2 . It'll be Easter soon, and time to think of how to spend a few days' holiday. Let's look at three of the best.

Budapest

Budapest is the capital of Hungary. It's actually made up of the twin cities of Buda and Pest, which are separated by the mighty River Danube. The city is famous for its cafes. There are several good ones to choose from, but you must try either Gerbeaud, or the famous New York Cafe. Order a “somloi galuska", a very rich chocolate dessert. Finally, you can' t leave the city without visiting one of its amazing Turkish baths. Some of them date back to the 16th century.

Bucharest

A fourteen hours train ride east will take you through Transylvania to Bucharest, capital of Romania. Once there, you should visit Mamie's Inn, which is a 19th century caravanserai (an inn built around a large courtyard, which is big enough for caravans). It's located in the Lipscani district (the heart of the city), and it's also a great place to have lunch and a drink.

Sofia

From Bucharest it's only 300 kilometres to Sofia, the Bulgarian capital. The city sits below the massive Vitosha Mountain. Sofia is an ancient place, and parts of the city walls date back to the 7th century BC and can still be seen. It' s also a holy city, and two of its major tourist attractions are churches. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is well worth a visit, but you should find time for the Boyana Church, a small medieval Bulgarian Orthodox chapel. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has incredible wall paintings dating back to 1259.

So, we hope we've given you a few ideas of places to spend your Easter. Wherever you go, have fun and send us a postcard!

1. If you want to enjoy a chocolate dessert, you can go              .

A．Sofia

B．Bucharest

C．Vitosha

D．Budapest

2. What is special for Sofia?

A．It is located in the heart of the city.	B．It is an ancient place and a holy city.
C．It is famous for its cafes.	D．It is made up of the twin cities.

3. Where can you find this passage in a newspaper?

A．Travel.

B．Sports.

C．Health.

D．Business.

3 . FOUR OF THE WORLD'S HAPPIEST CITIES Dan Buettner set out to find the happiest places on earth, and he thinks he's discovered four on four different continents. If you're looking for a cheery destination for your next vacation, consider these four spots.

Singapore	Being one of the most crowded cities in the world and citizens known for being workaholics, it's hard to imagine Singapore having one of the happiest populations on earth. And yet in a recent survey, 95% of them said they were very happy. They give their city high marks for cleanliness and safety-subways are neat and unfailingly arrive on time, and police are seen as helpful and good at their jobs. What's more, they feel they can count on their neighbors.
Århus, Denmark	The residents of Århus cheerfully pay 68% of their income in taxes, knowing that in return they will be guaranteed free healthcare, free daycare, and a top education for their children. A city of 300,000 with an exciting cultural scene, the sense of community and equality, as well as easy access to the nearby sea and surrounding countryside, make Århus seem more like a small town.
San Luis Obispo, CA	People of San Luis Obispo are more likely than residents of other U.S. cities to smile and experience joy and are less likely to experience pain or depression. Some 64，000 of the 260,000 people volunteer at over 11,000 non-profit organizations. "Quick access makes it easy to be involved," resident Pierre Rademaker told Buettner.
Monterrey, Mexico	Unlike San Luis Obispans, the people of Monterrey don't enjoy high household (家庭) incomes or access to good healthcare. Instead, with their faith in God and family, they are able to tough it out through bad times. "We laugh at sickness, poverty and even death," says Basanez. "We even have a holiday to celebrate death. November 2, the Day of the Dead, is one of the biggest holidays of the year."

1. When you want to get close to nature outside the city, which one is your best choice？ ______

A．Singapore

B．Århus

C．San Luis Obispo

D．Monterrey

2. If you go sighting in Monterrey, you may be impressed that people ______ .

A．there are hardworking	B．there never save money
C．are happy because others die	D．are optimistic even in difficulty

3. In which section of a magazine may this text appear？ ______

A．Nature

B．Entertainment

C．Travel

D．Education

4 . As an old saying in China goes, “The days of the Sanjiu period are the coldest days.” “Sanjiu period”, which is in Minor Cold (小寒), refers to the third nine-day period (the 19th to the 27th day) after the day of the Winter Solstice (冬至). There are many different customs related to Minor Cold in China.

Eating hotpot

During Minor Cold people should eat some hot food to benefit the body and defend against the cold weather. Winter is the best time to have hotpot and braised mutton with soy sauce. But it is important to notice that too much spicy food may cause health problems.

Eating huangyacai

In Tianjin, there is a custom to have huangyacai, a kind of Chinese cabbage, during Minor Cold. There are large amounts of vitamins A and B in huangyacai. As huangyacai is fresh and tender, it is fit for frying, roasting and braising.

Eating glutinous rice (糯米饭)

According to tradition, the Cantonese eat glutinous rice in the morning during Minor Cold. Cantonese people add some fried preserved pork, sausages and peanuts and mix them into the rice.

Eating vegetable rice

In ancient times, people in Nanjing took Minor Cold quite seriously, but as time went by, the celebration of Minor Cold gradually disappeared. However, the custom of eating vegetable rice is still followed today. The rice is steamed and is incredibly delicious. Among the ingredients (原料), aijiaohuang (a kind of green vegetable), sausages and salted duck are the specialties in Nanjing.

1. What do we know about Minor Cold?

A．It lasts twenty-seven days.

B．The Sanjiu period is in this period.

C．It refers to the Winter Solstice.

D．It marks the first day of winter.

2. How do the Cantonese eat glutinous rice?

A．They fry and toast it.

B．They eat it for dinner.

C．They steam it with soy sauce.

D．They mix it with many other things.

3. This text may be taken from the _________ column of a newspaper.

A．travel	B．culture
C．fashion	D．science

5 . Safety and Security Procedures

Your safety and the security of your personal property are of the primary concern to those of us who welcome you as our guest. We urge you to take advantage of the following suggestions.

YOUR VEHICLE

Lock your vehicle and do not leave money or valuable items inside. We are not responsible for their loss.

TRAVELING

Be observant when sightseeing or traveling. Stay in well-lit and heavily traveled areas. Don’t display large amounts of cash.

GUEST ROOM SECURITY

For additional security use the deadbolt (插锁) provided on your door and make sure the windows are locked. As an additional precaution (预防措施), please secure the secondary locks provided. Do not admit anyone to your room without first making identification. A one-way viewer is provided in your door to assist with identification. If there is any doubt about the person’s identity, please contact the Front Desk.

SAFETY BOXES

Do not leave money or valuables in your room or vehicle. We provide free safety boxes for your use. Hotel is not responsible for items left in room valued over $200.

KEYS

Safeguard your key. Please do not leave it in the door. Do not give your key to others or leave it unattended. Please leave your key at the Front Desk when you check out.

REPORTING

Please report any suspicious activity, or safety concerns to management.

FIRE

Please familiarize yourself with the nearest fire exits. Report fire or smoke to the hotel operator. In the unlikely event of a fire, please move quickly and calmly to the nearest safe exit and leave the building. Avoid the use of elevator.

1. The suggestions are most probably from_________.

A．a hotel manager	B．a police officer
C．an experienced traveler	D．a tour guide

2. Which of the following is TRUE?

A．It is advised to travel to places where there are few people.

B．The hotel is not responsible for anything you lose.

C．Don’t report to the manager unless you are sure something is going wrong.

D．You’d better use the deadbolt and the secondary locks for safety.

3. If you feel doubtful about a stranger who knocks at the door, you should________.

A．let the person in after you have got his/her name

B．open the door to check the person’s ID card

C．call the Front Desk to make sure

D．contact the local police for assistance

6 . The Best Family Reunion Spot in Every State

The location for your family reunion could make the event. Choose one of these unique and comfortable spots in every state.

Alabama—Doublehead Resort, Town Creek

You can’t beat the waterfront cottages available at Doublehead Resort. Each has a washer and a full kitchen. A cottage can sleep ten people, making this resort the perfect relaxing location for your family reunion. This could be the setting for another funny family vacation story.

Arkansas—Whitney Mountain Lodge, Garfield

This Northwest Arkansas hotel has a breathtaking view of Beaver Lake. Located between the Rockies and the Appalachians, this peaceful site is the perfect place to escape with your family. They have three private dining rooms, all available for rent for your events. Arkansas might not be the first family reunion destination that comes to mind, but it has one of the coolest hidden sightseeing.

California—The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, Solvang

If budget isn’t an issue, book a family reunion at the Alisal Guest Ranch Resort in the Santa Ynez Valley. This 10,000-acre cattle ranch (牧场) is the ideal reunion spot for horse-back-riding families, and there’s also a spa for the family members who would prefer to relax.

Delaware—Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes

Enjoy a beachside reunion at one of Delaware’s most scenic state parks. The pavilion (大帐篷) is available for rent, so make your base camp at the group site as you have fun at the two beaches and 18-hole golf course. You can also climb up to a former military bunker (碉堡) for a brief history lesson.

1. What is Doublehead Resort special about?

A．The weather.	B．The sightseeing.
C．Its stories.	D．Its cottages.

2. Which spot offers history education?

A．Doublehead Resort.	B．Whitney Mountain Lodge.
C．Cape Henlopen State Park.	D．The Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort.

3. In which section of a magazine can you read the text?

A．Daily life.	B．Travel guide.
C．Entertainment.	D．Environment.