1 . “Is this making us old or keeping us young?” my husband asked as he lifted the three heavy backpacks from the canoe.
“I don’t know,” I replied. The heat and mosquitoes were getting to me, and I was wondering whether we were crazy to have started a canoe trip during the hottest week of the summer. But even in fall, our canoe trips—while certainly cooler—are no easier.
I’ve always loved getting away from civilization to enjoy the peace of nature, to be on a news blackout (封锁) and to reflect on the past year and the year to come, which is why we’ve been doing this regularly for most of the 38 years we’ve been together.
Now as we’re getting older, it’s getting harder—aching knees, aching feet and aching backs. So, we’re changing our habits. Instead of extreme white-water trips in the far north, we’re going on lake trips closer by. Instead of pulling on the heavy pack myself and rising from a sitting position, my husband lifts it up while I thread my arms through the belts. Along the way, I might stop to admire the green plants beside the path or feel the soft surfaces of the moss, and my husband is usually waiting at the other end, wondering why it’s taken me so long. During the night, we no longer stay up late to see the stars. Instead, we now get into the tent by 9 p.m.—exhausted after one day’s hard work—and drift into sleep listening to birds’ sorrowful call.
Over the years, my canoe-tripping experience has evolved to focus less on the physical and more on the abstract things. Like a solar battery, I store up the energy I absorb from the forest, rocks and waters to help me through the rest of the year. The rhythm of paddling becomes a process of deep thinking rather than an endurance test.
“How long can we continue doing this?” asked my husband at the end of the last trip.
“I don’t know,” I answered, but inside, I thought, “As long as our bodies and minds hold out, I hope forever.”
1. According to the passage, the author and her husband’s canoe trips ______.| A．were difficult to complete |
| B．made the couple crazy |
| C．made the couple look younger than their age |
| D．became dangerous because of the summer heat |
| A．the stars are not beautiful any more |
| B．birds’ night call is more attractive now |
| C．their habits have changed over the years |
| D．they are too tired to do the same things |
| A．Do extreme white-water trips. | B．Go on a trip to a nearby lake. |
| C．Bring the heavy pack themselves. | D．Catch birds in the darkness. |
| A．An Unforgettable Trip | B．My Trip with My Husband |
| C．Life Is a Hard Trip | D．Love for Canoe Trips |
2 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.
My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!
However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.
As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.
1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?| A．A family trip should not last for too long. |
| B．A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles. |
| C．It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips. |
| D．It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave. |
| A．It was a pleasant experience. | B．It was ruined by bad weather. |
| C．They didn’t prepare well for it. | D．They lost many things during it. |
| A．They learnt how to solve problems. | B．They built a closer family relationship. |
| C．They developed a great love for nature. | D．They fell in love with adventure travels. |
| A．To show how to make RV trips interesting. |
| B．To encourage kids to take part in RV trips. |
| C．To advise families to take RV trips together. |
| D．To share an unforgettable traveling experience. |
Li Daiyu and her cousin stayed in Toronto for only a few hours. They went on
It
That night they boarded the train heading towards the Gulf of St Lawrence and
Li Daiyu and her cousin Liu Qian were on a trip to Canada to visit their cousins in Halifax. They decided
They spent two days in Vancouver. There they took a boat ride,
Then they boarded the train to Lake Louise, where the blue water took
From Jasper, they caught the train bound
After another day on the train, they
1. What did Tim’s father fail to do last year?
| A．Join a family trip. | B．Finish his project. | C．See Tim in Paris. |
| A．Germany. | B．Egypt. | C．Spain. |
| A．Trying Spanish food. | B．Buying local clothing. | C．Riding a camel. |
| A．Go to a market. | B．Buy some souvenirs. | C．Take a lot of pictures. |
1. What does the man know about Zhuozheng Garden?
| A．It was first built in the Qing Dynasty. |
| B．It tops the other classical gardens in Suzhou. |
| C．It is about 6 miles away from Gusu District. |
| A．They are eighty miles apart. |
| B．They are in opposite directions. |
| C．They are quite close to each other. |
| A．Tuisi Garden. | B．Liuyuan Garden. | C．Zhuozheng Garden. |
| A．It is otherwise known as the Garden Museum. |
| B．It features the Qing Dynasty's garden landscaping. |
| C．It houses relics dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. |
1. What creates a magical atmosphere in the Glowworm Caves?
| A．Starlight. |
| B．Glow-in-the-dark paint. |
| C．Thousands of glowing creatures. |
| A．Australia. |
| B．New Zealand. |
| C．Canada. |
| A．Walking tours. |
| B．Boat tours. |
| C．Helicopter rides. |
| A．Waterfalls. |
| B．Glowing stalactites. |
| C．Thousands of glowworms on the walls and ceilings. |
| A．Because of the dark atmosphere |
| B．Due to the presence of magical creatures |
| C．It resembles a medieval castle |
| A．The smell of caves. |
| B．The sound of dripping water. |
| C．A mesmerizing, glow-in-the-dark experience. |
8. Describe the type of tour visitors can take to explore the Glowworm Caves.
9. Why is the experience of visiting the caves compared to stepping into a fairy tale?
10. What country is home to the Glowworm Caves?
A Four-day Tour of London | ||
| Transportation | Plane | |
| Self-guided tour | Service | |
| Cost | $2,000 | |
| Guided tour | Service | Make a travel schedule for guests, besides making reservations |
| Schedule | • •Go on •Visit Buckingham Palace on the 2nd day •Go to the British Museum on the 3rd day • | |
| Cost | $3,500, including the | |
9 . Wednesday, 21 June
Today was my first day back in San Francisco after camping in the Redwood Forest and visiting the wine country of Napa Valley. I have to admit that it definitely feels good to be back in the city again. And what a city—a city that was able to rebuild itself after the earthquake that occurred in 1906. There are so many beautiful old buildings—many sitting on top of big hills, offering great views of the city, the ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
My hotel is near downtown, in the Mission District, one of the oldest parts of the city. Many of the people living here are from Mexico or Central America. This district used to be a poor area of town, but is now a centre for art, music, and food. In fact, an art movement called the “Mission School” started here. It’s influenced by graffiti art and comic art. I walked around looking at the street art for a few hours. It was quite modern and lively. Afterwards, I ate some delicious MexicanChinese noodles from a food truck. A real mix of cultures here!
In the afternoon, I headed to a local museum that showed the historical changes in California. I learnt that America got California from Mexico in 1848. In the same year, gold was discovered near San Francisco, which started a gold rush. Over 300, 000 people came from all over the world to seek their fortune, and San Francisco quickly became a big city. Many Chinese arrived during this period. To earn a living, some opened up shops and restaurants in Chinatown. Many others found jobs on farms, joined the gold rush, or went to build the railway that joined California to the eastern region of the country. The museum did a really good job of showing how America was built by immigrants from different countries and cultures. When these immigrants left their countries, they carried a bit of home in their hearts, and built a new home here.
This evening, I went to Chinatown. There were so many good cafés and restaurants to choose from. I selected a Cantonese restaurant that served its food on beautiful china plates. What great food!
That’s enough for today. Tomorrow evening, I’m going to a jazz bar in the Richmond District. Can’t wait!
1. Read the passage quickly and match the main idea with each paragraph.| A. The author was back in San Francisco again and felt very good. B. The author would go to a jazz bar. C. The author chose a Cantonese restaurant to have a meal in China town. D. The author visited a local museum which showed the historical changes in California. E. The author introduced the Mission District and told us what she had done there. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
2. What does the word “definitely” in the first paragraph mean?
| A．Doubtfully. | B．Only. |
| C．Certainly. | D．Finally. |
| A．A café in Chinatown. |
| B．The Golden Gate Bridge. |
| C．Napa Valley. |
| D．A jazz bar in the Richmond District. |
| A．Wonderful. | B．Tired. |
| C．Disappointed. | D．Excited. |
| A．History novel. | B．A home letter. |
| C．Travel journal. | D．A book review. |
10 . WELCOMETO CHINATOWN!
The Chinatown in San Francisco is the biggest in America, and also the oldest. It is a very popular tourist draw that receives more visitors each year than even the Golden Gate Bridge. The climate is mild all year round, meaning it is always a good time to visit.
Historically, Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the railroad construction and gold rush period. What started as a residential area for Chinese immigrants then turned into a centre for Chinese culture. The majority of residents in Chinatown are still ethnic Chinese, many of whom do not speak English fluently. This allows visitors to experience a real taste of China.
Most of Chinatown was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, but the city and residents rebuilt it, taking care to include lots of Chinese architecture. Traditionally, visitors enter Chinatown through the legendary Dragon Gate, which was built using materials donated from China. Other famous sites include the Tin How Temple and Bank of Canton, to name but a few. Visitors can also spend hours just exploring the interesting sights, smells, and sounds of China. Portsmouth Square is also a key site, being the centre of Chinatown. It has a long and famous history, with the author Robert Louis Stevenson having spent much time writing there. These days, the square is a great place to see traditional Chinese culture in real life, such as games of Chinese chess, and people practising tai chi.
The stores in the Chinatown offer a unique range of souvenirs, goods, and clothing. All kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be found, too, and there are Chinese tea stores, where visitors can taste and buy varieties of Chinese tea.
But perhaps what many tourists and San Franciscans treasure most about Chinatown is its food. There is Chinese food to suit everyone's taste, with traditional dishes from all over China.
Chinatowns are an important part of the diverse culture of the USA. They allow visitors who have never been to China to experience traditional Chinese culture first hand.
(1)”Look at the title and picture and predict what kind of article is this?
(2)”Who are the target readers?
(3)”What is the writer’s purpose of writing this text?
2. Activity 2： Reading for main idea
Read the text quickly and match the main idea of the passage.
| A.The characteristic of Chinatown. B.The history of Chinatown. C.The introduction of Chinatown’s shops and products. D.The origin of Chinatown. E.The existence value of Chinatown. F.The famous food and drinks of Chinatown. |
Para.2
Para.3
Para.4
Para.5
Para.6
3. Activity 3 :Reading for details
Read the passage again and answer the questions.
(1)”What are the famous tourist sites in the Chinatown of San Francisco?
(2)”Which is the best season to visit the Chinatown in San Francisco?
(3)”What else can you do there?
