1 . Over the past year, several films and TV dramas have put their shooting locations into the public spotlight.
Dali in Yunnan Province
With the TV drama Meet Yourself earlier last year, Dali in Yunnan Province emerged as a highly sought-after tourism destination.
During the Spring Festival holiday, Yunnan Province received the second most tourists in the nation with a tourism profit of 38.4 billion yuan, ranking top. Among this, Dali received 4.24 million tourists, marking a remarkable 219 percent increase compared to the previous year.
Jiangmen in Guangdong Province
Thanks to the success of the hit show The Knockout, Jiangmen in Guangdong Province became an outstanding tourism destination last year.
Data reveals a remarkable 217 percent month-on-month increase in searches related to tourism in the city in February. Currently, travel bookings witness a substantial 144 percent month-on-month rise.
Taiyuan Ancient County in Shanxi Province
Full River Red has set Taiyuan Ancient County in Shanxi on fire with excitement.
From Jan. 21 to 31, the county witnessed over 400,000 tourists, a significant rise compared to the about 180,000 visitors during the previous Spring Festival holiday. Notably, one-third of these tourists were from outside Shanxi Province.
Ningbo Museum in Zhejiang Province
With the broadcast of the TV drama Three-Body Problem, Ningbo Museum has gained significant attention.
Visitor numbers rose to 50,000 during the Spring Festival, marking a remarkable 220 percent year-on-year increase. Even after the festival, there were 2,000 to 3,000 visitors daily consistently.
1. What was the impact of Meet Yourself?| A．It contributed to the tourism profits. | B．It helped Dali earn 38.4 billion yuan. |
| C．It made Yunnan a tourism destination. | D．It ranked Dali a top tourism destination. |
| A．Dali. | B．Jiangmen. |
| C．Taiyuan Ancient County. | D．Ningbo Museum. |
| A．About 23,000. | B．Over 400,000. | C．Nearly 50,000. | D．2,000 to 3,000. |
2 . 2023 Collection of Australian Stamps (Executive Edition)
Explore a bound treasure of gummed and perforated (涂胶打孔的) stamps presented in exclusive layouts. In addition to all the stamps released in 2023, this book gets the essence of stamp collecting with fascinating text about each stamp issue. Included is an exclusive gummed Concession Stamp minisheet, the 2022 Native Animals stamps and 89 mint stamps presented in unique layouts. This great gift comes with $124.25 worth of stamps.
Our network of more than 400 Parcel Lockers are free and available around the clock, so you can pick up your order anytime. With over 3,600 locations across Australia, get your order delivered to a post office near work or home, and collect during business hours. Australia Post has partnered with hundreds of third-party retailers to provide another option for collection.
Dispatch is the time your order takes to leave our warehouse. Most orders leave the warehouse within 2 business days.
Standard delivery is free Australia-wide on orders $30+. For orders under $30, we charge a flat fee of $5. Most orders arrive to you within 6 business days.
Express delivery is $15. View current delivery times. Express Post is our fastest postal service, but we do not guarantee next business day delivery for Online Shop orders.
International delivery is available for some orders, depending on what you’re buying and where it’s being sent. Most orders take at least 10 business days to arrive via an untracked service. Transit times vary based on destination — see our international delivery times for more information.
Occasionally, high delivery volumes and other network issues can cause delays, as well as where the order is being sent.
1. What can we learn about the collection?| A．It is issued twice a year. | B．It includes 89 stamps in total. |
| C．Each stamp is presented with a text. | D．All stamps are about native animals. |
| A．$5. | B．$15. | C．$30. | D．$ 124.45. |
| A．To introduce the network of Australia Post. |
| B．To advertise the most valuable stamps in 2023. |
| C．To inform people of change of delivering message. |
| D．To persuade people to buy a book including stamps. |
1. How much does it cost a grown-up to visit the Sea Life Centre?
| A．£2. | B．£4. | C．£10. |
| A．At 8:30 am. | B．At 9:30 am. | C．At 10:30 am. |
| A．Perform in a play. | B．Talk with an actor. | C．Watch a short film. |
| A．An open-air swimming pool. |
| B．An underwater glass passage. |
| C．An outside children’s play area. |
1. Why does NOT the woman read newspapers?
| A．She is worried about wasting money. |
| B．She is concerned about the environment. |
| C．She gets all news from the web. |
| A．About three or four. | B．About six or seven. | C．About eight or nine. |
| A．Most of them might not be true. |
| B．They consume too much time. |
| C．People might ignore serious news. |
| A．Supportive. | B．Indifferent. | C．Disapproving. |
5 . Dolphin Watching Aboard the Rudee Flipper
Looking for the longest running and most experienced dolphin cruse (航行) company at the Virginia Beach Resort area? You have found it at Rudee tours! A dolphin cruise aboard the Rudee Flipper is the essential trip for fun-seeking vacationers. Each tour is narrated by our experts who are ready to share their knowledge and answer your questions about the dolphins and the Virginia Beach coastline.
Our cruise boat features upper and lower sightseeing levels and windows that provide a 360-degree range for the ultimate viewing experience. The Rudee Flipper is a 65-footlong, 28-foot wide South Sea Catamaran. The Rudee Flipper is equipped with two restrooms, a climate-controlled cabin, disabled accessibility, and a snack bar with hot and cold food offered.
Schedule: Wednesdays, Fridays, Mondays: 2 pm
Saturdays, Sundays: 11 am, 2 pm
Prices: Adults: $23.00
Children 11 and under: $17.00
Children 3 and under: Free
Duration: 90 minutes
Dress for the weather! It can be slightly cooler out on the water especially in the spring, fall, and winter. We may have to cancel trips due to high winds, but our cruises will still go when it is raining.
Guaranteed Sightings
We sincerely care about your experience and do everything that we can to ensure sightings. While we understand that wildlife can be somewhat unpredictable, if our expert team is unable to locate any dolphins on your trips aboard the Rudee Flipper, you can ride again with us for free.
1. What do we know about dolphin cruises at Rudee Tours?| A．They are available every day except on Tuesdays. |
| B．They last for over two hours on each journey. |
| C．There are professional guides onboard. |
| D．There are no arrangements on rainy days. |
| A．It outshines the other local boats. | B．It offers double sightseeing levels. |
| C．It is equipped with three restrooms. | D．It is specially designed for the disabled. |
| A．$17.00. | B．$23.00. | C．$46.00. | D．$63.00. |
6 . Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit
Mars (The Martian)
When you search for a location to stand in for the surface of another world, The Wadi Rum Protected Area in far southern Jordan is a good place to start. With the impressive “vast and echoing and God-like” landscape, it served as the background of Matt Damon’s 18-month stay on the red planet in The Martian.
Jurassic Park
The Hawaiian islands were the locations for some of Jurassic Park’s most memorable scenes. Kauai provides the rough coastline and some of the most breathtaking features of the fictional Isla Nublar, while the rolling hills of Oahu’s Kualoa Ranch function as the background of the Gallimimus stampede (逃亡).
Hobbiton
Unlike the other locations in this list, the Shire is a wholly artificial set, built on a sheep farm on New Zealand ‘s North Island. Created for Peter Jackson’s big-screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Hobbiton began to draw curious fans shortly after the release of the first film in the series. In time, what began as a temporary location designed to host a three-month movie shoot has evolved into a Tolkienesque theme park with over 350,000 visitors annually.
King’s Landing
The HBO series Game of Thrones brings to life the many locations of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy world, but the conflict of sex, swords, and trickery reaches its peak in the capital of King’s Landing. The “real” capital of Westeros can be found in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The city’s 16th-century fortress walls overlook Blackwater Bay, while the parks, avenues, and alleys of the old city have witnessed the triumphs and tragedies of House Lannister.
1. Which of the four locations should you visit if you are a big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien?| A．Mars (The Martian). | B．Jurassic Park. | C．Hobbiton. | D．King’s Landing. |
| A．They are both on the coast. | B．They demonstrate magnificent views. |
| C．They can represent another world. | D．They are set for only one film. |
| A．See ancient fortress walls. | B．Play roles in Game of Thrones. |
| C．Visit George R.R. Martin. | D．Experience the triumphs and tragedies. |
7 . From cottages surrounded by impressive gardens to days spent exploring sandy beaches and deep woods filled with wildlife, in My Family and Other Animals, English writer Gerald Durrell provided a vivid account of his family’s time on the Greek island of Corfu in the 1930s.
Come for the arresting descriptions of Corfu landscapes and stay for Durrell’s laugh-out-loud tales of his unusual family. This book, Durrell wrote humorously in the introduction, “was intended to be a nostalgic(怀旧的)account of natural history, but in the first few pages, I made the mistake of introducing my family.”
Durrell, later known for his zoo keeping and the preservation of wildlife, was just a child during his family’s five-year stay in Corfu. He is 10-year-old Gerry in the book—curious, passionate about animals and a detailed storyteller of his strange family: his imaginative elder brother Larry with his literary ambitions, lovestruck sister Margo, sporty brother Leslie and his ever-calm, loving mother.
Durrell’s attention to detail is what makes the book so winning, with every sight, sound and smell of the island brought to life. One minute you’ll be laughing as Larry’s clever literary friends walk down to the daffodil-yellow cottage, the next you’ll be catching your breath as Durrell describes swimming at night in the Ionian Sea: “Lying on my back in the silky water, staring at the sky, only moving my hands and feet slightly, I was looking at the Milky Way stretching like a silk scarf across the sky and wondering how many stars it contained.”
My Family and Other Animals is quite difficult to classify, being one part travel, one part autobiography, one part natural history, and one part comedy, with a thread of descriptive language running throughout that sometimes raises it nearly to poetry.
As a real delight to read, it’s the perfect literary escapism for any adult or older teenager who is currently walking down a tough road in life.
1. Which word best describes Durrell’s life in Corfu?| A．Diverse. | B．Busy. | C．Risky. | D．Tough. |
| A．I just introduced my family by mistake. | B．I shouldn’t have introduced my family. |
| C．I gave false information about my family. | D．I couldn’t help introducing my family. |
| A．Durrell’s rich imagination. | B．Some interesting plots of the book. |
| C．The book’s writing feature. | D．Some vivid descriptions of the island. |
| A．To share an experience. | B．To introduce a writing style. |
| C．To recommend a book. | D．To describe an unusual place. |
| A．A TV show. | B．A novel. | C．A movie. |
9 . GET A BIRD’S-EYE VIEW OF THE WORLD’S MOST ATTRACTIVE FEATHERED ANIMALS WITH THESE BOOKS
Flamingo (火烈鸟)
Biologist and photographer Claudio Contreras Koob spent 20 years travelling deep into the wet lands and forests of his native Mexico—and beyond—to feed his flamingo attraction. This book offers a unique window into the behavior and life of red-feathered birds, with more than 120 show-stopping shots displaying their beauty. teNeues, £35.
Around the World in 80 Birds
Inspiring secrets, national pride or scientific discoveries, every bird has a story to tell, from the weaver bird building multi-nest “apartment blocks” in Namibia to the bar-headed goose taking on a twice-yearly trans-Himalayan journey at an extreme altitude. Mike Unwin’s tour is accompanied by beautiful illustrations from Ryuto Miyake. Laurence King Publishing, £22.
A World on the Wing
Pulitzer-shortlisted Weidensaul, who’s at the forefront of research into bird migration, here tracks some of nature’s most remarkable journeys. He sails through the stormy Bering Sea, encounters trappers in the Mediterranean and visits former headhunters in northeast India, where a bird migration crisis has become a conservation success story. Pan Macmillan, £9.99.
Galapagos Crusoes: A Year Alone with the Birds
Explore this updated version of the 1968 title, Galapagos: Islands of Birds, by late bird expert Bryan Nelson, with previously unpublished material from his wife, June. The couple spent a year living on two Galapagos islands, studying birds, including the Galapagos albatross (信天翁). This is their clever and amusing account. Bradt Guides, £11.99.
1. By whom is the second costliest book illustrated?| A．Claudio Contreras Koob. | B．Mike Unwin. |
| C．Ryuto Miyake. | D．Weidensaul. |
| A．Flamingo. | B．Around the World in 80 Birds. |
| C．A World on the Wing. | D．Galapagos: Island of Birds. |
| A．Its humorous description. | B．Its romantic style. |
| C．Its vivid imagination. | D．Its moving plot. |
10 . Discover a literary paradise (天堂) at Milton’s Cottage – the only surviving home of the visionary poet John Milton. He came here to escape an earlier pandemic, the Great Plague of 1665, and complete his epic masterpiece Paradise Lost.
Today, this Grade I listed building is open to the public as a museum, so everyone can experience where literary history was made.
Opening Hours
Our 2023 visitor season runs from 1st April to 29th October 2023. During this period we are open from Wednesday to Sunday, 2-5 pm (last entry 4 pm) as well as on bank holiday Mondays.
We welcome drop-in visitors, as well as advance bookings with a guided tour at 2 pm, 3 pm & 4 pm.
Drop-in visitors will also be offered an optional guided tour.
We encourage groups of 8 or more to book in advance and can offer private tours outside of our regular visiting hours by prior arrangement.
Access Information
We want all of our visitors to enjoy their experience at Milton’s Cottage. Wheelchair access can be provided if you contact us before your visit, and assistance dogs are welcome throughout the museum.
Contact Details
Milton’s Cottage, 21 Deanway, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire HP8 4JH
01494 872313
info@miltonscottage.org
Directions
☆Public transport
Chiltern Rail from Marylebone, High Wycombe or Oxford to Gerrards Cross, then the 106 or 107 bus to Chalfont St Giles
Metropolitan line to Chalfont & Latimer or Amersham, then the 106 or 107 bus to Chalfont St Giles
As above, but alight (下车) at the London Road stop and from there it is a 5-minute walk to Milton’s Cottage
☆Private transport
Take the A413 to Chalfont St Giles, turn into the village at the double mini-roundabout by Wheelhouse Vets, through the village, some 75 metres past the last shop is Milton’s Cottage
☆Parking information
There is a free visitor’s car park behind Milton’s Cottage for cars and mini-buses but coach parking must be arranged in advance by email or telephone.
Prices
Adults: £7.00
Students & Retired: £6.00
Children under 6: free
Carers: free
Parties of 15 or more: £6.00 per person
1. What is the last entry time for drop-in visitors to Milton’s Cottage on Fridays in July?| A．2 pm. | B．3 pm. | C．4 pm. | D．5 pm. |
| A．A guide. | B．An assistance dog. |
| C．Wheelchair access. | D．Free parking for your car. |
| A．£12. | B．£14. | C．£16. | D．£18. |
