Below are some interesting columns from a website:
| Girl’s Crazy Historical Costumes Stella Ehrhart, a US third-grader, dresses up as a different historical figure every day before school—yes, you heard right! The 8-year-old has been coming to class in a different persona (人物) daily since the second day of second grade, when she showed up as American author Laura Ingalls Wilder. Stella gets ideas for what to wear from the book 100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century. However, in the past years she has also dressed up as fictional characters including Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. The eager student managed to get through the entire second grade without repeating herself, but now she is running out of ideas. The girl’s parents, who are both theater professionals, say they support their daughter’s “creativity”. Her mother told UK news website The Huffington Post, “She goes into her closet and just picks out what she wants each day.” Learning Soars How do you get a child’s early education off the ground? A head teacher in the Georgian city of Rustavi has found a unique way of creating an exciting learning environment. He has transformed a plane into a kindergarten. Gari Chapidze bought an old but functional Yakovlev Yak-42 from Georgian Airways and filled it with education equipment, games and toys, but left the cockpit (驾驶舱) untouched so it could be used as a play area. “The idea was to create a kindergarten where children go |
with joy,” Chapidze, who runs the kindergarten, told AFP. “The children come in to the kindergarten with pleasure and cry when they have to go home. They are happy here,” he added. Taxi Driver Gets Lucky in Las Vegas Bright lights and big wins—this is what Las Vegas is known for, and even the taxi drivers here get lucky. Well, at least recently one did. Adam Woldemarim, 42, discovered $ 221,510 in the back of his van after a long day at work. The money was in a laptop case left between the seats of the Virgin Valley cab. What did Woldemarim do with the cash? He turned it in. The Ethiopian driver soon got a call from the case’s owner who, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had “won big” and was on his way to the airport when he realized he had forgotten his winnings. Woldemarim was given a $ 2,000 reward. But it was reported that the driver’s fellow taxi drivers thought he should have got a lot more. Eat Crickets (蟋蟀) and Worms at a Museum The Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia is putting on a night for meat eaters who want to try some unusual foods. It is hosting a cocktail party on Oct 27 called Cuisine from the Collections. The food on the menu is inspired by the exhibited specimen (标本) at the museum. The event is for adults only. Let’s hope they don’t get a stomach bug from all the insects! |
Stella Ehrhart gets ideas on how to dress up every day before school from ________.
| A．Laura Ingalls Wilder | B．a book |
| C．Hermione Granger | D．her parents |
Which of the following is the biggest problem Stella Ehrhart is facing?
| A．She has to get through the entire second grade dressing up as others. |
| B．She finds her parents no longer offer her as much support as before. |
| C．She finds it hard to think of enough new figures to dress up. |
| D．She has difficulty dressing up without falling behind in study. |
Yakovlev Yak-42 is a certain kind of ________.
| A．school | B．company | C．toy | D．plane |
According to the passage, the van driver ________.
| A．was lucky to win a laptop case after a long day at work |
| B．was on his way to the airport when he saw the money |
| C．was given a reward but not quite satisfied with the sum |
| D．discovered the money but didn’t keep it for himself |
Are you looking for something different this summer? We’ve lined up a list of some unusual camps.
Learn to fly a jet(喷气式飞机)
This is the real training that all fighter and test pilots have. Learn the cockpit(驾驶室) and how to put your plane through its paces . Finally, you fight a mock battle with your teammates.
It’s held at the US Space &Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alaska. There are both weekend and summer camps for anyone 9 and up. Kids 7 to 12 also can pair with a parent. The cost is $749 for kids-only camps and $349 each for parent /child camp.
Be Steven Spielberg
At Film Camp, you will get to write, direct, shoot and edit your own movie.
Run by the New York Film Academy, you can choose from a variety of camp locations: New York, Disney-MGM Studios in Florida, Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Harvard University, Paris or Florence, Italy.
Everyone helps one another by working behind the camera. Tuition for a one-
week camp is $1,500, while a four or six week training run $5,900 to $6,900.
Join the circus
At Circus Smirkus you can learn how to ride a unicycle, and throw a pie in someone’s face . Kids 8 to 16 can choose between one—or two-week sessions, with the two-week camp ending in a circus show for the families.
The camp is located in Craftsbury Common, Vermont. The cost is $825 for one week ($300 extra with a parent ) and $1,500 for two weeks ( $ 500 extra with a parent).
Live the ultimate (终极的)summer fantasy
Learn to ride the waves this summer and tour one of the world’s only sea turtle hospitals at Surf Camp. The week long camp also includes trips to local islands.
Surf Camp is located at Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina.The cost is $475 per week for kids 8 to 12, $595 per week for teens 12 to 18. Check it out at wbsurfcamp. Com.
Strike a chord(弦)
At Power Chord Academy, teens 12 to 18 will be placed in a band that best meets their age, experience and style. You will lead the life of a band member: recording in a studio, playing a concert and making a video.Which camps can you join if you want your father to be able to take part?
| A．Circus Smirkus and Surf Camp |
| B．The Power Chord Academy and Film Camp |
| C．The camp at the US Space & Rocked Center and Film Camp |
| D．The camp at the US Space &Rocket Center and Circus Smirkus |
How much do you have to pay if you want to attend a 2- week circus camp with your mom?
| A．$ 2000 | B．$ 1500 | C．$ 3000 | D．$ 2250 |
Surf Camp can provide the following for campers EXCEPT______.
| A．care for sea turtles | B．surfing |
| C．meeting with lovers of surfing | D．travel to local islands |
What does the underlined word “mock” mean ?
| A．real | B．fierce | C．pretended | D．shooting |
As we know, on Saturday, millions of people around the world will celebrate Saint Patrick's Day, which honors Patron Saint (or main religious figure) of Ireland. Communities across the United States will host parades, parties, and other festivities to mark the occasion.
This year, cities like Boston, New York, and Chicago have organized massive events celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. In New York City, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to watch the Saint Patrick’s Day parade—the nation’s largest. It is one of the most watched parades in the world. Last year, almost 2 million spectators and more than 150,000 participants filled the streets. The parade, first held in 1776, is also one of the o
ldest.
Chicago also throws a big celebration. Every year, the Chicago River, which crosses the city, glows green as event organizers dump about 40 pounds of fluorescence, a powerful dye, into the water.
Boston keeps its parade rolling for three hours or more. It is the nation’s second-largest parade. The city will also salute one of its most famous former residents, President John F. Kennedy, by opening the exhibit "A Journey Home: John F. Kennedy and Ireland," at his official library.
Patron Saint lived in Britain in the early fifth century, when it was still part of the Roman Empire. He was captured and sold into slavery in Ireland when he was only 16．He eventually escaped slavery and turned to a life of religious devotion. He trained to become a minister and set out to spread Christianity throughout Ireland. After 30 years as a religious leader, Patrick died on March 17, 1461．Saint Patrick’s Day is always celebrated on March 17．In Ireland, it is an official holiday. What’s the best title of the passage?
| A．Celebrations across the Country |
| B．An Official Holiday in US |
| C．The Largest Parade in the World |
| D．History of Saint Patrick’s Day |
The last paragraph is mainly about _____.
A． the cruel slave trade. |
B．Saint Patrick’s contribution. |
| C．Ireland’s Patron Saint | D．activities during Saint Patrick’s Day |
Which of the following is not correct according to the passage?
| A．Parade is a most important event to observe Saint Patrick’s Day. |
| B．Saluting the former president has become a main event on the occasion. |
| C．Saint Patrick’s Day is a religious holiday. |
| D．The Saint Patrick’s Day parade has a history of over 230 years. |
Many people who are overweight have poor digestion(消化). For the most part, poor digestion is not a habit given by our parents. We give it to ourselves through the way we eat. Eating to get les
s stress or anxiety is often the mistake most people will make.
Oh, poor digestion can lead to weight problems. Here’s how: When a person feels stressed, the part of the central nervous system that connects digestion switches off. This is called the parasympathetic nervous system(副交感神经系统). At those times of stress, the body can take in food and process some of it, but digestion doesn’t work correctly to digest all the nutritional(营养的)goodness from the food. Poor digestion is not always obvious by observing symptoms; you can get some illnesses but not always. Poor digestion can be seemingly silent.
If you eat when you are stressed, anxious, or nervous, you might as well be eating cardboard for all the nutrients your body gets. Yes, eating when stressed is a gaining situation. Now you might think, well, if I’m not digesting, the calories aren’t getting handles, so I should be losing weight. Good idea, but wrong reality. When digestion is not proper, the body starts “starving” from lack of necessary nutrients(营养物). Yes, it goes into a starvation（饥饿）problem and starts absorbing(吸收) fat and energy. It thinks it’s in a famine(饥荒). The good news is that it’s easy to make some corrections and get rid of stress at mealtimes.
If you feel stressed often, it can be helpful to take other food that contains multiple B vitamins. These help, but you could still find yourself stressed at mealtimes.The author wrote the passage to tell us .
| A．how to deal with stress at mealtimes |
| B．what kind of food can be easily digested |
| C．eating when you’re stressed can cause weight problems |
D．eating too much resulted  in overweight problems |
How do you understand the underlined sentence in the first paragraph?
| A．Eating is the best way to release stress. |
| B．We should not release the stress by eating. |
| C．Eating too much can cause anxiety. |
| D．The stress problem can be solved during eating. |
In what way do poor digestion and stress cause body problems?
| A．Poor digestion cannot absorb much nutritional goodness from the food. |
| B．People with poor digestion take in food and process all of it. |
| C．When people feel stressed, the parasympathetic nervous system switches on. |
| D．Poor digestion will not lead to overweight problems. |
Which is NOT the reason why people may have weight problems when eating with stress?
| A．The body does not take in what they eat. |
| B．The digestion system becomes incorrect. |
| C．People cannot eat much when unhappy. |
| D．The body will begin to absorb too much fat. |
Wanted, Someone for a Kiss
We’re looking for producers to join us in the second of London 100FM. You’ll work on the station’s music programmes. Music production experience in radio is necessary, along with rich knowledge of modern dance music. Please apply(申请) in writing to Producer Vacancies, Kiss100.
Father Christmas
We’re looking for a very special person preferably over 40, to fill our Father Christmas suit.
Working days: Every Saturday from November 24 to December 15 and every day from December17 to December24 except Sunday, 10:30—16:00
Excellent pay.
Please contact(联系)the Enterprise Shopping Center, Station Parade, Eastbourne.
Accountants Assistant
When you join the them in our Revenue Administration Unit, you will be providing assistance within all parts of the Revenue Division, dealing with post and other general duties. If you are educated to GCSE grade C level we would like to talk to you. This position is equally suitable for a school leaver of for somebody who has office experience.
Wealden District Council
Software Trainer
If you are aged 24-45 and have experience in teaching and training, you could be the person we are looking for. You should be good at the computer and have some experience in programme writing. You will be allowed to make our decision, and to design courses as well as present them. Pay upwards of ￡15,000 for the right person. Please apply by sending your CV (简历) to Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited.Who should you get in touch with if you hope to work in a radio station?
| A．Producer Vacancies, Kiss 100. | B． Mrs R. Oglivie, Palmlace Limited. |
| C．The Enterprise Shopping Centre | D． Wealden District Council. |
We learn from the ads that the Enterprise Shopping Centre needs a person who __________________.
| A．is aged between 24 and 40 | B．may do some training work |
| C．should deal with general duties | D．can work for about a month |
which position is open to recent school graduates?
| A．Producer, London Kiss. |
| B．Father Christmas. |
| C．Accountants Assistant |
| D．Software Trainer |
What kind of person would probably apply to Palmace Limited?
| A．One with GCSE grade C level. |
| B．One with some office experience. |
| C．One having good computer knowledge |
| D．One trained in producing music programmes. |
Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you ca
n’t love others until you love yourself. Sometimes you’ll hear people say that you can’t expect someone else to love you until you love yourself. Either way, you’ve got to love yourself first and this can be tricky. Sure we all know that we’re the apple of our parent’s eyes, and that our Grandmas think we’re great talents and our Uncle Roberts think that we will go to the Olympics. But sometimes it’s a lot harder to think such nice thoughts about ourselves. If you find that believing in yourself is a challenge. It is time you build a positive self-image and learn to love yourself.
Self-image is your own mind’s picture of yourself. This image includes the way you look, the way you act, the way you talk and the way you think. Interestingly, our self-images are often quite different from the images others hold about us. Unfortunately, most of these images are more negative than they should be. Thus changing the way you think about yourself is the key to changing your self-image and your whole world.
The best way to defeat a passive self-image is to step back and decide to stress your successes. That is , make a list of you need to, but write down all of the great things you do every day. Don’t allow doubts to occur in it.
It very well might be that you are experiencing a negative self-image because you can’t move past one flaw or weakness that you see about yourself. Well , roll up your sleeves and make a change of it as your primary task. If you think you’re silly because you aren’t good at math, find a tutor. If you think you’re weak because you can’t run a mile, get to the track and practice. If you think you’re dull because you think it doesn’t mean it’s true.
The best way to get rid of a negative self-image is to realize that your image is far from objective, and to actively convince yourself of your positive qualities. Changing the way you think and working on those you need to improve will go a long way towards promoting a positive self-image. When you can pat(拍) yourself on the back, you’ll know you’re well on your way. Good luck! You need to build a positive self-image when you________.
A．dare to challenge y ourself |
B．feel it hard to change yourself |
| C．are unconfident about yourself | D．have a high opinion of yourself. |
How should you change your self-image according to the passage?
| A．To keep a different image of others. | B．To make your life successful. |
| C．To understand your own world. | D．To change the way you think. |
What is the passage mainly about?
| A．How to prepare for your success. | B．How to face challenges in your life |
| C．How to build a positive self-image. | D．How to develop your good qualities. |
Who are the intended readers of the passage?
A. ParentsB. Young peopleC EducatorsD. People in general.