look after Frances until she fell asleep,    43     was usually around 5 am. As my parents got more hopeless, I felt I              

    44    (have) to take a turn and give them a break. But every morning     45     fail, after endless nights of no sleep, my    46      (tire) dad would still be ready at  5 am to take me to swimming practice. It is a miracle      47    under such stress and pressure, my mum and dad have always remained calm and loving with Frances, with me, and most incredibly with each other.

    It’s      48    (absolute) heartbreaking to see families      49        (tear) apart because they are not getting the short breaks they badly need. MENCAP is asking the government to make sure that any money they invest     50      (spend) on these services. They are also calling on councils to make sure that they reach out early to families caring for a son or daughter with a learning disability,

We're trying to decide where to go on our vacation this summer. We   __36__go to Lake Arrowhead for a   __37__   of weeks, but we'd like to go somewhere else  __38__   year. We're tired of doing  __39__   things summer after summer. Some   __40__   of ours suggested that we go to Hawaii. That would be  __41__！ I'm sure we'd  __42__   a trip like that, but of course it's impossible. In the first place, it would be terribly  __43__， and in the second place, there wouldn't be enough __44__. If we were to make a trip like that, I would want to be able to   __45__   three or four weeks. If we're__46__   enough to save some money between now and next summer, and if I'm fortunate enough to get four weeks of  __47__   instead of two weeks, maybe we can go to   __48__   next year. As a matter of fact，if we wanted to  __49__   a trip like that, it might be  __50__   to stay home this summer and not to go to  __51__   place.   __52__， if we were to stay here, I could__53__to work instead of taking two weeks  __54__； then maybe my   __55__   would recommend that I be given four weeks' vacation next summer instead of two weeks.

36．A. sometimes   B. frequently   C. occasionally     D. usually

37．A. fortnight    B. couple   C. lot   D. number

38．A. next     B. last   C. this           D. that

39．A. a different   B. many a   C. the same            D. a tiring

40．A. customers    B. bosses   C. guests         D. friends

41．A. useful   B. wonderful  C. helpful        D. surprising

42．A. enjoy    B. have  C. get          D. stop

43．A. good     B. cheap  C. expensive           D. convenient

44．A. money   B. place  C. reason      D. time

45．A. live     B. stay C. pause            D. enjoy

46．A. lucky     B. good C. nice          D. pitiful

47．A. rest     B. break C. vacation    D. leave

48．A. Hawaii     B. New York C. Lake Arrowhead        D. any place

49．A. consider    B. go C. need          D. plan

50．A. dangerous  B. wise C. foolish            D. interesting

51．A. any     B. some  C. each          D. one

52．A. However   B. But  C. Besides        D. Instead

53．A. receive  B. ask   C. offer          D. have

54．A. period  B. leave C. holiday           D. off

55．A. boss    B. manager C. parents         D. friends

In Europe, many people make friends across the borders between their countries through town twinning. Town or city twinning means two towns in different countries agree and decide to become “twins” with sister city relationship.

Their citizens find pen friends in the twin town. They exchange newspapers and stamps. The school teachers discuss teaching methods with the teachers in the twin town. Officials visit the twin town for celebrations. Ordinary citizens travel to the twin town, too, but not very often if it is far away.

Sometimes, schools even exchange their classes for two or three weeks! For example, German middle school students study for a while at the school in their twin town in Britain, staying with British families. A few months later, their British friends come to study in Germany.

Some towns even arrange exchange visits for theatre groups, choirs（合唱团）and orchestras （ 管弦乐队）. Others send lecturers to the twin town who tell the people there all about their own town , and show photos and slides.

Town twining can help make friends and motivate（促进） people to learn from each other. It helps students to improve their language skills, and it contributes to （有助于）strengthening peace and understanding between different nations.

61．Which is the best title for the passage?

      A．Town Twinning                             B．Friendly Towns

      C．Exchange Teachers and Students                D．Peace and Understanding

62．Twin towns develop ________.

      A．between European countries and China      B．in the English-speaking countries only

      C．in the same country                         D．between different countries in Europe

63．One of the advantages of town twinning is __________.

      A．to earn more money                      B．to set up schools

      C．to improve students language skills              D．to develop industry and agriculture

64．Which of the following is true according to the passage?

      A．Ordinary citizens often travel to the twin town.

      B．The school teachers discuss their life with the teachers in the twin town.

       C．Theatre groups, choirs and orchestras are also exchanged between twin towns.

      D．Twin towns are two towns which look almost the same.

Plan ahead to make your family trip run smoothly

Family vacations  are  cherished  memories.Keeping children entertained on the road or during a flight，however，can be challenging.The best way to cut down on anxiety？Plan ahead.

Avoid giving children snacks that contain sugar and caffeine. Sweet treats keep them happy and quiet for five minutes，as it fills them with unusable energy that will turn into crankiness (偏执) when the sugar wears off.Bring fun，small snacks like flavored baked chips，apple sauce，raisins，and granola bars—and top it off with a little protein like cheese sticks to keep the blood sugar levels nice and steady.

Bring plenty of plastic or paper bags. This is the perfect time to put those spare bags around the house to use.Store them in your purse or pocket，as well as in the car.This is a quick solution for garbage，diaper wrapping or motion sickness.

Avoid extra costs on bulk items you will need during the trip. When flying，purchase bulk items like diapers，formula，and wipes at your destination.In the past，it was convenient and free to check these items.Now，each checked luggage item costs $25 or more on average.When driving，do the opposite; take your bulk items to avoid extra trips to the store when you arrive，which can help you avoid impulse travel purchases.

Bring a full change of clothing for each child. Keep these items within fairly easy reach.When a spill or mess happens，this will help parents avoid unexpected (and unbudgeted) clothing purchases.

Travel planning can help make family vacations what they are supposed to be: Fun! What are some of your favorite strategies for saving time and stress while traveling with children?

55. Which of the following can keep the blood sugar levels nice and steady?

   A．Coffee.  B．Apple pie with sugar in it.  C．Candies.  D．Cheese sticks.

56. Which is the proper place for you to buy bulk items when driving?

   A．At the destination.

   B．At wherever you can buy cheaper ones.

   C．At the place you just go out of the things you need.

   D．In the stores near your house.

57. What should parents do to avoid unexpected clothing purchases during their vacation?

   A．Do not let children make their clothes dirty.

   B．Bring a full change of clothing for each child.

   C．Wash the dirty clothes frequently.

   D．Do not allow children eat during their vacation.

 Could you give me a hand? It seems that my strength has ___________.

   A. used up                B. been given out    C. run out              D. been run out

 It is about time that the government _______ strong action against piracy.          

  A. is taking               B. takes                 C. took             D. will take

It was 7:00 am in Paris,France,and the taxi company had just called a second time to say they couldn't find my house.Once again I spelt out_41_even a blind person could follow.I glanced_42_at my watch,and waited.Only two hours remained_43_my flight left—and it was one and a half hours'_44_to the airport.

Outside,heavy rains were_45_.My house was so far north in the city that buses_46_only three times a day.

The telephone rang again."Terribly sorry,"began the man at the taxi company.Then I realized that the taxi company,flooded with calls,could only_47_in-city runs.I had heard this happens when the_48_gets bad.I_49_    into the phone that I had a_50_to catch and I would meet the taxi outside my house.

Standing in the wind-driven rain,I looked_51_the road.No taxi.A car went by,the driver and passenger staring at the_52_foreigner in the downpour.

_53_a white car appeared and_54_to a stop.A young man threw open the door,waving to me to get in.Shaking with cold and_55_,I climbed in.

In the most_56_French,the man said he was called Will,with whom I had spoken three times that morning.He had left his post in the office and_57_here in his personal car.He_58 _again,but didn't explain why no taxi would pick me up_59_me straight to the airport,he refused the 2,000 franc I pressed into his hand.

A few hours later,as the storm-delayed plane_60_,I opened the newspaper.On the second page my eyes caught the headline of a short article: Taxi Strike Begins This Morning in Paris.

41.A.house              B.directions       C.surroundings        D.field

42.A.aimlessly                 B.hopelessly    C.cautiously             D.impatiently

43.A.before              B.after               C.unless                         D.when

44.A.visit                         B.experience    C.ride                       D.distance

45.A.falling down    B.pouring down         C.putting down         D.turning down

46.A.pass                       B.rush               C.take                      D.travel

47.A.allow                B.permit            C.offer                     D.afford

48.A.climate             B.condition        C.season                        D.weather

49.A.whispered        B.threatened    C.shouted                D.forced

50.A.ship                        B.plane             C.train                      D.bus

51.A.again and again        B.now and then         C.up and down        D.here and there

52.A.crazy                B.amazing         C.awesome              D.energetic

5 3.A.Immediately           B.Finally            C.Permanently                D.Constantly

54.A.arrived             B.pushed                 C.continued             D.pulled

55.A.curiosity                  B.fear                C.excitement            D.anger

56.A.fluent               B.usual             C.polite                    D.formal

57.A.fled                         B.escaped        C.attempted             D.raced

58.A.commented      B.apologized    C.admitted               D.insisted

59.A.Fetching                 B.Bringing         C.Delivering             D.Driving

60.A.took off            B.set off            C.broke off               D.knocked off

It’s hard to adjust to(适应) attending a new school. Everything seems new. Making new friends can be hard too because people seem to have formed their own group. The following are some ways to help you make friends at a new school.

Make sure you are kind to whoever you meet at the new school.  36   If you think that you will say something that will offend(冒犯，得罪)them, do not say anything and just nod your head if they talk to you.

Be yourself.    37  If your friends don’t accept you for you, they’re not really friends. Most people belong in a certain group simply because they are being themselves and their unique personalities and interest fall into that type. For example, someone who likes sports may make friends with people who also like sports.

   38  Anywhere, in the bathroom, near your locker, or at the water fountain, you can find someone that has something in common with you. All you need is to know how to approach them. Give a smile or say hi. Introduce yourself. Tell them your name and where you’re from. You never know where you can find a nice friend.

  39  You can take part in a sports club, an art club or a foreign language learning club. Even if you don’t know anyone there, you’ll all share a common interest, and you can experience people with different personalities from yours that have the same interest.

Figure out who the “mean girls” or the hot-headed jocks”(鲁莽、急躁的肌肉男) are  40  But don’t be mean to them and don’t completely avoid them because they may be nice people. Also stay away from people who are in gangs and do criminal activities.

A. Make the first move.

B. Do something nice for someone.

C. Join after-class activities you like.

D. Make eye contact with other people.

E. Never change who you are to try to fit in.

F .These are the people that you might want to avoid for a while.

G. Make sure to be nice to people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Today, we are told, children don’t spend enough time in the fresh air. Many of them are addicted to screen on a computer or a TV---they seem to be living in a virtual world. They have lost touch with nature.

   But now 400 organizations in the UK, from playgroups to the National Health Service, are encouraging children to have some “wild time”. They want kids to swap at least 30 minutes of watching TV or playing computer games for time playing outside. Activities such as building dens, climbing trees, rummaging for conkers and playing hide and seek are just some of the things kids can do. Even if they live in a city, they can go on adventures in the garden or the park.

Children often need a helping hand from mom and dad. They need to be shown what to do and where to go. Andy Simpson from National Health Service says, “We want parents to see what this magical wonder product does for their kids’ development, independence and creativity, by giving wild time a go”.

   So despite the complicated world that young people grow up in now, it seems that going back to basics and experiencing “nature’s playground” is what modern children need. David Bond from Project Wild Thing says, “We need to make more space for wild time in children’s daily routine, freeing this generation of kids to have the sort of experiences that many of us took for granted”.

   This might sound a bit old fashioned to you or maybe, like me, it’s made you think about sticking on your boots, getting outdoors and reliving your childhood. There is no age limit on enjoying yourself!

13. What is the best title of the text?

A. Wild time for children

B. Benefits of wild time

C. More space for children 

D. Adventures of children

14: Children are encouraged to do the following activities except____________.

A. building dens                        B. climbing trees

C. playing hide and seek                D. watching TV

15. According to Andy Simpson, we know that_____________.

A. wild time is hard to design

B. wild time is beneficial to children

C. parents know the importance of wild time

D. parents like keeping their children indoors.

 Mankind must first of all eat, drink, have shelter and clothing ________ it can pursue politics, science, art and religion.

A. until              B. unless

C. before             D. since