1 . I live in Xizhou in Yunnan Province, on the historic Tea Horse Road. I have to admit that when I first heard that Paul Salopek was going to walk the entire globe on his own two feet, I was blown away. I couldn’t imagine that there could be such an unusual person in the world.

Last May, I met Paul. He told me that it was his first time in China. He talked to me with great excitement about the history, migrations, and discoveries in my region of China. He spoke of the Shu-Yandu Dao (the Southern Silk Road), the travels of the 17th-century Chinese explorer Xu Xiake, the Tea Horse Road and the early 20th-century American botanist Joseph Rock. He also talked of Xuanzang. Paul considered many of them heroes and in a sense Chinese pioneers of slow journalism.

I decided to accompany Paul on his walk toward Yunnan. On September 28, 2021, we set out. Our days were simple: walk, eat, sleep, and repeat. We woke up at sunrise, set off in high spirits, and rested at sunset, dragging ourselves into exhausted sleep.

We met many people on the road. Some were curious, surrounding us and watching us; some gave us directions; some invited us into their home to take a rest; some spoke of the charm of their hometown. We met many beautiful souls, simple souls and warm souls. We were walking with our minds.

Together, we were impressed by the biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains. As I walked on ancient paths through mountains, I seemed to hear the antique voices of past travelers urging me to be careful on the road.

Looking back on the more than 200 miles I walked with Paul, I came to a realization. Walking for its own sake, while healthy and admirable, is only a small part of the benefit of moving with our feet. A deeper reward is rediscovering the world around us, shortening the distance between each other, and sharing each other’s cultures.

1. How did the writer first respond to Paul’s travel plan?

A．Scared.	B．Puzzled.
C．Disappointed.	D．Surprised.

2. What can we learn about Paul Salopek from paragraph 2?

A．He was a western journalist.	B．He had a knowledge of China.
C．He came to China several times.	D．He was Joseph Rock’s acquaintance.

3. What does paragraph 4 tell us about the writer and Paul?

A．They honored the ancestors.	B．They set off in high spirits.
C．They satisfied the locals’ curiosity.	D．They built bonds with people.

4. What is the main purpose of the writer’s writing the text?

A．To share and reflect on a journey.	B．To suggest a new way of travel.
C．To advocate protection of biodiversity.	D．To introduce and promote Chinese culture.

3 . World Cup soccer fans in Qatar cannot spend all of their time watching matches. So some of them _________ the desert outside Doha for camel rides and _________. They want to have a tourist experience between games. Business is _________ for the animal handlers. They are making much more money than usual. _________, the interest is causing trouble for the camels.

Ali Jaber AI Ali has been in Qatar for 15 years. He grew up loving camels and can _________ them by their faces. On a normal day, his company would _________ at most 50 rides. But in recent weeks, he and his team are giving 500 rides in the morning and 500 in the evening. There is a lot of money _________ in. Al Ali said. “Thank god, but it is a lot of _________.”

Before roads were built, camels were important to _________ and trade in Qatar. Now they are __________ used in racing and giving rides. Al Ali can __________ when they are tired. The camels will sit back down after standing up. In __________ times, the camels can __________ after every five rides, but now, they give 15 or more rides __________. With little time to rest, the camels are __________ by making loud sounds. So don’t make Qatar camels tired and thin.

1.

A．bring out

B．head for

C．turn up

D．come across

2.

A．photographs

B．dishes

C．games

D．athletes

3.

A．normal

B．great

C．tough

D．extra

4.

A．Therefore

B．Besides

C．However

D．Instead

5.

A．beautify

B．qualify

C．carry

D．identify

6.

A．offer

B．increase

C．book

D．follow

7.

A．frightening

B．flooding

C．flashing

D．failing

8.

A．pressure

B．return

C．harvest

D．contribution

9.

A．culture

B．translation

C．sculpture

D．transportation

10.

A．extraordinarily

B．mainly

C．extremely

D．gently

11.

A．guess

B．imagine

C．tell

D．say

12.

A．recent

B．modem

C．rough

D．usual

13.

A．rest

B．digest

C．part

D．tap

14.

A．at the time

B．in a way

C．for a while

D．in a row

15.

A．protecting

B．protesting

C．preparing

D．proposing

4 . A promotion (促销活动) offering 98 yuan domestic plane tickets is being advertised by Chinese online travel platform LY.COM. While such a low price sounds amazing, there is just one catch: the purchaser is not told where the flight is heading, nor when it will take off.

The promotion has become a trending topic on Chinese social media as some people have been attempting to book them ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday. Labeled as a “destination blind box” on the site, tickets are purchased through a rather simple booking procedure, in which passengers provide their travel information, select a departure airport and then pay their 98 yuan. If the randomly chosen date and destination are unsuitable, users may ask for a refund, but once they “lock in” their tickets，there is no going back.

“Destination blind box” is now a hot topic on China’s online platforms. “I believe young people are a big target demographic (特定年龄段人口) for this promotion, because they not only enjoy the thrill of the unknown, but also like to show off their lives through these types of commercial activities. Like this one for instance, it doesn’t matter if they finally go or not. Booking a ticket and posting about it on social media can still suggest that one has adventurous and life-loving qualities,” said Fan, a marketing expert who has worked with civil aviation clients.

Many people not only shared the screenshots of tickets they drew, some even came up with a tutorial to teach the booking procedure under the free cancelling policy. However, some others claimed it is too rare to draw a ticket that is ideal. “If it wants to be a profitable activity, the release of the tickets must have been planned ahead and is not as random as it seems. It will not have popular airlines. The marketing campaign may also be aimed at the fast sale of some tickets from less popular airlines that were originally not that expensive. If they sell a large quantity of tickets, the company may still earn a profit even though the price is 98 yuan,” an expert in tourism suggested.

1. Which of the following best explains “catch” underlined in paragraph 1?

A．Benefit.	B．Mistake.
C．Disadvantage.	D．Charm.

2. What is paragraph 2 mainly about?

A．The origin of “destination blind box”.

B．The purchase introduction to “destination blind box”.

C．The original purpose of “destination blind box”.

D．The popularity of “destination blind box”.

3. Why will “destination blind box” appeal to young people according to Fan?

A．It allows them to experience various adventures.

B．It satisfies their desire to travel around China.

C．It helps them save money on the cost of travel.

D．It accords with their lifestyle and attitudes.

4. In which part of a newspaper can you find this article?

A．Economy.	B．Science.
C．Culture.	D．Advertisement.

6 . Cheap Travel

You can pay a lot of money to travel around the world. Or you can pay nothing at all. Here are some places you’ll never regret visiting. They won’t cost you a coin.

The British Museum, London (UK)

You need to go here to see the Egyptian mummies (木乃伊), the ancient Greek statues and so many other treasures. It’s open every day, and unlike most other places of interest in England that cost an arm and a leg, it’s totally free.

National Mall, Washington D. C. (USA)

You can walk a pathway from the Lincoln Memorial to the Washington Monument with other sights in between. Do you know you can go up in the lift to the top of the Washington Monument? Tickets are free, but pay a small fee to book them in advance to avoid being disappointed.

National Museum of Ireland, Dublin and Mayo (Ireland)

Want to see Viking artworks and learn about Irish country life? All four branches of this museum are free to visit, including museums devoted to archaeology, natural history, decorative arts history and country life. The museum of country life in Turlough Park, Mayo, is devoted to Irish countryside traditions, while the Natural History Museum is especially famous for its collection of insects.

1. What can visitors see in the British Museum?

A．Lincoln Memorial.	B．Egyptian mummies.
C．Washington Monument.	D．Viking artworks.

2. What can visitors do in the National Mall, Washington D. C.?

A．They can reach the top of the Washington Monument.

B．They can learn the history of Irish countryside life.

C．They can see many places of interest of Ireland.

D．They can visit all four branches of the museum.

3. Which is well known for its insect collection?

A．Turlough Park.	B．American National Mall.
C．British Museum.	D．Natural History Museum.

8 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.

Athens, Greece

In Athens, every November the crowds lift and temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions—recently it has hosted Picasso’s.

In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.

Huaraz, Peru

To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into a Lord of the Rings film.

April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails with fewer people.

Edinburgh, UK

Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn the Little Chartroom, and the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.

Valletta, Malta

Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around f30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries—Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.

1. Which has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?

A．Muza.	B．National Gallery.
C．The Museum of Cycladic Art.	D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

2. What has associations with The Lord of the Rings for tourists?

A．The Parthenon.	B．Malta’s capital.
C．The Sheep Heid Inn.	D．Huascaran National Park.

3. What is special about Rock House?

A．It served the Queen of Scotland.

B．It combines ancient and modern styles.

C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms.

D．It offers Scottish local specialties.

10 . Tired of working in IT and staying the same in Australia, Paulo Cattanco decided to make a change. In 2015 he started a strict budget so he could save up enough money to buy his dream KTM1190 motorbike, a camera, and enough funds to support himself for a few years.

Then he gave up his job, packed his things, and set off on an adventure, travelling the world on his motorbike. Paulo,39, has spent the last four years biking through Australia. South America, North America, and Europe, riding up to 12 hours a day and spending his nights in his tent under the stars.

“Australia for me was my first experience riding long distance and I was mind-blown by the beauty of the old continent.” Paulo wrote on his travel journal, “Traveling through Latin America, I explored the rainforest and learned Spanish and Portuguese. Mexico has some of the best food I ever had and Peru is an interesting place where I can enjoy the unique local Indian culture, also called Inca civilization.”

Paulo has managed to keep his travels going by keeping his budget tight, so he hasn’t had to get a job for his travels. To keep costs low, he seldom looked for accommodation in hotels and went camping instead. Thankfully, the motorbike, which Paulo bought second hand in Australia, has not required any major repairs since he set off. The journey isn’t always easy, but Paulo has never looked back.

Sadly, the Covid-19 pandemic put a stop to his travels in Greece when he traveled around Europe, and Paulo has had to spend the last few months in Italy, his homeland. Once the world is back up and running, he plans to return to life on the road and explore Asia and Africa.

1. What did Paulo begin to do in 2015?

A．He switched his occupation.	B．He started a travel adventure.
C．He carried out a saving plan.	D．He purchased travel equipment.

2. What do we know about Paulo’s journey?

A．He enjoyed the best food in Peru.	B．The motorbike often troubled him.
C．He got a job to support his travel.	D．The view in Australia appealed to him.

3. Which of the following words can best describe Paulo?

A．Determined and adventurous.	B．Intelligent and economical.
C．Ambitious and idealistic.	D．Humble and knowledgeable.

4. Where is the text probably from?

A．A fitness magazine.	B．A travel journal.
C．A lifestyle website.	D．A sports column.