According to a survey, few children from single-parent families have a hobby and that hobby ______ last for only a year or two.

A．ought

B．must

C．may

D．need

 

--- Has your brother returned from the USA yet?

   ---- Yes, but he ____ here for only two days before his company sent him to Australia.

   A. stayed    B. has stayed    C. will stay    D. was staying

 

Dye (染料) can bring a little color to life. Most clothing is colored with dyes. Modern, manufactured dyes can be costly. Natural dyes from plant and animal products have been used since ancient times. So this week, we describe a natural way to dye wool.

There are several methods to put dye onto material. The vat method, for example, can be used to dye wool with onionskins. For this example, use one hundred grams of natural wool. The wool must be clean. Leave it overnight in water and liquid soap. Then wash it with clean water that is a little warm. Gently squeeze out the extra water.

A solution called a mordant (媒染) is used in the dying process. A mordant helps fix the dye to the material. Traditionally, mordants were found in nature. Wool ash is one example. But chemical mordants such as alum are popular today. Alum is sold in many stores. It is often mixed with cream of tartar, a fine powder commonly used in cooking.

Mix eight grams of alum with seven grams of cream of tartar in a small amount of hot water. Add the solution to a metal pan of cool water. Next, add the wool and place the mixture over heat. Slowly bring the liquid to eighty-two degrees Celsius. Heat the mixture for forty-five minutes. After it cools, remove the wool and wash it.

To prepare the dye solution, cover thirty grams of onionskins with water. Use only the dry, brown outer skins. Boil the liquid until the onionskins lose their color, about forty-five minutes. Remove the skins after the dye cools.

Now it is time to dye the wool. Place the wool into the dye and heat the mixture. Bring it to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to eighty-two degrees. Now heat the dye for about forty-five minutes or until the wool is the desired color. Keep in mind that wet wool looks darker than it is.

Once the dye cools, remove the wool and wash it. Now the wool is orange or yellow. Or at least it should be.

57. According to the passage, mordants are ________.

A. dyes used in the dying process

B. materials which will be put dye to

C. wood ashes used in the dying process

D. not dyes but play an important role in the dying process

58. Which of the following statements about “natural dyes” is true?

A. They might be cheaper than chemical dyes.

B. They are more expensive than chemical dyes.

C. They have been used for only recent years.

D. They are all made from animal products.

59. As for the vat method, which of the following statements is NOT necessarily needed?

A. Ash.                B. Water.           C. Mordant.              D. Temperature.

60. Choose the proper order of dying wool:

a. boil the liquid with onionskins.

b. add mordants to a metal pan of cool water.

c. wash the wool with clean water.

d. put the wool into the liquid and heat it

e. heat the mixture and then wash it.

A. c, b, e, a, d        B. e, b, c, d, a     C. b, e, a, d, c              D. a, b, e, c, d

 

 

Coolest Hotels in the World

Ariau Amazon Towers

The Ariau Amazon Towers hotel lets you sleep in a tree house. Eight towers make up this hotel that offers over 300 rooms. If you really want to get into the spirit, book the Tarzan suit which is large enough for a big family. You’ll be thirty feet up in the air and can travel between the towers through their wooden walkways.

Prices, starting at $300 one night for each person for a regular room and going all the way up to$3000 for the Tarzan Suite.

For more information, visit the website:http://www.ariautowers.com

 

The Ice Hotel

Every winter in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden kind of hotel called the Ice Hotel is built. Each year,world-famous artists are invited to design and produce works of art from the ice, many of which can be found in the rooms. You’ll have your choice between hot or cold romms,but you will be well advised to stay at least one night in a cold room for a true experience.

Prices: starting at $318 one night for each person for either a cold room or a warm one.

For more information, visit the website:http://www.icehotel.com

 

Propeller Island

Propeller Island City Lodge is a very special hotel that was designed by a German tist. Each room provides you with the promibility of living in a work of art. Every single piece of furmiture in the thirty rooms of the hotel has been hand-made and each room is completely different. You’ll be able to choose a room based on your own personal tastes.

Prices:starting at just $91 a night,and an additional person for only 20 extra dollars.

For more information , visit the website:http://www.propeller island.com

For information about other cool hotels in the world ,visit the website:

http://www.bahamabeachclub.com

   

1.What is special about the Ariau Amazon Towers hotel?

A．You can sleep in the houses     B．You can choose any of the towers

C．It is designed for big families    D．Every room has a walkway

2.For two persons spending a night in one of these hotels,they have to pay at least

A．$111    B．$182    C．$600    D．$636

3.Which website should you visit if you want to find out whether there exists a hotel the sea?

A．http://www.icehotel.com    B．http://www.ariautowers.com

C．http://www .propeller-island.com    D．http://www.bahamabeachclub.com

4.Which hotel would invite artists to come to work every year?

A．Propeller Island City Lodge    B．Ariau Amazon Towers

C．The Ice Hotel               D．Bahama Beach Club

 

——What have we got for supper?

   ——I got      huge fish at      market opposite our school for only five pounds.

   A．the；the     B．a(chǎn)；the     C．the；a     D．a(chǎn)；a