1 . It’s wonderful to have a relaxing bath in mineral water while looking out over beautiful scenery. If you live in the US or are planning a visit, consider going to one of the two natural hot springs (温泉) in the western US:
Travertine Hot Springs
At the edge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains near Bridgeport, California lie the Travertine Hot Springs. The orange, green, and red rocks and the mountains create beautiful views for you to enjoy while you bathe. Each pool is a different temperature, so you can find one that’s comfortable for you. These springs can easily be reached by car. Take Route 395 south from Bridgeport and turn left onto Jack Sawyer Road. In about a mile you’ll arrive at the springs. If you like to camp, you can camp along Jack Sawyer Road.
Bagby Hot Springs
In the middle of an ancient forest you’ll find the Bagby Hot Springs. At the springs there are wooden bathhouses, with both private baths and communal baths. Through a system of pipes the spring water is brought to the baths at a temperature of 136 degrees Fahrenheit. If that’s too hot buckets of cold water are also available to mix into the bathtub (浴缸) or to cool off with after your bath.
The Bagby Springs are about 45 minutes from Estacada, Oregon, on Highway 224. To get to the bathhouse there is a 1.5-mile walk from the parking lot through the beautiful Mt. Hood National Forest. While in the area, make sure to visit Portland, which is known for its coffee, restaurants, and music.
The best time to visit the two hot springs is in late spring, or in summer or fall. While in the area, check out the Curecanti National Recreation Area, where you can enjoy canoeing, fishing, bird watching, camping, and hiking.
1. Which is not the advantage of bathing in the spring in California?| A．Beautiful scenery can be seen while bathing there. |
| B．You can choose different pools suitable for you. |
| C．It’s convenient for families with cars to travel there. |
| D．You can camp anywhere around the springs. |
| A．shared | B．comfortable |
| C．personal | D．common |
| A．the temperature of the two springs |
| B．beautiful views near the springs |
| C．the walking distance from the parking lot |
| D．the design of the bathhouses |
| A．May | B．July |
| C．October | D．December |
| A．A report. | B．A paper. |
| C．A magazine. | D．A diary. |
2 . My students and I were ready for a challenge --- a trip to Costa Rica. As we were waiting at the airport, we talked about our hopes and fears for our ten-day trip. My students worried about homesickness and felt uneasy with their homestay families. But strange foods or meeting new people didn’t concern me. What terrified me was the best part of the trip --- a zip lining (滑缆绳) flight over the jungle valley bordering Arenal Volcano. I made a secret pact (协议) with myself to find an excuse to get out of it at the last minute.
When the fateful day arrived, we got to the peak to enjoy the breathtaking view of the volcano. When seeing the activity, my students raised a cheerful shout. How I wished I had had the same feeling as them. However, I was afraid of heights.
My student Eileen sidled up to me. Her face was pale. “I’m scared,” she whispered. “Will you stay back with me?” Here was my chance! I could get out of zip lining and still save face!
“I’m scared, too,” I said quietly.
“Yeah,” she said. “I thought you would be the right person to ask because you are really white, and you are sweating.” Her words woke me up, and something clicked into place. If I couldn’t step outside of my comfort zone, how could I ask the kids to do so?
“Maybe we should give it a try,” I said. I felt a little sick, but I couldn’t believe my body was actually moving toward the launch point.
“Come on,” I said.
“OK,” she agreed.
Eileen zipped past me, screaming with fear or delight, which I was not sure of. Once she was across, I followed. The attempt was not as terrible as I had thought. From that moment on, I knew there was nothing to fear as long as I walked out of my comfort zone and had a try.
1. What worried the author’s students about the trip? (No more than 10 words)2. How did the author and her students find the activity of a zip lining fight? (No more than 10 words)
3. What’s the meaning of the underlined word? (One word)
4. Why did Eileen come up to the author on the day of the activity? (No more than 10 words)
5. What do you think of the author’s attempt? Give your reasons? (No more than 20 words)
| A．In two weeks’ time. |
| B．As soon as possible. |
| C．One day before the departing day. |
| A．The places of Iraq. | B．The Pyramids. | C．Temples of Egypt. |
5 . If you have the opportunity to visit some places in New Zealand, then the list below is our recommendation.
Fiordland National Park
This park is part of the South Westland World Heritage Area and is New Zealand’s largest national park and one of the largest in the world. The scenery in Fiordland is nothing short of extremely beautiful, with steep mountains, wild waterfalls, and abundant rain forests. Being able to come back and forth in its deep bay attracts most of the visitors.
The area has some of the world’s greatest walks including the world famous Milford Track, which was described as the finest walk in the world in the early twentieth century.
Abel Tasman National Park
Abel Tasman may be New Zealand’s smallest national park, but the attractions are huge. Located in one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots, the area also has the best beaches in the country.
The popular Abel Tasman Walk is a great way to see this park. It takes 3-5 days to complete. Sea taxis are also available and can drop you off at any number of beaches within the park.
Rotorua
Accessible from New Zealand’s biggest city, Auckland, Rotorua is famous for its volcanic activities. Rotorua is also famous for its plentiful lakes which are great for swimming and fishing. The surrounding area contains plenty of native bushes and some famous walks.
Rotorua is also the best area in the country to experience and learn about Maori culture.
Mt Cook National Park
Mt Cook as well as the surrounding area is an alpine( 高山的) park within the World Heritage listed in South Westland. The biggest peaks in all of Australasia are here. The park doesn’t contain many trees or plants due to the altitude. Walks range from a two-hour walk to difficult tracks suitable for experienced mountaineers only.
A helicopter or plane ride gives visitors excellent views of the mountains with the option of landing at the top of Tasman Glacier, a true permanent snow-covered alpine environment.
1. The most impressive experience in Fiordland National Park may be ．| A．rock climbs | B．forest camps |
| C．water jumps | D．boat trips |
| A．Fiordland National Park | B．Rotorua |
| C．Mt Cook National Park | D．Abel Tasman National Park |
| A．view some amazing waterfalls | B．enjoy some tropical fruits |
| C．step on the top of Tasman Glacier | D．take walks in various bushes |
1. How many times does the man travel a month?
| A．1. | B．2. | C．3. |
| A．Hawaii. | B．Portland. | C．Austin. |
| A．He dislikes staying in the office. |
| B．He wants to try new things. |
| C．He likes visiting friends. |
1. What is the relationship between the speakers?
| A．Father and daughter. | B．Husband and wife. | C．Classmates. |
| A．On June 13th. | B．On June 16th. | C．On June 18th. |
| A．Have a painting course in Paris. |
| B．Go camping with the man. |
| C．Start her summer job. |
1. How many days has the man got for his vacation?
| A．5 days. | B．10 days. | C．15 days. |
| A．To broaden his vision. | B．To relax himself. | C．To visit friends. |
| A．Egypt. | B．Canada. | C．The United States. |
| A．Old. | B．Modern. | C．Impressive. |
10 . When I was 17, I read a magazine article about a museum called the McNay, once the home of a watercolorist named Marian McNay. She had requested the community to turn it into a museum upon her death. On a sunny Saturday, Sally and I drove over to the museum. She asked, "Do you have the address? ""No, but I'll recognize it, there was a picture in the magazine. "
"Oh, stop. There it is!”
The museum was free. We entered, excited. A group of people sitting in the hall stopped talking and stared at us.
"May I help you?" a man asked. "No, "I said. "We're fine.” Tour guides got on my nerves. What if they talked a long time about a painting you weren't that interested in? Sally had gone upstairs. The people in the hall seemed very nosy(爱窥探的), keeping their eyes on me with curiosity. What was their problem? I saw some nice sculptures in one room. Suddenly I sensed a man standing behind me. "Where do you think you are? " he asked. I turned sharply. "The McNay Art Museum!" He smiled, shaking his head. "Sorry, the McNay is on New Braunfels Street." "What’s this place?” I asked, still confused. "Well, it's our home." My heart jolted(震颤). I raced to the staircase and called out, "Sally! Come down immediately! "
"There's some really good stuff(艺术作品) up there." She stepped down, looking confused. I pushed her toward the front door, waving at the family, saying, "Sorry, please forgive us, you have a really nice place." Outside, when I told Sally what happened, she covered her mouth, laughing. She couldn't believe how long they let us look around without saying anything.
The real McNay was splendid, but we felt nervous the whole time we were there. Van Gogh, Picasso. This time, we stayed together, in case anything else unusual happened.
Thirty years later, a woman approached me in a public place. "Excuse me, did you ever enter a residence, long ago, thinking it was the McNay Museum?"
"Yes. But how do you know? We never told anyone."
"That was my home. I was a teenager sitting in the hall. Before you came over, I never realized what a beautiful place I lived in. I never felt lucky before. You thought it was a museum. My feelings about my home changed after that. I've always wanted to thank you."
1. What do we know about Marian McNay?| A．She was a painter. |
| B．She was a community leader. |
| C．She was a museum director. |
| D．She was a journalist. |
| A．She disliked people who were nosy. |
| B．She felt nervous when talking to strangers. |
| C．She knew more about art than the man. |
| D．She mistook him for a tour guide. |
| A．Puzzled. | B．Concerned. |
| C．Frightened. | D．Delighted. |
| A．The real museum lacked enough artwork to interest her. |
| B．She was too upset to spend much time at the real museum. |
| C．The McNay was disappointing compared with the house. |
| D．The event happening in the house was more significant. |
| A．People should have good taste to enjoy life. |
| B．People should spend more time with their family. |
| C．People tend to be blind to the beauty around them. |
| D．People tend to educate teenagers at a museum. |
