1 . Christmas vacations: 3 of the best places to go

From Canada to the Philippines, these 3 places around the world offer some of the best holiday atmosphere for a Christmas-drenched vacation.

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem offers a smaller-city Christmas escape. Bethlehem is proud of its Live Advent Calendar, which can be enjoyed starting at 5:30 p.m. from December 1 to 23.

It is a free, family-friendly event in which a town crier rings a bell up and down Main Street to call visitors to the Goundie House (the oldest house on Main Street). A child from the crowd is invited to come knock three times, and then a local business comes out with a surprise for everyone.

Quebec City, Canada

A perfect place for environmentally friendly, outdoor enthusiasts, Quebec is full of winter activities, offering holiday programs for different tastes.

Old Quebec is turned into a beautiful Christmas village. Sausage and roast chestnut lovers can browse the goods at the German Christmas market. Can’t make it for Christmas? There’s still the Quebec Winter Carnival from January 25 to February 11, 2024.

San Fernando, Philippines

If Asia were to have a Christmas capital, San Fernando in the heavily Roman Catholic Philippines would be a top nomination.

The city, is famous for its Giant Lantern Festival, which starts on December 12 and ends January 1. San Fernando’s lantern-making tradition dates back to the late 18th century.

The highlight of a visit here is a colorful, electric Christmas lantern that symbolizes the Star of San Fernando.

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1. For Christmas celebration, what do Bethlehem and San Fernando have in common?

A．They offer Christmas markets.

B．They attract outdoor enthusiasts.

C．They are famous for the Lantern Festival.

D．They celebrate Christmas over half a month.

2. What is special about Quebec City during Christmas celebration?

A．It is family friendly.

B．It has the longest history.

C．It offers the Winter Carnival.

D．It suits different businessmen.

3. Where is this text probably taken from?

A．A website.

B．A magazine.

C．A news report.

D．A travel brochure.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker talking about?

A．How to give toys to others.

B．How to send your toys to travel.

C．How to buy toys on foreign websites.

2. What should you do first if you are interested in those websites?

A．Send them a Barbie Doll.

B．Pay some money to them.

C．Email to the travel agency.

3. What does the travel agency do?

A．Take your toy to different places of interest.

B．Provide better service for you around the world.

C．Take you to travel and take photos for you and your toy.

4. Who writes the blog “Mummy, I went to the Big Ben today...”?

A．The Little Bear.

B．The mother’s child.

C．The People in the travel agency.

3 . A group of strangers who took a double—decker bus to travel around the world have reunited (团聚) fifty years later. They are very happy to see each other and share their feelings and memories from their journey.

11 people lived in the bus, braved extreme temperatures, and covered long distances before their journey came to an unexpected end after the bus sank into the Chira River in Peru.

Five members of the group shared their stories. David McLaughlin, the driver, said, “We covered close to 40,000miles over the 20 months or so. And we worked along the way, picking fruit, planting flowers, and cleaning restaurants. It is worth mentioning that the roads were entirely different in Central and South America. We were climbing mountains. It was an adventure.”

However, their adventure soon came to an end. While in Peru, the group came across a bridge that the double-decker could not pass. To try to solve the problem, they floated the bus on the Chira River using a special raft. As a result, the bus sank into the river.

After the experience, the group. learned the value of adventure and the importance of seizing the moment. One member reflected, “Our journey was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience”. It taught me to always be open to new experiences.

1. What role does Paragraph 1 play?

A．Describing the bus journey in detail.

B．Introducing the topic of the reunion.

C．Sharing individual stories of the members.

D．Showing all the members lived a happy life.

2. What challenge did the group face in Central and South America according to the driver?

A．Language problems.	B．Terrible living conditions.
C．Extreme temperatures.	D．Mountainous areas.

3. What made the travelers stop their journey?

A．They were short of money.	B．They couldn’t cross the river.
C．Their bus sank into the river.	D．Their members lost confidence.

4. Which can be the best title of this passage?

A．A Dangerous Bridge	B．A Sad Lesson from the Sinking Bus
C．An Unforgettable Trip	D．A Special Raft Saving Travelers’ Life

5 . When traveling in foreign nations, you have to know their way of life.    1    Otherwise, you may get yourself on the wrong side. The following are the things you need to know when organizing sightseeing in a foreign nation.

Know as much as possible about your destination before travelling. What one country values might not be accepted in a different country. Get to know the religion, language, culture and things that appear obvious.     2    

Travel in the low season. There are times when people do sightseeing in large numbers. During such times, you need to pay lots of money for your flight.    3    You may also find hotels with food and accommodation are half the regular prices.

    4    You will get treated in the way you interact with the people that you meet. Share information with the people you meet, and you may get a nice experience in return. They may teach you their language, customs, lifestyles and so on. Besides, you may learn how they call certain foods.

Enjoy without reservation. Don’t think of the next time.    5    Things change pretty fast, and you may have only one chance. Take part in the activities the locals engage in and make your trip a memorable one.

A．Be nice to people.

B．Enjoy the present moment.

C．Write down your spending when travelling.

D．It requires you to see things from a different angle.

E．If there are not many travelers, you can save on tickets.

F．Traveling there, you can communicate better with local people.

G．It refers to appreciating beautiful natural scenery in the country.

6 . 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。

East China’s Anhui Province is home to a village that shows China’s past glory with local features. People call it “a village in a Chinese painting”.

    1     (lie) at the foot of the famous Mount Huangshan, the 900-year-old village of Hongcun has kept its     2     (peace) atmosphere (气氛) and classic buildings in Hui style from ancient times.

The beautiful halls and memorial archways (拱门)     3     (build) during the Ming and Qing dynasties with white walls and grey roofs. Its unique building style is shown in simple colors but     4     (have) fine carvings (雕刻) of different kinds. One of the     5     (good) examples is the Chengzhi Hall built by a rich salt seller in 1855, which is now open     6     the public. Visitors could appreciate the beautiful woodcarvings and the amazing doors and windows,     7     lots of gold powder (粉末) was used during the building.

Besides ancient houses, Hongcun also enjoys lovely water scenery. The Moon Pond, a large half-moon-shaped lake in     8     center of the village , is always in the spotlight. The mirror-like stillness of the water creates a quiet atmosphere.

In Chinese culture, the full moon symbolizes prosperity (繁荣). Then why wasn’t the pond created that way? It is said that although the full moon carries a good     9     (mean), the half moon appears for longer than the full moon in the lunar cycle. By choosing the shape of the half moon, the locals hoped     10     (keep) the prosperity of the village.

9 . Take the following rail routes and feast your eyes with impressive views.

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

New Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling, India

Built by British rulers, the railway was used to transport tea, rice and other produce up and down the Himalayan foothills. Today, it’s a hit with Indian families on weekend breaks and rail fans keen to watch traffic slowly stop as the train crosses the road, rushing past fruit stalls within arm’s reach. On a clear day, passengers will be treated to views of Mount Kanchenjunga, its snowy peak turning peach in the late-afternoon light.

Qinghai-Xizang Railway

Xining to Lhasa, China

Connecting Xining in Qinghai province to Lhasa in Xizang, this 22-hour journey is the highest rail route in the world. Lakes shine like molten metal and yaks (牦牛) eat grass up the slopes before the light chills to a blue glow from the icy sides of the Kunlun Mountains closing in around the carriages.

The Skeena

Jasper to Prince Rupert, Canada

With the ice-glazed tops of the Canadian Rockies sparkling all around it, the train curls out of Alberta past the Rockies’ highest peak-the majestic Mount Robson-followed by the Cariboo Mountains, at the foot of which lie green lakes as still as glass. From a panoramic view, passengers can keep eyes on black and grizzly bears, white-tailed deer, elk and moose, as well as bald eagles diving through the air.

Bernina Express

Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy

Short but very sweet, a journey on the Bernina Express takes four hours to wind its way from the city of Chur in the Swiss Alps down to the Italian city of Tirano. Running on a narrow track that includes 55 tunnels and 196 bridges, the train swings around pine-filled valleys and vertical rock faces.

1. Where should you go for the world’s highest railway?

A．India.

B．China.

C．Canada.

D．Italy.

2. Which route can give passengers a nice view of various animals?

A．Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.	B．Qinghai-Xizang Railway.
C．The Skeena.	D．Bernina Express.

3. What do the four routes have in common?

A．They are newly built.	B．They cover a long journey.
C．They are high-speed railways.	D．They go past high mountains.

10 . 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。

Gather together a couple of good friends and take a leisurely walk through the streets—this is what many youngsters in China enjoy doing when they pay a visit     1     a new city. To them, Citywalk means “wandering around the city” on foot. Participants can follow a special urban route, exploring old     2     (building) or enjoying real local snacks.

The origins of Citywalk can be traced (追溯) back to London, England. Strictly speaking, this form of urban tourism     3     (be) not as casual and aimless as it may appear. In the beginning, Citywalk referred to tours where participants followed a     4     (plan) route under the guidance of tour conductors, exploring deep into the city’s history, culture, landscapes     5     other aspects. Gradually, the concept of Citywalk,     6     focuses on the quiet appreciation of urban lifestyle and cultural atmosphere, has gained popularity worldwide.

Up to now, the Citywalk trend     7     (spread) from first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai to second-tier and third-tier cities, encouraging more participants and event organizers to get involved. Some organizers invite folk culture researchers and enthusiasts (爱好者)     8     (act) as tour guides.

In short, Citywalk not only offers     9     way for young people to interact with a city but also provides them with a new social scene, where people wit the same interests and ideas can     10     (easy) make friends.