What’s the capital of Australia? If you answer Sydney, you’re wrong, with travel website VirtualTourist.com (www.virtualtourist.com) coming up with a list of the six most surprising non-capital cities in the world.
1) New York City, New York
It may be king of the hill and the top of the heap (堆), but only figuratively . NYC is not the country’s capital, which is Washington DC．Nor is it the state capital, an honor given to the upstate(北部地区的) town of Albany, which is also the birthplace of perforated (穿孔的)toilet paper.
2) Sydney, Australia
Although it is famous for its harbor and opera house, Sydney is not the capital. Canberra, which is just less than its one-hundred-year celebration, is actually the capital of Australia.
3) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
It’s fun, exciting and has something for everyone, but that still doesn’t make it Brazil’s capital. While the city which is famous for the festival used to be the capital, Brasilia now takes that position.
4) Johannesburg, South Africa
Interestingly, South Africa has more than one capital city, none of which are Johannesburg. Divided by branch of government the capitals are: Bloemfontein, the capital of the judiciary (司法的), Pretoria, the capital of the administrative branch and Cape Town acting as the country’s legislative (立法的) capital.
5) Geneva, Switzerland
Neither this nor Zurich serves as the country’s capital. The attractive, quiet, UNESCO-recognized town of Bern holds this honor.
6) Timbuktu, Mali
Mysterious, exotic (异国情调的), and perhaps the country’s most recognizable name, it takes second place to the city of Bamako. Bamako considered the fastest growing city in Africa. It is also a world-famous center for music. Bamako is attracting famous singers to its local pubs where hometown artists play through the night.
1. We can learn from the text that ________.| A．Cape Town is South Africa’s legislative capital |
| B．Canberra is also called the land "Down Under" |
| C．Pretoria is South Africa’s judiciary capital |
| D．Bamako is the fastest growing city in the world |
| A．Charming and peaceful. | B．Fun and exciting. |
| C．Mysterious. | D．Exotic. |
| A．Bamako is famous for its industry. |
| B．Canberra is well-known for its opera. |
| C．Each country has only one capital. |
| D．Canberra has a history of less than 100 years. |
| A．some famous big cities in the world |
| B．some famous mistaken capital cities in the world |
| C．features of some capitals in the world |
| D．traveling in some big cities in the world |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】Located in the middle of the Egyptian desert is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Aside from being an incredible architecture achievement, it also serves as the final resting place for the great Pharaoh Khufu. Yet, one question which has confused archeologists and architects alike is how this amazing structure was built.
Many people don’t believe that humans were technologically advanced enough in ancient Egypt to build such a large and highly advanced structure. This brought about many crazy theories that the pyramids were constructed by a race of giants or even aliens from outer space.Another popular theory suggested that the pyramids were built by an army of poor slaves who were forced to.
Modern technology and some recent findings have helped shed some light on this ancient mystery. A major breakthrough occurred when an explorer accidentally uncovered a tomb containing some written information about the builders. The records reveal that the workers were paid and well-fed, and came from poor families in Egypt. Further analysis made it clear that people considered it an honor to work on the pyramids,and the builders were treated with great respect. In fact, anyone who died while working on the pyramids was given the honor of being buried in the tomb near where the pharaohs lay.
The myth that they purposely worked to death isn’t true, either. To avoid exhaustion, the builders worked three-month shifts and then were given a break to recover. A recent estimate from researchers is that a workforce of roughly 15,000 people could have completed the construction in about 10 years. An analysis of the bones of the builders revealed that their work was extremely tough, as most of the skeletons displayed signs of severe injuries. But thanks to their incredible effort, the human race has an astonishing monument that should stand the test of time.
1. Which of the following is true about the Great Pyramid of Giza?| A．It remains a mystery who built it. |
| B．It was a tomb for the Great Pharaoh Khufu. |
| C．It was one of the Seven Wonders of ancient Egypt. |
| D．It was an architecture wonder although roughly structured. |
| A．The identity of the Pyramids builders. |
| B．The well-off life the Pyramids builders led. |
| C．New information about the builders of the Pyramids. |
| D．Some information about the life of Pharaoh Khufu. |
| A．They were paid for their hard work on the pyramids. |
| B．They were eating well although they were from poor families. |
| C．They were selected because it was an honor to work on the pyramids. |
| D．They were buried near the pharaohs’ tombs if they died during working. |
| A．He is grateful that they could work so hard. |
| B．He shows great sympathy for their hard work. |
| C．He is impressed by their devotion to the Pharaohs. |
| D．He feels proud of them for their advanced technology. |
【推荐2】Washington, D.C. Bicycle Tours
Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
This small group bike tour is a fantastic way to see a world-famous cherry trees with beautiful flowers of Washington, D.C. Your guide will provide a history lesson about the trees and the famous monuments where they blossom. Reserve your spot before availability — the cherry blossoms—disappear!
Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (4 miles)
Join a guided bike tour and view some of the most popular monuments in Washington, D.C. Explore the monuments and memorials on the National Mall as your guide shares unique facts and history at each stop. Guided tour includes bike, helmet, cookies and bottled water.
Capital City Bike Tour In Washington, D.C.
Duration: 3 hours
Morning or Afternoon, this bike tour is the perfect tour for D. C. newcomers and locals looking to experience Washington, D.C. in a healthy way with minimum effort. Knowledgeable guides will entertain you with the most, interesting stories about Presidents, Congress, memorials, and parks. Comfortable bikes and a smooth tour route(路线) make cycling between the sites fun and relaxing.
Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour
Duration: 3 hours (7miles)
Join a small group bike tour for an evening of exploration in the heart of Washington, D.C. Get up close to the monuments and memorials as you bike the sites of Capitol Hill and the National Mall. Frequent stops are made for photo taking as your guide offers unique facts and history. Tour includes bike, helmet, and bottled water. All riders are equipped with reflective vests and safety lights.
1. Which tour do you need to book in advance?| A．Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Washington, D.C. |
| B．Washington Capital Monuments Bicycle Tour. |
| C．Capital City Bike Tour in Washington. |
| D．Washington Capital Sites at Night Bicycle Tour. |
| A．Meet famous people. | B．Go to a national park. |
| C．Visit well-known museums. | D．Enjoy interesting stories. |
| A．City maps. | B．Cameras. |
| C．Meals. | D．Safety lights. |
【推荐3】Auckland is New Zealand’s largest urban area with a population of just over a million. It is not, however, the capital, although it was at one time, until the capital moved to Wellington. Auckland is the centre of commerce and industry, and is perhaps the most energetic, prosperous and multicultural city in New Zealand.
The city’s landscape is decided by volcanos, the twin harbors, bays, beaches and islands. Its nickname “the city of sails” is very suitable. Auckland has more boats for each person than anywhere else in the world.
Auckland has many volcanos, many of which currently afford great views of the city. And Auckland’s shiny waters seem to attract people from every point. It is a water-lovers’ best place, with some of the best beaches, for swimming, diving, fishing, sailing, windsurfing and water sports in the country.
Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is also the cultural, administrative and political centre of the country. Two aspects of the city that will immediately strike any visitor are the harbor and hilly landscape. Everywhere you go, the sounds and the smell of the ocean hang in the air, and green hills and valleys wrap you in a bear hug. At night, Wellington offers a spectacular, shimmering cityscape that is unlike almost anywhere else in the world. Even after seeing it for a hundred times, it still takes your breath away.
Wellington is a scenic, windy and diverse place. It has some of the best museums, art galleries, restaurants and coffee houses in the country. It is the storehouse for the nation’s historic, cultural and artistic treasures. Being the first place where European settlers arrived, it also boasts lots of historic streets and buildings.
Wellington plays host to an excellent festival of the arts every two years.
1. From the passage, we know that Auckland used to ________ .| A．host a festival of the arts |
| B．afford great views of the city |
| C．be the capital of New Zealand |
| D．have more boats than any other country in the world |
| A．see green hills |
| B．do water sports |
| C．study New Zealand culture |
| D．visit historic streets and buildings |
| A．Critical. | B．Neutral. |
| C．Favourable. | D．Indifferent. |
| A．Auckland and Wellington |
| B．Welcome to New Zealand |
| C．The Capital of New Zealand |
| D．The Landscape of New Zealand |
【推荐1】The Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 closed on February 20. More than an event, the Games are also for exchanging goodwill and friendship. The design details of various elements such as the medals, emblem(图案) and mascots(吉祥物) serve this purpose. Let’s take a look at these Chinese elements through the designs.
Medals
The front side of the Winter Olympic medals was based on the ancient Chinese jade concentric circle pendants, with five rings representing “the unity of heaven and earth and the unity of people’s hearts”. The opposite side of the medals was inspired from a piece of Chinese jadeware(玉器) called “Bi”, a double jade disc with a round hole in the center.
Emblem
Inspired by the Chinese character “冬” for “winter”, the upper part of the emblem resembles a skater and its lower part a skier. The ribbon-like decoration in between mainly symbolizes the host country’s rolling mountains, Games venues, ski courses and skating rinks.
The blue color in the emblem represents dreams, the future and the purity of ice and snow, while red and yellow—the colors of China’s national flag – present passion, youth and vitality.
Mascots
Bing Dwen Dwen, the cute mascot of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, attracts attention with the panda’s full-body “shell” made out of ice. The inspiration came from traditional Chinese snack “ice-sugar gourd,” (tanghulu), while the shell also resembles a space suit—embracing new technologies for a future of countless possibilities. “Bing” is the Chinese character for ice, which symbolizes purity and toughness. Dwen Dwen is a common nickname in China for children that suggests they are lovely, healthy and clever.
1. Which of following is an inspiration of the emblem?| A．A Chinese snack. | B．Chinese jadeware. |
| C．A Chinese character. | D．Chinese children. |
| A．A space suit. | B．New technologies. |
| C．Pure and tough ice. | D．Health and cuteness. |
| A．To make this year’s Games more interesting. |
| B．To draw people’s attention to Chinese culture. |
| C．To show the power and development of China. |
| D．To promote kindness and friendship worldwide. |
Welcome to School Dance Club
Are you tired of sitting too long? Do you want to be healthier? Join the School Dance Club and move your body! Choice of dances: folk, modern, pop, etc. Level of difficulty: Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Teachers: Helen White — 13 years of teaching experience — Graduated from International Master Dance School John Smith — First prize winner of “Dancers on Stage” for 4 years starting from 2016 Ken Power — Skilled in different kinds of dance, especially in “fusion (融合)” dance Who to join: Aged 12~15 If you would like to be one of us, please kindly fill in the form and send it to Maria Cooper’s office before 18th March. |
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. | D．4. |
| A．Teachers with rich experience. | B．Teachers good at dancing. |
| C．Students aged 10. | D．Students aged 13. |
| A．poster | B．diary | C．poem | D．report |
【推荐3】Autumn is great for European walking: paths are mud-free, temperatures are mild, crowds are few and beautiful colors abound.The following are four European adventures to walk your way through autumn.
The unknown Cilento
South of Italy’s Amalfi Coast hides a much less discovered wonderland.After stopping to view the marvelous Greek temple remains at Paestum, Sherpa’s next destination concentrates on the Cilento National Park — first following its rugged seashore past the occasional myrtle grove (小树林), and sandy beach, then leaving modernity behind and venturing inland to medieval (中世纪的) hilltop towns.Home-cooked dinners conclude exciting days of goat tracks and ghost villages before a scenic path leads back to the seaside.Four nights £630 half board, including transport, luggage transfers and walking notes.Last departure October 31.
Turkish delights
Follow an impressive section of Turkey’s expansive Lycian Way, gradually moving from cliffs to coastline.You’ll begin in pine-filled peaks, typically on shaded paths to sea views, and stop at both a pool-boasting upscale hotel and one of the Yanartas region’s ever-burning flames — possibly fueled by a monster below.A fine fish restaurant comes next, then a mile-long sandy beach ahead of two days on lonely Cape Gelidonya, finishing by its lighthouse.Six nights £790, including ten other meals, transport, luggage transfers and walking notes.Last departure in early November.
Carpathian clambers
Poland and Slovakia are separated by the Carpathian Mountains and their large forest-filled valleys.Starting and ending in Krakow, this trip covers both countries.Some days include the option of climbing to snowy peaks or taking easier, lower-altitude options, and you’ll likely meet the Gorals — a culturally-distinct group known as “highlanders”.Most memorable activity will be walking along the 300m-high Dunajec River to spa town Szczawnica.Seven nights £630, including transport, luggage transfers and walking notes.Last departure October 24.
Flowers and feta
Greece’s Pelion Peninsula is a place known as the “Land of the Centaurs (人首马身的怪物)” for its association with the mythological horse-human hybrids.Between villages of whitewashed, flower-decorated stone houses, walkers can follow old paths onto mountainsides, and wander through olive groves or beside the glittering Aegean Sea.Some days yield swimming opportunities, and others the chance to recharge in a local pub of some bean soup and feta-cheese bread.Seven nights £535, including transport, luggage transfers and walking notes.Last departure October 23.
1. What can you do when you are in the unknown Cilento?| A．Swim in a pool. | B．Have a spa. |
| C．Explore medieval towns. | D．Walk through olive groves. |
| A．Turkey. | B．Cilento. | C．Greece | D．Krakow. |
| A．It is a monster that fuels the fire in Yanartas region. |
| B．Meals are free when you are taking the first adventure. |
| C．You can enjoy a spa from Gorals in the town Szczawnica. |
| D．Bean soup can be served in the pub of Greece’s Pelion Peninsula. |
【推荐1】Travelling is so popular around the world. However, due to the pandemic, we have to put off almost those plans for travelling. But we can make a detailed plan for our wonderful trip in the future in advance. Below is some of the most important information to keep in mind to ensure that you have a splendid trip.
Valencia
Valencia is in the east part of Spain. It has a port on the sea, two miles away on the coast. It is the capital of a province that is also named Valencia.
The city is a market center for what is produced by the land around the city. Most of the city’s money is made from farming. It is also a busy business city, with ships, railways, clothes and machine factories.
Valencia has an old part with white buildings, coloured roofs, and narrow streets. The modern part has long, wide streets and new buildings.Valencia is well known for its parks and gardens. It has many old churches and museums.
Tokyo
Tokyo may be one of those places that you love and hate at the same time. In Tokyo, there are always too many people in the places where I want to go. There are also too many cars. Tokyo drivers often spend a long time in the busy street, just like drivers in London, Paris and New York.
Tokyo also has a lot of people on foot, and sometimes it is really difficult to walk in the street. The worst time in the street is at 11:30 at night. That is because the nightclubs are closing at that time and everybody wants to go home then. There are 35,000 nightclubs in Tokyo, and usually none of them is empty at night.
Toronto
Toronto in Canada is one of those cities that people visit and then dream of living in. It’s large, but not too large; prosperous, but not expensive. But most importantly, Toronto is very open and tolerant. The city, the capital of Ontario, is one of the world’s most multicultural cities.
The fact that 140 languages are spoken in the city tells a story. What’s more, 12.5 percent of the city’s population is Chinese.
Toronto is a great place to explore if you want to get the most out of it. James mentioned the beaches, which are close to the city and have wonderfully clean sand and water. The good thing is that getting around in Toronto is easy, since it has a very good public transport system. It also has a reputation of being home to many talented computer geniuses. So, if you’re hoping to work in the technology industry, Toronto is a place to consider moving to.
1. What can you learn about Valencia?| A．Local people may often go out by sea. |
| B．Its development mainly relies on travelling industry. |
| C．It’s the capital of Spain. |
| D．Its development progresses slowly. |
| A．Valencia may have a long history and attract many Christians |
| B．nightclubs in Tokyo are popular and it contributes to traffic jams |
| C．Toronto’s industry is in the leading place in the world |
| D．we can meet a large number of people who come from China in Toronto |
| A．The advertising section of a newspaper. | B．A geographical journal. |
| C．The official website of the travel agency. | D．The lines of a TV programme. |
【推荐2】In the time to my Peru trip, I found out about a place known as Machu Picchu. It was so beautiful that it made me doubt whether Machu Picchu would even be the highlight of my trip. My first glance at the secret city of the Inca (spelled “Inka” in Peru, which means “king”) removed my doubt.
Machu Picchu was built less than a hundred years before the Spanish conquest of the early 1500s, but was quickly abandoned before it was even completed when word of the Inka’s defeat reached the area. It was a place where the highest priests (神父) and selected worthy people lived to honor the gods above.
When the Spaniards conquered the area known as the Empire of the Inca, they were known to destroy old signs of worship (崇拜) as they conflicted with their beliefs in a single God. Thankfully, Machu Picchu wasn’t known by the Spaniards, or anyone that wasn’t a local. Until 1911, the American historian, Hiram Bingham, made his famous exploration and exposition of the site.
While Machu Picchu is known to almost everyone in the world today, it is quite surprising how isolated (与世隔绝的) it still is. Despite the difficulties of getting there, about half a million people visit it every year.
The city is far larger than I expected and much like Chichen Itza in Mexico and has many geometrically positioned buildings. Starting from Cusco, you see signs everywhere that call Machu Picchu “La Maravilla del Mundo” (The World Wonder) and I couldn’t agree more. In 2007, Machu Picchu was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World and I have yet to see a more deserving site.
1. How did the author feel after looking at Machu Picchu?| A．He thought about it all day long. |
| B．He was deeply impressed and loved it. |
| C．He thought he would come back later. |
| D．He doubted it was the highlight of his trip. |
| A．It wasn’t well preserved. |
| B．The king didn’t really love it. |
| C．Some bad news reached the area. |
| D．It couldn’t protect the people against enemies. |
| A．That it was unknown to others. |
| B．That it was protected by locals there. |
| C．That it had no roads to get into the place. |
| D．That it lacked old signs of praising God. |
| A．Unconcerned. | B．Doubtful. |
| C．Surprised. | D．Approving. |
【推荐3】Istanbul has been around for centuries. Sure, it’s changed its name a few times over the years, but the location has always been the same. And in those years, there was no need at all for wide lanes. The term “rush hour” wasn’t even invented yet. The only traffic was an occasional horse-drawn carriage. The result is that the city center consists of very narrow streets.
All the action (nightlife, tourist attractions, etc.) is located in the city center, making people travel daily between their homes in the suburbs and their offices in downtown Istanbul. Besides, Istanbul is not only surrounded (环绕) by water, it’s also twice divided by it. The only way to get from one shore to the other is through bridges. And it is true of all bridges. They’ll get stuck easily.
On a normal dry day, morning rush hour starts as early as 7 a.m. and lasts until around 10 a.m.. After a short cool off period, traffic again starts peaking (达到高峰) from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m..
As soon as traffic jams start building up, drivers try to find alternative roads. And once found, they race through them trying to catch up on time already lost. But it doesn’t work. So they immediately turned to plan B. Make the most use of the road at hand. Lanes painted on the surface must be for decorative purposes, since you would be surprised how easily they can change a three-lane road into a five-lane one. On highways, the emergency lanes are taken, too. And of course, horns are blown as much as possible.
Of course the city’s government is making great efforts now to deal with these problems. Extra tunnels, subways, tramways and bus only lanes have been made available or are under construction. Also Electronic Detection Systems are used to detect and fine drivers who abuse the emergency lanes or drive through red traffic lights.
And although Turkish drivers are certainly not among the worst in the world, paying little attention to basic traffic rule, scrowding into the smallest space available, turning across the roads and blocking emergency lanes make traffic jams unable to be dealt with timely. They’re also part of the problem.
1. Which of the following is TRUE of Istanbul?| A．It has changed its location. |
| B．It has had different names. |
| C．The streets were busy in the past. |
| D．The government divided it into two parts. |
| A．taking the nearest road |
| B．looking for another road |
| C．taking an emergency lane |
| D．driving as fast as possible |
| A．No emergency lanes are available. |
| B．There are many bridges over water. |
| C．Lanes painted on the surface are narrow. |
| D．Quite a few drivers break traffic rules. |
