Hee-haw!Scores of farmers across the country are opening up to overnight guests.The best have all the appeal of a first-rate inn-plus here a moo, there a moo.
Sure, you and your kids plan to conquer the theme parks.In the meanwhile, why not make a little hay?Farm stays are fast becoming the great American alternative to the pre-packaged vacation.
LIBERTY HILL FARM
Rochester, Vt.; 802/767-3926;
www.libertyhillfarm.com.Adults$75, teens $50, kids 12 and under $35, including breakfast and dinner; shared baths.
Beth and Bob Kennett run a farm straight out of a storybook.You’ll find Beth in the kitchen, rolling out dough(生面团)for a pie.Bob’s busy with other work.Guests sleep in seven sunny bedrooms right in the farmhouse and can participate in any of the farm jobs.Maybe you and your kids won’t be up at 6 a.m.to meet the milk truck, but you can help with the milking twice a day, collect eggs, and pick sweet corn and wild blackberries in season.
HULL-O FARM
Durham, N.Y.; 518/239-6950; www.hull-o.com; Adults $110, kids 10-14 $60, 5-9 $50, 2-4 $35, under 2 free, including breakfast and dinner; private baths.
It started in 1993 as a way to bring in some extra money at a time of falling milk prices.But soon after Frank and Sherry Hull opened their Catskill Mountains dairy farm to overnight visitors, they discovered they loved it.As you drive up, Sherry greets you on the porch of the 1825 farmhouse with a cow-shaped cookie jar.Before long your kids are playing around with the cows, sheep, ducks, goats and getting ready for a hayride.
(1)
The underlined sentence in the first paragraph implies that ________.
[ ]
A.
you can enjoy the best cuisine(烹调)at the first rate restaurant
B.
some farm provide country experiences as well as good accommodations
C.
farm work is hard, but you can enjoy it a lot, playing with the animals
D.
if you want to hear a cow’s cry, please stay on a best farm
(2)
We can learn from the ads that ________.
[ ]
A.
Hull-O Farm was not built for overnight visitors
B.
Frank and Sherry Hull run a farm out of a storybook
C.
kids can sit on a gentle cow’s back on Hull-O Farm
D.
you can’t milk a cow if you get up late on Liberty Hill Farm
(3)
The Browns have a 13-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter.If they stay on Liberty Hill Farm for one night, how much will they pay?
Plot Outline:Intrepid archeologist Jack and ambitious scientist William set out on an adventure that leads them to the greatest discovery in Chinese history.Their journey starts in Dasar, India, where they stumble upon an ancient sword from the Qin Dynasty, and a magical gemstone that appears to be able to defy the force of gravity.These finds not only lead them to a mythical mausoleum(陵墓), but also connects Jack to his dark past life.Through strange dreams, Jack sees himself reincarnated(使转生)as Meng Yi, a general who fell for the First Emperor’s beautiful consort(配偶)Ok Soo some 2,000 years ago.As Meng Yi commands his troops in an increasingly desperate war against rebels, he also has to battle his own inner desires in choosing between eternal love and loyalty.
Back to the present day, where the final secret of the First Emperor is about to be revealed, as the two adventurers successfully enter the Heavenly Palace-a fortress loaded with death traps and unspeakable evils.But the closer Jack comes to this precious and final truth, the more he gets lost between the past and the present.
Leading cast overview:
Jackie Chan…archeologist Jack
Tony Leung Ka Fai…scientist William
Kim Hee Seon…Ok Soo
Mallika Sherawat…Princess Samantha
(1)
“The Myth”is about ________.
[ ]
A.
the love story of Jack and the princess
B.
the adventurous finds by Jack and William
C.
the history of the First Emperor of China
D.
the history of ancient wars that happened in China
(2)
From this passage, we can see that ________.
[ ]
A.
“The Myth”is a famous novel
B.
a human being can really be reincarnated
C.
we can See a lot of beautiful scenes in the film
D.
Jackie Chan plays the role of Jack
(3)
The underlined phrase“stumble upon”refers to ________.
[ ]
A.
fall over
B.
come across
C.
cry over
D.
think over
阅读理解
I am terrible oh TV.I don't sit straight and I don't talk clearly.It bothers, because I know inside I am smart, sensitive and sincere.Television can make any fool look like an intellectual, but I come over as dishonest.After a disastrous TV show last year, when I called the interviewer by the wrong name, I was reluctant to do broadcasting again.
Now, I will have my first novel out next month, which is called DoItAgain, and the advertising people tell me I must go on TV to promote it.That is why I find myself practising my television interviewing technique with two consultants from Public Image Ltd.
“He blinks(眨眼)a lot, doesn't he?” says Diana, the speech specialist, studying my image on a video monitor.“And his crossed legs look defensive.But the voice isn't bad.” Jeannie, who is introduced to me as Public Image's image consultant, takes a step backwards to study the general posture.“Needs to get his bottom back in the sofa.And the jacket makes him look a bit deformed.Where does he get his clothes from?”
“Honesty is the most important thing,” Says Diana.“We don't want to turn people into actors.We want to bring out their personality.Then most importantly, there are the three E's:Energy, Enthusiasm and Enjoyment.And do try to stop blinking.”
And so our practice interview begins.“So, what can you tell us about your book, Martyn?” “Umm…” A long pause.“Errr…” A longer pause.“Tee hee, hargh…” A foolish giggle.“All right,” says Diana patiently, “We'll try that again.” We try it again, many, many times, each time trying to solve a different problem that I have.On the second run-through, my crossed legs keep moving up and down, which makes me look as if I want to run away(I do, I do).On the third run they are uncrossed, but my hands are clenched on my lap.On the fourth my hands are fiddling with my ears.
But Diana is patient and gives me a lot of advice.She is very good at her job because on the final run-through, after three hours or so, I really don't look too bad.Steady gaze, breathing clear and no blinking.Not perfect but not bad.
I'm bursting with energy, enthusiasm and enjoyment and I'm talking a lot of nonsense, but you'd hardly notice.When you watch people on TV, you'll see a lot more just like me.
(1)
The writer believes that he is terrible on TV because ________.
[ ]
A.
he doesn't make enough effort to perform well
B.
he can't help being rude to the interviewers
C.
he seems not to be telling the truth
D.
his personality differs from that of newsreaders and presenters
(2)
Why has the writer come to Public Image Ltd?
[ ]
A.
Because he wants to find out what such companies do.
B.
Because he want to improve his interviewing style.
C.
Because he is interested in the work they do for politicians.
D.
Because the company is good at promoting novels.
(3)
Diana and Jeannie both say that one of the writer's problems when appearing on TV concerns ________.
[ ]
A.
the way he sits
B.
the clothes he wears
C.
the way his eyes move
D.
the way he moves
(4)
What was the author's purpose in writing this passage?
[ ]
A.
To promote Public Image Ltd.
B.
To describe an experience in his life.
C.
To advertise his new book.
D.
To give some advice to TV producers.
阅读理解
Students at the Hogook Middle School in South Korea have a unique homework:going online to message boards and write positive,cheerful comments.Teachers and other adults hope those comments will discourage others from leaving vicious(恶意的)and negative remarks.This is one of the activities in a nationwide program called the Sunfull Movement.
Online attacks are an increasing problem in South Korea.The National Police Agency receives tens of thousands of complaints every year, but there is not much that can be done to stop it,since attackers seldom use their real names.In the worst cases,authorities say cyber-bullies(网络攻击)have pressured some people to take their own lives.That is why the Sunfull Movement's founder, Min Byoung'chul, a professor at Kunkuk University,began the program three years ago.
Min says research indicates ninety percent of the attackers are under the age of 30.“Young kids,they're stressed out because of schoolwork.They have to prepare for their college entrance examinations and they just write whatever they feel.That's one of the ways to blow off their discontent and stress.” explained Min.
Student Kim Hee-joo,15, says she writes thank-you messages to friends,family and teachers on her school' s homepage.And when she sees people making bad comments about famous people,she leaves nice messages,because when people see positive comments they are more likely to stop saying bad things and change their attitude.
Teacher Kim Eun-young says Koreans do not really say “Thank you” or “I love you” to friends or parents.But being not face-to-face, they feel more comfortable saying those kinds of things.She also says violence at the school,both online and offline,has decreased and students and teachers get along much better now.
(1)
What's the aim of the Sunfull Movement?
[ ]
A.
To teach students how to make comments on the Internet·
B.
To stop cyber-bullying and create a positive atmosphere on the Internet·
C.
To offer students suggestions on letting off their discontent and stress·
D.
To serve as a model for other nations by gaining experience.
(2)
It can be inferred from the last paragraph that ________·
[ ]
A.
People in South Korea tends to express themselves frankly
B.
Koreans sometimes are not polite to their friends or parents
C.
Students and teachers don't get along well in Korean schools
D.
Changes have taken place since the school began the program
(3)
The best title of this passage probably is ________.