1. Which season is it now?
| A．Summer. | B．Fall. | C．Winter. |
| A．The northeast coast. | B．The northwest coast. | C．The southwest coast. |
| A．Rain. | B．Snow | C．Wind. |
| A．In the west of Ireland. |
| B．In the north of Scotland. |
| C．In the south of America. |
2 . Top Wonders of the World
From India to Rome, these sights will inspire your next historical vacation.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed from 1632 to 1648, the property covers 42 acres, including its beautiful gardens.
Best time to go: Late spring and early summer in this part of India has often severe heat. Then come monsoons. November to February is your best chance for pleasant weather. The sunrises here are highly admired.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is the world’s longest wall and one of the most famous landmarks in China. Dating back to about 700 BCE, it stretches over 13,000 miles and was designed to protect the country from invaders.
Best time to go: Plan for a spring or fall trip when the weather is nicer and fewer people visit. Summertime is often hot and crowded, and winter can be extremely cold in northern China.
Petra
Located in the Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was built directly into the cliffside around 312 BCE by the Nabataeans. The city includes temples, tombs, and its most well-known building — the Treasury.
Best time to go: Summer can get very hot in Jordan, and winter is much colder than you may realize. Weatherwise, aim for spring or fall.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum remains Rome’s top attraction. Built in the first century by Emperor Vespasian, the massive theater spans 620 by 513 feet, which would hold 80,000 people.
Best time to go: You’ll find fewer tourists there during Rome’s low season (winter), weekdays and during the opening hour or near closing time. If you show up in summer at midday, it’s going to be hot!
1. What’s the best time to travel to Taj Mahal?| A．March. | B．July. | C．October. | D．December. |
| A．Taj Mahal. | B．The Great Wall. | C．Petra. | D．The Colosseum. |
| A．In a research paper. | B．In a travel brochure. |
| C．In a science magazine. | D．In a geography textbook. |
3 . The southern New Zealand town of Kaitangata appears the chief example of the countryside landscapes the island is known for; it’s lush (苍翠的), hilly, green, and peaceful. Only about 800 people live there, and it’s a mere eight minutes from the coastline.
For those who prefer the rural, slow lifestyle and community feel in their living environment, it’s basically perfect. And here’s the best part：New Zealand desperately wants you to move there. Seriously.
The small town is heavily involved in necessary industries relating to dairy (乳制品) processing and freezing works, which more than fill the area’s economic needs. In this very unique case, that presents a real problem: there are around 1,000 vacant jobs and too much affordable housing for the residents to fill.
“We have got youth unemployment down to two,” Mayor Bryan Cadogan says, “Not 2 percent — just two unemployed young people.”
So in response to this distinctive crisis, Cadogan and the town’s bank, lawyers, and community services are launching a recruitment (征募) campaign to try and attract candidates to the area with housing and land packages costing only 230,000 NZ dollars, or almost 165,000 US dollars.
According to the local residents, “Kai”, as citizens call it, is warm and mainly concerned with the community.
“This is an oldfashioned community, we don’t lock our houses, we let kids run free,” a local dairy farmer and thirdgeneration native named Evan Dick told The Guardian.
“We have jobs, we have houses, but we don’t have people. We want to make this town vibrant again, and we are waiting with open arms.”
1. If people move there, they can enjoy ________.| A．too much free housing | B．the rich cooking culture |
| C．getting money without a job | D．the peaceful rural slow lifestyle |
| A．Farming and fishing. | B．Dairy processing and freezing. |
| C．Agricultural processing. | D．The farmed animal industries. |
| A．Lacking labor force. | B．Youth unemployment. |
| C．Poor community services. | D．Public security problems. |
| A．a travel guide | B．a science report |
| C．an advertisement | D．a column of Around the World |
4 . Asia,the largest continent on Earth,is home to more than half of the world’s population. With so many different cultures and languages, each country is worth a lifetime to travel around. Here are some top countries for you to have an unforgettable travel experience .
China
China owns one of the world’s oldest civilizations(文明). Wherever you go, you can easily recognize many amazing historical and cultural landmarks. For example, the Great Wall of China, the Terracotta Army in Xi’an and the Forbidden City in Beijing attract many visitors all over the world. However,other people come to enjoy China’s beautiful scenery that includes high mountains and the Gobi Desert. As the most populous(人口多的)nation on Earth, China is also home to many modern cities.
India
Home to one of the world’s richest and oldest civilizations, India has many different cultures, religions, peoples and traditions. With the Himalayas lying in the north, jungle and beaches can be found in the rest of the country. From temples to food and history to wildlife, the beautiful country has something for everyone.
Thailand
Thailand is a very popular tourist attraction. Its golden sands and beaches attract lots of people every year. Many also come to party in its beachside towns, visit some beautiful and peaceful islands such as Ko Tao, or enjoy the attractive scenery at Krabi.
Japan
Although it consists of almost 7,000 islands, most of Japan’s main sights and tourist attractions can be found on the four largest of them. Lying to the east of Asia, the island nation is an attractive place as a mixture of traditional palaces and modern buildings Covered in mountains and forests, the country is home to some delightful nature and scenery.
1. Which one is the most populous country on Earth?| A．China | B．Japan | C．India | D．Thailand |
| A．India and China | B．Japan and China |
| C．China and Thailand | D．India and Thailand |
| A．Sports | B．Music | C．Science | D．Travel |
2017 witnessed the 45th anniversary of the
In the very center is the famous BrandenBurg Gate, the construction of
After World WarII, the Berlin Wall stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate, and remained a symbol of separation for as
These gingko (银杏树) trees are really old, older even than the city of Xuzhou in northwest Jiangsu Province. Xuzhou, the
The home, or specifically Pizhou, quite some way to the east of Xuzhou, is situated at the “tail” of
The so-called “Pizhou Gingko Time Tunnel” shall
In Tongshan New Area, gingko trees
7 . The World’s Most Amazing Caves
Humans have been drawn to caves for thousands of years. Here are four of the world’s biggest caves.
Son Doong Cave, Vietnam
Son Doong Cave in the remote(偏远的)forests of Vietnam holds the title of the largest cave in the world. Son Doong is a spreading network of tunnels and caves, the largest of which could contain an entire New York City block with 40-story buildings. Parts of the cave’s top have fallen down，creating vast skylights that allow life to grow to a height of hundreds of feet beneath the forest floor.
Mammoth Cave, Kentucky, the United States
Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the longest cave system in the world, with 426 miles explored—and scientists guess another 600 miles have yet to be discovered based on measurements of air movement within the caves. Mammoth Cave has drawn visitors since the 1800s, and 10 miles of underground passages are accessible to tourists today.
Sac Actun. Mexico
The longest underwater cave system in the world, Sac Actun winds(蜿蜒)more than 215 miles under Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Adventurers can take a drop in the Sac Actun system through more than 248 cenotes(天然井)—the natural swimming pools that form when sinkholes connect the surface to the underwater caves.
Veryovkina Cave, Abkhazia, Georgia
Veryovkina Cave is the deepest cave in the world, spreading 1.4 miles beneath the surface. It takes professionals a week to make a round journey to Veryovkina Cave, They have to brave waterfalls, tight presses and sharp drops. But the payoff is excellent—Veryovkina
Cave’s end is a beautiful blue lake about 50 feet long and 25 feet wide surrounded by black black rocks.
1. What is special about Son Doong Cave?| A．It lies far away from the forests. | B．It has some tall plants growing. |
| C．It is the longest cave in Vietnam. | D．It is the highest cave in the world. |
| A．They end up with beautiful lakes. | B．They attract few adventurers. |
| C．They stay unexplored at present. | D．They have long cave systems. |
| A．Half a week. | B．Two weeks. |
| C．One week. | D．Over two weeks. |
In Sarek National Park, I wake up to the sound of the wind
For hundreds of years, the Sami lived
9 . People often wonder about some of the best places to see. A good point of reference is to first look at attractions labeled as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These sites are culturally or physically significant places listed by the United Nations for their importance to humanity as a whole. Let’s see some of them!
The Mogao Caves, China
Also known as the Mogao Grottoes, the caves are located along the cliffside (峭壁) above the Daquan River in Gansu province. First built in 366 and comprising 492 caves, the Mogao Caves are known as the biggest collection of Buddhist art in the world. As a landmark or the historic Silk Road, the Mogao Caves are a perfect display of Chinese art history over a period of a thousand years.
Redwood National Park, US
Lying in the mountainous region north of San Francisco in California, US. the Redwood National Park is significant for its collection of redwood trees — the tallest and oldest trees in the world — as well as its variety of sea and land wildlife. Once abundant throughout the temperate (气候温和) regions of the world, the Redwood trees of California are among the only living examples left of this old plant species, a biological group which has existed for 160 million years.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Situated in the Andes Mountains, this fascinating ancient city is remarkable both for its beautiful setting as well as its use of complex city planning. Standing at 2,430 meters above sea level, the city of Machu Picchu is covered with both mist and mystery. Researchers have yet to uncover the city’s role in the Incan (印加族的) empire’s use of astronomy and plant domestication (驯化).
1. What can you learn from the Mogao caves?| A．They were built on steep cliff. |
| B．They have the largest art collection. |
| C．They were built five centuries ago. |
| D．They perfectly exhibited art history. |
| A．Because it lies in the mountainous region. |
| B．Because it has a number of redwood trees. |
| C．Because it has a temperate and mild climate. |
| D．Because it has various tallest and oldest trees. |
| A．Its high altitude makes the place well-known. |
| B．Its complex city planning enjoys the best fame. |
| C．The mist surrounding the city added to its beauty. |
| D．The Incan culture is still a mystery for researchers. |
10 . Though the following ski resorts (滑雪场) listed are less well-known, going skiing there is exciting for everyone.
Bear Valley
Bear Valley is one of the less well-known ski resorts in California when compared to popular resorts like Mammoth Mountain. This ski area has runs that satisfy the needs of nearly everyone with or without experience. It gets over 350 inches of snowfall every year.
Jay Peak
Located in Jay, Vermont, Jay Peak is the snowiest ski area on the east coast, averaging 355 inches of snowfall every year. There are 76 trails and 8 lifts over an area of 385 acres. Jay Peak is known for its challenging terrain (地势). The peak is best known for getting some of the most snow on the East Coast.
Big Mountain
Located outside the town of Whitefish, which offers plenty of fun after a long day of skiing. Big Mountain has over 3,000 acres of terrain, with almost 100 marked trails and plenty of tree skiing. Big Mountain gets 300 inches of snowfall every year.
Schweitzer Mountain
Schweitzer Mountain is one of Idaho’s greatest skiing treasures. Visitors will enjoy the views of Lake Pend Oreille, and can visit the lovely town of Sandpoint after a long day enjoying the snow. The mountain has over 2,900 skiable acres. There is a snowfall of 300 inches every year, and over 90 trails. Schweitzer even has night skiing.
1. What is the advantage of Bear Valley?| A．It is the snowiest ski area. | B．It almost suits any ski level. |
| C．It has a very different history. | D．It is the easiest to approach. |
| A．Lake Pend Oreille. | B．Challenging terrain. |
| C．Beautiful coasts. | D．Tree skiing. |
| A．Science. | B．Art. | C．News. | D．Tourism. |
