1 . Asia is the birthplace of the world’s three ancient civilizations: ancient China, ancient India and Babylon. Each gave the world different architectural styles and global landmarks, such as the Great Wall of China. Taj Mahal of India.With the conclusion of the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilization, let’s take a look at the architecture of Asian civilizations.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is an ancient defense project with the longest construction time and the largest workload put into a landmark, stretching out to a total length of more than 5,000 kilometers. Only when you have been to the Great Wall and witnessed its majesty can you truly say you have visited China.

Angkor Wat,Cambodia

The Angkor Wat in Cambodia is one of the largest religious monuments in the world,built on a site measuring 162.6 hectares. It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman Ⅱ in the early 12th century in Yasodharapura(present-day Angkor),the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum(陵墓).

Taj Mahal, India

The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra.It was commissioned in 1632 by Mughalemperor Shah to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being“the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”

Al-Khazneh, Jordan

Al-Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, is one of the most delicate temples in the ancient Arab Nabataean Kingdom city of Petra,Jordan. The 45-meter-high and 30-meter-wide building is a magnificent building with a pronounced Greek style. It is said to have been a place where pirates hid their treasure.

1. What is special about the Great Wall compared with the others in the article?

A．It is the longest man-made project in the world.

B．It was listed in the UNESCO world Heritage Site.

C．It was used as a defense project in the ancient China.

D．It used to be used as a religious/purpose in China

2. Which of the following is one of the largest religious monuments?

A．The Angkor Wat.	B．The Taj Mahal.
C．AI-Khazneh.	D．The Treasury

3. Which of the landmarks has been affected by the Greek culture?

A．The Great Wall.	B．The Angkor Wat.
C．The Taj Mahal.	D．AI-Khazneh.

2 . Time and time again, I hear someone ask why anyone would want to keep an “ugly” building or a building that is dirty and clearly in need of work. I think you could say we preservationists (文物保护者) look at buildings through a different angle — an angle that can see the swan in the ugly duck, the story in the simple lines, the book behind the cover.

Take the Queen Emma Building for example. While people may remember that building being named as one of the ugliest buildings in town, the angle from which a preservationist will view the building is that it is uniquely constructed with an artistical brise-soleil (遮阳板) to block the sun. The designer used standard concrete bricks to form a decorative wall. Unfortunately, the brise-soleil was removed in 2011, making the building look like many of the contemporary buildings in town.

Sometimes people remember a beautiful site that was replaced by a “very unpleasant” piece of architecture and can’t get over their anger, even when that building becomes an important part of our story. This is particularly true in San Francisco where many preservationists themselves dislike anything newer, than the Victorian era. Yes, it was a tragedy that many failed to appreciate the Victorian buildings and let many get torn down several decades ago, but those losses also tell another important story. It tells the story of the 1950s and 1960s when there was hope for a more equal society with inexpensive housing for the working class. Should that history be wiped from our memories?

Preservation is not just about keeping pretty, well-kept buildings, but about conveying pars of our history — not just the history of huge events, but the story of how everyone used to go to a certain corner market. Our history cannot be told only in buildings that meet someone’s criteria of beauty; sometimes our history is painful, but no less important.

1. How do preservationists see buildings?

A．They focus on their value rather than appearance.

B．They pay great attention to ancient buildings.

C．They are devoted to repairing famous buildings.

D．They prefer ugly buildings to beautiful ones.

2. What does the author think of removing the brise-soleil of the Queen Emma Building?

A．It’s confusing.	B．It’s pleasing.
C．It’s regrettable.	D．It’s unbelievable.

3. Why were many Victorian buildings in San Francisco torn down?

A．To wipe the history of the Victorian era.

B．To make land available for cheap housing.

C．To work off the deep anger of the working class.

D．To restore the architecture before the Victorian era.

4. What is the author’s intention of writing this passage?

A．To introduce some buildings with historical value.

B．To explain the reason why architects make ugly buildings.

C．To praise the work of preservationists.

D．To stress the importance of preserving ugly buildings.

4 . Top Silk Road Attractions

Terracotta Warriors (兵马俑)

Type: History Museums, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

As the eighth wonder of the ancient world, it has a history of more than 2, 200 years. Oriental mummies (东方木乃伊) wait for you to discover their mystery.

Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟)

Type: Buddhism, Historic Sites

Recommended Length of Visit: 3 hours

Considered as the eastern Louvre Museum, Mogao Grottoes is a glorious treasure of ancient Buddhist cave art. The history of Mogao Grottoes can be traced back to the “Five Hu — 16Kingdoms” period (AD 304-439).

Big Wild Goose Pagoda (大雁塔)

Type: Culture & History, Buddhism

Recommended Length of Visit: 2 hours

For hundreds of years, this great pagoda has always been the symbol of Xi’an. It is famous for the great traveler Xuanzang of Tang Dynasty who traveled from China to India to learn the Buddhism and got back to China with many precious Buddhist scriptures (佛经).

Qinghai Lake

Type: Lake

Recommended Length of Visit: 5 hours

Known as the largest inland lake, as well as the largest salt water lake in China, it is the most visited and famous attraction in Qinghai Province. Here, you not only enjoy the fantastic natural beauty, but also experience the amazing culture here.

Please click here to add the attraction to your favorite list. Let us plan a private Silk Road Tour for you!

1. What do Mogao Grottoes and Big Wild Goose Pagoda have in common?

A．Both contain ancient Buddhist cave art.

B．Both are related to history and Buddhism.

C．Both are known as the symbol of Xi’an.

D．Both were constructed during the Tang Dynasty.

2. Which of the following provides tourists with breathtaking natural scenery?

A．Terracotta Warriors.	B．Mogao Grottoes.
C．Big Wild Goose Pagoda.	D．Qinghai Lake.

3. Where is this text most likely from?

A．A novel.	B．A storybook.
C．A website.	D．A magazine.

5 . The most wonderful space museums

National Museum of the U.S. Air Force | Dayton

If your main interests lie in military aviation, this museum will have everything you’ve ever wanted to see. It features exhibits on World War II, the Korean War, the Southeast Asia War and the Cold War. They’ve also got a Missile Gallery as well as a Space Gallery where visitors can walk inside a full-size reproduction of a NASA shuttle (航天飞机). Most impressively, it is totally free to visitors.

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum | Washington

Housing 60,000 air and space collections, the museum enables visitors to learn about the rich history of aviation (航空) by viewing the first successful aircraft (飞机) — the 1903 Wright Flyer — and everything that came next. From pilot uniforms to NASA spacesuits, engines and equipment, you’ll find it all at this museum.

U.S. Space and Rocket Center | Huntsville

Space fans know this museum to be the site of the original Space Camp, including the film by the same name, but there’s plenty more to see here. The Center has a number of exhibits both indoors and out and many play areas for younger kids. 3D movies and live science shows add to the appeal.

Pima Air & Space Museum | Tucson

The privately funded museum has been in operation for over 40 years and has over 300 historic aircraft on display. You’ll also find several exhibits that range from seaplanes and aircraft carriers to paper airplanes and women in flight. One of the biggest draws, though, is its extensive “boneyard”, a collection of over 4,000 U.S. government and military aircraft that are either being recycled or regenerated.

1. Which museum houses the first aircraft in history?

A．Pima Air & Space Museum.

B．Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

C．National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

D．U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

2. What do we know about the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force?

A．It has a history of 40 years.

B．It charges a small entrance fee.

C．It organizes space camps every year.

D．It has a shuttle of the same size as a real one.

3. Where is the museum famous for its “boneyard”?

A．Huntsville.

B．Dayton.

C．Tucson.

D．Washington.

8 . A trip to Paris is not complete without a visit to the Eiffel Tower. To get the most out of your visit, read our tips below：

Visit at Night

Riding up the Eiffel Tower at night and looking out over the streets of Paris, you’ll see why Paris is known as the “City of Light”. At street level，the spotlights on the top of the Tower zoom across the Paris skyline, and the reflections of the Tower in the Seine are sights not to be missed.

Purchase Your Ticket in Advance Online

Bypass the long ticket lines at the Eiffel Tower by purchasing your ticket online from the Eiffel Tower website. You’ll pick a time to visit, and then select whether to print out the ticket or display it on your phone or iPad a convenient option if you buy your ticket in Paris without easy access to a printer.

Don’t Bring Valuable Objects with You

Before entering the Eiffel Tower, your bags will be examined by a security officer. If an item you are carrying sets off the metal detector, the officer will take you away from the line for further inspection. We’ve stood in line for hours behind people who missed their chance to go up the Eiffel Tower.

Have Drinks and Snacks at the Eiffel Tower

If you’re like us，after an exciting trip to the Eiffel Tower，you’ll be ready to rest your legs and have a relaxing snack and a drink in a Parisian cafe. Across the Seine in the Trocadero area, there are many elegant cafes. The atmosphere is great, but the prices are in the stratosphere. Actually, the perfect place for common visitors to eat and drink is on the Eiffel Tower itself.

1. Why does the author suggest visiting the Tower at night?

A．Because you can stand on the top of the Tower.

B．Because you can avoid the crowds and enjoy it peacefully.

C．Because you can have a special sight of the city of Pairs.

D．Because you can see the Seine as clear as possible.

2. Why did some people fail to go up the Eiffel Tower?

A．Because they didn’t seize the chance.	B．Because they lost valuable objects.
C．Because they set off the metal detector.	D．Because they had a quarrel with the officer.

3. What can be inferred from the last paragraph?

A．The author recommends tourists have snacks at the Eiffel Tower.

B．The Eiffel Tower provides expensive foods and drinks.

C．The author prefers to eat across the Seine.

D．You spend more if you have snacks at the Tower.