Summer Cultural Exploration in France

         The Summer Cultural Exploration program in Amboise, France, provides students with the opportunity to study French in a friendly historic atmosphere while experiencing a taste of French culture.

         Amboise

         Amboise is a charming small town on the Loire River in central France. The royal Amboise castle was the preferred residence of Charles VIII, who built it in the 15^th century. With a rich history and beautiful natural scenes, Amboise is the ideal environment for students to study French.

         Learn

         French courses take place every morning, Monday through Friday, for four hours per day in a historic 19^th-century building in the center of Amboise. Students will be given an exam upon arrival to make sure that they attend a language class of the appropriate level. An interactive teaching approach is stressed.

         Experience

         There is a good balance between planned activities and free time throughout the four-week program. Two to three days per week, organized activities are offered such as: lecture on topics in French history, literature, art and cinema, showing of French films, and a visit to Leonardo da Vinci’s home at the Clos Luce.

         Travel

         Also, students will explore France through the following guided trips.

         ●Chambord, Cheverny and Blois —Explore two of the area’s famous castles. Chambord, the largest of the Loire castle, was built by the great Renaissance king, France I. Chevernby castle was built in 1630. Visit the old town of Blois, a favorite residence of French royalty.

         ●Villandry and Sache — One of the last Renaissance castles to be built along the Loire, Villandry, is also known for its flower and vegetable gardens. The lovely old castle of Sache was a best-loved house of the great 19^th-century writer Honore de Balzac.

         ●Paris — Discover the City of Light, famous for its fashion, food and art during a journey to Paris! Walk along the banks of the Seine River, visit Notre Dame Cathedral and discover some of the city’s famous museums and including the Louvre.

         Housing

         Students stay with carefully-selected host families. Ability to remain open-minded and tolerance of cultural differences are required. There is an 11 pm curfew（熄灯时间）for this program.

1.When a student gets to Amboise, he or she will first _______.

A. take a language test                                                     B. visit da Vinci’s home

C. hear lectures on French history                       D. go to see the castle built by Charles VIII

2.Students can enjoy beautiful flowers at _______.

A. Chambord castle            B. Cheverny castle              C. Villandry castle               D. Sache castle

3.Students who want to take part in the program will _______.

A. mainly study cultural differences                     B. spend most of their time in Paris

C. live in a historic building                                              D. study for 20 hours a week

4.What is the purpose of the text?

A. To advertise.          B. To educate.                      C. To entertain.          D. To instruct.

完形填空 (共20小题；每小题1.5分，满分30分)

阅读下面短文，掌握其大意，然后从36—55各题所给的A、B、C、D四个选项中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑

“Hey, Dad, are you going to come to my award ceremony tonight? ”I   36   asked my father. “I have to work late tonight. I doubt whether I’ll be able to   37   it on time. I am just too busy right now, ”he replied.

My mind could not   38   the idea that he would be too busy working late. He was also too busy to   39   my horse show, football games and the 15th birthday party. He always used the same   40  . Why had I even bothered to ask?   41  , there was always a slight hope that tonight would be    42  .

As my mother and I arrived at school, two friends   43   me. “Jill, meet my dad. Dad, this is my friend Jill. ”I shook the hand of a tall man. Camera flashes lit up the room, and claps filled the   44   as students accepted their awards. My name was finally called,   45   three others. I followed my classmates to the   46  . When I reached out my hand to shake the   47  , a big smile lit up her face. The blinding flash from my mother’s camera   48   my eyes and I knew my dad wasn’t there. I walked back to my seat   49  .

Back at home, seeing my dad’s car in the garage, I told myself he would not be   50  this time . But as usual the strong smell of alcohol hit me as soon as I  51  inside, and I could feel my tears   52  . I followed the sound of his drunken words and saw him   53   on the couch.

  54   did father lie to me? I threw my award on the floor, walked to my bedroom, and shut the door. Tears rolled down my face. I wondered if I would ever be more   55   than his whiskey bottle.

36. A. confidently     B. eagerly     C. proudly             D. fearfully

37. A. reach           B. keep         C. take            D. make

38. A. create          B. support     C. appreciate        D. accept

39. A. watch           B. avoid         C. attend            D. speed

40. A. excuse         B. reply         C. promise         D. trick

41. A. Besides       B. Thus           C. Otherwise       D. However

42. A. active          B. formal       C. different              D. serious

43. A. recognized      B. greeted     C. encouraged       D. showed

44. A. air               B. audience      C. school           D. playground

45. A. apart from      B. other than    C. except for              D. along with

46. A. stage           B. position              C. office                      D. exit

47. A. Jill’s            B. teacher’s             C. mother’s         D. father’s

48. A. fixed           B. touched        C. hurt              D. overlooked

49. A. successfully     B. disappointedly     C. delightedly     D. hopefully

50. A. drunk          B. woken          C. forgiven         D. hidden

51. A. stepped        B. noticed         C. examined       D. glanced

52. A. getting off       B. falling down      C. building up      D. turning around

53. A. leaning         B. lying           C. putting            D. carrying

54. A. How             B. Where            C. Why            D. Whether

55. A. perfect          B. comfortable           C. fortunate         D. important

阅读下列应用文及相关信息，并按照要求匹配信息。请在答题卡上将对应题号的相应选项字母涂黑。

 (选E涂AB; 选F涂CD)

首先请阅读以下花语：

A．Red Roses

Red roses, as we think of them today, are the traditional symbol for love and romance and a time-honored way to say “I love you.” The red rose has long symbolized beauty and perfection, so a bouquet of red roses is the perfect way to express your deep feelings for someone special. For the budding relationship, a red rose bouquet can also signal the beginning of romantic intentions. They can send a message of commitment and an invitation to take the next step.

B．Carnations

The meanings of carnations include fascination, distinction, and love. Like many other flowers, different messages can also be expressed with the flower’s different color varieties. Light red carnations, for example, are often used to convey admiration, whereas pink carnations are often given as a sign of gratitude. Today carnations are worn and gifted worldwide on Mothers Day and have become symbolic of purity, strength and endurance of motherhooD．As a custom pink carnations are worn to honor living mothers and white carnations for the deceased mothers.

C．Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BC．It was named from the Greek prefix chrys-, which means golden (the color of the original flowers), and –anthemion, meaning flower. Chrysanthemums can be yellow, white or even bright red. Many flower forms are available, spoon-shaped, threadlike or spiderlike. With its special meaning “Rest” associated with them, chrysanthemums are one of the traditional funeral flowers which you can even convey your sincere feelings for the deceased.

D．Sunflowers

Sunflowers turn their heads towards the sun and this is how they got their common name. They originated in Central and South America. Sunflowers are not only pretty to look at but sunflower seeds are power-packed with healthy fats, protein, fiber, minerals, and vitamin E – all important to the nutritional quality of your diet.

E．Purple hyacinth

The language of flowers can be found as far back as the 14th century. Every flower has a special. Purple hyacinths are a meaningful gift, perfect for expressing feelings for a friend to convey the feelings like “You are a wonderful friend and I wish you peace, prosperity and happiness” or “I am sorry. Please forgive me.”

F．Forget – me – not

The little blue Forget Me Not flower, though quite small in size, expresses sweet memories of true and faithful love, a soft cry – “Do not forget” the sunny and cloudy days of a deep relationship. Medicinally, this plant has a strong affinity for the respiratory organs, especially the let lower lung. In some countries, it is sometimes made into syrup and given for lung affections.

再阅读以下顾客信息，然后匹配顾客与适合他们的鲜花。

56．David has just heard that one of his friends he knows has lost a favorite relative and he knows that his friend really needs to be concerned at this moment. So he calls the flower shop for flower delivery as a way to show his friendship and support during this difficult time.

57．Mary has not met her mother since she moved to Paris after the graduation from Cambridge University. When Mothers’ Day is coming this year, she wants to send something special to help her express respect and thankfulness for the virtues of motherhood.

58．True love’s difficult to find, but Catherine is fortunate enough to have found it, so she intends to give her beloved a gift on the Anniversary Day, which his regarded as an emblem of loving remembrance, faithful love, constancy and undying hope.

59．Tony met Gloria at his friend’s graduation party last weekend, and fell into love with her at the first sight. He is planning to ask her for the first official date, expecting Gloria to receive them with a sparkle in her eyes.

60．Hebe has really got a reason to send flowers to her friend Carrie who was deeply hurt by her careless mistake. What she needs to do is make an apology, showing how regretful she is. For this special occasion, she is wondering what flowers will be appropriate to send.

Below are descriptions of six famous states in the U. S.
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populous U.S. state and was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west, to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east. Earthquakes are a common occurrence due to the state's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire: about 37,000 are recorded annually. The California Gold Rush happened in San Francisco and there is also a famous Silicon Valley. Hollywood exists in Los Angeles, making it the center of entertainment. “The Golden State” has long been a popular designation for California and was made the official State Nickname in 1968.
Florida is a state in the southeastern region of the United States, bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. Miami is the largest metropolitan area in the southeastern United States.The climate varies from subtropical in the north to tropical in the south. Its economy relies mainly on tourism, agriculture, and transportation. Florida is also known for its amusement parks, the production of oranges, and the Kennedy Space Center. Florida has attracted many writers such as Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams, and continues to attract celebrities and athletes. It is internationally known for golf, tennis, auto racing, and water sports.
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It became the 45th state admitted to the Union on January 4, 1896. Utah is the most religiously homogeneous state in the Union. Approximately 63% of Utahans are reported to be members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or LDS, which greatly influences Utah culture and daily life. The state is a center of transportation, education, information technology and research, government services, mining, and a major tourist destination for outdoor recreation.
Texas is the second most populous and the second-largest of the 50 states in the United States of America. Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth-largest in the United States. Texas is nicknamed the Lone Star State to signify Texas as a former independent republic and as a reminder of the state's struggle for independence from Mexico. The "Lone Star" can be found on the Texas state flag and on the Texas state seal today. The term "six flags over Texas" came from the several nations that had ruled over the territory. In 1845 it joined the United States as the 28th state. One Texas industry that thrived after the Civil War was cattle. Due to its long history as a center of the industry, Texas is associated with the image of the cowboy.
Virginia, is a U.S. state located in the South Atlantic region of the United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there. It is unique in how it treats cities and counties equally, manages local roads, and prohibits its governors from serving consecutive terms. Virginia's economy has many sectors: agriculture in the Shenandoah Valley; federal agencies in Northern Virginia, including the headquarters of the Department of Defense and CIA; and military facilities in Hampton Roads, the site of the region's main seaport. Virginia's public schools and many colleges and universities have contributed to growing media and technology sectors. As a result, computer chips have become the state's leading export.
Kentucky, is a state located in the east south-central region of the United States. In 1792 it became the 15th state to join the Union. Kentucky is known as the "Bluegrass State", a nickname based on the bluegrass found in many of its pastures because of the fertile soil. It is a land with diverse environments and abundant resources, including the world's longest cave system, Mammoth Cave National Park, the greatest length of navigable waterways and streams in the contiguous United States, and the two largest man-made lakes east of the Mississippi River.Kentucky is also home to the highest per capita number of deer and turkey in the United States.
【小题1】 Which state is called the “golden state” and why?

In Vietnam(越南), Tet-trung-Thu, or Mid- autumn Festival, is one of the most popular holidays. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month in lunar calendar
Vietnamese families plan their activities around their children on this special day. In a Vietnamese story, parents were working so hard to prepare for the harvest that they left the childen playing by themselves.  To make up for the lost time, parents would use the Aid-Autumn Festival as a chance to show their love and than for their children.
As a result, the Mid- autumn Festival is also called the Children’s Festival.  In the USA, this tradition continues in many Vietnamese- American families.  Tet-trung-Thu, activities are often centered on Children and education.  Parents buy lanterns for their children so that they can take part in a lantern parade at dawn.  Lanterns mean brightness, while the parade means success in school.  Vietnamese markets sell different kinds of lanterns, but the most popular children’s lantern is the star lantern. Other children’s activities includes arts and crafts(手工艺) in which children make face mas and lanterns.  Children also perform traditional Vietnamese dances for grown-ups and take part in contests for prizes and scholarships. Unicorn(麒麟) dancers are also very popular at Tet-trung-Thu festivities.
Like the Chinese, Vietnamese parents tell their children folk stories and serve moon-cakes and other special treats under the bright moon. A favorite folk story is about a carp(鲤鱼) that wanted to bee a dragon.  The carp worked hard and finally changed itself into a dragon. Parents use this story to encourage their children to work hard so that they can bee whatever they want to be.
1. The Tet-trung-Thu Festival is held ________.
A. in China and other Asian countries.           B. in Vietnamese-American families.
C. all over the world, except Vietnam.            D. Across the United States.
2.In Both Vietnam and China, on Mid-autumn Festival people would ___________.
A. eat moon-cakes       B. buy lanterns for children.
C. take part in contests.   D. buy a carp
3.What is the center of the Mid-Autumn festival in Vietnam?
A. Family get-together.                           B. Children on education.
C. Relaxation and fun in the middle of the year.
D. parents having more time with their children.
4.According to the passage, parents tell their children folk stories, because __________.
A. children like listening to folk stories in the evening.
B. parents want to show their love for their children.
C. parents want to teach the children to work hard.
D. parents want to make up for the lost time.