1 . 4 places in the Midwest that look like they could be in Europe
If an expensive overseas trip isn’t in the cards for you right now, don’t worry. Take a road trip from Chicago and check out these Mid-western tourist spots that look like they’re straight out of a European postcard．
★Niles, Illinois
If you visit a square at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue, you’ll find a pleasantly European surprise — a half-sized copy of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Constructed in1934 to hide a water tower, the Leaning Tower of Niles stands 94 feet tall with a 7. 4-foot tilt which looks like the Italian one．
★Lindsborg, Kansas
Originally settled by Swedish immigrants, Lindsborg’s Scandinavian culture remains clear through public art and Swedish specialty shops, so prepare to collect Scandinavia n clothes, cookies, and wine. Best of all are the town’s yearly Scandinavian celebrations, where you’ll find various Swedish traditions．
★Frankenmuth, Michigan
Lovingly called “Little Bavaria”, this central Michigan town look like they’ve been transported straight out of a Franconian village. For the full Bavarian experience, you can stop by one of its restaurants for traditional German food. You can also learn a little more about the town’s Franconian origins．
★New Glarus, Wisconsin
Many people in Chicago know New Glarus for its brewery. Take a walk there and you’ll soon realize why it’s called “Little Switzerland”. Named after the big city of Glarus in Switzerland, New Glarus’ wooden houses, Swiss restaurants and museums, and gently hilled landscapes make for an almost Alpine（阿尔卑斯山的）experience．
1. What is the best part of a trip to Lindsborg, Kansas?| A．The local natural scenery． |
| B．The Scandinavian celebrations． |
| C．The Scandinavian dressing culture． |
| D．The traditional Scandinavia n foods． |
| A．Niles, Illinois． | B．Lindsborg, Kansas． |
| C．Frankenmuth, Michigan． | D．New Glarus, Wisconsin． |
| A．For its famous brewery． | B．For its Alpine-style design． |
| C．For its main Swiss population． | D．For the same city name of Glarus． |
2 . 阅读下面短文, 在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。
An exhibition (展览), presenting significant projects from the past 20 years by Ma Yansong and his company MAD Architects (建筑师)
The exhibition aims
With 79 models and nearly a thousand examples of work
For young architects or anyone in any professional field looking to challenge tradition, Maoffers this advice, “I’m not challenging tradition,
1. What does the speaker remind the listeners to do?
| A．Buy some photos first. | B．Avoid taking pictures. | C．Follow him into the gate. |
| A．On the left. | B．On the right. | C．Around the corner. |
| A．An actor. | B．A basketball player. | C．A baseball player. |
| A．James Dean’s. | B．Joe Di Maggio’s. | C．Arnold Schwarzenegger’s. |
1. What do we know about Kemp Town Beach?
| A．It is known for its coastal walks. |
| B．It is near the man’s home. |
| C．The water there is clean. |
| A．Canvey Island Beach. | B．Kemp Town Beach. | C．Birling Gap Beach. |
| A．By car. | B．By taxi. | C．By train. |
The Great Wall was listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1987. Just like a dragon, it winds its way from west to east, across deserts, over mountains, through valleys, till at last it reaches the sea.
With a history of about 2,700 years, some parts of the Great Wall are now in ruins or have disappeared. However, the Great Wall of China is still one of the most appealing
Today, there is a general
6 . Things to do in Miyakojima
Famous for its sunny beaches and natural wonders, Miyako Island welcomes many visitors during holidays.
Unique beaches
Yonaha Maehama Beach is the most famous beach in Miyakojima, where whites and stretches for seven kilometers. The ocean is colored in blue, attracting visitors with its beauty. Compact Sunayama Beach, known for its arch-shaped(拱形的) rock, is hidden in a small cove(小海湾), and can be reached by walking through a narrow tunnel of trees.
Different kinds of colorful fish
Snorkeling(浮潜) is a must-try in Miyakojima, where there are thick coral reefs, all kinds of tropical(热带的) fish, and plenty of space to free div e to depths of 8 to 15 meters close to the shore.
For beginners, Aragusuku and Shigira are a good choice but advanced snorkelers may see Waiwai Beach and Shimojishima as their favourite spots.
The bridges
Irabu Bridge connects Miyakojima and Irabujima, stretching for 3540m. It is the longest vehicle-only bridge in Japan. On Shimoji Island, there is a boardwalk around Tooriike, two sea ponds connected to each other and the sea by an underwater cave system.
Fresh island taste
Delight your senses with melt-in-your-mouth Miyako beef, delicious Miyako noodles, or fresh fruit. Okinawa district have the highest mango products in Japan, and Miyako Island’s warm climate is best for growing fresh, juicy mangoes. Ice cream with a bit of salt known as “yuki shio (snow salt)” does more than simply keep you cool.
1. What can visitors do in Miyakojima?| A．Enjoy the arch-shaped rock on the Yonaha Maehama Beach. |
| B．Appreciate different kinds of tropical fish and thick coral reefs. |
| C．Take a walk on the Irabu Bridge, the longest bridge in Japan. |
| D．Taste the fresh j uicy mangoes and play with snow to keep cool. |
| A．Aragusuku | B．Irabu |
| C．Waiwai beach | D．Yonaha Maehama Beach |
| A．A travel leaflet. | B．A geography book. |
| C．An academic article. | D．A nature report. |
1. What is the most challenging thing for the man?
| A．Eating the local food. |
| B．Adjusting to the local climate. |
| C．Recovering from the time difference. |
| A．Just for the weekend. | B．A bit less than 12 days. | C．About 15 days. |
8 . It is summer, and the living is comfortable. For many Americans, this is the season to travel. Why? Because school has finished; the weather is great, and most of all, we all deserve a break. When Americans want to take a break, they often head for their favourite vacation spot.
Throughout their history, Americans have been people on the move. Hundreds of years ago, the early immigrants had to travel to get to the New World. Once they arrived, they settled along the East Coast. But they weren’t content to stay there. Explorers and traders journeyed to the unknown western areas. Later, settlers moved west to develop these new regions. As a result of this westward migration, Americans eventually occupied the whole mainland — from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Even today, Americans seem unable to stay put. Research says that the average American moves every five years.
Besides their habit of changing living places, Americans are used to travelling. Some people often go out on business. Their jobs may require them to take frequent business trips. Most companies provide an annual vacation for their employees, and people often use that time to travel. Some people just visit friends or relatives in different states. Others go on weekend trips that don’t cost a lot of money. Those with more expensive tastes choose luxurious resorts and hotels.
Most Americans prefer to travel within their own nation’s borders. Why? For one thing, it’s cheaper than travelling abroad, and for another, there’s no language problem. What’s more, the vast American territory offers different kinds of tourist attractions. Nature lovers can enjoy beaches, mountains, lakes and a wealth of natural wonders. Major cities offer visitors a lot of urban delights. The convenience of modern freeways, railways and airplanes makes travel in America as easy as pie.
Many American vacations are as unique as the people who take them. Families often go on a journey with the kids. More and more family-friendly vacation resorts offer special programs for children. History lovers seek out famous historical sites and museums. Environmentalists prefer “green vacations”. These trips allow them to observe plants and animals closely without disturbing the balance of nature. Some people find sea cruises relaxing and refreshing. Others enjoy their trips by fishing, skiing or white-water rafting.
Americans aren’t the only people in the world who like travelling around. People all over the world enjoy visiting scenic spots in their own country and going abroad to travel. But in America, almost everybody is a tourist sometime.
1. This passage is mainly about________.| A．American immigrants in history |
| B．some famous resorts in America |
| C．Americans’ love for travelling |
| D．some special people in America |
| A．Americans are content to stay at the place where they are living now. |
| B．The American immigrants moved from the east to the western areas. |
| C．Americans are used to changing living places, but they don’t like travelling around. |
| D．Most Americans prefer to go abroad to travel. |
| A．Travelling abroad is more expensive. |
| B．People in America speak different languages. |
| C．The traffic in America is very convenient. |
| D．The vast American territory offers different kinds of tourist attractions. |
| A．Indifferent | B．Doubtful | C．Concerned | D．Uncaring |
9 . Things to do in Miyakojima
Famous for its sunny beaches and natural wonders, Miyako Island welcomes many visitors during holidays.
Unique beaches
Yonaha Maehama Beach is the most famous beach in Miyakojima, where white sand stretches for seven kilometers. The ocean is colored in emerald blue, attracting visitors with its beauty.Compact Sunayama Beach, known for its arch-shaped rock, is accessed by walking through a narrow tunnel of trees.
Diverse and colorful fish
Snorkeling is a must-try in Miyakojima. Dense coral reefs, schools of tropical fish, sea turtles and plenty of space to free dive to depths of 8 to 15 meters close to the shore are standout features.For beginners, Aragusuku and Shigira are a good choice but advanced snorkelers may see Imgyo Marine Garden, Waiwai Beach and Shimojishima as their ultimate spots.
The bridges
Irabu Bridge is the longest toll-free bridge in Japan. It connects Miyakojima and Irabujima,stretching for 3540m, drawing a gentle curve. The length of the bridge can also be read as“san go no shi ma,” meaning coral island in Japanese. Smaller bridges connect Irabu and Shimoji islands,giving visitors additional beach options. On Shimoji Island, there is a boardwalk around Tooriike,two dramatic marine ponds connected to each other and the sea by an underwater cave system.
Fresh island food
Delight your senses with juicy, melt-in-your-mouth Miyako beef, delicious Miyako soba (noodles served in soup), or fresh fruit. Okinawa prefecture boasts the highest mango yield in Japan,and Miyako Island’s warm subtropical climate is optimal for growing fresh, juicy mangoes. Ice cream with a pinch of salt known as “yuki shio (snow salt)”does more than simply keep you cool.
1. Where is this text probably taken from?| A．A tour brochure. | B．A research paper. |
| C．A geography book. | D．An academic article. |
| A．Irabu Bridge. | B．Yonaha Maehama Beach. |
| C．Imgyo Marine Garden. | D．Compact Sunayama Beach. |
| A．Delicate cuisine. | B．Attractive scenery. |
| C．Peaceful walking. | D．Ancient architecture. |
10 . Madrid’s Incredible Museums
CaixaForum
CaixaForum is a museum and cultural center that occupies an old power plant. From the outside the building appears to be floating, and there’s a vertical (垂直的) garden with 15,000 plant species growing on the side of one wall. Inside are four floors of paintings, photos, andmultimedia exhibitions, as well as workshops and a theater-auditorium. Even if you don’t enterany exhibitions, it’s worth stopping by to admire the building’s striking outer and innerarchitecture.
Hours: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
Free admission: May 15, 18, and November 9
Museo Sorolla
This small art gallery is dedicated to the Impressionist painter Joaquín Sorolla (1863-1923).The gallery is in his former home and studio, and they’ve preserved the original atmosphere wellso you get a feel for what it was like when he was living and working there.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM
Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, closed Mondays
Free admission: Saturdays after 2:00 PM and Sundays
Museo del Romanticismo
This small museum focuses on the history and daily life of the Romantic period. The museum recreates the Romantic atmosphere in its room displays with furniture, carpets, jewelry, paintings, and other antiques of the time period.
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Sundays and holidays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, closed Mondays
Free admission: Saturdays after 2:00 PM and Sundays
Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza
The Thyssen Museum began as the Thyssen family’s private collection of seven centuriesof European painting, regarded as one of the most important collections of the last century. In1992, it was converted into a public museum. It has a great variety of artists, styles, and time periods.
Hours:Mondays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM,
Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Free admission:Mondays from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM
1. What is special about CaixaForum?| A．Its room displays. |
| B．Its historic exhibits. |
| C．Its striking structure. |
| D．Its original atmosphere. |
| A．9:30 a.m. Sunday. |
| B．2:30 p.m. Saturday. |
| C．6:00 p.m. Tuesday. |
| D．10:00 a.m. Monday. |
| A．Paintings. | B．Carpets. |
| C．Jewelry. | D．Furniture. |
