Amazing Rafting Adventures
White water rafting is one of the classic, wild activities in the outdoors. It is also an opportunity for an unbelievable family adventure. Around the country, there are several rivers—and rafting outfitters—that are perfectly suited to the entire family.
Here are three of the best:
New River Gorge, West Virginia
Rafting in West Virginia is renowned for its established infrastructure, reliability and easy access. These things make it an obvious choice for a family vacation. Famous areas, including the New River Gorge, offer everything from lazy floats to intense Class IV runs.
READ MORE: Water Rafting: Top 5 U.S. Locations
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole provides a full range of opportunities in the outdoors—and white water rafting is certainly one of them. Popular trips include the rough rapids of the Snake River and gentle floats in nearby Yellowstone National Park.
READ MORE: What You Need to Know Before Visiting Yellowstone National Park
Grand Canyon, Arizona
For really bold families, a multi-day trip down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon is the penultimate adventure. Guided trips typically pack in boats-worth of supplies so the overnight adventures are far from “roughing it.” Instead, evenings are catered in a rugged luxury style, allowing everyone to rest up for the next day’s activities.
Whether looking for a casual float or a challenging adventure, white water rafting is a great option for any active family vacation.What is the common feature of the three rafting adventures?
| A．All three rafting rivers are suitable for the whole family. |
| B．All three rafting rivers are boring to access and reliable |
| C．All three rafting rivers are suitable for active families |
| D．All three rafting rivers offer overnight adventures |
Which of the following about Grand Canyon, Arizona is NOT true?
| A．A multi-day trip down the Colorado River is really challenging. |
| B．Really brave families will like to have a multi-day trip down the river |
| C．Everyone can rest for the next day’s activities. |
| D．People can only enjoy the rough rapids down the river |
What is the author’s attitude to white water rafting?
| A．Passive | B．Encouraging | C．Discouraging | D．Negative |
Melbourne, with a population of over 3.5 million, is the second largest city in Australia. It is clean, safe, dynamic and exciting, and well known internationally for its universities and other educational institutions. The city has well-planned tree-lined wide streets and many beautiful parks and gardens. It has a good transport system of roads, buses, trains, and trams. The La Trobe University campus is connected to the Central Business District by trams, express buses, and bus and train connections. Melbourne is a culturally rich city, and is home to large communities of people from all parts of Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia. The city is famous for its restaurants, theatres, music, opera, ballet, art, culture, and shops, and a lively and dynamic nightlife. Melbourne people are fond of sports, and the city hosts many famous international sports events. Near Melbourne there are beautiful coastlines with excellent beaches, national parks, forests, wineries (葡萄酒厂), winter snowfields and summer resorts. The climate is temperate and comfortable, with warm summers and cool winters. In summer, maximum daytime temperatures range from 26°C to 36°C, and in winter from 12°C to 18°C. The weather in Melbourne can be variable from day to day. Melbourne was rated the world's best city to live in by the Economist Intelligence Unit. Melbourne is well-known in the world for its _____.
| A．large population | B．educational institutions |
| C．transport system | D．beautiful parks and gardens |
According to the passage, Melbourne is a city where _____.
| A．rich people choose to live | B．the best wine is produced |
| C．various cultures exist | D．Asian food is popular |
The underlined word “temperate” most probably means _____.
| A．hot | B．mild | C．dry | D．cold |
The best title for the passage might be _____.
| A．An Ideal Place for Shopping | B．A City with the Best Climate |
| C．The World's Best City to Live in | D．The World's Most Beautiful City |
Attractions in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Historical Museum
30 N. Carroll Street on Madison’s Capital Square
Discover Wisconsin’s history and culture on four floors of exhibits. Open for public program. Admission is free.
Open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00am--4:00 pm.
(608) 264-6555
www.wisconsinhistory.org/museum
Swiss historical village
612 Seventh Ave., New Glarus
The Swiss Historical Village offers a delightful look at pioneer life in America’s heartland. 14 buildings in the village give a full picture of everyday life in the nineteenth-century Midwest.
Tue.—Fri., May 1st –October 31st , 10:00 am—4:00 pm. Admission is $20.
(608) 527-2317www.swisshistoricalvillage.com
Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe
6858 Paoli Rd., Paoli, WI
One of the largest collections of fine arts and crafts in Wisconsin. Over 5000 sq. ft. of exhibition space in a historic creamery. While visiting enjoy a wonderfully prepared lunch at our cafe overlooking the Sugar River. Just minutes from Madison!
Gallery open Tue.—Sun., 10:00 am—5:00 pm.
Cafe open Wed.—Sat., 11:00 am—3:00 pm.
Sun. brunch with wine, 10:00—3:00 pm.
(608) 845-6600 www.artisangal.com
Christopher Columbus Museum
239 Whitney St., Columbus
World-class exhibit—2000 quality souvenirs(纪念品) marking Chicago’s 1893 World Columbian Exhibition. Tour buses are always welcome.
Open daily, 8:15 am – 4:00 pm.
(920) 623-1992www.columbusantiquemall.comWhich of the following is on Capital Square?
| A．Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B．Swiss Historical Village. |
| C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D．Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can you go for a visit on Monday?
| A．Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B．Swiss Historical Village. |
| C．Artisan Gallery & Creamery cafe. | D．Christopher Columbus Museum. |
Where can visitors have lunch?
| A．At Wisconsin Historical Museum. | B．At Swiss Historical Village. |
| C．At Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe. | D．At Christopher Columbus Museum. |
We learn from the text that___________.
| A．Swiss Historical Village is open for half a year |
| B．Christopher Columbus Museum overlooks a river |
| C．tickets are needed for Wisconsin Historical Museum |
| D．Artisan Gallery & Creamery Cafe are open daily for 4 hours |
When was the last time you did something really fun with one of your parents—just the two of you?
Parents who take their young children to music, swimming and art classes often stop arranging such activities once their kids are older and in school all day. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Doing something enjoyable with your kids just might make you look at each other in a whole new way, especially if you do it through a class or an event. When parent and child become students together, it puts them on the same level, at least for a while.
“I really like parents to come to class with their kids—they start sharing things and talking about what they’re doing and what they like,” said art teacher Pyper Dixon.
However, finding something new in common is a big choice for them, especially when kids get involved in sports and other after-school activities. But it’s possible to learn a new skill or hobby together.
That’s certainly true of Lauren, 11, of Silver Spring, who is in Dixon’s class with her father, Dennis. “I was just going to drop her off,” Dennis said, “but Dixon persuaded me to stay.”
Now Lauren gets to nag her father about doing his art homework. “He always leaves it to the last minute,” she said. “But then he’ll turn around to do amazing drawings,” she added, “We have different styles of drawing, so it’s interesting to talk it over with him.”
Without the Saturday morning art class, Dennis said, he would be reading the paper, and Lauren would be on her own in her room or on the computer. But they talk more now. “I can’t think of an experience where you communicate with your kid so closely,” he said. The author raises the question at the beginning to_______.
| A．expect an answer |
| B．criticize some parents |
| C．introduce the topic |
| D．support his argument |
What does Dixon think is the benefit of parent and child studying art together?
| A．They will become equal. |
| B．They will communicate more. |
| C．The child will learn art much better. |
| D．The parent will learn something new. |
The underlined word “nag” in the text probably means _______.
| A．urge |
B．help |
C．miss |
D．teach |
We can learn from the text that_______.
| A．Lauren used to talk a lot with her father |
| B．Dennis enjoys studying art with Lauren |
| C．Lauren dislikes her father’s drawings |
| D．Dennis likes playing computer games |
During my high school years, the most important thing was what I was wearing to the Friday night dance and who I was taking. Although college was talked about, it was the least of my worries.
When I was graduating eighth grade and starting high school, my older brother was graduating twelfth grade and going onto college. For my graduation, he gave me a card in which he wrote, “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.” I remember not believe him then, but looking back…, he was right. Those four years shaped who I was as a person, pushed me to my limit and encouraged me to become an adult.
However, I was so completely absorbed in my junior and senior years of high school, that when someone spoke of college I brushed it off. I wasn't ready to leave my comfort zone of having all of my closest friends together and knowing what every single day was going to be like . Studying was something I did only AFTER I nailed my half-time dance performance. I knew my parents wanted me to go to college, so I told them I would go to commuity college (社区学院)and I didn’t worry about my SAT（美国大学入学考试）scores.
When my senior year passed and everyone graduated and went off to their own college ,I started to wish I had done the same. My friends were living away, meeting new people, discovering new places, and I was living at home and driving to and from class every day. It seemed exactly like high school. I hated it! I thought college was supposed to be different! Why didn’t I take more time to research colleges and do the same? I ended up loving college and wishing I had four years to enjoy the campus(大学校园)atmosphere instead of two.
My advice to anyone thinking about attending college is to think about it very seriously and look into all of your choices well ahead of time. Now I have graduate and I am working full time and I would do anything to go back to my high school days for a second chance! Why didn’t the author worry about his SAT scores?
| A．He wanted to go to community college. |
| B．He had a gift for dance. |
| C．He was well prepared for the exam. |
| D．He believed his brother would help him. |
When in high school, the author.
| A．drove to and from class every day |
| B．buried himself in his study all the time |
| C．enjoyed talking about future college life |
| D．lived in the school except on holidays |
What did the author’s brother mean by “Enjoy your four years…, they go by fast.”?
| A．He wished the author to have more dance. |
| B．He advised the author to value the years. |
| C．He encouraged the author to leave his comfort zone. |
| D．He suggested the author aim at a community college. |
Talking of his high school years, the author feels.
| A．regretful |
B．lonely |
C．angry |
D．pleased |
The host: Now it's time for our You Must Read This program. Today we'll hear from Lauren Groff. She came across a book when she was going to have her first child and was worried about the future.
Lauren Groff: Staring into darkness, I wanted to read about happiness.1n fact, books full of joy are hard to find because happiness is nearly impossible to write about. So, when I found Elizabeth and Her German Garden, by Elizabeth Von Arnim, I felt as if someone suddenly opened a curtain and revealed a window where I had thought there was a wall.
Elizabeth and Her German Garden feels as if it rose out of Von Arnim's deep unhappiness in the way she was supposed to fit into her world Still, what a cool drink this novel is. It has a few characters: the narrator, a countess (女伯爵) named Elizabeth, her husband, her three tiny daughters, various servants and some visitors. There is also Elizabeth's garden. whick we see in all its seasonal richness.
That is only the book's surface, however. There are great things hidden in the book. Eliza- beth is always comparing herself and the women around her and finding their fixed social roles disappointing. Her happiness, when it comes, arrives as an act of will. She has fought hard to achieve delight and I think it is more valuable for her struggle.
I appreciate Elizabeth for showing me a way through my darkest time, by revealing that an act of focused attention can lift a person out of a long, dark period in their lives. Anyone can get a little happiness from living, even by reading a few pages of a book.
The host : That's Lauren Groff. Her latest novel is Arcadia. The book she recommended(推荐) is Elizabeth and Her German Garden.What can we learn from the second paragraph?
| A． Lauren Groff likes reading about happiness at night. |
| B．Elizabeth Von Arnim wrote Elizabeth and Her German Garden. |
| C．There are a few books about joy that Lauren Groff likes reading. |
| D．Someone opened a curtain when Lauren Groff found her favorite book. |
The underlined word "it" in the fourth paragraph probably refers to_______.
| A． Lauren's delight | B． Lauren's struggle |
| C． Elizabeth's struggle | D． Elizabeth's happiness |
Lauren Groff likes Elizabeth and Her German Garden because it________.
| A． is full of joy and laughter | B． shows a way to happiness |
| C．is a perfect way to kill time | D．describes a beautiful garden |
What can we learn about Arcadia?
| A．It is the next novel to be recommended. |
| B．It is a novel written by Lauren Groff. |
| C．It is Elizabeth Von Arnim's latest novel. |
| D．It is recommended in the last program. |
Where can we find this conversation?
| A．In an interview about gardening. |
| B．In a report about how to be happy. |
| C．In a radio program about books. |
| D．In a documentary about famous writers. |