Does your local town have a nickname? If so, what does it say about the area and the people who live there? Many cities are recognized across the world by their unofficial titles. New York is the Big Apple, London is the Big Smoke, and Los Angles is famously called La La Land.

Now, as part of English Language Day on Wednesday, Britain's national mapping agency, Ordnance Survey, and the British linguistics charity (语言学慈善机构) , the English Project, are launching an interactive project which aims to identify the nicknames people use in their daily lives for local places.

“The name that people create for a place forms an emotional connection,” explains Winchester University's Professor Bill Lucas, a supporter of the English Project. “So Basingstoke becomes Amazingstoke, Swindon is known as Swindump and Padstow, hometown of Chef Rick Stein, is nicknamed Padstein.”

Basingstoke is a town in central England. The local nickname, Amaxingstoke, shows that affection that locals seem to have for the area. Swindon, on the other hand, is sometimes called Swindump, showing that some people think it's a dump (垃圾场). Stanford Le Hope in Essex is called Stanford No Hope by locals. And Padstow in Cornwall is so closely connected with the local famous person Rick Stein that it's become known as Padstein.

Since launching the online survey last week, the creators have already received 3,000 alternative titles for places and landmarks.

There is a practical side to the project. Glen Hart, Ordnance Survey's head of research, says the information could be very helpful to the emergency services. For example, “ By having the most complete set of nicknames we could help the emergency services quickly locate the right place, and maybe even save lives,” he says.

1.What's the passage mainly about ?

A.Some stories about nicknames for places.

B.Organizations collect official place names.

C.People have a great affection for their cities.

D.A survey of the nickname for places.

2.Unlike the town Basingstoke, Swindon is a place that________.

A.seems unpleasant to some people

B.attracts a lot of tourists

C.has few people living there

D.has a long history

3.What does Glen Hart think of the project?

A.It proves that most nicknames are interesting.

B.It is very helpful to the emergency services.

C.It may help increase the number of nicknames.

D.It has helped prevent deaths from happening.

When early colonial settlers went to America, they took many forms of dance to their new home. Square dancing, one of the oldest forms of American folk dancing, developed from several different Old World group dances, mainly English country dances, and the French quadrille(四对方舞).

In the American version of square dancing, four couples form a square and dance to music. An American addition to square dancing is the caller. What do you think a caller does?

The callers---someone who calls out the dance steps in time to the music--- was a completely American invention. At first dancers memorized all the steps for a particular dance, but eventually the dances became so complicated that it was necessary to have someone call out cues (提示) so that dancers didn’t have to remember so many steps. The caller didn’t just call out “do-se-do your partner”; a good caller also came up with colorful sayings or witty lines that he said in between the cues such as “Don’t be shy and don’t be afraid. Swing on the corner in a waltz promenade (步伐).” A caller might also come up with new dance steps and routines.

Although popular for years, square dancing seemed to be going out of style and fading away until the early 1930s, when Henry Ford helped revive(复苏)interest in it. Ford, the automobile manufacturer, used to vacation at the Wayside Inn in Massachusetts, where he enjoyed the dance programme run by a man named Benjamin Lovett. Ford asked Lovett to come to Detroit and teach dances, but Lovett said he couldn’t because he had a contract with the inn. Ford solved that problem by buying the inn and Lovett’s contract. He took Lovett back to Detroit, where together they established a programme for teaching squares and rounds. Square dancing was updated and groups began forming all over the country.

1.What is the best title for the passage?

A. The Different Steps of Square Dancing

B. The Origin and Development of Square Dancing

C. Who Was the Inventor of Square Dancing?

D. Why Did Square Dancing Go Out of Style?

2.What does the underlined part “their new home” refer to?

A. The United Kingdom. B. France.

C. Africa. D. America.

3.Why did the caller call out the steps for the dancers?

A. Because the dance was invented by the caller.

B. Because the dancers didn’t know the names of the steps.

C. Because the steps were very particular.

D. Because it was hard for the dancers to remember all the steps.

4.What can we learn about Henry Ford in the last paragraph?

A. He was the man who made the first car.

B. He was very fond of dancing.

C. He helped make square dancing popular again.

D. He taught people how to dance.

All hotels redecorate regularly. However, very few do it as frequently as Sweden’s Icehotel. As the name indicates,the hotel that is located in the remote village of Jukkasjarvi, is built entirely from ice and,therefore,has to be rebuilt annually! The 26th version of Icehotel, which welcomed its first visitors on December 11th,features 69 rooms. To make them affordable for everyone, they range from expensive luxury suites to basic accommodations.

Among this year’s unique suite offerings is the“Elephant in the Room”,which features a massive 3-m tall sculpted African elephant overlooking an ice—framed bed. The“Counting Sheep”suite features frozen sheep that may help those who don’t sleep well get a good night’s rest. Though the atmosphere between the luxury suites and the budget rooms may differ,they are all subject to the bone-chilling-5℃ temperatures. To get a good night’s rest guests have to lie inside sleeping bags and keep their gloves and hats on. Though that seems a little uncomfortable,visitors say it is an experience like none other.

The hotel also features a beautifully crafted ice church where over 100 couples will get married this year and an Ice Bar that will serve drinks in ice glasses. Though dining options are limited to the hotel’s only restaurant,guests will have little to complain about with Michelin—trained chef Alexander Meier. To keep customers entertained,the hotel offers a variety of fun activities like snowshoeing,moose or snowmobile safaris,dog sledding,and even overnight wilderness camping.

The 26-year-·old tradition began accidentally in 1989 when locals organized an art exhibition to draw winter visitors to the remote village that lies 200 km north of the Arctic Circle. Among the many tourists was an adventurous group and they announced their intention of spending the night in the place where the exhibition was being held. That’s when the idea of building the icy accommodations dawned on the locals.

1.Why is Sweden’s Icehotel rebuilt every year?

A. It needs more rooms.

B. It is entirely built from ice.

C. It follows old traditions

D. It can be easily decorated.

2.What is unique about the hotel this year?

A. It opens earlier than ever before.

B. More expensive rooms are available.

C. Room prices are more affordable.

D. Some rooms have theme sculptures.

3.What can be inferred about the hotel in Paragraph 3?

A. Its service needs improving.

B. Its activities may be boring.

C. It tries to appeal to customers.

D. Its food is not delicious at a11.

WE NEED FOREIGN TEACHERS ALL OVER CHINA

Ad No. 90374

Posted: Mar 12,2016 13:27 by Amanda Expire Date: Apr 12, 2016

Tag: Beijing Language Teaching Part Time

We are looking for teachers, whose native language is English, willing to teach in China. Most schools are in South of China.

The benefit package for foreign teachers includes:

One-year Contract: 1st September 2016 to 31st August 2017

Salary: 4,000RMB to 5,000RMB/Month

Teaching load & schedule: 20 teaching hours per week

A rent-free apartment with a living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom with full furniture

Kitchen facilities provided, other electric appliances will be supplied, water, heater, microwave, etc.

If you are interested, please read the information above and kindly send your application to attach the following documents (in .doc or JPEG format). The subject to be mentioned, as “teach in China”.

1. CV/Resume (简历)

2. A copy of academic degree/diploma/certificate/or college transcript

3. A photocopy of the data page of valid passport

4. A recent color photo

5. A letter of recommendation or release letter from your previous Chinese school (Only if you worked in China previously)

6. Any other related information that you think might help your application

1.This advertisement is about_______.

A. introducing a school

B. taking on foreign students

C. looking for English teachers

D. seeking a teaching position

2.What is NOT needed to apply for the job if you come to work in China for the first time?

A. Your resume. B. Your personal passport data.

C. Your photo. D. A recommendation letter.

3.If you are employed, you will_______.

A. work full time

B. not have to prepare the furniture

C. pay for apartment rent

D. work four months for two years

For the business traveler who is all about efficiency: Check out these hotels that will get you in and out with a minimum of trouble. When you are pressed for time on a business trip, nothing can infuriate you more than a slow hotel check-in process. On your next trip, try these hotels that offer a speedier check-in process.

1. Yotel New York

The self-service kiosks at this high-tech New York hotel work just like the ones you’d see at an airport. There are just five-steps to register and obtain your card key. There is even a robotic luggage bellboy. You tap in the number of bags you are carrying and sizes, then wait for a robot arm to swing down and store your luggage in a locker (say, for a day trip). This also speeds up the check-in process if the first thing you need to do, like me, is head to a series of meetings.

2. Marriott Detroit Airport

Another option for business travelers in a hurry: Marriott is rolling out its mobile check-in app to 325 hotels this year, including the Marriott Detroit Airport hotel. (I’ve tested the app itself but not for a real visit quite yet.) Here is the basic idea: you download the iphone or Android app. The night before, you can “check-in” virtually. When you arrive, you get an alert that the room is ready and your key, which is already tied to your reservation, is waiting for you at the desk.

3. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis

I happened to stay at this hotel recently and liked how fast the kiosk check-in works. Like the Yotel, the kiosk asks you to insert your credit card, similar to an airport terminal. The whole process took about three minutes, when I left, I was equally impressed with the fast check-out. An agent meets you in the lobby with an ipad and asks for an email to use for a receipt. The big advantage: you never have to wait in line.

4. Radisson: LaCrosse

The Radisson is trying to make the kiosk process even faster, at a few select hotels like the Radisson Lacrosse in Wisconsin, you use a mobile app to register and then receive a barcode by email or text. When you get the kiosk, you scan the barcode to get your key without any other steps required. It’s super fast. You can find this new check-in system at the Radisson hotels in Salt Lake City, Seattle, and Phoenix as well.

1.What does the word “infuriate” in paragraph 2 most mean?

A. annoy B. remind C. amuse D. impress

2.Which two hotels offer a mobile app for customers to check in?

A. Yotel New York and Marriott Detroit Airport.

B. Marriott Detroit Airport and Radisson: LaCrosse.

C. Marriott Detroit Airport. and Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

D. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis and Radisson: LaCrosse.

3.Which hotel will send you a receipt by email?

A. Yotel New York.

B. Marriott Detroit Airport.

C. Radisson: LaCrosse.

D. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis.

4.Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?

A. At Yotel New York, a robot will help you with all the check-in process.

B. With its check-in app, you may enter your room in Marriott without a key.

C. The barcode you receive from Radisson contributes to the fast check-in.

D. Hyatt Regency Minneapolis is close to an airport terminal.

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