1 . With its wonderful coastline and many historic sites, Croatia is the ideal destination for the family wishing to combine beach with a bit of culture.
BEST TIME TO GO
High season for Croatia is from July to August but the Croatian coast is wonderful from spring on. Swimming is generally possible from May to September when the sea is still around 23°C. But if you arrive in April, you may enjoy Carnival in Rijeka.
COST
Croatia is still reasonably inexpensive as a Mediterranean destination, but prices go up in July and August. Privately-run rooms are also often a better bet than hotels, which tend to be unfriendly. If you haven’t made a reservation, the local tourist offices or travel agencies will be able to help. There is usually a 30% discount for stays longer than three nights. The agencies offer a very reasonable deal on a flight plus car hire.
GETTING AROUND
Croatia is a small country; it only takes a few hours at most to travel from one region to another. It might be worth staying in one place for the whole holiday and doing day trips. The buses, rather than the trains, reach the places of great distance.
1. When is Croatia most visited?| A．In May. | B．In September. | C．In July. | D．In April. |
| A．They tend to be unfriendly. |
| B．They offer a 30% discount. |
| C．They charge a little more in winter. |
| D．They arrange flight plus car hire at good price. |
| A．A book review. | B．A science report. |
| C．A travel magazine. | D．A diary. |
2 . As I walked with my tour group along the city wall, we approached the open gate slowly Peering through the gate we saw in the distance one of the most iconic buildings of Italy: the Leaning Tower. Finally, we were in Pisa.
The first interesting piece of information our tour guide told us was that the Leaning Tower was simply a bell tower. For such a world-famous building to have such a common function was quite surprising. Yet the building does have one remarkable claim to fame: it is where Galileo performed his experiments about falling bodies.
Our next stop was the Cathedral. It looked almost Middle Eastern in its outward appearance. Inside it was unlike any other cathedral I’d ever seen. After we walked around and explored every corner of the building, our guide pointed out one of the most impressive parts of it — the ceiling. A series of carved wooden squares overlain with gold made the ceiling a spectacular accent to an already amazing structure.
After a quick bite in a cafe, we headed back towards the buses and returned to Florence where the choir students whom I was traveling with had an evening performance in a local church. The church was filled and the performance went off without a hitch, making for a nice end to an overall pleasant day in Italy.
1. What surprised the author about the Leaning Tower?| A．It was a famous building. | B．It was located in Pisa. |
| C．It was used as a bell tower. | D．It was where Galileo worked. |
| A．Its history. | B．Its ceiling. | C．Its function. | D．Its comer. |
| A．It was a big failure. | B．It went out of control. |
| C．It ended in success. | D．It started behind schedule. |
| A．A diary. | B．A brochure. | C．A report. | D．A novel. |
3 . Smart carts (购物车) are shopping carts equipped with tablet computers and similar de-vices that help shoppers manage shopping lists, pay for items, and find products in the store. Manufacturers of smart cart technology produce accessory fittings (配件), and stores can use them to remake existing carts. It’s also possible to purchase new shopping carts with the smart technology installed.
The level of function available with a smart cart can vary. Some can be combined with cellphones or software programs to allow shoppers to create shopping lists and upload them to a cart. Internet-enabled smart carts may provide suggestions or tips for shoppers. Some can communicate with the systems to guide themselves around the store. Shoppers can ask the cart where to find items, or have it organize a grocery list to make shopping easier. As a shop-per moves along the snack selling areas, for instance, the smart cart could flash a reminder that the customer often likes to buy a particular brand of potato chips.
In-store communication to allow customers to order items from different counters may al-so be available. On the contrary, a department can page a customer with the use of smart carts, The counters can send a message when the order is ready, which reduces time spent in line.
Smart cart technology can also enable the price checks and allows customers to pay for items through the cart, without having to go through a checkout line. As they add items to the cart, it updates the total, and the shopper can close out the visit at the end by telling the cart to automatically pay from a stored bank account or credit card. This application for smart carts can be important in busy stores where customers get impatient waiting in line to pay.
1. Why does the author think the introduced cart is a smart cart?| A．It is made to encourage shopping. |
| B．It is equipped with technology to manage shopping lists. |
| C．It is equipped with translation function. |
| D．It is designed to take the place of clerks. |
| A．It is smarter than humans. |
| B．It is helpful but rather expensive. |
| C．It only has a few simple skills. |
| D．It can help save much time. |
| A．Technology. | B．Fashion. |
| C．Food. | D．Advertisement. |
| A．The design of smart carts |
| B．The influences of smart carts |
| C．The introduction to smart carts |
| D．The market demands for smart carts |
4 . One of the most important creations of science is the invention of the lighthouses. Lighthouses help in a number of activities such as marking of the dangerous coastlines and directing safe entries to the harbours. The following are some famous lighthouses.
The Jeddah Light
It is located in Saudi Arabia. This lighthouse has been constructed very beautifully and adorns a beautiful structure. The Jeddah Light was built in 1990. This lighthouse is considered as the tallest of the world reaching a fine height of around 436 feet.
The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse
It is addressed as the “lighthouse at the end of the world”. The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is located on a small island east of Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the world. This lighthouse was built in 1920 and today it has become a very famous tourist attraction in Argentina. However, visits to this lighthouse can be made only by boat.
The Peggys Point Lighthouse
Lit in 1915, it is an icon and a popular monument of Canada. The Peggys Point Lighthouse has become a major tourist sight and is considered as one of the busiest attractions in the area of Nova Scotia. This lighthouse also fetches you a wonderful scenic drive and visiting here, you can indulge yourself in the beauty of nature.
The Slettnes Lighthouse
It is the northernmost lighthouse that is located on the mainland of Europe and is considered as one of the most famous lighthouses of the world. This lighthouse is mostly considered as the North Cape Light and is the top lighthouse of Europe. The Slettnes Lighthouse firstly began to light in 1905. Though it was highly damaged during the World War Ⅱ by the Germans, yet it was restored and lit again. This lighthouse is very classic as to its looks.
1. Which lighthouse is only accessible by sea?| A．The Peggys Point Lighthouse. | B．The Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. |
| C．The Jeddah Light. | D．The Slettnes Lighthouse. |
| A．The lighthouse has a very classic appearance. | B．It was lit again after the restoration in 1905. |
| C．It is the best-known lighthouse in the world. | D．Visiting the lighthouse draws you close to nature. |
| A．A scientific journal. | B．A history textbook. | C．A travel magazine. | D．A design handbook. |
5 . From classic films like The Lion King to new Marvel and Star Wars, the service has a lengthy list of worthy content. Look through the list of movies you can watch on Disney.
Home Alone（1990）
As the McCallister family take off for Paris for the holiday season, they accidentally leave their eight-year-old son Kevin at home alone at Christmas. While he's left behind, the house is targeted by 2 robbers, Harry Lyme and Marv Merchants, who have just come out of prison. Kevin is left to take care of himself and defend his house.
Beauty and the Beast（1997）
Following the original Disney classic, the film follows everybody in the castle as they prepared for Christmas back when they were still under the spell（魔咒）. Told by Mrs. Potts, we see what happened after Beast saved Belle from the wolves and they celebrated Christmas.
Good Luck Charlie（2011）
The Charlies are ready for a great Christmas in Palm Springs. However, Teddy and Amy are separated from the rest of the family and madly try to find a way to Palm Springs in time for Christmas. In the end, the family are reunited and learn a lesson about the true meaning of Christmas.
Olaf's Frozen Adventure（2017）
One of Frozen's breakout characters Olaf, the snowman, has his very own adventure as he sets out on a mission to create Christmas traditions for Elsa and Anna.
1. What do we know about Kevin in the film Home Alone?| A．He knows the robbery in advance |
| B．He is left home alone unexpectedly. |
| C．He doesn't like spending holiday in Paris. |
| D．He is willing to fight against the robbers. |
| A．They' re all comedies. |
| B．They' re all intended for kids only. |
| C．They' re all related to Christmas. |
| D．They' re all adventurous films. |
| A．Entertainment. | B．Advertisement. |
| C．News report. | D．Economy. |
6 . Trust me, you don’t want to get caught under a tsunami! Tsunamis are one of the world’s most powerful natural forces. They can cause huge amounts of damage.
But do you know exactly what a tsunami is? They are huge, powerful waves in the ocean that grow as they reach the shore. Most tsunamis are actually caused by earthquakes. An earthquake happens when a big piece of the Earth’s crust( 地 壳 ) suddenly moves. When the piece of ocean floor moves, it creates big holes. The water floods in to fill these holes. When the water moves that quickly, it creates a huge wave. This is how tsunamis are born!
Other natural disasters like landslides, volcanic eruptions, and glaciers breaking off can also cause tsunamis. Once the water starts moving because of the force of the disaster, large waves begin to spread. These waves can move very fast. They have been recorded at speeds from 400 up to 500 miles per hour! They can also move across very long distances.
At first, the waves of the tsunami may not seem that tall. That’s because when the waves travel through the deep parts of the ocean, the top of each wave is very short. But as that wave comes near to the coast, it grows in height. Remember, the tsunami travels quickly. If you are sitting on a beach, you may not see the wave coming at first. But when the wave arrives, it will be like a towering wall of water. Some waves are as tall as 100 feet high. The biggest tsunami ever recorded happened in 1958 in Lituya Bay, Alaska. The wave was over 1,720 feet tall, and it wiped out trees, vegetation, and everything else in its way.
As frightening as tsunamis can be, you don’t need to worry too much about them. They don’t happen that often. Only about two tsunamis happen every year. And it is said that serious, really damaging tsunamis only happen about every fifteen years. So don’t worry.
1. Based on the information in the article, which natural disaster is not responsible for causing a tsunami?| A．tornado | B．volcanic eruption | C．earthquake | D．landslides |
| A．2 hours | B．3 hours | C．4 hours | D．5 hours |
| A．The waves of the tsunami always move slowly over a long distance. |
| B．People on a ship in the deep ocean will notice a tsunami at once as soon as it forms. |
| C．When people on the beach first notice a tsunami, the waves are not tall. |
| D．People will not notice a tsunami until it gets close to the coast. |
| A．in a newspaper | B．in a science magazine | C．in a textbook | D．in a story book |
7 . Nola （August 21, 1974 -November 22, 2015） was a northern white rhino who lived at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido, California. At her death, she was one of only four remaining northern white rhinos in the world. The other three lived in Kenya. World Rhino Day, held on September 22, is to raise awareness（意识）of the less than 30,000 other rhinos left on Earth.
“Rhinos need our help today, not tomorrow. "Nola's lead keeper Jane Kennedy said. "Last year we lost over 1,200 rhinos just in South Africa. If we continue to lose more than 1,000 rhinos a year, in 10 to 20 years all the rhinos on the earth will be gone."
Unfortunately, most animals are in danger of dying out because of humans. Kennedy says, “Humans have either poached （偷猎）animals, or because there are over seven billion of us, we've taken up too much of the world's resources." Poachers illegally hunt rhinos for their horns （角）.They sell the horns for thousands of dollars per pound, to be used for art, jewelry, and decorations. Experts believe that one rhino is poached every eight hours.
In 1975, the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research started the Frozen Zoo, a program through which researchers have collected cell samples（细胞样品）from more than 8,000 different types of animals, including the northern white rhino. Scientists hope that by studying the rhino cells, they will get greater understanding of it, and will find ways to increase its numbers.
At the San Diego Zoo, children and adults are welcome to visit and speak with zookeepers to learn about rhinos. For more information, go to www.worldrhinoday.org.
1. What is the purpose of setting up a World Rhino Day?| A．To honor a rhino named Nola. |
| B．To draw people's attention to rhino protection. |
| C．To let people know the importance of wildlife protection. |
| D．To tell people there are still a great number of rhinos left on Earth. |
| A．Rhinos will die out soon. |
| B．The number of rhinos is increasing. |
| C．Rhinos are under good protection. |
| D．Immediate action should be taken to protect rhinos. |
| A．Human beings' technology. | B．The limited natural resources. |
| C．The pollution of the environment. | D．Diseases found on their horns. |
| A．Science. | B．Sports. | C．Education. | D．Business |
8 . The city of Quanzhou in East China's Fujian province, one of the most important Chinese ports along the historic maritime(海运的)Silk Road, reported new findings about archaeological(考古的)efforts from 2019 to 2020, experts said at a meeting held in Quanzhou from Friday to Saturday.
"The latest research results on iron-making remains in Quanzhou's Anxi county showed that it used to make lots of iron and steel, important goods of trade along the historic maritime Silk Road, mainly during the Song Dynasty and Yuan Dynasty," says Shen Ruiwen, a famous archaeologist.
Two other sites were discovered and identified as remains of regulatory bodies(监管机构)that existed within the two dynasties. One of them managed affairs related to the emperors' relatives, and the other served similar functions as today's customs. Shen said, "The two ancient organizations showed that Quanzhou once provided effective support for ocean trade."
Another finding exposed was the development of china-making technology from the Song Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty in Dehua county, as is evidenced in the thousands of relics(遗迹)that were dug out.
"Quanzhou is a city of in historical significance because it preserved the continuous track of urban planning and construction from the late Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty," says Shen. Experts say the city will continue with research on some of the sites included in the project and carry out long-term plans.
1. What's the purpose of writing the first paragraph?| A．To present an argument. |
| B．To lead in the topic of the text. |
| C．To add some supporting details. |
| D．To provide background information. |
| A．Silk. | B．Farm products. | C．Green tea. | D．Iron and steel. |
| A．It once served as the Capital. |
| B．It once helped a lot for ocean trade. |
| C．It was once the education center of the world. |
| D．It developed fast from Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty. |
| A．Culture. | B．Environment. | C．Education. | D．Health. |
9 . While tea may have originated in Asia, now there are many countries all around the world that have tea woven into their food culture and traditions. This is one of the very special parts of tea as it has a way of connecting people all over the world in different ways and ceremonies that finally all results in a group of people sitting together and enjoying a cup of tea.
Chinese tea culture
Since China is viewed as the birthplace of tea, it is no wonder that Chinese tea culture is rich with history and tradition. Today, Chinese tea continues to be used in Chinese medicine and is commonly consumed on both casual and formal occasions both for personal enjoyment and to represent Chinese cultural traditions.
Japanese tea culture
Japan also has a long history with tea, especially Japanese Matcha, which is a kind of ground green tea that is commonly used in Japanese tea ceremonies and only in recent years became popular in western culture.
British tea culture
When many people think about tea, British tea culture is what comes to mind. A hot cup of English Breakfast or Earl Grey tea serves with a little milk and a biscuit in the afternoon as a pick-me-up for the day. Even though tea may not be native to England, this British tea tradition is still going strong today.
Moroccan tea culture
When you visit Morocco, it is hard to miss the outstanding tea culture that is such a large part of Moroccan hospitality. Before any gathering, negotiation, or sale of a product, a pot of mint tea is always prepared and served among the host and guests. This is an expression of Moroccan tradition and hospitality, which should always be accepted by guests as a sign of appreciation and respect to the host.
1. Why can tea find its way into various food cultures?| A．It originates in Asia. | B．It forms different ceremonies. |
| C．It gets people connected easily. | D．It allows people to sit together. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are used in medicine. |
| C．They are famous for ground green tea. | D．They’ve long gained worldwide recognition. |
| A．To get new energy. | B．To bring out respect. |
| C．To show hospitality. | D．To observe a tradition. |
| A．China. | B．Japan. | C．Britain. | D．Morocco. |
| A．Healthy You. | B．Social Insight. | C．Cultural Corner. | D．Itchy Feet Travel. |
10 . Barton Seaver is a chef and conservationist who wants our help to save the oceans. He believes that our eating choices have a direct impact on the ocean’s health. In this interview, Seaver discusses how individuals can make a big difference by making informed choices.
Q: Should people stop eating seafood?
A: There are certain species that have been over fished and that people should definitely avoid. But I don’t think we need to stop eating seafood altogether. I believe that we can save the oceans while continuing to enjoy seafood. For example, some types of seafood, come from well-managed fisheries. And others, such as farmed mussels and oysters, actually help to restore declining wild populations and clean up polluted waters.
Q: What kind of seafood should people eat? What should they not eat?
A: My general advice is to eat fish and shellfish that are lower on the food chain and that can be harvested with little impact on the environment. Some examples include farmed clams and oysters anchovies, sardines, and herring. People should not eat the bigger fish of the sea, like tuna, shark, and swordfish. Otherwise, we will face severe shortages of these species and upset the balance of life in the oceans.
Q: Why did you choose to dedicate your life to the ocean?
A: I believe that the next great advance in human knowledge will come from learning how we relate to our natural world. I have dedicated myself to helping people understand our place on this planet through the foods that we eat.
Q: Why do you believe people should care about the health of the oceans?
A: The health of the oceans is directly linked to the health of people. The ocean provides most of the air that we breathe. It has a big effect on the weather. It also provides a necessary and vital diet for billions of people on the planet. So I am indeed trying to save the vital things that we rely on the ocean for.
1. Which statement might Barton Seaver agree with?| A．Fish farming is bad for the ocean. |
| B．Fish higher on the food chain should be eaten. |
| C．Overfishing has caused great damage to all species. |
| D．It's OK to eat seafood from well-managed fisheries. |
| A．We can understand our planet through the foods we eat. |
| B．We need to protect the ocean because of its supply of food. |
| C．Individuals’ right food choices can impact the ocean positively. |
| D．People should stop eating seafood to restore the ocean ecosystem. |
| A．Science and Technology. | B．Man and Nature. |
| C．Mystery of the Ocean. | D．Codes of Best Cuisines. |
| A．Devoted and farseeing. | B．Flexible and competitive. |
| C．Brave and risk-taking. | D．Ambitious and creative. |
