Homestays are becoming more and more popular, and people around the world are offering their homes as hotels. Homestays offer cheap places to stay, and the chance for guests to see the area like a local. They are very popular with people who want to stay in another country to study or on holiday. We asked three families who run homestays to tell us about where they live.
The Atal family
Our family home is in a small village in the north of Pakistan, in the Himalayan mountains. The village is quite small and very quiet. The mountains are extremely beautiful. You can go for long walks and swim in the rivers but there are no shops, cinemas or cafes.
Kate and Julian Foxton
Our two-bed house is by the sea in the south-west of England. It is about five minutes' drive to the nearest village of Portreath. There are lots of beaches, rivers and forests and it is very quiet. We spend a lot of time reading books, watching films and going for walks. Our area is great for sports like surfing, kayaking and mountain biking. However, the houses here are expensive, which can be a problem for local people. There are no buses or trains here, so it can be difficult to get around without a car。
Chafic and Aline Halwany
Our home is near the centre of Beirut, Lebanon, one of the largest cities in the Middle East. There are lots of cafes and restaurants, which open late at night. We love it here because it's so friendly and you can always find what you need-lots of people come to stay to learn Arabic and French. However, it can be noisy at night, and there is quite a lot of traffic during the day.
Homestay holidays - A home __ 1 ___ from home
Families |
Advantages |
Disadvantages |
The Atal family (Pakistan) |
It's in a small and quiet village in beautiful mountains. People can __ 2 ___and swim there. |
There are no shops, cinemas or cafes. |
Kate and Julian Foxton （ 3 ） |
It takes a short __ 4 __to the beaches, rivers and forests by car. It's a good place for ___ 5 ___like surfing, kayaking and mountain biking. |
Houses here are not ___ 6 __. It's difficult to get around ___ 7 ___a car. |
Chafic and Aline Halwany (Lebanon) |
Lots of cafes and restaurants ___ 8 __at night. You can always find ___ 9 __you need. |
There is much __ 10 ___at night and lot of traffic during the day. |
Do you have any bobbies？If students don't have any interest except school work，they may （80） boring people．And that can influence their studies．
Studying （81） relaxing isn't good for health．We can't get good grades （82） we have bad health．We should make use of our free time．We should do （83） we like．Some people like singing，（84） photos and drawing pictures．Other people prefer collecting stamps，reading or shopping．I have a few hobbies，but my favorite one is collecting stamps．
I like it best （85） I can learn a lot of things from stamps．
Some people collect stamps because they can make money from the stamps．But I am just （86） in collecting them and enjoy looking at them when I am free．
Stamp collecting is becoming more and more popular all over the （87） ．I know an Australian boy and a French sin through the Internet．They all like collecting stamps．We show our stamps to each other online．That's is so cool．
There is a seed（种子）．He is so small that nobody wants to look at him．（61）
One day，a wind brings him to a field in the sun．He looks around and a spatter of rain comes to him．Then he grows up．Four years later，a man sits under him．The man says，"Thank you for this．（62） ．
"What are you talking about？"the seed asks．（63） No one speaks to him like that．
"Who is this？"the man asks．
"It's me．I'm a seed．"
"A seed？"the man looks at the big tree．"（64） You are a tree，a big tree!"
"Really？"
"Yes! People come here to have a rest under your shade（树荫）．"
Hearing this，the seed，now a tree，is very happy．"Oh! That means I'm not a small seed anymore．（65） Wow!Everybody comes to me for my shade because I am a big tree now!"
A．I can help people．
B．You are not a seed．
C．The man feels unhappy．
D．I really need some rest．
E．The seed is planted in a field．
F．He thinks the man is laughing at him．
G．So the seed doesn't think he is important．
When the weather gets warm．people love to play in the water．Many like to swim in pools，lakes and rivers．（66） ．But water can be dangerous．About 10people die from drowning （溺水）each day in the USA．These simple rules may help you enjoy the water safely．（67） ．If you can't swim，don't go into the water．And take a swimming class．
Swimming is much easier than you think．Classes are available at pools，schools and sports centers．
Be careful．Choose to swim in areas with lifeguards（救生员）．If you need help，the lifeguard can help you．（68） ．
Don't swim alone．When you do swim，always swim with another person．（69） ．If something happens，one of you can go and get help．（70） ..But when you're in a boat，wear a life jacket．If you fail into the deep water．you will be safe．
Enjoy the water，but remember safety comes first．
|
A．Learn to swim． B．You can take a shower． C．Others like to swim in the ocean． D．Swimming is more difficult than boating E．Boating is another way to enjoy the water． F．The two of you can watch out for each other． G．When you play in the water，don't push or jump on others． |
In November 1979，pupils England（66） （be）able to watch a new TV program called Monkey．Most of them were hearing this story for the（67） （one） time．However，this story is not new to Chinese children．The Monkey King or Sun Wukong is the main character in the traditional Chinese book Journey to the West．
The Monkey King is not just any（68） （normally） monkey．In fact，he sometimes does not even look like a monkey!This is because Tie can make seventy﹣two（69） （change） to his shape and size，turning himself into different animals and objects．But unless he can hide his tail，he（70） （can） turn himself into a man．To（71） （fight） bad people，the Monkey King uses a magic stick．Sometimes（72） （him） can make the stick so small that he can keep it in his ear．（73） （at）other times，he is able to make it big and long．
The Monkey King（74） （excite）children of China for many years．And as soon as the TV program came out more than 30 years ago，Western children became interested in （75） （read） this story because the clever Monkey King keeps fighting to help the weak and never gives up．
Many people are trying to save the earth with special days like"Meatout Day"，"Earth day"and"Buy Nothing Day"．
Meatout Day
"Meatout Day"is on March 20th．（61） Join this day，and you'll get healthier．Also，you can reduce greenhouse gases （减少温室气体）and save the earth．
Earth Day（62） Many people all over the world try to do something green on this day．In Italy，people don't use plastic bags．In Canada and Norway，people ride bicycles and don't use their cars．In the USA，people dress up like plants and animals and dance in Times Square，New York．
Buy Nothing Day
"Buy Nothing Day"is usually on the fourth Friday in November．（63） "Buy nothing"means"make no rubbish"．（64） ．
Do you want to join them？（65） ．
根据短女内容，从短文后的选项中选出能_入空白处的最佳选项．选项中有两项为多余 选项．
A．This is Children's Day．
B．When you make less rubbish，you can make a cleaner earth．
C．Many people around the world don't eat any meat for one day．
D．Then you can remember these special days and do something green．
E．We have a national holiday．
F．"Earth Day"is on April 22nd．
G．On this day，many people don't buy anything．