From cosy cabins and yurts to campervans and huts with character and mod-cons, winter camping can be cool, rather than just chilly, in these beautiful UK settings.
Great Langdale, Cumbria
Winner of the Great Outdoors accommodation of the year award 2014, this campsite at the head of a valley is a beautiful spot for winter walks. But while hiking should keep you warm by day, a selection of cosy hideaways will keep you snug at night. Visitors can choose from double-glazed wooden camping pods, which include heating and lighting or, for those who want a more boutique outdoors experience, luxury yurts furnished with Moroccan-style rugs and throws, fairy lights, lanterns and a wood-burning stove. And with the Sticklebarn pub – known for its real ales and good local grub – nearby, you should be able to slip into a pretty comfortable routine in no time.
Standard pods from £35 a night (two adults, one child), 01539 432733, nationaltrust.org.uk
Vanellus, Elmley national nature reserve, Isle of Sheppey, Kent
In the stunning surroundings of the Isle of Sheppey nature reserve, Vanellus is a large shepherd’s hut. From the comfort of your abode (which is hooked up to electricity), you can gaze out through floor-to-ceiling windows as the sun rises and sets, watching birds of prey and other wildlife. The reserve can be explored on foot, or you can book a 4WD tour of the area. The farm has a lounge in a converted barn, where you can hang out or eat communally, but if you really can’t bear to step into the cold, you can have meals – including hot bacon rolls for breakfast – delivered to your door.
From £180 for a two-night stay (sleeps two), 0117 204 7830, canopyandstars.co.uk
The Cabin at NantyrOnnen, near Llandovery, Wales
The Cabin is an unusual octagonal wood structure, built by local craftsmen keen to make an eco-friendly home. The electricity supply, for example, is powered by the nearby stream. From the sheltered veranda you can enjoy views across the hills, and the surrounding countryside is perfect for walking all year round. Inside the cosy hut is a wood-burning stove, and you can also warm up in a recently built spring-fed hot tub.
From £85 a night throughout December (sleeps two), mulled wine available 15 Dec-4 Jan, 0117 204 7830, canopyandstars.co.uk
Guilden Gate Glamping, Hertfordshire
Just 35 minutes by train from London, the Guilden Gate campsite is ideal for an easy rural family escape from the capital. Set in a woodland glade, a campervan is your main bedroom, and a bell tent can act as another bedroom, or a lounge. There’s also a huge wok-shaped hot tub, big enough for six adults. The site is close to Cambridge (20 minutes’ drive), so you can explore the city by day – if the icy countryside gets too much.
From £65 a night (sleeps four, minimum two-night stay), 01763 243960, goglamping.net
Which of the following explains the underlined word “snug”?
| A．cold | B．awake | C．warm | D．comfortable |
Which of the following is correct about Vanellus?
| A．Vanellus is the biggest shepherd hut around the nature reserve. |
| B．Tourists cannot continue to use their electronic devices in the hut. |
| C．People can either walk or cycle to travel around the nature reserve. |
| D．The shepherd hut provides different dining options for the tourists. |
Joseph plans to have an eco-friendly travel. Which of the site is suitable to him?
| A．Great Langdale | B．Vanellus |
| C．The Cabin | D．Guilden Gate Glamping |
A family of 6 (grandparents, parents and twins) wants to go for winter camping for 4 days. Which of the site is cheapest?
| A．Great Langdale | B．Vanellus |
| C．The Cabin | D．Guilden Gate Glamping |
If you are a recent social science graduate who has had to listen to jokes about unemployment from your computer major classmates, you may have had the last laugh. There are many advantages for the social science major because this high-tech" Information Age" demands people who are flexible and who have good communication skills.
There are many social science majors in large companies who fill important positions. For example, a number of research studies found that social science majors had achieved greater managerial success than those who had technical training or pre-professional courses. Studies show that social science majors are most suited for change, which is the leading feature of the kind of high-speed, high-pressure, high-tech world we now live in.
Social science majors are not only experiencing success in their long-term company jobs, but they are also finding jobs more easily. A study showed that many companies had filled a large percentage of their entry-level positions with social science graduates. The study also showed that the most sought-after quality in a person who was looking for a job was communication skills, noted as "very important" by 92 percent of the companies. Social science majors have these skills, often without knowing how important they are. It is probably due to these skills that they have been offered a wide variety of positions.
Finally, although some social science majors may still find it more difficult than their technically trained classmates to land the first job, recent graduates report that they don't regret their choice of study.
63. By saying that" you may have had the last laugh" in the first paragraph, the author means that you may have ________.
A. shared the jokes with computer majors B. found jobs more easily than computer majors
C. earned as much as computer majors D. stopped joking about computer majors
64. Compared with graduates of other subjects, social science graduates _______.
A. are ready to change when situations change. B. are better able to deal with difficulties
C. are equally good at computer skills D. are likely to give others pressure
65. The underlined word “land” in the last paragraph probably means ______.
A. keep for some time B. successfully get
C. apply immediately D. lose regretfully
66. According to the text, what has made it easy for social science graduates to find jobs?
A. Willingness to take low-paid jobs. B. Skills in expressing themselves.
C. Readiness to gain high-tech knowledge. D. Part-time work experience.
A couple of years ago I took the family on a winter vacation to New York City to experience the holiday atmospheres. The longest lines that week weren’t in the Empire State Building, at the Statue of Liberty Ferry or any of the Big Apple’s other landmarks (地标) , but at Fifth Avenue and 58th Street, where people crowded into FAO Schwarz.
It was not until I got inside that it became clear how only one toy store could provide everything else that Manhattan offers between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Far more than a shopping experience, the hour we spent wandering along the aisles(通道) at FAO Schwarz was more like visiting a museum of everything that children care for very much. And for me — and all of the other bright-eyed grownups — it was a trip down my memory lane to the toys we knew as kinds.
America’s most unique toy stores are found from coast to coast, in big cities and also in small towns. Let’s have a look at some others.
The Dinosaur Farm in South Pasadena, Calif.: Former rock musician Dave Plenn opened the shop in 1994, a year after “Jurassic Park” brought the creatures back into the spotlight again. But he says his wife ---who was then working for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles— rather than the big movie proved the inspiration for the dinosaur store.
Mild Zone: A more traditional specialty store, which sells model cars like Matchbox, Hot Wheels and Johnny Lightning. “It’s such an addicting (上瘾的) hobby,” says Burke, who admits that he originally created the store as a means to feed his own toy car collection. “Once you buy your first, you can never stop.” The store has around 30,000 cars. Mile Zone’s customers are from kinds with a wish for speedy toys to grown-ups who view the model cars as time travel back to their youth.
59. The author wrote the first paragraph mainly to show _________.
A. the poor traffic condition in New York B. the nice holiday atmosphere in New York
C. the popularity of toy stores in New York D. the charming landmarks in New York
60. Walking into FAO Schwarz gave the author a chance to ___________.
A. recall his life of childhood B. visit a most special museum
C. study the history of Manhattan D. learn the way of producing toys
61. Dave Plenn was inspired to open the Dinosaur Farm by ________.
A. his wife B. “Jurassic Park” C. his research on nature D .rock music
62. We can infer from the passage that ______.
A. dinosaur toy stores are more popular than traditional ones
B. some unique toys have been displayed in local museums
C. some popular toy stores have become new landmarks
D. customers of toy stores are more than children
“Yes, madam, your husband ran into some trouble,” he replied. “They were caught in a heavy storm.” .Storms often cause trouble. When I was a baby, Dad had to spend long weeks at sea as a fisherman. One day, I suddenly began to cry loudly. No matter how Mom comforted me, I just kept crying. Mom felt uneasy. A feeling told her that something bad would happen. Then a word hit her----“Mayday”. Mom called the Coast Guard, asking the man on duty about my Dad and his ship.
Father and his crew radioed for help when water started pouring in his ship. We flew out there about an hour ago and dropped them a pump. “Take it easy. He will be back soon.” “What if the pump doesn’t work?” Mom questioned. “You should do another fly-over.” The man tried to comfort Mom, “He must be all right now, Mrs Hemingway, or we would have heard a radio signal from him.” “You haven’t got a Mayday?” “No, but we will let you know if we hear the radio signal.” Mom hung up.
I remained crying. Mom called the Coast Guard again. Finally, they said they would send out a rescue plane.
At midnight the phone rang. It was the Coast Guard. They had found my father and all his crew floating in sea 15miles off Jamaica. Dad’s ship had sunk, but fortunately all were safe.
“The pump they dropped didn’t work fast enough,” Dad said. “I radioed a Mayday, but I couldn’t get through.”
Dad didn’t get through to the Coast Guard because of the storm, but he got through to us. Really, there is something that can’t be seen but exists, as is said but can’t be explained, between us, the families.
55. The underlined word “Mayday” in the first paragraph probably means “_________”.
A. a radio program B. the signal for help
C. the holiday in May D. a sign of feeling sick
56. Why did the man on duty say the author’s father would return soon?
A. The pump they dropped was of high quality.
B. The author’s father called him and told him so.
C. The plane waited until the pump worked.
D. He thought no news was good news.
57. We can infer from the text that _________.
A. the man on duty in the Coast Guard was careless
B. the plane failed to find the ship which was in danger
C. the author’s father was in charge of the ship
D. the pump saved the author’s father finally
58. What may be the explanation for the author’s (as a baby) crying?
A. He might feel hungry in the evening
B. He might see something terrible in the room.
C. He might be afraid when left alone in room
D. He might have a feeling of uneasiness.
第三部分：阅读理解（共20小题；每小题2分，满分40分）
阅读下列短文，从每篇短文后所给各题的四个选项（A、B、C和D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
In this age of Internet chat, videogames and reality television, there is no shortage of mindless activities to keep a child occupied. Yet, despite the competition, my 8-year-old daughter Rebecca wants to spend her free time writing short stories. She wants to enter one of her stories into a writing contest, a competition she won last year.
As a writer I know about winning contests, and about losing them. I know what it is like to work hard on a story only to receive a rejection slip (退稿条) from the publisher. I also know the pressures of trying to live up to a reputation created by previous victories. What if she doesn’t win the contest again? That’s the strange thing about being a parent. So many of our own past scars and ruined hopes can surface.
A revelation (启示) came last week when I asked her, “Don’t you want to win again?”
“No”, she replied, “I just want to tell the story of an angel going to first grade.”
I had just spent weeks correcting her stories as she spontaneously (自发地) told them. Telling myself that I was merely an experienced writer guiding the young writer across the hall, I offered suggestions for characters, conflicts and endings for her tales. The story about a fearful angel starting first grade was quickly “guided” by me into the tale of a little girl with a wild imagination taking her first music lesson. I had turned her contest into my contest without even realizing it.
Staying back and giving kids space to grow is not as easy as it looks. Because I know very little about farm animals who use tools or angels who go to first grade, I had to accept the fact that I was co-opting (借用) my daughter’s experience.
While stepping back was difficult for me, it was certainly a good first step that I will quickly follow with more steps, putting myself far enough away to give her room but close enough to help if asked. All the while I will be reminding myself that children need room to experiment, grow and find their own voices.
1. What do we learn form the first paragraph?
A. Now too many entertainments take up too much time.
B. Children do find lots of fun in many mindless activities.
C. Rebecca is much too occupied to enjoy her free time.
D. Rebecca draws on a lot of online materials for her writing.
2. What did the author say about her own writing experience?
A. She was constantly under pressure of writing more.
B. Most of her stories had been rejected by publishers.
C. She did not quite live up to her reputation as a writer.
D. Her way to success was full of pains and frustrations.
3. Why did Rebecca want to enter this year’s writing contest?
A. She had won a prize in the previous contest.
B. She wanted to share her stories with readers.
C. She was sure of winning with her mother’s help.
D. She believed she possessed real talent for writing.
4. What’s the author’s advice for parents?
A. Children should be given every chance to voice their opinions.
B. Parents should keep an eye on the activities their kids engage in.
C. Children should be allowed freedom to grow through experience.
D. A writing career, though attractive, is not for every child to pursue.
When you arrive at the Shanghai Expo site, the first thing you will see is a huge red building in the ancient Chinese dougong(斗拱) architectural(建筑的) style. Built according to the concept of “Oriental Crown”, the China Pavilion(展厅) is the largest national pavilion at the Expo.
Themed “Search of the East”, the pavilion is divided into three sections. Footprint of the East on the top floor shows the change of Chinese cities; at Journey of Wisdom on the second, China’s four great inventions—the compass, paper, printing and gunpowder are displayed; and Blossoming(盛开的) City on the ground floor shows the scenery of future cities.
Take a lift, and you’ll be taken to the 8,500-square-meter top floor. There, in a film by Lu Chuan, you’ll see how Chinese cities have changed, especially over the past 30 years. The 10-minute movie is shown in a 600-seat theater.
The painting Along the River During Qingming Festival, is considered a national treasure. It describes life in Bianjing, which is today’s Kaifeng in Henan province. More than 1,000 years ago, it was the largest city in the world. Multimedia technology makes more than 1,500 characters of the painting walk and move along a 100-meter-long wall.
Four families are chosen from Zhejiang province to show their daily lives. Films of the families and furniture from the households are exhibited. At the pavilion, you’ll get insight into the daily lives of these families at different periods. The designers believe these will mirror the great changes Zhejiang has seen since China’s reform and opening-up policy in the late 1970s.
56. Which of the following statements is TRUE according to the article?
A. Visitors can see the China Pavilion built in a modern style.
B. The theme of the China Pavilion is “Oriental Crown”.
C. The China Pavilion is designed by famous film director Lu Chuan.
D. Visitors can get to the top floor of the China Pavilion by lift.
57. If a visitor wants to enjoy the scenery of future cities, he will go to ______.
A. the top floor B. the second floor C. the ground floor D. a 600-seat theater
58. The painting Along the River During Qingming Festival in the China Pavilion is attractive and special because ______.
A. it shows what life was like in Beijing, the capital of China.
B. it shows the development of Chinese cities.
C. it describes what happened in history.
D. Visitors can see more than 1,500 characters of the painting walking along a 100-meter-long wall with the help of multimedia technology.
59. What does the underlined word “mirror” mean?
A. 反映 B. 赞扬 C. 镜子 D. 怀念
60. What’s the main idea of the article?
A. The theme of the China Pavilion.
B. A brief introduction to the China Pavilion.
C. The films of the China Pavilion.
D. The structure of the China Pavilion.