There are several ski hills that can be found locally, and not so locally. Here’s a bit of an informal snow report for any visitors to the city who may be unfamiliar with the local options for skiing.
Sunshine Village
Sunshine is definitely the premier ski hill in the area. Of all the hills in Alberta, Sunshine is the one that has earned international renown. Ticket prices are cheaper this year than they have been in the past. Adults pay $76.5, seniors $61.5, and children only pay $26.5. At present, they have a snow base of 107 cm. The terrain (地形) is a mix of both easy and hard runs.
Lake Louise
Of all the ski resorts nearby it is the largest with 4,200 acres of ski-able terrain. It has the best balance between easy and difficult runs, and it gets snow of 93 cm right now. Adults pay $75.5, seniors pay $54.5, and children pay $24.5. Lake Louise is a great choice for anyone looking to do some easy access backcountry skiing.
Nakiska
While it will be opening shortly, Nakiska is popular to the public. Currently, they have a base of 71cm. The terrain at Nakiska is varied, but slants (倾斜) more towards the easy side. It’s the best place for families to go skiing as there is a lot of beginner and kid terrain. Tickets are relatively cheap. Adults pay $64.5, seniors pay $51.5, and children only pay $19.5.
Olympic Park
O.P. was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, and it is a world-class facility (设施） for almost every winter sport. It has facilities not only for skiing, but also for all kinds of other activities. It has a snow base of 102 cm, but it isn’t the primary focus. However, with tickets starting at $5 and capping at $39, it is very inexpensive.
【小题1】What can we know about Sunshine Village?

There are several ski hills that can be found locally, and not so locally. Here's a bit of an informal snow report for any visitors to the city who may be unfamiliar with the local options for skiing.

Sunshine Village

   Sunshine is definitely the premier ski hill in the area. Of all the hills in Alberta, Sunshine is the one that has earned international renown. Ticket prices are cheaper this year than they have been in the past. Adults pay $76.5, seniors $61.5, and children only pay $26.5. At present, they have a snow base of 107 cm. The terrain (地形) is a mix of both easy and hard runs.

Lake Louise

   Of all the ski resorts nearby it is the largest with 4,200 acres of ski-able terrain. It has the best balance between easy and difficult runs, and it gets snow of 93 cm right now. Adults pay $75.5, seniors pay $54.5, and children pay $24.5. Lake Louise is a great choice for anyone looking to do some easy access backcountry skiing.

Nakiska

   While it will be opening shortly, Nakiska is popular to the public. Currently, they have a base of 71cm. The terrain at Nakiska is varied, but slants (倾斜) more towards the easy side. It's the best place for families to go skiing as there is a lot of beginner and kid terrain. Tickets are relatively cheap. Adults pay $64.5, seniors pay $51.5, and children only pay $19.5.

Olympic Park

    O.P. was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, and it is a world-class facility (设施） for almost every winter sport. It has facilities not only for skiing, but also for all kinds of other activities. It has a snow base of 102 cm, but it isn't the primary focus. However, with tickets starting at $5 and capping at $39, it is very inexpensive.

1.What can we know about Sunshine Village?

    A. It is a ski hill in Europe.

    B. Its snow is the thickest of the four.

    C. It is suitable for ski beginners.

    D. its ticket prices are getting more expensive.

2.What does the underlined word "renown" mean in the passage?

    A. Good attraction.       B. Place of interest.

    C. Prize or reward.       D. Fame or reputation.

3. Which will be the best choice for someone who is fond of other sports games besides skiing?

    A. Sunshine Village.  B. Lake Louise.

    C. Olympic Park.    D. Nakiska.

4. How much will a woman pay if she and her husband with two children go skiing in the best family place?

    A. 168 dollars.   B. 103.5 dollars.

C. 209 dollars.   D. 129.5 dollars.

There are several ski hills that can be found locally, and not so locally. Here’s a bit of an informal snow report for any visitors to the city who may be unfamiliar with the local options for skiing.
Sunshine Village
Sunshine is definitely the premier ski hill in the area. Of all the hills in Alberta, Sunshine is the one that has earned international renown. Ticket prices are cheaper this year than they have been in the past. Adults pay $76.5, seniors $61.5, and children only pay $26.5. At present, they have a snow base of 107 cm. The terrain (地形) is a mix of both easy and hard runs.
Lake Louise
Of all the ski resorts nearby it is the largest with 4,200 acres of ski-able terrain. It has the best balance between easy and difficult runs, and it gets snow of 93 cm right now. Adults pay $75.5, seniors pay $54.5, and children pay $24.5. Lake Louise is a great choice for anyone looking to do some easy access backcountry skiing.
Nakiska
While it will be opening shortly, Nakiska is popular to the public. Currently, they have a base of 71cm. The terrain at Nakiska is varied, but slants (倾斜) more towards the easy side. It’s the best place for families to go skiing as there is a lot of beginner and kid terrain. Tickets are relatively cheap. Adults pay $64.5, seniors pay $51.5, and children only pay $19.5.
Olympic Park
O.P. was built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada, and it is a world-class facility (设施） for almost every winter sport. It has facilities not only for skiing, but also for all kinds of other activities. It has a snow base of 102 cm, but it isn’t the primary focus. However, with tickets starting at $5 and capping at $39, it is very inexpensive.

1. 1.

   What can we know about Sunshine Village?

   1. A.
      It is a ski hill in Europe.
   2. B.
      Its snow is the thickest of the four.
   3. C.
      It is suitable for ski beginners.
   4. D.
      its ticket prices are getting more expensive.
2. 2.

   What does the underlined word "renown" mean in the passage?

   1. A.
      Good attraction.
   2. B.
      Place of interest.
   3. C.
      Prize or reward.
   4. D.
      Fame or reputation.
3. 3.

   Which will be the best choice for someone who is fond of other sports games besides skiing?

   1. A.
      Sunshine Village.
   2. B.
      Lake Louise.
   3. C.
      Olympic Park.
   4. D.
      Nakiska.
4. 4.

   How much will a woman pay if she and her husband with two children go skiing in the best family place?

   1. A.
      168 dollars.
   2. B.
      103.5 dollars.
   3. C.
      209 dollars.
   4. D.
      129.5 dollars.

Not only is astronomy a very old pastime（消遣）, it is also one that ordinary people can do with very cheap equipment. There are two types of astronomers: professional and amateur（业余的）. Often the only difference between them is that amateurs don’t get paid for their work! Amateur astronomers have discovered a lot  of  new and useful things, usually about new asteroid（小行星）or comets, but sometimes about events such as the birth or death of stars. People often think they need an expensive telescope to look at the stars, but in fact all that is needed to get started is a pair of binoculars. However, if one is planning a more ambitious project, them much more expensive equipment will be needed. One famous amateur astronomer is Sir Patrick Moore, who presents “The Sky at Night” at BBC TV, UK.

Binoculars are the best tool for a new astronomer. Many new astronomers start off by buying expensive or poorly-made telescopes, but do not know how to use them. Then they find that they do not know what they are looking at, and soon lose interest and go on to another hobby. A person starting out should first buy a book or a chart showing the constellations（星座）and the most important stars, then take some time to learn and understand the motions（运动）of the earth, the moon, and the planets. Then one can begin to learn about the sky with only eyes, binoculars, and a simple journal like a notebook, taking notes about what is seen.

Other reasons binoculars are so good for beginners are that they don’t cost much, and they can be easily and quickly taken out of their cases without lots of setting up and taking down again, as is done with a telescope. With binoculars, interesting things can be seen, such as the moon’s craters, many star clusters, and the moons of other planets. Binoculars are even better than telescopes for looking at things like the closer galaxies or very bright comets. Once one is familiar with the main star constellations and other main features of the night sky, then it may be time to buy a telescope.

1．The underlined word binoculars is probably a kind of         .

A．a television          B．a telescope            C．a radio               D．a spaceship

2．Which of the following is right according to the passage?

A．An amateur astronomer should buy an expensive telescope.

B．An amateur astronomer can earn a lot of money by observing the stars.

C．An amateur astronomer can do with very cheap equipment.

D．An amateur astronomer can achieve nothing in the field of astronomy.

3．What should new astronomers NOT do when they start out?

A．Go on to another hobby if they meet with some problems.

B．Know some knowledge about the stars first.

C．Understand the motion of the earth, the moon and the planets.

D．Prepare a notebook to take notes about what is seen.

4．What is probably the main idea of this passage?

A．There are two types of astronomers: professional and amateur.

B．Astronomy is much fun.

C．A binocular is a good choice for a new amateur astronomer.

D．A telescope is not necessary at all for astronomers.

5．Which of the following characteristics does not belong to the binoculars?

A．cheap       B．convenient       C．useful       D．better than telescopes

Diamonds may be forever. But what’s a girl to do when she gets dumped (失恋) or divorced (离婚) and those rings, necklace and love gifts lose their emotional (情感) sense?
Help is just a click away on new Web sites that provide an outlet for selling jewelry(珠宝) from past relationships, sharing break-up stories and helping broken hearts heal (愈合).
“You go through a divorce. What do you do with that ring? Maybe you have a child you can pass it on to. Maybe you don’t. It just sits there, ” said Megahn Perry, who with her stepmother (继母) Marie Perry runs www.exboyfriendjewelry.com.
Three months after its start with the slogan(口号) “You Don’t Want It. He Can’t Have It Back,” the web site has 3,000 registered users and more than 600 postings of rings, bracelets and earrings for sale—all with a personal tale attached.
As one woman posting a diamond ring for $3,500 wrote:
“Beautiful ring came with a wrong man. Decided to sell to regain the money that I spent finishing payments on the ring that my ex didn’t.”
The idea was born when Megahn Perry, a Los Angeles actress and writer, was looking for a safe place to sell a wedding set after a divorce and realized others might have former boyfriends’ jewelry with memories(记忆) that make them too painful to wear.
The local pawn shop(当铺) proved an unattractive choice. So she teamed up with her stepmother Marie, researched the market and found a gap in it.
【小题1】 The passage is mainly about _____.