Summer vacation was finally coming, and Rose couldn’t wait to have a trip with her parents. She recalled the joyful experiences they shared last summer, which filled her with excitement for the upcoming holiday.
“Girls!” Rose heard her father calling. She raced to her big sister’s room, 1ellingherthatDad was calling them, and they rushed downstairs log either. Dad put his arm around Mom and told them that they were going on a trip to the Virunga Mountains of Africa. There were three national parks that they would visit.
Rose and Gina looked at each other. “What?” they said with one voice. Mom told them it would be really exciting to go there on a trip. At 12 years old, Rose would prefer going to an amusement park or a beach. She thought it important to let her parents know she didn’t want to go there but to the beach for a week or two.
“Well,” said Dad, “I have to go for an assignment for the paper. We’re covering the mountain gorillas(大猩猩) because they’re critically endangered these years. So, I thought it’d also be a great place to take a vacation. I’m sure it’ll be very educational for you girls.”
Gina let out a sigh, unable to contain her disappointment. She wanted to say something but Mom interrupted and announced that the trip was set on the next Monday.
“Sit down, both of you.” Dad had on his severe look. “Girls, it’s important for you to know about the world around you. This is a wonderful chance for you to experience and learn an amazing place. Do you know anything about the mountain gorillas?”
The sisters shook their heads.
“Well, get your laptop computer, Gina. I want you to look them up right now,” said Dad, “Rose, there is a book on the bookshelf about the cute mountain gorillas. Find it and read it.”
注意：1.续写词数应为150个左右：
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
The girls dragged their feet upstairs.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________The next Monday came and the family set out excitedly.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 . More people are travelling than ever before, and lower barriers to entry and falling costs means they are doing so for
The rise of “city breaks” 48-hour bursts of foreign cultures, easier on the pocket and annual leave balance has increased tourist numbers, but not their
In response to this situation, cities have come up with various solutions. For instance, Amsterdam has started advising visitors to seek
But it also proposes a better way, which is called “de-tourism”: sustainable travel tips and
A greater variety of
Font says cities could stand to be more
| A．longer | B．shorter | C．wider | D．clearer |
| A．environmental | B．national | C．economic | D．geographic |
| A．locals | B．tourists | C．visitors | D．cleaners |
| A．transports | B．accommodation | C．restaurants | D．service |
| A．cause | B．fuel | C．transfer | D．ease |
| A．separate | B．individual | C．alternative | D．objective |
| A．reform | B．guidance | C．invitation | D．support |
| A．convincing | B．discouraging | C．promoting | D．enjoying |
| A．release | B．enhance | C．remove | D．relieve |
| A．culture | B．knowledge | C．entertainment | D．ability |
| A．go with | B．bring up | C．come back | D．lay off |
| A．selective | B．optimistic | C．curious | D．doubtful |
| A．distinction | B．harmony | C．association | D．comparison |
| A．French | B．Japanese | C．Spanish | D．German |
| A．comfortable | B．complex | C．temporary | D．sustainable |
3 . As a traveler with a disability, I have always avoided cruises. This expedition-style small-ship cruise changed my mind.
When our expedition leader
In fact, the possibility of
Our visit there wasn’t about what we could do or see. It was an opportunity to just be—to exist in a brief
| A．knew | B．announced | C．remembered | D．replied |
| A．living | B．return | C．landing | D．mark |
| A．failing | B．choosing | C．struggling | D．hoping |
| A．Instead | B．Finally | C．Thus | D．Otherwise |
| A．strategic | B．remote | C．favorable | D．central |
| A．set foot on | B．fell victim to | C．kept track of | D．gained control of |
| A．constructions | B．conditions | C．descriptions | D．distributions |
| A．unwanted | B．unsecured | C．unplanned | D．unauthorized |
| A．mistakenly | B．nervously | C．routinely | D．happily |
| A．walk | B．flight | C．ride | D．path |
| A．dampen | B．share | C．convey | D．fuel |
| A．changed | B．lost | C．fought | D．made |
| A．in response to | B．in view of | C．in contrast to | D．in defense of |
| A．moment | B．experiment | C．glance | D．ceremony |
| A．value | B．need | C．miss | D．experience |
1. How long did the hike take?
| A．Three days | B．Eight days | C．Fourteen days. |
| A．Mountains. | B．Woodlands | C．Desert. |
| A．A lion. | B．A wolf. | C．A snake |
1. Why was the man in England?
| A．He was on business there. | B．He was visiting there. | C．He moved there. |
| A．In India. | B．In England. | C．In Canada. |
| A．Being too old. | B．Living a full life. | C．Coming to power suddenly. |
6 . Architects often spend months or even years perfecting a design to express their ideas more clearly, convey additional information, or outline the right proportions for a building. However, the urgent issue of climate change is placing new demands on their work. For example, in July, Super Typhoon Doksuri battered China, affecting more than 2.66 million people in Fujian Province alone.
Green architecture that conserves energy and reduces carbon dioxide emissions offers a solution, and concerted efforts have been made in diverse research fields over the past three decades to minimize heat loss. In addition, new buildings have to be tailored to the needs of people’s lifestyles.
Ren Jun, a professor at Tianjin University’s School of Architecture, who designed the first near-zero energy house in China in December 2019, said, “You can construct low-energy, environmentally-friendly houses, but if the interior design and environmental quality don’t meet residents’ requirements, these properties won’t be suitable to live in.”
The near-zero energy house, located-in Banbidian village in Beijing’s southern district of Daxing, won the International Design Award in the United States in January last year. The 400-square-meter property, which stands at the entrance to the village, runs on solar power gathered from rooftop panels, with the addition of a small amount of power from the grid (电网).
Ren said the first obstacle to conserving energy in the property was heat retention, which he attempted to achieve by keeping the indoor temperature at a certain level. The property is divided into five areas: a solar garden in the front yard, a central lounge, a water courtyard, a sponge zone, and a back room. For the exterior walls, Ren used three types of insulation (隔热层), including plastic foam, each about 25 centimeters thick.
Ren also looked for ways to deal with emissions at the house. He decided to install a ventilator, which pipes air that is polluted and replaces it with fresh air from outside in every room at the property.
Ren said it would take three to five years before more ultralow or near-zero energy buildings appeared in Chinese cities.
1. Which is not an important factor for designing green houses?| A．Energy consumption. | B．Carbon emission. |
| C．People’s lifestyle. | D．Architecture style. |
| A．The house consumes little electricity. |
| B．The house is deliberately designed to keep heat. |
| C．The house is equipped with many intelligent facilities. |
| D．The house is the first International Design Award-winning building in China. |
| A．He designed the house in five stories to trap heat in it. |
| B．He applied 75 centimeters of plastic foam to exterior walls. |
| C．He tailored the interior design to the demand of local people. |
| D．He installed a ventilator to cut down carbon dioxide emissions. |
| A．Green Homes Offer Hope amid Climate Change |
| B．Green Houses Feature Near-Zero Energy Consumption |
| C．Ren Jun Won the International Design Award |
| D．China Strives for Low Carbon Strategy with Green Houses |
1. When is the conversation probably taking place?
| A．In June. | B．In August. | C．In September. |
| A．It’s their history homework. |
| B．Their teacher took them there. |
| C．Someone advised them to go there. |
| A．The number of historical pieces. |
| B．The unique design of the building. |
| C．The collection of literature. |
| A．By bicycle. | B．By subway. | C．On foot. |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．Their trip abroad. | B．Vacation plans. | C．Cultural differences |
| A．She’s afraid of flying. |
| B．She hates the food there. |
| C．She went there with her cousin last summer. |
| A．It’s not easy to learn. |
| B．He’s been learning it for a year. |
| C．He can only say a few words. |
| A．The beauty of the beaches in Mexico. |
| B．The possibility of learning some Spanish. |
| C．Many people speaking English in Mexico. |
9 . 
Zion National Park in Utah has plenty of trails, but Angels Landing may be the most breathtaking. Picture this. You begin the hike on the wide and well-maintained West Rim Trail. It follows the river and then crosses the bottom of the canyon, surrounded by 270-million-year-old layers of rock. Relaxing, right? Just wait for it. The trail then starts to climb via a series of switchbacks (急转弯) leading up the side of the mountain. Then more switchbacks: 21 tighter turns, called “Walter’s Wiggles,” where elevation levels rapidly increase. Your heartbeat is probably rapidly increasing at this point, too.
On top of Walter’s Wiggles, you can stop for a stunning view (perhaps with a marriage proposal) and a restroom stop while you contemplate (仔细考虑) the final stretch of the hike. If you’re afraid of heights, it’s best to turn back now. The last stretch is the real test of bravery.
The last half mile of the hike is what really ranks it as one of the nation’s most dangerous. Angels Landing itself is a fin-like formation jutting (突出) 1,500 feet out of the canyon, and this is where you make the final 500-foot climb. Guardrails and chains bolted (拴住) into the cliff help you keep from tumbling over the extremely steep ledge. You’re literally living on the edge, and you don’t want to trust the “angels” down there to catch you. Once you reach the top, however, it’ll all be worth it: 360-degree views of the canyon make a great backdrop for kicking back and having a meal before you come back down the way you came.
Angels Landing might be dangerous, but thankfully, not too many people have had fatal falls. According to the park website, seven people have died in the 100 years the park has existed. Still, this is a very vigorous hike. If you’re out of shape, bringing young children along, feel ill or prone to fainting, or are just plain afraid of heights, opt for an easier trail.
Angel’s Landing is a great hike for most of the year, besides the cold winter months when the trails could become dangerously slippery. Summer is the most popular time of year — and therefore the most crowded — but it can also get extremely hot, so opt for an early morning hike while the temperatures are still mild.
Sure, it’s dangerous, but there’s a reason this is one of Zion ‘s most popular hikes. If you’re up for the challenge, Angels Landing will definitely deliver rewards.
This article first appeared on Curiosity.com.
1. What geological feature surrounds the hiker during the initial part of the hike?| A．Plenty of trails in the park. | B．Mountain Peaks. |
| C．270-million-year-old layers of rock. | D．Grass Meadows. |
| A．The challenging hike with switchbacks. |
| B．The 360-degree views of the canyon. |
| C．The well-maintained West Rim Trail. |
| D．The river crossing and rock formations. |
| A．If a tourist is afraid of heights, it’s best to turn back onto Angels Landing. |
| B．Seven people have died so far due to slippery trails in winter. |
| C．Bringing young kids along to climb onto Angels Landing will be appreciated. |
| D．Taking a break with the views of the canyon as background is absolutely worth the trip. |
| A．Unveiling the Hidden Beauty: Exploring Zion National Park’s Trails |
| B．Zion’s Ultimate Thrill: The Adrenaline-Pumping Angels Landing Expedition |
| C．Chasing Heights: Angels Landing Adventure in Utah’s Zion National Park |
| D．Angels Landing: Conquering Utah’s Breathtaking and Daring Hike in Zion National Park |
10 . Directions: After reading the passage below, fill in the blanks to make the passage coherent and grammatically correct. For the blanks with a given word, fill in each blank with the proper form of the given word; for the other blanks, use one word that best fits each blank.
Perhaps even more incredible is that it’s smack bang in the middle of Kentucky.
Mammoth Cave National Park preserves this unique and historical natural wonder. As large as the limestone cave system is, park officials, estimate there
The incredible rock formations have resulted in the park
The caves were created naturally by the process of limestone erosion, which is known as “karst topography”. Rain and rivers slowly dissolve and shape soft limestone, which creates the vast underground network. The system is still being shaped and carved today. Not only are they a stunning destination to visit, but the system also provides drinking water for roughly 40% of the US population — and they’re
The caves act as a time capsule that preserve over 5,000 years of human history — and the caves’ first explorers were Native Americans, who
Mammoth Cave was established as a national park thanks to strong local support. Back in the 1920s, Secretary of the Interior Hubert Work created the Southern Appalachian National Park Commission in 1925 to survey
Pioneering African Americans were some of the first cave guides, and are responsible for some of the more recently discovered passageways. Stephen Bishop, who was a slave, worked in the cave from 1838 to 1856 and ventured beyond the tour routes that
The park now receives around 2 million visitors a year, with roughly a quarter taking a tour of the caves – everything from a cultural tour to the more adventurous scrambling tours on offer. The cave supports more than 130 wildlife species, such as the eyeless cavefish,
Mammoth Cave National Park is also much more than just a cave; its surrounding forest contains one of the
