1 . The sun near the equator is never-ceasing, bearing down as I lead Elaine, a dark brown horse, through thick bushes. It’s been a long day on horseback. My legs ache and our camp signals across a ridge of ancient folding hills in the Lolldaiga Range of northern Kenya, a mosaic (马赛克) of twisted landscapes and communities.
Suddenly Elaine’s ears flick into alert, and the muscles of her body tense beneath me. Our guide Nicholus stretches out a lean arm toward a bush just meters away. My eyes focus, trying my best to see what the others already have: two amber balls glowing from a shadowed form. It’s a young lion, quick and strong, in the middle of the high grass.
A wild silence hangs between us.
Without the defensive hunting vehicle, I feel completely exposed. Peering into the bush, I’m suspended between wonder and terror, the distance between myself and the Savannah’s most notorious hunter unbelievably small. Usually, I’m the one tracking the lion, camera in hand. Now, the lion shifts in my consciousness from object to subject. I shift, too, strongly aware of the soft flesh of my own body.
Nicholus nods his head in the other direction, a safer distance away. He points to shallow holes in the dust. “Look, this is a big lion, and these are young ones, some cubs,” he says. “Probably a mother.” Pawprints marked the earth, each telling the story of more lions, moving in different directions.
It was time to go.
Horseback safaris are still the most immersive way to view wildlife in Kenya. To journey on horseback is to break down the walls — meant to protect, but also to separate us from the natural world. And as we’re absorbed in the thrill of the experience, we’re vividly reminded of the importance of protecting these wild spaces.
Out here your horse is your translator, responding to the low hiss of a leopard, the soft scent of an elephant herd, the cool morning breeze descending from Mount Kenya’s glacial peaks. Your job is to learn how to listen.
1. Which words can NOT describe my horseback journey?A.Thrilling. | B.Tiring. | C.Breathtaking. | D.Boring. |
A.I regretted not having driven a vehicle. |
B.I felt extremely tense in case of lions’ attack. |
C.There will be a big battle between lions and us. |
D.It was out of my expectation to break into a lion’s world. |
A.Horses are much cheaper than vehicles. |
B.Visitors will experience the wildlife anytime. |
C.It is a safe and exciting way to enjoy the wildlife. |
D.It offers a chance to reconsider the connection between humans and wildlife. |
A.Find more animals to feed. | B.Ask your horse for translation. |
C.Feel nature with your heart. | D.Listen to the sound of every animal. |
2 . Costa Rica is home to everything from steamy rainforests and misty cloud forests. And there’s enough action to satisfy the most demanding thrill-seeker. Below, we look at the places you won’t want to miss.
La Fortuna
You can get up close to its lava-covered lower slopes by taking the Las Coladas trail, one of several unforgettable hikes around Volcán Arenal National Park, about 7km west of La Fortuna.
Around 7km east of La Fortuna, there’s horseback riding, mountain biking, along with kayaking on Lake Arenal. The region’s natural hot springs make the perfect place to ease weary muscles.
Monteverde
Monteverde’s mist-wreathed cloud forest reserves sit high on the country’s mountainous spine. It’s one of the world’s biodiversity hot spots, with a shocking diversity of plants and animals.
For a bird’s eye view of the forest, take a thrilling ride on a zipline(滑索), skimming the canopy at high speed—Sky Trek Monteverde has an automatic braking system, useful for kids and anxious adults.
The Nicoya Peninsula
Famed for its postcard-perfect beaches and sweet Pacific swells, Nicoya has something for wave riders of all levels. There’s wildlife too: Grande Beach is a nesting site for leatherback turtles from October to March.
Further south, the remote, jungle-backed town of Santa Teresa is now a hip hangout with cool cafes, sushi restaurants and designer boutiques.
1. Who are the targeted readers?A.Scientists. | B.Travelers. | C.Researchers. | D.Guides. |
A.Outdoor activities. | B.Local snacks. | C.Wildlife watching. | D.Volcano views. |
A.La Fortuna and Monteverde. | B.La Fortuna and The Nicoya Peninsula. |
C.The Nicoya Peninsula and Monteverde. | D.Santa Teresa and Volcán Arenal National Park. |
3 . When looking for some vacation ideas to spread out and get some time and space to yourself, check out these great resorts (度假胜地) options.
Hyatt Ziva Cap CanaLocated in Punta Cana, this family-friendly vacation at an all-inclusive resort offers something for everyone in your party. Parents can enjoy relaxing by one of the resort’s swim-up bars in an infinity pool or head out for some deep-sea fishing. Kids, meanwhile, can head over to the kids’ club for a number of activities. Plus, all of the drinks and food across the 14 restaurants and bars is included.
Beaches Turks & CaicosThis resort has become the Caribbean’s popular go-to when it comes to all-inclusive family vacations that provide great value since there’s so much to do for guests of all ages. There’s a 45,000-square-foot water park, 24 restaurants, unlimited PADI-certified scuba diving and water sports, a 12-mile beach, a spa, 10 pools—whew!
The Alisal Guest RanchIf you live in the city and want to get back to nature, this luxury farm over nearly 11,000 acres in California’s Santa Ynez Valley is a perfect fit for a family. All that wide-open space means activities like horseback riding, scenic cycling, hiking, fishing, kayaking and, for the body-and-spirit-minded traveler in your group, yoga.
Montage Palmetto BluffThe 20,000-acre community includes a nature preserve with walking trails, but the real stars of the show here are the over 300 species of birds. The resort’s resident naturalist takes families on walks to Bird Island, sharing a history of the area. Plus, kids will love the kayak tours that get up close to the dolphins that live there year-round.
1. Which attracts those interested in horseback-riding?A.Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. | B.Beaches Turks & Caicos. |
C.Montage Palmetto Bluff. | D.The Alisal Guest Ranch. |
A.They promise good food services. | B.They include various kids’ clubs. |
C.They provide parent-child activities. | D.They have large historic buildings. |
A.To organize some family parties. | B.To highlight some tourist resorts. |
C.To introduce some nature reserves. | D.To stimulate some domestic needs. |
4 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.
My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!
However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.
As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.
1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?A.A family trip should not last for too long. |
B.A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles. |
C.It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips. |
D.It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave. |
A.It was a pleasant experience. | B.It was ruined by bad weather. |
C.They didn’t prepare well for it. | D.They lost many things during it. |
A.They learnt how to solve problems. | B.They built a closer family relationship. |
C.They developed a great love for nature. | D.They fell in love with adventure travels. |
A.To show how to make RV trips interesting. |
B.To encourage kids to take part in RV trips. |
C.To advise families to take RV trips together. |
D.To share an unforgettable traveling experience. |
5 . Some Best Travel Websites to Check Out in 2023
Traveling is highly addictive! We put together a list of the best travel websites that will help to take the first step and go!
SafetyWing — Best Travel Insurance, Monthly PlansSafetyWing recently came up with undoubtedly the best travel insurance plan, called Remote Health. It’s a long-term plan that covers you for pre-existing conditions, like cancer, or even in your home country. Ideal for long-term travelers or digital nomads (数字游民), they also offer amazing monthly plans for short-term travel that come with very competitive prices, starting at $40.
Check the full comparison of digital nomad insurance plans!
GetYourGuide — One of the Best Travel Websites for Booking Trips and ToursGetYourGuide is the perfect way to book tours, airport transfers, ferries, cooking courses, tickets for events, food tours etc. It covers most of the countries in the world. They even have a price match guarantee, so just tell them you can find the activity or tour cheaper somewhere else and they will cover the difference no questions asked. It’s perfect because you can book everything beforehand and then just enjoy the holiday once you arrive.
Skyscanner for FlightsLet us be honest: Amazingly cheap flight tickets are often the first and yet the most important reason we keep on moving ourselves from country to country, even though we promised our inner selves to settle down for a while. Don’t blame yourself. Put the blame on Skyscanner, their mobile app and their delightfully intruding newsletter.
Withlocals — Enjoy Your Trip With LocalsAs one of the fastest-growing travel projects of last year that connects travelers with a local community, you can book amazing trips with locals and visit the most authentic places and experience local life. Your guide will help you to get out of tourist traps and find the real spirit of the places you want to visit.
1. What can SafetyWing offer the tourists?A.Cheap tour events. | B.Free flight tickets. |
C.Local life experience. | D.Proper travel insurance. |
A.SafetyWing. | B.GetYourGuide. |
C.Skyscanner. | D.Withlocals. |
A.A textbook. | B.A local newspaper. |
C.A web page. | D.An academic article. |
6 . Life in the mountains has appeal for a variety of reasons—you may enjoy the natural beauty or simply like the idea of hitting the hiking trails (路径). These are some options to live near the mountains.
Brief Introduction:
1. Boulder
Located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Boulder is the ideal spot for people wanting to live near the mountains without giving up good jobs. Technology, aerospace and higher education are major industries that lend high salaries. Dozens of trails offer various hiking opportunities for all experience levels.
2. Asheville
Asheville is known for its active arts community and breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Whether they’re drawn to access to the outdoors or to the galleries with a personal touch and farm-to-table restaurants, plenty of people are choosing Asheville as their new hometown.
3. Greenville
A spot for beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Greenville has easy access to trails with waterfalls and lakes. There are some state parks that offer hiking and camping, among other activities. Greenville residents spend about 21% of the area’s average household income on housing.
4. Honolulu
There are multiple hiking trails that show off the beauty of the Hawaiian islands, with lots of lookout points to take in the views of the city. To make your stay permanent, however, you should spend, as typical residents, about 30% of your income on rent or home loans.
Related Data:
Boulder | Asheville | Greenville | Honolulu | |
Average House Price | $881,147 | $358,383 | $330,545 | $581,658 |
Average Annual Salary | $73,360 | $47,470 | $48,350 | $61,860 |
Population | 328,713 | 465,558 | 918,166 | 1,015,167 |
1. What distinguishes Boulder from the other three places?
A.Its ideal location. | B.Its natural beauty. |
C.Its job opportunities. | D.Its diverse hiking trails. |
A.Boulder. | B.Asheville. | C.Greenville. | D.Honolulu. |
A.About $12,991. | B.About $18,558. | C.About $174,497. | D.About $581 ,658. |
7 . Rich in culture and rooted in tradition, winter in Budapest here not only feels like a fairytale, it looks like one, too. Here are four top things to do in Budapest during the winter.
● City Park Ice Rink (滑冰场)Budapest’s City Park Ice Rink is by far the most famous skating destination in the region. Skaters flooded to the rink each winter between late November and mid February. First opened in 1870, this ice rink is one of the oldest and largest in Europe. It’s filled up with water during the summer months. It serves as a boating lake for tourists looking to bike around while bathing in the sun.
● Spas and thermal bathsBudapest is quite rightly nicknamed the “City of Spas”. The baths of here are astonishingly beautiful, which are famous for their relaxing and medicinal benefits Taking a dip in the famous baths during winter is an experience like no other. Jumping from one indoor pool to the outside bathing area is a memorable and pleasurable experience.
● Hungarian State Opera HouseThe Hungarian State Opera House is closed for renovations (翻新). However, visitors can still see parts of it via (通过) guided tours. The Hungarian State Opera House, which was completed in 1884, remains exactly the same as that when it was constructed. Each year thousands of visitors arrived in Budapest to take in the sheer (十足的) beauty of the opera house, while the lucky ones are able to secure a ticket for a show.
● Andrassy Avenue and Fashion StreetShopping in Budapest during winter is a magical experience. Andrassy Avenue and Fashion Street are two of its most popular tourist destinations at any time of year. Covered with thousands of lights, the tree-lined avenue comes to life during the winter months, offering up many attractions. The shops here are usually open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter months.
1. What does City Park Ice Rink act as in summer?A.A relaxing pool. | B.A boating lake. |
C.A thermal bath. | D.A fashion street. |
A.Enjoy a show. | B.Take a swim. |
C.Have a guided tour. | D.Perform an opera. |
A.Tourist center. | B.Opera house. | C.Lights. | D.Shops. |
8 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Energetic. | B.Dangerous. | C.Romantic | D.Famous. |
A.Do proper exercise. | B.Enjoy the rest of her life. |
C.Spend more time with her family | D.Keep away (远离) from traveling |
A.It was her last adventure. | B.She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
C.She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D.It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
A.A business trip to China | B.Stroke, a dangerous disease |
C.How I overcame the fear of disease | D.Why I still travel to the wild |
9 . Walled Cities Of The World
There are numerous historical walled cities across the world, whose walls date back several centuries. These walls were fortification (碉堡), a necessity throughout medieval eras for defense. They have been preserved as historical monuments and popular tourist attractions in the modern time.
York, England
The city of York is a medieval city situated in the north of England. Historically, the city was ruled by the Romans, Angles, and the Vikings before being incorporated as part of the Kingdom of England in 954. Located in the city are walls built in 71 AD which have been restored and extended with time.
Xi’an, China
The city of Xian is one of the oldest cities in China. It prospered economically as the eastern last station of the Silk Road. The existing walls were originally built in 770 BC and reconstructed in the 14th century under the Ming Dynasty. The walls are well preserved and are a major tourist attraction in the city.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City was a colonial (殖民地的) town which was fortified by the settling Europeans. The walls began to be built in 1608 under both British and French regimes (政权). A fort was constructed by the British as an additional defensive measure and remains undamaged to date. The city’s fortifications were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
Mexico City, Mexico
Historically, the City of Mexico gained importance as the Aztec Capital. The Spanish then drove out the Aztecs and rebuilt it as the Spanish Capital. The walls protecting the city were built in 1521. Mexico City is also home to numerous colonial-era buildings which together with the walls are major tourist attractions in the city.
1. Which city has walls of the longest history?A.York, England. | B.Xi’an, China. |
C.Quebec City, Canada. | D.Mexico City, Mexico. |
A.They were once colonies of other countries. |
B.They were once the capital of the Aztec empire. |
C.Their walls were once built under British regime. |
D.Their walls were once damaged after construction. |
A.Culture. | B.Entertainment. | C.Science. | D.Society |
10 . I live in Xizhou in Yunnan Province, on the historic Tea Horse Road. I have to admit that when I first heard that Paul Salopek was going to walk the entire globe on his own two feet, I was blown away. I couldn’t imagine that there could be such an unusual person in the world.
Last May, I met Paul. He told me that it was his first time in China. He talked to me with great excitement about the history, migrations, and discoveries in my region of China. He spoke of the Shu-Yandu Dao (the Southern Silk Road), the travels of the 17th-century Chinese explorer Xu Xiake, the Tea Horse Road and the early 20th-century American botanist Joseph Rock. He also talked of Xuanzang. Paul considered many of them heroes and in a sense Chinese pioneers of slow journalism.
I decided to accompany Paul on his walk toward Yunnan. On September 28, 2021, we set out. Our days were simple: walk, eat, sleep, and repeat. We woke up at sunrise, set off in high spirits, and rested at sunset, dragging ourselves into exhausted sleep.
We met many people on the road. Some were curious, surrounding us and watching us; some gave us directions; some invited us into their home to take a rest; some spoke of the charm of their hometown. We met many beautiful souls, simple souls and warm souls. We were walking with our minds.
Together, we were impressed by the biodiversity of the Gaoligong Mountains. As I walked on ancient paths through mountains, I seemed to hear the antique voices of past travelers urging me to be careful on the road.
Looking back on the more than 200 miles I walked with Paul, I came to a realization. Walking for its own sake, while healthy and admirable, is only a small part of the benefit of moving with our feet. A deeper reward is rediscovering the world around us, shortening the distance between each other, and sharing each other’s cultures.
1. How did the writer first respond to Paul’s travel plan?A.Scared. | B.Puzzled. |
C.Disappointed. | D.Surprised. |
A.He was a western journalist. | B.He had a knowledge of China. |
C.He came to China several times. | D.He was Joseph Rock’s acquaintance. |
A.They honored the ancestors. | B.They set off in high spirits. |
C.They satisfied the locals’ curiosity. | D.They built bonds with people. |
A.To share and reflect on a journey. | B.To suggest a new way of travel. |
C.To advocate protection of biodiversity. | D.To introduce and promote Chinese culture. |