1 . Welcome to “Cash Poor Points Rich”, a new travel blog dedicated to sharing experience with credit card points and miles to help you get big travel but for small spend. With the right planning and maximization of available resources, traveling as a college student may be easier than you think.
Chengdu, China
If visiting a place with happy locals is a priority for you, there’s no better city to hit than Chengdu. It is home to pandas and spicy things. Moreover, the city’s abundance of cultural and historical sights, together with its laid-back lifestyle, make itself one of the most attractive and livable large cities too. Past travelers have spent, on average, ￥158 on meals and about a quarter of that on local transportation for one day.
Con Dao, Vietnam
Tourism is picking up in Vietnam lately, where you can travel for about ¥ 100 per day if you play your cards right. Con Dao Island Nation Park, a group of dramatic tiny islands off the southern coast, is a great destination to see sea turtles and other wildlife while exploring the area on foot. Its thick jungle will give you a good chance to uncover a paradise of your own.
Zakynthos, Greece
If you’re looking for an affordable European summer beach vacation, consider Zakynthos. Food is cheap and mouthwatering. There are plenty of free things to do. although the favorite is spending time on the beautiful beaches edged by electric blue water. There are countless options for swimming in the appealing sea, along with charming villages and museums to explore.
New Orleans, U. S.
New Orleans is an incredibly unique place in the U. S., full of fascinating history, absorbing culture, delicious food, and a constantly buzzing nightlife scene. There are actually a couple of hostels in and near the French Quarter that offer reasonable accommodation rates for students.
1. Which city best suits people who like to meet cheerful natives?| A．Chengdu. | B．Con Dao. |
| C．Zakynthos. | D．New Orleans. |
| A．Countless local cultures. |
| B．Free tourist attractions. |
| C．Impressive sea views. |
| D．Large charming museums. |
| A．Parents arranging family trips. |
| B．Students exploring affordable destinations. |
| C．Elders looking for quiet destinations. |
| D．Businessmen seeking high-end hotels. |
2 . A 23-year-old woman has achieved an unbelievable feat that many of us dream of — visiting every country on Earth.
Lexie Alford was born into a family of travel agents, which gave her the opportunity to
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“I also loved visiting Northern Pakistan, for the natural beauty of the mountains and kindness of the locals were astonishing,” Lexie Alford said. “The most pleasant surprise about travelling to all these misunderstood areas of the world was that the countries that I had the
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| A．remark | B．settle | C．tour | D．love |
| A．fund | B．quit | C．deliver | D．register |
| A．powerful | B．ideal | C．developed | D．remaining |
| A．ranked | B．mastered | C．followed | D．criticized |
| A．inspire | B．admire | C．understand | D．accompany |
| A．Occasionally | B．Honestly | C．Completely | D．Temporarily |
| A．dream | B．content | C．family | D．growth |
| A．platform | B．agency | C．process | D．country |
| A．frightening | B．official | C．advanced | D．challenging |
| A．adult | B．youth | C．bosses | D．agents |
| A．most | B．least | C．greatest | D．worst |
| A．started with | B．showed off | C．ended up | D．searched for |
| A．advice | B．compromise | C．belief | D．information |
| A．put | B．save | C．find | D．make |
| A．honor | B．career | C．time | D．money |
3 . Yunnan offers exciting experiences of unique customs. If you are already planning to visit Yunnan, see our festival tours.
The Torch (火把) Festival
Date: July /August (days 24 to 26 of the sixth lunar month)
Location: Lijiang
It is a traditional festival among the Yi, Naxi, and Bai minority (少数民族) groups. According to the ancient rule of the Naxi people, the Torch Festival should last three days, and every family should light a big torch in front of their doors for the three days.
Recommended Tour: 3-Day Ancient Lijiang Tour
The Water Splashing (泼酒) Festival
Date: April 13 to 15
Location: Xishuangbanna
It is the most important festival observed by the Dai people of Xishuangbanna in southen Yunnan. It involves splashing water, lantern floating and other joyful activities.
Recommended tour: 6-Day Xishaungbanna Tour
The Horse Race Festival
Date: May/June (5th of the fifth lunar month)
Location: Shangri-la
Falling on the same date as the Dragon Boat Festival, it is the biggest gathering of Tibetans in Yunnan and usually lasts about 3 days. During the celebrations, traditional performances and competitions like horse racing and wrestling (摔跤) will beheld.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Yunnan Tour of the Nu River and Tengchong
The Third Month Fair of the Bai Group
Date: April /May(days 15 to 21 of the third lunar month)
Location: Dali
It is one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Bai people in Dali in western Yunnan. During the March Fair, the streets of Dali Ancient Town are packed with people selling amazing minority items.
Recommended tour: 6-Day Yunnan Minorities Tour
1. What do the Torch Festival and the Water Splashing Festival have in common?| A．The date. | B．The location. |
| C．The lasting time | D．The celebratory events. |
| A．The Torch Festival. | B．The Water Splashing Festival. |
| C．The Horse Race Festival. | D．The Third Month Fair of the Bai Group. |
| A．A business research. | B．A newspaper report. |
| C．An educational magazine. | D．An advertising leaflet. |
4 . 4-Day Classic Beijing Tour
The 4-day classic Beijing tour is designed for tourists who come to visit China for the first time. It covers the most popular and typical places in Beijing, fully displaying the scenery, culture, history, local lifestyles and features, food and drinks, business, etc. to you.
Day 1: Arrival in Beijing
Your guide meets you at Beijing Capital International Airport, and helps you check in at your hotel.
Enjoy Peking duck as welcome dinner.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 2: The Great Wall&the Summer Palace
Start your day at the most famous part of the Great Wall, the Badaling Great Wall. Leave the downtown for the Great Wall at 8 am. Since it is a long drive to the Great Wail (about 2 hours’ riding), have a break at the Beijing Bona Jade Museum on the way. Lunch will be enjoyed in a local restaurant. In the early afternoon come back to the city and have a sightseeing tour of the Summer Palace.
Suggested activity: Beijing opera shows (Liyuan Theatre, 19:30-20:30 every evening)
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 3: Beijing city sightseeing & the local experience
Your guide meets you at the hotel at 8 am and set out for the day’s touring: Tian’ anmen Square and the Forbidden City.
After visiting the two sites, have a break and get ready for lunch.
Hutong visit: see some traditional arts of the old Beijing, such as paper cutting and kite making, and visit a local family.
Accommodation: Downtown Beijing
Day 4: Beijing Olympic sites
Visit the Olympic sites: the Bird’s Nest, the Water Cube and the Olympic Green, showing the fast developing modern China. Enjoy some free time after visiting the sites.
After lunch, it is shopping time and then the tour is over.
For more information, just contact us at www. chinatour. com.
1. Whom is this advertisement aimed at?| A．Experts who study history and cities. | B．Foreigners who are new to China. |
| C．Kids who were born in other cities. | D．People who are interested in touring. |
| A．Visiting the Summer Palace. | B．Enjoying Beijing opera in the evening. |
| C．Going to the Beijing Bona Jade Museum. | D．Paying a visit to the Water Cube. |
| A．In a newspaper. | B．In a travel magazine. |
| C．On TV. | D．In a wellness book. |
1. Why did the speaker go to the rainforest?
| A．To do research for his degree. |
| B．To enjoy the beauties of nature. |
| C．To learn survival skills in the forest. |
| A．The village. | B．The trees and birds. | C．The colors and sounds. |
| A．He collected a few plants. |
| B．He went on a hunting trip. |
| C．He learned some dances. |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
| A．The hotel in the city center. |
| B．The woman’s trip to Kingston. |
| C．The woman’s plan for a summer event. |
| A．Unsatisfying. | B．Comfortable. | C．Wonderful. |
7 . In the ancient walled city of Sana’a, mud skyscrapers rise high into the sky. The towering structures are built entirely out of earth and decorated with striking geometric (几何图形的) patterns. The local mud architecture is so unique that the city has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
“As an outstanding example of architecture, the city has an extraordinary artistic quality,” UNESCO writes in its description of Sana’a. “The buildings also show amazing crafts in the use of local materials and techniques.”
Even though the buildings in Sana’a are thousands of years old, they remain “terribly modern-day”, says Salma Samar Damliyi, co-founder of the Mud Brick Architecture Foundation. Damliyi says it is easy to see why these mud buildings have not lost their attraction — they are extremely adaptable for modern use. “It is the architecture of the future,” says Damliyi.
Architects around the world are reviving raw-earth construction (生土建筑) as they seek to construct buildings that can fight against extreme weather events such as floods and intense heat. Could this ancient form of architecture influence the design of our future homes?
Concrete, a common modern construction material, has a huge carbon footprint. Replacing concrete with less polluting materials is important to achieving our climate goals, scientists warn.
The ancient material, mud, could be the perfect replaceable choice to concrete, according to Damliyi. Constructing with mud has a very low impact on the environment and the material itself is fully recyclable, she says. “If you want to pull down a wall or change the design, you can recycle all the materials.” Mud structures are also strong enough to prevent extreme weather, such as heatwaves, floods and droughts, which scientists say will become more frequent as temperatures continue to rise.
Therefore, people who wish to live in a modern, comfortable home should consider one made of mud.
Overall, it makes for highly advanced as well as sustainable design.
1. According to the first two paragraphs, buildings in Sana’a are “unique” because .| A．they are tall and tower over the entire city |
| B．their geometric patterns create artistic feelings |
| C．they are beautifully created with local resources |
| D．their fascinating history has attracted many tourists |
| A．They can reduce the chance of extreme weather events. |
| B．They can be ideal for future construction. |
| C．They might produce lots of greenhouse gas emissions. |
| D．They might cause large temperature changes. |
| A．mud might be an important solution to the climate crisis |
| B．the mud buildings in Sana’a are no longer suitable to live |
| C．rebuilding mud construction would take great efforts |
| D．mud becomes the favourite material of architects |
| A．The Historic Cities that Mark Human Civilization |
| B．The Construction Industry that Threatens Climate Goals |
| C．The Modern Architecture that Survives Extreme Weather |
| D．The Ancient Material that Makes for Future House Designs |
Yueyang Tower is
9 . UNESCO World Heritage Sites were created to celebrate and safeguard the most unique places around the world. Below are my 4 favorite UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Cinque Terre, Italy
With cars banned here, you’ll really get to feel the unique history and character of the Cinque Terre’s five centuries-old coastal villages. The breathtaking views of harbors far below the wild coastline along with the rich colors will definitely make it a memorable holiday.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious (宗教的) monument and it contains impressive remains from the Khmer Empire (9th to 15th century). The site has dozens of iconic temples like Ta Prohm (a magnificent temple ruin hidden in the jungle). Hosting more than two million visitors annually, this artistic masterpiece is a must-see site.
Petra, Jordan
Petra’s rock-cut architecture has contributed to its nickname, the Rose City, based on the color of the stone it was carved from. The delicate constructions of temples and tombs along with the remains of churches and temples are only a couple of reasons why this world-famous site is a must-visit destination.
Yellowstone National Park, USA
Yellowstone’s vast wilderness includes mountain ranges, lakes and waterfalls. One of the main reasons for tourists to visit Yellowstone is to observe the amazing wildlife like grizzly bear, bison, bighorn sheep wander the plains and valleys.
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1. Where can tourists enjoy beautiful harbor views?| A．In Cinque Terre. | B．In Angkor Wat. |
| C．In Petra. | D．In Yellowstone National Park. |
| A．Colorful stones. | B．Religious relics. |
| C．Coastal villages. | D．Amazing wildlife. |
| A．A news report. | B．A wildlife brochure. |
| C．A travel blog. | D．An economic magazine. |
10 . For some experienced Chinese travelers who have visited many destinations at home and abroad, their focus has changed toward exploring the less traveled domestic road and sharing their stories online.
Tuotuo and Susu are known for their first-person video blogs about less visited destinations in China. The couple’s short videos attract over 1.66 million followers on Sina Weibo, many of whom are youngsters with an urge to travel.
The couple has traveled to quaint villages where tourists seldom visit. For example, they visited Laozhai village in Lingshan county, Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region (自治区). The ancient Yao ethnic group village only has about 200 residents (居民) in 48 households.
During their travels, Tuotuo and Susu dine and rub shoulders with the locals and enjoy rural life. “These travels allow us to meet many interesting Chinese people and experience their unique lifestyles,” said 33-year-old Tuotuo.
However, the couple’s travels aren’t always without challenges. For example, when they visited a cattle-farming family in Yangdong village, Liping county, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous region in Guizhou, they had to drive on a winding road and a bumpy mud path, but the wonderful view of fields proved to be worthwhile.
“It’s like a Land of Peach Blossom in modern society. Their material life may not be as good as those in big cities, but they lead a life of ease and comfort,” Tuotuo said.
“Rather than common scenic areas, frequent visitors prefer in-depth travel and are interested in the local lifestyles and local people. For them, tourism has become a kind of lifestyle, and lifestyle has also become an essential part of tourism,” said Liu Simin, vice president of tourism at the Beijing-based Chinese Society for Future Studies.
1. Where can we probably learn about Tuotuo’s traveling video blogs?| A．From the advertisement. | B．From the Internet. |
| C．From the travel brochure. | D．From the textbook. |
| A．Old-fashioned and unusual. | B．Newly-built and wonderful. |
| C．Well-known and modern. | D．Long-standing and wealthy. |
| A．They will probably live in the country. |
| B．They hate good material life in big cities. |
| C．They are deeply attracted by local lifestyles. |
| D．They are more interested in traveling abroad. |
| A．The couple’s travels are always challenging. |
| B．The scenery in the country is quite impressive. |
| C．The conditions in Yangdong village are very poor. |
| D．Difficulties on the way won’t discourage the couple. |
