1 . It has been four years since Grandma Joy told her grandson that she had never seen the most beautiful views of America. Since then, they have gone on many cross-country trips.

Brad Ryan had been feeling tired of studying in a vet school when he visited his 85-year-old grandma in 2015. He hoped that spending some quality family time would help lift his spirits.

As he was telling his grandma stories of his travels, however, he was heartbroken to hear that she had never seen the ocean or mountains. Ryan then asked his grandmother if she would like to go hiking with him. Needless to say, she was more than happy to agree.

They have since visited 29 different national parks across America---from the Great Sand Dunes in Colorado to the Acadia National Park in Maine. Over the four years, Ryan and his grandma have driven 25,000 miles through 38 states. And it has greatly affected his quality of life. “Seeing it through my grandmother’s eyes, who every morning wakes up and   is thankful to be alive has taught me how to live,” Ryan said. “With her, I’ve had to slow down and see life in a different way, which has made it a lot richer.”

“I love my grandma so much, and it’s just really giving me a lot of peace when she passed away. I can go back to these places, feel her spirit, and feel connected to her,” he added.

Ryan posted all of their trips on Facebook. He hopes more young people will spare time to be with their elders. “I want young people to know that hanging out with your grandparents is cool. And there’s so much we can learn from our elders,” Ryan said.

1. Why did Brad Ryan visit his grandma in 2015?

A．To cheer himself up.

B．To please his grandma.

C．To take his grandma to travel.

D．To share his travelling experiences.

2. How did Brad Ryan feel when he heard his grandma had never seen the ocean or mountains?

A．Shocked.	B．Sad.
C．Doubtful.	D．Excited

3. What influence did Brad Ryan’s grandma have on him?

A．She made him live a better life.

B．She helped him find his life goal.

C．She told him to have peace of mind.

D．She gave him a lot of encouragement.

4. What is Brad Ryan’s purpose of posting their trips online?

A．To advise young people to take a trip.

B．To share his joy of travelling with his grandma.

C．To encourage the young to keep their elders company.

D．To show young people what they can learn from their elders.

2 . The beauty of single travel is that you can choose what you want to see and when. Here are some of the safest cities in the world guaranteed to meet the single travelers’ needs.

Singapore

As Singapore is one of the safest cities in the world, it is ideal for a single traveller. There’s no shortage of good hotels and the locals and hotel staff are known for their friendly nature. Take a walk through Chinatown, spend a day at Jurong Bird Park, hit the shops on Orchard Road or simply watch the world go by at Clarke Quay.

Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is known for being one of the friendliest cities in the world, according to surveys by Condé Nast Traveler, so the single travellers will feel right at home. An affordable city with lots to see, such as the Civic Theatre, the Sky Tower and the harbour foreshore, Auckland is a wonderful place to visit on your own.

Vienna, Austria

One of Europe’s finest and most beautiful cities, Vienna has so much to offer and you can’t possibly get bored. You can go for a museum tour, a cruise of the Danube, spend a morning exploring historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or visit St. Anton, known for being the best ski party city in Europe.

Napa, California

While Napa is a romantic destination for two, it’s also an attractive spot for the single travellers. Famous for its fine grapes, Napa is the perfect place if you have a taste for good wines. Many hotels are equipped with private pools and lounging areas, so you can enjoy a relaxing environment.

1. What will you probably do if you visit Auckland?

A．Spend a day at Jurong Bird Park.

B．Hit the shops on Orchard Road.

C．Explore historic St. Stephen’s Cathedral.

D．Enjoy a play in Civic Theatre.

2. If you are a fan of ski party, where would you go?

A．Singapore.	B．Auckland, New Zealand.
C．Vienna, Austria.	D．Napa, California.

3. What is Napa, California well known for?

A．Quality wines.	B．Museum tours.
C．Private pools.	D．Lounging areas.

3 . I was 17 years old. Along with a dozen other boys I had made a long trip to Iowa in order to see a college that I was thinking of _______. While the trip had been _______ for the most part, I was feeling depressed, alone, and isolated. I was _______ the Appalachian mountains and the forests of my home. I loved _______ the leaves turned a thousand _______ of green in the Spring and then became a _______ of red, gold and orange in the Fall.

Here in Iowa everything was _______. The grass looked burnt and brown. All that I could_______was a mixture of corn, mud and pigs. I walked outside the dormitory of the college and sat on a big rock. I closed my eyes and _______ being back home again. When I finally opened them, however, I saw something that touched my __________. It was a Prairie (大草原) Sunset. It seemed to __________ the sky from horizon to horizon. Gold, red, purple and pink clouds all __________ together in a picture painted by Heaven’s own hand. It was so huge that it took my __________ away. It made our mountain sunsets seem __________ by comparison. I realized that this place too had its own special beauty. This place too was a part of nature’s__________.

1.

A．quitting

B．visiting

C．attending

D．exploring

2.

A．fun

B．hard

C．plain

D．tiresome

3.

A．assuming

B．picturing

C．reminding

D．missing

4.

A．if

B．where

C．why

D．how

5.

A．shapes

B．shades

C．shadows

D．sheets

6.

A．flood

B．cloud

C．sea

D．blanket

7.

A．easy

B．flat

C．beautiful

D．tough

8.

A．hear

B．touch

C．taste

D．smell

9.

A．cared about

B．dreamed of

C．prepared for

D．looked over

10.

A．body

B．hand

C．face

D．soul

11.

A．fill

B．break

C．separate

D．block

12.

A．folded

B．sank

C．flowed

D．escaped

13.

A．pain

B．breath

C．wealth

D．eyesight

14.

A．splendid

B．pale

C．tiny

D．weak

15.

A．creation

B．punishment

C．change

D．reflection

4 . At the foot of the Tianmu Mountain in Zhejiang, a homestay (民宿) is attracting travelers from far and wide, which has won architectural medal at the 2021 German iF Design Awards.

The owners of the homestay are a couple in their late 30s who decided to return to their hometown three years ago. Li Xiumei used to be in charge of a division at a company in Hangzhou, and her husband was a sales director. It was an ordinary situation where Li’s husband was on business trips a lot and Li still worked on weekends. City life sometimes is not easy.

In 2018, they quit jobs and went back to Dongtianmu village, which lies in a forest of bamboo. The first time they drove into the village was one late afternoon. The cooking smoke was rising from the foot of the mountain, which gave them a very different feeling from the city.

The homestay was built beside her husband’s old countryside house. The old house is preserved (保留), while a brand-new building was built on its side and the whole site is made up of four courtyards. It has been updated to have a hall, a tea room, a kitchen, a dining room. Japanese cherry trees are planted in the east courtyard. A swimming pool is placed in the west courtyard, with a bar located on one side.

Li and her husband love gardening and music, and their new home gives them enough space to continue their interests and relax in the heart of nature. Li wants to share the quiet country life, so she makes her new home a homestay. In 2019, the homestay became an online hit after guests shared their experiences on social media. “The longer I stay here, the more I feel it was the right choice to come back, and this is more meaningful than making money,” Li says.

1. How did Li feel about city life?

A．Satisfied.

B．Noisy.

C．Attractive.

D．Tired

2. What impressed the couple when first driving to the village?

A．The forest of bamboo.	B．The smoke of cooking.
C．The fresh air in the village.	D．The feeling of loneliness.

3. What can we infer about the homestay from paragraph 4?

A．It is ancient and broken.	B．It can hold many guests.
C．It must have been carefully designed.	D．It has been rebuilt by the couple.

4. What’s more meaningful than earning money according to Li?

A．Continuing their music dream.	B．Living in the countryside.
C．Staying at the old house.	D．Developing a city.

5 . Who says you have to stay indoors when the temperatures drop? Here are favourite places to explore this winter.

Athens, Greece

In Athens, every November temperatures stay around the mid-20s, so have a trip to the Parthenon and Acropolis. A full afternoon is also necessary for exploring the Museum of Cycladic Art and its exhibitions — recently it has hosted Picasso’s.

In the streets of the Pysrri district is a hidden hole in the wall, from which one can go down to the basement restaurant, Diporto.

Huaraz, Peru

To some, Peru gives people images of students in printed shorts on a tour of Machu Picchu. There’s obviously so much more to do in the UNESCO World Heritage (遗产) site. Any hike through the surrounding Huascaran National Park will make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Lord of the Rings.

April and November are considered “shoulder season”, which means fewer clear days but you can enjoy the trails (路线) with fewer people.

Edinburgh, UK

Yes, it’s probably going to be freezing cold. Hot coffee steam up in a pleasing, romantic fashion in cafes. People can take a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

For simple Scottish dishes there’s neighbourhood inn, the Little Chartroom. And the Sheep Heid Inn has been long enough to have served Mary, Queen of Scots. In the eight bedrooms at the 18th century Rock House, each is a mixture of ancient details and current fashion.

Valletta, Malta

Flights from the UK to Malta’s capital are only around £30, making it one of the best destinations for a November trip. This tiny city has a temperature of 17 or so and has changed itself into a year-round city break with artistic cafes, hotels and newly opened galleries — Muza opened last year and houses the former National Gallery collection.

1. Which place has exhibited Picasso’s works lately?

A．Muza.	B．National Gallery.
C．The Museum of Cycladic Art.	D．Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

2. Which of the following is the coldest in winter?

A．Athens.

B．Valletta.

C．Huaraz.

D．Edinburgh.

3. What is special about Rock House?

A．It served the Queen of Scotland.	B．It combines ancient and modern styles.
C．It has at least eight kinds of rooms.	D．It offers Scottish local specialties.

6 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall

Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting（融化）snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.

This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.

“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”

Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.

“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’

The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee（保证）that visitors will see it on any given day.

1. When might be the best time to take pictures of the “firefall”?

A．Early in the morning.	B．At noon.
C．Late in the afternoon.	D．At night.

2. Why might the “firefall” disappear between 20 to 24 February this year?

A．There wouldn’t be enough snow.	B．It might be too cloudy.
C．The waterfall might not freeze.	D．The snow might melt too fast.

3. What does the underlined word “burner” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．A worker in the kitchen.

B．The fire in the Yosemite National Park.

C．A part of a cooker or stove.

D．The unique Horsetail Fall in the setting sun.

4. What is the main purpose of this text?

A．To introduce an attraction.	B．To give suggestions for a trip.
C．To advertise a park in the US.	D．To explain what is a “firefall”.

7 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

On March 31, the Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most visited and recognizable places of interest, celebrated the 130- year anniversary (周年纪念日) of its opening.

It was only supposed to exist for 20     1     (year). Maybe Parisians decided it was     2       (easy) to just leave it in place than pull it down. It looks like they made the right choice. More than 250 million people     3     (pay) a visit to the tower so far, according to     4     (it) official website.

Designed by French Gustav Eiffel, the tower was meant     5     (serve) as the entrance to the 1889 World Fair in the     6     (begin). It took just over two years to build it. Although it is popular now, not all French people liked     7     tower when it opened. However, the visitors to the 1889 World Fair found it     8     (entertain) to visit the Eiffel Tower. Two million people visited it during the fair. It then became useful as a radio antenna (天线) during the First World War.

Tourists have a choice when they climb the tower. They can either walk 1, 665 steps to the top     9     use one of the elevator cars from 1899. Once tourists reach the top,     10     the Eiffel’s office is, they can have a drink in the tower’s top-floor champagne bar. Today, the tower stands as a symbol of France.

8 . 假如你是李华，打算寒假和家人去北京旅游，你的新西兰笔友Richard对此很感兴趣，来信询问旅行计划, 请你给他回一封信，介绍你的旅行安排。内容如下：
1. 交通方式；
2. 行程安排；
3. 邀请同行。
注意：1. 词数80左右；
2. 可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9 . Welcome to Tropical North Queensland—the only place in the world where the Great Barrier Reef meets World-Heritage-listed rainforest. Home to two World Heritage-listed natural wonders—the grand Great Barrier Reef and the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Tropical (热带的) North Queensland is famous for having some of most specific natural attractions on earth.

Stretching 2000km and holding more than 3000 reefs (礁石) and corals (珊瑚), the Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most popular holiday destinations.

No matter your age or ability, you can easily explore the reef by taking a glass-bottom boat trip, scuba diving (水肺潜水), trying an ocean walk or flying overhead in a helicopter or plane.

There are also numerous ways to experience the beauty of the planet’s oldest tropical rainforest without having an impact on its clean environment, thanks to a huge range of eco-friendly options. While exploring these sites is on every visitor’s must-do list, there also are countless other exciting discoveries to be made in this wonderful sun-kissed corner of Australia.

Keep this important information on hand during your holiday.

Emergency

Police and fire services Ph: 000

Cairns Police Ph: +617 4030 7000

Cairns 24 Hour Medical Centre Ph: 617 4052 1119

Bank & shopping hours

Most banks are open from 9 am to 4 pm weekdays.

Major shopping centres are open 9 am-5 pm Monday to Saturday (with extended shopping until 9 pm on Thursday) and 10 am-4 pm Sunday.

Transportation

Sunbus, a local bus service, runs from the northern beaches to the southern suburbs through the Cairns CBD.

Visit www.sunbus.com.au or Ph: +617 4057 7411.

Cars, recreational vehicles, four-wheel drives, and bicycles are available for hire.

Visit www.transportation.com.au or Ph: +617 131 008.

1. What can you do in the Tropical North Queensland ?

A．Climb the Great Barrier Reef	B．Experience a desert walk
C．Take a wood-bottom boat trip	D．Explore the old rainforest

2. If you want to rent a vehicle, you can call_______

A．617 4052 1119	B．617 4057 7411
C．617 131 008	D．617 4030 7000

3. Where can you possibly see the text?

A．A scientific report	B．A tourist guidebook
C．A book review	D．A movie poster