1 . Insider Flight Tips for Your Journey
Anyone can book a trip, but not everyone can plan an ultimate adventure that is affordable, accommodating and fun. At www. tripinsiders. org, we aim to provide you with the best insider secrets in the travel business. And on this website, we also offer a state-of-the-art travel comparison tool to make planning easier than ever. Here are some insider tips that we'd like to share with you about flights.
Look for Glitch (小故障) Fares
Online booking systems for airfare don’t come without a pricing mistake every once in a while. Follow deal-minded travel sites and blogs to learn about pricing mistakes that work in your favor. This is the most useful if you live near a major airport and have a flexible schedule.
Consider Alternate Airports
Some major cities have more than one airport, so make sure to check them all for the cheapest fares. For example, if you’re planning to visit the Bay Area of California, check for rates in both San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport.
Cross the Border by Land
Domestic flights are often cheaper than international ones, so if you live near a border and want to fly to a neighboring country, you can save by crossing the border by land and then catching a domestic flight. For example, Toronto residents may save by crossing the American border into Buffalo and then flying to another American city.
Use a Digital Luggage Scale
There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that your bag is too heavy to fly or that it’ll cost you extra when you arrive at the airport. Digital luggage scales are great for making sure that you’re not going over the baggage limit with your new souvenirs.
1. What is the main purpose of www.tripinsiders.org ?| A．To recommend travel websites. | B．To fund the travel business. |
| C．To advertise a travel agency. | D．To uncover travel business secrets. |
| A．Selecting airports. | B．Flying the border. |
| C．Carrying more baggage. | D．Having a fixed schedule. |
| A．They cover all aspects of a trip. | B．They help travelers save money. |
| C．They merely apply to businessmen. | D．They are only for Toronto residents. |
2 . Check out these places and have the vacation of a lifetime in Greece!
Lovely Ithaca
Located on the Ionian Sea, Ithaca is a combination of the greenest landscapes in Greece, the most wonderful swimming waters and a lively local atmosphere. When going around the narrow island, you will be attracted by the hilltop village Stavros and the beautiful fishing village Frikes. For motorists, Kaminia beach, hidden in a peaceful cove, is the perfect destination for a day of relaxation.
Breathtaking Meteora
Although when you go to Greece, you often go to the beaches and islands, one of the must-visit destinations in Greece is definitely the breathtakingly beautiful Meteora, located on the mainland next to the village of Kalabaka. It is a natural attraction and the second most important monastic area in Greece, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meteora’s landscape is made special by the rocks shaped like columns (柱状物) over time, on which the Monasteries (修道院) of the area were built around the 14th and 16th centuries.
Ios — the favorite destination of the future
Ios may be left out of many people’s plans as it is known as a party island, but in fact the party season only lasts from about half of June to mid-August. In the off-season, the island is very quiet compared to popular destinations such as Santorini. Of course, Ios is an absolute destination for party-goers even in midsummer. Ios is dotted with a number of small churches. What makes Ios interesting is its setting for an ideal holiday without crowds and noise. Here is a guaranteed hit of the future, waiting to be discovered!
1. Where is Kaminia beach located?| A．In Ios. | B．In Ithaca. | C．In Santorini. | D．In Meteora. |
| A．Historical buildings. | B．Special local foods. |
| C．Beaches and islands. | D．Beautiful fishing villages. |
| A．There are many places of interest. | B．It is popular with party-goers. |
| C．People can swim in wonderful waters. | D．There are column-shaped rocks. |
| A．In Oregon. | B．In Alaska. | C．In Washington. |
4 . There are many bridges on the Thames in London; the following are among the most famous ones.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge has stood over the Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most recognisable bridges in the world. It is the bridge in London you may see in movies and on advertising writing for London. Tower Bridge is the only Thames bridge that can be raised. It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week.
London Bridge
The construction of the first stone London Bridge started in 1176 and finished years later. Houses and shops were once built on the bridge, which made the road so narrow that it was often jammed with people, horses and carts. A “keep left” rule was made in 1733 to keep the traffic moving. This became the rule of the road in Britain. In 1757 the old bridge was pulled down and a new one was built in 1831. Interestingly, that one was pulled down again in 1967 but rebuilt in Lake Havasu City, the USA, as a tourist attraction. The present London Bridge was opened in 1973.
Millennium Bridge
Millennium Bridge is a bridge for walkers. Almost immediately after its opening, the bridge had to be shut because of the dangerous waving caused by too many visitors. It has now been reopened. The bridge is about 320 metres, costs 16 million pounds to build and only takes walkers.
Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the Thames between Westminster and Lambeth. The present bridge, opened in 1862, is the second on the site and took the place of an earlier bridge opened in 1750. The British romantic poet, William Wordsworth, wrote a famous poem composed upon Westminster Bridge in the autumn of 1802.
1. If there were a huge ship on the Thames, which of the following could it run through?| A．Westminster Bridge. | B．Millennium Bridge. |
| C．Tower Bridge. | D．London Bridge. |
| A．London Bridge was often very crowded. |
| B．Tower Bridge is the oldest one among the four bridges. |
| C．Millennium Bridge is a dangerous bridge. |
| D．William Wordsworth likes Westminster Bridge most among the four bridges. |
| A．The 1831 London Bridge is in the USA. |
| B．Tower Bridge is much less frequently lifted today than before. |
| C．Cars and buses are not allowed to cross Millennium Bridge. |
| D．Millennium Bridge is for walkers only. |
5 . Wales is the perfect get-away-from-it-all type of destination that allows you to embrace a whole new world, providing relaxation and excitement. These are the best things to do right now.
Climb to the top of Wales
Place: Mount Snowdon, Snowdonia National Park
It is the highest mountain in Wales. Climbing Mount Snowdon takes anywhere between five and seven hours, but the 1,085-metre peak offers the most magnificent views. Heading this way in winter is a no-no but the mountain gets plenty busy through spring, summer and autumn, with more than half a million hikers dragging themselves up to the top every year.
Learn to pronounce the longest town name in the UK
Place: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwllllantysiliogogog, Anglesey
It is a small village with a famously tongue-twisting name. Originally called Llanfair Pwllgwyngll, the name of this village was extended in the hope of attracting tourists to its town. In that regard, it has been a success. There isn't much to do here beyond sitting in a couple of pubs or wandering around.
Go on a sporting Journey in the capital
Place: Cardiff
There may be more important things when it comes to history and tradition, but it doesn't get much more thrilling than visiting the capital on a major rugby or football occasion. Cardiff is at its best when the dragons are doing battle at the Principality Stadium, and the pubs and bars of the city evolve into an entirely different beast.
Visit the smallest house in Great Britain
Place: Conwy, Gwynedd
It is a bright red house that was once home to a very tall fisherman. Conwy is a beautiful town, famous for its castle. The red house is said to be the smallest in Great Britain. A woman in traditional Welsh clothing waits outside the house and tours of the tiny house cost just £l.
1. What can we know about Mount Snowdon| A．It's very busy all year round. | B．It attracts many climbers. |
| C．It's the highest Mountain in the UK. | D．It takes 8 hours to reach the top. |
| A．Visiting a historical town. | B．Taking a £l worth of tour. |
| C．Wandering around a village. | D．Appreciating magnificent views. |
| A．Mount Snowdon | B．Cardiff |
| C．Llanfair Pwllgwyngll | D．Conwy |
1. What encouraged the man and his wife to go to the Antarctic?
| A．An article. | B．A training course. | C．A TV program. |
| A．Living in extreme temperature. |
| B．Coming across a terrible wind. |
| C．Falling into ice holes. |
| A．The equipment. | B．The plane. | C．The wind. |
| A．They got some fresh food. |
| B．They could leave the Antarctic earlier. |
| C．Someone was living out there near them. |
7 . Love sugar-white sand beaches? Whether you’re looking to ski down the side of a mountain or surf in the sunshine, you’ll find the following four places in the best winter travel destination (目的地) list.
Best for: Families and water babies
The newly-built Coral Towers at the Atlantis resort (旅游胜地) in Paradise Island, Bahamas, with new next-door neighbor Marina Village, an open-air shopping and dining marketplace, are just two of the newest reasons to visit this Caribbean popular travel destination. Don’t forget about Aquaventure, the world’s largest open-air water park. With the average winter temperatures between the mid 60°F and high 70°F, it’s a perfect place to escape the cold.
Best for: Winter sports lovers
Known as “Ski City” because of its position as the gateway to “the Greatest Snow on Earth” at four of the U. S.A.’s best ski resorts — Alta, Brighton, Snowbird, and Solitude — Salt Lake City welcomes winter sports lovers all around the world. In addition to wonderful skiing and snowboarding tracks, Utah Olympic Park offers an unforgettable experience that will make you feel like an Olympian in training.
Best for: Adventurers
Iceland in the winter is simply dreamy and temperatures aren’t as cool as you might think. Plus, there’s no better time than winter to view the Northern Lights. Short winter days mean you’ll have an even greater chance to catch the magic. An increasing number of flights in and out of Reykjavik make it easier than ever to visit.
Best for: Families and theme park lovers
Whether you come for the Pro Bowl in January, the new Toy Story land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Supercharged ride at Universal Studios Florida, Orlando is yet another warm-weather destination for winter travel. The weather is at its best and the crowds are at their thinnest.
1. Which of the following is a good place for shopping?| A．Iceland. | B．Aquaventure. |
| C．Marina Village. | D．Ski City. |
| A．The new Toy Story land. | B．Sugar-white sand beaches. |
| C．An open-air dinning marketplace. | D．The magic of the Northern Lights. |
| A．Salt Lake City | B．Orlando |
| C．Reykjavik | D．Brighton |
1. What is the setting of the picture?
| A．A zoo. | B．A mountain. | C．A garden. |
| A．To take some pictures. |
| B．To do some sightseeing. |
| C．To study animals |
内容包括:1. 自我介绍；
2. 推荐理由:历史悠久、景色优美、文化丰富、市民友好、小吃多样；
3. 你的祝愿。
注意:1. 字数不少于100；
2. 适当加入细节，使内容充实、行文连贯。
Dear Kerry,
I’m Li Hua, a student from Chongqing. I’m very glad to have read the post that you put on the English Forum.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
10 . Here are some must-know festivals from a handbook which you cannot miss in some Asia countries.
Singapore Night Festival
Aug. 17-25 The annual Singapore Night Festival is a celebration of the island nation’s arts and cultural heritage (遗产). A highlight of the festival is the interactive light show that transforms the front of surrounding buildings into artistic wonders. http://www.nightfestival. com
Royal Floria
Aug. 25-Sep. 2 This year’s event marks the 10th anniversary of the Royal Floria in Putrajaya, with more than 400,000 floral displays. Floral designers and landscape architects from 10 countries are set to show their talent with their arts and cultural creations. http://www.floriaputrajaya. com
Tet Trung Nguyen
Aug. 25 It is believed that during Tet Trung Nguyen (Ghost Festival), spirits of the dead return home in search of their loved ones. Vietnamese pay homage(敬意) to their ancestors during the festivals by preparing feasts as prayer offerings. http://www.vietnamtourism.com
George Town Festival
Aug. 4-Sep. 2 The George Town Festival was inaugurated(创立) in 2010 in conjunction with the city’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It has become one of the region’s important cultural festivals, showing myriad events that include musical performances, art exhibitions and film screenings taking place across multiple venues. http://www.georgetownfestival.com
1. The celebration of Singapore Night Festival lasts .| A．eight days | B．nine days |
| C．ten days | D．eleven days |
| A．Singapore Night Festival. | B．Tet Trung Nguyen. |
| C．Royal Floria. | D．George Town Festival. |
| A．From a handbook. | B．From a magazine. |
| C．From UNESCO. | D．From the websites. |
