1 . Many of the world’s most famous landmarks now offer virtual tours, meaning people can visit museums, world heritage sites and other attractions from the comfort of the sofa. Such virtual travel experiences, as some experts have considered as an eco-friendly solution to the problem of overtourism, are seeing an increase in popularity. For overcrowded destinations, virtual reality experiences can help divert (使改道) some tourists, easing the burden on the location’s infrastructure (基础设施).
However, there’s a big gap between using virtual reality to “try before you buy” and treating virtual reality like the destination itself.
To start with, the technology isn’t ready yet. 360-degree virtual reality videos are usually experienced through a headset or an app. The headsets are expensive and heavy, and aren’t comfortable to wear for more than 30 minutes. The apps have none of these problems, but simply aren’t as impressive.
Limited physical feelings are another problem. The videos focus on sounds and sights but can’t do much with smell, touch, or taste, and VR experiences tend to only be a few minutes long—hardly equal to a two-week vacation in Spain. Some researchers are creating a full-body suit with enhanced sensory experiences, but it still doesn’t satisfy the deeper needs that make people travel.
What’s more, tourists on virtual tours see a world only to the extent that someone was able to film and construct it. In a virtual experience, visitors can’t choose to wander down a side street and discover a charming café—unless those options have already been programmed. It can definitely disappoint those who tend to be less directed in their explorations and more focused on new experiences and discoveries.
Virtual reality may never replace traditional travel, but it still offers possibilities. If the technology becomes advanced enough, those who are more environmentally conscious among us—especially those aiming to reduce our carbon footprint—might prefer this form of escape. Also, VR travel does bring parts of the world to people who are physically unable to visit certain landmarks.
1. The followings are the benefits brought by virtual travel experiences EXCEPT that _______.| A．people can tour some dreamed sites without dealing with lines and crowds |
| B．the impact of tourism on the environment can be minimized |
| C．people are able to explore the world without leaving home |
| D．the travelers’ financial burden can be relieved to some extent |
| A．The full-body suit meets the deeper needs of the tourists. |
| B．An expensive headset is a must for experiencing virtual tours. |
| C．People can only see what is constructed and programmed on virtual tours. |
| D．Virtual tours satisfy those who are fond of adventuring at will. |
| A．Indifferent. | B．Pessimistic. | C．Critical. | D．Optimistic. |
2 . It’s tipping towards sunset on a November afternoon and St Michael’s Mount shines on the horizon reflected in the high tide that surrounds this Comish island. As I set out along the coastal path from Penzance to Marazion, it’s a surreal view. The mount, with its collar of gold-dotted water, looks like it’s floating. The podcast I’m listening to is telling me that the mount is also surrounded by a underwater forest. This blue space was once green.
I start from behind Penzance’s railway station and the first installation is revealed just after the signal box-a trident of posts that look like sticks made by Poseidon (三叉戟) himself. Rooted in the landscape but separate from it, like other good sculpture trails, this one offers a deeper link to the landscape, a perspective that a walk alone can’t offer.
The accompanying podcast encourages listeners to follow in the footsteps of local poets, scientists and folklore experts, while a downloadable booklet suggests ways of drawing, cooking, and food hunting inspired by the forest. Until they appear on additional signs along the trail in the spring, both can be found on Newlyn Art Gallery’s website.
As I follow the trail I listen my way around the landscape hearing about its marine biodiversity, rising sea levels (again), Cornish language and pirating history.
The sticks range from driftwood benches to short posts and tall crooks. Some have metal chairs and picnic benches. Newly upgraded, the path is accessible to all. In the dusk, I’m joined on my walk by a tide of pushchairs, e-bikes, wheelchair users, runners, iovers and dog walkers.
I keep going and bob along the path ahead, and the industrial estates on my left give way to the Scots pines and rushes of the Marazion Marsh RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) reserve. Eventually I dip down into Marazion along the beach, breathing the briny air swirling in over sea wrack (海藻).
As the tide is already in, it’s too late to visit St Michael’s Mount today, so I double back for a cuppa at the Hoxton Special, a cafe 10 minutes back along the path. Just beside it is the final cluster of posts. One of them is shaped like a chair, so I sink into it and watch the sun set over the bay.
1. What does the underlined word mean in Paragraph One mean?| A．realistic | B．false | C．dreamlike | D．imaginative |
| A．It was the first thing the author encountered after he set out on his journey. |
| B．It once belonged to the mythical character Poseidon, dominator of the sea. |
| C．It can hardly be spotted by visitors if they choose to walk along the trail. |
| D．It adds to the local landscape though not necessarily a part of it. |
| A．His journey progressed under the witness of the posts along the trail. |
| B．The author listened to podcast all the way on his journey and took the advice it offered. |
| C．Throughout his journey, the author was joined by various kinds of people and beautiful scenes. |
| D．The whole journey was naturally picturesque without traces of industry. |
| A．Journey of Wilderness | B．Magnificent Trails | C．Arty Walk | D．Coastal Road Trips |
3 . There has, in recent years, been an outpouring of information about the impact of buildings on the natural environment. Information which explains and promotes green construction design strives to
Although there are a good many advocates of “green” construction in the architectural industry, able to list enough reasons why buildings should be designed in a (n)
The commissioning (委任) process plays a key role in
In some cases, an owner may be
Typically, when condiering whether or not to adopt a green
| A．preserve | B．convince | C．exploit | D．accuse |
| A．pracical | B．measured | C．tremendous | D．theoretial |
| A．professional | B．groundbreaking | C．innovative | D．sustainable |
| A．tap into experience | B．live up to its name | C．rise to fame | D．come into being |
| A．refers to | B．lies with | C．races against | D．calls on |
| A．knocked | B．loaded | C．factored | D．stuffed |
| A．concluding | B．stressing | C．ensuring | D．acknowledging |
| A．skip | B．transport | C．isolate | D．cover |
| A．As a result | B．On the contrary | C．What’s more | D．However |
| A．ignorant | B．aware | C．critical | D．capable |
| A．promote | B．perceive | C．attribute | D．impose |
| A．applited to | B．anxious for | C．destined for | D．specific about |
| A．gesture | B．approach | C．origin | D．patent |
| A．competition | B．calculation | C．cooperation | D．distinction |
| A．increased | B．extra | C．fixed | D．lower |
If you really want to see all that Yellowstone Park has to offer, it would take you a lifetime! However, most of us do not have a lifetime to spend in Yellowstone, but in 2-3 full days, you will be able to hit most of the highlights.
There is no such thing as racing around the park. Yellowstone has 154 miles of a main highway, known as the Grand Loop Road. The general park speed limit is 45 miles per hour but in normal traffic, you will be lucky to average 30 miles per hour. Figure at least an hour of driving time for every thirty miles of distance. If you plan to get off the bus and visit the park, it will take at least 1.2 to 2 hours at almost every stop. In addition, there will be any number of unscheduled stops, such as waiting for wild animals to cross the road
A suggested starting point for your tour of Yellowstone National Park is to enter through the South Gate, which is approximately sixty-two miles north of Jackson, Wyoming. Everyone comes to Yellowstone to see Old Faithful.Although,not the largest geyser (间歇泉) to erupt in the Park,it is the most reliable regarding the time of eruption. The time of the eruption,the length of the eruption and the height of the eruption vary from year to year. As you enter the Park, ask the Park Information Office if he has information on the expected times for the eruption of Old Faithful.
As you drive north on the Grand Loop Road, keep an eye out for wildlife. At Grant Village Junction, turn left (west) and head toward Old Faithful Village. Once at Old Faithful Village, take some time to walk around the boardwalks and visit some of the many other geysers in the Upper Geyser Basin. Include the 1.4-mile walk to Morning Glory Pool, one of the most colorful thermal (热能) features in all of Yellowstone.And do not forget to visit the Old Faithful Inn,which is the single most impressive human structure in Yellowstone.
Continue on north and visit the Lower Geyser Basin. The area is scattered and features regularly erupting geysers, hot springs, and a fascinating mud pool. After leaving the Lower Geyser Basin, continue north to Norris Junction and stay to the right to travel to Norris Geyser Basin. One of Yellowstone’s most popular geyser basins, Norris is home to one of the Park’s most popular geysers and Steamboat. In addition, there are several miles of boardwalks from which you can explore dozens of multi-colored thermal features.
As for more, go on a Sightseeing Tour of Yellowstone to see it all.
Yellowstone Scenic Tours - Private Day Trips
Yellowstone YearRound Adventures
Experience Montana With Front Seat Guided Bus Tour
1. What can you learn from the first paragraph?| A．Some people live in parks all their lives. | B．Hardly anyone can see the whole park. |
| C．The park can provide you with everything. | D．It’s enough to spend a few days in the park. |
| A．The walking speed of wild animals being affected. |
| B．Travelers’ stopping and going in the park. |
| C．The vehicles’ being parked in the proper area. |
| D．The traffic’s stopping to make way for wild animals. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
Intentional Travel for the Curious
For those seeking a different adventure around every corner, the state of Florida doesn’t disappoint. Sun lovers will be fascinated by hundreds of miles of white-sand beaches
Do you want the perfect combination of excitement and relaxing breaks?
When it comes to Florida, people often think of the beaches — and Daytona Beach has some of the best.Daytona Beach
To experience more of the natural world,visit Blue Spring State Park. It is where hundreds of manatees (海牛) seek warm-water shelter from late fall through early spring. Want more exposure to aquatic animals? Ecotourism is one of the best ways to see Florida’s
6 . Mt. Everest is no longer an inaccessible giant. More than 4,000 people have stood on the world’s highest peak since 1953. Last year alone, more than 650 people made it to the top.
But as the crowds have grown, so too has the list of stories coming from the mountain: long lines over train, and conflict over the value of Sherpas.
For people who want a more drama-free climbing experience, the globe is filled with other peaks worth tackling.
There are literally 13 other mountains over 8,000 meters and some get virtually no attention. They are very challenging mountains that would be an equal feather in someone’s hat to climb with many routes still to be discovered, unlike Everest. Mountains taller than 8,000 meters (more than 26,000 feet) are rare and exceptionally challenging to climb, purely for the lack of oxygen at such height. Above 8,000 m, it becomes so difficult to breathers that climbers call it the “death zone.”
The Himalayas contain all 14 of the world’s 8,000 meter-plus peaks, which are among Nepal, China, India and Pakistan. Among those, Everest is not only the tallest. It’s also accessible by hiking for about a week and a half after flying into Lukla.
From there, the mountain is loaded with equipment, including a cell phone tower and Sherpas who fix ropes for Western climbers. That makes the climb far less technical than it otherwise would be.
Why Do People Keep Climbing Mt. Everest? “It’s certainly not the easiest climb because of the height,” said Alan Amette, a mountaineer and Everest blogger in Fort Collins, Colo. “I hate the word ‘easy’ for any 8,000-meter mountain. A better word is achievable. Everest is achievable.”
One emerging alternative to Everest is K2, the world’s second tallest mountain — at 8,611 m (28,251 feet) to Everest’s 8,848 m (29,029 feet). But for every four or so people who have summited K2, one person has died trying, Amette said, for a total of 300 successful climbs and 81 deaths.
On Everest, by comparison, the ratio of successes to deaths is about 24 to one with more than 6,000 summits and about 250 deaths. K2 is a “loose” mountain with lots of rock fall and avalanche (雪崩) activity, Amette said. Its main route also goes up the east side, making climbers get affected by incoming storms.
1. The term “Death Zone” is used to describe an area ________.| A．that is 8,000 meters high with the shortage of oxygen |
| B．where there is the highest rate of death in mountain-climbing |
| C．where climbers are unable to breathe |
| D．where breathers are very likely to die due to the height |
| A．They cover as many as four countries. |
| B．They contain ten peaks over 8,000 meters. |
| C．Everest is its tallest and easiest peak to climb. |
| D．Everest is its peak with good technical support. |
| A．more people died in mountain-climbing |
| B．more natural disasters occur due to its loose quality |
| C．there are more snow storms happening on average |
| D．storms are more unpredictable at the peak |
| A．Introduction to the exciting mountain climbing. |
| B．The awesome challenges of the tallest mountains. |
| C．Climbing the most challenging mountains in the world. |
| D．How to overcome difficulties as those brave mountaineers. |
| A．There are too many people everywhere |
| B．There are always too many cars in Tokyo. |
| C．The places where he wants to be are always very crowded. |
| D．The streets in Tokyo are narrow |
| A．At11:00 p.m. | B．At11:30 p.m. |
| C．At 12:00 p.m. | D．At 12:30 p.m. |
| A．About 3,500. | B．About 35,000. |
| C．About 350,000. | D．About 3,500,000. |
| A．To introduce the tourist site. | B．To inform the rules of tourists. |
| C．To attract more tourists. | D．To welcome the tourists. |
| A．Warm clothes and some belts. | B．Warm clothes and sunglasses. |
| C．Sunglasses and fireworks. | D．Sunglasses and climbing sticks. |
| A．14 kilometers. | B．4.8 kilometers. |
| C．4.2 kilometers. | D．4.9 kilometers. |
| A．To a gym. | B．To a restaurant. |
| C．To a drugstore. | D．To a beach. |
