1 . You’re looking for a holiday with a difference? It’s on offer right here! Come with us on a very special tour of the great southern continent Antarctica. It’s the only untouched wilderness left on our planet. For 10 months of the year, the continent is inaccessible by ships. Consequently, our tours are conducted in the brief period in late spring when the ice has melted and we can reach Antarctica.
So why should I go there?
Antarctica may lack man-made attractions, but its natural beauty is breathtaking. You’ll want to tell your grandchildren about this trip in years to come. Ninety-eight percent of this continent is covered with ice, which contains 70 per cent of the world’s fresh water, although it receives very little rainfall.
What kind of things could I see and do there?
Our tours are conducted in summer, but you have to remember that summer is six months later in the Southern Hemisphere. Apart from the Arctic region, Antarctica is one of the two areas on earth where you can enjoy 24 hours of sunlight. To get there, we have our own ship, which is equipped with a helicopter and a landing pad. Once there you’ll be able to observe penguins and birds, and even watch whales and seals in the ocean.
Do your tours damage the environment?
No, not at all. We don’t disturb the wildlife, and we remove all the rubbish that we produce. We strictly follow the guidelines contained in the 1991 Antarctica Agreement, which bans oil exploration and protects wildlife.
How long does a tour last?
That depends on which tour package you choose. You can visit the Antarctic region for as long as a month or, if you depart from Australia, you can see the Antarctic continent from the air in just one day. We will fly you over the continent so you can see it from the comfort of your seat on one of our aircraft. The exact route depends on the weather on the day of the . tour, but normally the flights pass over the Antarctic coastline and then head inland over vast landscapes formed by ice and dramatic mountain ranges.
That sounds really interesting. How do I make a booking?
South Pole Tours are based in Christchurch, New Zealand. Call us on 25674874 today!
1. According to Paragraph 1, what can we learn about Antarctica?| A．Antarctica is a crowded tourist destination. |
| B．Spring is the best time to visit Antarctica. |
| C．The tour to Antarctica is quite expensive. |
| D．Antarctica is accessible by helicopters at any. time. |
| A．find many man-made attractions |
| B．share the experiences with each other |
| C．reach Antarctica by taking a helicopter |
| D．have chances to view some sea animals |
| A．Visitors must take fresh water with them while visiting the continent. |
| B．The continent must be closed to visitors in late spring every year. |
| C．Polar tour must be conducted without disturbing its wildlife. |
| D．Oil exploration is allowed only when all the rubbish is removed. |
| A．the weather on the day of the tour |
| B．the route visitors take to the region |
| C．the tour package you decided on |
| D．the amount of money tourists paid |
| A．To introduce some information of Antarctica to readers. |
| B．To attract potential tourists to go on a visit to Antarctica. |
| C．To highlight some rules for visitors staying on Antarctica. |
| D．To promote new businesses on the continent of Antarctica. |
2 . 阅读下面短文，按照要求完成阅读任务。
My love for Rio started on a girl’s holiday in the year 2006. It was love at first sight. Six months after returning to my hometown of London I decided to leave my job as a Board Director at a public relations (PR) company, packed up everything and moved here.
Unable to continue my profession of PR without the required language fluency. I fell into buying and selling properties while enjoying everything that Rio had to offer. One thing led to another and before long, I had become a property agent and in 2010 set up In Town Property, which today is one of Rio’s top property letting and buying companies.
I’ve always had a deep love for dance and I was immediately drawn to samba. I love its exciting rhythm, and the joy and freedom it offers. On arrival I decided it would be necessary to learn Portuguese but just as important would be samba. Within my first few months living here I had begun samba lessons.
In 2011 I paraded in the Rio Carnival festival for the first time. It was a wonderful experience. I’d never felt more happiness than singing loudly as I sambaed all the way down the street. Since then I have been in the parade every year.
Over the last years, I have had the opportunity to parade with some of Rio’s top samba schools, such as Mocidade, Beija-Flor, and Império da Tijuca. In 2017, I had the great honor of dancing for Império da Tijuca on its first float (花车). It was an unbelievable experience!
I’ m so passionate about this city, carnival and samba. They bring joy to the world and I want to share my love and experience with others. I think everyone needs a chance in life to live out their dreams and can’t wait to bring this magic to you!
1. What did the author do before she moved to Rio?( no more than 10 words )3 . Into the Night
The lights from the cottage windows disappear, as we follow a dark footpath through a field into the open countryside. Thick clouds prevent the moonlight from lighting up the way ahead. Yet, as my eyes begin to get used to the darkness, the landscape around me reveals itself in a new light.
Mount Caburn, an iron-age hill fort (堡垒), looks like shadows against the sky. On the horizon is a tree bent by the wind. The rocky outcrop (露出的部分) at the top of the field turns out to be a flock of sleeping sheep. A fox cries, a pheasant crows, and the air is full of a strong earthy scent.
“For most of human history, man lived in close contact with the land,” says Nigel Berman, my guide. “Only in the past few hundred years have we shut ourselves off from our natural surroundings. Walking at night is a powerful way of reconnecting. When your vision is reduced, your other senses are sharpened.”
Nigel and I walk from the village of Glynde across the South Downs towards the town of Lewes. It is a walk I know well by day, but at night everything is different, and a familiar wander becomes a mini adventure. When Nigel told me not to bring a torch, I was alarmed. I can’t remember the last time I used my night vision and I’m not even sure how it works.
Normally, at this time of night, I would be having a glass of wine in front of the television, but being out in the countryside is a purer form of relaxation. I forget about work and family tensions, and begin to blend into the surroundings. There is no one other than Nigel to see or hear me and, with little visual distraction, my mind calms. I am aware of the breeze on my face, the rustle (沙沙声) of leaves, and as I watch the clouds slowly changing color against the sky like a natural sound and light show, it feels fascinating.
Having got used to the dark, we continue walking and the path that leads up the escarpment (峭壁) of Saxon Down now appears to almost shine in front of us. We climb carefully, feeling our way on the uneven ground. Walking at night is not without risk, but with knowledge and preparation it opens up a new side to walking.
As we reach the top, Lewes appears below as a twinkly mass of lights, a sight I would generally consider as inviting. In just a few hours, however, I find myself unwilling to walk back down. Walking at night is like discovering a new world on your doorstep. As Henry David Thoreau wrote in Night and Moonlight: “Night is certainly more novel and less profane (世俗的) than day.”
1. According to Nigel Berman, why is walking at night significant?| A．It helps people appreciate natural surroundings. |
| B．It is a way to take risks and explore new places. |
| C．It improves our vision and sharpens other senses. |
| D．It makes us avoid distractions from work and family. |
| A．He was afraid of getting lost in the dark. |
| B．He hardly had any trust in Nigel as a guide. |
| C．He didn’t know how to use his night vision. |
| D．He worried about the way on uneven ground. |
| A．a reconnection with nature |
| B．a chance of abandoning wine |
| C．an escape from daily tensions |
| D．an approach to getting relaxed |
| A．He had gone for a walk on his own at night before. |
| B．He intentionally picked a cloudy night for his walk. |
| C．He enjoyed the feeling after reaching the top of the mountain. |
| D．He badly wanted to go home to have a glass of wine after the walk. |
| A．Describing his night hike through the countryside. |
| B．Contrasting the experience of day and night walking. |
| C．Encouraging readers to go on a night walk themselves. |
| D．Exploring the history of human connection with nature. |
4 . Time and time again, I hear someone ask why anyone would want to keep an “ugly” building or a building that is dirty and clearly in need of work. I think you could say we preservationists (文物保护者) look at buildings through a different angle — an angle that can see the swan in the ugly duck, the story in the simple lines, the book behind the cover.
Take the Queen Emma Building for example. While people may remember that building being named as one of the ugliest buildings in town, the angle from which a preservationist will view the building is that it is uniquely constructed with an artistical brise-soleil (遮阳板) to block the sun. The designer used standard concrete bricks to form a decorative wall. Unfortunately, the brise-soleil was removed in 2011, making the building look like many of the contemporary buildings in town.
Sometimes people remember a beautiful site that was replaced by a “very unpleasant” piece of architecture and can’t get over their anger, even when that building becomes an important part of our story. This is particularly true in San Francisco where many preservationists themselves dislike anything newer, than the Victorian era. Yes, it was a tragedy that many failed to appreciate the Victorian buildings and let many get torn down several decades ago, but those losses also tell another important story. It tells the story of the 1950s and 1960s when there was hope for a more equal society with inexpensive housing for the working class. Should that history be wiped from our memories?
Preservation is not just about keeping pretty, well-kept buildings, but about conveying pars of our history — not just the history of huge events, but the story of how everyone used to go to a certain corner market. Our history cannot be told only in buildings that meet someone’s criteria of beauty; sometimes our history is painful, but no less important.
1. How do preservationists see buildings?| A．They focus on their value rather than appearance. |
| B．They pay great attention to ancient buildings. |
| C．They are devoted to repairing famous buildings. |
| D．They prefer ugly buildings to beautiful ones. |
| A．It’s confusing. | B．It’s pleasing. |
| C．It’s regrettable. | D．It’s unbelievable. |
| A．To wipe the history of the Victorian era. |
| B．To make land available for cheap housing. |
| C．To work off the deep anger of the working class. |
| D．To restore the architecture before the Victorian era. |
| A．To introduce some buildings with historical value. |
| B．To explain the reason why architects make ugly buildings. |
| C．To praise the work of preservationists. |
| D．To stress the importance of preserving ugly buildings. |
5 . While there are still a lot of unknowns about the coming year, one thing is certain: we need an escape. With a vaccine (疫苗) finally greenlighted, the future of travel is looking up, but what will be the safest trips to take while the world is still in continuous change? Think wide open spaces, small-group adventures and responsible tourism. Playing it safe doesn’t mean you can’t get outside your comfort zone and have a novel adventure next year, though. Here are the friendly escapes we’re dreaming of right now.
01 The Great American E-Bike Trip
California to Georgia
Consider a human-powered road trip with a long cycling adventure—made more accessible with some power from an electric assist bike. Discover the beautiful and bizarre (奇异的), from the Mojave country on an e-bike-friendly tour. TDA Global Cycling’s Great American Road Trip can be done in full, or broken down to a 10-day trip to explore one region.
02 Swim with Whale Sharks
Espíritu Santo Island, Mexico
Dubbed “The Aquarium of the World” by Jacques Cousteau, the Sea of Cortez is one of the best spots in the world to swim with whale sharks and sea lions. Located in Mexico’s least-populated state, Baja California Sur, this island has a natural protected UNESCO World Heritage Site in the heart of it. There are no hotels, but Todos Santos Eco Adventures offers a solar-powered luxury camp experience on the island, private-chef included.
03 Soak in the Natural Wonders
Hokkaido, Japan
While the world waits for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, consider Japan’s last-developed island as a refuge (庇护所) from the crowds. Rugged (崎岖的) and remote, Hokkaido is filled with unique natural wonders and adventures including trekking in untouched forests, fat biking on frozen lakes, soaking in onsens (温泉), or natural hot springs, and searching for the island’s rare red-crowned crane — the only place in Japan you can find the sacred bird.
04 See Kangaroo Island Bounce Back
Australia
Nearly a year after Australia’s bushfires destroyed over 200,000 hectares and killed billions of animals, new life is rising from the ashes. This 96-mile-long island is one of the best places to view Australia’s unique animals in the wild — kangaroos, koalas, wallabies and more. Support the recovery with regenerative (再生的) tourism, critical in reversing biodiversity loss. Swim with sea lions or sip some Jacob’s Creek local wine and watch the kangaroos bounce back.
1. What can you do on the E-Bike Trip from California to Georgia?| A．You can learn how to do recycling on the way. |
| B．You can complete the trip in small separate sections. |
| C．You can build up your strength with a human-powered bike. |
| D．You can improve your skills in handling an electric assist bike. |
| A．Animals on both islands are in danger of dying out. |
| B．They both offer solar-powered luxury camps on the sand. |
| C．Tourists can experience swimming with certain sea animals. |
| D．They are both natural protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites. |
| A．Visitors can find their quietness on the island. |
| B．People can skate on frozen lakes on the island. |
| C．Red-crowned cranes can only be found in Japan. |
| D．Hokkaido is a remote and least-developed refuge. |
| A．A long cycling adventure will be the safest trip to take in the future. |
| B．With appropriate medical measures the tourism industry will pick up. |
| C．Visitors should keep cautious about bushfires while visiting Australia. |
| D．Ecosystem has been disturbed since novel adventures became popular. |
| A．Science on a website. | B．Sports in a newspaper. |
| C．Environment in a book. | D．Travelling in a magazine. |
6 . Xi'an
It was called Chang'an in ancient times. As the cradle (发源地) of Chinese civilization, it has a really long history. The city passed through the Zhou Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty and some other dynasties as the capital city. It enjoys the title of the “four major ancient civilization capitals” with ancient Athens, Cairo and Rome.
Luoyang
It was the capital city of 13 dynasties, and it was listed as the world's largest city six times in history. Luoyang once was the starting point of the Silk Road in eastern countries. It connected Europe and North Africa with Asia.
Kaifeng
As early as the Neolithic Age (新石器时代), our ancestors lived here. Its history can be traced back to the Xia Dynasty, the Shang Dynasty and the Zhou Dynasty. It was the capital city of the Later Jin Dynasty, the Later Han Dynasty, the Later Zhou Dynasty as well as the Northern Song Dynasty. It achieved great prosperity (繁荣) in the Northern Song Dynasty.
Yangzhou
As one of the 24 famous historical and cultural cities listed by the State Council, Yangzhou has a history of about 2,500 years. It reached great prosperity in the Han, Sui, Tang, and Qing Dynasties. It used to be an important business center and a center of transportation.
Chengdu
It is an ancient cultural city, with two miracles in Chinese history. One is that its name has been the same for 2,000 years; the other is that it has always been the capital city of Sichuan region. It's a capital with a glorious history.
1. What is this passage mainly about?| A．Five of the largest cities with a long history in China. |
| B．Five famous modern cities with a long history in China. |
| C．Five of the most beautiful cities with a long history in China. |
| D．Five famous ancient cultural cities with a long history in China. |
| A．Xi'an. | B．Kaifeng. |
| C．Luoyang. | D．Yangzhou. |
| A．history | B．culture |
| C．economy | D．beauty |
| A．business | B．schooling |
| C．parenting | D．traveling |
7 . Our guided tours here at Shakespeare’s Globe are an experience 400 years in the making.
Heaven to hell tour
Our unique heaven to hell tour experience offers Globe members the opportunity to discover the backstage world of Shakespeare’s Globe.
Join us in the heavenly attic (阁楼) towering above the theater before going down into the depths of “hell” underneath the stage to discover the secrets behind how our productions are staged. You’ll have the opportunity to visit our backstage stores and see props and costumes from the famous Globe productions before experiencing the thrill our actors feel when they step out onto the stage.
Twilight walking tour
Be transported back to a time of late-night cakes and ales (麦芽酒), midnight revels (狂欢) and demons, and the “Kingdom of Night” on our Twilight walking tour around the Bankside area and beyond.
Imagine city life without streetlights and visit the locations of Shakespeare’s own night-time adventures across the River Thames on the Northbank, including the original site of his candlelit Blackfriars playhouse.
Festive family tour
Celebrate the holiday season on a festive family tour of the magical Globe Theatre. Hear how Christmas was observed in Shakespeare’s time and the folk traditions that people practiced to welcome in winter.
This family-friendly guided tour will fascinate and warm even in the coldest of weather. But do still wrap up well- don’t forget our playhouse is outdoor!
Globe Theatre guided tour
Our world-famous Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse in which Shakespeare worked, and for which he wrote many of his most famous plays!
Our expert guide-storytellers will provide your group with a fascinating tour of the Globe Theatre auditorium (礼堂), colorful stories of the 1599 Globe Theatre, the reconstruction process in the 1990s.
Our guides will also bring the theater to life, exploring how the theater works today as an imaginative and experimental space for performance.
1. Which is an ideal tour for people who are fond of backstage stories of Shakespeare’s Globe?| A．Heaven to hell tour. | B．Twilight walking tour. |
| C．Festive family tour. | D．Globe Theatre guided tour. |
| A．On the River Thames. |
| B．Around Bankside area and beyond. |
| C．In Shakespeare hotel. |
| D．At Shakespeare’s Globe. |
| A．Go for a walk along the river. |
| B．Watch some plays on Christmas. |
| C．Explore how the theater works during the Christmas season. |
| D．Learn something about Christmas in Shakespeare’s time. |
| A．It shows what inspired Shakespeare to write his plays. |
| B．It is only available to Globe members. |
| C．Visitors can enjoy imaginative performance. |
| D．Visitors can hear the stories of the 1599 theatre. |
| A．Today’s Globe Theatre is a reconstructed work of the open-air playhouse. |
| B．The experience will also bring the theater to life. |
| C．You’ll have the opportunity to visit our stage stores and see our customers. |
| D．The experience will help us hear how Christmas was observed in Shakespeare’s time. |
8 . 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. |
9 . It had been a long, hard, wonderful day. The two of us had walked from the sea’s edge through the length of a beautiful valley, climbed a superb mountain, travelled its narrow, rocky ridge, and now stood on its final peak, tired, happy and looking for the perfect campsite.
The experienced backpacker has a natural feeling for such things, and our eyes were drawn to a small blue circle on the map. We could not see it from where we were, but we followed our judgement and went down steeply until it came into view.
We were right. It was a calm pool, with flat grass beside it. Gently taking our packs off, we made the first of many cups of tea before putting up our tent. Later that evening, over another cup of tea and after a good meal, we sat outside the tent watching the sun set over a sea dotted with islands, towards one of which a ferry was slowly moving. It is not always so perfect, of course. On another trip, with a different companion, a thoroughly wet day had ended at a lonely farm. Depressed at the thought of camping, we had knocked and asked if we could use a barn as a shelter.
Backpacking could be defined us the art of comfortable, self-sufficient travel on foot. Everything you need is in the pack on your back, and you become emotionally as well as physically attached to it. I once left my pack hidden in some rocks while I made a long trip to a peak I particularly wanted to climb. I was away for nearly three hours and ended up running the last stretch in fear that my precious pack would not be there. It was, of course.
The speed at which the backpacker travels makes this the perfect way to see any country. You experience the landscape as a slow unfolding scene, almost in the way it was made；and you find time to stop and talk to people you meet. I’ve learned much local history from simply chatting to people I met while walking through an area. At the end of a trip, whether three days or three weeks, there’s a feeling of achievement, of having got somewhere under your own power.
1. The author and his companion knew there was a pool because ________| A．they had been told about it | B．they could see it on the map |
| C．they had seen it earlier in the day | D．they could see it from the top of the mountain |
| A．The map. | B．The mountain. | C．The pool. | D．Rocky ridge. |
| A．They were too tired to put up their tent. |
| B．They wished they could have found a farm. |
| C．They were anxious about the coming weather. |
| D．They were delighted with the spot they had found. |
| A．It is more than just a practical aid. | B．He walks better when he is wearing it. |
| C．It is not a good idea to leave it anywhere. | D．He might die on the mountains without it. |
| A．get fitter as you walk | B．make new friends while walking |
| C．find out how the landscape was made | D．gain an understanding of the area you walk through |
10 . As you are soon on your way to Eastern Europe, here are a few tips on what you should pack. In general, pack lightly, with only the most basic clothes. People dress casually in Eastern Europe, so you don't need to bring along your smartest clothing.
At the risk of going against our own advice by weighing down your luggage, we suggest you consider bringing along the following things, which we find particularly useful in Eastern Europe.
Batteries：If your camera，flash，or other appliances run on batteries，bring enough supply along. Certain types of batteries don't exist in Eastern Europe，and those that do often don't last very long.
Calculator: Many travelers find it useful to figure out foreign exchange rates on a calculator. We suggest a credit-card calculator which fits into your wallet or purse.
Cash: We have found it good to have supply of small-unit U.S. bills ($l and $5) to use in hard-currency stores, to buy international train tickets, etc. The hard-currency stores never seem to have the right change, and thus you may lose out without some “pretty cash”on hand.
Electric Current Adapter: If you bring any appliances, remember that the electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A.C., not the standard 110 volts of North America. A 110 volts appliance will soon burn out when attached to an unchanged 220-volt plug. Get in touch with the Franzus Company, 352 Park Ave. South, New York, NY10010 (tel.212/889-5850), and ask for their booklet, "Foreign Electricity Is No Dark Secret".
Language Tools: One of Europe's big challenges is communicating with the local people since their languages are so different from our own. To help overcome difficulties, you might buy phrasebooks before you go -you won't find them once you are. in Eastern Europe.
If you are interested in learning an Eastern European language in more detail, we recommend the tape course produced by Audio Forum. In each course you listen to native speakers on a tape and follow along in a textbook. You can ask Audio Forum for their catalog at 96 Broad St., Guiford, CT06437 (tel. toll free 800/243-1234).
Money Belt: A money belt is especially helpful when you have many documents to carry around (as you always do in Eastern Europe). The best one we find is made by Eagle Greek Travel Gear, 143 Cedros Ave. (P. O. box.651), Solona Beach, CA 92075 (tel. 6197755 -9399, or toll free 800/874-9925) outside California.
Traveler's Checks: These are necessary. Bring your traveler's checks in small to medium unit ($10, $20, or $50) to change a little bit at a time, so as not to be left with a lot of local money. To be on the safe side, be sure to copy down the check numbers in two places, just in case something happens to the checks.
1. Which of the following sections deal with money matters?| A．Cash & Money Belt |
| B．Money Belt & Calculator |
| C．Cash & Traveler's Checks |
| D．Calculator & Electric Current Adapter |
| A．calculators | B．tapes |
| C．electric current adapters | D．money belts |
| A．No shop in Eastern Europe accepts hard currency. |
| B．Travelers may need to carry many documents in Eastern Europe. |
| C．The electricity in Eastern Europe uses 220 volts A. C. |
| D．Eastern European languages can be a problem to foreign travelers. |
| A．call 619/755-9399 for advice |
| B．ask for Franzus Company for a phrasebook |
| C．go to 96 Broad St, Guiford, for help |
| D．write to Solona Beach, CA 92075 for a textbook |
| A．an official notice | B．a traveler's guide |
| C．a holiday advertisement | D．immigration instructions |
