1 . The Best National Parks to Visit in Winter

While most parks tend to draw families in the summer and fall, there are also ideal spots for adventurous winter trips.

Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

The country’s oldest and best-known national park takes on an almost otherworldly atmosphere in winter: the air filled with rolling steam, the strong colors of hot springs, the surrounding white landscapes, let alone the impressive wildlife during this time, like bison, wolves, and playful red foxes. Just book a guided hiking tour to get a ranger’s perspective on the park and local people.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

With its giant red rocks and unique trees, you’ll feel like stepping onto a foreign planet as you spend hours hiking the Panorama Loop or Maze Loop. The park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park, featuring virtually zero light pollution and the country’s best views of a starry sky.

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

A significantly lower number of visitors in winter means you can take in unblocked views of the South Rim, and get to see the rare beauty of the Grand Canyon dusted with snow. For those adventurous and daring, it is recommended to hike the Bright Angel Trail and take the chance to see the canyon’s wintertime wildlife, including mule deer, elk, and bald eagles.

Virgin Islands National Park, St. John

Surprise! Not all wintertime national park trips need to involve snow. Virgin Islands National Park is most famous for its white-sand beaches. You can also hike inland to visit old sugar plantations, or venture out to the water to swim along with sea turtles and manta rays. You will definitely enjoy a different winter here.

1. Which park will one choose if he/she is interested in stars?

A．Yellowstone National Park.	B．Joshua Tree National Park.
C．Grand Canyon National Park.	D．Virgin Islands National Park.

2. What do we know about the Grand Canyon National Park?

A．We can have a poor view of the South Rim there.	B．It lies in an area with rolling steam and hot springs.
C．There is a slight decline in visitor numbers in winter.	D．The Bright Angel Trail is challenging in cold weather.

3. Which activity is mentioned in all of the parks?

A．Hiking.

B．Skiing.

C．Swimming.

D．Hunting.

3 . There are three things you can watch forever: Instagram feeds, YouTube videos and water. Among them, water is definitely something no one argues about, and there are many unusual water attractions that you can find around the world.

Bangkok Floating Markets

There are many floating markets where goods are sold from boats. While modern markets are more popular, floating markets still are a huge attraction for local tourism. Any visitors can purchase local foods and traditional handcrafted (手工的) souvenirs. Bargaining is a part of experience. So, start low and get the price you are ready to pay.

Bregenzer Festspiele

The Bregenz Festival is held every year from July to August in Vorarlberg. It has the world’s largest stage on the water. The performances are different every year but they are usually united by one theme. The decorations are very impressive and are worth seeing.

Marina Bay Stadium

This stadium was built as a temporary solution while Singapore National Stadium was rebuilt. The stadium was used for the opening and closing ceremonies during 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. It was a floating platform where the Formula One Grand Prix event was successfully held.

Archipelago Cinema

Archipelago Cinema is probably one of the world’s most scenic open-air cinemas that floats in the middle of a lake. The cinema was designed by German architect Ole Scheeren, who built it using techniques popular among local people. This cinema stage was built specially for the film festival Film on the Rocks Yao Noi.

1. What is special about Bangkok Floating Markets?

A．Local foods are free to taste.

B．Visitors can make boats by themselves.

C．Bargaining for a good price is an experience.

D．Performances on water are impressive to see.

2. Which one was used for Formula One Grand Prix event?

A．Archipelago Cinema.	B．Marina Bay Stadium.
C．Bregenzer Festspiele.	D．Bangkok Floating Markets.

3. What do Marina Bay Stadium and Archipelago Cinema have in common?

A．They both hold ceremonies every year.

B．They both used local building techniques.

C．They were both built for a special purpose.

D．They both provide visitors with sports events.

5 . Here are four destinations that have to be included in any trip to the northeastern city Harbin.

Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World

At Harbin Ice-Snow World, you can not only see the world-famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at igloo restaurants, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, and go down the world’s longest ice slide.

The Sun Island Snow Expo

The Sun Island Snow Expo is the world’s largest snow sculpture(雕塑)art show. You can play in the snow as well as admire the art made from it. Tourists from the south might be surprised by the bright sunshine reflected in the snow, so don’t forget the sunscreen. This is a good place to toss water into the air and watch it turn into ice immediately. Find a safe place with no one nearby, and enjoy the unique phenomenon.

Yabuli Ski Resort

One place you shouldn’t miss when visiting Harbin is Yabuli Ski Resort, where you can ski down snow-covered mountains. Yabuli Sun Mountain Resort is surrounded by mountains and forests. The snow is thick and moderately hard. There are junior, middle and senior ski runs. Professional staff are available to improve your skiing ability and give you an experience of a lifetime.

The Harbin Grand Theatre

It might not be part of an ordinary tourist plan, but it is worth an extra night in Harbin! The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Northerners consider it a romantic thing to do in winter. Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a music city in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost a little to share their love of art.

1. What can tourists do when they visit the igloos?

A．Ski down the mountains.

B．Eat in a restaurant made of ice.

C．Enjoy some ancient architecture.

D．Throw and watch water turn into ice immediately.

2. What does the author remind tourists to do when they visit the Sun Island Snow Expo?

A．Stay in a safe place alone.	B．Make a snow sculpture.
C．Apply sunscreen.	D．Live in an ice architecture.

3. Which place has professional staff to help with your skiing ability?

A．Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World.	B．The Sun Island Snow Expo.
C．The Harbin Grand Theatre.	D．Yabuli Ski Resort.

7 . 阅读下面材料，在空白处填入适当的内容（1个单词）或括号内单词的正确形式。

In Northwest China's Gansu Province     1     (lie) Zhangye National Geopark, which is blessed with a spectacular Danxia (red cloud) landform area     2     (cover) about 19 square miles. The Danxia landforms are     3     masterpiece of nature. The colorful mountain ridges are just like an overturned palette from heaven. Bands of fiery red, creamy orange, rich green and bright yellow streak across the mountain, forming     4     is known as the most beautiful rainbow mountain.

The incredible landscapes were created by sandstone and minerals piling on top of one another over the years due to tectonic plate movements. Wind, rain, and tine then carved the rock formations and rolling hills into     5     (vary) extraordinary shapes, including towers, pillars and valleys.

    6     (declare) a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010 and a national geopark in 2011, the landform has become a top tourist     7     (attract). The park features a series of boardwalks that allow visitors to walk around the colorful sandstone landscapes. There are viewing platforms     8    (special) designed, enabling tourists to get close to the hills and feast their eyes     9     the magnificent sights without damaging the fragile ecosystem. Shuttle bus service is available, making     10     easy for tourists to get around the park.

8 .

At a table on a small terrace (露台) overlooking the Garonne River, I’ve just finished a classic southern French dish of shellfish. The restaurant seems to be one of the last on the block to appeal more _________ than tourists. I drink my coffee and _________ for the moment when the bright sky reaches that post-sunset shade of dark blue. As the moment_________, I finish my coffee and walk 200 meters to join the _________ on the street, across from the Place de la Bourse.

We gather at the edge of the miroir d’ eau (“water mirror”). It is a shallow pool the _________ of a sports field that goes through a nonstop 15-minute cycle of _________ with about two centimeters of water, then emptying out.

After a couple of minutes, the water has flowed away,_________a field of flat, wet stones to create a perfect _________ of the splendid 18^th-century buildings. At _________ that moment, the lights at the foot of the building__________, creating an image of instant beauty that is __________ with a mix of “wows” and “ohs” and the clicking of cameras.

__________, I cross the street to visit the Old City. I pass the grand structures along the quai (码头) and wander along the __________ streets behind it, which are __________ with restaurants, wine bars and shops. This contrast is what I always like so much about this city. The architecture of the Grand-Theatre, the museums and the town hall __________ the fact that the word “grandeur” is truly French.

1.

A．locals

B．guides

C．customers

D．neighbors

2.

A．wait

B．search

C．stand

D．send

3.

A．permits

B．nears

C．expands

D．advances

4.

A．passengers

B．campaign

C．crowd

D．citizens

5.

A．center

B．height

C．value

D．size

6.

A．putting

B．filling

C．rising

D．falling

7.

A．attracting

B．meaning

C．leaving

D．including

8.

A．reflection

B．identity

C．gesture

D．phenomenon

9.

A．incredibly

B．fortunately

C．apparently

D．precisely

10.

A．turn down

B．turn up

C．switch on

D．switch off

11.

A．frozen

B．identified

C．received

D．faced

12.

A．Confused

B．Satisfied

C．Shocked

D．Disappointed

13.

A．broad

B．narrow

C．neat

D．rocky

14.

A．loaded

B．exposed

C．distributed

D．lined

15.

A．highlights

B．ignores

C．dismisses

D．shifts

9 . As well as hosting New Zealand’s largest and most populous city, the Auckland region features many attractive, diverse places.

Central Auckland

Central Auckland is a hub of urban delights set against beautiful coastal scenery. You can take a trip up the Sky Tower, the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. The adventurous can also try SkyJump-New Zealand’s highest base jump-or the incredible Sky Walk where you’ll walk around the outside of the Sky Tower for extraordinary sightseeing.

Rangitoto Island

Emerging unexpectedly from the sea some 600 years ago, Rangitoto, with its distinctive shape and superb location just off the coast, is the youngest and largest volcano in the Auckland volcanic field. The island is a favourite destination for hikers and day-trippers. Walk up to the top, and you can see the black lava caves on your way up and don’t forget to bring a torch to explore them with the kids.

Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island is a large island with a small population. For thousands of years, Bt has sheltered Auckland’s harbour from the continuous swells of the Pacific Ocean. The wilderness areas are home to several unique plant and bird species. Most amazingly, the community on the island is not using the public supplies of electricity, gas or water, but entirely relying on renewable solar power and collection of freshwater.

Waiheke Island

In landscape, lifestyle and experience, Waiheke is a world away. The three white sandy beaches are perfect for swimming, kayaking, or having a picnic. If you’re a walker, explore the island’s tracks which wind along cliff tops and into cool native forests. At the eastern end of the island, a walkway leads you to a system of World War Il gun emplacements (炮台) and underground tunnels.

1. Which place does an extreme sports lover probably prefer？

A．Central Auckland.	B．Rangitoto Island.
C．Great Barrier Island.	D．Waiheke Island.

2. What makes Great Barrier Island special？

A．Being located off the coast.	B．Being the least populated.
C．Being home to endangered species.	D．Being energy self-sufficient.

3. What can visitors enjoy in both Rangitoto and Waiheke？

A．Black lava caves.	B．White sandy beaches.
C．Hiking tracks.	D．War-related sites.

10 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

A new subway station in Moscow     1     features a number of Chinese design elements will soon become another landmark for Sino-Russian friendship and     2     (cooperate). The station as well as the other two on the southwestern section of the Moscow Metro     3     (stand) on the third transfer line of the city’s subway system.

    4     (show) respect for the Chinese constructors and friendship between China and Russia, Chinese-style designs have been adopted for the platform at the new station. The lamps     5     (decorate) with auspicious clouds, while the ceiling is in the form of a Chinese checkerboard.

According to Chen Zhuang, one of the designers, the style     6     (adopt) for the new station is “unique and consistent”, while the overall concept is modern, with geometric patterns and lines forming the main section. Design and aesthetic standards in China and Russia differ greatly, as Russia has     7     (large) inherited those of the former Soviet Union, but China’s design philosophy is based more on traditional elements. Combining the different standards of the two countries is one of the toughest     8     (task). “The Chinese-style platform is just     9     small part of the design, and we have to do more work and communicate     10     (far) on the subway structure, and other functions in underground construction,” he said.