1 . The grocery store might not be your favorite place to visit when you’re at home, but isn’t it ever fun when you’re in another country? Honestly speaking, they’re one of those strange little destinations that I like to sniff out everywhere I go, much as other travellers head toward clothing stores, libraries, cafés or galleries.
The biggest beauty of the grocery store—whether it’s a huge supermarket or a tiny one—is that it gives you a glimpse into what local people buy to cook. This offers clues into their lifestyles and preferences, and into the agricultural and cooking practices of the country. I stare at the strange fruits and vegetables, the seafood, the cheese, the spices, the breads, and oh, the chocolate... always the chocolate!
Being an environmental nerd ( 痴 迷 者 ) I am, I like paying attention to packaging, which can reflect their attitude towards environmental protection. Italy, for example, has a habit of requiring customers to bag their fruits and vegetables in plastic for weighing, while Sri Lanka leaves everything loose in bins. In Brazil, everything is prepackaged in a layer of plastic.
People in grocery stores tend to be friendlier. They smile, say hello, and sometimes ask questions, which can lead to great conversations. I had a further discussion with a teen-aged cashier in Sri Lanka, over which bag of crunchy mix to buy. He insisted that the one labeled ‘spicy’ would be too hot for me, but I told him I was willing to risk it. He laughed and we ended up talking about my favorite Sri Lankan foods for ten minutes.
The financial savings extend to souvenirs, too. Whether it is ground spices for my mom or chocolates for my kids, the grocery store is the first place I look for unique gifts. It’s interesting then to come home and look at one’s own local grocery store through new eyes. What would a visitor think? What stands out, and what do the food displays say about us as a culture? You might be surprised by what you realize.
1. What is the benefit of visiting grocery stores of other countries in the author’s opinion?| A．Knowing their financial practice. |
| B．Making friends with store owners. |
| C．Buying cheaper food and souvenirs. |
| D．Knowing local people and the country. |
| A．To show their strange lifestyles. |
| B．To show the levels of their wealth. |
| C．To show their packaging advantages. |
| D．To show their environmental awareness. |
| A．Sri Lankans tend to become friendlier. |
| B．Grocery stores are always social places. |
| C．People like to share their ideas about food. |
| D．More cultures can be learned in grocery stores. |
| A．Visiting grocery stores while travelling. |
| B．Buying cultural souvenirs in foreign countries. |
| C．Knowing the grocery culture before travelling. |
| D．Exchanging shopping experience with friends. |
2 . I’ve reached the turn-around point of the day’s kayaking (皮划艇) trip. Sweat runs down my cheek as I
Solo outings had never
In October 2022, I decided to
Pride
Adventuring alone has become like medicine for me! It’s also pushed me to go
| A．dip | B．raise | C．point | D．slip |
| A．exhausting | B．awesome | C．surprising | D．terrible |
| A．crossed | B．lost | C．cleared | D．occupied |
| A．available | B．crucial | C．tough | D．common |
| A．admissions | B．circumstances | C．connections | D．relationships |
| A．bring up | B．take up | C．pull up | D．put up |
| A．appreciate | B．collect | C．cut | D．sweep |
| A．ashamed | B．scared | C．aware | D．tired |
| A．time | B．effort | C．room | D．money |
| A．myth | B．regulation | C．definition | D．truth |
| A．pulled | B．looked | C．coursed | D．carried |
| A．occasionally | B．initially | C．constantly | D．instantly |
| A．visited | B．swam | C．rowed | D．admired |
| A．within | B．into | C．beyond | D．through |
| A．emerged | B．ballooned | C．surrounded | D．encountered |
The Leshan Giant Buddha ( 乐 山 大 佛 ) is a huge statue
However, I bet you’ll just be
4 . When places are well-known and popular— historical and modern alike— we might take it for granted that they’ll be around forever. But sadly, many of the world’s best known and culturally significant landmarks are in trouble.
Mount Kilimanjaro’s peakThis mountain, one of the Seven Summits, proves that even giants can fall to climate change due to the vast amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. While the mountain itself, located in Tanzania, isn’t in danger at present, its iconic snow cap might disappear—and shockingly soon. Research found that the snow cap had lost 85% of the total area of its ice fields between 1912 and 2007, and the remaining ice could be history as early as 2030.
Machu PicchuLocated in southern Peru, Machu Picchu is the remains of a huge stone castle that was built during the 15th century. These unbelievable Incan ruins are widely considered one of the must-see spots in South America. However, the site has been a victim of over-tourism, seeing the harmful effects of the crowds it gets as they wear down the structures. In addition, the area surrounding Machu Picchu has seen rapid development of the cities, as well as mudslides and fires, in recent years, leading UNESCO to work for its protection.
Everglades National ParkThis stunning Floridian wildlife reserve has sadly found itself fighting for its life in recent years. As ‘the largest subtropical wilderness reserve’ in North America, according to UNESCO, it’s been a beloved travel destination for American citizens for decades, but the damage of time and human activity have not been kind to it. Its survival first came into question after it was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1993. But it’s human influence that has become the primary threat, as water flow to the site has decreased and the impacts of pollution have increased, resulting in harmful algal blooms (赤潮). Its vast, diverse wildlife is more threatened than ever before.
1. Which problem does Mount Kilimanjaro face?| A．Global warming | B．City development. |
| C．Over-tourism | D．Ice pollution. |
| A．They are the impacts of pollution and mudslides. |
| B．They are destroyed severely due to over-tourism. |
| C．They are famous but affected by human activities. |
| D．They are considered as victims of global warming. |
| A．Lack of popularity. | B．Hurricane Andrew. |
| C．Algal blooms. | D．Diverse wildlife. |
5 . Bike Rental & Guided Tours
Welcome to Amsterdam, welcome to MacBike. You see much more from the seat of a bike! Cycling is the most economical, sustainable and fun way to explore the city, with its beautiful canals, parks, squares and countless lights. You can also bike along lovely landscapes outside of Amsterdam.
Why MacBike
MacBike has been around for almost 30 years and is the biggest bicycle rental company in Amsterdam. With over 2,500 bikes stored in our five rental shops at strategic locations, we make sure there is always a bike available for you. We offer the newest bicycles in a wide variety, including basic bikes with foot brake (刹车), bikes with hand brake and gears (排挡), bikes with child seats, and children’s bikes.
Prices
Hand Brake, Three Gears | Foot Brake, No Gears | |
1 hour | €7.50 | €5.00 |
3 hours | €11.00 | €7.50 |
1 day (24 hours) | €14.75 | €9.75 |
Each additional day | €8.00 | €6.00 |
Guided City Tours
The 2.5-hour tour covers the Gooyer Windmill, the Skinny Bridge, the Rijksmuseum, Heineken Brewery and much more. The tour departs from Dam Square every hour on the hour, starting at 1:00 pm every day. You can buy your ticket in a MacBike shop or book online.
1. What is an advantage of MacBike?| A．It gives children a discount. | B．It offers many types of bikes. |
| C．It organizes free cycle tours. | D．It has over 2,500 rental shops. |
| A．€15.75. | B．€19.50. | C．€22.75. | D．€29.50. |
| A．The Gooyer, Windmill. | B．The Skinny Bridge. |
| C．Heineken Brewery. | D．Dam Square. |
6 . The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, completed in 1436, is the most important landmark in Florence, Italy, and the fourth largest church in the world.
The most famous part of the church is the dome (穹顶). It was created by the genius of the Renaissance (文艺复兴), Filippo Brunelleschi, who showed a great mastery of technical knowledge. Interestingly, Brunelleschi had been a trained goldsmith (金匠) and had never built anything in his life before building the masterpiece. This may sound crazy, but in many ways we look at the relation between Brunelleschi and the church, it seemed that he was “the chosen one” to complete the construction.
When he was born in 1377, the church had been under construction for 80 years with no solution to the dome-shaped roof. The building of the church had grown so larger and grander than the original plans that no one had any idea how it would or could be done. In 1418 a public competition was announced for the construction of the dome. Of course, there was the possibility of building the dome with a wooden structure to support it, but that would end up being costly requiring over 400 trees, lots of manpower and time. When Brunelleschi entered the competition, he was the only one with an idea that did not use wood, which caught the attention of the judges. Brunelleschi did many mathematical calculations and invented a lot of new tools and machines for the project, which was started two years after he won the competition. He finished the dome in only sixteen years, which was shockingly fast back in his time.
Always known as a secretive person, Brunelleschi didn’t leave a single building plan, drawing, or even a letter behind on how he managed to come up with such an amazing design. For years, the structure was a huge mystery about how the dome was built.
1. Why did the church remain unfinished for a long time?| A．It was waiting for the chosen one for the task. | B．It went too far away from the original plan. |
| C．The wood, labor and time were not enough. | D．The tools and machines had not been invented. |
| A．He was a trained goldsmith. | B．He had a gift for invention. |
| C．He raised a different design. | D．He was good at calculation. |
| A．1418. | B．1420. | C．1434. | D．1436. |
| A．Not outgoing in personality. | B．Creative in imagination. |
| C．Not afraid when making decisions. | D．Energetic when working. |
7 . If you’re looking for more than just a great travel destination, and interested in attending a world-famous festival while you’re on holiday, the following list can be helpful.
Burning Man, Nevada, United States
The week-long annual festival takes place in the middle of the desert. It lasts from the last Monday in August to the first Monday in September. The main event is burning a large wooden statue. It has no single purpose, but calls for participants to express themselves, and supports community, art, self-expression, self-reliance, communal effort and so on. Gift giving between participants is also a key principle of the festival.
Tomorrowland, Boom, Belgium
Tomorrowland is the largest annual electronic music festival in the world. Starting in 2005, it quickly became one of the most important music festivals in the world with hundreds of thousands of visitors. The festival is just several days long and takes place during July or August.
San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain
The San Fermin festival is held every year from noon of July 6 till midnight of July 14. The most famous event is the encierro (斗牛), or the running of the bulls, which starts at 8：00 every day of the festival. More than a million people from the world attend the festival every year.
Oktoberfest, Munich, Germany
The largest funfair in the world spans for 16 days starting from late September every year. The world-famous festival has been around since early 19th century. It is held in Theresienwiese in central Munich and is best known for the massive amount of beer that is served to the attendees. Millions of liters of beer are served, and they go along great with the German sausage Weisswurst and other local foods.
1. In which festival do people attach importance to giving gifts?| A．Burning Man. | B．Tomorrowland. | C．San Fermin. | D．Oktoberfest. |
| A．They have a long history. | B．There are sports and beer. |
| C．They are world famous. | D．They take place in spring. |
| A．Health. | B．Travelling. | C．Sports. | D．Art. |
8 . Paris is the most wooded (树木茂森的) city in Europe, and around one quarter of its area is taken up by parks, gardens and other green spaces.
Jardin des Plantes: over 28 hectares
This impressive botanical garden is home to four museums, including the Natural History Museum, which houses a variety of African animals. The gardens themselves boast thousands of species of plants. This is a lovely place to relax and explore the beautiful surroundings.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont: over 24 hectares
If you want to get off the tourist trail and hang out with true Parisians, this park is the perfect spot for a relaxing picnic or a leisurely wander. It is in the 19th district and is one of the largest parks in Paris. Cross its lake on the suspension bridge, or admire the waterfalls and attractive temples.
Jardin du Luxembourg: over 25 hectares
These beautiful gardens were first laid out in 1612 as the gardens of the Luxembourg Palace. They include a geometric (结合图形的) forest, French and English style gardens, as well as a large pond. There is so much to see and do with activities especially for children, such as slides, rides and puppet shows, as well as leisure and sporting activities for adults. The gardens are home to more than one hundred sculptures.
Le Parc de la Villette: 55 hectares
This urban cultural park is so much more than just a park as it is home to numerous music venues, exhibition spaces and cafes. It is also home to no less than 12 gardens, which all follow different themes. The Passenger Gardens, for example, which are built on what was once the sheep market, support a variety of ecosystems, demonstrating the importance of biodiversity.
1. Which green space probably suits students who are interested in botany?| A．Jardin des Plantes. | B．Parc des Buttes-Chaumont. |
| C．Jardin du Luxembourg. | D．Le Parc de la Villette. |
| A．They feature American style gardens. | B．They are favorite gardens for the French. |
| C．They house a variety of African animals. | D．They used to be royal gardens. |
| A．Visiting museums. | B．Attending concerts. |
| C．Admiring waterfalls. | D．Watching puppet shows. |
Jessie had two days’leave in January this year. She surfed the Internet for cheap travel deals and found the most impressive to be a two-day trip to Dublin. Jessie had never visited Ireland so she knew this was the destination for her.
She arrived in Dublin and headed for her hotel. She was excited. When she found her hotel, she paid her money for both nights in advance. The receptionist (接待员) said that was possibly the smartest thing she had done since she decided to take the trip. Jessie dropped her bags in her room and immediately went out to check out some of the sights. It was getting late as Jessie wandered in the streets and decided that even though she was starving, she would rather wait to have dinner later after having a drink.
She headed into the closest pub. Jessie noticed a rather strange-looking man staring at her from across the room. He walked to her table and asked her in his most polite manner if she would like to have a beer. After about ten seconds of thought, Jessie came to the conclusion that she would and accepted the offer. But she proposed that she should treat him to some fruits. The man smiled and accepted.
Their conversation was mainly about places they had been and places they wanted to go. Jessie soon found out that he was traveling alone too and as soon as he started mentioning that he was staying in the same hotel as her, Jessie swiftly rose from her seat to get another drink.
Searching through her bag Jessie found that her wallet was gone! Immediately she realized she took the wrong bag. Her wallet was in another bag. Jessie didn’t panic at first until it hit her that without it, she had not one penny in hand. She was starving. Worst of all, she had generously proposed a treat to the man.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
Without explaining the situation, Jessie ran back to the hotel.
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Paragraph 2:
The man was still there.
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10 . Ways to tour Los Angeles
Hollywood and Celebrity Homes Bus Tour
First-time Hollywood visitors can hit all the top sights without worrying about the city’s traffic and parking by hopping on an open-air bus tour. In addition to top attractions, a guide points out celebrity homes you might miss if traveling on your own.
Duration: 2h
$94.00 per adult. Mobile ticket accepted
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Explore where Hollywood is made. Go behind the lens and discover the secrets of movie-making magic. Our Studio Tour brings you closer than ever to the entertainment you love. You’ll explore one of the busiest working studios in Los Angeles, with your host, one of our expert Tour Guides.
Duration: 2-3h
$69.00 per adult. Mobile tickets accepted
For a full refund, cancel at least 12 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Shared 3 Hours Los Angeles VIP Tour
This is not your usual tour. In contrast, it is specially made for Los Angeles culture and history. By the end of this tour, you will have all the “Must Have” LA pictures, make friends with LA locals, and have a very big smile on your face!
Duration: 3h
$49.00 per adult. Mobile tickets accepted
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Grand City Tour of Los Angeles
Discover the best that the city has to offer on our guided Grand city Tour of Los Angeles! For over 31 years, we've helped families and special-need tourists to see iconic sights like the Hollywood Sign and Rodeo Drive from the comfort of a private minibus driven by our friendly, experienced tour guides.
Duration: 5h
$79.00 per adult. Free for kids under parental supervision.
For a full refund, cancel at least 48 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
1. Which tour would you pick if you get to know stuff behind the screens?| A．Hollywood and Celebrity Homes Bus Tour. |
| B．Shared 3 Hours Los Angeles VIP Tour. |
| C．Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood. |
| D．Grand City Tour of Los Angeles. |
| A．Appreciate top magic show with you. |
| B．Locate famous actors' residences for you. |
| C．Drive you around personally. |
| D．Introduce you to the locals. |
| A．Enjoy a private service. | B．Have an open-air bus tour. |
| C．Get close to the local culture. | D．Deal with personal needs quickly. |
