1 . 
Chile (智利) is famous for its many attractions, including Torres del Paine National Park and Easter Island . If you’re planning a visit, be sure to add “Mano del Desierto” or “Hand of the Desert”to your must-see list.
Standing 11 meters tall and made of iron and cement (混凝土), this sculpture (雕像) of a hand emerges (出现) from the sand in the Atacama Desert , which is known as the driest desert in the world outside of polar regions. The sculpture was created by Mario Irarr á zabal in the early 1980s and was financed by a local nonprofit organization called Corporaci ó n Pro Antofagasta. The sculpture is not only famous for its size and design but also for the message it expresses. Many people believe that the hand represents the weakness and helplessness of human beings, as well as their strength and determination to overcome hardships.
If you’re interested in visiting the Hand of the Desert, take Route 26 or 28 from Antofagasta, a port city in northern Chile. The sculpture is located between mile markers 1309 and 1310. The desert’s flatness (平坦) makes it easy to spot the sculpture from far away. But some people mistake it for a mirage (海市蜃楼) caused by tiredness from driving a long way to the sculpture.
Visitors should take precautions (预防措施) before leaving , such as filling their gas tanks , taking plenty of water, and wearing sunscreen. They should also avoid driving too quickly, as many car accidents happen in the desert each year.
For those who are worried about driving alone, working with an agency (机构) like Plan South America is a good option. The founder of the agency, Harry Hastings, said that he always tries to join a visit to the sculpture with guests traveling to the desert.
1. What makes the Hand of the Desert a famous attraction?| A．Its material. | B．Its location. | C．Its designer. | D．Its size and design. |
| A．The sculpture attracts millions of visitors every year. |
| B．Tired travelers often see mirages in the desert. |
| C．The sculpture can be reached very easily. |
| D．The sculpture can be seen from far away. |
| A．He built the sculpture “Hand of the Desert”. |
| B．He gave the financial support to the sculpture. |
| C．His agency can help lonely travelers travel to the desert. |
| D．He can avoid driving accidents in the desert. |
| A．Travel. | B．Environment. | C．Culture. | D．Entertainment. |
2 . The hardest thing about planning a big European vacation is actually narrowing down where to go—there are just so many amazing places. That's why we've put together what we think are the best cities in Europe.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Amsterdam is the kind of city that you can't help but fall in love with. It's the kind of place where you dream about moving and buying an apartment that overlooks (俯瞰) a peaceful river. It's relaxing and you get a sense that the locals have an amazing quality of free life. We love simply walking around the canals and exploring the city's neighborhoods.
BERLIN, GERMANY
Berlin is said to be “poor but charming” and we think that's a pretty good description. Actually, Berlin is becoming more expensive as its popularity grows, but it's still the top spot for Germany's artistic scene. Berlin isn't particularly pretty but it's an energetic city with cool people and cooler graffiti-covered (涂鸦) neighborhoods.
LISBON, PORTUGAL
Lisbon is a hot destination and I doubt it will be quickly moving up in the ranks of Europe's most visited cities. Lisbon is a popular coastal city that's famous for its unique buildings and charming café culture. It's also very friendly on the wallet when compared to other Western European cities—food and lodging are both priced reasonably and attractions are about average.
FLORENCE, ITALY
Florence may be touristy but that’s no reason to ignore this birthplace of the Renaissance (文艺复兴). If you do your research, you can find plenty of excellent Italian restaurants and world-class ice cream. And, of course, the city is beautiful and home to top museums so it's a dream for art and history lovers.
1. Which city best suits people holidaying on the cheap?| A．BERLIN, GERMANY. | B．FLORENCE, ITALY. |
| C．LISBON, PORTUGAL. | D．AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. |
| A．They are famous for food. | B．They are attractive to artists. |
| C．They are cities of scenic beauty. | D．They are of political importance. |
| A．A news report. | B．A travel magazine. |
| C．A restaurant advertisement. | D．A science column. |
3 . Like many young people, Jessica wants to travel the globe. Unlike most of them, this 25-year-old is doing it
They’re part of a new form of the
It’s not all sightseeing. The two travelers carefully
The couple has a high
| A．indoors | B．online | C．single-handed | D．full-time |
| A．game | B．service | C．vacation | D．procedure |
| A．safe | B．busy | C．helpful | D．affordable |
| A．local | B．private | C．sharing | D．agricultural |
| A．strangers’ | B．parents’ | C．co-workers’ | D．neighbors’ |
| A．favor | B．defense | C．honor | D．absence |
| A．plan | B．explain | C．compare | D．complete |
| A．buy | B．transport | C．choose | D．please |
| A．support | B．comfort | C．control | D．attention |
| A．cooking | B．staying | C．waiting | D．studying |
| A．success | B．survival | C．growth | D．unemployment |
| A．budget | B．abilities | C．expectations | D．understanding |
| A．admiring | B．donating | C．sending | D．borrowing |
| A．clean | B．open | C．simple | D．empty |
| A．guess | B．decision | C．response | D．impression |
4 . Wildlife and Adventure Tours
Madagascar
Madagascar is the land of the lemurs. Join us and we’ll guide you through Madagascar, which is the only country where you can experience unforgettable lemur chance meetings in the wild.
www. pioneerexpeditions. com
Tel: 012 0279 8922
South Georgia
Join a tea journey to South Georgia to admire thousands of king penguins up close. The Fallands & Antartica offers kinds of ships to suit all budgets (预算) and requirements. Contact one of our polar experts today for more information and special offers!
www. chimuadventures. com
Tel: 020 7403 8265
China
Pandas are the popular animal mascot (吉祥物) of China. With years of efforts, they have been successfully from “endangered” to “valuable” on the list of species at risk. The tour allows you to watch pandas in their natural habitat.
www. onthegotours.
Tel: 020 7371 1113
Canada
Orcas are fierce killers, making them the kings and queens of the ocean. Orcas have very closeknit families and normally will stay throughout their lifetime. Experienced locally born guides will take you to explore these attractive sea animals.
www. aboriginaljourney. com
Tel: (001) 250 850 1101
1. Which of the following animals are unique to Madagascar?| A．King penguins. | B．Pandas. |
| C．Lemurs. | D．Orcas. |
| A．They enjoy a close family relationship. | B．They are gentle animals. |
| C．They are born guides. | D．They live alone after growing up. |
| A．To encourage people to protect animals. |
| B．To introduce different kinds of animals. |
| C．To attract readers to start a wildlife trip. |
| D．To tell us that the animals are endangered. |
5 . Getting off the train and stepping into the places will make your trip a more memorable one than simply admiring the scenery from the window. Check out some of the can't-miss destinations along the Chinese section of the China-Laos railway.
Fuxian Lake in Yuxi
What makes the lake attractive is the possibility that a city lived under its quiet and calm surface. In the 1990s, a large number of stone remains were fond in the lake, which led to a series of underwater research. Traces (踪迹) of ancient constructions were discovered, but their origins are still unknown.
Sun-River National Park in Pu'er
The word "Pu'er" may remind many of the famous tea from Yunnan Province. Back in ancient China, this region also served as an important stop along the trade route-Tea Horse Road. This has much to do with its location. The Sun-River National Park here is highly recommended if you are looking for some fresh air and a close encounter with nature. The rainforests in the park provide habitats for over 800 animal species and 2,000 different plants.
Wild Elephant Valley in Xishuangbanna
For those wishing to interact with the giant creatures themselves, the Wild Elephant Valley is a must-visit. It will take three hours to get to Xishuangbanna from Kunming once the China-Laos railway becomes operational, and a new train station has been set up near the nature reserve, offering more accessible journeys. Extra effort has been made by the government to reduce the effect of railway construction on the local environment.
Starlight Night Market in Xishuangbanna
The Starlight Night Market, as the name suggests, offers a colorful nightlife experience. It is the best place to get to know local people's lives. The market features local food, various activities, and creative art of works by the young. This is also an area for hanging out with other travelers for shopping.
1. What mostly made Pu'er an important stop along the Tea Horse Road?| A．The national parks. | B．Its location. |
| C．Its natural resources. | D．The famous tea. |
| A．Fuxian Lake. | B．Wild Elephant Valley. |
| C．Starlight Night Market. | D．Sun-River National Park. |
| A．A magazine. | B．A novel. | C．A journal. | D．A report. |
6 . Considering that Sundarbans National Park is situated in the tropics，September to March is the ideal time to come here．April，May and June are too hot while July and August often bring heavy season winds that limit travel and don’t make for a very pleasant sightseeing experience．You can really enjoy doing lots of charming things in the Sundarbans during September to March．
Take a river tour
Most tourists who explore the Sundarbans arrive in Khulna City first．From there，you can join a boat tour that travels south along the Ganges River through miles of preserved forest all the way to Kotka，where there is a beautiful beach along the Bay of Bengal．
Visit a bird habitat
This bird habitat is a nesting place for dozens of tropical birds found in the Sundarbans．The best way to observe these birds is climbing up the Sajnekhali Watchtower．If you’re lucky，you’11 also catch the famed Bengal Tiger making its rounds through the swampy jungle．
Visit the Mangrove(红树林)Interpretation Centre
If you wish to spend some time indoors out of the sweaty heat，go to the Mangrove Interpretation Centre．This place is very educational with many posters，maps and exhibits showing the wildlife and varieties of mangrove plants found within the park．You’ll also get to see crocodiles in a small pool．
Take a tour of local villages
Experience village life that has largely remained unchanged for centuries．In this vast tropical region，there are villages made up of various ethnic groups who rely on fishing，farming and working in the local through growing tourist industry for their livelihoods．The Sundarbans is a UNESCO world heritage site where you can visit villages and talk to locals，who will gladly share their culture with you．
1. Which month is suitable for a visit to Sundarbans National Park?| A．December． | B．August． |
| C．June． | D．May． |
| A．See some plants and animals． |
| B．Put up posters about wildlife． |
| C．Feed crocodiles in a small river． |
| D．Observe birds by climbing up the trees． |
| A．To advertise some natural animal habitats． |
| B．To advocate the protection of forests in Khulna City． |
| C．To introduce several charming villages in the vast tropical region． |
| D．To show visitors something attractive to do in the Sundarbans． |
