If you think that Internet shopping on a Sunday gets you the best deals, then think again. Tuesday is actually the best day of the week if you want to grab a bargain according to an exhaustive analysis of on-line shopping. Thursday is the second best day followed by Friday—but Sunday is when you are least likely to make a saving.

The study also looked at months and found that the pre-Christmas rush in November is when there are most bargains around on the web—and not the January sales. US retailer(零售商) reporting service Sum All examined 3,000 companies and halt a billion transactions(交易) as part of its report. It worked out the average discount(折扣) offered to consumers on each day of the week and over different times of the year.

The best day of the week was Tuesday where savings were 4.81 percent, followed by Thursday on 4.80 percent. In third place was Friday at 4.615 percent, then Wednesday at 4.13 percent and Monday at 4.11 percent. Only the foolish would shop on a Saturday where the discounts were typically 3.84 percent—and Sunday was the worst with 3.37 percent.

The analysis by month is even more surprising as most people think that waiting until the post-Christmas sales would yield the biggest discounts. In fact, November is when you will get the largest savings at 5.99 percent on average. January came in second at 4.95 percent, followed by May at 4.50 percent.

The worst month to buy online was March where you could expect to save just 2.76 percent. Consumers and experts have been speculating for years about the best time to shop online.

Booking a flight has almost become a science with some claiming that buying six weeks before you travel guarantees you the best price. However, a recent analysis by the US Airlines Reporting Commission found that was not actually the case.

Not only did the six-week window fail to pile up, in some cases the best fares were on sale as long as 24 weeks before departure. The ARC said that booking well in advance is best advised for busy routes or long haul flights(长途航班), as the price only tends to go up.

1.If a buyer wants to buy cheap goods online, he'd better go to the shop on ________.

A. Tuesday B. Thursday C. Friday D. Sunday

2.Most web sellers often provide bargain on the web ________.

A. after New Year's Day B. during Valentine's Day

C. on Mother's Day D. before Christmas

3.Which of the following statements is True according to the third paragraph?

A. The best day of the week was Tuesday where savings were 4.8 percent.

B. In third place was Thursday where savings were 4.65 percent.

C. Sunday where the discounts were 3.37 percent was the worst.

D. Customers can get the best savings on Saturday.

4.What is the meaning of the underlined word “speculating” in the fifth paragraph?

A. Quarrelling. B. Objecting. C. Searching. D. Considering.

All Summer Camp Programs

Llandovery, Wales, UK

Language and Music for Life(LMFL)—Founded in 1997, LMFL offers unique 2-week summer music and language courses. LMFL provides quality one-to-one training in a wide range of instruments & voice tuition to highly-motivated musicians of all ages.

Study programs & classes include: 2 weeks with Musical Masterclasses: Composition, Violin, Piano, Recorder, Guitar, Classical Singing...

Saint-Raphael, France

France Langue & Culture (FLC)—Experience a fun, educational language holiday for all the family this summer! FLC is the most family-friendly language school providing French summer classes for teens & young children.

Study programs & classes include: 1-4Week Sessions • Children’s Summer Camps for ages 4-12 • Courses for teenagers ages 13-17, with homestay accommodation by French host families.

Quebec City, Quebec, Canada

Edu-Inter Summer Language School (EI)—EI offers summer French programs for children & teenagers (ages 10-17) and adults (16+). Quebec City is the only major city in Canada that offers a 100% French-speaking environment, making it the ideal location for learning and practicing French.

Study programs & classes include: 2 weeks’ Summer French Programs: For Children & Teenagers (ages 10-17) • French & Cooking • French & Dance • French & Horse Riding • French & Music...

Cambridge, England, UK

Reach Cambridge-Academic Camps(RC)—RC offers UK & international high school students the opportunity to gain an invaluable academic experience through a summer course in one of the top educational facilities in the world. We provide unique and academic programs for students ages 14-18.

Study programs & classes include: 2 & 3-week Summer Camps • Chemistry & Medical Sciences • Computer Science & Math • Economics • ESL • History & Politics • Law...

1.Why is Quebec the ideal location for learning and practicing French?

A. It offers summer French programs.

B. It is the only major city in Canada.

C. It has a Summer French Language School.

D. It has a 100% French-speaking environment.

2.If a boy is 18 and loves computer science, which summer camp suits him best?

A. LMFL. B. FLC.

C. EI. D. RC.

3.It can be learned from the passage that _____.

A. RC helps kids improve their horse-riding skills

B. kids can enjoy one-to-one training at LMFL

C. kids can stay at French host families at EI

D. FLC was founded in 1997 in France

There is one type of illness in the world that has a severe effect on more people than anything else and is very deadly. If untreated, this illness could affect everything you do. What is this illness? Depression. Serious depression requires professional treatment. Self-induced depression is something each of us can change.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, but the causes of self-induced depression are common: low self-esteem, hurtful thinking and a bad attitude.

So how can we change the way we think, feel, and have a cheerful attitude?

First we must look at ourselves, truly and honestly examining our motives for what we wish to accomplish. If you are dissatisfied because you feel you haven’t or can’t do anything, then one step is needed—to set goals.

Always start your goals relatively small and easy to attain. Think of them as sand; one grain may be insignificant(微不足道的) but as a group they form the beach. Once you have set and attained small goals for yourself, move on to slightly larger, more challenging goals.It takes not just setting goals but positive thinking. How can we obtain this?

There are a number of factors that can make us think negatively and one of those is diet.In my opinion, a person who eats a lot of take-out and fast food is feeding their body junk. Start by eating better foods which give the body much NEEDED minerals. If your physical body is happy, it’s much easier for your mental body or “thinking ability” to be happy.[

Next, exercise. Half an hour a day is recommended for positive well-being. Then think about good memories you had, or generally think of things that make you smile. Remember, everything you wear costs money but to wear a smile is free. A smile can be the difference between an average day and a great day.

If you follow these steps, positive change is on the way.

1.Which of the statements about depression is TRUE?

A. Depression is a kind of illness that can’t be cured like some cancer.

B. Depression can all be cured successfully by doctors in an easy way.

C. Those who suffer from depression live in the same circumstances.

D. Those who suffer from depression hold negative attitudes.

2.According to the passage we can learn that ________.

A. a practical goal can help people to achieve a sense of success

B. we shouldn’t be satisfied with small goals that are insignificant

C. we should avoid challenging goals that may result in failure

D. people can enjoy happiness even if they set inappropriate goals

3.What can we infer from the reading passage?

A. Those who can achieve small goals can surely achieve big ones.

B. Depression has something to do with the food people eat.

C. You can only exercise half an hour if you want to get rid of depression.

D. Smile makes no sense to the feeling in daily life.

Minutes after the last movie ended yesterday at the Plaza Theater, employees were busy sweeping up popcorns and gathering coke cups. It was a scene that had been repeated many times in the theater’s 75-year history. This time, however, the cleanup was a little different. As one group of workers carried out the rubbish, another group began removing seats and other theater equipment in preparation for the building’s end.

The film classic The Last Picture Show was the last movie shown in the old theater. Though the movie is 30 years old, most of the 250 seats were filled with teary-eyed audience wanting to say good-bye to the old building. Theater owner Ed Bradford said he chose the movie because it seemed proper. The movie is set in a small town where the only movie theater is preparing to close down.

Bradford said that large modem theaters in the city made it impossible for the Plaza to compete. He added that the theater’s location (位置) was also a reason. “This used to be the center of town,” he said. “Now the area is mostly office buildings and warehouses.”

Last week some city officials suggested the city might be interested in turning the old theater into a museum and public meeting place. However, these plans were given up because of financial problems. Bradford sold the building and land to a local development firm, which plans to build a shopping complex on the land where the theater is located.

The theater audience said good-bye as Bradford locked the doors for the last time. After 75 years the Plaza Theater has shown its last movie. The theater will be missed.

1.In what way was yesterday’s cleanup at the Plaza special?

A. It made room for new equipment.

B. It signaled the closedown of the theater.

C. It was done with the help of the audience.

D. It marked the 75th anniversary of the theater.

2.Why was The Last Picture Stow put on?

A. It was an all-time classic.

B. It was about the history of the town.

C. The audience requested it.

D. The theater owner found it suitable.

3.What will probably happen to the building?

A. It will b& repaired.

B. It will be turned into a museum.

C. It will be knocked down.

D. It will be sold to the city government.

4.What can we infer about the audience?

A. They are disappointed with Bradford.

B. They are sad to say goodbye to the old theater.

C. They are supportive of the city officials.

D. They are keen to have a shopping center.

The National Gallery

Description:

The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London. It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from 13th-century religious paintings to more modem ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance.

Layout:

The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses 13th-to 15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, Van Eyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.

The main West Wing houses 16th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titian and Veronese.

The North Wing houses 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velaazquez, Claude and Vermeer.

The East Wing houses 18th-to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh.

Opening Hours:

The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm (Fridays 10am to 9pm) and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.

Getting There:

Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (2-minute walk), Leicester (3-minute walk), Embankment (7-minute walk), and Piccadilly Circus (8-minute walk).

1.In which wing can you see religious paintings?

A. In the East Wing. B. In the main West Wing.

C. In the Sainsbury Wing. D. In the North Wing.

2.If you enter the gallery by a ground floor, you will easily see the works of .

A. Van Eyck B. Cranach

C. Van Dyck. D. Constable.

3.According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. The National Gallery is the biggest British national art museum.

B. There are four exhibition areas in The National Gallery

C. The Gallery is open every day from 10am to 6pm

D. The Gallery is completely free

4.Where does the text probably come from?

A. An artist magazine. B. A tourist map.

C. A news report. D. A museum guide.

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