A reader from Brazil recently wrote to us asking for some advice. He’s planning a trip to the United States, and wanted to know about the best places to travel in America. Today, we are going to give you some information which may help you when choosing your destination.

    Each of the 50 states in America has interesting things to offer visitors, but some are more popular than others. Washington, D.C. is famous for its historical places, like the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Visitors to Los Angeles, California can see the Hollywood Walk of Fame or shop the stores on Rodeo Drive where they may see a star or two. The Grand Canyon in Arizona appeals to hikers, climbers and nature lovers, as does Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.

    TripAdvisor is a website where people can write reviews about their travel experiences. Every year, TripAdvisor makes a list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States. The results are based on the opinions of visitors to the website.

    Brooke Ferencsik of TripAdvisor said the top picks on the list were not surprising. And it’s no secret why New York City was named the number one destination.

    New York City is sometimes called “the city that never sleeps” because it can be very busy. It is an exciting place for many people because there is so much to do. But the city might be too busy for travelers looking for rest and calm. They might want something more like Myrtle Beach, in the state of South Carolina, which made it to number 21 on Trip Advisor’s list.

    “A lot of people come to Myrtle Beach for great weather, it’s a wonderful family vacation spot, the beaches - got the wonderful Atlantic beaches there - there’s a lot of family-friendly parks and water parks.”

    Many people take time off from their jobs in the summer to travel. Because there are many tourists visiting other places, June until August is known as “high season.” Traveling during the high season can be crowded. Hotels, restaurants, and transportation might also be very expensive.

    If you want to save money on a trip, it is a good idea to plan to leave before or after the summer months. These times are known as “shoulder seasons” for travel.

    “If you’re looking for value, try and think about traveling through the shoulder season if it’s possible - the shoulder season being the fall or the spring. The weather is still very good in some of these destinations, and you can get better prices.”

    America’s major cities are still the most popular destinations for visitors. Ferencsik says this is because of the good quality of services they provide tourists.

    “They do a great job of giving travelers what they want when they’re on vacation. I think they kind of cater to every type of traveler need. So whether you’re traveling alone, you’re traveling for business, you’re traveling with your family - whatever it is, those destinations are really tuned in to delivering amazing experiences and just a lot of different opportunities when you’re there.”

1.Lily has great interest in nature and American history. She can visit___________. 

A. The Grand Canyon and Rodeo Drive

B. California and Los Angeles

C. White House and Arizona

D. Washington, D.C and The Grand Canyon

2.Which of the following is NOT true about Myrtle Beach?

A. People can enjoy a wonderful holiday with their family there.

B. It’s a place where people can have rest and calm.

C. It’s on the list of the top 25 cities to visit in the United States.

D. It’s in North Carolina with great weather that attracts tourists.

3.Why does the author suggest traveling through the shoulder seasons?

A. To enjoy good weather in spring and fall.

B. To have good quality of services.

C. To have better value of traveling .

D. To save money and energy.

4.The author write this passage to ___.

A. give some information about the top 25 cities to visit in USA.

B. talk about some American popular places and advice on traveling

C. advise tourists to visit big cities for their good service and opportunities.

D. give advice on saving money and time when traveling in America.

5.This passage may probably be taken from ____.

A. a travel journal B. a magazine

C. News Weekly D. a website

Dear Aunty,

After years of her crying, I finally gave in and allowed my daughter to have a cat. I now regret my decision. As someone needs to have a clean, tidy house, I no longer feel relaxed in my own home. If I tell her, “sorry, the cat has to go.” She will be heartbroken. What can I do?

-Feline Phobic

Dear Phobic,

I’m an animal lover and on your kid’s and cat’s side. Tell your daughter your problem. Ask her to help you come up with a plan. Perhaps you can agree to allow the cat only in certain areas of the house. This is a chance for your daughter to develop the sense of responsibility owning a pet requires.

Dear Aunty,

I got the highest grade on a biology test. Now the popular kids think I’m brainy, and want me in their lab group. I knew I was being used. Now, they want my homework. What should I do?

-Lily

Dear Lily,

Popularity can come at a price, but it’s no excuse to cheat. Offer to help new friends with their homework, but don’t give them yours.

Dear Aunty,

I’m one of six assistants in a dental (牙科的)office. But I’m new there just four months. I’ve tried to join conversations, but they just ignore me. They go shopping together. No one invites me. How can I break into the circle?

-Crystal

Dear Crystal,

Humans run in packs like dogs. When a new dog enters the pack, a lot of discovery goes on. So bring cookies for everyone! Then try making friends with one co-worker. Invite her to lunch. When you get familiar with each other, tell her how hard you’re finding the situation at work. Chances are, she’ll take you under her wing.

1.Aunty thinks that Phobic should _____.

  A. try to persuade her daughter to give in

  B. spend more time cleaning the house

  C. ask her daughter to help tidy up

  D. find a better way to keep the cat

2.The underlined word “brainy” in the passage means _____.

  A. excited      B. friendly   C. intelligent  D. hard-working

3.According to the passage, _____.

  A. Phobic can’t get along well with her daughter

  B. Aunty is fond of animals like cats

  C. Crystal’s coworkers are cheating her

  D. Lily has no interest in lab experiments

Dear Aunty,

After years of her crying. I finally gave in and allowed my daughter to have a cat. I now regret my decision. As someone needs to have a clean, tidy house, I no longer feel relaxed in my own home. If I tell her, “sorry, the cat has to go.” She will be heartbroken. What can I do?

-Feline Phobic

Dear Phobic,

I’m an animal lover and on your kid’s and cat’s side. Tell your daughter your problem. Ask her to help you come up with a plan. Perhaps you can agree to allow the cat only in certain areas of the house. This is a chance for your daughter to develop the sense of responsibility owning a pet requires.

Dear Aunty,

I got the highest grade on a biology test. Now the popular kids think I’m brainy, and want me in their lab group. I knew I was being used. Now, they want my homework. What should I do?

-Lily

Dear Lily.

Popularity can come at a price, but it’s no excuse to cheat. Offer to help new friends with their homework, but don’t give them yours.

Dear Aunty,

I’m one of six assistants in a dental(牙科的) office. But I’m new-there just four months. I’ve tried to join conversations, but they just ignore me. They go shopping together. No one invites me. How can I break into the circle?

-Crystal

Dear Crystal,

Humans run in packs like dogs. When a new dog enters the pack, a lot of discovery goes on. So bring cookies for everyone! Then try making friends with one co-worker. Invite her to lunch. When you get familiar with each other, tell her how hard you’re finding the situation at work. chances are, she’ll take you under her wing.

1.Aunty thinks that Phobic should        .

A．try to persuade her daughter to give in.

B．spend more time cleaning the house.

C．ask her daughter to help tidy up

D．find a better way to keep the cat.

2.The underlined word “brainy” in the passage means        .

A．excited           B．friendly           C．intelligent         D．hard-working

3.According to the passage,       .

A．Phobic can’t get along well with her daughter.

B．Aunty is fond of animals like cats.

C．Crystal’s coworkers are cheating her.

D．Lily has no interest in lab experiments.

Dear editor,
Mary is my friend and she is a very good-hearted girl. She’s always the first to help out others. But her habits make me mad sometimes and she just won’t change her ways. For most situations, that’s just fine with me, as I know it’s what make her who she is. However, sometimes it’s just so hard for me to bear her behavior. She has recently got a cellphone, but she often borrows mine to make calls. My phone has a chain with it. She always tries to open it like her own phone. I usually open it for her, but not always, as sometimes I’m driving my car, so she needs to get it out of my purse and open it herself.
This weekend we were at a party in a faraway village. She borrowed my cellphone. As it was cold outside, I let her take it outside without opening it. Now it’s broken because she didn’t open it properly. I wouldn’t be so mad, but over the weekend she also borrowed my car and never offered to pay for the gas, which made me very angry. She should have offered to pay for the gas. As I have mentioned, she’s the type to help out others when and where she can. Perhaps because of that, she thinks others should also do the same for her. Sometimes I just think she is very childish. I don’t want to hurt her, but I do want to let her know that not everyone can accept that. What should I do to let her know that?
Yours,
Lily
【小题1】What is Lily’s purpose in writing this letter?

Doctor Lily has made her projects successful, so we suggest not only _______ to her old school but also give the students a talk then.