D
Annual holidays have become a luxury and are no longer a staple of family life, according to government research.
A getaway of a week or more is no longer considered essential by many families and is often beyond their reach, said the analysis of what parents and children say they really need.Fashionable clothes for the children, expensive birthday parties and lots of toys are also on the list of luxuries families don’t have to have.Instead, recession-hit parents are thinking of the future, and the things they want for their children centre around learning to behave properly, good education and good health.
Their picture of what a family ought to have includes a space to eat together away from the television, plenty of fruit and vegetables, and bicycles so children can get exercise.
The breakdown of necessities and luxuries was prepared by researchers from the Department for Work and Pensions(DWP) who were trying to establish an up-to-date picture of what parents say they really need.
Their findings show how families have scaled down their expectations in the face of economic difficulties — how parents are now concentrating their attention and money firmly on the long-term interests of their children.Many believe that while it is vital for a family to do things together, day trips or weekend breaks are enough.
Spending on furniture or decorating the house was also considered luxurious, unless the state of the home was so bad it became difficult to invite visitors in.
Instead, researchers said: A family home should have an area where the family can eat together, not on their laps in front of a television.Families should be able to go on outings, overnight trips and possibly short holiday: the fact of being able to share these experiences is more important than the precise activity and its cost.
71.It can be inferred that ______________.
A.a week or more holiday is considered beyond many families’ reach
B.children hardly ever need fashionable clothes and lots of toys
C.what a family should have is basic things that they must have
D.annual holidays were once considered necessary and vital
72.In the opinion of most parents, _____________.
A.families can watch TV together in order to keep up their relationship
B.day trips or weekend breaks are enough for families to share experiences
C.their expectations should be increased in the face of economic difficulties
D.a week’s holiday is an essential minimum during the financial crisis
73.Which of the following is TRUE of the researchers from the DWP?
A.They confirm many families still need at least a week away on holiday each year.
B.They learn it is insignificant for a family to do things with each other regularly.
C.They want to know what parents really need in the face of economic difficulties.
D.They found spending on furniture or decorating the house was thought valuable.
74.We can conclude from the last paragraph____________.
A.being able to share experiences is important for families
B.a family needs at least a week away on holiday each year
C.a family home should have a comfortable area to watch TV
D.going on outings and overnight trips is wasting time for families
75.What does the author mainly discuss in the text?
A.Cycling is very important for children’s health.
B.Family holidays once a year have become a luxury.
C.It is vital for parents to eat together with children.
D.Parents are concerned with children’s future.
Music is an international language. The songs that are sung or played by instruments are beautiful to all people everywhere.
Popular music in America is what every student likes. Students carry small radios with earphones and listen to music before class, after class and at lunch. Students with cars buy large speakers (扬声器) and play the music loudly as they drive on the street.
Adult drivers listen to music on the car radio as they drive to work. They also listen to the news about sports, the weather, politics, and activities of the American people. But most of the radio broadcast is music.
Pop or popular music singers make much money. They make a CD or tape which radio stations use in every state. Once the popular singer is heard throughout the country, young people buy his or her tapes. Some of the money from these tapes comes to the singer. Wherever the singer goes, all the young people want to meet him or her. Now the singer has become a national star.
Besides pop music, there are two other kinds of music that is important to Americans. One is called folk music. It tells stories about the common life of Americans. The other is called western or country music. This was started by cowboys who would sing at night to the cows they were watching. Today, any music about country life and the love between a country boy and his girl is called western or country music. In America, every student likes ______.
A.folk music | B.country music | C.pop music | D.western music |
According to the passage, most of the car radio broadcast is ______.
A.sports | B.the weather | C.politics | D.music |
What do the cowboys do according to the passage?
A.They sell cows. | B.They watch cows. |
C.They sing and dance. | D.They travel around. |
How many kinds of music are mentioned in the passage?
A.Three. | B.Four. | C.Five. | D.Six. |
What’s the best title of the passage?
A.Music in America | B.Music Listeners |
C.Cowboys in America | D.International Language |
Clarissa looked out of the taxi window at the wet road. It was still raining. She was looking forward to getting home after a busy and tiring week in Italy.
The taxi stopped outside the terminal and Clarissa got out. While she was finding some money in her purse, the driver took out her luggage. She picked up her suitcase and entered the terminal building. The British airways check—in desk was near the entrance. After checking in her luggage, she went to buy some magazines. Then she went through passport control and the security check.
After waiting in line with other passengers, Clarissa walked down the corridor and onto the plane. Her seat was next to the window. While the plane was taking off, she closed her eyes, but when the plane was in the air, she began to relax. She pressed the button at the side of the seat, lay back and opened her eyes again.
Pin! The sound of the bell woke Clarissa from her dreams. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching Heathrow. Will you fasten your seatbelts and extinguish all your cigarettes.”
When the plane landed and came to a standstill, Clarissa saw that outside the sun was shining and the sky was clear. It was going to be a perfect day.
When in Italy Clarissa was ______.
A.airsick | B.sick | C.seasick | D.homesick |
Choose the right order when Clarissa went back home.
a. She waited in line for a while. b. She passed through the airport control.
c. She took a taxi to catch her plane.
d. She bought some magazines to read in the plane.
e. She went through the check - in desk.
f. she went through the security-check door. g. She went aboard the plane.
A.c,e,d,b,f,a,g | B.c,f,d,e,a,b,g | C.d,e,f,b,g,e,a | D.a,c,d,e,b,f,g |
When the plane took off or before the plane was in the air, Clarissa was probably __.
A. gladB. anxious C. nervous D. relaxed
We know from the text ______.
A.before the plane took off, smoking was not allowed. |
B.just before landing, people were asked not to smoke. |
C.when the plane took off and landed, smoking was not allowed. |
D.smokin![]() |
In the United States, friendships can be close, constant, intense, generous and real, yet fade away in a short time if situations change. Neither side feels hurt by this. Both may exchange Christmas greetings for a year or two, perhaps a few letters for a while— then no more. If the same two people meet again by chance, even years later, they pick up the friendship where it left off and are delighted.
In the States, you can feel free to visit people’s homes, share their holidays, or enjoy their lives without fear that you are taking on a lasting obligation(义务). Do not hesitate to accept hospitality(好客) because you can’t
give it in return. No one will expect you to do so for they know you are far from home. Americans will enjoy welcoming you and be pleased if you accept their hospitality easily.
Once you arrive there, the welcome will be full and warm and real. Most visitors find themselves readily invited into many homes there. In some countries it is considered inhospitable to entertain at home, offering what is felt as only home—cooked food, not “ doing something for your guest”. It is felt that restaurant entertaining, shows more respect and welcome. Or for other different reasons, such as crowded space, language difficulties, or family custom, outsiders are not invited into homes.
In the United States, both methods are used, but it is often considered more friendly to invite a person to one’s home than to go to a public place, except in purely business relationships. So, if your host or hostess brings you home, do not feel that you are being shown inferior treatment.
Don’t feel neglected if you do not find flowers awaiting you in your hotel room, either. Flowers are very expensive there; hotel delivery is uncertain; arrival times are delayed, changed, or canceled —— so flowers are not customarily sent as a welcoming touch. Please do not feel unwanted! Outward signs vary in different lands; the inward welcome is what matters, and this will be real.
In the United States, you will find friendships ______ if circumstances change.
A.die suddenly | B.pass away |
C.disappear gradually | D.last forever |
Americans _____ their foreign friends to make a return for their hospitality.
A.ask | B.don’t expect | C.never allow | D.wish |
In some other countries, giving a dinner party at home is considered ______ than in a restaurant.
A.less friendly | B.less hospitable | C.more natural | D.more popular |
According to the passage, which of the follow
ing is NOT true?
A.Flowers are signs of outward welcome. |
B.Flowers are expensive. |
C.Flowers are available at all time. |
D.Flowers are not necessarily sen![]() |
Situated in the South West of England, between Exeter and Plymouth, Torquay is one of the most popular holiday resorts in Britain. It provides a variety of entertainment, sports of every kind and cultural facilities, all set in a position of outstanding natural beauty. Visitors can choose between luxury hotels by the sea, with private suites(套房),swimming pools and saunas, and comfortable but less expensive guest houses. There are camping sites, too, and hundreds of houses displaying“B & B”signs.
As well as a number of small quiet bays, which are ideal for beach barbecues away from the crowds, Torquay has large sandy beaches where you can buy refreshments(饮料)and hire deck chairs, boats and even beach huts. There are large areas of grassland overlooking the sea, and miles of winding cliff paths for walkers who just want to enjoy the scenery and what is often said to be the healthiest air in the country. For the sportsmen and women there are opportunities not only for golf, tennis, squash and bowls, but also for water-skiing, hang-gliding and deep-sea fishing.
After a day in the open air, there’s lots to do in the evenings, too. There are plenty of discos, the occasional opera or ballet, and summer variety shows in the seafront theatres. For the children, there is a beautiful model village with a complicated railway layout which is remarkably realistic-especially when the lights are all on at night.
Of course, there’s no need to spend your whole holidays in Torquay. Only a short drive away is Dartmoor National Park, where you can walk for miles through dramatic, unspoiled countryside, or picnic by beautiful rivers and streams. Or, nearer to home, you can sail across Tor Bay to the lovely old fishing village of Brixham.
Torquay seems to have something for everyone. But don’t take my word for it----come and see for yourself. Which of the following best explains what “B & B” means on the signs?
A.Beach and barbecue | B.Breakfast and bath |
C.Bed and breakfast | D.Beautiful and British |
According to the text Torquay might be described as.
A.comfortable and expensive | B.remote and beautiful |
C.croweded and lively | D.fresh and healthy |
What is special about the model village?
A.It opens at night. | B.It has a real railway system. |
C.It’s in the open air. | D.It has something for the children |
What is the purpose of writing this text?
A.To introduce the geography of Torquay to students. |
B.To make some places known to visitors. |
C.To show the beauty of resorts. |
D.To attract more tourists. |
Ed Jocelyn and Andy McEwen might have appeared to be a bit mad---the two set off on their own “Long March” through the remotest regions of China on October 16. The idea was to take a year to retrace one of the epic movements of modern military history.
The two British men in their mid-30s were working as editors in Beijing when they decided to reexperience the tales of the original marches. “We hold these people in such respect,” McEwen says.
They plan to keep diaries but will not share the contents during the trip. “When we get to the end we’ll put our heads together and try and come up with a book,” Jocelyn said.
Their trip has had some auspicious beginning, they have already met two Long March veterans(老战士) in less than a month of travel.
In this modern version, the pair are aided by high-tech equipment including a satellite phone, mini-computer, video camera and solar panels to recharge batteries. A mountain tent and portable stove will help them in the remoter stretches.
They plan to average 35-40 kilometers a day, and rest about every third day. Ed admitted that their trip would be very tough.
If they succeed, they will be the first foreigners to complete the entire Long March route since Otto Braun, the German military advisor who accompanied the Red Army on the Long March. This text is mainly about.
A.high-tech equipment helpful to the Long March |
B.first foreigners to walk the Long March |
C.British recall of the Long March spirit |
D.British editors’ adventure original in China |
The underlined word “auspicious” most probably means.
A.friendly | B.favourable | C.strange | D.surprising |
Which of the following statements is NOT true about the two foreigners?
A.They will use anything modern on the way. |
B.They will do some cooking by themselves. |
C.They’re planning to have a book pu![]() |
D.They will send off news about what happens day by day. |