1 . The best spring destinations in Tibet
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has long been an ideal and mysterious destination for visitors. Now with the arrival of spring, the climate is becoming more pleasant and Tibet has become an even better trowel destination. Here we recommend some of the best tourist destinations in Tibet which might suit your travel taste.
Peach blossom valley: Nyingchi
The peach blossoms in Nyingchi, Tibet Autonomous Region have been named as “the most beautiful peach flowers in the world”. A great time to visit Nyingchi for the peach blossoms would usually be from March 20 to Apil 15 each year.
The peach blossom valley in Bomi County, Nyingchi, stretches for 30 kilometers, making it one of the longest in China. Peach blossoms can be seen everywhere- around houses, across farmlands and along streams. Peach trees bloom depending on the altitude and climate, so visitors will have the chance to enjoy the blossoms throughout April.
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon
The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world. With a total length of about 500 kilometers, its altitude spans from 1,182 meters at Namchak Barwa, the highest peak of the eastern Himalayas, to 550 meters around the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Metog County.
One unique feature of the spring sight here is that visitors can enjoy both the peach blossoms and the snow-capped mountains at the same time.
Nanyi Valley
Nanyigou scenic spot is 20 kilometers away from Milin County and is an important birthplace of the mysterious Tibetan medicine culture. The scenic area rovers a total area of 820 hectares. The ecological conditions here are so good that the place is rich in various animal and plant species.
Surrounded by mountains and shrouded (遮蔽) in clouds, Nanyi Valley is an ideal spring destination for visitors, where you can find peach and azalea blossoms everywhere.
1. What do the three tourist destinations have in common?| A．They are all covered with snow. |
| B．They are rich in various animal and plant species. |
| C．They provide beautiful peach blossoms for visitors. |
| D．They are the birthplaces of the Tibetan medicine culture. |
| A．It’s the second deepest canyon In the world. |
| B．Visitors can have fun from March 20 to April 15 each year. |
| C．It is 550 meters away from the eastern Himalayas. |
| D．Visitors can admire the snow-capped mountains there. |
| A．Tourism. | B．Technology. | C．Agriculture. | D．Photography. |
2 . In the middle of the Pacific Ocean lies the tiny island nation of Tuvalu, the fourth smallest country in the world. This group of four islands and five atolls (islands made of coral rock) is famous for its sandy beaches and turquoise (青绿色的) waters and has long been a popular tourist destination for nearby New Zealanders. However, the nation of Tuvalu is at the risk of soon no longer existing, not because of war or political change, but because it will be covered by the rising ocean.
Tuvalu is experiencing the harmful effects of global warming. As the global temperature rises, so does the ocean temperature. Due to the scientific law of “thermal expansion”, when water heats, it gets bigger.
Even before Tuvaluans began to suffer from the effects of climate change, the life in Tuvalu was tough.
More serious than Tuvalu’s lack of home-grown food has been its lack of drinking water.
Tuvalu’s problems have led some of its 11,000 inhabitants to consider migrating to Australia or New Zealand.
| A．It was a desperate situation and, but for emergency shipments from New Zealand and Australia, many Tuvaluans would have died. |
| B．This is largely due to the geological makeup of atolls. |
| C．Unlike normal islands, atolls have no rivers or streams, which means that most of Tuvalu has no groundwater to be used for drinking. |
| D．Tuvalu’s representatives demanded that nations should have a more responsible attitude towards emission controls. |
| E．Therefore, the sea level is rising and for low-lying Tuvalu, this spells disasters. |
| F．However, they are not willing to abandon the land of their forefathers so easily. |
| G．And as a member of the United Nations, they are doing just that. |
3 . The huge high rises, loud noises, and masses of people make up a symbolic United States destination and the city millions of people call home. Winding your way through the streets of New York City is an overwhelming and humbling (令人谦卑的) experience.
Walking down these busy streets you are sure to see several different coffee shops where writers with dreams are typing away or perhaps old friends catch up as they drink. Next, there are the classic pizzerias where many love to go to get a slice of New York style pizza. Another city classic are the popular delis, a favorite quick and easy lunch hot spot.
A valued aspect (方面) of the city streets is the artistic attraction they hold. Brushes of color brighten up the modern buildings. The buildings become an artist’s studio where creativity comes to life, beautifying the city and showing social and political expressions.
There is nothing more American than a street in New York City.
| A．The beautiful variety brings life into the city. |
| B．The energy they give off will be sure to inspire you. |
| C．These streets are known for their variety of great food. |
| D．An additional form of art that fills these streets is music. |
| E．The many aspects of the urban culture are there on the street. |
| F．A huge benefit of the city life is the diverse transportation choices. |
| G．You become one tiny fish in the deep depths of the ocean once entering. |
4 . What Are Grasslands?
Grasslands are wide areas of land covered with low growing plants such as grasses and wildflowers. Grasslands don’t get enough rain to grow tall trees and produce forests, but they get too much rain to form a desert. Temperate (温带的) grasslands have different seasons including hot summers and cold winters.
Grasslands are generally found between deserts and forests. The major temperate grasslands are located in central North America in the United States, in southeast South America in Uruguay and Argentina, and in Asia along the southern part of Russia and Mongolia.
A variety of animals live in the grasslands, including dogs, wolves, and eagles. A lot of smaller animals hide down in the grass, such as snakes, mice, and rabbits.
Different kinds of grass grow in different areas of the grasslands. There are actually thousands of different kinds of grass that grow in this type of environment. Where they grow usually depends on the amount of rain that area gets. In wetter grasslands, there are tall grasses that can grow up to six feet high. In dryer areas the grasses grow shorter, maybe only a foot or two tall. Other plants that grow there include sunflowers, butterfly weeds, and butterweeds.
Grasslands play an important role in human farming and food production. They are used to grow crops such as wheat and corn. They are also good for feeding farm animals such as cows.
Unfortunately, human farming and development has caused the grasslands to become gradually smaller. Governments have carried protection measures to try and save the grasslands that are left, along with the endangered plants and animals that live there.
| A．The Narrowing Grasslands |
| B．Animals in the Grasslands |
| C．Some Important Temperate Grasslands in the World |
| D．Farming and Food |
| E．Wildfires in the Grasslands |
| F．Types of Temperate Grasslands |
| G．Plants in the Grasslands |
5 . Banff National Park is Canada’s firstborn national park and was recognized in 1885. Located in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Banff includes 6,641 square kilometers of glaciers and ice fields, thick coniferous forest, and alpine(高山的) scenery. The Icefields Park-way spreads from Lake Louise, connecting to Jasper National Park in the north. Provincial forests and Yoho National Park are neighbors to the west while Kootenay National Park is situated to the south. The main commercial center of the park is the town of Banff, in the Bow River valley.
The Canadian Pacific Railway was contributory in Banff’s early years, building the Banff Springs Hotel and Chateau Lake Louise hotel in the park and attracting tourists through widespread advertising. In the early 20th century, roads were built in Banff, at times by prisoners of World War I, and through Great Depression-era public works projects, As Banff has over three million visitors annually, the health of its ecology has been endangered. In the mid-1990s, Parks Canada launched a two-year study to preserve ecological integrity.
Banff National Park has a subarctic climate(副极地气候) with three ecoregions. The forests feature lodgepole pine at lower heights and Engelmann spruce at higher ones below the tree line, above which are chiefly rocks and ice. Mammal(哺乳动物) species such as the grizzly bear, cougar, wolverine, moose and bighorn sheep are found along with hundreds of bird species. Reptiles(爬行动物) are also found but only a restricted number of species have been recorded.
The mountains were formed from sedimentary rocks(沉积岩) which were pushed east over newer rock formations, between 80 and 55 million years ago. Over the previous few million years, glaciers have at times covered most of the park, but today are found only on the mountainsides though they include the Columbia Icefield, the largest continuous glacial mass in the Rockies. Erosion(侵蚀) from water and ice has molded the mountains into their existing shapes.
1. What can we infer about Banff National Park?| A．It was built mainly by prisoners. |
| B．It is the oldest national park in Canada. |
| C．It is connected to three other provincial parks. |
| D．It failed to satisfy visitors’ demand for commercial activities. |
| A．Building roads in Banff. |
| B．Constructing hotels in Banff. |
| C．Preserving the ecology of Banff. |
| D．Providing multiple railway lines to Banff. |
| A．The biodiversity of Banff. |
| B．The limited knowledge of reptiles. |
| C．The complex climate system of Banff. |
| D．The mammals’ severe living conditions. |
| A．Stuck. | B．Broken. | C．Formed. | D．Followed. |
6 . The Silk Road is arguably the most famous long-distance trade route of the ancient world. This passage connected Europe in the West with China in the East, and allowed the exchange of goods, technology, and ideas between the two civilizations. Although merchants could make huge profits travelling the road, it was not without risk.
The main Silk Road started in Chang’an (known today as Xi’an), the early Han capital. Travelers commencing their journey from this city could take a northern route that would take them across China’s northwestern provinces. After this, they would face the Gobi Desert, arguably the greatest danger of the Silk Road.
The Gobi Desert, the largest desert in Asia, consists mainly of rocky, hard earth. This feature made it easier for traders to travel across, compared to sandy deserts like the neighboring Taklamakan Desert. Like other deserts, the Gobi Desert is dry and hot, and therefore the biggest challenge travelers faced was obtaining enough water for themselves as well as for their camels.
So, rest stops were created along the route, allowing travelers to rest, eat and drink. These places also promoted the exchange of goods, and even ideas, amongst the travelers who stopped there. Usually, the rest stops were placed within a day’s journey of each other. In this way, travelers could avoid spending too much time in the desert, which would make them targets for robbers, another danger of the Silk Road.
Once through the Gobi Desert, travelers would continue their journey into Iran, Turkey, and finally Europe. While this part of the journey may have been less dangerous, it is not entirely without its perils (风险).
1. The underlined word “it” in the first paragraph refers to _________.| A．making huge profits | B．traveling the Silk Road |
| C．exchanging goods and ideas | D．connecting different civilizations |
| A．The desert’s surface was easier to walk on. |
| B．Camels for transportation were easier to find. |
| C．It was smaller and could be crossed in less time. |
| D．There were more natural water sources available. |
| A．Travelers were offered free accommodation. |
| B．They were located around the edges of the desert. |
| C．They were shared by travelers from different countries. |
| D．Exchanging goods and ideas there was entirely without risk. |
| A．The origins of the Silk Road. |
| B．The benefits of the Silk Road. |
| C．The difficulties faced by Silk Road travelers. |
| D．The cultural exchanges among Silk Road travelers. |
7 . Do you want to go to take a vacation in Northern Ireland? If you do, here are some places where you can go.
The Sperrins, County Derry and Tyrone
The Sperrins are Northern Ireland’s largest mountains and also its least explored. Starting from Strabane in County Tyrone to the shores of Lough Neagh in the east, Northern Ireland’s largest upland area is a designated (指定的)Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Mournes, County Down
The wild scenery of the Mourne Mountains sweeps down to the sea. It is the place where C. S. Lewis found his fantastic winter-land of Narnia come to form in his mind, which inspired him to write The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Mourne Mountains in County Down are famous for a lot of things such as challenging peaks and clear lakes.
Dunluce Castle, County Antrim
The ruin of Dunluce Castle sees a long and amazing history. The castle was first built on the amazing coastal cliffs (悬崖)of north County Antrim by the MacQuillan family around 1500. The earliest written record of the castle was in 1513. The amazing history of Dunluce is matched by tales of how the castle kitchens fell into the sea one stormy night in 1639.
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, County Antrim
Connected to the cliffs by a rope bridge across the Atlantic Ocean . Carrick-a-Rede Island (home to a single building- a fisherman’s small house) is the final destination (目的地). Suspended (悬空的)almost 100 ft (30m) above sea level，the rope bridge was first made by a fisherman 350 years ago. In 2016, Carrick-a-Rede welcomed the highest number of visitors ever to this exciting rope bridge experience.
1. Who would most probably be attracted to the Sperrins?| A．People loving local cultures. |
| B．People loving historic places. |
| C．People interested in natural scenery. |
| D．People interested in meeting new people. |
| A．disappointed | B．puzzled |
| C．frightened | D．inspired |
| A．To encourage readers to take a vacation. |
| B．To explain the value of visiting Northern Ireland. |
| C．To compare some places of interest in Northern Ireland. |
| D．To introduce some places of interest in Northern Ireland. |
8 . Widely known as the world’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park was built on March 1, 1872. Covering 3,472 square miles, Yellowstone runs through Wyoming and into Montana and Idaho, bringing with it deep canyons, rivers, forests, hot springs, and so on. The wonder of the world attracts millions of visitors each year because of its fantastic facts.
The park has a lake named Yellowstone Lake, which is situated at 7,733 feet above sea level, making it the largest high-elevation lake in all of North America. The lake is about 20 miles long and 14 miles wide, with about 141 miles of shoreline. Each winter, Yellowstone Lake is completely covered with two-foot-thick ice.
Aside from its unique lake, there are also 290 waterfalls found throughout the park, including the famous Yellowstone River Upper and Lower Falls, which end up in an area known as the “Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River”. Visitors can view the falls from several different hiking trails (远足路径) and walkways.
With over 300 campsites and more than 900 miles of hiking trails inside the park—most of which are managed as wilderness areas—Yellowstone is the perfect destination for the most adventurous kind of outdoor enthusiast. It isn’t all difficult wilderness hiking, however, since the park also offers plenty of choices for shorter-day hikes on well-managed trails. There are even paved hikes that are wheelchair-accessible.
Also, you may see different kinds of animals along your hike in the park. Not only are there at least 67 species of mammals (哺乳动物) living in Yellowstone National Park, there are also approximately 300 species of bird and 16 species of fish. There’re at least two threatened species. The Canada lynx (猞猁) was listed as threatened in 2000, and parts of Yellowstone are still considered as the animal’s important natural home. They were found only 112 times in park history. What’s more, in 2018, the government restored (恢复) the protection to grey bears within Yellowstone.
1. How does the text mainly introduce Yellowstone Lake?| A．By listing figures. | B．By making comparisons. |
| C．By following space order. | D．By following time order. |
| A．Its many amazing waterfalls. | B．Its endangered animal species. |
| C．Its difficult wilderness hiking trails. | D．Its wheelchair-accessible trails. |
| A．Most of the animals are endangered. | B．It’s not easy to see the Canada lynx. |
| C．There are a small number of bird species. | D．Grey bears are losing official protection. |
| A．A biology textbook. | B．A history book. |
| C．A personal diary. | D．A travel magazine. |
9 . From picture-perfect beaches to mountains, wildlife and iconic structures, New South Wales, Australia, offers plenty to enjoy. This beautiful state is located on Australia's breathtaking eastern coast. Sydney, the capital of New South Wales and Australia's most populated city, accommodates more than 5million people.
No trip to Sydney would be complete without a visit to Australia's most famous landmark, the Sydney Opera House. Its unique appearance was designed to resemble a ship's sails and its historic importance is recognized by people all over the world. The Opera House welcomes more than 8 million visitors each year, making it the country's most popular tourist spot. It is also one of the world's busiest performing arts centers, featuring more than 2,000 performances annually.
The Opera House is open 363 days a year, and admission is free. Tours are available throughout the day in seven different languages. For those who arrive hungry, Opera House restaurants offer everything from snacks to fine dining.
“Stunning natural beauty” describes the Blue Mountains of New South Wales. This wilderness area, also on the World Heritage list, is a large, mountainous region that covers 1.03 million hectares. It is home to a vast number of Australia's birds and other forms of wildlife. One of the most visited sites is the Three Sisters, named for its unique rock formations.
Off the coast of New South Wales lies a remote island called Lord Howe Island. Created by a volcano, the island is surrounded by beautiful reefs. Two mountains tower over a bay with sandy, white beaches. Visitors can enjoy beach walks, mountain hikes, water activities (above and below the water), exceptional bird watching and more. About 380 people live on it, and a maximum of 400visitors can visit at one time.
New South Wales offers its visitors an abundance of experiences to choose from and many memories that will last a lifetime.
1. How is the importance of Sydney Opera House expressed?| A．By offering supportive views. | B．By stating personal experiences. |
| C．By listing facts and numbers. | D．By describing its unique appearance. |
| A．It's highly recommended to bring your own food. |
| B．Language probably won't be a barrier during tours. |
| C．The admission fee is acceptable for most people. |
| D．It is open all year round on account of its popularity. |
| A．New South Wales. | B．Lord Howe Island. | C．Blue Mountains. | D．Three Sisters. |
| A．Unforgettable 'Tour in the Opera House. | B．Charming Places to Visit in Sydney. |
| C．Unique Geographical Features of Australia. | D．Striking Beauty of New South Wales. |
10 . Guanmei, a 65-year-old woman of the Dong ethnic group, is the inheritor of the Grand Song of Dong (侗族大歌), a national intangible cultural heritage in China. Her hometown Zaidai Village in Guizhou, southwestern China, is home to the Grand Song of the Dong ethnic group.
The Grand Song of Dong dates from more than 2,500 years ago. The way Dong singers use their vocal cords (声带) is different from how formally trained singers do. It is a folk chorus with multi-parts, no conductor, and no accompaniment. Organically growing from their natural surroundings, it is recognized internationally as “the sound of Nature.”
Before the Dong people had a writing system in 1958, the Dong culture, their history and stories were all recorded by means of songs. As a Dong saying goes, “Rice feeds the body and songs enrich the soul”. The Dong people sing right from their childhood. While not singing, they all work in their rice field.
Guanmei has been singing the Grand Song of Dong all her life, making her a famous singing teacher in her hometown and nearby areas. “The songs are our means of passing on wisdom, knowledge and life experiences to others. I will not exist in this world 100 years later, but Grand songs will. I’m honored to do this job, ” Guanmei said.
Kind-hearted, Guanmei has been volunteering to teach the Grand Song of Dong to the Dong children for over 30 years. Now she has more than 300 students. Guanmei is pleased to see the village children come to her house willingly when they have free time.
“Nowadays, more and more young people leave the village and settle in cities. Decades later, the Dong children out of the village might know nothing about Grand songs. We should do something just now. It’s our mission. What is once lost might be lost forever,” added Guanmei.
1. What makes the Grand Song of Dong known as “the sound of Nature”?| A．The outstanding conductor. |
| B．The special musical instrument. |
| C．The attractive natural environment. |
| D．The inspiration from nature. |
| A．The Dong singers are professionals. |
| B．The Dong culture before 1958 has been largely lost. |
| C．Singing is of vital importance to the Dong people. |
| D．They have a written language with a history of over 2,500 years. |
| A．Concerned. | B．Sympathetic. |
| C．Optimistic. | D．Satisfied. |
| A．To call on young people to return to the Dong village. |
| B．To guide the Dong children to learn the Grand Song of Dong. |
| C．To show a woman’s efforts to keep the Dong culture alive. |
| D．To instruct people to appreciate the Grand Song of Dong. |
