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. |
| A．Shocked. | B．Sad. |
| C．Doubtful. | D．Excited |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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
Designed by French Gustav Eiffel, the tower was meant
Tourists have a choice when they climb the tower. They can either walk 1, 665 steps to the top
3 . National Parks Recreational Vehicle Trips
Trip 1: Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands&Capitol Reef
Visit the five Utah’s national parks. Activities include going boating on the Colorado River, and hiking Angels Landing for an impressive view of Zion Canyon. One thing is guaranteed：you’ll see the Milky Way, the pale white band of stars across the sky at night, like never before in this beautiful area of the country.
Available: Apr. 1 to Oct. 23; Duration: 8 to 13 nights
Price（for up to 4 guests): $4, 990-9, 840
Trip 2: Banff&Jasper
Travel along the Icefields Parkway which connects the parks and towns of Banff in Alberta, Canada, Lake Louise and Jasper Lake. Book a ride in a big snowcoach（雪车）onto the Athabasca
Glacier, and take a flight-seeing tour over the huge icefields that cover the area of the Rocky Mountains.
Available: Jun. 15 to Sept. 15; Duration: 8 to 13 nights
Price (for up to 4 guests): S5, 260-6, 080
Trip 3: Mount Rushmore & Colorado
This trip is perfect for anyone interested in America’s history, from forts to huge rock carvings of historical figures. Starting in Denver, your journey will take you through Colorado and into Wyoming.
Available: Start as early as Feb. 1 to Oct. 10; Duration: 8 to 13 nights
Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 124-7, 880
Trip 4: Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon
Start your journey in the Bay Area and then head cast to Yosemite with its impressive waterfalls, and towering cliffs（悬崖）. Combine your visit to Yosemite with stops at Sequoia National Park to see the five largest sequoia trees in the world, and Kings Canyon.
Available: May 19 to Oct 8; Duration: 8 to 13 nights
Price（for up to 4 guests): $5, 224-9, 540
1. What’s special about the five Utah’s national parks?| A．The beautiful starry sky. | B．The impressive waterfalls. |
| C．The rich history of America. | D．The adventurous activities. |
| A．Banff & Jasper. |
| B．Mount Rushmore & Colorado. |
| C．Yosemite, Sequoia & Kings Canyon. |
| D．Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, Canyonlands & Capitol Reef. |
| A．The location. | B．The tourist activities. |
| C．The nights included in the trip. | D．The target groups of tourists. |
4 . Parks around the world
Hyde Park, London, England
There are many parks in London. Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, which covers over 350 acres. There are paths for people on bicycles and there are often open - air concerts held in the park.
Park Güell, Barcelona, Spain
In this park, designed by Antony Gaudi, there are different houses in different colours. There are also things like a colourful dragon. At the top of the park is a terraced area where you can get a wonderful view of the city of Barcelona and the sea.
Stanley Park, Vancouver, Canada
Vancouver is a city near the sea and mountains. There is beautiful Stanley Park in the city centre, covering an area of one thousand acres. It is the largest park in North America. There are First Nations totem poles (图腾柱) in the park.
Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan
Ueno Park is an old park in the city of Tokyo and there are hundreds of beautiful cherry trees. In April and May every year, the trees are pink or white.
Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico
This is the largest urban park in Latin America. It's a very important green space in this big city. Containing nine museums, a zoo, an amusement park, and a variety of green recreational spaces, Chapultepec Park is an invaluable place for the city residents and its visitors.
1. What can visitors do in Park Güell ?| A．Enjoy cherry trees. | B．Feed animals. | C．See the sea. | D．Ride bicycles. |
| A．London. | B．Barcelona. | C．Vancouver. | D．Mexico. |
| A．Chapultepec Park. | B．Ueno Park. | C．Stanley Park. | D．Hyde Park. |
5 . Here are four destinations that have to be included in any trip to the northeastern city Harbin.
Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World
At Harbin Ice-Snow World, you can not only see the world-famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at igloo restaurants, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, and go down the world’s longest ice slide.
The Sun Island Snow Expo
The Sun Island Snow Expo is the world’s largest snow sculpture(雕塑)art show. You can play in the snow as well as admire the art made from it. Tourists from the south might be surprised by the bright sunshine reflected in the snow, so don’t forget the sunscreen. This is a good place to toss water into the air and watch it turn into ice immediately. Find a safe place with no one nearby, and enjoy the unique phenomenon.
Yabuli Ski Resort
One place you shouldn’t miss when visiting Harbin is Yabuli Ski Resort, where you can ski down snow-covered mountains. Yabuli Sun Mountain Resort is surrounded by mountains and forests. The snow is thick and moderately hard. There are junior, middle and senior ski runs. Professional staff are available to improve your skiing ability and give you an experience of a lifetime.
The Harbin Grand Theatre
It might not be part of an ordinary tourist plan, but it is worth an extra night in Harbin! The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Northerners consider it a romantic thing to do in winter. Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a music city in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost a little to share their love of art.
1. What can tourists do when they visit the igloos?| A．Ski down the mountains. |
| B．Eat in a restaurant made of ice. |
| C．Enjoy some ancient architecture. |
| D．Throw and watch water turn into ice immediately. |
| A．Stay in a safe place alone. | B．Make a snow sculpture. |
| C．Apply sunscreen. | D．Live in an ice architecture. |
| A．Igloos(冰屋)at Harbin Ice-Snow World. | B．The Sun Island Snow Expo. |
| C．The Harbin Grand Theatre. | D．Yabuli Ski Resort. |
6 . Life Outside London: Five Reasons to Visit the North of England!
Most people when visiting England will go to London. In fact most people don't even know much about England outside of London. It makes sense. It's the capital. There are lots to se there. However, as a northern girl, from a place just between Manchester and Liverpool, and a university student in Sheffield. I'd say the north is well worth a visit, and definitely as good if not better than London! Here are five reasons:
Friendliness
Northerners will chat to you on the bus, say hello in the streets and won't think you're crazy if you smile at them when you walk past. Friendly northerners might also call you "duck" or "love" don't worry, they call everyone that.
Gravy
Now although Southerners have gravy (a delicious meaty sauce that goes well with everything), they don't do it properly. You haven't lived until you've tried chip-shop chips swimming in gravy.
Beautiful Countryside
We have the Peak District, and the Lake District. They're both absolutely beautiful and definitely worth a visit. We also have some pretty amazing beaches too.
Excellent Party Cities
We have Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield You can't go wrong if you want to go on a night out here.
Low Cost
The same night won't cost you anywhere near as much up north! In London you can pay over for a pint, which is outrageous! For some reason, everything up North is cheaper, from food to drink to getting around, you can't go wrong when you're spending less money.
There are lots of lovely things to see in the North, so if you can brave the weather being a bit colder and wetter, it's definitely worth a trip.
1. Who might call you "duck" when you are visiting the north of England?| A．A warm passer-by. | B．A rude salesman. |
| C．A friendly southerner. | D．A cold teenager. |
| A．Get free beer. | B．Enjoy an all-night party. |
| C．Try chips in gravy. | D．Enjoy warm and dry weather. |
| A．In a recipe book. | B．In a science fiction. |
| C．In a business report. | D．In a travel magazine. |
| A．London. | B．New York. | C．Paris. |
| A．Tourist and guide. | B．Strangers. | C．Friends. |
9 . The Notre Dame (巴黎圣母院) fire has been put out, but its wooden roof have been largely damaged. The terrible accident causes a sudden sharp pain to people around the world, “What a pity that we cannot see the damaged parts of the wonder anymore.”
But the good news is that there is at least one way of seeing them, namely via a video game called Assassin's Creed: Unity. In this game, the player can travel to one city after another and enter the buildings exactly like what they are in reality, and see Notre Dame as it was before the fire. In addition, with VR technology, which is already quite mature, one can even look around the undamaged Notre Dame as if it is still there. Maybe digital technology could help to better protect architectural cultural heritage (建筑文化遗产).
The idea of digitizing ancient buildings, making digital models of them so their data can be saved, dates back to the 1990s and the necessary technology has continued to advance since then. By scanning the ancient buildings with lasers, building 3D models with hundreds of images, as well as measuring (测量) everything precisely, engineers can make a copy as “same” as the real one.
As computers and smartphones are hugely popular，the digital replica or digital copy has great pratical value. First, it allows tourists to feel the cultural relics (文物) without touching them, which helps protect them. The virtual tour of Dunhuang Grottoes in Gansu Province is a good example of this as tourists can view the paintings without standing near them. Furthermore, it can make the digitized cultural relics more famous by spreading awareness about them via the Internet. In 2000, a virtual tour of the Great Wall became very popular at the Hannover World Expo, which increased the number of foreign tourists visiting it in the following years. Above all, it preserves all the information of the cultural relics. Even if the original ones are damaged one day, people can still know what they were like and can build a replica if desired.
Time is the biggest problem to architectural heritage. Maybe we will have better technologies in the future, but the digital technology offers a practical way to preserve architectural cultural heritage at the moment.
1. What can we see about Notre Dame in the video game?| A．The big fire. | B．Its original look. |
| C．The damaged parts. | D．Its wooden shape. |
| A．Improve the technology needed. | B．Build 3D models of full size. |
| C．Scan the photos of the buildings. | D．Measure all the parts precisely. |
| A．By comparison. | B．By listing data. |
| C．By giving examples. | D．By classification. |
| A．The Damage of Notre Dame |
| B．The Value of Digital Replica |
| C．VR Technology Helps Repair the Cultural Relics |
| D．Digital Technology Helps Protect Ancient Buildings |
10 . As the coronavirus pandemic has interrupted holiday events, some parks have not been allowed to open. A surprising number of parks, however, will be open to celebrate the holidays with twinkling-lights-filled special events.
Be aware that because of limited capacity to accommodate social distancing, most parks require visitors to make reservations. It goes without saying that in these uncertain times events may change with evolving conditions, so check with the parks for the latest details.
Smoky Mountain Christmas at Dollywood in Tennessee
•When：Select days through Jan.3
•Details：dollywood.com/themepark/festivals
More than 5 million lights illuminate（照亮）nearly every building and tree through-out Dolly Parton’s park in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains. And as you might expect, Dollywood features lots of holiday-themed shows and performances. The highlight is“Christmas in the Smokies”, an impressive production that is a tradition at the park. It is being presented indoors at Dolly Parton’s Celebrity Theater, although groups are being seated separately, and the audience capacity is reduced by about 50%. “Everybody needs a little light this Christmas,” says Pete Owens, VP of marketing and public relations.
Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay in Florida and Christmas Celebration at Busch Gardens Williamsburg in Virginia
·Florida：Friday to Jan.3
·Details：buschgardens.com/tampa/events
·Virginia：Select dates through Jan.3
·Details：buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events
The two Busch Gardens parks will be covered by lights and trimmed trees, and traditional Christmas songs will fill the air. Items served at the Williamsburg park will include a turkey dinner with all the fixings along with ginger cake for a treat. At the Tampa park, fireworks will light the sky, and the annual ice skating production,“Christmas on Ice,”will move to an outdoor theater.
“There’s nothing like a train ride for Christmas,”says Neal Thurman, president of the Florida park.“Guests will enjoy the Holly Jolly Express as well as our returning shows,’Three Kings Journey’ and ‘ Elmo’s Christmas Wish.’”
Holidays at Legoland Florida and Legoland California
·Florida：Select dates Nov.27-Dec.31
·Details：legoland.com/florida
·California：Select dates Friday to Jan.10
·Details：legoland.com/california
A sleigh（雪橇）with reindeer and a 30-foot-tall Christmas tree made of Lego blocks will be on display at the Florida park，along with special shows, meet-ups（from a distance）with holiday characters and fireworks. Lego-land California won’t be offering its rides and attractions but will feature holiday-themed outdoor dining and shopping as well as live music.
1. What should visitors do in advance to enter most parks?| A．They must make a reservation first. |
| B．They should restrict their visiting hours. |
| C．They must make sure they keep social distancing. |
| D．They should check with the parks for the latest details. |
| A．It is thought essential to give people hope during this tough time. |
| B．“Christmas in the Smokies” is not always shown in Dolly Parton’s park. |
| C．People prefer performances related to holiday themes. |
| D．The number of visitors to the park is reduced by half. |
| A．legoland.com/california or dollywood.com/themepark/festivals |
| B．legoland.com/florida or buschgardens.com/tampa/events |
| C．dollywood.com/themepark/festivals or legoland.com/California |
| D．buschgardens.com/williamsburg/events or dollywood.com/themepark/festivals |
| A．They can shake hands with holiday characters. |
| B．They can ride a sleigh with reindeers. |
| C．They can play with Lego blocks. |
| D．They can enjoy live music. |
| A．What to know about coronavirus. |
| B．When to celebrate Christmas. |
| C．Where to relax yourselves. |
| D．How to make your kids happy. |
