1 . Sometimes, we need a little help and get back to a state of mindfulness when it comes to taking care of our physical and mental health. Wellness vacations are on the rise.
■ Ketanga FitnessWhen: April 6 — 10
Where: Phoenix, Arizona
What: Sweat it out surrounded by the red rocks of Arizona’s desert. P.E. Club owner Nedra
Lopez leads a mixture of high and low intensity workouts in the mornings and evenings. During breaks, guests will have plenty of time to explore the desert. After your last workout class, you can hit the town for dinner and drinks.
■ Rksolid Retreat
When: April 15 — 22
Where: Oahu, Hawaii
What: What better excuses to relax yourself in Hawaii than a retreat led by Barry’s Bootcamp star Rebecca Kennedy? During your week-long journey to Oahu, you’ll surf, climb waterfalls, and hike the Stairway to Heaven trail. In between all those workouts, Kennedy creates a special stretch and recovery class so you won’t skip a beat next day.
■ Wellness Immersion
When: August
Where: Amanbagh, India
What: The Amanbagh hotel offers 4-21 day programs focusing on immersion courses that focus on relieving stress from people’s body. Activities include hikes overlooking beautiful gorges, yoga and meditation sessions, and meals made with organic, locally harvested produce.
■ Mile High Run Club
When: August 18 — 28
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
What: After landing in Reykjavik, runners can work towards their best time in the annual marathon, half marathon, or 10K. After a race, you’ll soothe your muscles in the geothermal Blue Lagoon spa and hit the ground running again with guided runs through Thorsmork National Park. Do we even have to mention Skaftafell’s crazy glacier views?
1. Which vacation will you choose if you want to visit desert?
| A．Rksolid Retreat. | B．Ketanga Fitness. |
| C．Wellness Immersion. | D．Mile High Run Club. |
| A．Go surfing. | B．Climb waterfalls. |
| C．Hike the Stairway to Heaven trail. | D．Attend a special stretch and recovery class. |
| A．enjoy a free hotel stay and service | B．visit Thorsmork National Park |
| C．taste food made by local organic produce | D．relax muscles in a geothermal spa |
| A．Men are the target vacationers. | B．They are combinations of wellness and scenery. |
| C．Courses and classes are arranged during them. | D．They are available all year round. |
| A．To promote marathon events. | B．To attract more tourists to America. |
| C．To advertise some P.E. clubs. | D．To introduce some wellness vacations. |
2 . Best Four Washington, D.C. Museums
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
ADDRESS: 10th St. & Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20560, the USA
PHONE: +1202-633-1000
This museum is the most popular Washington, D.C. museum and is worth taking your parents and children to visit. And there are so many artifacts(手工艺品) that you can’t possibly see them all in one visit. The dinosaur exhibits are fascinating and great for kids.
Visiting Tips: Arrive early in the morning to avoid crowds. If you are visiting with kids, be sure to see the Discovery Room where there are lots of hands—on activities.
Newseum
ADDRESS: 555 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, the USA
PHONE: +1202-292-6100
The six-level, high-tech and interactive attraction traces(追溯) the history of news reporting from the 16th century to the present day. Some favorite exhibits are the Pulitzer Prize Photo Gallery, Today’s Front Pages and the 9/11 Gallery. This is a fascinating attraction and well worth the entrance fee(费用).
National Gallery of Art
ADDRESS: Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20565, the USA
PHONE: +1202-737-4215
This museum spans(跨越) two buildings, with an East and West Wing and countless priceless artworks from Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, John Singleton Copley, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse and more famous artists. Check out the schedule of daily, free docent(讲解员)-led tours here.
The Phillips Collection
ADDRESS: 1600 21st St NW, Washington, DC 20009, the USA
PHONE: +1202-387-2151
Dupont Circle’s The Phillips Collection is not to be missed for art lovers, with pieces by Paul C zanne, Edgar Degas, Winslow Homer, Georgia O’Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, and Vincent van Gogh. Tickets run from $8 to $12 per visitor, and visitors aged 18 and under are free. The first Thursday of every month is “Phillips after 5,” a popular event that runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
1. What do you know about Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History?| A．It is free to the public the whole year. |
| B．It is a museum that is suitable for all ages. |
| C．It is the most popular museum around the world. |
| D．It provides practical activities for kids to explore oceans. |
| A．is worth visiting |
| B．also functions as a television station |
| C．only collects fun and exciting news |
| D．has an advantageous geographical location |
| A．have to book tickets ahead of time |
| B．can create artworks with artists together |
| C．have the chance of taking a free docent—led tour |
| D．can enjoy the performances of famous artists |
| A．“Phillips after 5” is held every Thursday. |
| B．“Phillips after 5” features original creation. |
| C．The Phillips Collection’s opening hours are three hours. |
| D．Not all visitors need to buy tickets when visiting the Phillips Collection. |
a. They both have valuable pieces.
b. They are both suitable for art lovers.
c. They both provide free docent-led tours
d. They are both free for the public to visit.
e. They are both far away from the center of Washington.
| A．abc | B．ad | C．ab | D．bce |
Imagine a world with no more wild animals: no elephants, no giraffes and no lions.
To some people, that thought is too terrible, so they are doing something about it. Being surrounded by wild animals — feeding them and caring for them — is all Tiffany Soechting has ever wanted to do all her life. And that is exactly what she does.
Soechting is the human “mother” to the 500 animals that live on her family’s wildlife farm. On the farm, she cares for creatures from every continent except Antarctica (南极洲).
Visitors get a chance not only to see these creatures there, but also to feed them, And the animals are not against that. For them, people and the special vehicles used on the farm are part of their natural environment. “When you come here, the animals are walking around freely like they would if they were in their native homeland. And you can touch them,” said Soechting. “For the most part, the majority of them were born and grew up here. But even when we bring them in — like if we bring a new male in the rest of the herd (兽群) is comfortable with what is going on.”
Tourists are not the only people to visit the farm. Many schools come for field trips all throughout the year, so it is a place of education as well as conservation. But for Soechting, the farm is simply home, and it has been for many generations.
As the animals walk peacefully around, it is easy to forget that a busy city is just a few minutes away. Tiffany Soechting and the 500 animals do not seem to give it a second thought.
1. What does Tiffany Soechting do?2. What can visitors do on Soechting’s family farm?
3. How do animals feel about the visit?
4. Apart from animal conservation, what else can people do on the farm?
5. What does the sentence “Tiffany Soechting and the 500 animals do not seem to give it a second thought” in the last paragraph mean?
4 . To ensure a safe and enjoyable visit, the British Museum continues to work within government guidelines.
Most of our galleries are open. You can visit the treasures of Sutton Hoo, explore the wonderful collection of the Islamic world (Opens in new window), and learn more about Egyptian mummies. Please see the list of available galleries below. Tickets to Nero: the man behind the myth and Hokusai: The Great Picture Book of Everything are available to book.
You’re advised to book a timed slot in advance (Opens in new window) to guarantee entry and help control the numbers of individuals who can visit. Walk-up visits are available each day for those who arrive at the Museum without advance bookings. But this does depend on capacity, as walk-up entry cannot be guaranteed. Please speak to staff on your arrival to enquire about availability.
We take the safety and security of our staff and visitors seriously, so face coverings are recommended for the protection of yourself and others, unless you’re exempt. Please be considerate of others— especially in smaller spaces. Hand sanitizer stations can be found throughout the Museum and we recommend washing or sanitizing your hands regularly. Contactless payment is preferred in our shops and cafes. Staff are available to advise if you have any questions. Please do not visit if you feel unwell or have COVID-19 symptoms.
We look forward to welcoming you.
1. Visitors to the British Museum can NOT gain access to ________.| A．valuable things of Sutton Hoo |
| B．attractive collection of the Islamic world |
| C．further information of Egyptian mummies |
| D．Winged victory of Samothrace |
| A．open a new window to enter | B．ask staff whether it is available or not |
| C．walk to the museum | D．control the capacity of the museum |
| A．Wearing masks. | B．Always thinking of others. |
| C．Using cash. | D．Washing hands regularly. |
| A．To give visitors some tips before going. |
| B．To make the British Museum better known. |
| C．To provide visitors ways of booking tickets. |
| D．To tell visitors how to enjoy galleries. |
| A．A story book | B．A website |
| C．A magazine | D．A report |
5 . Biking is an amazing family activity, but finding a route that can accommodate a wide-range of ages can be a challenge.
Lee McNeil and his family are crazy about biking. They have seven children, from 4 to 24 years old. When looking for a route, they look for enough protection from traffic, good surface condition, easy access and interesting views.
With that in mind, here are some great routes for biking with your whole family, as are suggested by McNeil.
Iron Horse Trail
This is the McNeil family’s favourite ride. The route is 26 miles and goes through the 2.1mile Snoqualmie Tunnel.
“Beautiful views, the thrill the tunnel, and places to stop and watch the rock climbers make it special,” McNeil said. “All our kids have taken their turn at braving the black tunnel bravely for the first time, which we celebrate it at the end of the ride.”
How to get there: If you prefer, check http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 for more information.
Centennial Trail
The Centennial Trail runs for 23 miles from Snohomish to Bryant. The trail is wide and smooth, and is safe for kids as it is off the roads. A nice stop is Lake Cassidy east of Marysville. A dock on the lake is fun to explore. It also has picnic tables and washrooms for a convenient lunch time stop.
How to get there: The trail can be accessed from a number of trailheads. For a map, go to http://bit.ly/L5qCeY.
Cascade Trail
The Cascade Trail follows an abandoned Burlington Northern railroad grade for 23 miles between Sedro-Woolley and Concrete. Because it’s on a railroad grade, the slope is gentle and it makes for an easy family ride.
McNeil said it is a “beautiful ride up the Skagit Valley, with lots of places to watch wildlife along the river.”
How to get there: Go to http://bit.ly/PR4wOW to see a map showing the trail, parking areas and bus stops .
Other good choices
Snoqualmie Valley Trail: http://l.usa.gov/nWGWO
Guemes Island: http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL
Burke-Gilman Trail: http://l.usa.gov/s33li
1. We can learn from the passage that Lee McNeil ________.| A．has a large family |
| B．often travels with his family |
| C．teaches his children how to bike |
| D．spends lots of money on bike rides |
| A．Cascade Trail | B．Iron Horse Trail |
| C．Centennial Trail | D．Burke-Gilman Trail |
| A．see a small valley | B．go through a tunnel |
| C．have a picnic for lunch | D．watch the rock climbers |
| A．http://bit.ly/Mlt9y4 | B．http://bit.ly/LJ3RxL |
| C．http://bit.ly/L5qCeY | D．http://bit.ly/PR4wOW |
| A．ask people to learn from Lee McNeil |
| B．tell people how to make a family ride |
| C．introduce some routes for family rides |
| D．encourage more people to ride bikes |
6 . Passion, like life, is about the journey, not the destination.
Kimberly and I have been planning a trip to Europe for a year. This was a/an
The most
Once we got onto the ship, we
The week-long ship ride was full of
While we loved the more predictable parts of the trip, our real passion was in the
Sometimes people are so
| A．business | B．goal | C．secret | D．chance |
| A．meaningless | B．helpless | C．exciting | D．calming |
| A．taxi | B．ship | C．train | D．plane |
| A．rush | B．hang | C．look | D．walk |
| A．get | B．make | C．reach | D．enter |
| A．Luckily | B．Clearly | C．Eventually | D．Hopefully |
| A．admitted | B．heard | C．understood | D．realized |
| A．clean | B．small | C．modern | D．well-quipped |
| A．set | B．put | C．carried | D．turned |
| A．risks | B．fun | C．conflicts | D．adventures |
| A．run | B．pass | C．slow down | D．pull off |
| A．headed | B．came | C．moved | D．drew |
| A．peaceful | B．unsettled | C．dangerous | D．unexpected |
| A．empty | B．large | C．overcrowded | D．expensive |
| A．rain | B．delay | C．accident | D．winds |
| A．confident | B．comfortable | C．uneasy | D．busy |
| A．So | B．Because | C．Yet | D．Moreover |
| A．interesting | B．scary | C．boring | D．enjoyable |
| A．open | B．alert | C．blind | D．close |
| A．hope | B．passion | C．opportunities | D．changes |
1. What is the passage mainly about?
| A．Shopping | B．Traveling | C．Food. |
| A．A small village | B．A post office | C．A local hotel |
| A．Many beautiful hats are on sale |
| B．People do shopping by boat. |
| C．The fruit is quite cheap. |
| A．Soll in Austria | B．Bangkok in Thailand | C．Kauai in Hawaii. |
8 . When architect Douglas Cardinal was studying at the University of Texas many years ago, he used to drive to the college through the Rocky Mountains from his home Alberta, Canada. “I was inspired by those forms,” Cardinal told an American journalist. “They helped me realize architecture should come from the natural environment of a place.”
While Canadians are familiar with Cardinal's highly original work, he is not alone in taking inspiration from nature and preferring curves (曲线) to straight lines. As a key contributor to an international movement known as organic architecture, Cardinal has had his work and views presented in the book New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave by British architect David Pearson. In his book, Pearson expresses the meaning of organic architecture with examples of amazing buildings by 30 architects from 15 countries.
For example, in New Caledonia, Italian architect Renzon Piano has designed a village inspired by native cottages and their relationship to nature. In Palm Springs, California, American architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg has created a desert house that looks like a bird. The house is earthquake-proof (抗震的) and stores the sun's heat, letting it out at night.
“There's a growing awareness of the need for all architects to influence the environment as little as possible,” Pearson said. “What is new is to link the newer environmental awareness to the passionate (充满热情地) design that can come out of looking at nature and its forms.”
“Organic architecture is rooted in a passion for life, nature and natural forms,” Pearson writes. “Its free-flowing curves and expressive forms are in agreement with the human body, mind, spirit. In a well-designed organic building, we feel better and freer.”
Cardinal has won an award for his new work. “There's a countless variety of forms in nature, and I am continually inspired by observing all these forms,” says Cardinal.
1. Where did Cardinal's design ideas come from?| A．A famous architect. | B．A journalist who interviewed him. |
| C．The natural scenery on his way to college. | D．The book New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave. |
| A．He likes straight lines more. | B．He failed to win an award for his works. |
| C．He is less popular in Canada than in America. | D．He made great efforts in the organic architecture movement. |
| A．They look like birds. | B．They are earthquake-proof. |
| C．They draw inspiration from nature. | D．They can keep still in an earthquake. |
| A．It needs further development. | B．It combines humanity with nature. |
| C．It fails to care about the environment. | D．It focuses mainly on its attractive appearance. |
| A．Influences of architecture on environment. | B．An inspirational architecture book. |
| C．Amazing buildings inspired by nature. | D．Cardinal and his organic architecture. |
9 . The whale, as big as a locomotive (火车头), jumped out of the water, spinning (旋转) as though for joy, before jumping back under the waves. We watched silently in astonishment, never having been so close to such a huge, fast-moving creature. It seemed almost possible to count the small shellfish on the whale's skin.
In early December, gray whales, blue whales, and others had just started heading around the tip of Baja California, Mexico, moving as a community from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Cortez. It's in that protected waterway that pregnant whales give birth to their babies. Other whale babies, born the year before, could be seen sailing behind. All whale babies get two trips like this with their mom before they're ready to start having babies of their own and making the journey on their own.
We're in one of several small powerboats, sent out by ScubaCaribe, which carries on such tours in Cabo San Lucas, the whales seemed to be, at times, less than 100 feet from our boat when they rushed out of the water. At other times, they would get much closer and swim beside the boat.
“What if one lands on us?” a woman next to me wondered. Fernando Del Toro, the Destination Manager of ScubaCaribe said, “We haven't had any incidents (事件) of whales jumping over our boats as we always keep our distance. We're sure they themselves are probably careful not to crash into boats. Such an accident would probably also cause them much harm.”
“Everyone can enjoy this magical trip,” said Del Toro. “However, we do not recommend (推荐) it for kids under 5 years old,” he added.
Though conditions on the water vary, our trip was wonderful. Even when the boat sped up to catch up with the whales, there was little need to “hang on”, and some of us remained standing throughout most of the trip. Still, you may want to pack medicine for those who might get seasick while bouncing (颠簸行进) along the waves.
1. How does the author start the text?| A．By telling a story. | B．By asking questions. |
| C．By describing a scene. | D．By giving background information. |
| A．Proud. | B．Worried. | C．Amazed. | D．Discouraged. |
| A．A description of the author's journey. | B．A list of best places for whale-watching. |
| C．An introduction to the travelling of whales. | D．A suggestion on taking a whale-watching tour. |
| A．It is suitable for all ages. | B．It is much too dangerous. |
| C．It may cause serious damage to wildlife. | D．It should be done from a proper distance. |
| A．It was smooth. | B．It was exhausting. |
| C．It was destroyed by a storm. | D．It was terrible due to his seasickness. |
10 . Nature has inspired many of the most fascination designs around us, including those in architecture. From Barcelona’s forest-like Sagrada Familia to the modern style of Beijing’s Water Cube, nature is presented in various architectural designs. Today, architects continue to explore ways to capture the beauty of natural forms, to mimic (模仿) the way nature works or even to make natural organisms part of a building.
ArtScience Museum, Singapore
ArtScience Museum was designed to show the connection between nature and the modern city environment in which it sits. Shaped to resemble a lotus flower, it appears to float above the waterfront promenade and the water that surrounds it. Its roof collects rainwater and channels it 35 metres down to a waterfall in the centre of the space. The water is then recycled through the building’s plumbing system. Visitors are often amazed to find themselves in an urban building that so truly captures the beauty of natural forms.
The Eastgate Centre, Harare
Harare’s Eastgate Centre is a superb example of biomimicry (生物仿生). To use biomimicry is to create structures based on natural forms and processes. Zimbabwean architect Mick Pearce was inspired to create the Centre while watching a nature documentary in which termites (白蚁) were constructing their nests. The insects built mounds covered in little holes designed to allow air to move freely in and out of the mounds. In a similar way, the Eastgate Centre has a “skin” covered in holes. During the day, warm air is drawn into the building through the holes, cooling as it reaches the middle of the building. At night, the heat absorbed by the wall during the day warms the cool air, creating a comfortable temperature inside. The design reduces the need for traditional air conditioning and heating systems, so the building uses less energy and costs less to run.
The Algae (藻类) House, Hamburg
The world’s first algae-powered building is in Hamburg, Germany. The surface of the apartment building is covered in panels that contain algae. The algae are fed with liquid nutrients and carbon dioxide to encourage them to grow. In bright sunshine, they grow faster and proved shade. The panels also capture heat from the sun and convert it into energy that powers the building. And that’s not all—the algae inside the panels can be harvested and used to produce fuel. The building therefore not only responds to its environment and uses less energy, but also reduces damage to the environment by generating its own renewable energy.
1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the message?| A．To introduce three biomimicry architects. |
| B．To show how nature fits into architecture. |
| C．To tell us how to use less energy and do less damage to the environment. |
| D．To show some buildings of the future. |
| A．ArtScience Museum looks like a flower. |
| B．The waterfall in the center of the space is formed naturally. |
| C．While in the building, visitors always find themselves in urban areas. |
| D．ArtScience Museum was designed to collect rainwater. |
| A．It was built according to the forms and processes of nature. |
| B．It is shaped like a termite nest. |
| C．Its design relics on traditional air conditioning and beating systems. |
| D．Without those holes, the building wouldn’t work. |
| A．The algae need to feed/ |
| B．The algae can be used to produce fuel/ |
| C．It’s the only algae-powered building in the world. |
| D．Panels containing algae cover the surface of the apartment. |
| A．Nature in architecture |
| B．The development of architecture |
| C．Charm of biomimicry |
| D．In harmony with the building |
