Germany has a variety of cities each with its own characteristics, from the busy city of Berlin, to the ancient city of Cologne, to the Bavarian capital of Munich. Thankfully, these major German cities offer sightseeing tours that offer the opportunity to better explore the surrounding regions and the country’s most historic sites.
Berlin on Bike
Berlin on Bike takes visitors through the German capital via five bicycle tours, all with guides. Regular tours include the Wall Tour and Berlin’s Best, with stops at some of the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Reichstag explores what life was like in East Berlin under Communist Rule. The cost of the tour includes the bike and helmet rental, and tourists may choose to continue renting their bikes once the tour has ended.
Berlinonbike.de/English/index.php
Munich City Sightseeing Tour
The Munich City Sightseeing Tour transports travelers throughout the city via an open-air, double-decker bus. Passengers can hop on and off at various stops throughout the day. This tour includes stops at such sites as the Munich central train station, the 1972 Olympic Stadium Park, Munich’s opera house and Karlsplatz, the gate to the historic city. The bus features a narrated tour guide and offers an English-language option.
Raileurope.com/activities/munich-city-sightseeing-tour/index.html
Nice City Tours- Cologne
Nice City Tours offers three tours of Cologne, available to private or business groups in a variety of languages. The old Town Tour runs for two hours and includes a guided tour of the Cologne Cathedral and some of the city’s old squares. The Brewery Pub Tour explores some of the city’s most beloved breweries and pubs, and details the history behind Kolsch, Cologne’s resident beer. Finally, the Old Town and Rhine Tour begins by visiting some of old town’s most historic sites and ends with a ride down the Rhine River.
Nicecitytours.con/tours.htm The similarity of the three tours lies in that they all include_____.
| A．bus tours | B．English service | C．three routes | D．guide’s service |
If you take a great interest in beer, which tour might be suitable for you?
| A．The Wall Tour | B．The Brewery Pub Tour |
| C．The Old Town Tour | D．The Munich City Sightseeing Tour |
Where can you probably see this passage?
| A．In a textbook. | B．On a website. |
| C．In an encyclopedia. | D．In a journal. |
| Paris is a popular tourist attraction. Which has much more to offer than just the well-known Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Let’s experience this amazing city through some of its wonderful places and activities. |
| River Boats Tour the heart of Paris by boat along the Seine River(塞纳河)! Boats offer eight must-see tourist stops along the boat tour path. The cost is 13 euros for a whole day of river boating with stops for tourists to walk through the Parisian sites. Boats come every 15 minutes. It is wonderful to drink in the unique atmosphere of Paris while boating along the Seine River. |
| Children’s Science Museum If you are traveling to Paris with kids, this museum is a perfect place to visit. The museum has many exhibitions for children. The cost is low at only 8 euros per adult and 4.5 euros per child. |
| Medieval tavern(酒馆) In Paris, tourists can enjoy the night at Medieval Tavern from 8pm every Thursday till 2 am. This tavern invites visitors to experience life in the old days. Everyone is dressed in old costumes(服装). The menu includes items that were enjoyed in the old days. The entire experience can be enjoyed for only 15 euros per person. |
| Luxembourg Garden This garden is the second largest public park in Paris. Whether you are interested in walking through the flowers and statues or a pleasant ride on the old carousel(旋转木马), this graden is ideal. Children like its theater and plays while adults enjoy the free musical performances. |
If a couple with two children visits the Children’s Science Museum, they have to pay.
| A．16euros | B．17 euros | C．25 euros | D．20.5 euros |
At Medieval Tavern, visitors.
| A．can enjoy popular French food |
| B．can watch performances while eating and drinking |
| C．can experience life in the old days at night |
| D．will have the chance to put on old costumes to perform |
The passage is likely to be taken from a website about.
| A．history | B．travel |
| C．technology | D．entertainment |
The global population is living longer，and getting older，which presents new challenges. “The question becomes：who will take care of everyone? While people will always be the best caregivers for people，there just aren’t enough people. That’s where robotic technology can really make a difference,” says Professor Maja Mataric at the University of Southern California.
Her group is developing robots to work with stroke (中风) patients and elderly people. The research team has found that people react well to a robot gym instructor，and seem to get less frustrated with it than with instructions given on a computer screen. The robot can act as a perfect trainer，with infinite(极大的) patience.
“People say things like ‘I prefer this robot to my husband！Can I take it home?’” according to Professor Mataric. “In fact there’s a really important point here. As we create these care giving technologies，we’re helping not only the people that need the care，but also the people caring for them. We can give them a break，and help them avoid burnout.”
People are going to have to like，and importantly trust robots before they welcome them into their homes，and several groups around the world are working on making it easier to communicate with them.
Much of human communication takes place through body language. Gestures， eye contact , and concepts of personal space are all things that robots are being taught. In learning about how people interact(互动) with machines，researchers are also discovering new roles for robots in our lives. Robots can communicate with humans in ways that other technologies can not.
“If someone finds the robot to be more persuasive and more reliable，that’s going to affect how they interact with it,” says Dr Cynthia Breazeal, director of the Personal Robots Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. “We can now start to think about fields where it’s the social interaction，which is the main means by which a robot helps someone.” Dr Breazeal says that means robots could be used in education，learning，and health care，where social support is important.Professor Maja Mataric mainly focused on robots’ function of ________.
| A．teaching | B．exploring |
| C．making things | D．giving care |
Why can robots be wonderful trainers in the gym?
| A．Because they are more clever. |
| B．Because they give correct instructions. |
| C．Because they cost less money. |
| D．Because they are more patient. |
The underlined word “burnout” in Paragraph 3 probably means “________”．
| A．feeling tired | B．feeling angry |
| C．getting hurt | D．becoming disappointed |
The scientists are presently working hard to help robots.
| A．to use less electricity | B．to communicate better |
| C．to react more quickly | D．to have more functions |
Once a general manager wanted to test his people, who had come from all over India, about their values of life. He announced that in their folders(文件夹), there is PVC pouch and in it there is a seed. When they return, they must put the seed in a pot with good soil and look after it very well. He would hold a competition at the next year’s seminar and the best plants would be awarded suitably.
Everyone did what was told to him. A year passed quickly. And the next year in a big hall, what a great scene! There were hundreds of pots and a great variety of plants-all except one. In this pot was soil, but no plant! The owner of the pot was standing quietly and feeling ashamed of himself.
The general manager called him on the stage. He asked him what happened and he told him the truth. He planted the seed, which he was given, and did what was to be done - but nothing happened!
The general manager declared(宣布) him the winner! Everyone was shocked.
It was announced, "Gentlemen! The seeds I gave you were boiled seeds. You planted them and nothing happened! You acted smartly and used some other seeds. This man was honest to his work and therefore, he did not cheat me or himself!"What’s the general manager’s purpose of giving a seed to each of his employees?
| A．He wanted to get some beautiful plants. |
| B．He wanted to improve his employees’ planting skill |
| C．He wanted to enrich his employees’ life. |
| D．He wanted to know whether his employees are honest. |
The man in the passage failed to get the plant because.
| A．he didn’t take good care of his seed |
| B．he wasn’t good at planting |
| C．his seed wasn’t as good as the other people’s |
| D．the seed had been boiled |
Why was everyone shocked after they heard the general manager’s declaration?
| A．They didn’t understand why the man failed to get the plant. |
| B．They didn’t understand why the man was the winner. |
| C．They didn’t know why the manager gave him the best seed. |
| D．They didn’t know why they couldn’t get the plants. |
The author wanted to tell us the importance of by writing this passage.
| A．being careful |
| B．being honest |
| C．knowing how to plant |
| D．knowing how to please the manager |
One of the most important things in the world is friendship. In order to have friends, you have to be a good friend. But how can you be a good friend at school?
Listen—Listen when they are talking. Don’t say anything unless they ask you a question. Sometimes it’s not necessary for you to have anything to say; they just need someone to talk to about their feelings.
Help them—If your friend is ever in need of something, be there to help them. You should try to put them first, but make sure you don’t do everything they want you to do. Try to take an extra pencil or pen with you to classes in case they forget one. Have a little extra money in your pocket in case they forget something they need.
Be there for them—Be there for your friends to help make them feel better in hard times. Marilyn Monroe, a famous U.S. actor, once said, “I often make mistakes. Sometimes I am out of control, but if you can’t stay with me at my worst, you are sure not to deserve to be with me at my best.” Always remember this! If you don’t want to stay with your friends when they’re in hard times, then you don’t deserve to be with them when they’re having a good time!
_________—Try to make plans with your friends. Go shopping, go for ice cream, have a party, go to a movie and so on. Take time to know each other even better by doing something you both enjoy. By planning things together, you both can have a good time. And you’ll remember these things when you’re all old!While your friend is talking to you about his or her feelings, you should __________.
| A．give him or her some advice | B．calm him or her down |
| C．just listen unless asked | D．share your feelings as well |
What can we learn from Marilyn Monroe’s words?
| A．Life without a friend is death. |
| B．A friend is easier lost than found. |
| C．A man is known by his friends. |
| D．A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
Which of the following can be put in the blank of the last paragraph?
| A．Enjoy yourself | B．Make plans |
| C．Understand your friends | D．Play with your friends |
The passage is mainly about _______.
| A．how to find a good friend |
| B．how to help friends in trouble |
| C．How to be a good friend |
| D．how to make more friends |
An ageing society is one in which the population of people over the age of 60 is increasing. This is a social problem. Can we solve it with the help of robots?
Researchers are placing robotic dogs in the homes of lonely old people to determine whether they can improve the quality of life for humans. Alan Beck,an expert in human animal relationship ,and Nancy Edwards, a professor of nursing, are leading the animal assisted study concerning the influence of robotic dogs on old people’s depression, physical activity, and left satisfaction. ”No one will argue that an older person is better off being more active, challenged, or stimulated(刺激),”Edwards points out.” The problem is how we promote (促进)that, especially for those without friends or help. A robotic dog could be a solution.”
In the study, the robot, called AIBO, is placed for six weeks in the houses of some old people who live alone. Before placing AIBO in the home, researchers will collect baseline data for six weeks. These old people will keep a diary to note their feelings and activity before and after AIBO. Then, the researchers will review the data to determine if it has inspired any changes in the life of its owner.
”I talk to him all the time, and he responds to my voice,” says a seventy year old lady, ”When I’m watching TV, he’ll stay in my arms until he wants down. He has a mind of his own.”
The AIBOs respond to certain orders. The researchers say they have some advantages over live dogs, especially for old people. Often the elderly are disabled and cannot care for an animal by walking it or playing with it. A robotic dog removes exercise and feeding concerns.
”At the beginning, it was believed that no one would relate to the robotic dog, because it was metal and not furry.” Beck says.” But it’s amazing how quickly we have given up that belief.”
”Hopefully, down the road, these robotic pets could become a more valuable health helper. They will record their masters’ blood pressure, oxygen levels. Or heart rhythms. AIBOs may even one day have games that can help stimulate older people’s minds.”Which of the following can be the best title?
| A．Dogs and the Old |
| B．Medical Examination and the Old |
| C．Robots Serving the Old |
| D．Dogs Needn’t Feeding |
The purpose of Beck and Edwards’ study is to____ .
| A．understand humananimal relationship |
| B．make lonely old people’s life better |
| C．find the causes of old people’s loneliness |
| D．promote the animalassisted research |
What is the advantage of AIBO over live dogs?
| A．It is easier to keep at home. |
| B．It can help the disabled people. |
| C．It responds to all the human orders. |
| D．It can watch TV with its owner. |
The author seems to suggest that the future robotic dogs may.
| A．cure certain diseases |
| B．keep old people active |
| C．change people’s beliefs |
| D．look more like real dogs |