1 . Longing for a trip that will show you all of Nashville’s most famous and historic sites? The Redneck Comedy Tour is for you. This 1.5—2 hours’ tour is filled with plenty of humor. You will be guided through the heart of Nashville with the help of an experienced guide and host from the comfort of a climate-controlled bus. Guests are welcome to bring their own drinks aboard the bus. Some of the alarming city sights that you’ll see include the Ryman, Music Row, and the famous Country Music Hall of Fame.
The Redneck Comedy Bus Tour is an extremely amusing way to see what Nashville has to offer. You will definitely enjoy some terrific entertainment and music and drink as you travel along the Music City. For a journey with one of the unique tours in the country, be sure to get onto the big camo (迷彩) bus with bull horns and don’t miss your chance to take on this fun activity. Departures are located at Frugal MacDoogal and Nashville Palace.
The tour is suggested for kids at heart who are more than 14 years old, although old fellows of all ages are welcome to join in on the fun! Nashville bus tours are a funny way to explore the Music City and its great attractions and activities. Bring your pals, bring your family, and have a great time. Get your ticket today and enjoy a fun-filled to Nashville.
1. What does the Redneck Comedy Tour offer?| A．Free drinks. | B．A citywide tour. |
| C．Humorous stories. | D．Music-related sightseeing. |
| A．Join certain groups. | B．Book a ticket in advance. |
| C．Take the arranged bus ride. | D．Bring enough food and drink. |
| A．Joy-filled. | B．Age-limited. | C．Money-saving. | D．Activity-packed. |
2 . Is there a place that you have a strong desire to visit before you are too old to travel? If so, you’re in my shoes. The following places are where I desire to visit very much and most probably your best choices.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
The region is famous for its amazing natural beauty. Many 5A scenic areas and geological(地质的)parks are located there. The park not only has natural wonders, such as strange looking peaks and a thick forest, but also rich animal and plant resources. Tourists can feel like stepping into a natural botanic(植物)garden and kingdom of animals. After visiting here, one will realize the great natural beauty of our world.
The Rainbow Mountains
These geographical(地理的)wonders look as if they were painted with a giant paintbrush. The bright colors stand obviously among the surrounding green plants. Wild as it is, these mountains are a part of our world in China’s Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. This wild variety of color does exist in the real world. No Photoshop is necessary for the natural beauty of these mountains.
Bora bora.
This place offers the chance to live like a native Polynesian. The clear open sky and the calm waters offer you the unique opportunity to observe how the native people lead a life nearby the sea. Many holiday centers are built here and offer different tours and experiences.
The Galapagos Islands.
The islands consist of 13 volcanic(火山的)islands and six smaller islands. Although known for Darwin’s visit, they’re more attractive than you might imagine. There are 900 species of animals found on these islands. 200 of these species are specific(特有的)to the Galapagos. Most travelers come to this lovely place for the specific wildlife here.
1. What can we infer about the four places from the text?| A．They all consist of both man-made sights and natural scenery. |
| B．They all enable visitors to experience the local people’s life. |
| C．They all became well-known after some important visits. |
| D．They are all on the author’s list of places to travel. |
| A．See beautiful rainbows. | B．Take photos of colorful plants. |
| C．Enjoy geographical wonders. | D．Paint pictures with giant paintbrushes. |
| A．Various wildlife. | B．The volcanoes. | C．Darwin’s visit. | D．Dark green plants. |
3 . Sitting on the edge of the world, Sydney is considered as one of the world’s greatest cities. Here are some things you should do and see in Sydney.
Explore Sydney’s hottest neighborhood
Many big-ticket attractions can be found in or around the Circular Quay area, right by the port. Here, you can get on ferries(轮渡) to faraway islands or go exploring on foot with the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens and Museum of Contemporary all nearby.
Take side trips
Popular among outdoor types, the rough Blue Mountains—about two hours by train west of the city—promises winter skiing, excellent hiking and kangaroo sightings. Walking through the national park, travelers will watch forests, waterfalls, natural caves, small villages and rock formations.
The Hunter valley, just a two-hour drive north of Sydney, is Australia’s oldest wine region. Most vineyards(葡萄园) are family-owned, focusing on small production. Wine is more personal here.
Stay in style
The classic Langham Hotel is located just west of Circular Quay, offering easy access to the famous port.
As you explore its beautiful corridors(走廊), look for contemporary artworks from around the world—The Langham Hotel has the largest art gathering (more than $1 million worth) in Australia.
Meanwhile, those looking for a more relaxed experience can go camping on Cockatoo Island—just a quick boat ride from Circular Quay.
Travel tips
• Leaving tips at the bar or for a taxi isn’t expected, but it’s appreciated.
• When riding in a taxi alone, it’s customary to sit in the front seat.
• Bring sun cream, sunglasses and hat—whatever the season.
• On Sundays, families enjoy discounted fares on Sydney’s ferries and trains.
1. What can you do in the Blue Mountains?| A．Explore the artificial caves. | B．Watch the lovely kangaroos. |
| C．Taste locally produced wine. | D．Enjoy the unique corridors. |
| A．Its ideal location. | B．Its first-class service. |
| C．Its big collection of artworks. | D．Its modern architectural style. |
| A．Ensure sun protection. | B．Offer bar tips. |
| C．Sit behind the driver in a taxi. | D．Travel by train. |
4 . Holidays
Holiday News Vacancies(空位) now and in the school holidays at a country hotel in Devon. This comfortable, friendly home-from-home lies near the beautiful quiet countryside, but just a drive away from the sea. The food is simple but good. Children and pets are welcome. Reduced prices for low season. |
The Snowdonia Centre The Snowdonia Centre for young mountain climbers has a mountain climbing lesson. The beginners’ costs are ￡57 for a week, including food and rooms. Equipment is included except walking shoes, which can be hired at a low cost. You must be in good health and prepared to go through a period of body exercises. This could be the beginning of a lifetime of mountain climbing adventure. |
The World Sea Trip of a Lifetime Our World Sea Trip of 2008 will be unlike any holiday you have ever been on before. Instead of one hotel after another, with all its packing and unpacking, waiting and traveling, you just go to bed in one country and wake up in another. On board the ship, you will be well taken care of. Every meal will be first-class and every cabin like your home. During the trip, you can rest on deck(甲板), enjoy yourself in the games rooms and in the evening dance to our musical team and watch our wonderful play. You will visit all the places most people only dream about — from Acapulco and Hawaii to Tokoy and Hong Kong. For a few thousand pounds, all you’ve ever hoped for can be yours. |
| A．Choose the holiday in Devon. | B．Go to the Snowdonia Centre. |
| C．Join the World Sea Trip of 2008. | D．Visit Acapulco and Hawaii. |
| A．It provides chances of family gatherings. | B．It provides customers with good food. |
| C．It offers a sports lesson. | D．It offers comfortable rooms. |
| A．You can have free meals on deck every day. |
| B．You can sleep on a ship and tour many places. |
| C．You will have chances to watch and act in a play. |
| D．You have to do your own packing and unpacking. |
5 . Ten years ago, I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.
Now when I look at the photo, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some strangers bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized (使永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us. That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?| A．Her camera stopped working. | B．A friend approached from behind. |
| C．Someone asked her to leave. | D．A woman blocked her view. |
| A．losing her patience | B．enjoying herself |
| C．waiting for the sunset | D．thinking about her past |
| A．The woman's existence in the photo. | B．The perfect positioning of the camera. |
| C．The rich color of the landscape. | D．The soft sunlight that summer day. |
| A．the need to be close to nature | B．the importance of private space |
| C．the shared passion for beauty | D．the joy of the vacation in Italy |
6 . As for long-distance holidays, there are some wonderful destinations that actually offer you great value for your money, especially for those who do not hope to empty their pockets after a holiday.
Tokyo, Japan
Food lovers should go to this busy city which has the lowest cost for eating out — you can even buy two evening meals (three dishes for each) , with a bottle of wine, for just under £ 34. For sightseeing (观光) there are plenty of free museums and attractions, while tour bus ticket prices start from as little as £ 11.56.
Bangkok, Thailand(泰国)
Thailand's capital is second to none as the best value long-distance city. Although there isn’t a big difference across all prices compared to the other cities, it is accommodation ( 住宿) that really makes it stand out. If you’re only stopping for a long weekend, then make sure to pay a visit to the breathtaking temples.
Beijing, China
The Chinese capital stands out with a total basket price of £ 337.49. If you only do one cultural day out during your stay, make it a trip to the Forbidden City. There are some beautiful buildings from the Ming and Qing dynasties. At the same time they're home to priceless artificial objects( 工 艺 品 ) from ancient Chinese emperors’ families.
Dubai(迪拜), UAE
Although Dubai does have a reputation(名声) for being quite the splurge (挥霍金钱) when it comes to holidays and if you’re going to enjoy shopping or experience the roller-coasters, it is in fact quite worth the money. The city also offers some cheaper prices across its museums, galleries and attractions as well as airport transfers.
1. When it comes to food, which one tops the first as the most money-saving city?| A．Bangkok | B．Beijing. | C．Tokyo. | D．Dubai. |
| A．Cheap food. | B．Architecture and artificial objects. |
| C．Shopping. | D．Accommodation. |
| A．it usually costs a lot of money to spend a holiday in Dubai |
| B．historical buildings are everywhere in Dubai. |
| C．Dubai is famous for house wine producing. |
| D．the roller-coasters there are the best in the world. |
7 . People who like travelling have their reasons. They believe that travelling can help them expand their field of view, especially in the geographical and historical sense. They also think that touring will give them more chances to enjoy different kinds of food and experience new things that would never be brought by other activities. But those who dislike travelling also have some reasons.
Travelling, in my opinion, does more good than harm. Most importantly, it broadens (使扩大) our mind. We can get in touch with other civilizations (文明), cultures, customs and ideas.
Through history, most people travelled because of necessity (必要性) －not for pleasure. People travelled just in order to remain alive. They searched for food to eat or places to live in. They sometimes ran away from enemies. This is not to say that no one ever travelled just for fun of it. In ancient times, for example, rich Romans travelled all the ways to Greece to take part in the Olympic Games, and festivals. Of course, some people decided to travel just out of curiosity (好奇心). They wanted to find out what it looked like beyond the horizon (地平线). Also business travel has been going on for centuries. Traders could not only make money but also learn to speak several languages and be introduced to different cultures.
So, travelling does enrich our mind and draw new ideas to us. There is no doubt that we can get much from it.
1. The underlined word “expand” in Paragraph 1 can be replaced by “________”.| A．widen | B．Protect | C．lose | D．decide |
| A．for fun | B．for knowledge |
| C．to get experiences | D．to make a living |
| A．Three. | B．Four. | C．Five. | D．Six. |
| A．Different kinds of travelling. | B．Travelling enriches our mind. |
| C．Ways to enjoy yourself while travelling. | D．The advantages and disadvantages of travelling. |
8 . There are some famous buildings that everyone can recognize. When you see a picture of a sports stadium that reminds you of a bird’s nest, you probably know it is the Olympic stadium in Beijing. When you see a picture of a famous concert hall that reminds you of a sailing ship, you probably know it is the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Buildings like these are easily recognized worldwide. They were designed to look like other things if people use their imaginations.
Other buildings do not need any imagination. They are made to look exactly like other things. Sometimes, these buildings are offices, restaurants, or even houses. Three buildings built in this way are actually museums. The shape of the building is a clue to the objects that people can see inside.
In Guizhou, China, people can visit the Meitan Tea Museum, built in the shape of a huge teapot. There is also a second building next door that is shaped like a tea cup. From far away, the nine-storey teapot shaped museum looks like some kind of huge work of art. But as one gets closer, the windows make it clear that this is a building.
People who are interested in guitars might want to visit the Guitar Museum in the USA. The three-storey building is shaped like a guitar lying on its side. Inside, visitors can see all kinds of guitars as well as learn about famous guitar players.
One of the newest funny-shaped museums is a pottery museum in Korea. This museum, built in 2011, is shaped just like a real pot. Along with seeing examples of pots and tools used for making pots in the museum, visitors can try to make their own pots there.
1. What are the stadium and the concert hall examples of?| A．Huge buildings. | B．Famous buildings in Beijing. |
| C．Places that look like other things. | D．Buildings that look exactly like things in them. |
| A．make your own pots | B．see all kinds of guitars |
| C．drink tea | D．do sports |
| A．A music magazine. | B．A sports magazine. |
| C．An art magazine. | D．A medical magazine. |
| A．Famous museums. | B．Interesting buildings. |
| C．Famous things from long ago. | D．Things used to make buildings. |
9 . My wife and I recently completed a day-long tour of the Great Wall with Jessie. In addition to being very knowledgeable about the history of the areas that we toured, she spoke excellent English and was able to answer all of our questions. Her driver was very experienced and polite, and we really enjoyed being able to have a customized tour that avoided the tourist traps and forced shopping that seem to be a part of the larger group tours.
The attractions themselves were fantastic. I was a little worried that the snowy weather might impact our trip to the Great Wall, but everything went fine, and there weren’t many people out at all that day. I suggest wearing strong shoes—the Great Wall is really a hike. And in snowy or rainy days, the surfaces are pretty slippery (滑的)! Seeing this area in winter was really unique, and the snow made for great pictures. Jessie kept us entertained with stories and facts about the construction of the Wall, and always pointed out great spots for taking pictures. Even though she’s in fantastic shape, she cared about our level of fitness and often stopped to let us catch our breath.
When we got back to our hotel, Jessie gave us a great recommendation for dinner and some tips for our planned stops the next day. If I find myself in Beijing in the future, I will certainly be contacting Jessie for more tour opportunities, and I’ve already recommended her to some friends who are visiting the area later in the year. I can’t say enough about how kind and knowledgeable she was, and she really gave us a great tour experience.
1. What can we infer about Jessie?| A．She is a tour advisor. |
| B．She is a tour guide. |
| C．She is a foreign traveler. |
| D．She is a skilled driver. |
| A．In spring. | B．In summer. |
| C．In autumn. | D．In winter. |
| A．Adventurous. | B．Disappointing. |
| C．Satisfactory. | D．Improvable. |
| A．A Wonderful Tour Day with Jessie |
| B．An Extraordinary Tour Company |
| C．The Great Wall, an Excellent Attraction |
| D．Jessie, a Kind and Knowledgeable Guide |
I was very excited when, last week, my friends and I decided to spend
The first place we went to was Brussels. Brussels is such
One enjoyable part of my afternoon was
In the evening we
On the Sunday we visited the city of Anvers. The city is famous
