1 . Best US National Parks for Road Cycling
Glacier National Park, Montana
It is one of the best places for road cycling in national parks. Note that you’ll be meeting this popular road with cars and RVs(野营车), so wearing bright clothing for increased visibility is a good idea.
•When? Summer
•Where to stay? Many Glacier Hotel
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon
Crater Lake with its impressive Rim Drive is one of the best national parks for road cycling. Fed by snow and rain, this is the deepest lake in the USA. This collapsed volcanic peak is one of the most remarkable natural attractions in the country, a must-visit destination for any nature lover.
• When? Summer has the best weather
• Where to stay? Crater Lake Lodge
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park consists of three separate units, but the best one for wildlife watching and cycling is the South Unit. Keep your binoculars close and watch for bison and wild horses, sightings of which are almost guaranteed.
• When? For the best weather conditions, visit in summer
• Where to stay? Medora
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
For cyclists, the park’s most interesting feature is the multi-purpose Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail. This is such an iconic feature in the park that a casual bike ride is a must for any visitor. Consider combining a bike ride with a journey on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad. You can bike down the entire trail and simply catch the historic train back up.
• When? Spring and fall are most beautiful
• Where to stay? Stanford House
1. Which national park shares the cycling road with other vehicles?| A．Glacier National Park. |
| B．Crater Lake National Park. |
| C．Cuyahoga Valley National Park. |
| D．Theodore Roosevelt National Park. |
| A．Many Glacier Hotel. | B．Crater Lake Lodge. | C．Medora. | D．Stanford House. |
| A．Cyclists should wear bright clothes. |
| B．Spring and fall are the best time to go there. |
| C．Visitors can take the train first and bike back. |
| D．The volcanic peak is a must-see place for cyclists. |
2 . Here are some of the most beautiful medieval castles in the world.
Eltz Castle, Germany
Eltz Castle sits on top of a hill surrounded by a thick forest. Located in Rhineland-Palatinate due to its secluded (僻静的) position, it is a world away from other castles. Eltz Castle has seen its fair share of conflict but was never destroyed over the centuries. Interestingly, Eltz Family has possession of the castle to this day.
Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
One Scottish beauty is the Edinburgh Castle. Sitting on top of Castle Rock, it overlooks the capital of Scotland. Unsurprisingly, considering the majority of medieval castles had strategic locations, the key was being able to see the enemy and remain difficult to reach. During the First and Second Wars of Scottish Independence, the ownership of the castle changed between the Scottish and the English several times.
Vianden Castle, Luxembourg
Even though its origin dates back to the 10th century, Vianden Castle was steadily built over three centuries between the 11th the 14th century. Vianden Castle is an example of the Romanesque style with semi-circular arches, even though there were Gothic additions later on. Just like many other medieval castles, Vianden Castle lies on top of a hill overlooking the town of Vianden.
Bran Castle, Romania
Bran Castle sits atop a former Teutonic Knights stronghold (要塞) dating back to the early 13th century. It is approximately 2,500 feet above sea level and rises from between surrounding trees. It overlooks the picturesque village of Bran, and the several towers and turrets (塔楼) give it a mysterious atmosphere.
1. Which castle’s owner remains unchanged throughout its history?| A．Eltz Castle. | B．Bran Castle. | C．Vianden Castle. | D．Edinburgh Castle. |
| A．It is surrounded by a thick forest. | B．It takes on different architectural styles. |
| C．It dates back to the early 13th century. | D．It is about 2,500 feet above sea level. |
| A．Great popularity. | B．Dramatic history. |
| C．Strategic locations. | D．Architectural styles. |
3 . For those who like to take planes, trains, buses, and boats, there are remote destinations that few people will have the chance to experience.
Socotra Island, Yemen
On the island, a third of the island’s plant life and 90 percent of its reptile species aren’t found anywhere else on earth, including the dragon’s blood tree, an umbrella-shaped tree with red sap. UNESCO classified the Socotra archipelago, which includes the island, as a World Heritage site in 2008.
Pitcairn Island
Located west of Easter Island,the Pitcairn Islands are a group of four volcanic islands. Pitcairn Island is the only one of the four that is inhabited. The island now has a population of about 50，many of whom are descendants of the original founders. Henderson Island is an UNESCO World Heritage Site with an important collection of bird species,including four local to the island.
Kerguelen Islands
Also known as the Desolation Islands,the Kerguelen Islands are located in the southern Indian Ocean and are part of the French Southern and Antarctic Territories. Grand Terre, the main island, is home to the Port-Aux-Francois research base. The islands, which are 2,000 miles away from civilization, are also inhabited by several species of penguins, albatrosses, and seals. Visitors can only reach Grand Terre four times a year by ship.
Supai, Arizona
The Havavsupai tribe has occupied the village of Supai since A.D. 1300. The village is set deep within the Grand Canyon and is accessible by helicopter, foot, or pack animal. Havasu Canyon boasts spectacular blue-green waterfalls that are worth the eight-mile hike. The remote location has become so popular that visits to the village and waterfalls require a reservation.
1. What is Socotra Island famous for?| A．Small population. | B．Cultural heritage. |
| C．Remote location. | D．Unique species. |
| A．Socotra Island. | B．Pitcairn Island. |
| C．Kerguelen Islands. | D．Supai,Arizona. |
| A．It belongs to volcanic islands. | B．Visitors need to book in advance. |
| C．It can only be reached by helicopters. | D．Penguins are the common scene. |
4 . Mount Qingyuan Tourist Attraction is located in Quanzhou city, Fujian province, and is renowned for its quiet scenery and ancient cultural landscapes.
The mountain features granite rocks(花岗岩) with the summit at 618 meters. The annual average temperature is between 17℃ and 21.3℃, making it an ideal getaway at any time of the year.
According to historical records, the mountain was developed as early as the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC). After centuries of development, there are still nine statues from the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, about 700 ruins of stone carvings and many stone structures dating back to the Yuan and Ming (1644-1911) dynasties.
The most representative highlight of the tourist attraction is the statue of Laozi, which is renowned for being the largest stone carving made during the Song Dynasty. Laozi is the author of the Tao Te Ching, the founder of philosophical Taoism. The statue is a Major Historical and Cultural Site protected at the National Level. It measures 8 meters in length, 6.85 meters in width, and 5.63 meters in height, occupying 55 square meters.
Scenic Spot Level: AAAAA
Ideal Sightseeing Season: all year
Recommended Duration For A Visit: Half a day
Opening Hours: 5:00-18:00
Ticket Price: 70 yuan
Free admission for children under 6 years or 1.2 meters; Quanzhou residents between 60 and 70 years old; visitors over 70 years old; the military; retired public servants; and the disabled with valid certificates (ID, passport, etc)
50 percent off ticket prices for visitors between 6 and 18 years old; full-time students; teachers; visitors between 60 and 70 years old with valid certificates
Address: Fengze district, Quanzhou, Fujian province
Bus Routes: 3, 10, 15, 28, 30, 45, 202, 209, 601, K1
Note: Some scenic spots might close due to landslides.
1. Which of the following statement about the statue of Laozi is true?| A．It is the most famous part of Mount Qingyuan Tourist Attraction. |
| B．It is known for being the largest stone carving in history. |
| C．It is a Historical and Cultural Site protected at the international Level. |
| D．It is 8 meters long and 5.63 meters wide. |
| A．210 yuan | B．175 yuan | C．140 yuan | D．105 yuan |
| A．a research report | B．a local newspaper | C．a nature magazine | D．a travel brochure |
5 . Australia is unique in many ways. It’s home to a wide range of landscapes and some of the most unusual animals on Earth. The Land Down Under is also the only place on Earth that qualifies as both a country and a continent. The definition of a continent isn’t as concrete as you might expect, but a few qualities help earn Australia that distinction.
The land mass’s status (地位) as a country is for sure. A country is defined as “a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory,” and since 1901, the Commonwealth of Australia—as it’s officially known—has fit that description.
Australia’s claim to be a continent is less strong. There’s no scientific definition used to categorize continents. They tend to be large land masses with their own tectonic plates (地壳板块), and isolated enough to produce unique cultures and plant and animal populations. These aren’t hard and fast rules, however. Europe and Asia share a tectonic plate, but their cultural differences justify separating them into two continents (though the boundary separating one from the other is constantly changing). When it comes to what makes Australia a continent, size is the most minor factor. It’s the smallest continent at 2. 9 million square miles, and it’s actually closer in size to Greenland than it is to South America. So what makes Australia a continent and Greenland an island?
Australia’s distinctiveness carries a lot of weight here. Its isolated location allowed it to support native groups of people with distinct cultures as well as wildlife that can’t be found elsewhere on the planet. The native cultures and animals of Greenland, however, can also be found throughout the Arctic.
1. What qualifies Australia as a country?| A．The distinct landscapes and animals it has. |
| B．The establishment of Commonwealth of Australia. |
| C．The reputation of the Land Down Under it enjoys. |
| D．The specifically defined continent where it is located. |
| A．The dividing line between Asia and Europe stays fixed. |
| B．Size is a major factor in determining Australia as a continent. |
| C．Each continent occupies a tectonic plate separated from others. |
| D．The definition of a continent doesn’t necessarily follow set rules. |
| A．Because it is much smaller than South America. |
| B．Because it does not cover a whole tectonic plate. |
| C．Because it lacks uniqueness in culture and wildlife. |
| D．Because it is too close and is attached to the Arctic. |
| A．How Is Australia Different from Greenland? |
| B．How Were the Continents on Earth Determined? |
| C．What Sets Australia Apart from Other Continents? |
| D．Why Is Australia a Continent as Well as a Country? |
6 . Asia is the birthplace of the world’s three ancient civilizations: ancient China, ancient India and Babylon. Each gave the world different architectural styles and global landmarks, such as the Great Wall of China. Taj Mahal of India.With the conclusion of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilization, let’s take a look at the architecture of Asian civilizations.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is an ancient defense project with the longest construction time and the largest workload put into a landmark, stretching out to a total length of more than 5,000 kilometers. Only when you have been to the Great Wall and witnessed its majesty can you truly say you have visited China.
Angkor Wat,Cambodia
The Angkor Wat in Cambodia is one of the largest religious monuments in the world,built on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman Ⅱ in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura(present-day Angkor),the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum(陵墓).
Taj Mahal, India
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra.It was commissioned in 1632 by Mughalemperor Shah to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being“the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”
Al-Khazneh, Jordan
Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, is one of the most delicate temples in the ancient Arab Nabataean Kingdom city of Petra,Jordan. The 45-meter-high and 30-meter-wide building is a magnificent building with a pronounced Greek style. It is said to have been a place where pirates hid their treasure.
1. What is special about the Great Wall compared with the others in the article?| A．It is the longest man-made project in the world. |
| B．It was listed in the UNESCO world Heritage Site. |
| C．It was used as a defense project in the ancient China. |
| D．It used to be used as a religious/purpose in China |
| A．The Angkor Wat. | B．The Taj Mahal. |
| C．AI-Khazneh. | D．The Treasury |
| A．The Great Wall. | B．The Angkor Wat. |
| C．The Taj Mahal. | D．AI-Khazneh. |
7 . Amazing China in 60 Seconds is a short video series covering cultural and scenic hotspots across the country.
Tibet
Tibet autonomous region in Southwest China, home to the highest plateau(高原) on Earth, is known as the “roof of the world”. It’s a paradise for tourists with its towering snow mountains, vast grasslands, peaceful lakes and breathtaking views. Must-visit places include the Potala Palace - a UNESCO world heritage site, Mount Qomolangma, Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and more.
Tibet is also famed for its rich ethnic culture, including the Tibetan dance, age-old thangka painting and Lum medicinal bathing of Sowa Rigpa - traditional Tibetan bathing for a medical purpose which was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 2018.
Tianjin
Neighboring the Chinese capital city of Beijing, Tianjin rests between the northern Yanshan Mountains and the coastal plain. Adjacent to the sea and rivers, it carries distinct ecological beauty.
Tianjin is where Eastern and Western cultures meet. It has many precious historical sites, former residences of celebrities and foreign-style architecture. Famous tourist destinations include the Tianjin Eye, the Huangyaguan Great Wall, and the Five Big Avenues area, which hosts about 2,000 villas in various Western styles built in the 1920s and 1930s.
Chongqing
Southwest China’s Chongqing is largely built on mountains and surrounded by rivers; thus it is known as the “mountain city”. Many people are drawn to Chongqing by its delicious food - especially its signature spicy hotpot - and natural scenery.
Boasting the largest number of hotpot restaurants in China, Chongqing was named “China’s Hotpot City” by the China Cuisine Association in 2007. Statistics show there are more than 50,000 hotpot eateries across the city. With more than 3,000 year of history, Chongqing still preserves traditional culture and lifestyles.
1. Where can you experience a bath with medicinal functions?| A．Tibet | B．Tianjin | C．Chongqing | D．Sichuan |
| A．Germany | B．India | C．France | D．Italy |
| A．Geography magazine | B．Entertainment newspaper |
| C．Tourism website | D．News report |
8 . On the west bank of the Grand Canal in Tongxiang, Jiaxing City, stands a 1,300-year-old ancient town of Wuzhen. Local people’s way of life centers around rich water resources. Traditional buildings in white and grey are well preserved after hundreds of years.
Over the years, Wuzhen has been transformed from a residential area to a popular tourist destination. Today it shows fascinating China via its gorgeous water town scenery, growing soft power and international influence.
Travel tips:
Food: Food in Wuzhen is a delight to enjoy. Wuzhen is home to abundant fish, so pickled Taihu Lake whitewater fish is a good start. The meat is delicate, smooth, and tender, but mind the fish bones.
Transportation: Wuzhen is 1.5-hour drive from Hangzhou and 2-hour drive from Shanghai. The Shanghai-Wuzhen Highway is well serviced and there are special bus lines available. It would be a good option to include a journey of a day or two to Wuzhen next time you visit Shanghai or Hangzhou.
Climate: Typical subtropical monsoon climate with great sunshine and rich rainfall.
Admission fee: 150 yuan ($21) for the West Scenic Zone and 110 yuan ($15.5) for the East Scenic Zone. You may only pay 190 yuan ($26.7) for both zones.
Opening hours: The West Scenic Zone opens from 9:00 a.m. to 22:00 p.m. The East Scenic Zone opens from 7:00 a.m. to 18:00 p.m. in summer and 7:00 a.m. to 17:30 p.m. in winter.
For more information, visit the official website.
1. What do we know about Wuzhen?| A．It remains unchanged for centuries. |
| B．Its life style is based on water resources. |
| C．It is closer to Shanghai than to Hangzhou. |
| D．Its traditional buildings are severely damaged. |
| A．$5.5. | B．$5.7. | C．$9.8. | D．$11.2. |
| A．Take an umbrella with you. | B．Go to Wuzhen by sea. |
| C．Visit the East Scenic Zone after 18:00. | D．Avoid eating Taihu Lake whitewater fish. |
9 . On June 23,2018,twelve young Thai boys and their assistant football coach wandered into a karst cave in northern Thailand, near the border with Myanmar. What happened next would grab the world’s attention and lead to a complex and daring international rescue operation. The 10.3-kilometer-long Tham Luang cave flooded, trapping the boys in total blackness nearly 2.5 kilometers from the cave entrance.
Thousands of people from around the globe participated in the rescue effort, including military personnel, medical experts and the rock stars of the operation — cave divers. The divers, who safely removed all of the Thai children and their coach after 18 days underground, dealt with tight spaces and low visibility in muddy water- conditions that would prove deadly: Saman Gunan, a former Thai Navy Seal, died while transporting air tanks into the cave.
While the sport of cave diving had received attention in the pop culture area prior to the rescue mission in North Thailand, there is little doubt that the brave divers at Tham Luang cave helped push the activity and its varieties of risks into global society’s minds.
The sport-often referred to as among the world’s most dangerous recreational activities-has its roots in pre-WWII England. Since then, the recreational practice of cave diving, described by Australian cave explorer Richard Harris (a participant in the Tham Luang cave rescue) as an “unusual hobby” for “the ordinary,” has spread around the world-China included.
Over 1,000 kilometers northeast of Tham Luang cave, in South China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, lies karst-peak-covered Du’an county-China’s little-known cave diving Mecca.
Home to thousands of kilometers of underground rivers, Du’an county offers divers spellbinding geological formations, perhaps the world’s largest collection of blind fish species and a rare variety of freshwater jellyfish.
1. What do we know about the Tham Luang cave rescue operation?| A．There was no loss of life in the process. | B．Rock stars took part in the rescue efforts. |
| C．Rescue team came from more than Thailand. | D．Few people cared about it outside Thailand. |
| A．Its dangerous recreations. | B．Its long history. |
| C．An expert’s description. | D．The divers’ heroic deeds. |
| A．It is northeast of Tham Luang cave. | B．There are lots of underground rivers. |
| C．It is hardly known to the outside world. | D．It has the world’s largest geological formations. |
| A．Spectacular cave diving experiences in Du’an. |
| B．Diving instructions shared by Richard Harris. |
| C．Lessons learned from this rescue operation. |
| D．Foods offered to tourists in Du’an. |
10 . This summer we witnessed interview teams at the North Pole wearing short sleeve shirts due to the warm weather. A study published on Aug 29 revealed more concerning issues in the supposedly coldest area of the world. Zombie ice from a massive Greenland ice sheet was confirmed to be melting, which would eventually raise global sea levels by at least 10 inches (27 centimeters) on its own, reported Associated Press (AP).
Zombie ice is the kind of ice that is still attached to thicker areas of ice, but is no longer getting fed by larger glaciers. Since glaciers are getting less snow to complement (补充) the amount of ice melted, once the zombie ice is melted, it cannot be re-formed.
Scientists decided to look at the balance of the ice. In perfect balance, snow in the mountains of Greenland flows down and thickens the sides of glaciers, balancing out what’s melting on the edges, according to AP. But in the last few decades, there is less refill and more melting, creating an imbalance.
Study co-author William Colgan at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland told AP that 3.3 percent of Greenland’s total ice volume will melt eventually. “Starving would be a good phrase” for what’s happening to the ice, Colgan added.
With a great number of natural resources buried under the earth, areas of melted ice revealed treasures that attracted the world’s richest men. According to CNN, in early August, there was a “treasure hunt” in Greenland. Billionaires, including Bill Gates and others, financially backed KoBold Metals, a US-based mineral exploration company, to explore the rare metals under the glaciers in Greenland. The company told CNN that since there were enough minerals to power hundreds of millions of electric vehicles, the critical resource is capable of powering the green energy transition.
1. What happened in North Pole this summer?| A．The massive Greenland sheet has melted. |
| B．North Pole experienced unusual weather. |
| C．The melted ice raised sea level significantly. |
| D．The interview team revealed concerning issues. |
| A．can be easily formed again |
| B．is still joined to bigger ice |
| C．complemented the thickest ice |
| D．is continuously fed by larger ice |
| A．There are abundant resources under the earth. |
| B．The treasure hunt can only benefit the richest people. |
| C．Businessmen wanted to make profit from the resources. |
| D．The minerals will soon become a green energy alternative. |
| A．Every coin has two sides |
| B．Man can conquer nature |
| C．The early bird catches the worm |
| D．One false move may lose the game |
