Iceland, an island just south of the Arctic Circle, has fairly mild winters, thanks to warm ocean currents. Time your vacation here during the winter months to take advantage of off-season deals.
Off-season means good deals on flights, hotels and tours. You may also find that the locals are a bit friendlier and more welcoming when tourists aren’t arriving in crowds.
In the winter months, there are less than seven hours of daylight; thus, chances are good you’ll catch sight of the northern lights. Sunsets are also beautiful at this time, making for some great photo opportunities.
In Iceland, winter is the perfect time to hike glaciers, go ice climbing, explore caves made out of hardened lava(岩浆) and much more. One of the most popular activities is off-roading(越野比赛) in a specially-equipped “super jeep”.
Before booking your trip, be sure to check for volcano alerts. There are about 130 volcanoes on or around Iceland. Thirty-five of them are active. In 2010, a volcano named Eyjaallajokull exploded, sending clouds of ash up to four kilometers into the atmosphere. The ash drifted toward the UK and Europe. Because the ask could damage aircraft engines, airlines operating in the region were forced to cancel flights for six days. As a result, thousands of people were stuck in airports.
Recently, another volcano named Bardarbunga has become active, erupting ash into the air. Such events, if large enough, could prevent your trip from going ahead. So check the latest volcano news prior to making your reservations. According to this article, why are you more likely to see the northern lights in the winter?
| A．They move from rural areas to cities. |
| B．The weather is more stable at that time. |
| C．They’re a special feature of many festivals. |
| D．The sky is dark for longer periods then. |
According to the article, how do visitors to Iceland have fun in the winter?
| A．They learn how to ski down the mountains. |
| B．They photograph famous historic sites.. |
| C．They explore the countryside in well made vehicles.. |
| D．They spend a week at one of the seaside resorts. |
What is true about the volcanoes of Iceland?
| A．The majority of them are quiet. |
| B．Their age hasn’t been determined. |
| C．All but one of them are extinct. |
| D．Citizens aren’t affected by them. |
What does this article explain?.
| A．Some of Iceland’s urban cultural attractions. |
| B．A way t reduce the cost of a trip to Iceland. |
| C．Reasons for visiting Iceland in June and July. |
| D．The average price for a short tour of Iceland. |
（共5小题；每小题2分，满分10分）
根据短文内容，从短文后的选项中选出能填入空白处的最佳选项。选项中有两项为多余选项。
It is your skin that keeps your insides from falling out. It helps you warm up when you are cold, and it can cool you off when you are hot. It lets you feel things by touch.
Like the heart, stomach and brain, your skin is an organ. In fact, it is the largest organ in your body. But it is still easy to take skin for granted.1But skin has an important job to do.
Your skin is constantly protecting you. 2When you take care of your skin, you are helping your skin do its job. And taking care of your skin today will help prevent future problems, like wrinkles(皱纹) and even skin cancer.
3Keeping your hands clean all the time is especially important because they can spread germs(细菌) to the skin on other parts of your body.
4Cold or hot water may hurt your skin. Wet your hands, then lather up with a mild soap (香皂). You should rub everywhere, including the palms, the wrists and the nails. Wash them well, dry thoroughly with a clean towel and you’re done.
You'll also want to use warm water when you take a bath. Use soap to clean your body. Don't forget under your arms and behind your ears! Your face needs attention, especially as you enter puberty(青春期) and the skin on your face gets more oily.5
| A．One simple way to take care of your skin is to keep it clean. |
| B．It is a good habit to wash your hands before and after meals. |
| C．When washing your hands, use water that’s comfortably warm. |
| D．It keeps infections out of your body and keeps you from getting sick. |
E.Unless there’s a problem, your may not think about your skin very much.
F.Your skin plays a more important role in keeping you healthy during your puberty.
G.It’s a good idea to wash your face once or twice daily with warm water and a mild soap.
February 4, 2012 saw the take-off of a new rising NBA star-Jeremy Lin.
Among professional basketball players, Jeremy Lin's background is not typical. He graduated from Harvard University, which sends few players to the NBA, and he is the only Chinese-American NBA player.
Lin's enjoyment of basketball actually began in Taiwan. When Lin's father moved to U.S., his interest in the sport only grew and he passed on this love of basketball to his son, introducing him to the game at the age of five. The young Lin spent much of his youth playing basketball for fun.
In high school, Lin dreamed of playing in the NBA. When he applied for college, he was not offered a single sports scholarship. However, after his admission to Harvard, he was offered a place on its college basketball team.
During Lin's time at Harvard, his basketball career began to speed up. He scored 1,482 points, making him one of the highest scorers in Ivy League history.
When he graduated, no professional teams offered Lin a contract, but he was invited to play in the NBA Summer League. He played well and ended up eagerly signing a contract with the Golden State Warriors.
At first，playing in professional games filled Lin with excitement. He treasured opportunities to meet players he had been watching on TV for years. But slowly, the excitement wore off and was replaced by anxiety. In a few very difficult months, he was cut by two teams before the New York Knicks picked him up.
But he had the courage and determination to stick to his dream, so he put himself into hard training to get ready for his opportunity to come. Then his moment arrived on February 4, 2012，on which his excellent performance made him famous overnight. After that, he led the Knicks to their fifth straight victory. Knicks fans developed the nickname for him "Linsanity" (林发疯）. Time magazine released its 2012 list of the 100 "Most Influential People in the World", Jeremy Lin included. WhichofthefollowingisoflittlehelpinLin’ssuccess?
| A．hisfather’sinfluence |
| B．hisdevotiontobasketball |
| C．hisyearsofhardwork |
| D．hisgraduationfromHarvardUniversity |
Whatdoesthephrases"woreoff"inseventhparagraphprobablymean?
| A．arose | B．disappeared | C．grew | D．remained |
WhichofthefollowingstatementsisTRUEaccordingtothepassage?
A.Linlearnedtoplaybasketballwhenhewaseight.
B.Linwasexcitedforprofessionalgamesanddidagoodjobatthebeginning.
C.BeforeLintherewasnoChinese-AmericanNBAplayers.
D.LinisthemostoutstandingplayerinNBA.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat______.
A.Lindidn’thaveasmoothroadinNBA.
B.LingotaneasyentryintoNBA.
C.Lindidn’tshowhisbasketballtalentsinHarvardUniversity.
D.NBAprefersgraduatesfromHarvardUniversity.
Parents who feel disappointed at their teenagers’ failure to pay attention in class, and inability to sit quietly long enough to finish homework or plan ahead, should take solace. Their children are not being lazy or careless, according to new research.
The research has found that teenagers’ brains continue developing far longer into adulthood than we used to think. Teens may look like young adults but their brain structure is similar to that of much younger children.
“It is not always easy for teens to pay attention in class without letting their minds wander, or to ignore distractions from their younger brothers or sisters when trying to solve a maths problem,” said Dr Iroise Dumon-theil. “But it’s not the fault of teenagers that they can’t pay attention and are easily distracted. It’s to do with the structure of their brains. Teens simply can’t think as well as an adult.”
The research showed that the brain of a teenager works less effectively than that of an adult. “We knew that the front of the brain of teens functioned in a chaotic (混乱的) way but we didn’ t realize it continued until the late 20s or early 30s,” said Dr Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, who led the research.
Chaotic thought patterns are a result of teenagers’ brains containing too much grey matter — the cell bodies and connections which carry messages within the brain. As we age, the amount of grey matter in our brain reduces.
“What our research has shown is that there is simply too much going on in the brains of teens,” said Blakemore. “The result is that their brain energy and resources are wasted and their decision-making process is badly influenced. Adults, on the other hand, have less grey matter. This means that the brain works far more effectively.”The underlined word “solace” in Paragraph 1 may mean _____.
| A． notice | B．medicine | C．comfort | D．action |
When making decisions, _____.
| A．teens’ brains continue to do much needless work |
| B．the grey matter in young children’s front brain becomes active |
| C．people are not likely to be distracted until their late 30s |
| D．adults are more independent than teens |
What is the effect of having too much grey matter?
| A．It makes us always feel disappointed. |
| B．It makes us more intelligent. |
| C．It had a bad effect on the growth of teens. |
| D．It had a bad effect on decision-making. |
What’s the text mainly about?
| A．Teens have different brains from those of children. |
| B．Adults work more effectively than teens. |
| C．Grey matter makes teens unable to pay attention. |
| D．Brain energy is wasted in the brain’s activity. |
Are you sometimes a little tired and sleepy in the early afternoon? Many people feel this way after lunch. They may think that eating lunch is the cause of the sleepiness. Or, in summer, they may think it is the heat. However, the real reason lies inside their bodies. At that time – about eight hours after you wake up – your body temperature goes down. This is what makes you slow down and feel sleepy. Scientists have tested sleep habits in experiments where there was no night or day. The people in these experiments almost always followed a similar sleeping pattern (模式). They slept for one long period and then for one short period about eight hours later.
In many parts of the world, people take naps(小睡) in the middle of the day. This is especially true in warmer climates, where the heat makes work difficult in the early afternoon. Researchers are now saying that naps are good for everyone in any climate. A daily nap gives one a more rested body and mind and therefore is good for health in general. In countries where naps are traditional, people often suffer less from problems such as heart disease.
Many working people, unfortunately, have no time to take naps. Though doctors may advise taking naps, employers do not allow it! If you do have the chance, however, here are a few tips about making the most of your nap. Remember that the best time to take a nap is about eight hours after you get up. A short sleep too late in the day may only make you feel more tired and sleepy afterward. This can also happen if you sleep for too long. If you do not have enough time, try a short nap – even ten minutes of sleep can be helpful. Why do people feel sleepy in the early afternoon according to the text?
| A．They eat too much for lunch. |
| B．They sleep too little at night. |
| C．Their body temperature becomes lower. |
| D．The weather becomes a lot warmer. |
If you get up at 6:30 am, what is the best time for you to take a nap?
| A．About 12:30 pm. | B．About 1:30 pm. |
| C．About 3:30 pm | D．About 2:30 pm |
What would be the best title for the text?
| A．Just for a Rest |
| B．All for a Nap |
| C．A Special Sleep Pattern. |
| D．Taking Naps in Warmer Climate. |
One day while shopping in a small town in southern California, it was my misfortune to be approached by a clerk．He seemed most unfriendly and not at all concerned about my intended purchase．I bought nothing, and marched angrily out of the store．
On the outside was a dark-skinned young man in his early twenties．His expressive brown eyes met and held mine, and in the next instant a beautiful, bright smile covered his face．I gave in immediately．The power of that broad smile dissolved all bitterness within me, and I felt the muscles in my own face happily responding．
"Beautiful day, isn't it?" I remarked, passing．Then I turned back．"I really owe you a debt of thanks," I said softly．
His smile deepened, but he made no attempt to answer．A Mexican woman and two men were standing nearby．The woman stepped forward and volunteered, "Sir, but he doesn't speak English．Do you want me to tell him something?" In that moment I felt transformed．The young man's smile had made a big person of me．My friendliness and good will toward all mankind stand ten feet tall．
“Yes,” my reply was enthusiastic and sincere, “tell him I said, ‘Thank you!’”
“Thank you?” The woman seemed slightly puzzled．
I gave her arm a friendly pat as I turned to leave．"Just tell him that," I insisted．"He'll understand．I am sure!"
Oh, what a smile can do! Although I have never seen that young man again, I shall never forget the lesson he taught me that morning．From that day on, I became smile-conscious, and I practice the art diligently anywhere and everywhere, with everybody． Why did the author leave the store angrily?
| A．He couldn't buy what he wanted． |
| B．The clerk treated him unkindly． |
| C．The clerk didn't speak English． |
| D．The store's goods were too dear． |
By saying "I felt the muscles in my own face happily responding"(in Para. 2), the author means ___________.
| A．he smiled back at the young man |
| B．he did not want to smile |
| C．he would thank the young man |
| D．he was still in a bad mood |
The author asked the woman to say "Thank you!" to the young man because the young man.
| A．had helped the author before |
| B．taught the author how to smile |
| C．taught the author a valuable lesson |
| D．was a kind employee of the store |
In the passage, the author seems to suggest that we should _____.
| A．be generous to strangers |
| B．practice smiling every day |
| C．help people in trouble |
| D．smile at other people |