1 . Surrounded by a charming poplar forest in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a woman dressed in silk, dances under falling golden poplar leaves, looking like a “fairy” from myth(神话). This is a scene from a video that has caught the attention of Chinese netizens who have seen it as one of the most beautiful tourism promotions on social media.
This elegant lady is not an actress but the director of the Xayar County(县)Bureau of Culture, Sports and Tourism—Renaguli Reheman. Reheman recalled that the idea to introduce Xayar county’s plentiful tourism resources through short videos was inspired by another official in Zhaosu county in Xinjiang whose short video of him riding a horse in the snow successfully helped to promote local tourism.
Reheman said shooting the videos was not easy. Thinking that having her ride a camel would be a good fit for a desert tourism promotion, she decided to challenge herself by riding the tall animal even though she was afraid of falling off. While promoting a scenic(风景优美) highway near the poplar forest, Reheman spent two days learning to ride a motorcycle.
Reheman is just one of the many local officials who are promoting county tourism with fresh ideas and creative methods. This new tourism promotion model has brought local tourism industries to life and more officials are learning from it through the county.
1. What is the woman mentioned in Paragraph 1?| A．A local official. | B．An actress. |
| C．A photographer. | D．An environmentalist. |
| A．Caring and generous. | B．Brave and confident. |
| C．Creative and hardworking. | D．Humorous and kind. |
| A．From her friends. |
| B．From a tourist. |
| C．From a famous director. |
| D．From a video by another official. |
| A．Being a Star with the Short Video |
| B．Tourism Booming After the Promotion |
| C．A Great Idea Changing the Poplar Forest |
| D．A Xinjiang Local Official Promoting Local Tourism |
2 . The National Gallery
Description:
The National Gallery is the British national art museum built on the north side of Trafalgar Square in London. It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of European art ranging from the 13th-century religious paintings to more modern ones by Renoir and Van Gogh. The older collections of the gallery are reached through the main entrance while the more modern works in the East Wing are most easily reached from Trafalgar Square by a ground floor entrance.
Layout (布局):
The modern Sainsbury Wing on the western side of the building houses the 13th-to 15th-century paintings, and artists include Duccio, Uccello, Van Eyck, Lippi, Mantegna, Botticelli and Memling.
The main West Wing houses the 16th-century paintings, and artists include Leonardo da Vinci, Cranach, Michelangelo, Raphael, Bruegel, Bronzino, Titan and Veronese.
The North Wing houses the 17th-century paintings, and artists include Caravaggio, Rubens, Poussin, Van Dyck, Velazquez, Claude and Vermeer.
The East Wing houses the 18th-to early 20th-century paintings, and artists include Canaletto, Goya, Turner, Constable, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Opening Hours:
The gallery is open every day from 10 am to 6 pm (Fridays 10 am to 9 pm) and is free, but charges apply to some special exhibitions.
Getting There:
Nearest underground stations: Charing Cross (2-minute walk), Leicester Square (3-minute walk), Embankment (7-minute walk), and Piccadilly Circus (8-minute walk).
1. Which subway station is the farthest from the National Gallery?| A．Charing Cross. | B．Piccadilly Circus. |
| C．Leicester Square. | D．Embankment. |
| A．In the East Wing. | B．In the main West Wing. |
| C．In the Sainsbury Wing. | D．In the North Wing. |
| A．It is open for eight hours every day except Saturday and Sunday. |
| B．You should pay to enter it and charges apply to all of the exhibitions. |
| C．It houses a diverse collection of more than 2,300 examples of art worldwide. |
| D．You can have access to the more modern collections by a ground floor entrance. |
3 . The cost of living in countries like the US, Britain, Australia or France has skyrocketed in recent years. However, if you’re willing to leave your country and explore life in other areas, there are many countries boasting an extremely cheap and low cost of living. Check out the following countries when planning your next move.
Ecuador
Ecuador is similar to the United States in many ways, and as a result has become a popular American getaway. They even use the US Dollar for their currency. In this country, it’s cheaper to eat out every day than cook for yourself on a budget in the US. You can even buy a building for around $ 50, 000 and hire someone to look after it while you’re away.
Mexico
Although the country is known for its poverty ridden streets, there $are many wealthier areas that provide every facility you might need. You can live off a mere $ 700 to $ 800 a month in Mexico, and this includes rent for a nice place, facilities, food, and any sightseeing.
Argentina
Argentina has been a popular tourist destination for many years. It has great restaurants, a rich history, and many places to explore. Not to mention, it’s not very expensive to live here. A decent sized home can cost around $ 139, 000, which is relatively cheap in relation to homes in the United States.
Vietnam
Vietnam has also become a popular tourist destination in recent years. There are many million-dollar luxury homes by the beach, but you can find a modest flat or a small home for around $ 25,000 to $ 50,000 if you search in the right areas.
1. In which country is the US Dollar used for its currency?| A．Argentina. | B．Mexico. |
| C．Ecuador. | D．Vietnam. |
| A．About $ 7,000. | B．About $ 8,000. |
| C．About $ 8,800. | D．About $ 12,000. |
| A．They have great restaurants. |
| B．The cost of living is expensive. |
| C．The middle-sized homes cost around $ 139,000. |
| D．Tourists enjoy travelling in the two countries. |
4 . Famous modern Chinese buildings
Beijing International Airport
The first place most visitors see when they arrive in China is Beijing International Airport. The airport was built in the 1950s. It has an indoor garden, a children’s playground, and over 70 food businesses in Terminal 3 alone.
Shanghai World Financial Center
Completed in 2008, SWFC took over 10 years to complete as a result of financial shortages and construction (建造) delays. Since its completion, it has won countless architectural (建筑) awards
Tourists are welcome at SWFC’S viewing platform, which at 474 meters above ground is the world’s highest closed viewing platform.
The Water Cube
Completed in 2008, it was constructed for use during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Now visitors can express surprise at the architecture of the building. They can enjoy the indoor atmosphere as well.
Among the offerings of the Water Cube are a restaurant and bar, a shopping area, and Water World, a family water park.
The Bird’s Nest, Beijing
It was designed mainly for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics which was completed in 2008. It can hold up to 80, 000 people and has been used for a winter theme park. Nowadays, its main income is as a tourist attraction. It draws more than 20, 000 tourists every day.
National Center for the Performing Arts
It was completed in 2007. The building is surrounded by a man-made lake, requiring guests to enter via (通过) an underground hallway. It is home to an Opera House, a Concert Hall, and a Theater.
1. Which of the following buildings was first constructed?| A．Beijing International Airport | B．Shanghai World Financial Center |
| C．The Water Cube | D．The Bird’s Nest, Beijing. |
| A．It needed more construction workers | B．It was short of enough money |
| C．It added an extra viewing platform | D．It faced too much terrible weather |
| A．By renting the winter theme park | B．By increasing its opening time. |
| C．By charging tourists for admission fees | D．By giving some live concerts |
| A．Enjoy sports events. | B．Play musical instruments |
| C．Attend science lectures | D．Watch different performances. |
5 . Troia Gale, near Lisbon
Type: Sandy
Lifeguard: Yes
Cafe: Yes
It takes about an hour to get to Lisbon. It is the easiest to take a ferry (渡船) from Setubal town, but it’s also possible to drive there in just over an hour, through the resort (旅游胜地) of Comporta. Troia Gale beach is quiet and has a wonderful location, with views of the Arrabida mountains. The Atlantic is calmer in this part, and good for swimming. The Troia Residence has apartments near the ocean—from $107 in June.
Posedarje, near Zadar
Type: Rocky
Lifeguard: No
Cafe: Yes
There are more beautiful spots in Croatia, but this beach, 25 km from Zadar in the shadow of the Velebit mountains, has a family atmosphere and beautifully clear water. Book a sea-facing room at Posedarje’s only hotel, Lucija [ doubles from about $80 including bed and breakfast (B&B) ], whose simple rooms are in a wonderful position on a private, stony swimming and sunbathing area.
Playa de Carnota, Galicia
Type: Sandy
Lifeguard: No
Cafe: A Morosa
About 7 km long, this beach is considered the longest in Galicia. Far from any urban area, it has brilliant white sand and mountain views. The beach is usually quietrarely visited even by locals, and is a very impressive place to appreciate the Galician coastline. It is accessible (可进入的) bycar but lacks facilities (设备) like showers. Stayat Casa Rural San Cibran (doubles from $50B&B). A 15-minute drive north.
Play de Calblanque, Murcia
Type: Sandy
Lifeguard: 11 am - 8 pm
Cafe: Din’s Bar
Play de Calblanque is part of a natural reserve, which, in 1987, was declared a protected zone for its large numbers of animals and plants. The waters are clear and the sand is golden Most importantly, however, unlike many beaches on the Mediterranean Sea, Calblanque is never full. Be aware that it is not accessible by car in July and August. Stay in the city at the NH Cartagena (doubles from $90 only).
1. What can we learn about Posedarje from the text?| A．It is the longest beach in Croatia. | B．It is quiet and good for diving. |
| C．Tourists can’t take a shower there. | D．Its only hotel named Lucija is beside the sea. |
| A．Drive there from Casa Rural San Cibran. | B．Discover a wide variety of plants and animals. |
| C．Find the beach often crowded with tourists. | D．Rent a car and drive to the beach in August. |
| A．Tourists can have coffee in these places. | B．There are lifeguards in all of them. |
| C．Their hotels provide B&B services. | D．The four beaches are all sandy. |
6 . Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.
AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £ 169. 15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £ 118.15.
If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid--- or you're looking for a big event to pass your time--- check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.
STAYAWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.
Don't be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge's Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £ 95.95 . A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £ 75.75 . And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £ 62.95 .
LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London. Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As a choice consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen, where you can cook. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city centre buildings. A great example is the historic O'Neill Flat on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, available for £ 420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults.
GET ON A BIKE London’s "Boris bikes' have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programs that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.
Among the smaller cities with their own programs are Newcastle (casual members pay around £ 1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).
1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________.| A．help travelers pass time |
| B．attract lots of travelers to the UK |
| C．allow travelers to make flexible plans |
| D．cause travelers to pay more for accommodation |
| A．a hotel away from the train station | B．the tube line to Covent Garden |
| C．an ideal holiday destination | D．the name of a travel agency |
| A．lies on the ground floor |
| B．is located in central London |
| C．provides cooking facilities for tourists |
| D．costs over £100 on average per day in late September |
| A．half an hour | B．one hour |
| C．one hour and a half | D．two hours |
| A．to tell visitors how to book in advance |
| B．to supply visitors with hotel information |
| C．to show visitors the importance of self-help |
| D．to offer visitors some money-saving tips |
