1 . Ru Ling loves spending time in skywells. To her, these courtyards of old houses are the perfect place to be in on a hot and humid day. From 2014 to 2021, Ru lived in a century-old wood-framed home in the village of eastern China’s Anhui province. She moved there for a change of life after living and working in air-conditioned buildings for many years.

A skywell, or “tian jing”, is a typical feature of a traditional home in southern and eastern China. They are relatively common in historic residences in Sichuan, Jiangsu, Anhui and Jiangxi. In today’s rapidly urbanizing (城市化) China, fewer and fewer people live in skywell dwellings—air-conditioned flats in multi-storeyed buildings and tower blocks are the main forms of homes.

But a revival (复苏) of interest in traditional Chinese architecture is leading some of historic buildings with skywells to be restored for modern times. Meanwhile, as a government push has made low-carbon innovations in the building sector a trend, some architects are drawing inspiration from skywells and other traditional Chinese architectural features to help keep new buildings cooler.

Ancient “green wisdom” such as skywells continues to inspire today’s climate adaptive design and innovations in passive cooling, according to Wang Zhengfeng, a researcher at the Institute for Area Studies at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Passive cooling is a method that incorporates design and technology to cool a building without the use of power.

However, Wang points out some challenges for bringing skywells into modern designs. The mechanisms of courtyards facilitating natural lighting, ventilation and rain collection are well known, but applying these principles needs to be site-specific. Because traditional skywells had different shapes, sizes and features, adding skywells into modern buildings requires designers to be sensitive to their project’s context (环境) and situation, she explains. When asked about why skywells have appealed to modern Chinese people, Wang says that the courtyard is also designed to serve as a gathering space for families or communities. “Perhaps changes in the lifestyle could also lead to nostalgia among people living in concrete and glass forests.”

1. What is the purpose of the first paragragh?

A．To introduce Ru Ling’s love for skywells.

B．To inform readers of the benefits of skywells.

C．To lead in the topic of popularity of skywells.

D．To support the idea of living in skywells.

2. What is the main idea of Paragraph 3?

A．Features and importance of the historic residences.

B．Appreciation for traditional Chinese architecture.

C．Reasons for the comeback of traditional skywells.

D．Great efforts to restore the past glory of skywells.

3. The underlined word “incorporate” can be best replaced by ______.

A．combine

B．collect

C．invent

D．replace

4. What may influence the application of skywells in modern designs?

A．Lack of enough money and experience.	B．Dependence on natural surroundings.
C．People’s specific requirements.	D．The fast speed of urbanization.

3 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。

1. Which family holiday does the man recommend?

A．The one on the 18th.

B．The one on the 19th.

C．The one on the 20th.

2. Where will the woman probably go?

A．France.

B．Spain.

C．Greece.

3. What do we know about The Hotel Playa?

A．It is a five-star hotel.

B．It has its own beach.

C．It has a swimming pool.

4 . A trans-Canada train trip is an adventure that will stay with you for a very long time. Here are some must-see places to visit along the way:

Vancouver

There’s a reason why Vancouver never fails to impress. It is really stunning, with plenty of green open spaces, mountains and ocean views. Plus, this west coast city also has a diverse live music and art scene, world-class museums and plenty of locally owned coffeehouses and creative restaurants.

Jasper

Jasper National Park is twice the size of Banff National Park, yet draws only around half the visitors, which means you’ll encounter fewer crowds on the stunning hiking paths through valleys, mountain passes and grasslands. Keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep and other wild local residents.

Québec City

Considered the crown jewel of French Canada, Quebec City is one of North America’s oldest and most remarkable settlements. The Old Town is like a living museum of narrow cobblestone streets, 17^th and 18th century houses and churches. There’s more than a glimmer of old Europe in its classic pubs, sidewalk cafes and tidy square.

Montreal

Montreal is where all the fun happens. The city lives for the arts, with more than 90 festivals throughout the year and an impressive collection of museums, galleries and performance spaces. Add in architecture that will make you think you’re in Europe and one of the most diverse food scenes in North America, and you will have a recipe for a good time.

1. If you are interested in wildlife, which place will attract you?

A．Vancouver.

B．Jasper.

C．Québec City.

D．Montreal.

2. What can you do in Québec City?

A．Visit a museum of cobblestones.	B．Attend various festivals.
C．Enjoy a drink in a European-style pub.	D．Walk across the vast grassland.

3. What do Vancouver and Montreal have in common?

A．Attractive museums.	B．Large quantities of wildlife.
C．A small crowd of visitors.	D．Over 90 festivals every year.

5 . Picking the right hotel for your trip is very important for tourists in Athens as it’s a fairly sprawling city with a lot of different neighborhoods to choose from. To help you choose, here’s my list of the best hotels in Athens:

A. Athens Center Square Hotel

In Plaka, this hotel has a minimalist design with welcoming pastel colors throughout, and most rooms have a view of the Acropolis (雅典卫城). Rooms are simple but decently sized, with flat-screen TVs, desks, mini fridges, air conditioning. The delicious buffet breakfast is complimentary and quite expansive, featuring Greek and American cuisine. There’s also free coffee and tea in the lobby all day long.

B. Athensdot

This newer property is in Psyrri, has a cool, pop-art design throughout, with large scale drawings on the walls and bright bursts of red everywhere. Rooms vary from internal rooms with no window to rooms with a balcony and views of the Acropolis. While there’s no breakfast served at the property, there’s a cute 24-hour café just a few doors down that serves food at all hours.

C. Coco-Mat Hotel

This design-forward 4-star hotel, run by the mattress company Coco-Mat, is in the heart of Kolonaki, a quiet neighborhood renowned for its upscale boutiques and art galleries. All rooms are equipped with high-quality mattresses, and you can even choose your pillow from a menu with 12 different pillow types. There’s a fantastic Greek breakfast buffet in the mornings.

D. Plaka Hotel

Comfortable and friendly, Plaka Hotel is (you guessed it) in the heart of Plaka. You’ll find the majority of ruins and tourist attractions here. This simply decorated hotel boasts the starry scenery of the Acropolis from both in-room balconies and the rooftop terrace bar/restaurant. There’s also a complimentary (and huge) buffet breakfast featuring local specialties.

1. Which one can provide a variety of pillows?

A．Athens Center Square Hotel.	B．Athensdot.
C．Coco-Mat Hotel.	D．Plaka Hotel.

2. All of the mentioned hotels serve local food EXCEPT         .

A．Athens Center Square Hotel	B．Athensdot
C．Coco-Mat Hotel	D．Plaka Hotel

3. If a photographer aims to take pictures of night scenes of the Acropolis, which one might she/he prefer?

A．Athens Center Square Hotel.	B．Athensdot.
C．Coco-Mat Hotel.	D．Plaka Hotel.

6 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What’s the woman’s main purpose of visiting Quebec?

A．To attend a wedding in Montreal.

B．To visit a college in Quebec City.

C．To go sightseeing in Quebec Province.

2. What is one of the woman’s worries about going to Montreal?

A．She doesn’t speak English.

B．Her French isn’t very good.

C．The city is expensive.

3. What does the man advise the woman to do before the trip?

A．Get in touch with her friends.

B．Learn more about the place.

C．Practice her French.

4. What does the man say about Quebec City?

A．It was built in the 17th century.

B．It has many old buildings.

C．It’s the largest French-speaking city.

7 . Paris, the capital of France, has some attractive bridges. These are four of the most beautiful bridges in Paris: some in iconic (标志性的) places you’ve seen in the movies, and others in quiet places that you’ll delight in discovering.

Pont des Arts

Connecting the Louvre Museum to the Institut de France, the Pont des Arts, first built by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804 and reconstructed in the 1970s, is a bridge only for people walking that is beloved by tourists and locals alike. In the spring and summer months, Parisians and visitors come here for lazy picnics overlooking the Seine.

Pont Marle

This lovely but little-known bridge is a gateway between the Marais district on the right bank and a natural island on the Seine River. The current stone structure dates to around 1670, following a fire on its wooden structure that destroyed much of the original bridge and the houses that once stood on it. It has remained much the same since the 18th century, making it one of Paris’ oldest bridges.

Pont Alexandre Ⅲ

The Pont Alexandre Ⅲ is probably the most attractive of Paris’ many bridges. Built between 1896 and 1900, it connects the des Invalides with the gardens of the Petit Palais. It’s after dark that you can best appreciate its delicate statues and other decorative elements.

Pont Neuf

First built in 1578 by King Henry Ⅲ, Pont Neuf has seen numerous reconstructions and changes over the centuries. But it conserves its Roman-inspired arch (拱形) structures. This is a lovely bridge that offers easy and picturesque access to the left and right bank. Have some ice cream, explore the lovely riverside paths and enjoy views of Notre Dame Cathedral.

1. What is special about the Pont des Arts?

A．It has been rebuilt many times.	B．It is one of Paris’ oldest bridges.
C．It is a bridge only for people walking.	D．It is the most attractive bridge in Paris.

2. Which is the oldest among the four bridges?

A．Pont des Arts.	B．Pont Marie.
C． Pont Alexandre Ⅲ	D．Pont Neuf.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guidebook.	B．A health magazine.
C．A news report.	D．A book review.

8 . For students or teachers who are planning an educational trip to China, or parents who want to arrange educational and meaningful things to do in China for children, here we offer travel tips on what to do and learn for educational tour in China.

▶How to make dumplings. Dumpling is the most common food in China, and it has so many fans in the world for its deliciousness, and has become a must-order food in a Chinese restaurant for foreigners. Dumpling in China is easily home-made food, and most families would make it by themselves. While having an educational trip to China, you could learn how to make dumplings.

▶How to make Chinese traditional handicrafts (手工艺品), like Chinese knots (结), and paper-cutting. Small fine Chinese traditional handicrafts are very beautiful and have blessings (祝福) for life, thus people would like to make them and put them in houses. Chinese knot is made by strings through special weaving, and it has blessings of safety, health and happiness, and you could hang it in houses or cars. Chinese paper-cutting is pasted on window glass, and used to decorate houses in Spring Festival, and it could be designed into different shapes, such as animals, flowers, and letters. You could totally get this two skills, and make Chinese knot and paper cutting to decorate houses.

▶How to make terracotta warriors (兵马俑), china, and pottery. When visiting Terracotta Warriors, you would admire its greatness and excellent skills. But please remember, you could make your own terracotta warriors and bring them home. Outside the Terracotta, there are stores for you to experience how to make terracotta warriors. Besides terracotta warriors, you could also go to experiential stores to learn how to make china and pottery.

1. What blessing cannot the Chinese knot bring according to the text?

A．Wealth.

B．Health.

C．Safety.

D．Happiness.

2. How many educational things can be done according to the text?

A．Three.

B．Four.

C．Five.

D．Six.

3. From which part of a website is the text probably from?

A．Health and Education.	B．The Making of a Nation.
C．Travel and Culture.	D．Science and Technology.

9 . 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。

Lately, the popularity of ice and snow tourism in Harbin has exploded. Harbin is famous for its rich ice and snow resources. This winter, the city     1     (open) three ice and snow-themed parks and created more than 100 related activities to promote the     2     (develop) of winter tourism, culture, fashion and sports.

Travelers from the south of China make up a large part of the tourism crowd. They can     3     (summarize) in four characteristics: a light-colored down jacket, a lovely small hat,     4    suitcase in hand and shyness in public bath houses.

Southerners are less prepared for the cold. Some     5    (individual) online are providing these southerners     6     practical suggestions, emphasizing the need for clothing     7     protects them from the freezing outdoor temperatures while ensuring they don’t sweat profusely indoors.

In order to     8     (effective) meet tourist demands, Harbin has extended the operating hours of buses and subways recently. According to an announcement from the Harbin government, the ice and snow season in Harbin will continue until the end of March 2024. For travelers trying to avoid peak periods, it’s advisable     9     (plan) visits after New Year’s Day and Spring Festival, when tourist traffic is at     10    (it) peak.