1 . Yellowstone National Park offers a variety of ranger programs throughout the park, and throughout the year. The following are descriptions of the ranger programs this summer.
Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone (May 26 to September 2)
Whether you’re hiking a backcountry trail (小径), camping, or just enjoying the park’s amazing wildlife from the road, this quick workshop is for you and your family. Learn where to look for animals and how to safely enjoy your wildlife watching experience. Meet at the Canyon Village Store.
Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics (June 5 to August 21)
Kids can test their skills and compare their abilities to the animals of Yellowstone. Stay for as little or as long as your plans allow. Meet in front of the Visitor Education Center.
Canyon Talks at Artist Point (June 9 to September 2)
From a classic viewpoint, enjoy Lower Falls, the Yellowstone River, and the breathtaking colors of the canyon (峡谷) while learning about the area’s natural and human history. Discover why artists and photographers continue to be drawn to this special place. Meet on the lower platform at Artist Point on the South Rim Drive for this short talk.
Photography Workshops (June 19 & July 10)
Enhance your photography skills — join Yellowstone’s park photographer for a hands-on program to inspire new and creative ways of enjoying the beauty and wonder of Yellowstone.
6/19 — Waterfalls &Wide Angles: meet at Artist Point.
7/10 — Wildflowers &White Balance: meet at Washburn Trailhead in Chittenden parking area.
1. Which of the four programs begins the earliest?A.Photography Workshops. | B.Junior Ranger Wildlife Olympics. |
C.Canyon Talks at Artist Point. | D.Experiencing Wildlife in Yellowstone. |
A.Works of famous artists. | B.Protection of wild animals. |
C.Basic photography skills. | D.History of the canyon area. |
A.Artist Point. | B.Washburn Trailhead. |
C.Canyon Village Store. | D.Visitor Education Center. |
Going to Mount Huangshan reminds me of the popular Beatles’ song “The Long and Winding Road”.
The hot spring at the foot of the mountain is something you must try after the climb. It will
What comes next is the endless series of steps. You can’t help wondering how hard it
As the song goes, this long and winding road “will never disappear”, and it will always stick in the visitor’s memory. It sure does in
3 . Family-Friendly Events in January
ZooLights: Glow Wild Jan. 1-19
The Phoenix Zoo’s yearly holiday light show is on until Jan. 19, allowing families one or more opportunities to enjoy the city’s zoo, with millions of lights giving an added dimension to the festivities.
Glow Wild, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. , Phoenix, phoenixzoo.org, $11. 95 members, $13. 95 general admission.
Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts Jan. 4-18
The Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts features the work of established and emerging artists, including those who create woodwork, metal crafts, food items, art, photography and gifts.
On Macdonald, off of Main Street in Downtown Mesa, dtmesafest.com, free admission.
Family Fun Winterfest Jan. 4
OdySea Aquarium in the Desert is hosting the third annual Family Fun Winterfest in its Desert Courtyard, featuring real snow for the kids to play in. This free event features everything from bounce houses to rides, games, snowflake crafts and face painting to go with various stands set up by local sellers, with food and other offerings for sale at the event.
9500 E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale, odyseainthedesert.com, free.Youth Fine Arts Course Jan. 18-Mar. 7
Mesa Arts Center is hosting an eight-week youth arts course on Saturdays to teach artistic skills and knowledge through fun and challenging art classes in a wide variety of art materials, including painting, drawing, mixed media and sculpture, ensuring mentally stimulating sessions for all.
Mesa Art Center, 1 E. Main St, Mesa, mesaartscenter.com, $93.1. How can you get a discounted ticket to the ZooLights show?
A.Bring a friend. | B.Get a membership. |
C.Join a tour group. | D.Book a ticket online. |
A.Have free food. | B.Take art classes. |
C.Enjoy real snow. | D.Meet local artists. |
A.ZooLights: Glow Wild. | B.Downtown Mesa Festival of the Arts. |
C.Youth Fine Arts Courses. | D.Family Fun Winterfest. |
4 . When it comes to my fathering lessons, few adventures compare to the motorcycle trips I’ve shared with my daughter, Ewa.
Our first
On our second day, we
Me: “We don’t know. ”
It
Since we almost
A.sail | B.flight | C.goal | D.journey |
A.avoided | B.chose | C.built | D.promoted |
A.straight | B.twisty | C.main | D.broad |
A.walking | B.running | C.riding | D.laughing |
A.settled | B.stopped | C.landed | D.moved |
A.population | B.rule | C.name | D.position |
A.occurred | B.happened | C.mattered | D.referred |
A.engineer | B.bicyclist | C.chemist | D.motorcyclist |
A.destination | B.reaction | C.exploration | D.explanation |
A.course | B.benefit | C.feature | D.present |
A.never | B.always | C.completely | D.absolutely |
A.satisfied | B.disappointed | C.surprised | D.frightened |
A.out | B.in | C.off | D.down |
A.grew | B.failed | C.waited | D.survived |
A.silent | B.smooth | C.careful | D.energetic |
5 . Potala Palace Travel Guide
Travel Tips● The travel route is set strictly.
● The visiting time is limited in 1 hour.
● Watch your steps due to the high altitude.
● Bring along an overcoat as it is a bit cold in the hall.
Notice● Oxygen bag is prohibited to be taken into the Palace.
● Smoking is prohibited and cigarettes are not allowed to be brought into the Palace
● Smartphones can be carried with you into the Palace, but please do not take photos.
● Liquid is not allowed, including mineral water, which can be purchased at the hill top.
Ticket Purchase ProcedureVisitors are required to apply for free reservation tickets with identity documents, such as ID cards and passports one day in advance.
The visiting date and exact time, number of visitors and ID document numbers are printed on the reservation tickets. Those visitors who have reservation tickets should make their tickets canceled if they can’t visit the Palace for personal reasons. Otherwise, they will be forbidden to apply again within a week because their names are added to the blacklist.
On the following day, visitors should have their reservation tickets and ID documents checked and walk to the ticket office in front of the White Palace to buy the entrance tickets. Then they can start their tour after another security check.
How to get to Potala Palace● Take bus 13 to Yaowangshan Bus Stop.
● Take bus 8 or 17 to Baita Bus Stop.
● Take bus 2, 16 or 26 to Lazhong Bus Stop.
● Take airport shuttle to Minhangju Bus Stop.
1. What can be brought into Potala Palace?A.Cigarettes. | B.Mineral water. | C.Smartphones. | D.Oxygen bags. |
A.He has to apply seven days later. |
B.He will pay a heavy fine online. |
C.He has to cancel his reservation ticket. |
D.He will take another security check. |
A.3. | B.4. | C.6. | D.7. |
Demand on tourism burst as the Minsu market’s recovery sped up during the May Day holiday. Oceans of tourists flooded into Zibo in China’s Shandong Province for its BBQ,
The Minsu in rural areas still gain
Among customers booking the Minsu in rural areas, the “post-80” and “post-90” generations are still the mainstream. The
7 . Longing for the most amazing places on the planet? You can do no wrong with these lakes across the globe.
Five Flower Lake
Set in the striking karst landscape of the Jiuzhaigou Valley in Sichuan province, China, Five Flower Lake is extraordinarily clear, with visibility to a depth of 40 metres. Five Flower is one of a series of blue-, green-and sky-colored lakes blocked by rock falls, but it differs from the others as its waters change color, looking sometimes yellow, sometimes green, but usually diamond blue. In winter, Five Flower never freezes; in summer, it never dries up. Local wildlife living in the surrounding mountain forests include the rare giant panda and the golden snub-nose monkey.
Crater Lake
The deep-blue waters of Crater Lake in Oregon, US, fill the outlet of an ancient volcano that collapsed 7,700 years ago. Its strangest occupant is the “Old Man of the Lake”, a nine-metre-tall tree stump(树桩), which has stood upright in the water for more than a century. No rivers or streams enter the lake. Water loss in summer is compensated by winter snow and rain, the entire body of water being replaced every 250 years.
Lake Ohrid
Ancient Lake Ohrid has been around for about five million years and crosses the mountainous border between Macedonia and Albania. It has unique plants and wildlife, including the Ohrid “plashica”, a fish native to the lake, whose scales(鳞片) are used to make Ohrid pearls.
Lake Maggiore
Surrounded on three sides by the Lipontine Alps and touching the plain of Lombardy to the south, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s longest lake. Considered part of the country’s lake district, it is shared with Switzerland. Characterized by a Mediterranean-style climate, temperatures here are mild all year. This has given rise to some of northern Italy’s most wonderful gardens, which appear to float like flower-decked boats on the water.
1. What makes Five Flower Lake different from other lakes?A.Its agreeable climate. | B.The rare local wildlife. |
C.Its color-changing waters. | D.The visibility of waters. |
A.By artificial rain. | B.By snow and rain. |
C.From nearby streams. | D.From an ancient tree. |
A.Five Flower Lake. | B.Crater Lake. |
C.Lake Ohrid. | D.Lake Maggiore. |
8 . Some free things to do in Bangkok to get more bang for your baht (泰铢).
Chatuchak Weekend Market
One of the largest markets in the world, Chatuchak is a simply unforgettable Bangkok experience, even if you don’t plan on buying anything. It’s free to visit and there are more than 15,000 stalls to explore from antiques and souvenirs to used trainers, miniature (微缩模型) food offerings for spirit houses and live frogs.
The full market operates from 9 am to 6 pm on Saturday and Sunday. You’d better arrive by 10 am to beat the crowds and the heat.
Papaya
Technically, many of the objects in this celebrated four-story antique store are for sale, but prices for the owner’s collection of 19th- and 20th-century artifacts are so astronomically high that the collection never seems to exhaust. Instead, many see Papaya as a museum of recent nostalgia (怀旧), and it’s a great place to browse without any pressure to buy.
Bangkok Doll Factory & Museum
This workshop was founded by Thai doll enthusiast Khunying Chandavimol in 1956 after she completed a doll-making course in Japan. Her dolls draw on Thai mythology and various historical periods, and the collection includes some 400 dolls from around the world, plus important pieces from her own workshop, where you can watch the figures being crafted by hand for free.
The museum is tricky to find; take a taxi from BTS Phaya Thai and get the driver to call the museum for directions.
Chinatown
Thick with the scent of traditional herbal medicines, Bangkok’s Chinatown offers a sensory experience that you won’t find anywhere else in the city. The narrow market alleys off Yaowarat Road are crammed with (塞满) bird’s-nest soup restaurants, dangling lanterns, gaudy gold and jade shops, and flashing neon signs in Chinese characters. It is Bangkok’s most crowded neighborhood, where half the fun is in getting completely lost.
1. Which of the following will be your best choice, if you are looking for a 1960s typewriter?A.Chatuchak or Papaya. |
B.Chatuchak or Chinatown. |
C.Papaya or Bangkok Doll Factory. |
D.Papaya or Chinatown. |
A.Chatuchak. | B.Papaya. |
C.Bangkok Doll Factory. | D.Chinatown. |
A.All of the objects for sale are expensive. |
B.Visitors can always find delicious food there. |
C.You can just window shop as you like. |
D.You are able to visit the places anytime. |
9 . Europe is one of the best travelling options for everyone. It’s rich in culture, and every country is distinct in beauty. Plus, the cuisine is not to be missed. Here are the best four European cities to travel to!
Vienna
The capital of Austria, Vienna, is the largest city in the country, and it’s also a cultural, economic and political center. It is known as the city of music and the city of dreams, being an important place for Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. It’s also considered one of the cities in the world which is suitable for living and where the quality of life is high.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital of Germany and is the place of culture, politics, media and science. It holds a strong history, and you can learn many things about the city’s contributions to the whole world. Travelling to Berlin is quite easy, given that it’s an accessible city and you have plenty of affordable options such as trains, trams, buses and the metro.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark and is known to be one of the most sustainable cities in the world. It’s full of Michelin-starred restaurants, has plenty of museums and holds the Copenhagen Fashion Week, which is the largest fashion event in Northern Europe.
Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is known for the number of canals that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. These are also the main attraction of the city, but that’s not all. The good thing about Amsterdam is that you can visit it by bike, as it has one of the best networks of cycle routes in the world.
1. Which is not a reason for traveling to Europe?A.Yummy food. | B.Natural scenery. | C.Adequate culture. | D.Good transportation. |
A.Vienna. | B.Berlin. | C.Copenhagen. | D.Amsterdam. |
A.Vienna wins a reputation for being livable. |
B.Berlin is less influential compared to others. |
C.Copenhagen is modern but not eco-friendly. |
D.Transportation can be an issue in Amsterdam. |
10 . Everybody knows that Massachusetts is a great place to see fall leaves. But surely there are other places to catch the leaves turning green to reddish-golden? The short answer is yes.
Aspen, Colorado
Aspen—as its name suggests—doesn’t fail to impress with its backdrop of majestic snow-capped mountains. Head to the Maroon Bells to look into mirror-like lakes to see double: on a calm day, the mountains and trees are reflected in the still waters.
Bavaria, Germany
Take a trip into a Brothers Grimm fairytale. Not only can you catch breathtaking views—such as castles emerging from red, green and golden trees—but you can experience the region’s fall traditions, such as the “Almabtrieb” event, bringing in the cattle from the grasslands, and local parish (教区) fairs, called “Kirchweih-Feste” where beer is everywhere.
Catskills, Upstate New York
If spotting fall in one state isn’t enough, head to the Catskills, where you can see five states at once. Head to the Northern Catskills of Greene County, to the “Five State Lookout” in Windham, where you can view treetops in New York, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, as well as beautiful scenery of the Hudson River Valley.
Edinburgh, Scotland
This city is made for fall with its tree-lined streets and big open parks. Head to Princes Street Gardens, which is home to some of the city’s most typical monuments, such as the storybook-style Gardeners’ Cottage and the Scott Monument, or take a hike through Holyrood Park, marveling as the russet tones (红褐色) cover the rolling hills which climb up to the famed Arthurs Seat offering full views of the city and beyond.
1. What is a special view of the Maroon Bells?A.Typical monuments in Scottish style. |
B.Beautiful castles among golden trees. |
C.Clear lakes with reflections of surroundings. |
D.Mountains completely covered with snow. |
A.Aspen, Colorado. | B.Catskills, Upstate New York. |
C.Bavaria, Germany. | D.Edinburgh, Scotland. |
A.To explain how to develop hobbies in the fall. |
B.To stress the importance of traveling in the fall. |
C.To introduce some places to appreciate fall leaves. |
D.To describe how lo enjoy fall leaves with your own eyes. |