1 . Sweat slips down my cheek as I glide (滑动) my fingers through the cool water. I’ve reached the turnaround point of the day’s kayaking (皮划艇) trip. I attempt a shoulder stretch and look around. It’s just me, a couple of seabirds, and shining freshwater to the horizon. This, I whisper to myself, is awesome.
Solo (独自的) outings had never crossed my mind before because I always had a friend with me. But three years ago, I moved to Cleveland. Meeting friends in a new city was tough.
In October 2020, I decided to take adventure on a solo hiking trip. I went to Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) to admire the autumn leaves. Four miles in, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt so alive. I was more aware of my surroundings than I’d ever been while hiking that day. I studied the markings of trees, focused my ears on each forest sound and did something I almost never made time for: I listened to my own thoughts. Every word bubble in my mind pointed to a newfound truth-solo hiking is my happy place.
When spring arrived, I decided to check off another solo sport: kayaking. My chest, initially tightened by nerves, was bursting with happiness when I finally reached the middle of the river that I’d long admired back on shore.
Since that first solo hiking, adventuring alone has become like medicine for me. It has also pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and to meet new people. Through meetups and social media, my adventure-friend circle has ballooned. But at least once per month, I schedule time to hit nature with my favorite friend: me.
1. What pushed the author to start going on solo outings?| A．A longing for a peaceful life. |
| B．A desire to challenge herself. |
| C．Living close to a national park. |
| D．Difficulty in finding companions. |
| A．She explored a new route for hiking. |
| B．She paid attention to her inner voice. |
| C．She collected a variety of autumn leaves. |
| D．She recorded the forest sounds on her phone. |
| A．Surprised. | B．Delighted. | C．Nervous. | D．Lonely. |
| A．restarted | B．transformed | C．disappeared | D．expanded |
2 . Total Solar Eclipse 2023 Australia
One of nature’s most remarkable events-a total solar eclipse(日蚀)——will take place on the western edge of Australia on April 20th, 2023 and we have chosen the perfect way for you to enjoy this event: on a cruise(航游) at sea.
There have been only five total solar eclipses in Australia over the past century and this is the first hybrid eclipse in more than 1000 years. Unlike other cruises for this event, ours has the well-known astronomer Abigail Beall to accompany you. You will have the best possible view of the event as well as enjoying lectures and stargazing on land and at sea. Abigail will be on hand throughout, giving lectures on the history and science of eclipses, the black hole at the centre of the galaxy-along with providing many opportunities for guided stargazing. Plus, there will be additional talks from the Astronomical Society of Australia. Click here for detailed arrangements of the tour.
| Single occupancy | Per guest based on two people sharing | |
| Interior cabin | £2,429 | £1,699 |
| Oceanview cabin | £3,229 | £2,199 |
| If you wish to add a third adult or child to your room, please ask for a quote. | ||
Alongside the cruise, you can also explore some of Australia’s best scientific and natural phenomena with a series of tailored add-on tours covering astronomy on the east coast and visits to Uluru, Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef and much more. On the last day of the tour, we can send you back to the airport for your return journey home, or you can join one of our add-on tours. Click here for full details about add-on tours.
1. What makes the cruise special to others?| A．A chance for stargazing | B．A talk with astronomers. |
| C．An expert’s guidance. | D．A meeting with astronauts. |
| A．£3,229. | B．£2,199. | C．£6,458. | D．£4,398. |
| A．in a science report. | B．on a tour website. |
| C．in a history book. | D．in a nature magazine. |
3 . Over the last century, engineers all over the world have made efforts to achieve great success in bridge design.
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge
No bridge is as long as the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in the world. The 164.8-kilometre-longbridge built in 2011 in China operates as part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. The trip from Ningbo to Jiaxing that previously took 4.5 hours has been reduced to two, thanks to this bridge.
Rio-Niteroi Bridge
Completed in 1974, the Rio-Niteroi Bridge in Brazil is the second-longest bridge in all of Latin America connecting the cities of Rio and Niteroi across the Guanabara Bay. The Rio-Niterói Bridge is technically known as a “box-girder (箱形梁)” bridge, made of special concrete. It receives an astonishing 140,000(or more) vehicles (车辆) per day, making it better known in the world.
Hartland Covered Bridge
The Harland Covered Bridge is the world’s longest covered bridge. The 1,282-foot-long bridge was opened in 1901 and has been on Canada’s list of National Historic Sites since 1980. Although it was at first built without a roof, the bridge was capped with wooden materials during the repairs in 1921.
Jiaozhou Bay Bridge
The newly-built Jiaozhou Bay Bridgo in Chipa was named “world’s longest bridge over water” by Guinness Book of World Records in 2011, a title previously held by the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. The dispute was settled when the title of “longest continuous bridge over water” was given to the causeway, with the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge receiving the title of “longest bridge over water”
1. Which bridge is famous as a busy one?| A．Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. | B．Rio-Niteroi Bridge. |
| C．Hartland Covered Bridge | D．Jiaozhou Bay Bridge. |
| A．It is the longest bridge worldwide. | B．It is over 160 kilometers. |
| C．It has a roof. | D．It is a wooden bridge. |
| A．In America. | B．In Brazil. | C．In Canada. | D．In China. |
1.不当之处及影响；
2.提出修改建议。
注意：
1.写作词数应为80左右；
2.请按如下格式作答。
Dear Sir or Madam,
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours sincerely,
Li Hua
1. Who is the woman probably talking to?
| A．A travel agent. | B．Her employer. | C．Her husband. |
| A．Hand in some documents. |
| B．Take some time off. |
| C．Make a phone call. |
6 . Welcome to “Cash Poor Points Rich”, a new travel blog dedicated to sharing experiences with credit card points and miles to help you get big travel, but for small spend.With the right planning and maximization of available resources, traveling as a college student may be easier than you think.
Chengdu, ChinaIf visiting a place with happy locals is a priority for you, there’s no better city to hit than Chengdu. It is home to pandas and spicy things. Moreover, the city’s abundance of cultural and historical sights, together with its laid back lifestyle, make Chengdu one of the most attractive and livable large cities too. Past travelers have spent, on average, ¥157 on meals and ¥43 on local transportation for one day.
Con Dao Island, VietnamTourism is picking up in Vietnam lately, where you can travel for about ¥100 per day if you play your cards right. Con Dao Island Nation Park, a group of dramatic tiny islands off the southern coast, is a great destination to see sea turtles and other wildlife while exploring the area on foot. Its thick jungle will give you a good chance to uncover a paradise (天堂) of your own.
Zakynthos Island, GreeceIf you’re looking for an affordable European summer beach vacation, consider Zakynthos Island. Food is cheap and mouthwatering. There are plenty of free things to do, although the favorite is spending time on the beautiful beaches edged by electric blue water. There are countless options for swimming in the appealing sea, along with charming villages and museums to explore.
New Orleans, U.S.New Orleans is an incredibly unique place in the U.S., full of fascinating history, absorbing culture, delicious food, and a constantly buzzing nightlife scene. There are actually a couple of hostels in and near the French Quarter that offer reasonable accommodation rates for students.
1. How much on average might be spent on meals and transportation in Chengdu per day?| A．¥43. | B．¥100. | C．¥157. | D．¥200. |
| A．Abundant cultures. | B．Free tourist attractions. |
| C．Impressive sea views. | D．Large museums. |
| A．The price of hostels is reasonable. | B．Hostels there are clean and modern. |
| C．It offers unique service for students. | D．It has the longest history in New Orleans. |
1. 介绍你所推荐的历史名城；（历史文化名城如：杭州、西安、曲阜、平遥等）
2. 你推荐的理由。
注意：1. 写作词数应为80左右。
2. 请按如下格式在答题纸的相应位置作答。
Dear Adam,
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours,
Li Hua
8 . I’m interested in the Renaissance (文艺复兴), so I like visiting ancient Italian cities. Ferrara is called City of the Renaissance. When I learned about this city on the Internet, I decided to pay a visit to it.
The city has a certain charm, but I find it isn’t as great as other Italian cities like Verona, let alone Venice or Rome. The Michelin Green Guide gives it two stars, which is right.
I first visited the city centre. The Cathedral and Castello Estense are at the heart of the city. Both have striking appearances. I visited the Cathedral first. Castello Estense is also worth visiting, which owes its name to the powerful Este family. It was built with bricks and surrounded by a moat (护城河). At the lower levels, the history of the city and the Este family are told through displays, and in another part the ceilings are shown through mirrors on the ground.
In the north, we can appreciate the Renaissance extension of the town, with straight streets and monumental houses. The famous Palazzo dei Diamanti lies here. When I was visiting it, it started to rain, so after taking a few photos quickly, I cut my visit there short. It had been raining for a few days. When the rain ceased, I went to visit the historical centre and the Renaissance buildings.
After leaving there, I visited several other interesting places such as palaces and the narrow streets of the downtown. After four hours in Ferrara I left by train to Mantua. There I had a much better time.
1. Why did the author pay a visit to Ferrara?| A．Because it is related to the Renaissance. | B．Because it is full of charm. |
| C．Because it is a very famous city in Europe. | D．Because it is strongly recommended by a website. |
| A．Subjective. | B．Reasonable. | C．Unacceptable. | D．Unbelievable. |
| A．It came from the historical buildings. | B．It originated from the straight streets. |
| C．It was named after the powerful Este family. | D．It was connected to the surrounding moat. |
| A．The writer thought Ferrara was as great as Venice. |
| B．The writer visited Palazzo dei Diamanti for a long time. |
| C．The writer was much more satisfied with the tour in Mantua than in Ferrara. |
| D．The writer was disappointed with the visit to the Cathedral and Castello Estense. |
Every Thursday morning, just before the Museum opens to the public, Members are ivied to experience the newest exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum without the crowds. Member Morning Hours are held from 9 to 10 am. Members are also invited to bring guests. Timed Tickets are not required for entry.
The Balcony Lounge(酒廊) Service
The Balcony Lounge will be open for breakfast during Member Morning Hours. All Members can swing by for coffee and a cake for free after early morning exhibition viewing.
Entry for Member Morning Hours
Please enter at the 81st Street and Fifth Avenue entrance. Once inside, Members may go directly to the Museum galleries.
Health and Safety
To ensure a safe and enjoyable environment for all, the Museum is following guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), New York State, and New York City for increased health and safety procedures. Masks are required. A full list of the Museum’s health and safety guidelines is available online. Learn more here.
Member Pro Tip!
Your Membership card is your passport to the Museum! When you arrive at the Museum, present your Membership card at any Member desk on the ground floor at 81st Street.
For Membership questions, please contact us at membership@metrmuseum.org or call 212-731-1753(M-F, 10 am-5 pm EST).
1. When does the Museum most probably open to the public on Thursday mornings?| A．At 8:00 am | B．At 8:30 am. | C．At 9:30 am. | D．At 10:30 am. |
| A．Breakfast. | B．Lunch. | C．Afternoon tea. | D．Supper. |
| A．Advance booking is required. |
| B．Once entering the museum, members can visit any part of it. |
| C．Members without Membership card are not allowed to enter |
| D．Members are permitted to enter for exhibitions only during 9-10 am. |
10 . Coming into the town of Santa Catarina Palopó, in the highlands of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala, the first thing you notice is the bright colors. Most of the buildings along the main street are eye-catching, deep blues and greens, dotted with red and yellow to form diverse patterns and designs.
Santa Catarina Palopó was once a sleepy town of 5, 000 people, most of them dependent on agricultural work. But as agriculture began to dry up here, poverty came. To deal with poverty and promote econ on growth through tourism, a small but creative group of laborers, artisans, domestic workers and stay-at-home moms created the Pintando Santa Catarina Palopó project.
The project aimed to paint all 850 homes and buildings in bright colors to change the hillside town into a work of art. “We wanted to paint the houses with colors and figures that represent the community” says the project’s executive director Stephany Blanco. “Families can choose designs for their house that are representative of the family.”
One of the most representative characteristics of the region is the blue huipil, a traditional blouse which has been worn commonly by local women since the 16th century. That deep sky blue was chosen the primary color-for the Pintando project, with secondary colors found in the sunsets and the nearby lake to make the design more attractive. Inspiration was also found in local culture, symbols such as volcanoes, flowers, and the national bird of Guatemala.
Each week, local artists, community members and tourists pick up paintbrushes to make buildings colorful. “At first, the idea of the project was uncertain, but now you can see a considerable difference in the town,” Melissa Whitbeck said. “The color of the buildings is believed to improve the quality-of life of the people. It uplifts the people’s mood and encourages them to be proud of their hometown.”
1. Why was the Pintando Santa Catarina project started?| A．Because of a workforce shortage. | B．Due to the poor economic conditions. |
| C．Thanks to the increase in population. | D．For the old-fashioned farming ways. |
| A．Building family art galleries in Guatemala. | B．Creating job opportunities for local artists. |
| C．Developing local tourism by selling artworks. | D．Changing the town into a cultural destination. |
| A．The surrounding volcanoes. | B．Mayan-styled butterflies. |
| C．A type of traditional clothing. | D．The national bird of Guatemala. |
| A．Positive. | B．Reserved. | C．Concerned. | D．Negative. |
