Prague is cracking! My sister was right. It really is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, which has beautiful old buildings. So far, my favorite place is Prague Castle. I think it is the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague also has a lot of cultural events, like the World Dance Festival. I went to a ballet (芭蕾舞剧) just last night.
----------- Lily
I’ve come to Shanghai at the right time. Summer has begun, but it is not too hot yet. Yesterday was the Dragon Boat Festival. It was exciting! If you come to Shanghai, you should see the Bund---a street with very nice shops, nightclubs, and hotels. There are many tourists there. It has some wonderful buildings from the 1930s.
I went on a night cruise(乘船游览) of the Huangpu River last night. I met some great people on the boat, mostly foreigners, like me.
------------Stan
Buenos Aires is a fun city, but six days is not enough time for a visit! I’m staying near the mile-long shopping street called Calle Florida. It is a great place to meet people and watch dancers perform that tango. Buenos Aires is the birthplace of the tango.
I also spent a day in the suburb of Tigre. It’s about 30 km from the capital, and you can get there quickly by train. However, I chose to take a boat on the canals(运河) of the Paraná Delta.
-----------Melinda
1. What can be learned according to Lily?| A．Prague is a modern city. |
| B．Prague Castle has beautiful scenery. |
| C．Prague is most famous for its ballet. |
| D．Prague is worth visiting. |
| A．took a boat trip. | B．saw a lot of old buildings. |
| C．went to a festival. | D．travelled by train. |
| A．a history book. | B．a news report. |
| C．a travel website. | D．a personal diary. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】
Chile (智利) is famous for its many attractions, including Torres del Paine National Park and Easter Island . If you’re planning a visit, be sure to add “Mano del Desierto” or “Hand of the Desert”to your must-see list.
Standing 11 meters tall and made of iron and cement (混凝土), this sculpture (雕像) of a hand emerges (出现) from the sand in the Atacama Desert , which is known as the driest desert in the world outside of polar regions. The sculpture was created by Mario Irarr á zabal in the early 1980s and was financed by a local nonprofit organization called Corporaci ó n Pro Antofagasta. The sculpture is not only famous for its size and design but also for the message it expresses. Many people believe that the hand represents the weakness and helplessness of human beings, as well as their strength and determination to overcome hardships.
If you’re interested in visiting the Hand of the Desert, take Route 26 or 28 from Antofagasta, a port city in northern Chile. The sculpture is located between mile markers 1309 and 1310. The desert’s flatness (平坦) makes it easy to spot the sculpture from far away. But some people mistake it for a mirage (海市蜃楼) caused by tiredness from driving a long way to the sculpture.
Visitors should take precautions (预防措施) before leaving , such as filling their gas tanks , taking plenty of water, and wearing sunscreen. They should also avoid driving too quickly, as many car accidents happen in the desert each year.
For those who are worried about driving alone, working with an agency (机构) like Plan South America is a good option. The founder of the agency, Harry Hastings, said that he always tries to join a visit to the sculpture with guests traveling to the desert.
1. What makes the Hand of the Desert a famous attraction?| A．Its material. | B．Its location. | C．Its designer. | D．Its size and design. |
| A．The sculpture attracts millions of visitors every year. |
| B．Tired travelers often see mirages in the desert. |
| C．The sculpture can be reached very easily. |
| D．The sculpture can be seen from far away. |
| A．He built the sculpture “Hand of the Desert”. |
| B．He gave the financial support to the sculpture. |
| C．His agency can help lonely travelers travel to the desert. |
| D．He can avoid driving accidents in the desert. |
| A．Travel. | B．Environment. | C．Culture. | D．Entertainment. |
【推荐2】A walk along the Beijing Central Axis, joining the dots of the Drum Tower, the busy Nanluoguxiang Lane, the Jingshan Park and the Forbidden City — this was Zhao Xianghan’s maiden city-walking journey in the spring of 2022. Since then, the 21-year-old student from the Beijing Foreign Studies University has remained a city-walk enthusiast (爱好者), believing it to be the best way to “rediscover a city”.
With the increasing different kinds of travel choices, traditional group tours can no longer satisfy people who are looking for a more personalized and differentiated travel experience and hoping to explore every part of the city in a more immersive (沉浸式的) way. It is written in a blog on social media platform WeChat, which has got more than 100,000 views. Compared with tightly-scheduled travel plans and picture-taking tours, city-walking focuses on the free, relaxing and spontaneous (自发的) experience, read a recent article by the People’s Daily.
The city-walk culture to experience urban life with no transportation means other than one’s legs and feet has made sensations on different social media platforms. According to a report from China’s lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, in the first half of 2023, searches about city-walk increased 30-fold from the previous year.
Netizens also share their city-walking experience on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo. One post recommended a classic city-walk path from Wukang Road to Fuxing Park in Shanghai. “The path offers a look into the culture and landscape of Shanghai in different historical stages as well as its beautiful natural scenery,” it wrote.
Following his experience in Beijing, Zhao hasalso explored Wuhan, Hangzhou and other cities through city-walking tours. “City-walk is all about doing whatever you want in your own exploration of a city, and it is actually a kind of slow-paced and low-carbon lifestyle that I relate to so much,” said Zhao.
1. What does the underlined word “maiden” probably mean in Paragraph 1?| A．First. | B．Formal. | C．Crazy. | D．Challenging. |
| A．More relaxing and simpler. |
| B．More natural and comfortable. |
| C．More traditional and safer. |
| D．More personalized and detailed. |
| A．To prove the city-walk is popular. |
| B．To advertise for Shanghai tourism. |
| C．To share one city-walking experience. |
| D．To show problems of city-walking tours. |
| A．A Famous City-walk Lover |
| B．Social Medias Focus on City-walk |
| C．A Travel Way with Eyes and Souls |
| D．City-walk Brings a Green Lifestyle |
【推荐3】Come on a magical hot air balloon flight over Melbourne- one of the few cities in the world that you can fly above in a hot air balloon! Admire Melbourne's city skyline at early dawn as your balloon flies for approximately one hour and then have your nice breakfast.
Highlights:
·Instant confirmation
·Enjoying fantastic views
·Romantic experience, perfect for couples
·Free hotel pickup and drop-off included
The route:
You will be transported to the launch site for your Melbourne balloon flight where you may help with the launch, or stand back and take pictures. Your balloon will drift over Melbourne's parks, gardens and the Yarra River as the city comes to life. As your balloon floats above Melbourne you'll look down on some of the city's famous venues including the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Park and Albert Park racetrack. After the final landing and packing the hot air balloon away, head back to the centrally located Pullman where you can then stay for breakfast or take a quick 10-minute walk back to the city center.
Attention:
Balloon flights in Melbourne are weather dependent and your route will be determined by the winds. Your balloon may fly over Melbourne's CBD. Alternatively, your Melbourne balloon flight may head over the inner suburbs to discover why Victoria is labeled the Garden State.
1. When does the flight begin?| A．In the morning. | B．At noon. |
| C．In the afternoon. | D．At night. |
| A．In Pullman. | B．In Melbourne Park. |
| C．Near the Yarra River. | D．In the Melbourne Cricket Ground. |
| A．The flight's price. | B．The flight's service. |
| C．The landing location. | D．The weather condition. |
【推荐1】Many of the sports in ancient Egypt are still practiced today. In fact, many of the basic elements of sports, like rules and uniforms, were first used by Egyptians. The sports had important functions in society. Some were played for fun and fitness. Others were played to make stronger warriors(武士) and leaders.
The first group of sports, mostly for fun was those like rowing, hunting, and the high jump. Hunting and fishing could be enjoyed by the kings and regular people. The same was for rowing. Rowing needed strength. Teams of people got into boats and followed the commands of a leader. He would give regular, sharp calls to tell them when to row. This technique is still used for rowing teams today. Another popular game was tug-of-war. This was a game where two teams had to pull each other over a line. If team fell forward, they lost. This game is still played today in the country.
The second group of sports prepared people for the army and the temple. These included boxing, horse riding, running, and archery(箭术). They were ways to work on skills for fighting. They were also ways to work on mental and spiritual power. Running a marathon was a good example of this. The king would run to show he had the mental strength to guide his country. Hockey was another Egyptian game. Players held tree branches with a bent end, just like modern hockey sticks. They had to hit a ball made of leather that was brightly colored.
These sports were a part of Egyptian culture. They kept the people happy and fit. The basic rules were created thousands of years ago. They are still seen in some forms today.
1. According to the passage, what was the purpose of sports?| A．They could stop people from being angry at the king. |
| B．They could stop people from working too much. |
| C．They could keep people busy with no time to fight. |
| D．They could keep people happy and in good shape. |
| A．clear | B．hopeful |
| C．keen | D．energetic |
| A．To explain how hockey is not fashionable. |
| B．To state his opinion on ancient Egyptian games. |
| C．To provide another example of an old game played today. |
| D．To contrast its simplicity with the complexity of other games. |
【推荐2】Laura Stone is the founder of Sydney by Kayak（皮划艇）, a company that offers guided kayak tours of Sydney Harbor in Australia. Not only did their business increase during the COVID-19, but one of their tours is actually more popular than ever.
A few years ago, Laura was paddling in the harbor when she noticed trash floating in the water. For reference, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) estimates that about 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans each year, causing big problems for wildlife and local plants. Laura was so shocked by the garbage in the water that she decided to dedicate a few paddles each week to trash cleanup. Incredibly, her clients were immediately on board with the idea, so Sydney by Kayak now leads four to five garbage-collecting tours every week!
At the start of the COVID-19, Laura thought her business would drop off as many others had. Instead, desperate for purpose and a way to get outdoors, people flocked to her “Clean Up Kayak” tours. They now routinely take about 441 pounds of garbage out of the harbor each week! “We've been quite surprised, even through the COVID-19, we've been very busy,” Laura said. “Because they can't travel, people are looking for something to do. That is not just good for them, but also good for the environment. ”
Each tour begins with participants preparing with some working tools. Some people come back many times for the satisfaction of collecting trash from the harbor. Julie Greening, for example, has done about 10 tours so far and says “every little bit is worth it”. “We're 7 billion people on this planet, so everyone does a little, but of course it's going to help, ” she said. “It's got to. ”
1. What can Laura's company mainly do?| A．Sell Kayak and paddles. | B．Provide the kayak guide. |
| C．Seve tourism information. | D．Organize outdoor activities. |
| A．Reading a report about pollution. | B．Hearing of the appeal of the UNEP |
| C．Talking with her clients on a tour. | D．Seeing the floating trash in water. |
| A．Business continued dropping off. |
| B．Helping cleaning up the garbage. |
| C．Business increased because of garbage-cleaning. |
| D．About 441 pounds of grabage were cleaned per week. |
| A．Garbage cleaning tools are popular in Syney. |
| B．People actively participate in the garbage-sorting. |
| C．The public had a sense of enviornmental protection. |
| D．The idea of using tools wins support from government. |
【推荐3】To understand why humor is a kind of super food for the brain, you should know humor helps to know what our brains long for in the first place. You might think brains would prefer when we sit alone in a room and stare at a white wall—we don’t burn up much energy doing that. But the brain is like a muscle, and it needs exercise. What gives the brain a workout? Information. Humorous messages work best. When researchers asked people to look at a series of pictures while their brains were being scanned in a machine, it was the more complex pictures—a work of art, a group of animals that excited the neurons (神经元) in their heads most.
It’s the activity of those neurons, which, among other things, send and receive sensory information that “lights up” the scans in bright colors. In fact, there is an almost druglike effect taking place. The brain is filled with drug receptors (受体). Made of specialized proteins, these receptors stuck out of our neurons to pick up passing signals. The more neurons that are activated, the more pleasure we feel. In reality, learning and problem solving get us high as much as humor does.
Experts think that humor might feed the brain in much the same way that complex information does. People who study humor generally agree that most jokes are built around an improper, funny, surprising, or unusual combination of two basically different ideas. Humor has such great magic that we can develop it. We might as well start by telling jokes.
1. What can excite the brain neurons most?| A．Emptying the brain. | B．A work of art. |
| C．A very simple picture. | D．Staring at a white wall. |
| A．They can receive signals. | B．They are machines. |
| C．They are electronic products. | D．They can respond to proteins. |
| A．By ignoring problems. | B．By eating enough food. |
| C．By making more neurons active. | D．By taking more artificial drugs. |
| A．The function of the human brain. | B．The effect of pictures on the brain. |
| C．The benefit of humor for the brain. | D．The importance of ideas in jokes. |
【推荐1】Recent findings have shown that our appetite and food intake are influenced by a large number of factors besides our biological need for energy, including our eating environment and our perception(感知) of the food in front of us. A new study suggested that our short-term memory may also play a role in appetite. Several hours after a meal, people’s hunger levels were predicted not by how much they’d eaten but rather by how much food they’d seen in front of them—in other words, how much they remembered eating.
This difference suggests the memory of our previous meal may have a bigger influence on our appetite than the actual size of the meal, says Jeffrey M. Brunstrom, a professor of experimental psychology at the University of Bristol.
“Hunger isn’t controlled merely by the physical characteristics of a recent meal. We have identified an independent role for memory for that meal.” Brunstrom says. “This shows that the relationship between hunger and food intake is more complex than we thought.”
These findings echo earlier research that suggests our perception of food can sometimes trick our body’s response to the food itself. In a 2016 study, for instance, people who drank the same 380 calorie milkshake on two separate occasions produced different levels of hunger-related hormones(荷尔蒙), depending on whether the shake’s label said it contained 620 or 140 calories. Moreover, the participants reported feeling more fill when they thought they’d consumed a higher-caloric shake.
1. What affects our appetite according to the new study?| A．How much we remember eating. |
| B．What time we eat our last meal. |
| C．How much we eat our last meal. |
| D．What ingredients the food contains. |
| A．indicate | B．reflect |
| C．are supported by | D．are improved by |
| A．Good eating habits contribute to our health. |
| B．Eating speed often affects our food digestion. |
| C．Psychological factors influence our hunger levels. |
| D．Our biological need for energy determines our food intake. |
【推荐2】How to Drop a Pant Size in a Week
Dropping one pant size in seven days is a difficult task, but with dedication, exercise and the right diet, you can make it happen.
Increase your water consumption. Thirst is often misinterpreted as hunger, and if you are drinking the right amount of water, you will find it much easier to avoid snacking. Look to drink at around eight or nine glasses of water every day.
Lower your calorie count. You can use a calorie calculator to determine how much you need to take in to maintain or lose weight. If you take in fewer calories than you burn each day, you will lose weight as a result. As a rule, an average-sized woman needs to take in less than 1, 300 calories per day for extreme weight loss, as you’ll naturally burn around 2,000. Exact measurements differ based on age, height, weight and activity level.
Cut the junk food. Chips, soda and candy seem harmless if taken as snacks, but can seriously affect your weight loss. Limit yourself to one or two snacks per day and switch your usual snack foods for baby carrots, apples and grapes.
Break up your meals. If you want to lose weight, try eating four or five small meals per day instead of two or three large ones. This makes it easier for your body to process what you are consuming. Divide your required calories by the number of meals you’ll be eating to determine how large each meal should be. Space your meals out two or three hours apart—try meals at breakfast, mid-morning, lunch, afternoon and dinner.
Doing intense aerobic (需氧的) exercise. You have to encourage your body to burn calories if you want to drop pounds and inches. Running is by far the fastest calorie burner, with the potential for 986 calories per hour. If you’re unable to run, use an elliptical machine (椭圆机), jump rope, or participate in a high-impact aerobics class.
1. When you are thirsty, you may mistake it as a sign ________.| A．to drink something | B．to eat something |
| C．to sleep for a while | D．to do some exercise |
| A．burn fewer calories | B．eat as much as usual |
| C．eat less than you burn | D．measure your weight first |
| A．Fruits. | B．Hamburgers. |
| C．Steak. | D．Ice cream. |
【推荐3】Lake Inari, Finland
High above the Arctic Circle and close to Finland's border with Russia, Lake Inari is a year- round Heaven. Dark, snowy winters make it wonderful for catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights. Its tree-lined banks produce a burnt orange during autumn and in summer, you can swim in its cold shallows.
Unst, Shetland Isles, Scotland
The most northerly occupied island of the British Isles, Unst is a wild, rough place where seas crash into the dramatic Muckle Flugga sea stacks(海栈). The latter are a harbor for gannets- a large bird during breeding season, with birdwatchers also treated to the sight of searching for great skuas(贼鸥).
Zagori, Greece
While Greece's islands are praised for their beauty, the mainland's charms are easily overlooked. But one of the most breathtaking mountain ranges in Europe lies here, in the region of Zagori, Epirus. The Vikos Gorge makes for a perfect day's hiking. While Mount Astrakas' snow-capped top is a sight to see as the days close in, showing that Greece is far more than just a summer destination. Keep an eye out for Zagori's stone bridges, especially the three- arched Kaligeriko, close to the village of Kipi.
Yorkshire Dales, England
The Yorkshire Dales are the England of the imagination. Its narrow lanes lined with dry stone walls draw cyclists’ attention to dizzying adventures, while its moody hills continually attract walkers, no matter the weather. Geological wonders such as the limestone(石灰石) sights of MalhamCove and Gordale Scar make it perhaps the most beautiful part of the British Isles.
1. Where would you like to go if you are a bird-lover?| A．Lake Inari. | B．Unst, Shetland Isles. | C．Zagori. | D．Yorkshire Dales. |
| A．Go hiking. | B．Seek adventures. |
| C．Swim in its cold shallows. | D．Watch the Northern Lights. |
| A．Dry stone. | B．The weather. | C．Moody hills. | D．The limestone sights. |
【推荐1】Shellharbour City Library provides a range of Library Special Needs Services for people who are unable to access our library service in the usual way. As long as you live in Shellharbour City, we'll provide a full range of library services and resources including:
● Large printed and ordinary printed books
● Talking books on tape and CD
● DVDs and music CDs
● Magazines
● Reference and information requests
You will be asked to complete a “Statement of Need” application form which must be signed by a medical professional.
Home delivery service
Let us know what you like to read and we will choose the resources for you. Our staff will deliver the resources to your home for free. We also provide a service where we can choose the resources for you or someone instead of you chooses the things from the library. You can also choose the resources you need personally.
Talking books and captioned videos
The library can provide talking books for people who are unable to use printed books because of eye diseases. You don't have to miss out on reading any more when you can borrow talking books from the library. If you have limited hearing which prevents you from enjoying movies, we can provide captioned videos for you at no charge.
Languages besides English
We can provide books in a range of languages besides English. If possible, we will request these items from the State Library of NSW, Australia.
How to join?
Contact the Library Special Needs Coordinator to register or discuss if you are eligible (合适的) for any of the services we provide—Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am—5pm on 4297 2522 for more information.
1. What are Library Special Needs Services meant for?| A．those who are fond of reading |
| B．only those who have walking disabilities |
| C．people living in Shellharbour City with an illness or disability |
| D．those who can't get medical help in Shellharbour City |
| A．talking books | B．captioned videos |
| C．magazines | D．large printed books |
| A．only choose printed books | B．register ahead of time |
| C．pay the library ahead of time | D．have others choose the resources for you |
【推荐2】Four people in England, back in 1953, stared at Photo 51. It wasn't much-a picture showing a black X. But three of these people won the Nobel Prize for figuring out what the photo really showed——the shape of DNA. The discovery brought fame and fortune to scientists James Watson, Francis Crick,and Maurice Wilkins. The fourth, the one who actually made the picture, was left out.
Her name was Rosalind Franklin. "She should have been up there," says historian Mary Bowden. “If her photos hadn't been there, the others couldn't have come up with the structure." One reason Franklin was missing was that she had died of cancer four years before the Nobel decision. But now scholars doubt that Franklin was not only robbed of her life by disease but robbed of credit by her competitions.
At Cambridge University in the 1950s, Watson and Click tried to make models by cutting up shapes of DNA'S parts and then putting them together. In the meantime, at King's College in London,Franklin and Wilkins shone X-rays at the molecule. The rays produced patterns reflecting the shape.
But Wilkins and Franklin's relationship was a lot rockier than the celebrated teamwork of Watson and Crick, Wilkins thought Franklin was hired to be his assistant. But the college actually employed her to take over the DNA project.
What she did was produce X-ray pictures that told Watson and Crick that one of their early models was inside out. And she was not shy about saying so. That angered Watson, who attacked her in return, “Mere inspection suggested that she would not easily bend. Clearly she had to to go or be put in her place.”
“As Franklin’s competitors, Wilkins, Watson and Crick had much to gain by cutting her out of the little group of researchers,” says historian Pnina Abir-Am. In 1962 at the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony, Wilkins thanked 13 colleagues by name before he mentioned Franklin, Watson wrote his book laughing at her. Crick wrote in 1974 that “Franklin was only two steps away from the solution.”
No, Franklin was the solution. “She contributed more than any other player to solving the structure of DNA . She must be considered a co-discoverer,”Abir-Am says. This was backed up by Aaron Klug, who worked with Franklin and later won a Nobel Prize himself. Once described as the “Dark Lady of DNA”, Franklin is finally coming into the light.
1. Why did Watson get angry with Franklin?| A．Because Franklin kept her results from him. |
| B．Because Franklin took the led in the competition. |
| C．Because Franklin proved some of his finding wrong. |
| D．Because Franklin shared her data with other scientists. |
| A．She developed pictures in dark labs. |
| B．Her name was forgotten after her death. |
| C．She discovered the black X——the shape of DNA. |
| D．Her contribution was unknown to the public. |
| A．Respectful | B．Disapproving | C．Admiring | D．Doubtful |
| A．Much pain, no gain. | B．Be nice, never finish last. |
| C．When one door closes, another opens. | D．Where there is a will, there is a way. |
【推荐3】A Letter to My Daughter
Dear Ava,
A long time ago, your aunt came to Delhi looking for an ambition that was taking shape inside her. I, on the day of her joining a fashion institute, told her that, ''You'll have to travel in a bus to work. This is the world I can present you and this is the world all women are facing every single day of their lives.''
Ava, I honestly don't know how you are going to face this world bravely. I cannot be there always to protect you, to save you from its darkness. Take your own journey and find a solution to the things that hold you back. Find your own weapon and don't forget to chase your dreams.
Your aunt took the journey and today she is a fashion designer in her own right. With all my humility (谦逊) I am asking you to stand on your own feet and challenge a society that is going to make things a lot more difficult for you simply because you are a girl.
The world bows down before a woman who is ready to look all challenges right in the eye. Your mother came to Mumbai and worked tirelessly on her own terms. She never gave in to the pressure; instead she fought till she decided to have you in her life. She is my ideal woman after my mother.
Ava, I wish I could be there by your side to always guide you, to tell you how to go about things. That's my primary responsibility as your dad. But I know one thing for sure that when you are in your youth I'll be gone.
Fight like a fighter; be aggressive like a lion. Even if you are defeated at some point it doesn't matter, because a person who never tries to ride a horse can only be a spectator(观众). Fight your battle and hopefully you’ll come out winning.
Lots of love,
Your father
Manoj Bajpayee
1. What can we infer from the letter written by the author to Ava?| A．The father wants to warn his daughter of danger. |
| B．The father wants to guide his daughter by some advice. |
| C．The father wants to explain the reality to her. |
| D．The father wants to express his deep love. |
| A．Confident. | B．Puzzled. | C．Concerned. | D．Helpless. |
| A．quotes his own example | B．gives some motivation |
| C．makes some promises | D．offers all the blessings as a father |
| A．Keeping your dreams going on. |
| B．Solving the problems independently. |
| C．Being brave and wise. |
| D．Riding a horse to be a spectator. |
