1 . The UK is home to 26 world-ranked universities of the top 200 globally. At the heart of each university is the library, a space for students to access resources, absorb knowledge and gather thoughts. Here are some of our must-visit libraries across the UK.

The British Library, London

Located in London, the British Library is home to over 170 million items. The collections offer a glimpse into literary heritage over the ages, from books to maps to manuscripts. Visitors can browse treasures including Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook. Students with a reading pass are known to spend hours at a time in the reading rooms.

Bodleian Old Library, Oxford

Dating back to 1488, the Bodleian Old Library has three notable reading rooms. It is celebrated for its late Gothic architecture. You may recognize the elaborately carved ceiling from scenes in Harry Potter. Students at the university automatically get access to the library.

John Rylands Library, Manchester

Opened in 1900, this library is part of the University of Manchester, one of the top five universities in the UK. This library offers limitless research potential for students. Whether you want to make use of the rich collections available, or simply explore the site, this library should be on everyone’s must-see list.

The Mitchell Library, Glasgow

The Mitchell Library is one of Glasgow’s most famous landmarks. On the top of the copper dome (圆屋顶) is a bronze statue of the Roman goddess, Minerva. Visitors can climb the dome for the city’s most distinctive rooftop views.

1. Which library requires a reading pass to enter the reading room?

A．The British Library.	B．The Mitchell Library.
C．John Rylands Library.	D．Bodleian Old Library.

2. At the Mitchell Library, tourists can        .

A．join research groups

B．admire Gothic architecture

C．enjoy Glasgow’s rooftop views

D．refer to Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook

3. In which column of a newspaper can the passage be found?

A．Culture.

B．Fashion.

C．Science.

D．Entertainment.

2 . Weald & Downland Living Museum

Fun fact

Over 50 historic buildings from across the Weald and Downland area have been dismantled (拆除) and then reconstructed across a lovely 40-acre site in the South Downs national park. The collection of buildings represents almost a thousand years of rural life in south-east England: furnished just as they would have been in the past — complete with the homes, farms and public buildings. There’s a sense of exploring a real village as you wander between them along green paths, stopping to climb the stairs of a 17th-century craftsman’s (工匠) cottage to lie on the straw bed or sheltering from a shower in a smoky, 14th-century hall.

Getting there

The Stagecoach 60 bus service from Chichester to Midhurst stops just five minutes away at Grooms Yard, Singleton. The nearest railway stations are Chichester (2 miles) and Haslemere (7 miles). The museum is on Town Lane in Singleton, reached via the A286 from Chichester to Midhurst. Parking is free and there are disabled parking spaces opposite the museum shop.

Value for money?

Yes. It’s not cheap but it’s a special experience that easily fills a day. Plus, it’s a valuable cause worth supporting. Adults ￡14, children 5-17 and students ￡6.50, under-4s free, family ￡38 (two adults and two children) or ￡25 (one adult and three children).

Opening hours

Daily 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm).

1. What can visitors do in Weald & Downland Living Museum?

A．Take a shower in the hall.

B．Stay overnight at a cottage.

C．Learn construction techniques.

D．Explore rural life centuries ago.

2. How much would a couple with their 5-year-old twin sons pay for admission?

A．￡25.

B．￡34.5.

C．￡38.

D．￡41.

3. What do we know about Weald & Downland Living Museum?

A．It charges parking fees.

B．It has varied opening hours.

C．It is inconveniently located for bus riders.

D．It offers the disabled thoughtful service.

4 . 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。

Despite its rapid industrialization, there are still some corners in China that have maintained its original color.

Ancient towns and villages in China are places     1     traditions are well preserved in terms of architecture, lifestyle and folk customs. All of these can be found in Huangyao Ancient Town, one of the most-visited tourist     2    (spot) in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

    3    (cover) an area of 3.6 square kilometers, Huangyao has a history of nearly 1,000 years     4     its origins dating back to the Song Dynasty. People     5    (carry) on traditional festivals and customs here for hundreds of years up to now. During Chinese Lunar New Year, over 20 traditional performances     6    (hold), including the dragon dance and suona horn show. On July 14 in the Chinese lunar calendar, residents often come to the riverbank and put lanterns into the river     7    (celebrate) Zhongyuan Jie, the Hungry Ghost Festival.

Black soybean is often added to its local food to create an     8    (extreme) distinctive flavor. When you visit, Huangyao tofu is     9     must-try local dish as it is sold only in this town.

It usually takes a day or two to tour around the old town due to its small size, but you can always stay     10    (long) to experience more of its local hospitality and culture.

6 . The United Kingdom is a land of natural beauty and history, with many of its finest attractions discovered through hiking. Now, dust off your boots, plan according to the following routes presented by a survey of senior hikers and an incredible experience will wait for you.

Wales Coastal Path

Wales is the only country in the world that has an official walking path covering its whole borders. The Wales Coastal Path is a footpath stretching 870 miles from Chester to Chepstow. Walking the whole thing might be demanding, but there are plenty of stretches that can be enjoyed over a day or two.

Southwest Coast Path

You need a fair amount of annual leave, a casual 52 days or so, to undertake this in one go. The route runs from Somerset all the way to Dorset, via rugged cliffs, cute fishing villages and surfing spots along the coastline. You can surely jump on to any point as you like, but you can't afford to miss all the pubs full of jokes and laughter on the way!

Coast to Coast Walk

This long-distance trail isn’t official, but popular in the country, taking hikers from the Irish Sea to the North Sea as it rolls into historic Robin Hood’s Bay in Yorkshire. Following local footpaths, the route takes you through three UK National Parks: the Lakes, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors.

Cleveland Way

You’ll want nine days to folly complete this hike, which explores both the North York Moors and the county’s world-famous coastline. Just make sure you allow enough time to properly enjoy spots like Roseberry Topping hill and pick up a gentle afternoon walk at Whitby’s clifftop church.

1. Who will be more interested in the routes?

A．Explorers in the UK.	B．Hiking lovers.
C．Nature photographers.	D．Field researchers.

2. What is highly recommended about Southwest Coast Path?

A．Fishing villages.	B．Surfing spots.
C．Local pubs.	D．National parks.

3. What do the four routes have in common?

A．They include cliffs worth visiting.	B．They are official and demanding.
C．They run along the coast.	D．They can be completed in a month.

7 . 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。

As the morning sun went above the hills, Liu Dachun’s wife was guiding her cow through the wetland, while Lu’s daughter, a college art student, spotted the pair and     1    (pencil) a quick drawing.

Shiyanping, a traditional Tujia village, has 182 well-preserved buildings    2    (construct) in the typical wooden building style,     3     (most)built in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In 2013, the ancient architecture complex    4    (recognize) as one of the nation’s major historical and cultural sites.

In recent years, the village’s unique building complex, as well as other Tujia cultural activities, have attracted a stream of tourists. The village received more than 100,000 visits and achieved     5    income of about 5 million yuan from tourism in 2022.

Liu Dachun, a skilled farmer, is hard at work preparing for spring plowing (犁地). He has tried out the rice-fish farming system,     6     not only benefits the environment but also local residents. According to Wu, fish raised in rice fields are more popular among consumers as they are environmentally-friendly — the fish waste can add natural fertility (肥料)to the soil    7    hence promote rice output. Quan Xiping,another 59-year-old villager, was among the first in the village    8     (establish) a family-run hotel. Meanwhile, his son started an online specialty store, capitalizing on the rapid     9     (grow) of rural tourism in the area. His e-commerce business is working more efficiently due to the village’s    10     (rise) appeal.

8 . Borneo is home to some of the most extraordinary wildlife. Several years ago, I decided to go there for a visit. A local person offered to be my guide, which was a great bonus for me.

One day, my guide turned off the smooth road and took me across a ________ hillside instead. We picked our way carefully when ________, a Rafflesia (大王花) popped into my view among those stones. Oh, dear! More than ________, I bent down and put my nose practically inside the flower’s core.

________, to my surprise, it was only one of the ________ during the trip.

As I ________ the end of my trip, there was still something I had yet to see. We planned to ________ most feared creature there, the saltwater crocodile, which can grow to a ________ of 6 meters or more. When we shone a flashlight towards the muddy shore, little sounds ________ in the darkness as if something unseen underwater had broken the ________ Taking a second look, we spotted two greedy ________ just above the water line. As we drew near, it ________ and we saw clearly it was a crocodile. With great caution, we neared it and finally could ________ its true dimensions. It was a baby-no more than 0. 6 meter long. Aha, whatever, I could now report to the ________ back home, who had never been to Borneo, that I had ________ a hungry crocodile in the wild and lived to tell the tale.

The world out there is so fascinating. Don’t let work run your life. Why not step outdoors and enjoy the wonders nature offers to you?

1.

A．rolling

B．spectacular

C．rough

D．breathtaking

2.

A．suddenly

B．literally

C．definitely

D．ultimately

3.

A．alarmed

B．pleased

C．concerned

D．upset

4.

A．Nevertheless

B．Besides

C．Instead

D．Therefore

5.

A．desires

B．motivations

C．destinations

D．highlights

6.

A．suspended

B．suspected

C．approached

D．valued

7.

A．hold onto

B．pick up

C．reflect on

D．hunt for

8.

A．width

B．length

C．height

D．size

9.

A．emerged

B．paused

C．continued

D．declined

10.

A．mud

B．surface

C．ground

D．shore

11.

A．crocodiles

B．mouths

C．eyes

D．teeth

12.

A．moved

B．sank

C．hid

D．escaped

13.

A．work out

B．let out

C．figure out

D．make out

14.

A．victims

B．opponents

C．folks

D．guides

15.

A．challenged

B．encountered

C．terrified

D．chased

9 . 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。

In the 12th century, the Southern Song Dynasty moved its capital to Lin’an. Near Lin’an, on the banks of Lake Tai is the city of Suzhou. Given its location near the capital and its     1     (nature) beauty, Suzhou became a preferred place     2     (live). Thus, there were over 300 gardens     3     (build) here, and more than 60 are still in     4     (exist).

Among these gardens, the Humble Administrator’s Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) is the largest and the most famous, and water pools take up     5     third of its area.     6     (surround) the water pools is a luxuriant (繁茂的) group of flowers, plants, and trees, all carefully chosen according to the way their seasonal colors reflect off the sparkling water below. As is typical of Suzhou gardens, this garden     7     (separate) into different sections, offering various kinds of spaces     8     diverse shapes and sizes that represent different moods and feelings.

Since it is such a large garden, no simple description of the garden will do.     9     you have to do is to walk among the water and plants, enjoy every moment,     10     find your own treasures depending on your mood that day.

10 . Make the most of the pleasant weather and enjoy the best walk of the year with friends and family. Use your 2 for 1 Entry in some of our favorite landscape gardens for a memorable day out.

Painswick Rococo Garden

Find beauty and quietness at the UK's only complete surviving Rococo Garden. Discover fanciful garden flowers, woodland walks, and beautifully framed (镶框) views across the valley. Dogs on short leads are permitted and the shop offers a range of seasonal and local produce.

Book at rococogarden.org.uk.

Open: closed 1-25 March, open 26-31 March, 10 am-4 pm, last entry 2:30 pm.

Nymans Garden

Walk down Spring Walk packed with seasonal flowers and pleasant smells, and enjoy the hedge (树篱) topped with frost. Routes include those with plenty of level paths to follow around the garden. Dogs are welcome every day from 1:30 pm, with a festive treat provided.

Book at nationaltrust.org.uk/ nymans.

Open: daily except 24-25 March, 10 am-4 pm.

Ventnor Botanic Garden

Even in early spring, there are typically over 200 varieties of plants to be seen flowering as you explore the 27 acres. Enjoy access to the coastal path and routes accessible for wheelchairs, and then warm up with coffee milk in the cafe afterwards.

Book at botanic.co.uk.

Open: daily except 25 March, 9 am-4 pm.

Gibside Garden

Enjoy walking paths at this Georgian landscape garden, featuring plenty of wildlife. Follow the winding river and turning valley for fantastic views. up with hot chocolate and delicious biscuits in the second-hand bookshop.

Book at nationaltrust.org.uk/gibside.

Open: daily except 24 and 25 March, 10 am-4 pm.

1. What do Painswick Rococo Garden and Nymans Garden have in common?

A．Valley views.

B．Frosty flowers.

C．Seasonal produce.

D．Pet permission.

2. Which garden favors people with walking disability?

A．Painswick Rococo Garden.	B．Nymans Garden.
C．Ventnor Botanic Garden.	D．Gibside Garden.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In a research paper.	B．In a travel brochure.
C．In a science magazine.	D．In a geography textbook.