There are many travel destinations across the globe. What confuses a person most is which travel destination to choose. When choosing a destination for a vacation or a trip, you need to decide what that destination has to offer to you. Meanwhile, you should also take many factors into consideration, so that the decision-making will get easy.

The amount of money you want to spend is an important factor and plays an important role in deciding a destination. For example, cities like London, New York, Vegas etc are expensive. On the other hand when you travel to Asia, the cost is generally lower and you don’t need to spend much on traveling, lodging or shopping. Therefore, it is important to estimate your budget before selecting a destination.

When you plan your vacation, another important thing to plan is the number of the days you want to spend. There are many travel destinations in the world that can be covered in a week’s time. Some destinations like Africa, or Maldives beaches can be planned in a week’s time. Some other destinations like New York, Thailand may require more than a few weeks to enjoy completely.

Vacations are also planned according to the company you have. For example, if you travel with your family, then you’ll need a place where you can enjoy with your family members. Similarly, if you are going with friends, a city full of amusement parks, museums, shopping centers will be an ideal(理想的) destination. Therefore you need to consider whom you are going with, before deciding a destination.

1.Who are the intended readers of the text?

A．Students majoring in tourism               B．Foreign travelers

C．travel agencies                         D．Travel planners

2.Compared to a journey to Thailand, a journey to New York _______.

A．is more suitable for a group of people        B．will take you a longer time

C．will cost you more money                 D．gives you more fun

3.What is the main factor to be considered mentioned in the last paragraph?

A．Services provided                       B．Your partners in traveling

C．Activities involved in traveling              D．Your budget for a travel

 

This Christmas, maybe different from previous years, a strong desire drives me to make my own Christmas gifts. Honestly speaking, I’ve promised myself this more than once. As a crafter (工匠), I’ve frequently thought I am supposed to turn it into action. However, this year I really plan to stick to it. It’s partly because I run short of money. More importantly, I’ve recently returned from an inspiring trip around Britain, collecting some information about crafting for BBC’s Newsnight.

    Actually I planned the trip couples of months ago. The idea of traveling the country — making things as I went, meeting artists and craftspeople — sounded perfect to spend the summer. I’d pack a tent and a sewing machine and I’d set off. But by the time I determined my plans and hit the road, leaves made a sighing sound under foot. It seemed crazy to camp with winter on the way; Luckily, Newsnight viewers offered me accommodations in return for help with a craft task.

My tasks ranged from sewing worn-out clothes to making trousers. Textile students in Harpenden offered to pay for my petrol in return for a talk about hats. In Derby, Amy needed help to change an old pair of curtains.

I was really struck by people’s increasing enthusiasm for making things. When I asked some people if they could sew, only a few raised their hands. But when I asked who wanted to learn, nearly everyone responded positively, hoping to learn something practical.

Craft is definitely popular at the moment. But besides fashion, we’re learning to appreciate effort and quality again. Perhaps once people rediscover the pleasure to be gained from making something unique, it may stick.

Sue is director of quilts at the V&A, where next spring she’ll be putting on the museum’s first major quilting exhibition. Sue believes the return to crafting is related to how we rethink ourselves. “People, especially women, are beginning to think about the way they live their lives. It’s 40 years since the first women’s liberation(解放) conference was held in Oxford. Since then we’ve been in the workplace, and we’ve had the opportunity of choice. Now we’re carefully choosing to go back into the home.”

Whether you agree with that or not, there’s something about Christmas that brings out the artistic flavor(气息) in everyone. Whether it’s baking bread or pies or decorating the halls or rooms, we’re all prepared to have a try at any time. So if you fancy having a different and joyful party or holiday and making a few presents, try these really simple ideas, each inspired by my recent journey there. They make small and interesting gifts, and take no longer than 30 minutes each. Enjoy Christmas songs and settle down with a cup of hot cocoa, and the cold is gone. You’ll save yourself a small quantity of money and spread a little bit of love, too!

1.Why did the author promise to make herself a Christmas gift this year?

A. She wanted to enjoy a different Christmas.

B. She wanted to make more money.

C. She was inspired by her trip for a BBC TV program.

D. She hoped to present herself with a surprise.

2.The author had her plans carried out and set out for Britain in ______.

A. spring                      B. summer                            C. fall                            D. winter

3.What happened during the author’s trip to Britain?

A. She met many artists and craftspeople on her way to Britain.

B. She spent a whole summer in Britain making crafts.

C. She was asked to sew clothes, and curtains and made much money.

D. Many people showed great interest in making things themselves.

4.According to the passage, people learn to ______ through crafting.

A. be grateful to what they have gained

B. keep up with fashion

C. stick to something interesting

D. know more information about craft

5.What is the author’s opinion on homemade Christmas presents?

A. Making Christmas presents can only convey a bit of your love.

B. People can find their artistic talent in making Christmas presents.

C. A cup of hot cocoa can inspire you to make a creative present.

D. It would take a long time to prepare a homemade Christmas present.

 

I was sitting in the surgical waiting area at the hospital waiting for word of my wife's operation. The small room was filled with other families and friends, who were ___36___ waiting to hear how their loved ones were doing.

There was a young boy sitting quietly in the ___37___ . He held a small box of ___38___ in one hand and a tablet(写字板) in the other. Every so often he'd place the tablet on his lap and draw something. As the hours passed I began to see the room almost ___39___ . And there was a strange silence.

"Daddy, when is Mommy going home?" the young boy asked, breaking the ___40___.

"Tomorrow." his father replied. The boy picked up his crayons and ___41___ something on the tablet.

I ___42___ him as he moved his feet back and forth, looking up at the ceiling and then toward the sunshine-filled window. "When's ___43___, Daddy?" he asked. His father ___44___ him over to sit by him. "Come, ___45___ here next to me," he said with a gentle tone in his voice.

___46___ his things, the little boy walked slowly to his father's side from the corner.The man ___47___ out and held his son by his shoulder.

"There are three days in life. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. One is over and done, one we live in, the other we ___48___ . We can't live in yesterday, but if we are happy enough today, we will be even happier tomorrow," he said in an attempt to ___49___ the boy.

The little boy looked at him for a moment and said, "If Mommy is going home tomorrow, I'll be ___50___. So, I want it to be tomorrow already, Daddy."

Now hanging on every word of this ___51___ , I leaned forward to hear his response. It was ___52___.

"Son, the one great thing about today is once it ___53___, it is already almost tomorrow."

I thought about how ___54___ it was. Even in my adult life, I still live waiting for what tomorrow may ___55___. Now I know that it is already "almost tomorrow".

1.                A．eagerly         B．patiently        C．happily   D．curiously

 

2.                A．chair           B．corner         C．distance  D．shadow

 

3.                A．gifts           B．toys            C．chalks    D．crayons

 

4.                A．dark           B．full            C．empty    D．clean

 

5.                A．promise        B．rule            C．record   D．silence

 

6.                A．wrote          B．drew           C．printed   D．carved

 

7.                A．followed        B．found          C．watched  D．caught

 

8.                A．today          B．yesterday       C．future    D．tomorrow

 

9.                A．knocked        B．ordered        C．called    D．pulled

 

10.               A．stand          B．sit             C．lie   D．sleep

 

11.               A．gathering       B．forgetting       C．saving D．choosing

 

12.               A．got            B．took           C．set   D．reached

 

13.               A．spend          B．waste          C．kill   D．expect

 

14.               A．frighten        B．satisfy          C．persuade  D．warn

 

15.               A．happier        B．calmer         C．smarter   D．sadder

 

16.               A．story          B．argument       C．conversation   D．discussion

 

17.               A．humorous      B．silly            C．positive   D．perfect

 

18.               A．ends           B．starts          C．passes D．lasts

 

19.               A．meaningful      B．important       C．interesting D．fantastic

 

20.               A．happen        B．come          C．bring D．need

 

 

At the beginning of the twentieth century, many people thought that the Americanfamily was falling apart.A century later, we know that this was not the case. However,although the family is still alive in the United States, its size and shape were very different100 years ago.

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were mainly two types of families in theUnited States: the extended and the nuclear. The extended family usually includesgrandparents, parents, and children living under the same roof. The nuclear familyconsists of only parents and children.

Today there are many different kinds of families. Some people live in “traditional” families, that is, a stay-home mother, a working father, and their own biologicalchildren. Others live in two-paycheck families, single-parent families, adoptive or foster,families, blended families (where men and women who were married before marry againand combine the children from previous marriages into the new families），childlessfamilies, and so on.

What caused the structure of the family to change? In the early 1900s the birthratebegan to fall and the divorce rate began to rise. Women were suddenly choosing to go tocollege and take jobs outside the home. In the 1930s and 1940s, many families faced seriousfinancial, or money problems during the Great Depression, when many people lost theirjobs. During World War II（1939-1945)，5 million women were left alone to take care oftheir homes and their children. Because many men were at war, thousands of these "war widows" had to go to work outside their home.

During the next ten years, the situation changed. There were fewer divorces, andpeople married at a younger age and had more children than the previous generation. It wasunusual for a mother to work outside the home during the years when her children weregrowing tip. Families began leaving cities and moving into single-family homes in thesuburbs. The traditional family seemed to be returning.

In the years between 1960s and 1990s, there were many important changes in thestructure of the family. From the 1960s to the early 1970s, the divorce rate doubled andthe birthrate fell by half. The number of single-parent families tripled, and the number ofcouples living together without being married doubled again. In fact, the single-parenthousehold, once unusual, has replaced the "traditional" family as the typical family in theStates. If we can judge from history, however, this will probably change again in thetwenty-first century.

The Changes of the American Family

Main comparisons	Contexts
Different___1____	There were two __2___ types of families in the past, ___3____, the extended and the nuclear.
Nowadays __4___types of families can be seen than before.
Changes in different ___5_____.	In the 1900s and 1940s	Many of the women had to work outside due to the __6___of money., thus causing the fall of __7__and the rise of divorce rate.
In the 1950s	Divorce rate slided and there were more children . The families tended to be ___8___ again.
In the years between 1960s and 1990s	Different types of familes__9____. Traditional families are no longer the typical ones in America.
A trend worth noting
Author’s opinion on changes	The present structure is ___10____; it will experience changes again in the near future.