1 . Sometime in the early 1960s, a significant thing happened in Sydney, Australia. The city discovered its harbor. Then, one after another, Sydney discovered lots of things that were just sort of there — broad parks, superb beaches, and a culturally diverse population. But it is the harbor that makes the city.
Andrew Reynolds, a cheerful fellow in his early 30s, pilots Sydney ferryboats for a living. I spent the whole morning shuttling back and forth across the harbor. After our third run Andrew shut down the engine, and we went our separate ways — he for a lunch break, I to explore the city.
“I’ll miss these old boats,” he said as we parted.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“Oh, they’re replacing them with catamarans. Catamarans are faster, but they’re not so elegant, and they’re not fun to pilot. But that’s progress, I guess.”
Everywhere in Sydney these days, change and progress are the watchwords (口号), and traditions are increasingly rare. Shirley Fitzgerald, the city’s official historian, told me that in its rush to modernity in the 1970s, Sydney swept aside much of its past, including many of its finest buildings. “Sydney is confused about itself,” she said. “We can’t seem to make up our minds whether we want a modern city or a traditional one. It’s a conflict that we aren’t getting any better at resolving (解决).”
On the other hand, being young and old at the same time has its attractions. I considered this when I met a thoughtful young businessman named Anthony. “Many people say that we lack culture in this country,” he told me. “What people forget is that the Italians, when they came to Australia, brought 2000 years of their culture, the Greeks some 3000 years, and the Chinese more still. We’ve got a foundation built on ancient cultures but with a drive and dynamism of a young country. It’s a pretty hard combination to beat.”
He is right, but I can’t help wishing they would keep those old ferries.
1. What is the first paragraph mainly about?| A．Sydney’s striking architecture. | B．The cultural diversity of Sydney. |
| C．The key to Sydney’s development. | D．Sydney’s tourist attractions in the 1960s. |
| A．He goes to work by boat. | B．He looks forward to a new life. |
| C．He pilots catamarans well. | D．He is attached to the old ferries. |
| A．It is losing its traditions. | B．It should speed up its progress. |
| C．It should expand its population. | D．It is becoming more international. |
| A．A city can be young and old at the same time. |
| B．A city built on ancient cultures is more dynamic. |
| C．Modernity is usually achieved at the cost of elegance. |
| D．Compromise should be made between the local and the foreign. |
2 . Devon Gallagher, a college graduate from Philadelphia, wants the world to know exactly where she’s been during her worldwide vacation in a special way.
The traveler, who was born with a bone disease, had her right leg amputated(截肢) at the age of four. Although the amputation caused misfortune for Gallagher early on, she now sees it as nothing short of inspiration for living her best life.
To spread the message, Gallagher has taken to social media, where she shares photos of her travels across the globe. Besides, she writes her location across her artificial leg before taking a picture.
Now she has been taking pictures across the Continent, which show her cycling over the canals in Amsterdam, relaxing on a wall overlooking the city of Barcelona, posing with a waffle (华夫饼) in Brussels, taking spectacular pictures in Athens and enjoying a river cruise in Budapest, with all the well-known locations written on her artificial leg.
“I get a new leg every two years and I can choose the design on it. One day I had a sudden thought of getting a chalkboard,” Gallagher said. “My mum and grandmother weren’t too interested in the idea, but my friends thought it was great and told me to go for it, so I did.”
Gallagher said people often stare when she’s writing on her leg, but once she shares the photos, she receives only positive feedback. “My leg hasn’t stopped me from doing anything I’ve wanted to do,” she said, “I know it’s my determination to prove to myself that I can do it. Therefore, I’ve been able to keep up with my peers and lead a pretty great life.”
Gallagher shows us that you should never let anything stand in the way of your dreams. And if life gives you an artificial leg, make art.
1. What message did Gallagher want to spread in her special way?| A．She enjoys her traveling across the globe. |
| B．She suffers little from her leg amputation. |
| C．She looks on her misfortune as another form of blessing. |
| D．She has exactly fallen in love with posting photos online. |
| A．Gallagher was interested in art. |
| B．Gallagher had her right arm amputated at the age of four. |
| C．Gallagher wrote her travel’s locations on her artificial leg. |
| D．Gallagher’s family supported Gallagher’s idea of getting a chalkboard. |
| A．Helpful and cooperative. | B．Friendly and generous. |
| C．Independent and selfless. | D．Determined and creative. |
| A．Never Too Late to Share | B．A Special Artificial Leg |
| C．An Outstanding Photographer | D．Gallagher’s Summer Holidays |
3 . Great Destinations
Los Angeles
Discover Los Angeles and experience the 129th Roses Parade from reserved grandstand seats, with a private pre-parade float viewing (花车巡游) and dinner. Start your journey on December 29, 2020. Call 888-817-9466 or visit www.ymtvacations.com.
Greensboro
The National Folk Festival in Greensboro features three days of music, dance, crafts and more. ALL FREE! September 8 to 10, 2020. Call 800-344-2282 or visit www.VisitGreensboro.com.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Be inspired by the light of the aurora borealis (北极光). Renew your energy under the midnight sun and experience the warmth in Fairbanks. Call 800-327-5774 or explore www.VisitFairbanks.com for your free Fairbanks Visitors Guide.
The Mississippi River
Offering one-day or two-day Mississippi River trips aboard the Victorian-styled Riverboat Twilight. Let our captain be your guide to bald eagles, steep mountains and historic river towns. Call 800-331-1467 or visit www.RiverboatTwilight.com.
Anchorage, Alaska
Experience Alaskaˈs natural wonders in Anchorage: glaciers, mountains and wildlife! Order your free official guide to Anchorage today. Explore www.VisitAnchorage.net or call 800-478-1255.
To win your next vacation, request free travel information by texting RDTRAVEL to 41411, and enter to win $2,000 towards your next vacation. You will receive one text message. Message and data rates may apply. Your information will not be sold or used for any of the other purposes. No purchase necessary to enter or win. For official rules and prize information, go to www.RD.com/Traveltips for further details.
1. Where can you go to enjoy some natural scenery?| A．Fairbanks and Greensboro. | B．Los Angeles and Anchorage. |
| C．Los Angeles and Greensboro. | D．The Mississippi River and Anchorage. |
| A．watch a roses parade | B．attend a light show |
| C．go on a two-day boat trip | D．enjoy a national folk festival |
| A．paying $2,000 in advance | B．replying to one text message |
| C．requesting free travel information | D．paying message rates yourself |
增加:在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除:把多余的词用斜线（"划掉。
修改:在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1 .每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
2.只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
Lady and gentlemen,
Welcome. Let me introduce my hometown to you. I hope you will enjoy the beautiful countryside with me as your guide.
In first glance, my hometown is a very ordinary place, which is not different from any another town. There are two thousand people living here, but very little shops or restaurants, so people have to go to the mall in the city. Why does travelers come from all over the country to visit our town then? Some of the scenery in this area ranks among best in the country. It is a place where you can see many tall maple trees, that wide roads run alongside farms, and where a big river flows with countless ducks on it. With such many beautiful things to see, my hometown appeals to many professional photographers.
I think you will have a good time there.
