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.

2. What do we know about the Avenue of the Baobabs?

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.

3. What does paragraph 3 mainly talk about?

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.

4. What kind of feeling is expressed in the last paragraph?

A．Curiosity.

B．Caution.

C．Hopefulness.

D．Sympathy.

2 . If you want to be sure you make the most of your holiday in Australia, here are some of the best places to visit.

Great Barrier Reef

The only living thing on Earth visible from space, the Great Barrier Reef was born 25 million years ago. The world’s largest reef system stretches for 3, 000 kilometers(1, 865 miles)off the Queensland coast and has 400 types of coral and 1, 500 species of tropical fish.

Along with diving and snorkeling, you can also fish and island hop.

Uluru

Uluru is a sacred site to the native Anangu people. It’s 450 kilometers (280 miles) southwest of Alice Springs in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. While it is closed to climbers now, it remains a spectacular place to visit with many other activities that will still be available in the park. It is a truly beautiful and spiritual place. You don’t need to climb it to experience that.

Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains are about two hours west of Sydney by car. They contain some of the world’s oldest species of plants—including Wollemi pines, which are the botanical equivalent (同等物)of dinosaurs. Soaring forests, canyons, sandstone cliffs and waterfalls are some of the major draws for outdoor enthusiasts, and the hiking here is spectacular.

Rottnest Island

Family-friendly Rottnest Island, affectionately called “Rotto” by the locals, is a quick 25-minute ferry ride from the Western Australia port town of Fremantle or 90 minutes from Perth’s Barrack Street Jetty. Why go there? For one thing, it’s an escape from cars. Instead, you can get around by bike, and more than 60 beaches await you as you pedal your way through paradise. There’s also snorkeling, diving, whale watching and hiking.

1. What can we know about the Great Barrier Reef?

A．It has 3, 000 types of coral.

B．It contains 1, 500 tropical fish.

C．It has a history of 25 billion years.

D．It can be seen from space.

2. What do both Blue Mountains and Rottnest Island offer?

A．Hiking.	B．Diving.
C．Watching whales.	D．Watching dinosaurs.

3. In which section of a newspaper may the text probably appear?

A．Geography.

B．Entertainment.

C．Travel.

D．History.

3 . One of the most beautiful and fantastic destinations to visit is a beach. The tranquility and comfort at the beach are unmatched. It is hard to list the top beaches in the world because tourists have diverse tastes. This article highlights some of the most gorgeous beaches to visit in the world.

Nungwi Beach, Tanzania:

Nungwi is a popular beach location on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar, located at the island’s northwestern tip. Nungwi Beach has beautiful features such as lovely clean waves from something like the Indian Ocean and smooth whites and. It is also known for its crystal blue waters and exotic flora and fauna. It has amazing sunset views, and all restaurants and clubs on the beach are open until late hours. On the powdery sand, you can take in the ocean scenery while participating in other beach activities.

White-haven Beach, Queensland, Australia:

The largest beach in the Whitsundays is White-haven; this gorgeous beach is incomparable in Australia. This beach has beautiful whites and that is 98 percent pure silica. It makes the sand incredibly smooth and delicate. Even on days when the weather is very hot, walking barefoot is comfortable because it doesn’t absorb heat like other types of sand beaches do. Travelers really do need to take the opportunity to visit this beach.

       Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, The Bahamas:

On Harbour Island in the Bahamas is the pinks and beach. Because of its pink sands, this beach is very attractive and unique. A microscopic organism with a reddish-pink shell known as a foraminifera (有孔虫类) is the source of the pinks and beach’s color on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. Swimming in this beach is slightly safer because the blue water in this area is usually calm and shallow due to the protection provided by the surrounding beaches.

1. What can we learn about the three beaches?

A．Nungwi Beach is famous only for its clean waves.

B．You can enjoy late night activities on White-haven Beach.

C．Among the three beaches, Pink Sand Beach is the most attractive.

D．It still feels good to walk barefoot on White-haven Beach even on hot days.

2. What made the Pink Sand Beach special?

A．Its pink sands and cooling weather.	B．Its pink and smooth sands.
C．Its pink sands and less dangerous water.	D．Its pink sands and blue water.

3. Where can the text be found?

A．In an advertisement.	B．In a travel brochure.
C．In a geography book.	D．In a fashion magazine

4 . Enjoy Fresh Air

Namba Parks, Osaka, Japan

Architects creating Namba Parks shopping mall in Osaka showed that you needn’t sacrifice (牺牲) green spaces for commercial (商业的) development.

The shopping center, built in 2003, provides eight floors of commercial space for cinemas, stores, events and restaurants.

The garden at its top begins at street level. Visitors are treated to green spaces and there is no money necessary to enjoy the simple pleasures.

Promenade Plantee, Paris, France

The space was developed on a disused railway line and runs from the Opera Bastille to the Bois de Vincennes in the city.

Around 1.5 km of the park is higher than the street, with other parts at street level, even passing through disused railway tunnels (隧道).

The project began in 1988 and finished in 1994 and the space is now home to many trees and plants, including bamboo and cherry trees.

Jurong Lake Gardens, Singapore, Singapore

Jurong Lake Gardens is a 90-hectare green space in the heart of Singapore. Although some areas are still under development, the first part opened in 2019.

The gardens were developed with nature and community in mind — with a large 2.3-hectare play area for children. The park has also developed a learning program to help educate students about biodiversity (生物多样性).

The High Line, New York, USA

You’ve probably heard of Central Park in New York. But did you know this is only the fifth largest park in New York, a city that has 180 state parks in total?

Wanting to increase its biodiversity further, city planners also created a city park known as the High Line between 2009 and 2019. This 2-kilometer public park was built on a disused railway line and is now home to over 150,000 plants and trees.

1. Why is Namba Parks special?

A．It serves as a shopping center.	B．It is still under development.
C．It is the fifth largest park in Japan.	D．It includes different parks in Osaka.

2. What do Promenade Plantee and The High Line have in common?

A．They were created by architects from Singapore.

B．They are famous for learning programs.

C．They were private gardens at first.

D．They are ‘on old railway lines.

3. Which park is the oldest?

A．Namba Parks.	B．Promenade Plantee.
C．Jurong Lake Gardens	D．The High Line.

8 . Want to relax yourselves and broaden your horizon? Here are several recommended trips that you cannot miss!

Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology
Start a journey to a destination where beauty and spirituality intertwine within the landscapes and the people that live there. Make a pilgrimage (朝圣) to the cliffside town high above the Paro Valley and hike through rural villages and farms, stopping to interact with locals. You’ll also visit Buddhist temples to participate in centuries-old ceremonies.	Duration: 11 DAYS Cost: $10,995 Trip Type: Culture & Landscape Activity Level: High Group Size: Max 25
Costa Rica: Wildlife and Conservation
Encounter a wide range of wildlife, from white-faced capuchins and howler monkeys to thousands of butterflies. Join researchers in the field at the Monteverde Institute and participate in their ongoing conservation projects. Watch for birdlife and meet with experts from local scientific organizations.	Duration: 9 DAYS Cost: $7,995 Trip Type: Landscape & Wildlife Activity Level: Low Group Size: Max 25
Egypt: Ancient Wonders of the Legendary Nile
Enjoy an exclusive visit to the Egyptian Museum, home to treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his throne and golden burial mask. Leave the crowds to lesser visited sites, including the pyramids at the Valley of the Queens, and the stunningly painted tomb of King Seti I. Experience the daily life along the Nile River.	Duration: 11 DAYS Cost: $5,695 Trip Type: Culture & Landscape Activity Level: High Group Size: Max 25

If you are not interested in the choices above, some other tour destinations can be found on our website, e.g. Iceland: Snow and Fire ($4,371 each person, hiking a lot). With our unique design, you’ll enjoy your trip to the most. Come and sign up!

1. For a group of four with $20,000, which destination can they choose?

A．Costa Rica.

B．Bhutan.

C．Egypt.

D．Iceland.

2. What is the benefit of signing up for the trip to Egypt?

A．Visiting a museum about nature.	B．Enjoying sites with less tourists.
C．Participating in some ceremonies.	D．Meeting with some experts.

3. Which trip doesn’t need much physical strength?

A．Egypt: Ancient Wonders of the Legendary Nile.

B．Bhutan: Land of Mysticism and Mythology.

C．Costa Rica: Wildlife and Conservation.

D．Iceland: Snow and Fire.