Planning to get away? Think passport first

If you’re planning to get away from it all this year, you should think passport first. Checking you have a valid passport before you book your trip takes minutes but could save you the trouble and cost of not being able to go.

Renewing (更新) your passport before it runs out

You can renew your passport up to 9 months before it can no longer be legally used. So take the time now and save the tears later.

Applying for a passport for the first time

Our eligibility (资格) checks mean that it takes a minimum of one week to issue (颁发) a passport. So make sure you don’t leave it to the last minute, and apply in plenty of time.

Help with your application is just around the corner

Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents offer a Check and Send service that helps you with your application. It’s convenient and you should receive your passport within 2 weeks.

If you need to apply for or renew a passport, you can either:

Pick up a Passport Application Form at Selected Post Office branches and Worldchoice travel agents.

Or call the Application Form Request line on 0901 4700 100 or visit www.passport.gov.uk

If your need is urgent, call 0870 521 0410 for an appointment at one of our offices. We can’t guarantee to see customers without an appointment.

From 14th January a guaranteed same day (passport renewals only) or one week service will be available from passport public counters.

*Calls will be charged 60p per minute and the cost per call should not normally be more than 90p.

*Calls are charged at national rates.

【1】When applying for a passport for the first time, you need to know that ______.

A. passports can be legally used forever

B. passports are issued at the last minute

C. application checks take at least one week

D. applications are selected by post office branches

【2】According to the passage, you can meet your urgent need by ______.

A. going to the offices directly

B. making a call for an appointment

C. visiting www.passport.gov.uk for a guarantee

D. getting in touch with Worldchoice travel agents

【3】What is the passage mainly about?

A. Certain types of passports.

B. Different functions of passports.

C. Advantages of holding passports.

D. Instructions on applying for passports.

【1】The four tours have the same final destination EXCEPT _____.

A. Glories of ChinaB. China Experience Trip.

C. China Impression ExperienceD. Cultural and Natural Wonders of china

【2】One tourist spot that all the four tours include is ______.

A. the Great WallB. the Three Gorges

C. the Forbidden CityD. the Terracotta Warriors

【3】How much should the Whites with their 13-year-old son pay if they are on Cultural and Natural Wonders of China?

A. $5678B. $6088

C. $6468D. $6477

Patrick and Rachel Hugens have biked around the world. The Hugenses, who live in Boise when not on their bikes, are 25 months into their latest round-the-world adventure, scheduled to end in March. They've visited 36 countries on this tour, touching Europe, Africa, Asia and South America. “Traveling by bike is the greatest freedom," Rachel said via email. “You can see people's daily lives and can communicate with them.”

Rachel warns, “Cycle touring can become addictive.” Bike tourism is on the rise in the United States and around the world, according to the Adventure Cycling Association. The U. S. Bicycle Route System has grown 66 percent in the past two years and now has a presence in 24 states, including Idaho, and the District of Columbia.

Dennis Swift，secretary of the Southwest Idaho Mountain Biking Association, rode across the U.S. last year- from Seattle to Salem, Mass. Six people started the tour and three finished, riding 52 out of 56 days. They averaged about 60 miles per riding day. Swift also rode through the Basque Country with a group of Boise cyclists last year. He's planning to participate in a Virginia bike tour this year. “When you get older, your health is most important,” he said. “My mom had Alzheimer's disease. They say what's good for health is good for the brain, so riding is one thing to be first in my life.”

This is the third time that the couple have quit their jobs to tour. Rachel is a nurse; Patrick is an architect. Both regained their former jobs when they returned home in 2000 and 2007. They're uncertain what will happen this time. They've given themselves a chance to save extra money by going to work by bike and avoiding some bills that are basic for most ( cell phones, cable TV).“Traveling changes your view of money and what it can do for you,” Rachel said. “We've met some cyclists traveling long term. They have many reasons to spend wisely.”

“The fellow cyclists we meet mostly come from Britain, Germany, Spain, Holland, Australia or New Zealand," Rachel said, “It is so nice to see that people all over the world are friendly and welcoming.”

【1】How many countries have the Hugenses visited on their latest tour? (不多于2个单词)

___________________________________________________________________

【2】Why does Dennis Swift ride bikes? (不多于2个单词)

___________________________________________________________________

【3】How do the Hugenses save extra money for their bike tours? (不多于10个单词)

___________________________________________________________________

【4】What is the passage mainly about? (不多于3个单词)

___________________________________________________________________

【1】_________ exercise can help us keep fit.

【2】Jack always complains that his job is uninteresting and full of _________.

【3】Taylor Swift's great performance left a deep _________ on the audience.

【4】Our car broke down half way through our trip. _________, we met a friend, who was just passing by.

【5】Nowadays more and more American students travel a long _________ to China to learn its language and culture.

【6】About a week before Christmas, people start to _________ Christmas trees with lights on the top.

【7】Many social workers and _________ are helping the elderly and providing childcare programs.

A buld-it-yourself solar still（蒸馏器） is one of the best ways to obtain drinking water in areas where the liquid is not readily available. Developed by two doctors in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it’s an excellent water collector. Unfortunately, you must carry the necessary equipment with you, since it’s all but impossible to find natural substitutes. The only components required, though, are a 5’ 5’ sheet of clear or slightly milky plastic, six feet of plastic tube, and a container— perhaps just a drinking cup — to catch the water. These pieces can be folded into a neat little pack and fastened on your belt.

To construct a working still, use a sharp stick or rock to dig a hole four feet across and three feet deep. Try to make the hole in a damp area to increase the water catcher’s productivity. Place your cup in the deepest part of the hole. Then lay the tube in place so that one end rests all the way in the cup and the rest of the line runs up — and out — the side of the hole.

Next, cover the hole with the plastic sheet, securing the edges of the plastic with dirt and weighting the sheet’s center down with a rock. The plastic should now form a cone(圆锥体) with 45-degree-angled sides. The low point of the sheet must be centered directly over, and no more than three inches above, the cup.

The solar still works creating a greenhouse under the plastic. Ground water evaporates (蒸发) and collects on the sheet until small drops of water form, run down the material and fall off into the cup. When the container is full, you can suck the refreshment out through the tube, and won’t have to break down the still every time you need a drink.

【1】What do we know about the solar still equipment from the first paragraph?

A.It’s delicate. B.It’s expensive.

C.It’s complex. D.It’s portable

【2】What does the underlined phrase “the water catcher” in paragraph 2 refer to?

A.The tube B.The still

C.The hole D.The cup

【3】What’s the last step of constructing a working solar still?

A.Dig a hole of a certain size B.Put the cup in place

C.Weight the sheet’s center down D.Cover the hole with the plastic sheet

【4】When a solar still works, drops of water come into the cup form .

A.the plastic tube B.outside the hole

C.the open air D.beneath the sheet

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在此符号下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（＼）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。

Once there had a wooden pagoda（塔）in my village. It had a history of over eight hundreds years. It was such beautiful and famous that many tourists came to visit it every year. They took photos, write down their names on the walls and even threw rubbishes everywhere.

Later the pagoda was destroyed because of a fire in the forest nearby it. The villagers had to spend a great deal of money build another pagoda, that looked like the old one. Now not only the villagers realize the importance of protecting the pagoda but also tourists know that they should try his best not to cause damage to it.

Are you looking for some movies? You've landed on the right place. Let's take a look at the list I've collected.

【1】If you are interested in a relaxing movie, you can go and see ________.

A. I.Q. B. Creation

C. A Beautiful Mind D. Good Will Hunting

【2】Which two characters are experts in mathematics according to the passage?

A. Will Hunting and Sean. B. John Nash and Will Hunting

C. Charles Darwin and Sean. D. John Nash and Charles Darwin.

【3】The main purpose of the passage is to __________.

A. recommend actors B. promote movie sales

C. introduce movies D. compare movies

Welcome to the world-famous house where William Shakespeare was born in l564 and where he grew up .The property (房产) remained in the ownership of Shakespeare’s family until 1806 .The House has welcomed visitors travelling from all over the world for over 250 years.

◆Enter through the Visitors’ Centre and see the highly-praised exhibition Shakespeare's World，a lively and full introduction to the life and work of Shakespeare.

◆Stand in the rooms where Shakespeare grew up.

◆Discover examples of furniture and needlework from

Shakespeare’s period.

◆Enjoy the traditional English garden，planted with trees and flower mentioned in the poet’s works.

The Birthplace is within easy walking distance of all the car parks shown on the map；nearest is Windsor Street(3 minutes’ Walk).

The House may present difficulties but the Visitors’ Centre，its exhibition,and the garden are accessible (可进入的)to wheelchair users.

The Shakespeare Coffee House (opposite the Birthplace).

【1】How much is the admission for a family of two grown-ups and two children？

A. ￡9.80． B. ￡12.00． C. ￡14.20． D. ￡16.40．

【2】Where is the nearest parking place to Shakespeare’s Birthplace？

A. Behind the exhibition hall．

B. Opposite the Visitors’ Centre．

C. At Windsor Street．

D. Near the Coffee House．

【3】A wheelchair user may need help to enter ．

A. the House B. the garden

C. the Visitors’ Centre D. the exhibition hall

增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号()，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除:把多余的词用(＼)划掉。

修改:在错的词下画一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。

注意:1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Mr and Mrs. Zhang all work in our school. They live far away from the school but it takes them about a hour and a half to go to work every day. In their spare time, we are interested in planting vegetables in their garden, which is in front of their house. They often get up earlier and water the vegetables together. They work with various gardening tool they bought online. Beside, they often search for useful information the Internet. When summer came, they will invite their students to pick up the vegetables.

增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号(∧)，并在其下面写出该加的词。

删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。

修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改的词。

注意：1.每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；

2.只允许修改10处，多者(从第11处起)不计分。

Mr. and Mrs.Zhang all work in our school.They live far from the school, and it takes them about a hour and a half to go to work every day. In their spare time, they are interesting in planting vegetables in their garden, that is on the rooftop of their house. They often get up earlier and water the vegetables together. They have also bought for some gardening tools. Beside, they often get some useful informations from the internet. When summer came, they will invite their students pick the vegetables！