1 . Ten years ago, I went on a vacation in Italy. After climbing up a hill for a panoramic (全景的) view of the blue sea, white buildings and green olive trees, I paused to catch my breath and then positioned myself to take the best photo of this panorama.
Unfortunately, just as I took out my camera, a woman approached from behind, and planted herself right in front of my view. Like me, this woman was here to stop, sigh and appreciate the view.
Patient as I was, after about 15 minutes, I grew frustrated. Was it too much to ask her to move so I could take just one picture of the landscape? Sure, I could have asked her, but something prevented me from doing so. She seemed so content in her observation. I didn't want to mess with that. Another 15 minutes passed and I grew bored. The woman was still there. I decided to take the photo anyway.
Now when I look at the photo, I think her presence in the photo is what makes the image interesting. The landscape, beautiful on its own, somehow comes to life and breathes because this woman is engaging with it.
This photo, with the unique beauty that unfolded before me and that woman who "ruined" it, now hangs on a wall in my bedroom. What would she think if she knew that her figure is captured and frozen on some strangers bedroom wall? A bedroom, after all, is a very private space, in which some woman I don't even know has been immortalized (使永存). In some ways, she lives in my house.
Perhaps we all live in each other's spaces. Perhaps this is what photos are for: to remind us that we all appreciate beauty, that we all share a common desire for pleasure, for connection, for something that is greater than us. That photo is a reminder, a captured moment, an unspoken conversation between two women, separated only by a thin square of glass.
1. What happened when the author was about to take a photo?| A．Her camera stopped working. | B．A friend approached from behind. |
| C．Someone asked her to leave. | D．A woman blocked her view. |
| A．losing her patience | B．enjoying herself |
| C．waiting for the sunset | D．thinking about her past |
| A．The woman's existence in the photo. | B．The perfect positioning of the camera. |
| C．The rich color of the landscape. | D．The soft sunlight that summer day. |
| A．the need to be close to nature | B．the importance of private space |
| C．the shared passion for beauty | D．the joy of the vacation in Italy |
2 . Many British people like to travel to Spain, Italy and other warm countries for their holidays. They want to live in the sun for a few weeks and many of them like to take their cars on holiday with them. Then they can travel round the warm countries and see many places in a short time.
But there is a problem. It is only twenty-two miles from Dover in England to Calais in France, but between the two towns there is the English Channel. It is necessary to take the cars across the sea, and this is not easy.
Some passengers put their cars on a plane and fly across with them, but that is expensive. Others drive their cars onto large ferries(渡船). This is cheap, but the boats are slow and sometimes the sea is rough. There are days when more and more people choose to travel by hovercraft(气垫船).
1. Many British holiday-makers choose to travel_______.| A．by plane | B．by car | C．by ship | D．by ferry |
| A．the mountainous areas | B．Dover in England |
| C．the warm countries | D．Calais in France |
| A．The comfort of travelling by air. |
| B．The disadvantage of travelling by ship. |
| C．The advantage of travelling across the English Channel. |
| D．The difficulty of taking cars across the English Channel. |
3 . Holiday in Sydney is a good choice for people trying to get away from cold winter days. You can spend Christmas, New Year, and Chinese New Year in Sydney. All hotels in Sydney are also prepared for business activities. The Christmas spirit is more wonderful when evening falls. Nightlife in Sydney is full of energy, but during holidays it owns a special taste.
White sandy beaches are located only within a short walk from hotels. You will find beach barbecues (烧烤), surfing, and diving under the sea very enjoyable. There are also public street festivals such as Chinese New Year between January and February. You need to book hotels in advance because they are often filled fast.
Running from Christmas to the New Year, numerous musical events are held in different places, from hotel restaurants to the Royal Botanical Gardens. Christmas carol (欢歌) performances are free for visitors to enjoy when the Sydney Youth Orchestra plays at the Royal Botanical Gardens.
Chinese New Year is one of Sydney’s annual (每年的) attractions. 500,000 people will gather in the city, so if you are traveling to Sydney, this is a reason to extend your vacations. Hotels near Belmore Park offer food events during Chinese New Year, and Darling Harbor runs traditional Dragon Boat Races. Others offer tours to the Sze Yup Temple, a Taoist (道教) Church located in Evergreen.
Seasonal food is also offered at the restaurants, cafes, and room service. In addition, New Year brings the opportunity to celebrate dining with other guests at your hotel.
1. Where could we find the passage?| A．In a travel guide book. |
| B．In a student’s geography book. |
| C．In a newspaper. |
| D．In a popular youth magazine. |
| A．Sailing. | B．Surfing. |
| C．Camping. | D．Running. |
| A．it is very cold during Chinese New Year in Sydney |
| B．the life in the night is worse in holidays in Sydney |
| C．a visitor will own a no longer lonely dinner in the New Year |
| D．a visitor can join in the traditional Dragon Boat Races by himself |
