1 . Amsterdam Destination Guide
Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital and most populous city in the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Boom Season | Population | Language(s) | Currency | January Climate | July Climate |
May to October | 813,562 | Dutch | Euro | Average high: 5.8℃ | Average high: 22.0℃ |
Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cnyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.
If You Have Time
There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city’s museums, including the Jewish Historical Museum, the Scheepvaart Museum, and the botanical gardens.
Money Saving Tips
●Unless you really want to see the tulips blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
●Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.
●Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
●Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city,
Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.
1. What can be learned about Amsterdam from this passage?| A．Amsterdam is called the “Venice of the North” because of its location. |
| B．The Van Gogh Museum lies in Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter. |
| C．The Old Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| D．The Canal Ring is a place to attract garden lovers. |
| A．arrange a guided canal tour |
| B．buy train tickets at the counter |
| C．reserve a hotel in the South District |
| D．book flights between mid-March and mid-May |
| A．A magazine. | B．An essay. | C．A report. | D．A website. |
2 . 阅读下列短文，根据短文内容填空，在未给提示词的空白处仅填写1个适当的单词，在给出提示词的空白处用括号内所给词的正确形式填空。
My carriage
3 . When I was 13 my only purpose was to become the star on our football team. That meant
Football season started in September and all summer long I worked out. I carried my football everywhere for
Just before September, Miller was struck by a car and lost his right arm. I went to see him after he came back from hospital. He looked very pale, but he didn’t cry.
That season, I
One afternoon, I was crossing the field to go home and saw Miller
His words freed me from my bad
| A．cheering for | B．beating out | C．relying on | D．staying with |
| A．practice | B．show | C．comfort | D．pleasure |
| A．held | B．broke | C．set | D．tried |
| A．stuck | B．hurt | C．tried | D．lost |
| A．praise | B．advice | C．assistance | D．apology |
| A．dropped | B．ready | C．trapped | D．safe |
| A．fine | B．right | C．quickly | D．normally |
| A．memories | B．ideas | C．attitudes | D．dreams |
| A．challenged | B．cured | C．invited | D．admired |
| A．healthier | B．bigger | C．cleverer | D．cooler |
4 . In recent years, wooden buildings have reached new heights, with soaring wooden skyscrapers completed or underway in countries like Norway, Switzerland and Australia. Sweden, likewise, has come up with a plan as big as a city — building the world’s biggest wooden city. As the world’s largest urban construction project in wood, Stockholm Wood City will be built in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm in 2025.
By using wood, the project is expected to reduce carbon footprint by up to 40%, compared with building in concrete and steel, says Annica Anäs, CEO of Atrium Ljungberg, a Swedish urban development company. Some people may have concerns over fire risks posed by wooden buildings, but experts say engineered timber (木材) can resist fire as well. As with other modern construction projects using wood, Wood City will still use some concrete and steel in places like the foundations, but the overall amounts will be greatly reduced. As wooden buildings are much lighter, their foundations can be smaller.
The construction will not be as noisy as it is built from concrete and bricks, adds Ms Anäs. This makes wooden buildings particularly suitable for urban redevelopment in general, since putting them up is less likely to annoy the neighbours. It should also be profitable. Ms Anäs is looking for a return on investment of 20% or better. “Sweden is progressive when it comes to wood construction,” she says.
The world’s largest wooden city is supposed to make commute (通勤) easier and shorter, decreasing emissions from transportation. The website for the project describes Stockholm Wood City as a “five-minute city”, which means that anywhere one would need to go — work, grocery stores, or school, for example—would only be a five-minute walk away. As Anäs concluded, “We want to create an environment where our customers, those who will live and work here, can participate in the development and design of the city district of the future.”
1. What is the project about?| A．Making Stockholm a low-carbon city. |
| B．Creating more wooden skyscrapers in Sweden. |
| C．Building the highest wooden building in Europe. |
| D．Constructing the largest wooden city in the world. |
| A．They can strongly resist fires. |
| B．They are more comfortable to live in. |
| C．They are more environmentally friendly. |
| D．They are built on a more stable foundation. |
| A．They are profitable for investors. |
| B．They cause less noise when built. |
| C．They have a short construction period. |
| D．They are less costly to maintain and repair. |
| A．Secure. | B．Stressful. | C．Convenient. | D．Fashionable. |
People in Paris love the view of the city’s old
Group-Chat Culture Is Out of Control
For better or worse, we might be in the Age of the Group Chat. In a recent survey, most people said they felt stressed out by group messages, which can feel like a part-time job.
Connection is wonderful. Grexts, short for group texts, have the feature of imitating the casual back-and-forth of a dialogue, and the result can be more dynamic and fun than a two-person thread. Having a chat going also means you have a space to share your updates throughout the day, a reminder that you’re part of something.
Some researchers call this “ambient(周围的) virtual presence”: Even when you’re alone, you’re not alone. One researcher compares this phenomenon to echolocation(回声定位), the process that some animals, such as bats and dolphins, use to locate objects: They produce a continuous sound and use the resulting echo to sense their surroundings. Humans might use technologies such as group chats in a similar way—as a call-and-response, taking in information about their social networks and locating themselves within those webs.
But taking in too many signals can be overwhelming. Professor Bayer argued that group chats can create a “waterfall type of effect”, where messages keep flooding in and adding up. Eventually, you’re underwater. Another researcher suggested that different chat members all bring their own personalities, communication styles, and expectations for group norms. Without a standard etiquette (礼仪), people have varied opinions about what degree of responsiveness is required—which can cause real tension.
Grext anxiety is hard to resolve because it isn’t just about the group-chat or even mobile technology in general; it’s about the tension between being our own person and being responsible to others. Ultimately, most of us do want connection, even if it involves some duties.
1. What is the feature of Grexts?2. How might humans use group chats like echolocation?
3. Please decide which part is false in the following statement, then underline it and explain why.
▶Without a standard etiquette, people have different ideas about what messages should be answered.
4. Please describe how another mobile technology affects your relationship with others. (In about 40 words)
7 . A new study by scientists at Utrecht University concludes that about half of global wastewater is treated, rather than the previous estimate of 20%. Despite this promising finding, the authors warn that treatment rates in developing countries are still very low.
Humans and factories produce vast quantities of wastewater per day. If not properly collected and treated, wastewater may severely threaten human health and pollute the environment.
The authors use national statistics to estimate volumes of wastewater production, collection, treatment and reuse. “Globally, about 359 billion cubic metres of wastewater is produced each year, equivalent to 144 million Olympic-sized swimming pools,” says Edward Jones, PhD researcher at Utrecht University. “About 48 percent of that water is currently released untreated. This is much lower than the frequently announced figure of 80%.”
While the results show a more optimistic outlook, the authors stress that many challenges still exist. “We see that particularly in the developing world, where most of the future population growth will likely occur, treatment rates are falling behind,” Jones explains. “In these countries, wastewater production is likely to rise at a faster pace than the current development of collection and treatment basic facilities. This poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.”
The main problem, especially in the developing world, is the lack of financial resources to build basic facilities to collect and treat wastewater. This is particularly the case for advanced treatment technologies, which can be extremely expensive. However, the authors highlight potential opportunities for creative reuse of wastewater streams that could help to finance improved wastewater treatment practices.
“The most obvious reuse of treated wastewater is to increase freshwater water supplies,” Jones states. Treated wastewater reuse is already an important source of irrigation water in many dry countries. However, only 11% of the wastewater produced globally is currently being reused, which shows large opportunities for expansion.
“But freshwater increasing is not the only opportunity,” says Jones. “Wastewater also has large potential as a source of nutrients and energy. Recognition of wastewater as a resource, opposed to as ‘waste’, will be the key to driving improved treatment going forward.”
However, the authors stress the importance of proper monitoring of wastewater treatment factories, accompanied by strong legislation (法律) and regulations, to ensure that the reuse of wastewater is safe. The authors also acknowledge public acceptance as another key barrier towards increasing wastewater reuse.
1. According to the author, the meaning of treating wastewater lies in ________.| A．encouraging new scientific findings |
| B．estimating volumes of wastewater production |
| C．ensuring human health and protecting the environment |
| D．measuring how much wastewater is produced globally per day |
| A．equal | B．harmful | C．useful | D．friendly |
| A．treated wastewater can’t be used as irrigation water |
| B．wastewater production in developing countries is falling |
| C．the treatment of wastewater is more serious than estimated |
| D．public recognition plays an important role in wastewater reuse |
8 . Places You Should Visit in China in Summer
There are definitely some places in China that add romance to the days and nights. We have listed the best places that are especially brought to life by summer. All our tours can be customized (定制). We will create a trip for your summer vacation according to your requirements.
Yunnan Province — a Colorful Fairyland
Yunnan has a year-round spring-like climate. You will have a cool summer trip here. Start from Kunming to see the wonderful Stone Forest, enjoy a relaxing tour along the lakeshore of Erhai in Dali, visit the Old Town of Lijiang, and take a cable car ride to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Finally, immerse yourself in mysterious eastern atmosphere of Shangri-La and Pudacuo National Park.
Recommended Tours：
8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour
7-Day Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour
6-Day Lijiang to Shangri-La Tour
Inner Mongolia — Vast Grasslands
Inner Mongolia has vast grasslands where you can enjoy horse riding and hiking. During the short summers, grasslands stretch as far as the eye can see. It is also the best time to take a desert hiking tour. The 2021 Summer Naadam Festival is scheduled to take place in Xilamuren Grassland from July 23 to July 30, 2021. Our 5-Day Inner Mongolia Grass & Sand Tour is a great way to attend this grand event.
Recommended Inner Mongolia Tours:
5-Day Inner Mongolia Grass & Sand
4-Day Authentic Mongolian Nomad Experience Tour
Chengdu — Meet Cute Pandas
The lovely giant pandas are the No. 1 reason to come. If you want a deeper panda experience, you can join in a giant panda volunteer program. See our 2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour.
Jiuzhai Valley, with cool weather, is the best time to see its waterfalls and green lakes.
Mount Emei is one of the most well-known summer destinations thanks to its pleasant weather, the inspiring natural scenery and the influence of the Buddhist culture.
Recommended Tours：
7-Day Chengdu, Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Tour
5-Day Chengdu, Leshan and Mount Emei Tour
2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour
1. What can you do in Yunnan?| A．Visit an old town. | B．Ride a horse and hike. |
| C．See waterfalls and green lakes. | D．Enjoy mysterious dragon culture. |
| A．2-Day Wolong Red Keeper Volunteer Program Tour. |
| B．8-Day Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La Tour. |
| C．4-Day Authentic Mongolian Nomad Experience Tour. |
| D．7-Day Chengdu, Mount Emei and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Tour. |
| A．recommend coolest places in summer |
| B．attract tourists to customize tour service |
| C．introduce characteristics of China’s cities |
| D．report China’s multicultural development |
9 . When I was thirteen years old, I became very interested in shopping. After a while being just a buyer, I wanted to sell something. I had many things around the house from my childhood that I no longer needed. I knew, with the help of my father, I could make money. So far months and months I enjoyed myself by selling things on my dad’s account (账户).
On December 9, 2020, I opened my own account and began to start my own business. Things were going great and then I realized that selling things around house wasn’t making me the kind of money that I wanted to make, so I decided to turn my business into a resale shop. I went around to the garage sale (旧货出售处) and bought items at low prices and sold them at higher prices.
Last November, I went to a garage sale that was a little bit different. A single lady had many nice items that I knew I would sell quickly. I went up to her and started a conversation with her. Through the conversation, I knew she was jobless at the moment and needed money to support her family. I decided to sell any of her things for her to help her out. She looked at me for a moment and then broke into tears. I took away some of her things and over the next month I made over $1,500 for her! She was so thankful for all of my help.
I have never felt so happy to help someone in my life. I felt as if I had made a difference in this world and that my skills could be used to help someone who would really need it.
1. At first, __________ helped her make money by selling things.| A．the girl’s bank | B．the girl’s father |
| C．the girl’s teacher | D．a single lady |
| A．meet single ladies | B．sell things she no longer needed |
| C．help others | D．buy things for her resale shop |
| A．the lady’s items were nice | B．the lady lived a hard life |
| C．she liked the lady very much | D．the lady asked the author for help |
| A．disappointed | B．amazed | C．proud | D．thankful |
10 . It was a
One day, I took a midnight
One of the controllers
His help with the emergency (突发事件) made the night unforgettable and full of
| A．winter | B．spring | C．summer | D．autumn |
| A．agreements | B．accents | C．emergencies | D．directions |
| A．bus | B．train | C．plane | D．car |
| A．town | B．school | C．hospital | D．station |
| A．dangerous | B．important | C．strange | D．necessary |
| A．leaving | B．living | C．staying | D．coming |
| A．leave | B．help | C．respect | D．trust |
| A．bill | B．meal | C．ride | D．talk |
| A．boring | B．new | C．negative | D．special |
| A．warmth | B．happiness | C．strength | D．hope |
