Celebrated in the city of Munich, Germany, the Oktoberfest, as it is popularly called, is a 3-week festival that takes place in the months of September and October. Also called the largest beer festival in the world, the Oktoberfest gathers about 6 million visitors worldwide every year. Seeing the popularity of the festival, many countries around the world have adapted to what they call their own version of the Oktoberfest. So if you are not able to make it to Germany, you can always enjoy the festival in the areas mentioned below. Don’t miss out on it!
Brazil: welcome to the German town of Blumenau in Brazil. Well, we are not talking about Germans living in the town, but the place was originally founded by immigrants from Germany in the year 1850. The town is built in a traditional German style and there are a fair number of people who still live the way it used to be in good old days. The Oktoberfest is celebrated in a small village called Parque Vila Germanica between the dates of October 1st to October 18th. Guests can enjoy the festival in addition to exploring the town and its sites which include a beer museum.
Vietnam: celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City since 1992, the Oktoberfest event over here is conducted between the 6th and the 11th of October and the decorations are like the original festival in Munich, with large wooden tables lined with beer.
The Philippines: unlike the original Oktoberfest which is celebrated in a certain area, the Oktoberfest in the Philippines is a recent addition to the already existing festival which takes place between the 4th of September and the 9th of October. Now the event is set to be celebrated in a total of 30 parties in various cities around the country.
Canada: over 700,000 guests (second highest after Munich) in and around Canada take part in the Oktoberfest celebrated in Ontario between the 9th and the 17th of October.In which place does the Oktoberfest take place from September to October?
A.In Blumenau. | B.In Ontario. | C.In Ho Chi Minh City. | D.In Munich. |
From the first paragraph we can know that _______.
A.the Oktoberfest in Germany is the biggest beer festival in the world. |
B.every year about 600,000 people celebrated the Oktoberfest in Germany |
C.the Oktoberfest lasts longer in Germany than in any other country |
D.in Germany the name “beer festival” is better known than the Oktoberfest |
About the Germany town of Blumenau, we know that ______.
A.only Germans live in the town |
B.the town was first founded by Germans |
C.people in the town all live in the old German way |
D.the town has many beer festivals |
The author’s purpose in writing this passage is ______.
A.to call on more people to travel abroad |
B.to attract more tourists to the Oktoberfest in Munich |
C.to introduce Oktoberfest celebrations in the world |
D.to describe the development of the Oktoberfest |
If you are interested in animals, you probably heard about the tragedy at Seaworld Orlando. On February 24, Tillicum, a six-ton orca(虎鲸),was performing with his trainer, Dawn Brancheau, who stood on a platform by his pool.
They had done the same show together many times before, without incident. This time, though, events took a terrible turn. Without warning, Tillicum leaped from the water, took hold of Branchcheau by her hair, and dragged her deep below the water’s surface. Before other trainers could react, Brancheau drowned.
Although known as killer whales, orcas are the largest member of the dolphin family. They are easy to train, and performances like Tillicum’s have been done safely thousands of times. Yet Dawn Brancheau’s death was a shocking reminder of what can happen when human being act together with wild animals. People began to ask, “Should orcas be kept in captivity(囚禁)”
Yes
Worldwide, only 42 orcas are being kept by humans. Scientists know very little about these huge sea animals, which are difficult to study in the wild. However, they do know that orcas are easily harmed by pollution. As our oceans become ever more damaged by human activity, observing orcas up close helps us understand them and do a better job of protecting them in nature.
“I think that some dangerous animals, such as killer whales, should be kept in captivity because it raises awareness about them and educates people about wild animals,” says Lauren, 12, a 6-grader from Colorado. “Keeping some in captivity will help protect their species.”
No
Enclosed habitats can be painful to wild animals, and make them act in unpredictable even harmful ways.
“It is wrong to keep these animals in captivity”, says Prathm, 12. The 7th-grader from New Jersey, adds, “They should live in their own habitats, not be used as entertainment slaves.”
Richard Ellis, a marine conservationist in New York, agrees. “It is part of human nature to keep wild animals in small spaces and train them to do tricks,” he says. “I’ m against it because I think it humiliates the animals.”Why does the author tell the tragedy of Dawn Brancheau?
A.To introduce the topic. |
B.To express his sympathy. |
C.To describe the human-animal relationship. |
D.To warn people of the danger of keeping animals. |
What can we infer from the text?
A.It is hard to train orcas. |
B.Orcas are rare sea animals. |
C.Orcas’ habitat is being destroyed. |
D.Many orcas are hunted each year. |
The underlined word ”humiliates” in the last paragraph most probably means “ _____”.
A.makes somebody less intelligent |
B.makes somebody feel ashamed |
C.makes somebody physically weak |
D.makes somebody feel threatened |
The text is mainly about_______.
A.how to help animals live a better life |
B.how to develop friendship with animals |
C.whether killer whales should be protected |
D.whether animals should be kept in captivity |
NEW YORK---Booksellers and technology companies are diving into the world of digital books. Sony Corp is selling the Reader Digital Book for $299, while giant online shopping company Amazon.com offers the Kindle for $399.
The digital books are light, easy on the eyes and let readers carry around as many as 200 titles in hardware that weighs less than a pound.
But to some people, there’s something missing.
“It’s , I guess, the feel of holding a book that someone really put a lot of effort into writing,” said Katy Farina, 21.
Farina, a college student who was browsing (浏览) at a bookstore, said, “It feels real, while the reader separates you a little bit from the story.”
Harry Howe, a professor, said he might use an e-book reader in search of materials while away from home, but not for reading a novel. “It’s just not a physical experience that I’m yet comfortable with. On the other hand, I didn’t grow up reading things on websites.”
Farina said she would like a reader for travelling because she would not have to transport so many books. “To put 10 books on your Sony reader or on your Kindle is a lot better than carrying 10 books,” she said.
Neither Sony nor Amazon would say how many machines they have sold, but enough people are interested in trying them out. An Amazon official at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week said the Kindle sold out on its first day in 6 hours.
And for people hesitating between paper and e-books, Sony does offer a compromising — an optional paper cover. “I think it’s a clever move.” Said Howe.Which section is the passage most likely to appear in?
A.Advertisements. | B.Technology. |
C.Education. | D.Entertainment. |
According to the passage, Farina_______.
A.dislikes e-books |
B.likes e-books very much |
C.never uses e-books |
D.prefers e-books when traveling |
What’s the main idea of the passage?
A.E-books are better than paper books. |
B.E-books are becoming more and more popular. |
C.E-books read well, but some people prefer paper books. |
D.E-books will take the place of paper books one day. |
“Be nice to people.” This sounds like a platitude(老生常谈),but I’ll never forget my father’s words. I was 10, and I had been unkind to someone. He said, “There is no point in being unkind to anyone at any time. You never know who you’re going to meet later in life. And by the way, you don’t change anything by being unkind. Usually you don’t get anywhere.”
“Remember you can do anything you want to do. Don’t let anyone say, ‘You’re not smart enough, it’s too hard, it’s a foolish idea, no one has done that before, girls don’t do that.’ ”My mom gave me that advice in 1973. And it allowed me to never worry what others were saying about my job direction.
“Always do the best job you can do at whatever you’re given, even if you think it’s boring.” Jerry Parkinson, my boss at P&G, told me this in 1979. Here I was fresh out of Harvard Business School(HBS), and I was told to decide how big the hole in the Ivory shampoo bottle should be: 3/8 of an inch or 1/8 of an inch. I did research, focus groups and I would come home at night wondering how I had gone from HBS to this. But later I realized any job you’re given is an opportunity to prove yourself.
“Don’t be greedy(贪婪的). If you’re constantly in the neighborhood of good things, good things will happen to you.” Tom Tierney, who was my boss at Bain in 1981 and is now on the eBay board, told me this. It’s true that you get ahead by praising other people.
Finally, in 1998, I was in New York watching the ticker(倒计时牌) as eBay went public. My husband is a surgeon(外科医生).I called him and told him the great news. And he said, “That’s nice. But Meg, remember that it’s not brain surgery.”According to the passage, which of the following is different from the other three?
A.P&G. | B.HBS. |
C.Bain. | D.eBay. |
How many pieces of advice were given by her family?
A.Two. | B.Four. | C.Three. | D.One. |
This passage was written by _____ order.
A.story development | B.time |
C.working conditions | D.place |
According to the last paragraph, what her husband actually meant was that _____.
A.he was a nice doctor |
B.he was better than Meg |
C.1ife matters the most |
D.eBay was nothing at all |
What’s the main idea of the whole passage?
A.Advice in life really makes a difference to us. |
B.We should be nice to people around us. |
C.People can succeed by praising others. |
D.Too unkind persons will get nothing from life. |
People
People is America’s No.1 magazine about fascinating people. It’s a guide to who and what’s hot in the arts, science, business, politics, television, movies, books, music and sports. It is published weekly.
Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company
Cover Price: $211.47
Our Price:$117.00
Issues(期数):53 issues/ 12 months
Lucky
Lucky is the shopping magazine with the best buys, and the fashion tips you’ll need before you hit the stores. What makes Lucky really different is that it gets you the information you need before anyone else has it.
Publisher: Conde Nast Publications Inc.
Cover Price: $35.40
Our Price:$15.00
Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months
Parents
The most trusted magazine for parents who want to raise smart, loving and self-confident children. Each issue has age-specific child-development guidance, advice on your child’s health and safety, and the best ways to encourage your child’s learning.
Publisher: Meredith Corporation
Cover Price: $42.00
Our Price:$9.97
Issues: 12 issues/ 12 months
Entertainment
This magazine covers movies, television, music, Broadway stage productions, books, and popular culture. Unlike celebrity-focused magazines like People, its main concentration is on entertainment media and reviews. It’s intended for a more general audience.
Publisher: The Time Inc. Magazine Company
Cover Price: $199.50
Our Price:$38.95
Issues: 62 issues/ 12 monthsWhich of the following comes out every week?
A.Lucky. | B.Parents |
C.Entertainment. | D.People. |
According to the passage, what makes Lucky so special?
A.It has lots of cartoons. |
B.It has pictures of stars. |
C.It tells you where to find bargains. |
D.It has information no one else has. |
The underlined phrase, “celebrity-focused magazines”, probably refers to magazines focusing on ______.
A.hot events and famous stars |
B.festivals and celebrations |
C.political events |
D.daily life |
You’re most likely to find the above information ______.
A.on a magazine club website |
B.in an educational magazine |
C.in a guide to magazines |
D.in a magazine sales report |
Buy ______, a reader can save most.
A.Lucky. | B.Parents |
C.Entertainment. | D.People. |
Fluency(流利) in another language is one of the most important aims of a newcomer to another country. In addition, understanding the culture and learning to communicate comfortably with people of that culture are as important as learning the rules of the language. Language learning and culture learning go together and may take a long time.
Sometimes people feel that they understand a culture after a few weeks or months. People do learn a lot when they first begin living in another culture, but this is only the first stage of learning. It usually includes things like learning everyday activities and some basic customs.
To really understand another culture, people have to go beyond the first stage, This is challenge because it is often difficult to know what to learn. Much of what we call “culture” is hard to see.
Culture is like an iceberg(冰山). Picture in your mind a huge iceberg in the ocean. The only part of the iceberg that you see is the top. You don’t see the rest of the iceberg because it is hidden from sight in the water. It is easy to forget that it is there. Most of the iceberg is deep within the ocean, just as much of a culture is deep within its people.
When you meet someone from another culture,certain culture differences are easy to see: You hear another language or you hear your own language spoken with an accent(口音). You see different foods, clothes and sometimes physical characteristics of people. You notice new customs or habits, such as the use of chopsticks, and, bowing or kissing as a way of saying hello. These differences are interesting and important, but they are usually not too difficult to understand. They are visible so they are seen easily and quickly.
The part of culture that is like the underwater part of the iceberg consists of assumptions(设想), communication styles, values, and beliefs about what is right and wrong. The hidden part of culture affects much of a person’s way of thinking and communicating. It is the meaning behind his or her verbal (言语的) and nonverbal language. Learning to communicate well with people from another culture includes getting to know the hidden part of culture.What’s the subject of this passage?
A.Learning about culture. |
B.Language learning. |
C.The hidden part of the iceberg. |
D.Fluency in another language. |
What is learning about culture?
A.Learning the hidden part of the iceberg, which is underwater. |
B.Learning everyday activities and some basic customs. |
C.Learning the culture of an iceberg. |
D.Learning the visible as well as the hidden differences of culture. |
What’s the writer’s opinion?
A.Communication styles can be easily seen and learned. |
B.Language learning is more important than culture learning. |
C.Learning about culture is not easy and may take a long time. |
D.People usually learn a culture after a few weeks or months. |
The underlined phrase “consists of” can be replaced by “______”.
A.is compared with | B.is made up of |
C.agrees with | D.is different from |
What conclusion can we draw after reading this passage?
A.Values and beliefs are like the top of the iceberg. |
B.People are often clear about the hidden part of culture. |
C.The top of the iceberg is larger than the hidden part. |
D.The hidden part of culture has a great effect on people’s communication styles. |