To see the country, road trips are the only way to go

I am not an enthusiastic air traveler. Bustling through airports, getting checked by security, and standing in lines leave me     1    . But road trips are different. While the transit time is longer, opportunities to get off the     2     path make it worthwhile. I see places and interact with people and cultures that I otherwise tend to miss, rediscovering how far you can go and how much you can experience without leaving the United States. So, when my son said he wanted to tour the Kansas State University campus after receiving an admission offer, we threw our luggage and a case of bottled water in the car and     3     the highway. One attraction of traveling at the speed of a car is the transitions. Arizona’s Meteor Crater, Two Guns, and Painted Desert give way to New Mexican villages, then farm towns. Red rocks become open plains where grain elevators are the only features     4     above endless miles of flatness.

That flatness poses an unexpected challenge when there’s nothing to step behind. Eating on the road can also be a challenge. For basic sustenance, Anthony and I relied on Subway sandwich shops, which offer the same reliable fare at every location. While not exactly a     5     of local cuisine, they didn’t leave us regretting lunch when we returned to clocking miles. Salads were     6     difficult to come by in the college town of Manhattan, Kansas, although we had no complaints about the burgers and barbecue.   

In contrast to airport excursions, which often feature     7     and even confrontations, our trip was entirely pleasant. When you meet folks in their natural environment after hours of     8     scenery, it’s easier to remember just how big the world is and to appreciate that many of its inhabitants are perfectly happy living     9    , and there’s no reason they shouldn’t be.

As it turned out, the greatest source of stress was the frequent reminder that my son changes     10     like he’s afraid of missing a sharp turn. Fortunately, that’s a travel headache that can be fixed.

2 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

City Walks step up in popularity

For Fang Rui, walking the streets of Nanjing and taking in the buildings and culture of the historical city is almost a daily routine.

Born and raised in Nanjing, the 28-year-old works as a landscape designer in the city     1     studying overseas for several years.

In May, Fang organized a free city walk for around 50 people     2     came from all over the country to experience a deeper connection with Nanjing. She chose to walk in Xinan Li, a tourist area that is not as popular as other Nanjing landmarks. The district has preserved various historical buildings, with the most well-known being the former residence of the scholar Gan Xi, which     3     (build) during the reign of the Qing Emperor Jiaqing (1796-1820). Designing city-walk routes like Fang’s requires time and effort. Fang said she spent about a month     4     (research) routes for Nanjing’s southern area and adjusted the walking map three times.

The origins of city walks     5     be traced back to London, England. Originally, city walks referred to guided tours     6     participants followed a planned route under the guidance of tour conductors, with a strong emphasis on discovering the city’s history, culture, landscapes, and other aspects.

For tourists     7     locals not fully familiar with a city’s history and culture, the organized walks are an authentic and immersive(沉浸的) experience. Walk organizers are passionate and care about a city’s cultural heritage. They also have a more personalized and deeper understanding of their city,     8     goes beyond just visiting iconic landmarks. Gradually, the concept of city walks, which emphasizes the quiet appreciation of urban lifestyle and cultural atmosphere,     9     (gain) popularity worldwide.

The appeal of city walk is particularly resonant (共鸣) with the younger generation, who frequently find     10     caught up in demanding work schedules, thereby limiting their time for local exploration. The growing trend of city walk reflects a changing attitude towards life, embracing a warmer, more relaxed, and slower-paced lifestyle.

Venice, one of Europe’s most historical, romantic, and unique cities, is in danger of drowning — not in one of its famed canals but under the weight of people. Since 1980, there have been more tourists than residents in Venice and right at present the number     1     (climb) rapidly. As tourists arrive, so do businesses to support them. Small, local stores are being replaced by souvenir shops and fast-food joints; Lately, accommodations     2     (transform) to Airbnbs, driving the cost of living here forever upwards. As locals leave the city, the vacuum (真空) is filled with yet     3     (much) tourist investment and before you know it, the charm and culture of old Venice that attracted us here in the first place has been transformed and lost. It’s no wonder that     4     World Heritage Committee has made a plan to add “Venice and its Lagoon” to its World Heritage in Danger list.

Venice is not alone. Croatian favourite Dubrovnik, with history and cultural excellence, is suffering the same fate. There were 5,000 residents in 1991, but in 2017 only 1,157 people were living in the Old Town     5     it became overcrowded with tourists and businesses flooding to them. Dubrovnik is a convenient stop for cruise ships moving around the waters of the Adriatic and its popularity has grown further following the success of Game of Thrones,     6     was filmed there.

Many popular locations have started to apply strategies     7     (fight) the rising tide of tourism using a combination of legislation and financial instruments. Barcelona is limiting the number of licenses for tourist accommodation     8     reducing the number of cruise ships allowed to dock (停泊). A smaller number of tourists are allowed to visit the Old Town and     9     will need to pay a city entry fee. The tourist tax is being increased to a price higher than     10     (expect). Venice has recently introduced a tourist fee to discourage day-trippers.

8 . I’m a huge fan of the Pacific Northwest and its bright green forests, rough coastline, and beaches decorated with wood, but visiting a top national park in summer often brings the opposite of what I come for — being alone — as huge crowds try hard to park and take photos. So, my last visit to Olympic National Park was in mid-September. I ended up bathing in the peace and quiet of forest among ancient trees and staying close enough to nearby communities to feel safe.

I thought that taking the jump from my comfortable hotel room in the park into the great outdoors was unpleasant at first. However, once I began walking slowly and aimlessly along the Hoh River Trail there and slowing down to observe beautiful sunlight and tiny mushrooms that looked like colorful umbrellas, I felt my breath deepen and my nervous system begin to relax for the first time in a long time. What I want to say is that just because the world seems obviously set up for twosomes doesn’t mean you have to let such a standard keep you from living your dreams right now. Solo travel has made me stronger and braver than I ever thought possible. It has opened up my worldview by throwing me out of my comfort zone again and again.

When it comes to living conditions, the national park not only offers 15 campgrounds across its huge area, it’s also home to five other choices for guests who would prefer not to sleep alone inside a tent — the small national park houses. Although I enjoy being alone, I have to admit that one of the coolest things about these small houses is that they are there to strengthen connection among strangers, and as such, there is usually a big fireplace next to excellent armchairs and sofas where guests can move around and make small talks at night. In one small house called Lake Quinault, I talked with grey-haired seniors about the best old-growth forest walks and asked hotel workers about the Roosevelt Dining Room (so named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the president during 1933-1945, came to visit), right next door.

9 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in each blank with a proper word given in the box. Each word can be used only once. Note that there is one word more than you need.

Unlocking The Vatican Museums

Gianni Crea has, almost every morning for the past decade, unlocked the doors to the Vatican Museums. He has seen the splendor of the Sistine Chapel and admired the textures of ancient Egypt. “Yes, I’m a key keeper. But the doors I open are the ones to the history of art, and it’s here that exists the biggest and most beautiful history in the world,” says Crea.

The Vatican Museums have     1     collections since the 15^th century, including tens of thousands of artworks and artifacts spanning prehistory to modern times. The most     2     one of them, according to Crea, is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. He recalls being     3     with emotion the first time he accompanied the former head key keeper to open the chapel more than 20 years ago. Since then, he’s witnessed people of all faiths     4     at the chapel’s loveliness, something the church believes is increasingly vital during these unsettled times.

“In the difficult current context the world is experiencing, in which sadness and     5     seem to have the upper hand, art is more necessary than ever, because beauty is always a source of joy,” Pope Francis said last year.

There is also     6     scientific evidence to support this view. A 2019 WHO analysis revealed that artistic and cultural activities     7     physical and psychological health. In fall 2022, physicians at Brussels’ hospitals partnered with the city to launch a six-month     8     study examining the benefits of “museum prescriptions as supplemental treatment for stress, burnout, and anxiety”. It’s the first investigation of its kind in Europe and is expected to have     9     effects across the continent. And in the wake of the pandemic (疫情), which forced the Vatican Museums to close three times between 2020 and 2021, there’s a growing movement for wider and easier access to the arts for people’s well-being. “The Vatican Museums must open their doors to people from all over the world, as a(n)     10     of dialogue between cultures and religions,” Pope Francis wrote in his 2015 publication.

“Everyone can find something beautiful and moving here,” says Crea, who always welcomes travelers from around the world to accompany him during his morning routine on select dates. “The Vatican Museums will give you an understanding of art and history regardless of your faith.”

10 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。