Hangzhou is recognized as the “City of Well-Being” in China. Hangzhou made its name
The lifestyle, however,
Surely, it is even
2 . The Louvre is the most popular museum in the world. Last year, about 10 million visitors, more than 75% of whom were foreign tourists, came to the museum. About 80% of them were here for Mona Lisa-and most of them left unhappy.
According to a survey of British tourists earlier this year, Mona Lisa was voted the world’s most disappointing attraction, beating out Checkpoint Charlie, Spanish Steps, and Urinating Boy in Brussels.
If the museum thinks that it is inspiring the next generation of art lovers, it is in fact doing the opposite, thanks to the huge crowds in front of the picture. The overcrowding here was so bad that Jean-Luc Martinez, the museum’s director, has to admit, “We have to take steps to deal with the overcrowding in the coming years: new entrances and timed tickets for the museum.”
He misunderstands the problem-for the Louvre, with more gallery space than any museum on the planet, isn’t that crowed. On my last visit, the French painting wing had just a few visitors. Even Venus de Milo, perhaps the second most famous work of art in the museum, only drew a comfortable few dozen visitors. In other words, the Louvre does not have an overcrowding problem. It has a Mona Lisa problem. No other famous painting comes anywhere close to monopolizing (垄断) a museum like she does. It is time for the Louvre to admit its failure. The museum does not need new entrances or timed tickets.
Instead, it only needs to set up a moving walkway in front of Mona Lisa and let Samsung or another smartphone company to fix its cutest cameras around her. So visitors can strike a pose on the moving walkway, and download their cutest selfies (自拍像) with Mona Lisa later. I can even picture the moving walkway smoothly guiding tourists past the Mona Lisa into the gift shops, where millions of selfiers can take time to enjoy their pictures, and spend money.
It is time to set it up now since the 2024 Summer Olympics is around the comer.
1. Which was the most disappointing attraction according to the survey? ________| A．Mona Lisa. | B．Venus de Milo. | C．Spanish Steps. | D．Urinating Boy. |
| A．Amazing. | B．Practical. | C．Expensive. | D．Unworkable. |
| A．A lot of visitors stay there to appreciate it. | B．The room housing the picture is too small. |
| C．Too many visitors want to take a picture with it. | D．The ticket for the famous painting is too cheap. |
| A．To share his unpleasant visit to the Louvre. |
| B．To introduce a famous painting in a museum. |
| C．To offer a simple solution to the Mona Lisa problem. |
| D．To show the opportunity brought by the 2024 Olympics. |
3 . Nothing beats live music, but the venue makes a difference. When you're able to score tickets to an incredible concert in an incredible place, you won't forget the experience. Here are some of the coolest music venues from around the world. If you haven't been to any of these, you've got some traveling to do.
Red Rocks, Morrison, the United States
Red Rocks might be the most beautiful and famous venue in the United States. At 6,450 feet above sea level, Red Rocks is a geologically formed natural stage. Its massive sandstone provides a perfect stage for jam bands. If you're into the blues and jazz, you'll have no trouble finding something in line with your interests.
Meet Factory, Prague, Czech Republic
Smallest venues on this list, Meet Factory is an art gallery, theater, and music venue. The venue only accommodates 1,000 people, so you won't see any huge names come through. Still, it's a great place to see up-and-coming local acts, and if you've got an eye for contemporary art, you'll love your time here.
Arena of NÎmes, NÎmes, France
Originally built around A. D. 70, the Arena of Nimes presents concertgoers with an interesting question: Should they enjoy the music, or marvel at the architecture? The Arena is, after all, one of the world's best-preserved Roman theaters. Many major touring acts plan stops at the Arena of Nimes, especially during the venue's annual festival.
Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia
The Sydney Opera House is one of the world's most famous performing venues. I's also one of the most distinctive buildings in Sydney, thanks to the breathtaking design by Danish architect Utzon. It hosts about 40 events per week, so whether you're into jazz, rock, classical music, or opera, you'll find something to watch.
1. Where can you enjoy music in natural beauty?| A．At Red Rocks. | B．At Meet Factory. | C．At Arena of Nimes. | D．At Sydney Opera House. |
| A．It enjoys breathtaking scenery. | B．It hosts both musical and artistic events. |
| C．It is the largest venue of all. | D．It is famous for contemporary music. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．They are built near the sea. |
| C．They accommodate thousands of people. | D．They are beautiful tourist attractions. |
Going to Mount Huangshan reminds me of the popular Beatles’ song “The Long and Winding Road”.
The hot spring at the foot of the mountain is something you must try after the climb. It will
What comes next is the endless series of steps. You can’t help wondering how hard it
As the song goes, this long and winding road “will never disappear”, and it will always stick in the visitor’s memory. It sure does in
5 . Have you ever loved a destination but couldn’t figure out why — or even a way ——to express your feelings? That’s my dilemma with Morocco.
In August, I traveled in a country that had long been, on my wish list. I rode a camel, got lost in Medinas, and ate more couscous (粗麦粉) than was humanly possible.
I loved the trip. Our friendly guide introduced us to the helpful locals. I made friends with my tour mates and my roommate (which, on a tour, is a huge blessing). I loved being lost in the smell of different spices, and the chaos of millions of people and the dark red of the Sahara were all I wanted them to be.
There were many moments when I felt like a fish out of water and things didn’t go my way. But I take pleasure in those moments because it’s when you are pushed out of your comfort zone that you grow. Morocco lived up to all my expectations, but for some reason, my experience has been hard to express. Why?
One constant in my travels is that of a touchstone, one defining point where the trip all comes together and acts as a prism (三棱镜) for everything the journey represented . In Costa Rica，it was getting lost in a jungle. In Thailand, it was meeting those five people who changed my life.
I’m so inconsistent about Morocco because I lack that touchstone. There’s no “whoa” moment. But I have thousands of little ones - staring at a million stars in the blackness of the desert, discovering new foods with some amazing Australians on my tour, and befriending the fish sellers.
1. What does the author regard as a huge blessing?| A．Going on a guided trip. |
| B．Having a helpful guide. |
| C．Being warmly received by the local people. |
| D．Getting along well with the fellow travelers. |
| A．To prove Morocco lacks the touchstone. |
| B．To show his reliance on the touchstone. |
| C．To compare Morocco with Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| D．To share his experience in Costa Rica and Thailand. |
| A．The lack of big moments. |
| B．The little “whoa” moments. |
| C．Meeting with five Thai people. |
| D．Making friends with Australians. |
| A．Unpleasant travel in Morocco. |
| B．Finding a touchstone on travel. |
| C．Reflection on traveling in Morocco. |
| D．Lack of special moments in Morocco. |
6 . The icy beauty of the Arctic attracts thousands of visitors every year to see its wonderful wildlife, landscape and local cultures. Visitors can take ships on a voyage along the Arctic Ocean or take flights to cities along the Arctic edge. No matter how one gets there, they should wear warm clothes and get ready to take in the attractions.
“Travelling to the Arctic leaves an unforgettable impression on the visitor. Its vast expanse and the fragility of its environment are two things that really blow away people,” said Cheryl Rosa, the director of the US Arctic Research Commission.
Visitors to the Arctic Circle will have a lot of activities to choose from if they want to see all that the region has to offer. Hiking with snowshoes, dog sledding and kayaking are common activities. Visitors with sharp eyes are likely to spot polar bears. To get even closer to the animals of the sea, visitors can go polar snorkeling with seals. Of course, Arctic adventures aren't complete without viewing the wonders of the Arctic Circle's large glaciers and icebergs as well.
One of the most impressive attractions and maybe the most difficult to see is the Northern Lights, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. They are natural lights that glow a brilliant green and light up the horizon. Sometimes they appear as waves that dance across the sky in different colors.
The best places to view the Northern Lights are in Northern Norway, Sweden's Abisko National Park , Iceland, America's Alaska or Canada's Yukon, according to space.com. Charles Deehr, an expert at the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Geophysical Institute , recommended planning a trip between winter and spring, especially when there is a new moon.
Even though the Arctic is a popular tourist destination, don't forget that people live here too. “It is recommended that visitors go with tour groups that are respectful of Arctic residents (居民) and their culture,” said Rosa. “Too many people can disturb the small villages. Finding tour groups that work with local communities is important.”
1. The underlined part “blow away” in Paragraph 2 probably means “________”.| A．defeat | B．affect | C．move | D．impress |
| A．They only produce green light at night. |
| B．They are natural lights and hard to see. |
| C．They seldom occur between winter and spring. |
| D．The best time to view them is when there is a full moon. |
| A．Tour groups are not welcome among Arctic residents. |
| B．The Arctic's population has been rising in recent years. |
| C．Visitors should choose suitable tour groups when visiting. |
| D．Tour groups should get permission from local communities. |
| A．To inform visitors of local culture. |
| B．To recommend some activities to visitors. |
| C．To introduce a popular tourist destination. |
| D．To share a travel experience in the Arctic. |
7 . Temples have existed for thousands of years. They are the proof of cultures and civilization that existed many years ago. With their excellent architecture and structure they fascinate visitors from around the world.
Temple of Heaven
The Temple of Heaven is a Taoist temple in Beijing, the capital of China. The temple was constructed in the 14th century by Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty as his personal temple, where he would pray for good harvest and to make up for the sins of his people. The temple's architecture is quite interesting: Everything in the temple, which represents heaven, is circular whereas the ground levels, which represent the earth, are square. It symbolizes the relationship between the earth and heaven, the human world and God's world, which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony.
Wat Rong Khun “White Temple”
Immediately upon entering the grounds of Chiang Rai's ''White Temple'' in Thailand, you’ll realize this contemporary, unconventional temple stands out, even in a country crowded with places of worship. The White Temple is incredibly different and unique in its architecture, art and design. In fact, it's designed in a very modern way, but still sticking to and respecting the conventional Buddhist principles. This temple is all white with many artistic decorations and statues full of mirrors that create nice silvery/glittering reflections.
Kinkaku-ji
Kyoto is filled with beautiful shrines and temples, but none can be compared to the beauty of Kinkaku-ji. This Buddhist temple has acquired a lot of fame recently and has become one of the most visited places in Japan. Whether you visit during the fall when there are red momiji leaves contrasting the gold, in winter when the gold is topped with pure white snow, in spring with the cherry blossoms, or in summer allowing you to see the beautiful temple's golden reflection—there is never a bad time to visit this beautiful temple.
Golden Temple
The Golden Temple in Punjab, India is the most sacred shrine of Sikhism. For the Sikhs, the Golden Temple symbolizes endless freedom and spiritual independence. The site of the temple began with a small lake that was so peaceful that even Buddha came there to meditate (冥想). Thousands of years later, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism also lived and meditated by the lake. The temple itself is decorated with marble sculptures, gilded in gold and covered in precious stones.
1. If you're interested in meditation, you would like to go to _________.| A．Kinkaku-ji | B．Temple of Heaven |
| C．Golden Temple | D．Wat Rong Khun “White Temple” |
| A．They are all located in Asia. |
| B．They are all Buddhist temples. |
| C．They have the same type o£ architecture. |
| D．They are all suitable to visit all the year around. |
| A．To praise the architecture of the temples. |
| B．To introduce some world-famous temples. |
| C．To persuade visitors from around the world to come. |
| D．To inform the long history of the well-known temples. |
8 . Christmas is coming early this year for “Downton Abbey”《唐顿庄园》fans. Highclere Castle, where the beloved British show was filmed, will be available for one night only on Airbnb.
The stay will offer two lucky guests a glimpse at what life as a Crawley may have been like. The once-in-a-lifetime stay will take place on November 26, 2019, according to the listing.
Highclere Castle belongs to the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, who still live on the grounds and will host the guests. The Earl is Queen Elizabeth II’s godson.
Reservations for Highclere Castle will become available on October 1 at 7 p.m. ET, and it’s first come, first serve.
The stay at Highclere Castle will cost $159.
In a one-night-only listing, Earl and Lady Carnarvon are inviting one lucky couple to “live like royalty” at their 100,000-square-foot, 300-room estate in Hampshire, England. The chosen pair will be invited to share dinner with the Earl and Countess in the state dining room, followed by coffee in the library. They will then retire to one of the gallery bedrooms with views overlooking 1,000 acres of parkland. Before they leave the following day, the guests can also expect breakfast and a private tour of the grounds that will highlight rooms “Downton Abbey” fans know well, including the drawing room and gallery bedrooms.
Guests will be waited on by the castle’s butler service(管家服务) during dinner and there’s strictly one butler allowed per guest, according to house rules.
Other stipulations for guests include that all newspapers must be ironed, they must wear cocktail attire to dinner, they can only gossip in the downstairs quarters, and there are no pets allowed. But have no fear, there are nine dogs on site who can’t wait to make your acquaintance.
This isn’t the first time the Earl and Countess have opened their doors to the public.
Visitors can take tours of the castle between 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily from July to September. The castle is also open on various days throughout the year. The couple even hosted the first public Christmas ball at Highclere Castle last year. They’ll be hosting another holiday ball this year, though the specific date hasn’t been announced yet.
“It’s an absolute privilege and pleasure to call Highclere Castle my home and I am delighted to be able to share it on Airbnb for a truly unique stay,” Lady Carnarvon wrote on Airbnb.
“Highclere Castle has been in the Carnarvon family since 1679 and has an incredibly rich history,” the Countess added. “I am passionate about the stories and heritage of Highclere Castle, and I am looking forward to welcoming our future guests.”
The event builds on the excitement for the “Downton Abbey” film.
The film follows the Crawley family as they prepare for a visit from King George V and Queen Mary in 1927. It premieres in theaters on Friday in the US.
1. From the passage, we can learn that ________.| A．the guests will stay at Highclere Castle on Christmas Eve |
| B．Downton Abbey was filmed at Highclere Castle |
| C．Highclere Castle will offer the guests only B&B |
| D．all the visitors will be invited to have caffee |
| A．be reserved on October 1 at 7 p.m. ET |
| B．provide the guests with dinner and coffee in the library |
| C．allow guests to take 9 dogs at most |
| D．witness a Christmas ball on November 26, 2019 |
| A．film review | B．family introduction | C．travel advertisement | D．castle story |
9 . Come to the AG Society's expedition (探险) program and you will surely get unique experiences! SWIM WITH THE HUMPBACKS(座头鲸) OF TONGA
Darren Jew and his team are your hosts for an unforgettable AG Society adventure, filled with in- water meetings with humpback whales in the Kingdom of Tonga's group of islands.
WHO: Darren Jew's underwater whales
DATES: 26 September-4 October 2018
COST: $ 5,450 per person
BOOKINGS: Call 0756679413, email reservations @ whalesunderwater.com or visit whalesunderwater.com
11-DAY KIMBERLEY COASTAL CRUISE(乘船浏览)
The AG Society is partnering with APT to present an exciting voyage along the Kimberley coastline. Expedition cruising offers the easiest way to explore the Kimberley. Guests on this 11-day voyage will go ashore, explore natural wonders, meet traditional owners, see rock art and spot wildlife.
WHO: APT
DATES: 6 - 16 September 2018
COST: $ 13,395 per person
BOOKINGS: Visit kimberleywild.com. au
LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL(化石) DIG
The AG Society offers you a chance to hunt for fossils. Guided by experts, you'll go to special locations, seeking new fossils for the collections of the Australian Opal Centre. Your discoveries will further establish these museum collections as a world-class scientific and cultural resource. There are also a series of lectures on mining history, fossils, dinosaur hunting and new dinosaurs.
WHO: The Australian Opal Centre
DATES: 20 -25 August 2018
COST: $ 2,200 per person, including all activities and lunches and dinners
BOOKINGS: Call 0427904587, email dig @ stralianopalcentre.com or visit australianopalcentre.com
AG DEVIL ARK EXPEDITION
Come and join Tim Faulkner for a unique hands-on experience with this Tasmanian devil (袋獾) feeding program in the beautiful Barrington Tops of NSW. You'll get to see Tasmanian devils up close when you help with feeding individuals.
In addition to working with the animals, there'll be opportunities to explore the area's natural treasures and spot local wildlife. Don't miss your chance to get involved in this important conservation effort.
WHO: Devil Ark
DATES: 24 - 26 November 2018
COST: $ 1,750 per person
BOOKINGS: Call 0243408610, email info @ devilark.org. au or visit devilark.org. au
1. If you join in LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL DIG, you can .| A．go to seek new fossils individually |
| B．learn something about mining history |
| C．collect the world-class scientific fossils |
| D．become an expert and go to special locations |
| A．Help protect wildlife. | B．Learn about dinosaurs. |
| C．Watch humpback whales. | D．Enjoy an exciting voyage. |
| A．AG DEVIL ARK EXPEDITION. |
| B．LIGHTNING RIDGE FOSSIL DIG. |
| C．11-DAY KIMBERLEY COASTAL CRUISE. |
| D．SWIM WITH THE HUMPBACKS OF TONGA. |
10 . National Park Association of Queensland Activities Vegetation Management Group
Saturday 14th March 2020
Location: Jolly’ s Lookout carpark, D’Aguilar National Park
Leader: Angus McElnea (0429854446 or gus mcelnea@hotmail.com)
Get your hands dirty! Come and spend a couple of hours to help with lantana(a type of flowering plant) control and revegetation(植被再造) work in the Boombana and Jolly’s Lookout areas of D’Aguilar National Park, west of Brisbane.
Wynnum North Boardwalk
Sunday 15th March 2020
Location: Wynnum North Boardwalk Leader: Jocelyn Dixon (0733788486)
Fee: $5(members) $10(non-members)
Join with us to view the water and bush birds of this area. A track from Wynnum North Road leads to a secret place for viewing a diverse mix of birds walking around in water. From there we will take a short walk to the Mangrove Boardwalk.
May Long Weekend Camp
Saturday 2nd May to Monday 4th May 2020 Leader: Tony Parsons (0433224544)
Join us for a long weekend in Border Rangers National Park, camping at Sheep Station Creek campground. Spend the days exploring the national park, and evenings around the campfire. We will have the chance to view Mt Warning from the Pinnacle at sunrise and sunset. Bring your family and stay for the weekend or come down for a day. It will be enjoyable.
Central West Qld National Parks
Saturday 29th August to Sunday 6th September 2020 Leader: Wendy Bell(0733002473)
Exciting opportunity to visit and explore at least six national parks in the comfort of a big coach and be accommodated, rather than camping. Basic cost of the tour is $3, 400 per person. Total cost includes all transport, all meals, and activity fees.
1. Who will you call if you are interested in bird-watching?| A．Angus McElnea. | B．Jocelyn Dixon. | C．Tony Parsons. | D．Wendy Bell. |
| A．May Long Weekend Camp. | B．Wynnum North Boardwalk. |
| C．Vegetation Management Group. | D．Central West Qld National Parks. |
| A．It is a weekend activity. |
| B．Lots of walking is involved. |
| C．The organizer provides the transport. |
| D．Visitors have to bring their own food. |
