1 . English businessman Richard Branson made history on July 11, 2021 as he and three other crewmates became the world’s first space tourists. The flight was made by a spacecraft named VSS Unity that was built by Branson’s company, Virgin Galactic. The flight lasted slightly more than an hour, and took Branson and crew to an altitude (海拔) of 53.5miles above the Earth, just a little above the boundary (边界) of space which lies 50 miles above the Earth.

At that height, the atmosphere turns into the black of outer space and the Earth becomes a bent ball of blue. Travelers also exhibit weightlessness as there is no gravity, the force that keeps our bodies walking on the Earth’s surface. Therefore, Branson and his fellows were able to float around in VSS Unity while enjoying the views. They were able to do that for three minutes before the spacecraft began its downward journey. It landed back at Virgin Galactic’s space port in New Mexico, United States, which is the same place from where it had taken off 90 minutes before.

On landing back, Branson said, “I have dreamt of this moment since I was a kid but honestly, nothing could prepare you for the view of the Earth from space. It was just magical. I’m just taking it all in, and it’s unreal.”

July 11’s flight is the start of space tourism for one and all. In early 2022, customers who can afford a ticket for a quarter of a million dollars can line up for a seat on a trip to space. And guess what — they will have a choice of spacecraft. Jeff Bezos, who owns a famous company, is all set to launch himself into space on July 20 on board a spacecraft built by his new branch company Blue Origin. Blue Origin will also carry tourists to space.

1. What is Richard Branson famous for?

A．His success in tourism.

B．His company of Virgin Galactic.

C．His spaceship named VSS Unity.

D．His first commercial space travel in history.

2. What does Branson think of his space travel?

A．Unbelievable.

B．Adventurous.

C．Regrettable.

D．Worthless.

3. What do space tourists have to do?

A．Take a spacecraft of Virgin Galactic.

B．Pay $250,000 for the rocket tour.

C．Pass the fitness test for astronauts.

D．Line up for a position in Blue Origin.

4. What can we infer from the last paragraph?

A．Humans will move to other livable planets.

B．Ordinary people will soon land on the moon.

C．Private rocket space travel is growing gradually.

D．Some companies abandon their proper business.

2 . My family visited the coastal town of St. Pete Beach. Florida. With its pretty sandy beaches, deep blue waters and year-round sunshine, it’s clear to see why St. Pete is a popular tourist destination among travelers from around the world.

Just a few feet from our apartment, we found ourselves walking on white sand towards the bright blue ocean. We were soon greeted by a man offering us the use of one of his luxury beach cabanas (小屋) for the day at a very reasonable price and settled into a full day of relaxation. The peaceful atmosphere was a true escape from the hustle and bustle (喧嚣) of the city. It was so easy to while away the days from morning until dusk, enjoying the warmth of the sun’s rays and getting lost in a good book, before taking a quick swim in the calm waters to cool off.

Once the sun set, there was a various range of bars and restaurants to choose from just a few steps away. The warm evening atmosphere was peppered with the mouthwatering smell of sizzling freshly-caught fish. The only hardship was trying to decide where to dine each evening with so many tasty options!

After a while, we began to desire a bit more adventure on our trip which, to our delight, we discovered was easy to come by. On one of our outings, we took a boat trip to the undisturbed island of Egmont Key State Park. There we explored the ruins of a military outpost built in 1898 and a 150-year-old working lighthouse. The island is also a protected wildlife reserve. On our return journey, we were excited to discover we were being followed by over a dozen dolphins, who were taking turns to leap out of the water playfully in the wake of our boat.

1. What made the author’s family select St. Pete Beach as the destination?

A．Water sports.	B．The city’s busy nightlife.
C．Some historical buildings.	D．The beautiful beach and weather.

2. Why did the family decide to spend a day in a beach cabana?

A．Because of some fun activities.

B．Because of a cost-effective offer.

C．Because of near historical landmarks.

D．Because of the distance of it from their apartment.

3. What troubled the author’s family when they chose a place to eat?

A．Friendly atmosphere in each restaurant.

B．High prices in most restaurants.

C．Diverse choices available.

D．Family members’ preferences for food.

4. What added excitement to the family’s return boat trip?

A．The presence of a wildlife expert in the boat.

B．Dolphins following and playing around the boat.

C．The discovery of hidden treasures on the boat.

D．A surprising visit from some local residents.

3 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. How tall is the Burj Khalifa?

A．304 meters tall.

B．828 meters tall.

C．162 meters tall.

2. When was the Burj Khalifa officially opened?

A．In 2004.

B．In 2009.

C．In 2010.

3. Who designed the Burj Khalifa?

A．Bill Baker.

B．Armani.

C．Adrian Smith.

4. What will the speaker do next?

A．Take a break.

B．Visit the inside of the Burj Khalifa.

C．Go to another scenic spot.

4 . 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。

The Xi’an City Wall,    1    is a symbol of the history and culture of Xi’an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, has become an important city brand after continuous improvements.

The Xi’an City Wall    2    (build) in the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) on the foundation of the imperial city walls of the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties. It is the    3    (old), most well preserved, and largest ancient city wall in the world.

The city wall is more than 600 years old and suffers from cracks and flaky (薄片的) soil on a daily basis. In addition to    4    (extreme) large amounts of manual work, technology also provides    5    protective barrier for the city wall. “We have installed 8,700 metal detectors on the city wall    6    ( monitor) various dynamic data such as the pH level    7    the soil, moat (护城河) water level and daily soil moisture (水分) changes,” said Wu, who is a worker of the Xi’an City Wall Management Committee.

In addition to the Hanguang Gate Relic Site Museum, the watchtowers on the city wall have also been transformed into public cułtural and art    8    (site) such as the Jinhuidui Art Museum, Armor Museum, and City Brick Museum. So far, the city wall    9    (launch) a series of cultural and creative products, mystery boxes, and digital collections,    10    (attract) many visitors.