Dolly Parton’s theme park is expanding with the opening of a new star-rating resort in the grand Great Smoky Mountains, alongside a string of other developments. Here are her latest hits.
1. Dollywood adds new attractions
The new star of Dolly’s theme park is Big Bear Mountain, the longest roller-coaster-at Dollywood, which takes two minutes to move around nearly 4,000ft of track. If this isn’t your taste, head to the freshly released Dolly Parton Experience, a practical exhibition describing Dolly’s rags-to-riches story.
2. Her tour bus offers a superstar sleepover
With the Dolly’s customized tour bus now in retirement at Dollywood’s Dream More Resort, fans can peek inside the singer’s maximalist wardrobe (衣橱) before sleeping in her luxurious bed. The Tour Bus Experience also offers a big meal with wine, as well as the option to book a cruise (游轮) around the mountainous landscape in a custom Jeep.
3. Moonshine gets hip
Moonshine, an eye-wateringly strong whisky, was once the first choice for Prohibition-era bootleggers. Today, Dolly’s niece, Danielle Parton, is part of a growing movement to update the drink’s secret image with the opening of her Tennessee micro-distillery (酿酒厂), Shine Girl. Take a tour before sitting down at the bar, where red-velvet-flavored cocktails are occasionally shaken by Danielle herself.
1. Where can visitors learn about the life-story of a celebrity?| A．Shine Girl. | B．Big Bear Mountain. |
| C．Dream More Resort. | D．Dolly Parton Experience. |
| A．Bus sightseeing. | B．Clothes fitting. |
| C．Overnight staying. | D．Cruise for hiring. |
| A．An admirer of Dolly. | B．An enthusiast of wine. |
| C．A goer of concerts. | D．A fan of adventure. |
2 . 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.
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.
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.
| 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. |
3 . By the time she was 85 years old, Joy Ryan had never seen the ocean or mountains. Now, she’s 94 years old and has seen every comer of the US after visiting all 63 US national parks. Joy went on the epic journey with her grandson, Brad Ryan, who was first inspired to travel with his grandmother in 2015. “When I learned she had never seen the great wildernesses of America-deserts, mountains, oceans, you name it, I thought that was something that I would regret if I didn’t get myself involved in some way,” Brad said. Although they initially planned just to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, they had such a great time that they felt inspired to continue their journey by hitting up all the national parks in the US. “I think we’re two peas in a pod when it comes to our desire for travel and adventure,” Brad said.
The 63rd and final stop on their tour was the National Park of American Samoa. There was a reason why they left this park until the very end. “It’s the only US national park that’s south of the equator. We can enjoy the beautiful tropical paradise,” Brad said, “But as we’ve come to learn from the rangers who work there. American Samoa is an island community that is firmly rooted in family.”
The fact that a grandmother in her 90s completed such a long journey may inspire others, but Brad has always known his grandmother as an inspiration who lives up to her name. “She has already lived from a place of gratitude and joy,” he said. “That’s a power… and a choice that we all have. And I think that’s been my greatest lesson.”
1. What do we know about Joy Ryan?| A．She regretted not visiting the ocean. | B．She was financially challenged. |
| C．She prefers tropical landscapes. | D．She embarked on her journey in 2015. |
| A．Their ambition to set a world record. | B．Their fear of having regrets in life. |
| C．Their shared passion for adventure. | D．Their fascination with urban scenery. |
| A．distinctive location | B．natural resources |
| C．breathtaking coastline | D．close-knit community |
| A．Her determination. | B．Her patience. |
| C．Her endurance. | D．Her optimism. |
4 . It is 10 in the morning, and I am travelling by raft down the Li River. The sun is already burning hot even though it has not yet reached full strength, but a calm breeze cools my skin. So far the day is wonderful, but the purpose of my trip is not just to have fun: I am following in the footsteps of Xu Xiake(1587-1641), the famous Chinese travel writer and geographer. Though Xu was from Jiangsu, he spent more than 30 years travelling throughout the country, and greatly admired my destination today—ox Gorge.
As we flow down the river, we are surrounded by steep hills sticking up into the sky-karsts. Karsts are rock formations made of limestone. They have been sculpted by water and millions of years of erosion into these beautiful natural sculptures. Guangxi is full of karsts, giving it some of the most interesting—and beautiful—scenery in the world. Xu was one of the first people to make a careful study of Guiln’s karsts and their related cave systems. He, like many people today, found them fascinating.
Suddenly, our raft hits some rapids, and I find myself covered in water. I turn to my raftsman and we share a laugh. The water not only keeps us cool, but it is all part of the adventure.
What made someone like Xu spend years traveling thousands of kilometres away from home? Perhaps it’s the same reason as mine: to explore the world and to discover new things. As Xu wrote, “A great man should in the morning be at the blue sea, and in the evening at Mount Cangwu. Why should I restrict myself to one corner of the world?
Xu was not alone. Much like today, the late Ming Dynasty was a golden age of tourism within China. People travelled hundreds of kilometres to visit temples, go mountain climbing, or explore scenery.
Yet, perhaps no one in China travelled farther or longer than Xu Xiake. At least, if anyone did they did not write about it.
1. Why did the author decide to go to the Guilin?| A．Just to have fun and relax himself. |
| B．To explore the world and discover the new things. |
| C．To enjoy the scenery and recall a Chinese famous travel writer |
| D．To travel by raft down the Li River. |
| A．Xu Xiake admired the scenery of ox-Gorge but he had not been here. |
| B．Guilin’s karsts are formed by water’s erosion over the years. |
| C．The author felt frustrated while he fell into the water from the raft. |
| D．People in the Ming Dynasty enjoyed travelling around the country. |
| A．Limit. | B．Control. | C．Improve. | D．Behave. |
| A．Hardworking | B．Adventurous | C．Courageous | D．Ambitious. |
5 . Recently, China has announced the list of the first five national parks. Each of them is divided into two parts — the core protection area and the general control area. In the core protection area, only research and surveillance (监视) in science are allowed. And the general control area is open to the public, allowing travel activities such as camping and hiking. In the future, national parks are expected to be natural classrooms. People can learn about different kinds of animals and plants through eco-friendly travel activities.
Three River-Source National Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the largest national park in China. Because it is home to the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, people call it “China’s water tower”.
Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park is in Heilongjiang and Jilin Provinces. It covers an area of 14,100 square kilometers. It is our country’s biggest and only place for wild Siberian tigers and Amur leopards to live in.
Wuyi Mountain National Park in Fujian Province is a UNESCO natural and cultural heritage site. The forest makes up over 96 percent of the park. The park is the paradise of birds, kingdom of snakes and world of insects. You can also see the Danxia landform there.
Giant Panda National Park connects panda habitats in Sichuan, Shaanxi and Gansu Provinces. Inside the park are more than 1,600 wild giant pandas. They make up over 70 percent of the pandas in China.
Hainan Tropical Rain forest National Park is the largest tropical forest in China. There are more than 400 kinds of plants that can only be found in Hainan.
1. Which is called “China’s water tower”?| A．Three River-Source National Park. | B．Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park. |
| C．Giant Panda National Park. | D．Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. |
| A．a perfect place | B．a happy feeling |
| C．a good example | D．a sweet smile |
| A．Three River-Source National Park is the largest national park in China. |
| B．Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park covers an area of 14,100 square kilometers. |
| C．There are more than 1,600 wild giant pandas in Giant Panda National Park. |
| D．More than 400 kinds of plants and animals can only be found in Hainan. |
| A．The beautiful scenes of nature | B．The home of animals and plants |
| C．The introduction to the five national parks | D．The relationships among the five national parks |
6 . Take a journey for the week, laughing all the way.
Holiday Express 2023 –2024
At the New York Historical Society, Manhattan
Certain trains are especially good at transporting children to heights of joy. This year’s exhibition annual “Holiday Express”, drawn from the Jerni Collection, shows model electric trains and a self-guided treasure hunt. The show is included in museum admission starting at $6 and is free to children under 5.
Advent Carolandar
At Joe’s Pub, Manhattan
Joel Waggoner and Julia Mattison have come out with their holiday comedy performances every December. This year, Joel played the role of Tom — the pianist in the third season of Hulu’s “Advent Carolandar”, while Mattison wrote the music and lines for the coming theatre adaptation of the 1992 film “Sunshine Becomes Her”. Tickets to the shows at Joe’s Pub, which are at 7:30 pm and 9 pm, are at $45 and up at publictheater.org.
Rock & Pop
At City Winery, Manhattan
As a singer and songwriter in New York, Suzanne Vega frequents large stages around the world, but her hometown roots remain strong. This year she’s home for the holidays with “An Evening of New York Songs and Stories” at City Winery that begins at 8 pm. Tickets start at $70 on citywinery.com .
Christmas Eve on Sesame Street
At the Redstone Theatre, Queens
Small children can see an adaptation of O’Henry’s famous holiday story — “The Gift of the Magie”, in “Christmas Eve on Sesame Street”. It’s a 1978 television special that the Redstone Theatre is showing in honor of the 45th anniversary of the production’s original broadcast. “Christmas Eve” is starred by former “Sesame Street” actors like Bob McGrath. Screening tickets start at $9.
1. Where can one go for a comedy performance?| A．Joe’s Pub. | B．The Redstone Theatre. |
| C．City Winery. | D．The New York Historical Society. |
| A．Joel Waggoner. | B．Bob McGrath. |
| C．Suzanne Vega. | D．Julia Mattison. |
| A．It’s an original product for radio broadcast. | B．It’s about the anniversary of an acting career. |
| C．It’s a play about self-guided treasure hunt. | D．It’s an adaptation of a famous holiday story. |
7 . Famous Modern Chinese Buildings
Beijing International Airport
The first place most visitors see when they arrive in China is Beijing International Airport. The airport was constructed in the 1950s. It has an indoor garden, a children’s playground, and over 70 food businesses in Terminal 3 alone.
Shanghai World Financial Centre
Completed in 2008, Shanghai World Financial Centre(SWFC) took over 10 years to complete due to financial shortages and construction delays. Since its completion, it has won countless architectural awards. Tourists are welcome at SWFC’s viewing platform, which is the world’s highest closed viewing platform.
The Water Cube
It was constructed for use during the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics. Now visitors can express surprise at the architecture of the building. They can enjoy the indoor atmosphere as well.
Among the offerings of the Water Cube are a restaurant and bar, a shopping area, and Water World, a family water park.
The Bird’s Nest, Beijing
It was designed mainly for the 2008 Summer Olympics. It can hold more than 80, 000 people and has been used for a winter theme park. Nowadays, it has become a popular tourist attraction and its main income is from tourism. It draws more than 20,000 tourists every day.
National Centre for the Performing Arts
It was completed in 2007. The building is surrounded by a man-made lake, requiring guests to enter via an underground hallway. It is home to three different venues (活动场所): the Opera House, the Concert Hall and the Theatre.
1. Which of the following buildings was first constructed?| A．Beijing International Airport. |
| B．Shanghai World Financial Centre. |
| C．The Water Cube. |
| D．The Bird’s Nest, Beijing. |
| A．By renting the winter theme park. |
| B．By increasing its opening time. |
| C．By charging tourists for admission fees. |
| D．By giving some live concerts. |
| A．Enjoy sports events. |
| B．Play musical instruments. |
| C．Attend science lectures. |
| D．Watch different performances. |
8 . 
Located in the northeast of Italy, Venice is well-known for its cultural treasures, romantic atmosphere and unusual living-on-water experience. The city spreads out over 118 islands, which are linked by more than 400 bridges, in the Venetian Lagoon.
Venice’s historical center consists of six regions. San Polo in the middle and San Marco in the south, the busiest main regions, are linked by the Rialto Bridge. The famous stone arch bridge crosses Venice’s main waterway — the Grand Canal. When night falls, many tourists enjoy dinner at the outside tables by the Grand Canal while watching colorfully lit boats going by.
Near the end of the S-shaped Grand Canal lies St. Mark’s Basilica, a must-see. Inside, beautiful mosaics tell stories of Bible figures. Nearby are the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. These were made famous by Lord Byron, “I stood in Venice on the Bridge of Sighs, a palace and prison on each hand.” Legend has it that if a couple passes under the bridge, their love will last forever.
In the square outside the Basilica, lovers of literature can sit at Caffe Florian, regarded as the oldest coffee house in Europe. Charles Dickens, Henry James as well as Lord Byron enjoyed the wonderful drink here.
Art lovers should buy a museum pass and visit some of the city’s unusual museums. They can view works by Venetian masters like Giovanni, Titian and Tintoretto.
On five small islands in the Venetian Lagoon, Murano has been home to glass-makers since 1291. Tourists can visit factories, studios and the Glass Museum. Glass artists produce everything from simple souvenir pieces to beautiful works of modern art. Only glassworks made using traditional methods on Murano can be called Murano Glass. The nearby island of Burano is famous for lace making and colorful houses. Looking at the colorful houses and kaleidoscopic streets makes people feel as if they were walking in the fairy tale.
The City of Water promises beauty of all kinds, and it definitely lives up to its promise.
1. Why does the author mention Lord Byron’s words?| A．To introduce the famous British poet. |
| B．To explain why the two places are famous. |
| C．To show why St. Mark’s Basilica is a must-see. |
| D．To compare the Doges Palace and the Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Caffe Florian. | B．The city’s museum. |
| C．St. Mark’s Basilica. | D．The Bridge of Sighs. |
| A．Bridges. | B．Lace making. | C．Glassworks. | D．Colorful houses. |
| A．Venice’s modern art. | B．Venice’s local customs. |
| C．Venice’s natural scenery. | D．Venice’s attractions with its beauty. |
9 . 4 World-Class Ski Resorts That Don’t Cost Much
Purgatory
Purgatory Resort represents the classic Rocky Mountain skiing experience, with open alpine runs, powdery glades(雪道) , aspen groves(白杨林)and Colorado sunshine. New lifts and strategic snow-making improve the attractions of carefree runs and parents will welcome the wallet-friendly Power Kids policy: Children 12 and under ski free. Day lift tickets from $44 to $139.
Nelson
The small mountain town of Nelson, British Columbia, has its reputation for some of B. C. ‘s best skiing, with deep, dry powder blanketing its 2, 367 acres. Skiers can enjoy old style chairlifts, uncrowded slopes, 40 feet of powder annually and a lodge with food. The ski hill boasts no Wi-Fi, and in town the nightlife maintains Nelson’s unique identity. Day lift ticket from $74.
Bridger Bowl
Just sixteen miles north of Bozeman, Mont, is Bridger Bowl, a nonprofit resort rich in ski culture and loved by local families and college students. Its 2, 700 feet of vertical drop includes a mixture of a green hand and intermediate(中级的)glades, plus challenging pitches for excited seekers. All key ski-day needs are available. Day lift ticket from $70.
Mad River Glen
Ski-cooperative Mad River Glen in Waitsfield, Vt, is a legend in American ski culture. Unlike at many U. S. ski areas, daily skier numbers are limited and leisurely lifts let ascending skiers take in the view. The clean and tidy base lodge remains the major center to recharge and warm up, and retrieve belongings casually left on hooks all day. Day lift ticket from S49.
1. How much will a couple with a child aged 10 at least cost on buying day lift tickets in Purgatory Resort?| A．$44. | B．$88. |
| C．$132. | D．$139. |
| A．Purgator. | B．Nelson. |
| C．Bridger Bowl. | D．Mad River Glen. |
| A．A travel journal. | B．A public speech. |
| C．A geography textbook. | D．A tourist guide. |
10 . 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, Saturday
6 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, Sunday
6 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. |
