1 . Madagascar, the world’s second-largest island country located off Africa’s eastern coast, is an island of diverse ecosystems and a biodiversity hotspot. The country has unique wildlife, with 90% of its plants and animals found nowhere else. Madagascar’s wildlife creates some of the country’s most beautiful scenery and popular spots. One of its conspicuous landscapes, attracting tourists from almost all corners of the Earth, is the Avenue of the Baobabs in the Menabe region. This avenue is made up of numerous baobab trees along the dirt road linking Belon’i Tsiribihina and Morondava, creating a unique and beautiful setting.
Baobab trees are common throughout Madagascar. Of the Earth’s eight species, six are native to the country. Some of the baobabs in the country are about 2, 800 years old, with trunks rising to 150 feet. The avenue is a row of about 25 baobabs stretching about 260 meters. Other baobab trees are also found in the nearby pastures (牧草地). This road is one of Madagascar’s most visited places. It is also the most accessible place to see some of Africa’s oldest baobabs. These trees were once part of a forest that was made up of other plants. However, massive deforestation cleared the area of most trees, leaving the baobabs to grow alone.
The baobab trees along the road and the other species growing in the nearby areas are always under constant threat from the increasing population. The trees also face threats from polluted water from the nearby fields, forest fires, and bushfires. Despite being a popular tourist attraction, the Avenue of the Baobabs has no admission fee or visitor center and generates little money for local communities.
Thankfully, non-governmental organizations in partnership with the government have noticed the area and developed activities to protect the avenue. The Ministry of Environment, Ecology, and Forests declared it a temporary protected area in July 2007. In July 2015, the site was declared a national monument (国家保护区), the first in Madagascar. The government and local communities hope the trees can survive for additional 800 years.
1. What does the underlined word “conspicuous” in the first paragraph mean?| A．New. | B．Cultural. | C．Striking. | D．Changing. |
| A．It is a big forest. | B．It has eight baobab species. |
| C．It consists of many different plants. | D．It has Africa’s oldest baobabs. |
| A．The risk to local baobab trees. |
| B．Natural disasters in Madagascar. |
| C．Poor living conditions in Madagascar. |
| D．The quality customer service of the avenue. |
| A．Curiosity. | B．Caution. | C．Hopefulness. | D．Sympathy. |
2 . 13-Day Arnhem Land Adventure
Nhulunbuy-Darwin
From $12, 395 pp twin share (pp=per person)
Fully accommodated
Trip lasts from May to Sep. 2023
Call 1800：688 222
outbackspirittours. com. au
Discover an unknown land on this special adventure through the heart of Arnhem Land. Travelling from Nhulunbuy to Darwin, you’ll journey through areas that no other tour company can take you, and that few outsiders have ever seen. Along the way, stay in our network of luxurious safari camps (豪华的游猎营地) and wilderness houses, including the Seven Spirit Bay on the Cobourg Peninsula. As part of the adventure, you’ll also enjoy real cultural activities with indigenous (土著的) guides, learning about this place from those who know it best.
Most exciting parts of the adventure include:
·Spend 7 nights in our network of safari camps and houses
·Discover the Arafura Swamp, location for the film “Ten Canoes”
·View ancient rock art galleries and sail in wetlands at Davidson’s Arnhemland Safaris, Mount Borradaile
·Enjoy a Welcome to Country performance at Yirrkala
·Explore a historic Victoria Settlement at Port Essington, Circa 1838
·Discover the waters of the Cobourg Marine Park Sanctuary
·Fish for barramundi & enjoy breathtaking sea adventures
1. What do we know about this trip?| A．It starts at Arnhem Land. |
| B．It will be organised for September first. |
| C．It requires every visitor to spend at least $12,395. |
| D．It asks people to pay additional money for their accommodation. |
| A．Exploring Amhem Land deeply like other companies do. |
| B．Experiencing local culture with indigenous guides. |
| C．Travelling with experienced outsiders. |
| D．Making camp in the wild. |
| A．Having chances to cook fish alone. |
| B．Visiting historical sites at Yirrkala. |
| C．Spending nights at safari camps. |
| D．Taking part in making a film. |
3 . Not too hot, not too cold. Spring is the perfect time to visit Europe for ideal weather. The best European countries to visit in the spring include: France, Netherlands, Slovakia, Romania and so on.
France
As one of the most tourist-packed countries in Europe, France offers lesser crowds and more excellent weather during the spring months. Just outside of Paris are the impressive castles and country houses of Sccaux, whure the cherry blossom can easily be seen in spring.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is well-known for its vast fields of flowers, making spring a perfect time for a Dutch holiday. The tulip fields in the Noordoostpolder are a must. In Veluwe National Park, tourists will be rewarded with the sight of red deer eating grass. A' trip to the Netherlands would, of course, be incomplete without a visit to Amsterdam.
Slovakia
Slovakia is a wonderfully diverse country with rich cultural history and awe-inspiring natural sites. Slovak Paradise is a natural park that offers 19 nature reserves and over 350 caves. Due to its hot summers and cold winters, spring is a perfect time to explore all that Slovakia has to offer.
Romania
Romania hosts a variety of great cultural sites and lively cities, especially attractive during spring months. The Statue of King Decebalus, a 141-foot-high upper part of Decebalus carved into the side of a rock, is a wonderful attraction. Braov Old Town is one of' Europe's most charming destinations for those looking to escape the capital city of Bucharest.
1. What can tourists enjoy in both France and Netherlands?| A．Flowers. | B．Rocks. | C．Castles. | D．Deer. |
| A．France. | B．Netherlands. | C．Slovakia. | D．Romania. |
| A．History. | B．Education. | C．Geography. | D．Travel. |
4 . 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. |
5 . The Alice Springs Desert Park
If you can spend only one day to know Australian Outback, come to the Alice Springs Desert Park.
Free audio guide
On entering the gate, a staff will hand you your free audio guide (available in English, German and Japanese). All through the desert park you come across signs with numbers. You enter the number into your audio guide and press start. Listen to explanations about the habitat you are looking at, sounds of the animals that live here, stories from the early days told by local natives and so on
You can replay it if you don’t get it all. Just listen to what interests you, if and when you feel like it.
Shows and presentations
The most popular show is the “Birds of Hunting Show” in the Nature Theatre. In the little round theatre the birds are totally free in their natural environment. You have to remain seated during the show. The birds come right in, sometimes leaving only a couple of centimeters between their claws and your head. And they’ re fast!
The other presentations include native weapons use, tracking, or rare and endangered animals like mala, emu, and kangaroo. There being a huge variety, just pick what interests you and show up at the meeting point.
Food
There is a cafe, which offers a variety of yummy foods to the visitors, meat pies, beef and lamb include. Don’t leave the park without trying the widely popular Vegemite, a dark brown paste made from yeast extract.
Admission
The Park is open seven days a week from 7: 30 am to 6 pm (except Christmas Day). The entry fee is $ 20 for adults and $ 10 for children. Children under five are free and there is a discount for students and old people.
1. For what is each visitor to the park given an audio guide?| A．To know more about the park. | B．To find right roads for sightseeing. |
| C．To look for help when in trouble. | D．To keep them from animals’ attack. |
| A．Playing kangaroos. | B．Caged animals. |
| C．Hunting birds. | D．Native weapons. |
| A．$30 | B．$20 | C．$40 | D．$10 |
6 . Most Famous Libraries in the World
Trinity College Library
Designed by Thomas Burgh, the library is the largest in Ireland. Construction on the Long Room, the library’s 65-meter-long main hall, began in 1712 and lasted 20 years. The original structure only had books on the lower level, but when the library’s shelves were filled in the 1850s, the ceiling was raised to accommodate even more books. Today the Long Room holds 200,000 of the library’s oldest books.
Stuttgart City Library
Opened in 2011, the German library is a splendid light-gray cube consisting of glass blocks designed by Eun Young Yi. Inside it, you’ll find an airy central room, above which sits a multi-story stepped reading room lined with bookshelves. The library towers over the nearby buildings.
Library of Parliament
Taking the form of a Victorian Gothic chapter house complete with 16 flying buttresses, the 1876 Library of Parliament is one of Canada’s prized architectural treasures — it’s on the ten-dollar bill. Architects Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones took inspiration from the British Museum Reading Room for the structure, lining the central hall with delicate wood shelves and wood carvings.
Rampur Raza Library
Founded in the late 18th century, the Indian library is home to a massive collection of Islamic and Asian texts and objects. The pink structure that houses the collection today was built in 1904 by Nawab Hamid Ali Khan as a mansion of Indo-European style, The Rampur Raza Library was later shifted to this grand building in 1957.
1. Of the following libraries, which is the oldest?| A．Trinity College Library. | B．Library of Parliament. |
| C．Stuttgart City Library. | D．Rampur Raza Library. |
| A．Eun Young Yi. | B．Thomas Burgh. |
| C．Nawab Hamid Ali Khan. | D．Thomas Fuller and Chilion Jones. |
| A．They house the rarest books. | B．They were unusually designed. |
| C．They were expanded as needed. | D．They overlook surrounding buildings. |
7 . Every winter, the coldest places are often the hottest tourist spots. Being the famous ‘Ice City’, Harbin attracts visitors from home and abroad. Here are some places for you.
Ice and Snow World
The famous seasonal attraction is by far the largest ice and snow art exhibition in the world. The ice carvings at the Ice and Snow World are regarded some of the world’s finest examples of ice art. One of the highlights for visitors is the popular “super ice slide” attraction extended to 423 meters.
Yabuli International Ski Resort
The ski resort provides great skiing with high mountains and good snow. The period from November to late March of the next year is the best time to ski at Yabuli Ski Resort. Built according to international standard, it provides an excellent environment for professional skiers. There is also a slide where visitors can enjoy sliding down from the top of the snowy mountain. Doing skiing on the slide is easy and safe, bringing visitors a thrilling experience.
China Snow Town
It’s a good place for visitors to view the splendid snowscape. In winter, houses there are covered by snow with an average thickness of 6.6 feet, just like a white fairy wonderland. In addition to the beautiful natural scene, visitors can also enjoy the entertainment activities such as skiing, snowballing, and horse-sledding. At night, it must be an unforgettable experience to sleep on the traditional heated Kang bed piled up with bricks and warmed by fire in northern China.
Zhaolin Park
Located at the bank of Songhua River, it is the first park in Harbin. The ice festival and the ice lantern show renowned at home and abroad are held every winter here. When the night falls, the ice lanterns in the park combine light, sound and action in one, brilliant with a great variety of colors. The charming scenery makes visitors immerse in fantasies and forget to return home.
1. Where should visitors go to experience super ice slide?| A．Ice and Snow World. | B．Yabuli International Ski Resort. |
| C．China Snow Town. | D．Zhaolin Park. |
| A．In April. | B．In October. | C．In December. | D．In September. |
| A．They help you have a good sleep. | B．They hold an ice lantern show. |
| C．They offer entertainment activities. | D．They provide attractive scenery. |
8 . There are more Starbucks special drinks than you could ever dream of, and we're talking about the items that maybe aren't offered at your local shop but are offered at one of the other approximately 30，000 locations around the world. Depending on what country you are in, the menu may look a little different, so if you're planning a trip anytime soon, check out what fun drinks you may find!
Japan—Sakura Blossom Cream Latte
The drink is currently only available in Japan. Sakura, which means cherry blossom, is considered to be a symbol of regeneration and simplicity. It is the national flower of Japan, and Starbucks typically only has the drink available in the springtime.
The drink itself is just pink, with sakura sauce, cherry blossom milk jelly, and strawberry sauce or jelly used to create the pink color. The drinks also come in special cherry blossom－themed cups.
Vietnam—Dolce Misto
Starbucks created the Dolce Misto specifically for the Vietnamese market. “It's designed to bring Vietnamese customers a new flavor and respect for traditional Vietnamese coffee，” said the general director of Starbucks Vietnam on its release in 2015.
Dolce Misto is reportedly one of the strongest drinks in any Starbucks throughout the world. If sweet and strong is how you like your coffee and you live in Vietnam, this is the perfect Monday-afternoon pick-me-up for you.
Chile—Lemon Bar Frappuccino
Meant to be the perfect sweet-and-sour summer drink, Starbucks Chile offered a Lemon Bar Frappuccino for the summer of 2018. With the combination of vanilla bean and lemonade topped with caramel sugar and whipped cream, the drink was relatively well received, though some were disappointed there was no coffee in it. It's still unknown whether Starbucks will be bringing the limited edition drink back to Chile or anywhere for the summer of 2019.
1. When is Sakura Blossom Cream Latte accessible to customers in Japan?| A．October. | B．July. | C．December. | D．April. |
| A．It is available throughout the world. |
| B．It helps open the Vietnamese market. |
| C．It is a refreshing strong drink for customers. |
| D．It is a traditional Vietnamese coffee drink. |
| A．It offers sweet－and－sour taste. |
| B．It is a Starbucks drink without coffee. |
| C．It is one of the limited drinks in Chile. |
| D．It is uncertain whether Starbucks will bring it back. |
9 . Los Angeles is always a popular holiday destination. To fully enjoy your travel there, you should know its food, weather, and also traffic. While driving in L. A. is similar to that in other areas, there are a few specific rules to note.
HOV lanes (车道)
On many L. A. freeways, one or more lanes at the far left are used as high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. They usually have limited access and you can only enter or exit where there is a break in the double yellow line. Most HOV lanes require a minimum of two people in the car; some require three. Vehicles towing trailers (拖车) are NOT allowed in the HOV lane, regardless of how many people are in them.
Toll (收费) lanes
On certain freeways, the HOV lanes are double-purposed as toll lanes for people driving alone who have a FasTrak, an electronic toll collection system. Therefore, you also have to have one in that lane as a HOV, which is inconvenient if you’re just visiting. FasTrak is in effect on parts of the 110 freeway between the 405 and 10 freeways, and on parts of the 10 freeway east of Downtown L. A.
Cell phones
It is against the law to talk on a cell phone while driving without using a hands-free device. Holding a cell phone to your ear while driving will land you with a ticket.
Alcohol
Driving under the influence is taken seriously in L.A. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08%, but you can be charged with lower levels if they show you can’t function normally. Placing an opened bottle of alcohol in the passenger area while driving (or sitting) is illegal. Any opened container of alcohol has to be transported in the trunk.
1. What do you know about HOV lanes?| A．They encourage people to share cars. |
| B．They are on the far right of freeways. |
| C．They are intended for larger vehicles. |
| D．They allow cars to enter over the double yellow line. |
| A．Driving on the 110 freeway with a FasTrak. |
| B．Putting the cell phone in the car while driving. |
| C．Riding with an opened bottle of alcohol in back seats. |
| D．Going below the blood alcohol limit of 0. 08%. |
| A．A traffic law. | B．A road map. |
| C．A guidebook. | D．A report. |
