STRANGERS parties go wild these days. The main idea of them is to never let the people know who their matches are until the last minute. These are some popular practices that are storming the world’s youth on this V-day.
Speed dating
It’s exactly what the name implies. Complete with a timer, a whistle and 50 willing singles, speed dating is not the traditional dinner and a movie type of first date. Singles pay US $35 for three minutes with more than two dozen future dates. They ask questions and try to get to know each other. At the sound of a whistle, they do the same thing all over again―25 times in all.
Lock and key party
Women are given a lock and men are given a key, upon arriving at the party. Each key and lock has several matches. One can hunt for his/her later-to-be sweetheart in various groups, and try out the key or lock. Each time a lock and key match the pair are entered into a ballot (票数） for top prizes!
Dinner in the dark
Waiters wearing night vision glasses guide the guests through the pitch-black dining room. They are seated at the table and familiarized with the wine glass and plate. Food is handled with the fingers. People will not see the food they are eating or the guests at their table until the dessert course. At that moment, dining partners will appear.
Message party
Have A Cocktail, Leave A Message! When you arrive, you get a tag with a number and a pad of post-it notes. If you see someone you like, write a message on the message board. But wait… You’ve got a message… Go and collect it! You can make new friends and win lots of gifts. The more messages you leave on the bulletin board, the more chances you have of winning prizes. What do you think the similarities of these parties are?
| A．All the parties have very strict rules for their members. |
| B．If you want to go to any of the parties, you have to buy a ticket. |
| C．All the parties are aimed at strangers who want to be lovers. |
| D．All the parties are suitable not only for the young but for the old. |
In which party does a participant have to be careful with the time?
| A．Speed dating. | B．Lock and key party. |
| C．Dinner in the dark. | D．Message party. |
If you go to the Dinner in the dark, ________.
| A．you have to eat with your hands |
| B．you have to wear night vision glasses |
| C．guests eat all the courses in the darkness |
| D．your dining partners will help you choose the food |
How many of the parties offer gifts or prizes?
| A．4. | B．3. | C．2. | D．1. |
Most of the guests who come on our trips have never been to Egypt before .We want to make everyone comfortable and at ease, but we do always get the same questions in advance of trip. So here I will give you some travel tips.
What should I wear?
If you’re lucky enough to visit Egypt between November and February, pack a sweater. You’ll need it——the desert gets rather cold at night. During the day, the temperature will be agreeable and comfortable. Any other time, pack as if you’re going to Phoenix of Vegas in August. For the ladies, bathing suits are normal if there’s a pool where you are going, but leave the string bikini at home –it is a Muslim country, after all. Last, if you are planning on visiting any mosques（清真寺）or certain parts of upper Egypt, ladies will need to plan on bringing something that comes at least to the elbow（肘部）, and no shorts for men or women in those areas.
What special things do I need to pack?
One of my favorite things in the world to bring to Egypt is an Evian Mister, a sprayer with a fine mist of Evian water. You may be able to find it in your local drug store. Spray a little on your face or head , and your body temperature will feel like it’s dropped 10 or 15 degrees. Other items include your camera, sun block and extra batteries.
How do I communicate with home?
Internet cafes are plentiful everywhere, especially in Cairo, Luxor, and Alexandria. If you have international calling on you phone, you should be able to use it-AT＆T and Sprint both work internationally for sure, but make sure you have the international coverage. A satellite phone is best if you are certain to need coverage in the middle of the country, like while sailing up the Nile , but for most people these days a cell phone is fine.
What medical preparation do I need?
In a word: none! The one thing you may come down with in Egypt is politely called “Pharoah ’s Revenge. ” The thing that gets rid of pharoah’s Revenge is a regionally produced medicine, and is available at every drugstore for ＄1 a box . DON’T drink local water. DO drink bottled water, avoid the skins of fresh vegetables, and you’ll be fine. What clothing is proper for ladies visiting a mosque?
| A．String bikinis | B．Bathing suits |
| C．Long-sleeve clothes | D．Shorts. |
What’s the use of an Evian Mister?
| A．To relieve your thirst. | B．To cool yourself down. |
| C．To prevent sunburns. | D．To drive away insects. |
What information is provided about distance communication?
| A．A cell phone is enough for most people. |
| B．AT＆T and Sprint offer free service in Egypt. |
| C．A satellite phone doesn’t work in Mid-Egypt. |
| D．Internet cafes are only available in big cities. |
What does “Pharoah ‘s Revenge” probably refer to in the last paragraph?
| A．A battle | B．A tale |
| C．A disease | D．A plant |
The purpose of this passage is to.
| A．describe a journey to Egypt to the tourists |
| B．offer some practical tips on traveling in Egypt |
| C．warn readers of the awful insects in Egypt |
| D．appeal to more possible tourists to the journey |
What do you use to get around town? A car? A bike? Your feet ? perhaps you should try a segway!
The Segway is perfect for short journeys. It’s an electric vehicle that consists of a platform between two wheels, with a pole that connects the platform to the handlebars. To ride it , you step up onto the platform, and control the Segway by moving your body. Lean forwards to go faster, and back-wards to slow down.
On older models, direction was controlled by a twist grip（扭转把手）on the left handlebar. This varies the speeds between the two motors, and a decrease in the speed of the left wheel would turn the Segway to the left . With newer models you simply lean to the left or right. Meanwhile, a gyroscope （陀螺仪）detects your movements and prevents the machine from falling over. The Segway has a maximum speed of 19 km per hour and a range of about 38 km. after that, you need to plug it and recharge the battery.
Segways are used for a variety of purposes. People with mobility problems can now enjoy walks in the country with their friends and family. Some golfers see them as an alternative to the golf cart . And dog owners now have an easier way to take the dog to the park. A few police forces use Segways, too. They allow officers to move quickly while maintaining contact with the public. They’re also becoming a common sight on airport . However, the most popular use is in tourism , particularly for city tours . Visit any major tourist city in summer, sit outside a cafe for a while and there’s a good chance you’ll see a group of tourists passing on Segways.How do you turn to the left on a Segway of the new model?
| A．Lean to the left | B．Adjust the twist grip |
| C．Press the left bar | D．Control the gyroscope |
How far can you travel on a Segway at most?
| A．Less than 19 km | B．About 19 km |
| C．About 38 km | D．Over 45 km |
The Segway is most commonly used by.
| A．families | B．golfers |
| C．police | D．tourists |
Which of the following correctly shows the order in which information about the Segway is provided?
| A．Introduction→Ways of application→ structure→Principle of operation |
| B．Introduction→ Principle of operation→Structure →Ways of application |
| C．Introduction → Structure → Principle of operation →ways of application |
| D．Structure→ Introduction→Principle of operation→Ways of application |
Which of the following pictures shows the Segways being used?
Anne Sanders was practicing soccer moves, which was not normal. Usually, Anne only plays basketball. She wins every basketball game she plays, and she loses at any other game. "Anne", I waved to her. "Why are you playing soccer?"
"Well, the gym teacher is doing something different," she said. "There are teams of four and partners of two.We get to pick our partners, and I want someone to pick me. "Anne held up a list.
"It looks like I'm on a team with you, Stacey, and Paul," I said. "Stacey is my best friend.Maybe we can be together: " Just then, Stacey and Paul came over. They had heard of the teams.
"Do you want to be partners, Stacey?" I asked.
"Well, I was going to be partners with Paul," she claimed. I didn't blame her. Paul was as fast as a rocket, and my nickname was "Snail". "But we are best friends," said Stacey. “So I guess I'II be with you. "
It was our first game. Stacey went to talk to some other friends afterwards, and Paul and Anne were talking about winning their game. I was sipping on my water, when I overheard Stacey, "She's worse than I thought; if I played the team alone,, I would have won easily. She's worse than a snail. She's more like a statue. "
That night, I felt terrible for losing and mad at Stacey for calling me a statue. After all, she was my best friend and my only friend. Anyway, the phone rang, and it was Stacey. At first, I thought she might apologize, but no such luck.
“Allison, the game tomorrow is canceled, " she said.
"Okay," I replied. "Sorry about the game today", Stacey hung up on me.
The next day, I went over to the soccer field. I knew the game was canceled, but maybe I could help clean up.But instead of a mess, I saw a soccer game in progress. Stacey and were playing, and Anne was hiding in the corner. "Paul made me pretend to be sick, " she whispered. “He wants to play with Stacey because she's so fast. "
So Anne and I went to get ice cream. Even if I lost Stacey ,I just created a lifelong friendship.Why did Anne practice playing soccer?
| A．Because she wanted to win in all games. |
| B．Because she didn't want to be left out. |
| C．Because she intended to be a normal student. |
| D．Because she hoped to do something different. |
What did Stacey complain about Allison?
| A．Allison called her nickname. |
| B．Allison was as fast as a rocket. |
| C．Allison didn't treat her as a best friend |
| D．Allison moved too slowly in the game. |
Stacey phoned Allison in order to
| A．get rid of Allison as a partner |
| B．apologize for calling Allison a statue |
| C．tell Allison there was no game tomorrow |
| D．encourage Allison to fight in the next game |
Allison went to the soccer field to________
| A．watch a soccer game |
| B．keep the soccer field clean |
| C．find out Why the game was cancelled |
| D．make preparations for another game |
What conclusion can we draw from this passage?
| A．Allison wanted to be partners with Anne. |
| B．Stacey called Allison to show real concern. |
| C．Allison and Anne would be friends forever. |
| D．Anne was hiding in the corner because she was sick. |
“Here is the Eight O’ Clock News.”
“Chinese people spent about 120 billion yuan during the first three days of the May Golden Week last year. This year it has increased to 140 billion yuan.”
“The children of Beijing No.2 Middle School sang with students from Toronto in Canada to celebrate the 20thanniversary. They had been sister schools since 1986. They spent about two weeks together in Beijing. They visited the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. They took a lot of photos in Beihai Park.”
“Have you ever got tired of heavy shopping bags? A new shopping assistant robot which was invented by Japanese company could be the answer. The helpful robot can follow you around and carry several bags. The robot was tested at a shopping center in February 2006. ”
“About 500 people from different countries were in the 2006 “Rock Paper Scissors(剪刀)” World Match in Canada. This event was founded in 1842. It is said playing this game is fun, and also a good way to solve problems among people.”
“And now it’s time for Morning Music.”The students from Canada and Beijing No. 2 Middle School didn’t ________.
| A．take photos | B．visit places of interest |
| C．sing songs | D．have a football match |
This year during the first three days of the May Golden Week, it cost Chinese people ___________ yuan more than that of last year.
| A．260,000,000,000 | B．120,000,000,000 |
| C．140,000,000,000 | D．20,000,000,000 |
Which of the following is not talked about in the news?
| A．The robot can help with shopping bags. |
| B．A Japanese company invented the robot. |
| C．The robot was tested at a shopping centre. |
| D．There are such robots in people’s homes now. |
The underlined word “anniversary” means .
| A．birthday | B．yearly return of the date of an event |
| C．university | D．the new beginning of something important |
Which of the following is a game?
| A．Rock Paper Scissors | B．May Golden Week |
| C．Shopping assistant robot | D．A visit to the school |
You can’t hide a natural disaster from children, so how do we prepare them for it? First of all, you should explain to them that acts of nature aren’t necessarily disasters but can become one. These may include floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, wild fires, and earthquakes. The way to prepare children for these disasters is to educate them about what each type is and then make it fun by making them “Disaster Masters” or whatever title you can think of.
Making them a Disaster Master won’t be easy. They must know what’s in a disaster emergency kit(工具箱) and why it’s included. You can get your friends involved, too. If your friends have children, they may want to be involved in your emergency preparations. Make it a group project. This is the opportunity for everyone to become familiar with the equipment.
We have to be aware of our conduct and the way we react to stress. The children will be easily influenced by your attitude and demeanor. The calmness, steady manner, and good humor of your spouse (配偶) and you will go a long way toward the easing or the reduction of stress.
Explain to them what they’re likely to encounter or see and describe how people may react. Disasters can come and go very quickly and generally don’t last long. If you must stay away from home, try to get into a routine quickly and encourage them to make new friends. Let them know they can look to their parents and other adults if they become scared or confused. And it’s important to let them know it’s OK to cry during a disaster.
It’s sometimes helpful to let the children draw pictures of what they’ve experienced. Encourage them to write what they learned and what could have been done better. Save the story. Make it part of a documented family history! This passage was written mainly to tell us about ______.
| A．the importance of mutual help in disaster preparation |
| B．tips for preparing children for a natural disaster |
| C．the importance of educating children about natural disasters |
| D．ways to raise children’s courage in natural disasters |
It is a must that a Disaster Master knows ______.
| A．when a natural disaster will come |
| B．why there are natural disasters |
| C．how to use a disaster emergency kit |
| D．how to teach others about emergency preparations |
The underlined word “demeanor” in Paragraph 3 can be replaced by “______”.
| A．personality | B．lifestyle |
| C．emotion | D．behavior |
When they meet with a natural disaster, children ______.
| A．must write down what they see and how they feel |
| B．should believe that the disaster will never last long |
| C．can cry if they are frightened |
| D．should help other children despite the danger |
The author wrote the passage mainly for ______.
| A．parents | B．young children |
| C．teachers | D．college students |