1 . Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital city of the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Must-See Attractions
Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.
If You Have Time
There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city’s museums and the botanical gardens.
Money Saving Tips
●Unless you really want to see the tulips(郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
●Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.
●Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
●Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.
Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.
1. What can be learned about Amsterdam from this passage?| A．The Van Gogh Museum lies in the South District. |
| B．The Canal Ring is a place to attract garden lovers. |
| C．The Old Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| D．Amsterdam is called the “Venice of the North” because of its location. |
| A．arrange a guided tour | B．buy train tickets at the counter |
| C．reserve a hotel in the South District | D．book flights between mid-March and mid-May |
| A．A magazine. | B．An essay. | C．A report. | D．A website. |
2 . The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), located in the West Kowloon Cultural District of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was established on June 22 and is scheduled to open to the public on July 2. More than 40,000 tickets were sold or reserved within eight hours on the first day of public sale, and all free visits on Wednesdays in July were fully booked.
The HKPM, not only adds to cultural atmosphere in the city, but also provides a new site for local residents and visitors to learn about the development of Chinese civilization and culture. More than 900 pieces of treasures from the collection of the Palace Museum in Beijing will be put on display at the opening exhibitions. From paintings to ancient architectures, the exhibits span the 5,000-year history of Chinese civilization, covering all categories of the collection of the Palace Museum, including 166 pieces of first-class cultural relics of the country. This will be the largest and highest-level cultural heritage exhibitions of the Palace Museum outside of the mainland since its establishment in 1925.
Prepare work for the exhibitions began in 2018, with the Palace Museum fielding a team of leading experts and scholars, associated with the manage team of the HKPM.
“It is a great thing to display the pieces of cultural relics in Hong Kong, which reflects the central government’s support to the development of Hong Kong’s cultural projects,” said Ng, adding that the exhibits from the Palace Museum will present a cultural feast to Hong Kong residents by telling them about the motherland’s long history and splendid culture.
“Promoting traditional Chinese culture is one of our important tasks,” said Betty Fung, chief executive officer of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. She said the HKPM will actively push ahead with the publicity of the motherland’s culture and history after its opening, enhancing Hong Kong residents’ cultural confidence in the country, especially among youths.
Fung said that the HKPM will actively enhance cooperation with international museums, telling the world the stories of China, including the stories of Hong Kong.
1. What can we infer from the first paragraph?| A．Hong Kong citizens can visit the museum freely. |
| B．Hong Kong Palace Museum is warmly welcomed. |
| C．Hong Kong citizens can enjoy the exhibition in June. |
| D．Hong Kong Palace Museum opens within eight hours per day. |
| A．900 pieces of first-class cultural relics. |
| B．The history of Hong Kong since 1925. |
| C．The development of international civilization. |
| D．All categories of the collection of the Palace Museum. |
| A．Favorable. | B．Disappointed. | C．Doubtful. | D．Puzzled. |
| A．HKPM: Hong Kong’s Cultural Authority |
| B．HKPM: Cooperation with International Museums |
| C．HKPM: A New Cultural Landmark of Hong Kong |
| D．HKPM: Showcase of Hong Kong’s Cultural Relics |
3 . I grew up in Michigan and have loved boats since I was young. I’d go out on my dad’s fishing boat, and every birthday I’d get a miniature boat with a viewing window. In Michigan, we’re
Three years ago, I
One weekend this year, I met a
We made sure to keep the paper safe. Before leaving the harbor, I posted a picture on my Facebook page and didn’t expect what followed.
The next morning, my phone
In autumn, Michele came to visit. She brought some of his writing and the handwriting matched. She
It now sits in a display case in my shop. That Facebook post now has 87,000
| A．surrounded | B．estimated | C．defended | D．integrated |
| A．even | B．somehow | C．merely | D．anyhow |
| A．exceptionally | B．entirely | C．gradually | D．successfully |
| A．call out | B．help with | C．help out | D．call up |
| A．history | B．significance | C．interest | D．entertainment |
| A．elegant | B．remote | C．reliable | D．potential |
| A．unfolded | B．opened | C．uncovered | D．exposed |
| A．presented | B．wrote | C．read | D．showed |
| A．poured out | B．blew up | C．broke out | D．set up |
| A．at first | B．above all | C．in turn | D．in return |
| A．stuffed | B．displayed | C．deserted | D．hid |
| A．spoke up | B．worked out | C．spoke out | D．worked up |
| A．insisted | B．convinced | C．appealed | D．anticipated |
| A．critics | B．fans | C．likes | D．inquiries |
| A．For | B．As | C．With | D．Alongside |
4 . My husband and I just spent a week in Paris. Our aim was to see if we could live, in some way, like real Parisians. So the first thing we did was
The place wasn’t
Parisians are different from you and me. They never look lazy or untidy. As someone once
In France,
| A．rent | B．purchase | C．let | D．visit |
| A．shape | B．length | C．price | D．size |
| A．slightly | B．entirely | C．absolutely | D．extremely |
| A．regular | B．popular | C．normal | D．famed |
| A．wooden | B．huge | C．comfortable | D．strange |
| A．community | B．neighborhood | C．apartment | D．building |
| A．thought | B．noted | C．discussed | D．debated |
| A．confidence | B．weight | C．reputation | D．trouble |
| A．explode | B．settle | C．jog | D．expand |
| A．pack up | B．pass on | C．pick up | D．deal with |
| A．quality | B．style | C．choice | D．location |
| A．disturbed | B．surrounded | C．interrupted | D．crowded |
| A．rest | B．work | C．relax | D．leave |
| A．struck | B．ruined | C．expected | D．appreciated |
| A．increasing | B．adding | C．limiting | D．reducing |
5 . 4 Popular Places to Go This Winter
Harbin, China
China Harbin’s winter is for the brave ones—the average temperature is 1.8°F- but those who brave the cold will be rewarded with experiencing one of the world’s largest winter festivals. 2021 marks the 37th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (January-March), when massive frozen structures rise and are lit up, transforming the city into a winter wonderland.
Lyon, France
Paris may be called The City of Light,but every December, light takes center stage in Lyon, France’s third-largest city. That’s when the annual Festival of Lights (around December 8) takes over, with light installations (装置)that transform the city’s streetscapes into modern works of art. The city is also home to two Christmas markets (one in La Croix-Rousse; the other at the Place Carnot; through December 25).
Lima, Peru
Peru’s capital Lima is home to the world’s highest number of cooking schools per person. Aside from its delicate dining, the city also has great cocktail bars where you can taste classic or contemporary takes on the Pisco Sour.Combine that with the oceanfront setting and temperatures in the 80s, and you’ll understand why Lima should no longer be ignored this winter.
Vermont, US
Winter in Vermont means skiing and snowboarding, Many resorts (度假胜地)have greatly upgraded their snowmaking abilities as part of a $15 million statewide program that replaced many outdated snow guns with new, low-energy models.These new machines will also improve the quality of snow surfaces and lengthen the season, meaning this will be one of the best winters for skiing and riding in Vermont in recent memory.
1. What similarities do the first two places have?| A．They are decorated with lights. | B．They offer snow sculptures. |
| C．They have three-day festivals. | D．They are extremely cold. |
| A．Harbin. | B．Lyon. | C．Lima. | D．Vermont. |
| A．Skiing and snowboarding. | B．A longer winter. |
| C．Cooking schools. | D．Updated equipment. |
6 . Real Hotels Featured in Movies
Timberline Lodge
Featured in: The Shining
Located on the south side of Mount Hood, Oregon, Timberline Lodge was used for some shots of the fictional Overlook Hotel in this 1980 horror film, based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel. Hotel management asked director Stanley Kubrick not to show room 217 (featured clearly in the book), concerned that future guests would avoid slaying there. A nonexistent room number 237 was used instead. Surprisingly, room 217 is now requested more than any other room.
Park Hyatt Tokyo
Featured in: Lost in Translation
Located in the lively Shinjuku district, Park Hyatt Tokyo is a primary setting for Sofia Coppola’s film Lost in Translation. Take a drink at the New York Bar on the hotel’s top floor (where Bill Murray’s Bob Harris spends most of his evenings) and enjoy wonderful 360-degree views of the city and Mount Fuji.
Juvet Landscape Hotel
Featured in: Ex Machina
This sci-fi thriller takes place at the remote, ultra-modern home of lech company CEO Nathan Bateman, the inventor of a highly advanced humanoid robot. His amazing house is actually the Juvet Landscape Hotel in Valldalen, Norway. Designed to blend in with (与......协调) the environment, the hotel’s rooms feature natural materials and floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
The Plaza Hotel
Featured in: Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
After accidentally boarding a flight to New York while the rest of his family heads to Florida, 10-year-old Kevin McCallister checks into the Plaza Hotel. For the 25th anniversary of Home Alone 2, the hotel is offering a special “Live Like Kevin” package, which includes an over-the-top ice cream sundae delivered to your room. The Plaza Hotel has been featured in several other films, including North by Northwest, Sleepless in Seattle and The Great Gatsby.
1. Why was Stanley Kubrick required to use room number 237?| A．For safety concerns. | B．For political concerns. |
| C．For a cultural reason. | D．For an economic reason. |
| A．The Plaza Hotel. | B．Park Hyatt Tokyo. |
| C．Timberline Lodge. | D．Juvet Landscape Hotel. |
| A．It charges people most for its service. | B．It has branches all over the world. |
| C．It has appeared in more than one film. | D．It is designed in harmony with nature. |
7 . London Tour and Attraction Pass Tickets
Tickets to Attractions
With this London Attraction Pass, you can benefit from our sightseeing bus tour plus three top London attractions—Madame Tussauds, London Eye and Sea Life London. The best part is that you don’t need to visit all three attractions in one day. Once you have bought your London attractions ticket package, you have 30 days to visit each attraction so you can spread visits out across your trip.
Gallery
So many amazing galleries in London! There are plenty of photo opportunities with the London Tour and Attraction Pass. With so many things to do, you’ll have lots of pictures to share with families and friends.
Plan Your Visit
With our London 72 hour Bus Ticket, you will be able to get to one attraction per day with ease. Your tickets are valid for entry within 30 days after you have bought them and you can use them before, after or on the same day as your bus tour.
Location
Madame Tussauds: Marylebone, next to Baker Street
London Eye: Southbank
Sea Life London: Southbank
Opening Times
Madame Tussauds: Times vary between 9 am—6 pm
London Eye: Times vary between 10 am—9:30 pm
Sea Life London: Opening times vary between 9:30 am—7 pm
Accessibility
Madame Tussauds: Wheelchair friendly but book your seat in advance.
London Eye: Only two wheelchairs per capsule and a maximum of 8 at any one time. You must book a disabled seat in advance.
Sea Life London. Full wheelchairs are accessible.
1. How long can London attractions ticket package be used?| A．30 days. | B．72 hours. | C．1 week. | D．24 hours. |
| A．Artworks. | B．Books. | C．Paintings. | D．Photos. |
| A．Visit London Eye after 10 pm. | B．Book a disabled seat in advance. |
| C．Buy a London 72 hour Bus Ticket. | D．Reach Marylebone as early as possible. |
8 . On account of the government shutdown, many of the city’s best attractions, such as the national museums, are closed. It may affect your social plans. That’s especially true if you have out-of-town visitors coming to the District. Don’t worry! For every closed museum, we’ve offered up a suitable substitute that is privately run, thus not subject to the shutdown. Here’s where you can go instead.
Anacostia Community Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Alternatives: Banneker-Douglass Museum or Alexandria Black History Museum
The National Museum of African American History and Culture is one of the hottest draws on the National Mall, with free tickets taken weeks in advance. Its sister museum, the Anacostia Community (社区) Museum, takes a community-focused look at African American history. So does the Banneker- Douglass Museum in Annapolis, which traces (追溯) the African American experience in Maryland, and the Alexandria Black History Museum, where exhibitions honor local activists and explore the influence of slavery in the area. And unlike the African American Museum, neither requires you to plan ahead.
Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Alternative: Glenstone
Wandering through the galleries at Glenstone, you’ll come across some of the biggest names in 20th century art — Jackson Pollock, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Robert Rauschenberg. Glenstone sits on a 230-acre estate (土地) that doubles as an outdoor sculpture garden. Free tickets for Glenstone are often reserved weeks in advance, but 72 free tickets are available every day for anyone who takes a Montgomery County Ride-On Bus from Rockville Metro Station to the museum.
National Museum of African Art
Alternative: The African Art Museum of Maryland
Masks, musical instruments and jewelry can be found in Fulton, where the African Art Museum of Maryland houses a collection of traditional and contemporary African artworks and objects. And the best part, for visitors on a budget? Admission is free.
1. Where can visitors go to explore the history of African Americans during the shutdown?| A．National Museum of African Art. |
| B．Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. |
| C．The African American Museum. |
| D．Banneker-Douglass Museum. |
| A．Make sculptures in the outdoor garden. |
| B．Get access to works of famous artists. |
| C．Take a Montgomery County Ride-On Bus. |
| D．Enjoy a collection of contemporary African artworks. |
| A．To introduce different kinds of art exhibitions. |
| B．To advertise some private museums in the area. |
| C．To compare public museums with private ones. |
| D．To provide a guide to museums during the shutdown. |
1. What is Baja California most famous for?
| A．Its deserts. | B．Its coasts. | C．Its mountains. |
| A．In Canada. | B．In the United States. | C．In Mexico. |
10 . Welcome to Holker Hall & Gardens
Visitor InformationHow to Get to Holker
By Car: Follow brown signs an A590 from JB6, M6. Approximate travel times: Windermere-20 minutes, Kendal-25 minutes, Lancaster-45 minutes, Manchester-1 hour 30 minutes.
By Rail: The nearest station is Cark-in-Cartmel with trains to Carnforth, Lancaster Preston for connections to major cities & airports.
Opening TimesSunday-Friday (closed on Saturday)11:00 am-4:00pm,30 March-2nd November.
Admission Charges| Hall & Gardens | Gardens | |
| Adults: | £12.00 | £8.00 |
| Groups | £9 | £5.5 |
Producers: Market 13th April
Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks. Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas.
Holker Garden Festival 30th May
The event celebrate its 22nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening, making it one of the most popular events in gardening.
National Garden Day 28th August
Holker once again opens is gardens in aid of the disadvantaged. For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide.
Winter Market 8th November
This is an event for all the family. Wander among a variety of shops selling gifs while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment.
1. How long does it probably take a tourist to drive to Holker from Manchester?| A．20 minutes. | B．25 minutes. |
| C．45 minutes. | D．90 minutes. |
| A．£12.00. | B．£9.00. |
| C．£8.0 | D．£5.50 |
| A．Producers’ Market. | B．Holker Garden Festival. |
| C．National Garden Day. | D．Winter Market. |
