1 . The Most Beautiful Train Stations in the World

Tokyo Station Marunouchi Building

The wide-open entrance square on the Marunouchi side of Tokyo’s main train station would look more at home in Amsterdam or Paris. Kingo Tatsuno’s classical European design took over six years to complete, finally opening in 1914. The statin has received several facelifts since the Second World War, most recently in 2012. It’s one of the biggest and busiest train stations in the world.

Beijing West Railway Station

The idea of building this station in the capital of China was put forward as early as 1959 but didn’t come to reality until 1996. It was the largest station in Asia at the time, although Shanghai’s Hongqiao Station has since surpassed it. The station itself has a unique architectural (建筑的) style, with the main body of the building having quite a functional Russian look, but the rooftop is decorated with three amazing Chinese pagodas.

Duoliang Station, Taiwan

This is the smallest station on this lit by a distance. In fact we’re not really choosing Duoliang for architectural reasons. This station is all about location, location, location. Surrounded by hi top greenery on one side and amazing Pacific Ocean scenery on the other, it’s one of the most scenic spots in all of Taiwan. This isn’t even a working station anymore, but the platforms have been adapted into viewing spots, extremely popular with local train spotters.

Stazione Milano Centrale in Milan

Milan’s central train station looks pretty much exactly as you’d imagine it. There are a mix of styles at play here, from Art Nouveau to Art Deco, but the entire building is filled with a classic sense of Roman monumentality. The outer look is guarded by two statues, while its insides are equally impressive, as grand stonewalls curve (弯曲) into the station’s glass ceilings.

1. What do Tokyo Station and Beijing West Railway Station have in common?

A．Both have European features.

B．Both were built in the early 1990s.

C．Both have been rebuilt several times.

D．Both are the largest domestic stations.

2. What do train spotters favor most about Duoliang Station?

A．Its distance.	B．Its small size.
C．Its surrounding scenery.	D．Its architectural style.

3. What makes Stazione Milano Centrale impressive?

A．Roman buildings	B．Its various styles.
C．Statues on the walls	D．The curving ceilings.

2 . New research from the University of Portsmouth has shown a marked increase in shipping in the North East Atlantic. Scientists now warn that more monitoring is required to help protect sea life.

Researchers at the University of Ponsmouth have discovered that rates (率) of shipping in the North East Atlantic area rose by 34 per cent in a five-year period. The research is the first detailed survey of shipping activity in the North East Atlantic. Researchers used data from over 530 million vessel (船) positions recorded by Automatic Identification System(AIS). They looked at the change in shipping between 2013 and 2017 across ten different vessel types. In total the study area covered 1.1 million km², including waters off Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany,Iceland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal. Spain, and the UK.

Lead author, James Robbins said: “This change is likely to put more pressure on the marine (海洋的) environment, and may influence the protection of at-risk species. Renewed monitoring effort is needed to make sure that protective measures are enough to save species under threat in a changing environment.”

Some of the greatest shipping increases were found in areas close to the Spanish coast. The Espacio Marino de la Costa da Morte saw a rise of 413 percent in vessel activity. It is an area used to protect seabirds.

Dr. Sarah Marley, Visiting Researcher at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Shipping is the most widespread human activity in our oceans, carrying a set of threats-from unnoticeable effects like underwater noise pollution to serious results when ships hit whales.”

Professor Alex Ford. from the University’s Institute of Marine Sciences, said: “Given the well-documented effects that shipping can have on the marine environment, it is necessary that this situation continues to be monitored-particularly in areas used to protect vulnerable (脆弱的) species which may already be under pressure.”

1. What can we say about the new research?

A．It started in 2013.	B．It is the first of its kind.
C．It was carried out by AIS.	D．It covers the whole Atlantic.

2. What do the underlined words “This change” in paragraph 3 refer to ?

A．Rapid population growth.

B．Rising global temperatures.

C．The huge increase in shipping.

D．The disappearance of marine life.

3. What does Dr. Sarah Marley want to tell us in paragraph 5?

A．Shipping plays an important role in the local economy.

B．Shipping can be a danger to the marine environment.

C．Noise pollution is closely related to human activity.

D．Marine areas should be monitored more carefully.

4. Which of the following can be the best title for the text?

A．New waterways across the Atlantic

B．The shipping industry in the North East Atlantic

C．New research opens windows into life under the water

D．Sea life needs better protection from an increase in shipping

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Zu Ti of the Jin Dynasty was a man who had with great ambition. When he was young, he had a good friend     1     (name) Liu Kun. They had such a deep friendship     2     they stayed together every day and got up at the same time every morning.

One day, when they were sleeping. Zu Ti heard the rooster crowing (鸡鸣) . He woke up Liu Kun and said, “How about     3     (get) up to play swords (剑) as soon as we heard the rooster crowing from now on?” Liu Kun was still     4     (sleep) . But he agreed with him     5     (joyful) . From then on, they got up and played swords once the rooster began crowing. They kept their word and never gave up no matter     6     cold in winter or hot in summer. Hard work     7     (pay) off. After a long period of hard study and training, they finally became the all-rounder. And they both did excellent jobs to their country.

The idiom “to rise with the rooster” teaches us that with ambition and hard work,     8     (succeed) is possible. When we can discover our shortcomings     9     time, it is not too late to try. But if you are not willing     10     (work) hard, you will not be able to achieve a career after all.

4 . 把下面的句子按正确的顺序排列，组成一个语段。
A. We can easily download new e-books from the Internet.
B. But e-book readers are still more expensive than paper books, so not all people can afford them.
C. Just as email has changed the way we write to each other, e-books are changing the way we read.
D. Besides, it is much easier and quicker to search for passages now, and we can also write notes in an e-book.
E. However, with the rapid development of electronic technology, reading e-books will become cheaper and cheaper.

5 . I was cooking dinner when my cell phone rang. My friend Anna called because her car_________ and her two kids were hungry and tired. She asked if I could go and_________the kids while she was waiting for the car service.

I asked my husband to_________cooking dinner and then started my car. As I was driving to my_________, fog formed and thickened. After picking up the kids, I had to_________in thick fog.

The children were my responsibility and I couldn’t help but be_________. I tried to put on a brave front as I drove in almost zero_________. Soon the fog thickened to the point where I could hardly see and my anxiety began to_________. I knew I had to pull over, but I couldn’t even see the lines on the road. I drove as_________as possible, going to the right where I thought the__________might be. I stopped and reached for my phone, only to realize I had left it at home. While I was__________what to do, flashing lights in my rearview mirror (后视镜) caught my attention. It was a huge relief to see a police car getting__________. The police officer asked for my address, __________ me to follow him and guided us home. Before I found time to __________him, he had disappeared into the darkness.

All I could do was be__________in my heart.

1.

A．turned around

B．sped up

C．pulled off

D．broke down

2.

A．visit

B．assess

C．fetch

D．praise

3.

A．put aside

B．take over

C．pay for

D．talk about

4.

A．company

B．property

C．destination

D．residence

5.

A．drive

B．wander

C．escape

D．check

6.

A．patient

B．nervous

C．polite

D．curious

7.

A．visibility

B．gravity

C．effort

D．waste

8.

A．change

B．return

C．disappear

D．peak

9.

A．slowly

B．blindly

C．directly

D．exactly

10.

A．shelter

B．tree

C．shoulder

D．light

11.

A．learning

B．remembering

C．wondering

D．explaining

12.

A．smarter

B．brighter

C．cleaner

D．closer

13.

A．forced

B．instructed

C．promised

D．inspired

14.

A．persuade

B．interview

C．thank

D．invite

15.

A．hopeful

B．welcome

C．determined

D．grateful

6 . Things to Do in Northern Ireland This Autumn

WEE BINNIAN WALKING FESTIVAL (SEPTEMBER)

The exact dates of this annual walking festival are still to be confirmed, but if it’s similar to last year, it’ll offer a choice of ten walks and hikes around the Mourne Mountains, ranging from easier lowland routes to tough, multi-summit challenges. Evening social events are also included.

GREAT NORTH LINKS CHALLENGE (18-20 OCTOBER)

Calling all golfers. You can enter this three-day event-spread along the north coast between Ballyliffin, Portruth and Portstewart, as an individual or team of four. A perfect opportunity to play three Irish Open links courses in three days.

ARMAGH FOOD AND CIDER WEEKEND (SEPTEMBER)

A four-day feast of authentic food and artisan ciders (苹果酒) in Ireland’s “Orchard County”. This celebration is also coupled with the traditional apple harvest. You can taste local food from the country’s most inventive chefs.

OULD LAMMAS FAIR (LAST WEEK OF AUGUST)

People have been flocking to the seaside town of Ballycastle since the 17th century to celebrate this fair. Attractions include a Heavy Horse Show, horse speed events on the beach, funfair, outdoor concert and a fireworks display, as well as unique local produce and handmade arts and crafts.

1. What is the best date to arrive if you want to attend GREAT NORTH LINKS CHALLENGE?

A．17th October.

B．18th August.

C．20th October.

D．1st September.

2. What can people do at the town of Ballycastle?

A．Play golf.

B．Go hiking.

C．Watch horse races.

D．Taste apple ciders.

3. In which section of a website can we probably read this text?

A．Tourism.

B．Sports.

C．Education.

D．Arts.

7 . For those in the Midwest, the holidays aren’t the holidays without a little snow. Luckily, Michigan almost always delivers. But snow or not, these destinations really bring out the holiday spirit.

Frankenmuth

Residents of Frankenmuth never have to say goodbye to Christmas from the beginning to the end of the year. That’s thanks in part to Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, who thinks of itself as the world’s largest Christmas store at 320,000 square feet. In addition to offering every kind of Christmas décor imaginable, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland holds holiday events like Santa visits (daily from Nov. 25-Dec. 24) and holiday sing-alongs (Dec. 22 and 23).

Dearborn

This city is well-known as the home of the Ford Motor Company, and the Henry Ford Museum brings history to life during the holidays. Holiday Nights in Greenfield Village (Dec. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 20-23 and 26-30) offers the smell of chestnuts roasted on an open fire and the sound of sleigh (雪橇) bells. Santa is on hand for visits, of course, and he even brings his reindeer along. Holiday treats are for sale, ice skating is available and kids of all ages will enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn wagon or a Model T car.

Christmas

Visiting Christmas isn’t for the weak heart―it’s in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, all but guaranteed to be snowy in December. Those who desire to have a try are rewarded with a “Welcome to Christmas” sign complete with Santa’s smiling face and the Christmas Mall, which has a post office for postmarking holiday cards.

Dexter

It might be difficult to believe there are multiple Michigan cities with a marathon race―in December, but it’s true. Dexter hosts the Holiday Hustle 5k and 1 mile (Dec. 10) for both runners and walkers. Participants receive free hats and all 5k or one mile finishers receive holiday-themed medals.

1. What is special about Frankenmuth according to the text?

A．Santa will surely be on hand for visits.

B．Visitors can enjoy an outdoor barbecue.

C．Christmas is alive all year round.

D．It has the world’s largest gift store.

2. Where can visitors go if they want to join the running events in December?

A．Frankenmuth.

B．Dearborn.

C．Christmas.

D．Dexter.

3. What is the purpose of the text?

A．To promote multiple Christmas decorations.

B．To recommend some holiday-friendly cities.

C．To introduce colorful Christmas parades.

D．To have a good taste of the beauty of snow.

8 . The four best specialty food festivals in the US

Maine Lobster Festival — Rockland, Maine

Rockland is the self-proclaimed (自封的) lobster capital of the world, and its annual Maine Lobster Festival provides the state’s favorite lobsters and crabs. It takes place five days each summer and includes feasting on fresh seafood, a parade and live music. The Maine Sea Goddess Coronation and the Great International Great Crate Race, where contestants jump from crate (木箱) to crate and risk falling into the cold Atlantic Ocean, are don’t-miss events.

Windy City Smokeout — Chicago, Illinois

This four-day event in Chicago combines two things we love: live music and great BBQ. Over 20 of the world’s best cooks serve up their smoked foods, while top country music talent takes the stage. Bands, beer, BBQ — what could be better?

Picklesburgh — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Picklesburgh bills itself as “The Destination for All Things Pickled (腌制的)” for one weekend each July. Pittsburgh’s Roberto Clemente Bridge transforms into Picklesburgh, complete with a giant flying Heinz pickle balloon. Attendees can expect various foods and cocktails that feature pickled ingredients, as well as live demos and pickled goods.

Vermont Cheesemakers Festival — Greensboro, Vermont

Arguably the country’s top cheese state, Vermont plays host to the Annual Vermont Cheesemakers Festival each summer at Highland Center for the Arts. This single-day event offers an unequalled chance to meet the state’s best cheesemakers and taste their world-class products, alongside other local foods, craft beer, wine and spirits.

1. Which festival will appeal to adventure lovers?

A．Maine Lobster Festival.

B．Windy City Smokeout.

C．Picklesburgh.

D．Vermont Cheesemakers Festival.

2. What can you enjoy at Windy City Smokeout?

A．Fresh seafood.	B．Smoked foods.
C．World-class cheese.	D．Pickled foods.

3. How long does the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival last?

A．Five days.

B．Four days.

C．Two days.

D．One day.

9 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入如1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

“I just made it to the South Pole!”

Meet Harpreet Kaur Chandi, also known as Polar Preet, the 33-year-old who has been making headlines all over the world after    1     (become) the first woman of color to complete a solo expedition across Antarctica.

“The reason    2    I chose Antarctica was that Ⅰ didn’t know much about it, and I thought, if I could do something that pushes me so far out of my comfort zone,    3    (hopeful) it’ll inspire other people    4    (do) the same,” said she.

As a part of her tough expedition, Preet endured temperatures as low as minus 50 degrees Celsius, and wind speeds of up to 96 kilometers per hour. She    5    (walk) around 27 kilometers a day, pulling a 90-kilogram sled containing her equipment.

“It was generally windy, and there were only two     6    (day) that I can remember when there was slight wind. There were times when it was so hard, and I just thought “This is the     7    (tough) thing I’ve ever done, how am I going to keep going?” And I would break it down and I’d take one step at     8    time, but I never thought, “I’m going to give    9    .”

Despite all the hardships and challenges, Preet says that there’s no stopping and that she has started training for    10    (she) next adventure.

10 . Where to Eat in Bangkok

Bangkok is a highly desirable destination for food lovers. It has a seemingly bottomless well of dining options. Here are some suggestions on where to start your Bangkok eating adventure.

Nahm

Offering Thai fine dining. Nahm provides the best of Bangkok culinary (烹饪的) experiences. It’s the only Thai restaurant that ranks among the top 10 of the world’s 50 best restaurants list. Head Chef David Thompson, who received a Michelin star for his London-based Thai restaurant of the same name, opened this branch in the Metropolitan Hotel in 2010.

Issaya Siamese Club

Issaya Siamese Club is internationally known Thai chef Ian Kittichai’s first flagship Bangkok restaurant. The menu in this beautiful colonial house includes traditional Thai cuisine combined with modern cooking methods.

Bo.lan

Bo.lan has been making waves in Bangkok’s culinary scene since it opened in 2009. Serving hard-to-find Thai dishes in an elegant atmosphere, the restaurant is true to Thai cuisine’s roots, yet still manages to add a special twist. This place is good for a candle-lit dinner or a work meeting with colleagues who appreciate fine food. For those extremely hungry, there’s a large set menu.

Gaggan

Earning first place on the latest “Asia’s 50 best restaurants” list, progressive Indian restaurant Gaggan is one of the most exciting venues (场所) to arrive in Bangkok in recent years. The best table in this two-story colonial Thai home offers a window right into the kitchen, where you can see chef Gaggan and his staff in action. Culinary theater at its best.

1. What do Nahm and Issaya Siamese Club have in common?

A．They adopt modern cooking methods.	B．They have branches in London.
C．They have top-class chefs.	D．They are based in hotels.

2. Which restaurant offers a large set menu?

A．Gaggan.

B．Bo. lan.

C．Issaya Siamese Club.

D．Nahm.

3. What is special about Gaggan?

A．It hires staff from India.	B．It puts on a play every day.
C．It serves hard-to-find local dishes.	D．It shows the cooking process to guests.