Every year thousands of young people in England finish school and then take a year off before they start work or go to university. Some young people go to other countries and work as volunteers. Volunteers give their time to help people. For example, they work in schools or hospitals, or they do something helpful for the environment.
Pauline Jones, 18, lives in Cardiff, Wales. Next year she wants to go to university to study Chinese, but now she’s living in Belize. Pauline says, “I’m working with other people here to save the coral reefs (珊瑚礁) in the sea near Belize. The reefs here are beautiful, but if the sea water is very polluted (污染), the coral dies. I’m helping to do research on the coral and the fish that live around the reefs. All over the world, coral reefs are dying. We need to do something about the problem before it’s too late.”
“I’m staying with a family here and I help do some housework. I don’t get any money, but
that’s OK. I love my work here, and I’m learning a lot about the people of Belize—and myself!
When I finish my work, I want to stay here for another three months. I want to travel around
Belize and Central America.”Some young people from England _______ after they finish school.
| A．go to university abroad(在国外) |
| B．spend one year abroad as volunteers |
| C．go to work for money |
| D．start work in schools or hospitals |
Pauline Jones, an eighteen-year-old girl, is living in _______ now.
| A．England | B．China | C．Belize | D．Cardiff |
Pauline Jones is _______ with other people.
| A．studying Chinese in a university |
| B．working to save the coral reefs |
| C．helping do some housework |
| D．doing some research in Wales |
From the passage, we know that the coral reefs ______.
| A．will die because of the pollution |
| B．are not as beautiful as before |
| C．cannot live without fish in the sea |
| D．will probably be sold for money |
Pauline Jones wants to after she finishes her work as a volunteer.
| A．stay there for another year |
| B．go back home to start work |
| C．learn about the people home |
| D．travel around Central America |
 |
My best buddy is ________.
| A．a dog with long ears |
| B．a girl with long hair |
| C．a rabbit with long ears |
| D．a boy with a round pink body |
I had a good time doing the following with my buddy EXCEPT________.
| A．running through the green grass |
| B．playing hide-and-seek |
| C．swimming in the swimming pool |
| D．sharing my happiest days |
I first met my buddy ________.
| A．eight months ago |
| B．when I was seven years old |
| C．in the green grass |
| D．at a stranger’s house |
When I was a child, I was amazed at the idea that my sisters could be my best friends. Now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. At the time, the idea of my two sisters being my closest friends seemed strange to me. We fought all the time over toys, food, attention, what to watch on television—you name it, and we quarreled(吵架) about it at some point. How could my sisters be my best friends? They weren’t the same age as I. We all had our own friends in school.
My mother never let the three of us forget that sisters are lifelong friends. Her wish like most parents’ was to give us something that she never had. Growing up as an only child, she expected siblings. When she gave birth to three daughters, her dream had only just begun. She had given each of us a gift and she wanted to make sure we did not take that gift for granted(理所当然). She would often tell us how lucky we were. But there were other, more subtle (难以察觉的) ways that she encouraged us to grow closer. She never showed favoritism(偏爱) to one daughter over the other. She often took us places together—skating, shopping and swimming, so that we developed common interests. And when we were teenagers, Mom always punished us equally, giving us yet another bonding (密切相连) experience.
We didn’t always get along beautifully and fought just like any other siblings. But somewhere in between Mom’s lectures, the family vacations and the shared memories, we realized that our mother was right. Today I share things with my sisters that I do with no one else. My sister Cindy and I ran the New York City Marathon together, side by side, even holding hands when we crossed the finish line. When my sister Karen got married, I was her maid of honor(伴娘). Cindy and I traveled through Europe together and even shared a room for two years. The three of us trust each other with our greatest secrets.
It was twenty-three years ago that my mother first asked me who my two best friends were. Today she doesn’t have to. She already knows.As a child, the author was amazed at her mother’s idea because ________.
| A．her sisters seemed strange to her |
| B．her sisters didn’t like to be her friends |
| C．none of the girls had their own friends |
| D．they didn’t have much in common |
The underlined word “siblings” in the passage probably means _________.
| A．sisters | B．parents | C．daughters | D．friends |
How did the author’s mother encourage her three daughters to grow closer？
| A．She punished her daughter differently. |
| B．She showed equal love to her daughters. |
| C．She encouraged her daughters to do sports. |
| D．She often took her daughters to many places. |
The best title of the passage could be ________.
| A．The Greatest Gift | B．Mother’s Love |
| C．Growing Experiences | D．Unforgettable Memories |
We all have happy memories of taking a few lazy months off after the stress of A-levels. So since summer has arrived, let’s make full use. It goes without saying that summer vacations are the perfect time to go traveling.
Tickets go up greatly when you turn 26, so make full use of cheaper prices while you’re eligible.
Volunteering abroad won’t surprise future employers(老板), but it can be very useful. Finding a reliable (可靠的) company is important, as is discovering a program that interests you. There are plenty of websites where you can see other people’s suggestions.
Of course for most of us, money is tight. To avoid overspending you can combine(结合) employment（打工） and vacation. Hannah Warn, a psychology (心理学) student at the University of Winchester, is spending her summer at Camp America where students enjoy a good time on a summer camp. “Being thrown into something where I don’t really know what to expect is exciting,” she says. “It gives me a chance to experience being away from home in a different way.”
Those with a talent for languages might also consider working abroad as an au pair (互惠工人). The work may be a chance to involve yourself in a new culture while your employer pays most of the bill.
If you have an idea of the type of career you’d like, getting work experience is wise. In many careers, graduating with only your degree(学位) to show for your three or four years just won’t make it. Send applications off early and to as many places as possible. Make sure you take a well-earned break this summer.The underlined part “you’re eligible” in Para. 2 means “”.
| A．you have more free time |
| B．you’re tired of school life |
| C．you enjoy traveling a lot |
| D．you’re of the right age |
Which of the following is TRUE according to the example of Hannah Warn?
| A．Camp America offers jobs to students. |
| B．Psychology students are good at saving money. |
| C．Students had better choose a camp connected to their future job. |
| D．A camp is a good place to combine employment and vacation. |
According to the passage, who is more likely（可能） to get a job after graduation?
| A．John, who got excellent academic records during his university years. |
| B．Lily, who worked abroad as an au pair during summer vacations. |
| C．Tom, who got working experience connected to his future job in college. |
| D．Mary, who got a degree after studying four years in a famous university. |
I met the old man at a café. “Did you hear the radio news yesterday?” he asked me. “No,” I replied. “Anything exciting?” “Exciting? No! Something very sad. A group of hungry dogs killed and ate my best friend.”
“Oh, dear!” I cried. “How did it happen?” “He was working on the hillside when the dogs attacked him. When he didn’t return, I went to the hillside and found…” “His body?” I asked. The old man drank half of his coffee. “No. I told you they were hungry dogs, didn’t I? The big bones were lying everywhere. But they found this.” He pushed open a match box he was holding in his hand. In it was a man’s thumb, lying on some white bloody material.
“This is my friend’s right thumb. The dogs ate the rest of him”. The old man began to cry. He finished his coffee quickly and left the café. I drank mine and called the waiter. “I’ll pay the gentleman’s bill. His poor friend-how terrible!” “You’ve heard the news?” The waiter laughed. “Sure. There’s a hole in the bottom of the match box. He puts his own thumb through the hole. The blood is red ink, I believe. Is the story worth a cup of coffee, sir?” “But he holds the box in his right hand.” “Yes, but listeners look into the box. They just can’t take their sight off that terrible thing. ” “And when he tells the story, he gets free cups of coffee!” I said, laughing. “Yes, sir, but only from strangers who come to this town, and, of course, he does us no harm!”We can learn from this passage.
| A．the writer came to the café for the first time |
| B．the old man made a living by telling jokes in the café |
| C．the writer had known about the old man before |
| D．what had happened to his best friend made the old man mad |
The waiter hadn’t let out the truth of the old man’s story earlier because.
| A．he was nobody but the best friend of the old man |
| B．the old man wouldn’t pay for his coffee if he did |
| C．the waiter hadn’t seen through the old man’s trick |
| D．the old man helped the cafe in some way |
As suggested by the passage, what might happen in the end?
| A．The writer refused to pay the old man’s bill. |
| B．The writer decided to make the trick known to the public. |
| C．More strangers would hear the old man’s story. |
| D．The old man wouldn’t visit the café any more. |
Brave
Type: 3D cartoon Comedy Running time: 95 minutes
Merida, a princess, refused to marry a person that she dislikes. This causes trouble for her family and the whole country. Merida turns to a witch(女巫) for help. In doing so, her family and the country are in danger. Merida must save her family and the country before it is too late.
The Grey
Type: Action Running time: 117 minutes
The Grey is based on the short story “Ghost Walker” written by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers. It’s about a number of oil men who are in trouble in Alaska after a plane crash(空难). They have to fight against grey wolves that threaten their lives.
Mirror Mirror
Type: Comedy Running time: 106 minutes
You must know the story of Snow White. Would you like to see this story again? Come to see Mirror Mirror. It’s a comedy about Snow White. Lily Collins and Julia Roberts are the main actresses in this interesting movie.
Chimpanzee
Type: Documentary Running time: 78 minutes
This movie is directed by Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield. It’s a 2012 nature documentary film about a young chimpanzee named Oscar. He is alone in the African forests until he is raised by another chimpanzee. The chimpanzee takes care of Oscar like his own child.Which movie lasts the longest time?
| A．Brave. | B．The Grey. |
| C．Chimpanzee. | D．Mirror Mirror. |
Which statement about the movies is true?
| A．Mirror Mirror is directed by Lily Collins and Julia Roberts. |
| B．The Grey directed by Ian Mackenzie Jeffers is based on a short story. |
| C．You can’t see many beautiful nature sights in Chimpanzee. |
| D．Brave is about a princess who obeys(服从) her heart. |
Who played the lead role in one of the movies?
| A．Lily Collins and Julia Roberts. |
| B．Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield. |
| C．Ian Mackenzie Jeffers. |
| D．Merida. |