1 . I recently visited California’s most-visited national park—Yosemite. Turns out, there is a lot you can do and see over a couple days. Here’s my suggested route, if you decide to make a quick weekend trip to see Yosemite’s wonders.
Day 1, Saturday6 a. m. : Hike the Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point. The 9. 6-mile round trip will take six to eight hours with rest stops, so plan accordingly. Leave early to beat the heat and enjoy the sunrise.
Pro tip: Don’t forget to look down-the view of the valley is truly jaw-dropping.1 p. m. : Hike to Vernal Fall. If you’re looking for lunch, a tasty and efficient spot is Curry Village Pizza Deck. Plus, your next adventure is on the Mist Trail from nearby Happy Isles for a quick 1. 6-mile round-trip visit to Vemal Fall. It’s a nice cool-down hike after your morning workout and offers easy access to year-round falls.
4 p. m. : Learn some history at Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. Every national park visit requires a stop at the visitor center to learn about park’s history and main features. Here, you can check out the Yosemite Village as well, but the real secret is the free bike share program. Download the app and grab a pair of wheels here for your evening exploration.
Day 2, Sunday6 a. m. : Drive up the picturesque Tioga Road. While your feet are recovering from yesterday’s mileage, take a leisurely drive up Tioga Road. Along the 45 miles to Tenaya Lake, take photos at the many viewpoints, but especially at Olmsted Point, which has a less-visited but very cool perspective on Half Dome. Have breakfast or lunch alongside the blue waters of Yosemite’s largest lake before heading back toward the valley.
3 p. m. : Complete your trip with a visit to Yosemite Climbing Museum in Mariposa. At a last stop, visit the charming historical town of Mariposa to check out the long-overdue Yosemite Climbing Museum opened in 2021. The famous climbing history displayed in the museum gave me a new appreciation for Yosemite, a place I can’t wait to return to.
1. Which of the following does the author suggest visiting in the morning?| A．Vernal Fall. | B．Yosemite Village. | C．Tenaya Lake. | D．Climbing Museum. |
| A．cycling for evening exploration | B．learning about park’s history |
| C．going around the Yosemite Village | D．downloading the free bike share app |
| A．Because it’s a less-visited place but with picturesque scenery. |
| B．Because it’s a place offering a better view of Half Dome. |
| C．Because it’s a rest stop for visitors to have breakfast or lunch. |
| D．Because it’s not such a place that is flooded with visitors taking photos. |
2 . When someone tells me that they’re going to spend just 3 days in Paris, I feel like they’re most likely not going to love it. I mean, it’s possible to have a great time if you do it right and put what you want to see at the first place. During such a short visit most tourists head to see the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Louvre and some other tourist attractions, and therefore experience crowds, long lines and not the real local Paris.
Take your pick and spend some time actually enjoying these things instead of rushing through everything. I’m not telling you not to see these famous landmarks, but in order to fully feel the Paris atmosphere, you need to stay in the city longer. A stay in Paris just for a weekend seems far from seeing all the great things.
Almost everyone is dreaming of getting to the top of the Eiffel Tower. But the moment you start approaching the tower you might realize that it’s not very romantic, as it’s surrounded by a ton of visitors and annoying vendors (小贩). The place is crowded, and lines take forever no matter when you visit it.
It’s hard to find a romantic spot unless you book a dinner on top of the Eiffel Tower. It’s something you will only do once, as it’s not the best fine dining you’ve ever had — you’re doing it just for the experience. However, if you climb the stairs behind the Croatian Embassy you may be able to find a quiet spot overlooking the tower. The view is wonderful and definitely worth it, especially at night when the tower starts blinking!
I recommend you to see the city from up high from the top of the Tour Montparnasse, Arc de Triomphe, or even a carousel (旋转木马) in Tuileries, and actually have the Eiffel Tower in your view.
1. What can be inferred from the first paragraph?| A．You can only see crowds at tourist attractions. |
| B．He who has a short visit doesn’t love Paris. |
| C．Visitor can have a good time traveling in Paris in three days. |
| D．It takes more time to experience the real Paris. |
| A．Fully feeling the atmosphere of the city. |
| B．Only visiting the famous landmarks of the city. |
| C．Seeing the whole city at the weekend. |
| D．Rushing through all attractions in the city. |
| A．Delighted. | B．Sad. | C．Exhausted. | D．Romantic. |
| A．The atmosphere of Paris. |
| B．The tips of visiting Paris better. |
| C．The view of the Eiffel Tower. |
| D．The tourist attractions in Paris. |
3 . Europe is one of the best travelling choices for everyone. If you’re planning for a holiday, here are the best four European cities to travel to!
Vienna
The capital of Austria, Vienna, is the largest city and a cultural, economic and political center in the country. It is known as the city of music and the city of dreams, being an important place for Beethoven and Sigmund Freud. It’s also considered one of the world’s most livable cities, where the quality of life is high.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital of Germany and the place of culture, politics, media and science. It holds a strong history, and you can learn many things about the city’s contributions to the whole world. Travelling to Berlin is quite easy, given that it’s an accessible city and you have plenty of affordable choices from whatever city you’re travelling from.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital city of Denmark and is known to be one of the most sustainable (可持续的) cities in the world. It’s full of Michelin-starred restaurants and has plenty of museums. Copenhagen is recognized to be among the happiest cities in the world, so you can go there to meet locals and catch their happiness.
Amsterdam
The capital of the Netherlands, Amsterdam, is known for the number of canals that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The good thing about Amsterdam is that you can visit it by bike, as it has one of the best networks of cycle routes in the world. This is how you can discover the city’s hidden treasure and need not worry about traffic.
1. Which city is more suitable for enjoying delicious food?| A．Vienna. | B．Berlin. | C．Copenhagen. | D．Amsterdam. |
| A．The most livable city. | B．The happiest city. |
| C．The hidden treasure. | D．The number of canals. |
| A．They are economic centers. | B．They are all capitals. |
| C．They make great contributions. | D．They have a long history. |
4 . Top Wonders of the World
From India to Rome, these sights will inspire your next historical vacation.
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Constructed from 1632 to 1648, the property covers 42 acres, including its beautiful gardens.
Best time to go: Late spring and early summer in this part of India has often severe heat. Then come monsoons. November to February is your best chance for pleasant weather. The sunrises here are highly admired.
The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is the world’s longest wall and one of the most famous landmarks in China. Dating back to about 700 BCE, it stretches over 13,000 miles and was designed to protect the country from invaders.
Best time to go: Plan for a spring or fall trip when the weather is nicer and fewer people visit. Summertime is often hot and crowded, and winter can be extremely cold in northern China.
Petra
Located in the Kingdom of Jordan, Petra was built directly into the cliffside around 312 BCE by the Nabataeans. The city includes temples, tombs, and its most well-known building — the Treasury.
Best time to go: Summer can get very hot in Jordan, and winter is much colder than you may realize. Weatherwise, aim for spring or fall.
The Colosseum
The Colosseum remains Rome’s top attraction. Built in the first century by Emperor Vespasian, the massive theater spans 620 by 513 feet, which would hold 80,000 people.
Best time to go: You’ll find fewer tourists there during Rome’s low season (winter), weekdays and during the opening hour or near closing time. If you show up in summer at midday, it’s going to be hot!
1. What’s the best time to travel to Taj Mahal?| A．March. | B．July. | C．October. | D．December. |
| A．Taj Mahal. | B．The Great Wall. | C．Petra. | D．The Colosseum. |
| A．In a research paper. | B．In a travel brochure. |
| C．In a science magazine. | D．In a geography textbook. |
5 . Combining a vertical (竖的，直立的) farm and office space into a single 51-storey idea out of Chinese tales, an Italian architect is completing the Shenzhen skyline with a shocking farmscraper (农场摩天楼).
Jian Mu Tower was designed for a leading Chinese supermarket to be a place where renter can grow, sell, buy, or consume produce in the same place they work.
Lying in the south Chinese city of Shenzhen, the Turin-based Carlo Ratti Associati Company has showed plans to build a 650-foot tower in which 100,000 square feet of the glass outside (外墙) is used to produce food — 590,000 pounds of it per year, which would also contain around a million square feet for office space, a supermarket, gardens, and food court (美食街).
Hydroponic (水栽法的) gardening involves using nutrient-rich water rather than soil, and allows plants to be grown in tubes piled up vertically. Working with ZERO, an Italian-based company that specializes in new approaches to agriculture, Jian Mu’s farm is made full use of to produce everything from salad greens to fruits, while remaining efficient and sustainable. An AI scientist would watch most of the hydroponic systems, water and nutrients, planning planting and harvest cycles, and other matters.
“Small-scale urban farming is happening in cities all over the world — from Paris to New York to Singapore. Jian Mu Tower, however, takes it to the next level,” writes Ratti, who is also a professor at MIT. “Such approach has the potential to play a major role in the design of future cities, as it engages in one of today’s most urgent architectural challenges: How to integrate the natural world into building design.”
1. What is Jian Mu Tower intended for?| A．A supermarket. | B．A farm. | C．A factory. | D．A workplace. |
| A．Grow food. | B．Exhibit clothing. |
| C．Take up gardening. | D．Learn to manage a supermarket. |
| A．Its fruits are well received at home. | B．It has rich experience in agriculture. |
| C．It mainly focuses on agriculture in Italy. | D．It completely applies AI technology. |
| A．Unclear. | B．Doubtful. | C．Critical. | D．Approving. |
6 . Day 1 Kuitun-Huocheng
Drive to Huocheng for about 6 hours, where 29 minority groups live. After checking in at the hotel, drive to the Sayram Lake, which is also praised as “the last drop of the Atlantic tears”. The best time to visit it is from June to August, when the water is extremely clear and blue and many unknown flowers are in the full blossom (盛开).
Day 2 Huocheng-Yining
In the morning, visit the Khorgos Port between China and Kazakhstan. Have a brief visit to the border cooperation area. Then visit the lavender flora (薰衣草植物群) park. It is the third largest lavender park in the word, only after Provence and Furano. At last, drive to Yining and check in at the hotel.
Day 3 Yining-Nalati Grassland
The Nalati Grassland is a famous pasture (牧场) since ancient times. This is also a famous tourism and holiday resort in Xinjiang which is well-known for beautiful grassland scenery. You could join in the horse riding on the boundless grassland and get close to the local KaZak culture. It is much colder here than in the city especially in the morning and evening, so please take some warm clothes with you.
Day 4 Nalati-Bayanbulak
Today’s private tour will cover the Bayanbulak Grassland and the Swan Lake Natural Reserve. The Bayanbulak Grassland is the second largest grassland in China being known for rich grass, numerous flocks of sheep and varied plants. The Swan Lake is located in this grassland. Actually, it is made of a group of small lakes. You could go up to the Bird Watch Platform built there to appreciate the splendid scenery of the swans, lakes, mountains, clouds, and blue sky.
1. When is the best time to visit the Sayram Lake?| A．In spring. | B．In summer. | C．In autumn. | D．In winter. |
| A．The Swan Lake, | B．The Khorgos Port. |
| C．The Nalati Grassland. | D．The Bayanbulak Grassland. |
| A．Day 1. | B．Day 2. | C．Day 3. | D．Day 4. |
Running: February 1st through April 30th
This delicious tour goes through the city on its way to Treasure Island where we will stop at the famous Winery SF. Here you can enjoy 4 pours of some of the best wine San Francisco has to offer. (Included in tickets price)
Departing from the Cannery: Tour times upon request.
Duration (时长): 2 hours
Price: $90
Back to the Fifties Tour
Running: August 16th through August 31st
This tour transports you back in time to one of San Francisco’s most fantastic periods, the 1950s! Enjoy fun history as we take you through San Francisco for a free taste of ice cream.
Departing from the Cannery: 5:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Duration: 2 hours
Price: $90
Spooky Halloween Tour
Running: October 10th through October 31st
Join us for a ride through the historical Presidio district. Authentic fire gear (服装) is provided for your warmth as our entertainers take you to some of the most thrilling parts of San Francisco.
Departing from the Cannery: 6:30 pm and 8:30 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Price: Available upon request
Holiday Lights Tour
Running: December 6th through December 23rd
This attractive tour takes you to some of San Francisco’s most cheerful holiday scenes. Authentic fire gear is provided for your warmth as you get into the holiday spirit.
Departing from the Cannery: 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm
Duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Advance reservations required.
1. Which of the tours is suitable for tourists who are interested in history?| A．San Francisco Winery Tour. | B．Back to the Fifties Tour. |
| C．Spooky Halloween Tour. | D．Holiday Lights Tour. |
| A．Take some drinks． | B．Set off early in the morning． |
| C．Wear warm clothes． | D．Make reservations in advance． |
| A．Travel brochure. | B．Encyclopedia. | C．Textbook. | D．Biography. |
8 . Landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom has designed a new green roof on the Rangsit Campus of Thammasat University, about 25 miles north of central Bangkok, Thailand. Her imaginative work challenges the common thinking that urbanization has a negative impact on the planet, whether flooding, excess (过度的) energy use, disrupted (扰乱) biodiversity or the heat island effect.
The 236, 806-square-foot structure, which opened in December 2019, includes a flood water management system and Asia’s largest rooftop organic farm. It combines modern landscape architecture with traditional agricultural knowledge, creating a green and friendly environment.
The green roof, containing an H-shaped landscape, looks like a futuristic hill with a brick building beneath it. The hill features a complex pattern of zigzagging terraces (之字形梯田) of planted beds, leading all the way down to the bottom. When rainwater hits the roof, it flows down the zigzags while being absorbed by the soil in the beds, The excess water is directed into four storage ponds — with a capacity of up to 3 million gallons. The process slows down the flow speed of rainwater runoff compared to a normal concrete rooftop. This keeps the area from flooding during heavy rains.
The roof’s terraces are filled with organically grown crops, including a drought tolerant variety of rice, many local vegetables and herbs. The farm can supply the canteens on campus with a large amount of rice, herbs and vegetables a year. The food waste is composted (把……制成堆肥) to fertilize the farm, and water from the storage ponds is used to water plants, creating an entirely localized and circular system.
The farm serves as an outdoor classroom and a source of local jobs, too. Farmers offer workshops on sustainable agriculture and nutrition as part of the university’s sustainability curriculum. “Students and community members are invited to participate in seasonal seeding, harvesting, and so on,” says Voraakhom. “The urban farm is training a new generation of organic farmers with real-world skills. It also promotes a sense of community.”
1. What can we say about Voraakhom’s work?| A．It’s short-lived. | B．It’s creative. |
| C．It’s demanding. | D．It’s time-consuming. |
| A．To store more water. |
| B．To plant diverse vegetables. |
| C．To slow the speed of water flow. |
| D．To make it look more attractive than other buildings. |
| A．It uses food as fertilizer. | B．It benefits the environment. |
| C．It improves students’ lifestyle. | D．It produces vegetables and fruits. |
| A．Students can learn hands-on knowledge on the farm. |
| B．Farmers working on the farm can become professors. |
| C．The farm prevents government from offering people jobs. |
| D．The farm harms the relationship between university and community. |
9 . Fishing trips to Canada are a tradition for Jeffrey Hardy and his three friends from America. This summer in 2023, the forest air polluted with wildfire smoke forced the men to give up their mid-June fishing plan. Canada’s wildfire season put its tourism industry at a crucial time.
Except some days of poor air quality, major Canadian cities remain unaffected by wildfires. The fires are in the country’s northern areas that have drawn travelers interested in outdoor experiences in years past.
In a recent report by Destination Canada, a marketing organization, half of the total spent by international visitors is in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal. But other Canadian destinations attractive to visitors have been affected by the wildfires.
In preparation for increasing visitor sizes and ongoing wildfires, some businesses are thinking about changing their operations, which see outdoor recreation (娱乐) as a tourism opportunity. A nonprofit travel agency is considering creating a questionnaire (调查问卷) for customers to show when they would cancel a booking because of road closes from the wildfires, poor air quality and a lack of visibility.
Tourism in British Columbia contributes greatly to its economy. The province has various recreational offerings, from the major ski destinations to hiking along the coast. Blackcomb, a helicopter tour company, has canceled its sightseeing offerings, using most of its helicopters on the firefighting effort until at least early August. “It’s the question of flying our customers around on sightseeing tours or putting out fire s within 10 kilometers of our bases and the communities that we live in,” said Jordy Norris, the company’s tourism director. “We made it clear to both our staff and our customers that we have a duty to protect the backyard.”
Darrin Rigo, a photographer, recently saw a photo of a beautiful waterfall engulfed in fire on a media page. “I’m sure that’s not going to last long, and everything will turn to normal.” he said.
1. Which part of Canada is most affected by the wildfire?| A．Canada’s central part. | B．The northern areas. |
| C．Major Canadian cities. | D．Places with few visitors. |
| A．He is sad about his company’s loss from the fire. |
| B．He is confident about the use of the questionnaire. |
| C．He is glad to join in the fight against the wildfire. |
| D．He is stressed about the fire’s effect on his company. |
| A．Covered. | B．Donated | C．Rescued. | D．Protected. |
| A．Tourism Suffers Great Loss in the Wildfire | B．All of Canada Have Acted to Beat Wildfire |
| C．Most of Canada Is Affected by the Wildfire | D．Wildfire Won’t Stop Canada’s Tourism Development |
10 . Recently, my husband and three kids were playing in the Mediterranean, swimming and floating in the picture-perfect sea. It was extremely beautiful in Majorca, Spain. The way the sun danced across the water and how the blue horizon was dotted with storybook sailboats were such beautiful scenes. I almost couldn’t believe my eyes.
My husband and I always dreamed about taking our kids on a trip around the world. It was something we always wanted to do “one day”. It was one of the things we talked at length about, when we imagined our life with the children we hoped we would have.
Fourteen years later, we had three boys who were growing up faster by the day. It was time to make good on those plans.
We spent dozens of hours discussing, researching and planning. We had to learn how to “road school” our kids and arrange time off from work. We renewed our passports, and then packed our bags. We showed our kids the world. It was about experiencing the dozens of flights and trains and taxis together. We showed them how wonderful, how diverse, and how amazing the world is. We wanted them to learn all that we had learned ourselves, through our own travels as young adults.
But there was something more than that: What we really wanted is to slow down time. We wanted the days to last a bit longer, and the weeks to take their time. The years with our children are going too fast. We wanted to put the brakes on (阻止) our busy lives for a year, and just be with our kids. We wanted a break from the daily morning routine of making lunches, eating breakfast and rushing out of the door in time for school. We needed a family time-out.
It was a wonderful two-month trip in Europe, full of incredible moments. And when we look back at our lives, I know we’ll be glad we did it. I know we’ll be happy that this is a chapter of the story of our family.
1. What was the author’s attitude toward the trip when planning it?| A．Worried. | B．Calm. | C．Stressed. | D．Eager. |
| A．Change. | B．Realize. | C．Improve. | D．Cancel. |
| A．To teach her children to value life. |
| B．To allow her children to see the world. |
| C．To enjoy a family breakaway from their life routine. |
| D．To enable her children to learn something out of class. |
| A．Tired. | B．Satisfied. | C．Inspired. | D．Disappointed. |
