1 . Have you heard of these four monuments?

Carhenge. Floralis Genérica. Traffic Light Tree. Hand of the Desert — these are four unusual monuments from around the world you might like to visit.

• Carhenge

Carhenge is in Alliance, Nebraska (USA). As the name suggests, it has a lot in common with Stonehenge, the famous stone circle on Salisbury Plain. But while Stonehenge was built with stones, Carhenge was created with cars. The monument was made in 1987 by a local artist Jim Reinders and his family. He used old cars and even an ambulance. At first, the people of Alliance didn’t like it, but they soon changed their minds after it became popular with tourists, who brought lots of money to the town.

• Floralis Genérica

Floralis Genérica is a massive statue of a flower. It stands in a pool of water in front of the National Museum of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Eduardo Catalano, a native of Argentina, gave the statue as a gift to the city in 2002. Every morning, the flower opens. Ask anyone who has seen it and they’ll tell you that watching it open is an unforgettable sight. In fact, many people believe it is one of the most beautiful statues in the world.

• Traffic Light Tree

The Traffic Light Tree is situated at Heron Quay, in one of London’s financial districts. The tree has 75 sets of traffic lights. It was created by French artist, Pierre Vivant, and was installed in 1998. A computer controls the lights, which are turned on and off randomly. The roundabout where the tree is was voted the most popular roundabout in the UK in a recent survey.

• Mano del Desierto (Hand of the Desert)

The Hand of the Desert is in the Atacama Desert in Chile. The sculpture was designed by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrazabal. From a distance, it looks as if there’s a giant in the sand who has stuck his hand out of the ground.

If you’re looking for something new to see, you know where to go!

1. Why did the people of Alliance change their attitude toward Carhenge?

A．It reminded them of Stonehenge.	B．It brought them financial benefits.
C．It added beauty to their community.	D．It displayed the creativity of the designer.

2. Which of the four monuments was designed by a foreign artist?

A．Carhenge.	B．Floralis Genérica.
C．Traffic Light Tree.	D．Mano del Desierto.

3. Where is the text probably from?

A．A guide book.	B．A news report.
C．A science magazine.	D．An architecture advertisement.

2 . It’s not like anywhere else I’ve been to: readers’ favourite cities.

Bologna, Italy

When I picture Bologna, it’s always bathed in golden-hour light that makes its rust-red walls glow. But what lies beneath the surface bewitches (迷人) just as much. Exploring the small and distinctive museums of the university reveals ancient courtyards. Diving into hidden doors and arches leads to secrets-or food. Music and debate liven evenings in the main square. On my last trip I watched locals in impassioned discussion, taking turns on stools (凳子) in Piazza Maggiore. Not trusting my Italian, I declined an invitation to contribute, but gladly accepted the cherries shared among the crowd.

Siobhan Maher

Melilla, Spain/North Africa

Melilla, on Morocco’s northern coast, is a relic of Spain’s colonial past with a character determined by its geography. Facing the Mediterranean on one side and the Rif mountains on the other, and surrounded by a terrifying border fence, it is definitively multicultural, with Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu communities living side by side with a large force of Spanish soldiers. The cityscape is equally diverse: streets of small Moroccan houses give way to wide avenues lined with “art deco” marvels; it’s even home to Africa’s only genuine Gothic church.

Digby Warde-Aldam

Padua, Italy

Padua is full of fascinating places to see. Saint Anthony’s Basilica, with a magnificent silver sarcophagus (石棺) housing the saint’s body, easily rivals (媲美) Saint Peter’s in Rome. The nearby botanical gardens, filled with plants and flowers, are a delightful way to pass a few hours. In the morning, hit Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe, for buzzy markets selling everything from strawberries to sneakers, or pop into the Palazzo della Ragione with its impressive frescoes (壁画). At night, both squares become open-air bars and restaurants for sampling local cuisine. If you have time for a day trip, Verona and Venice are less than an hour away by train.

Berni G

1. What did Siobhan Maher do in Bologna?

A．She drew landscape paintings.	B．She wandered in old courtyards.
C．She participated in heated debate.	D．She bought hand-picked cherries.

2. What do we know about Melilla according to Digby?

A．It boasts the largest Gothic church.	B．It is the center of Moroccan culture.
C．It is bordered by the Mediterranean.	D．It is a historical city in European continent.

3. What do Bologna and Padua have in common according to the text?

A．Lively night life.	B．Splendid gardens.
C．Open-air music concerts.	D．Convenient transportation.

3 . If you’re able to, wandering the streets of a new city on foot is an unrivalled way to take in all the sights and sounds. And there’s no denying that walking is a much more eco (and wallet) friendly form of transport, too. To help you get out and explore, language learning platform Preply has ranked Europe’s most walkable cities. They analyzed the walking distance between top attractions and now reveal which cities in Europe are the easiest to explore on foot.

Seville, Spain

Visitors to this charming Spanish city can explore the impressive Plaza de Espana public square, before wandering over to the UNESCO-listed palace of Real Alcazar and Seville Cathedral. With just 20 minutes of walking between these attractions, you can really make the most of your time here.

Venice, Italy

Venice is renowned as a heaven for pedestrians, so it’s no surprise it ranks as the second best location for walkable city breaks. There are endless attractive alleyways to explore, as well as plenty of stunningly ornate (华丽的) bridges over the crisscrossing canals that the city is famed for. Just under half an hour of walking here will take you on a tour of the impressive Grand Canal, Doge’s Palace, St Mark’s Square and so on, all in only 1.3 miles.

Florence, Italy

In only 33 minutes, visitors can take in the splendor of Florence’s top-tier destinations. A 1.6 mile route covers the awe-inspiring Piazzale Michelangelo; the renowned Uffizi Gallery; and the Galleria dell’ Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s masterpiece, the statue of David.

Athens, Greece

The capital of Greece ranks in fourth, with a slightly longer — but very worthwhile — route of 2.1 miles between its top-rated tourist attractions. Visitors to Athens can begin their journey at the Acropolis, ascending to discover the ancient Parthenon that stands as a testament to the city’s ancient legacy. The National Archaeological Museum is also close-by.

1. How has Preply ranked the four cities?

A．By the number of the tourist attractions.	B．By the expenses of traveling in the cities.
C．By the popularity among the young visitors.	D．By the walking distance between attractions.

2. Which city is the best for the visitors to explore the bridges over the canals?

A．Seville.

B．Venice.

C．Florence.

D．Athens.

3. Where can you find the statue of David?

A．Seville Cathedral.	B．St Mark’s Square.
C．The Galleria dell’ Accademia.	D．The Acropolis.

4 . Is going alone in an unknown area the right way to go, or do you want a tour guide to show you the highlights? I think that you can combine the two ways in one trip and have the best of both worlds.     1     The best purchase we made was for a bus tour that would take us around the capital and point out all the main sites. That allowed us the next day to travel on foot to the ones we especially wanted to see.

Let’s look at the San Francisco Bay Area which is another one of my favorite vacation spots. Some areas are so familiar to tourists that it’s possible to view the attractions on your own.     2     Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are good examples. Just by walking a few blocks, you can tour Aquarium of the Bay and the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39.

    3     If you go to Alcatraz Island, you have a choice of going alone, having a live tour guide or being guided by earphones. I would recommend the live tour guides. I went all three ways, and I received more enjoyment by someone telling me items interest I know I had missed on previous tours.     4     It gives you a behind-the-scenes look of colorful Chinatown. The tour covers history, traditions of the local people and culture that you probably wouldn’t know or see by travelling alone.

You can go alone to attractions or take a guided tour. It’s your choice and you can choose whichever would give you the most memorable experience.     5    

A．I recommend both.

B．It’s possible to drive to the area and go alone.

C．One trip we recently took was to Washington DC.

D．Some attractions are worth having a tour guide for.

E．Chinatown Walking Tours are a tour-guided must-see.

F．That allows you to take your time and go at your own pace.

G．The tour guides know what we have never found out on our own.

5 . Known as “the roof of the world”, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has long been an ideal and mysterious destination for visitors who are passionate about exploring remote lands. Here are some of the best tourist destinations in Tibet which might suit your discerning travel taste with the arrival of spring.

The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon

The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon is the deepest canyon in the world. With a total length of about 500 kilometers, its altitude spans from 7,782 meters at Namcha Barwa, the highest peak of the eastern Himalayas, to 550 meters around the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley in Metog county.

One unique feature of the spring sight here is that visitors can enjoy both the peach blossoms and the snow-capped mountains at the same time. The water Peach Blessom Fair is also an attraction in the area.

Lake Manasarova

Lake Manasarova sits 4,500 meters above sea level in Purang county, Ngari prefecture. Snow melt from the Gangdise Mountains hugging the lake is the source for the nearby Yarlung Zangbo River as well as the mighty Ganges.

The Manasarova wetland is a key “climate regulator” on the plateau and home to more than 400 rare species including the black-necked crane and the Tibetan wild donkey. Enshrined as “holy lake and sacred mountain” along with Gang Rinpoche, Lake Manasarova attracts a large number of pilgrims as well as tourists from home and abroad.

Nanyi Valley

Nanyigou scenic spot is 20 kilometers away from Milin county and is an important birthplace of the mysterious Tibetan medicine culture. The scenic area covers a total area of 820 hectares. The ecological conditions here are so good that the place is rich in various animal and plant species.

Nanyi Valley is known as “the highest green mysterious place on Earth”. Surrounded by mountains and shrouded in clouds, Nanyi Valley is an ideal spring destination for visitors, where you can find peach and azalea blossoms everywhere.

1. What is special about the spring scenery in the Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon?

A．It is possible for people to see the deepest canyon in the world.

B．Visitors can go to the water Peach Blossom Fair in Metog county.

C．A great range of cultural heritage sites can be enjoyed in pleasant weather.

D．Tourists can admire charming flowers as well as mountains covered with snow.

2. Which place best suits people who want to explore more about medicine?

A．The Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon	B．Lake Manasarova
C．Nanyi Valley	D．Milin county

3. Where is the text probably taken from?

A．A travel brochure.	B．An academic article.
C．A geography textbook.	D．A marketing website.

7 . Take A Scenic Ride On The World’s Steepest Railway For Passengers—If You Dare!

Originally built for mining in 1878, the Scenic Railway is now a tourist ride that can take your breath away! In the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, the former mining railway became a tourist attraction in 1945. It currently holds the Guinness World Records as the steepest passenger train with the steepest railway gradient (坡度).

The gradient of 52 degrees is comfortably viewed from inside an 84-seat, glass-enclosed carriage car. The passenger car travels along on a cable-driven system of rails as it navigates the steep terrain. During the tour, passengers will see the train travel through sandstone cliffs and a rock tunnel next to Orphan Rock.

Orphan Rock was once available for trail climbing. Following rock slides in the 1950s, the trail was partially closed. The trail access was completely closed in 1974 and never reopened due to potential risks.

On the Scenic Railway, you will see stunning views from a slightly different angle than Orphan Rock. The railway is open every day of the year, making the trip along the rails every ten minutes.

Sight-seeing passengers can ride the steepest railway up from the Jamison Valley or travel on the cable car. Either option affords incredible scenic views of the Blue Mountains. The glass roof in the passenger cars allows for a fantastic view from every seat on the train.

Just take a look for yourself!

1. Where might the Scenic Railway originally lead to?

A．A mine.

B．A village.

C．A mountain.

D．A valley.

2. What can be known about the trail access to Orphan Rock?

A．It is a rock tunnel.	B．It is out of use.
C．It is partially open.	D．It is a 10-minute trip.

3. What might be the Scenic Railway trip like?

A．Eco-friendly.

B．Absurd.

C．Demanding.

D．Adventurous.

8 . Red tourism in Shaoshan

For 17-year-old Luo Yaqian, a two-day trip to the former residence of Chairman Mao Zedong in Shaoshan, Hunan province, inspired her to work hard to realize her goal of going to a reputable university. During Luo’s trip, the students visited Mao’s former residence, his memorial hall and Mao Zedong Square. They also watched a movie and attended a lecture themed on Mao’s younger days.

Luo said she was deeply inspired by the late Chinese leader. “Mao decided at an early age to leave his hometown to make a difference with his life. I am also determined to work hard and achieve good results in the national college entrance exam to realize my dream.” she said.

In April, the authorities in Hunan launched a special study tour campaign for all primary and secondary school students to visit Shaoshan to make good use of the city’s “red tourism” resources. By the end of last month, more than 81,600 students had taken part in the study tours in 93 batches, local government figures show. The cost of these tours is covered by the government.

Li Qingshan, 65, and his wife, Sun Zhuyun, 63, visited Shaoshan early this month from Qingdao, Shandong province, as they feared there would be too many visitors during the 130th anniversary of Mao’s birth on Dec 26. It was Li’s second visit to Shaoshan, following one he made in the 1990s. “Shaoshan has definitely improved greatly over the years, and the local environment, roads and scenic spots are now much better.” he said.

Li, who served in the military in Shenyang, Liaoning province, for several years in the late 1970s, admires Mao’s skills as a military leader. “He was a true leader of the Chinese people, and dedicated himself to changing their destiny.” he said.

When the couple arrived in the square, it was already packed with visitors waiting their turn to bow three times in tribute to Mao. Some visitors paid for a two-man military-style escort to guide them to the foot of Mao’s statue. After Li and his wife bowed three times to the statue, they had tears in their eyes. Sun said: “People of my generation have lived through tough times, so we have deep feelings for Chairman Mao. He was a savior. Without him, we would not have been able to dream of living happy lives today.”

1. Which of the following statements is true?

A．Only students are allowed to visit Shaoshan.

B．It is Chairman Mao’s experience that makes Luo want to go to college.

C．College students don’t have to pay for themselves when they visit Shaoshan.

D．A variety of activities are arranged during the special study tour.

2. The underlined word escort can be replaced by ________.

A．bodyguard

B．companion

C．coach

D．official

3. The purpose of Li’s second visit to Shaoshan was to ________.

A．Pay a tribute to Chairman Mao’s leadership and contribution.

B．Show respect to the local government’s great efforts.

C．Show appreciation for the impressive improvements in Shaoshan.

D．Look back on the happy memories of their first visit in the 1990s.

4. Where does the text probably come from?

A．A novel.

B．A travel guide.

C．A newspaper.

D． An advertisement.

10 . Over the past decade, more and more travelers have been embracing the idea of slow travel. One of the most popular methods of slow travel, if you have the time, is by rail. Here are our picks for some of the best train rides in the world.

The Glacier Express

The Glacier Express takes more than eight hours to cross the 180-mile journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18 mph. The classic red train journey brings you to Europe’s mountains at their very best — with views of snow-covered forests and peaks included!

The Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Running through Tamil Nadu State, the train is the slowest in India due to an extremely steep gradient on the route. It takes nearly five hours to cover a distance of 46 km. Clearly nobody uses the NMR to get from A to B, but for the sheer joy of riding in a train that passes through 16 tunnels, 250 bridges and 208 steep curves on the richly biodiverse Western Ghats mountain range.

No. 6063/6064

With a length of 257 kilometers, the highly popular “small-and-slow train” route winds through the Qinling Mountains, linking 13 stations at the highest cost of 39.5 yuan. Villagers take the train to sell their vegetables in nearby counties to add to their families’ income. Helping poverty alleviation and carrying students to schools, the rail line, running for over 60 years, is a guarantee of and witness to the wish for a better life of the people along its route.

Royal Scotsman

With the full length of 1930 kilometers, the Royal Scotsman marries Edwardian elegance with the comforts of a five-star country house. The train includes elegant lounges, comfortable suites, and an open observation deck. The 9-coach train carries a just 36 passengers maximum with a passenger to staff ratio of 1:3. One of the coaches is the amazing Bamford Spa offering something of a palace on wheels.

1. Why do people choose the Nilgiri Mountain Railway?

A．To view the snow-covered forests.

B．To travel from one place to another.

C．To experience the amusement of riding.

D．To study the geography of the Western Ghats.

2. Which train can we take to experience villagers’ slow life?

A．The Glacier Express.	B．No. 6063/6064.
C．The Nilgiri Mountain Railway.	D．Royal Scotsman.

3. What is Royal Scotsman special about?

A．Its luxury.

B．Its route.

C．Its history.

D．Its convenience.