1 . To appreciate Dubai, you could start by going skiing. The ski resort, located inside one of the city’s shopping malls, looks from the outside like a silver spaceship. You put on a thick coat, pull on your gloves and then marvel at what strong air-conditioning can do. At the exit, you can buy a souvenir T-shirt. A cartoon thermometer in Celsius announces: “I went from +50 to minus 8!”
Indoor skiing in the desert has become a symbol of Dubai’s status as a wealthy, modem metropolis. This small fishing village, Dubai’s fortunes changed forever with the discovery of oil in the 1960s. Since then. it has evolved to become the largest city. But the rapid growth has come at a price. To power its cars and air-conditioning, the city has produced large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO. ) from fossil fuels. Now it is making some big changes.
To reduce its dependence on cars and lower its emissions, Dubai has invested in solar energy, green buildings, and a comprehensive public transportation system. In addition, all new buildings must meet strict energy regulations.
The most striking development can be found where the city’s suburbs meet the desert. Unlike much of Dubai, the Sustainable City to the south feels more like a close-knit-village community. About five hundred low-rise houses are distributed along attractive, tree-lined streets. They all face north, away from direct sunlight, and are close together to provide natural shade. Each building has reflective windows and wall paint, which reduce the heat absorbed from the sun. Rooftop solar panels and energy-saving lights contribute to the community’s energy efficiency. As a result, residents of the Sustainable City now consume 50 percent less energy than people living in other parts of Dubai.
By 2050, the government intends to obtain 75 percent of the city’s energy from renewable sources-mainly solar. It also wants to have the smallest ecological footprint in the world. The plan is ambitious. But if successful, even guilt-free skiing in the desert could become an reality.
1. Why does the writer start the passage by describing a ski resort?| A．To demonstrate the problems of living near a desert. |
| B．To describe an expensive and unsuccessful building project. |
| C．To give an example of how Dubai is a wealthy modern city. |
| D．To provide a warning of what Dubai might be like in the future. |
| A．distinctive | B．isolated | C．massive | D．uniform |
| A．Installation of energy-efficient lights. | B．Avoidance of the sunlight from north. |
| C．Placement of solar panels on rooftops. | D．Arrangement to allow natural cooling. |
| A．How Oil Has Changed Dubai. | B．Dubai’s Economic Future. |
| C．The Costs of Green Living. | D．Building a Sustainable City. |
2 . Would you take a trip if you couldn’t use your cellphone? A new tour company called Off the Grid is asking travellers to put their cellphones away and not even use them for photos. The company founder, Zach Beattie, is developing his business, using money he saved from a tech job at a mapping company. He’s hired guides for every trip but will help lead the first few himself.
The first trip is to Lisbon, Portugal, in July. It takes 7 to 10 days, with small groups of up to 16 people. Prices range from $1,500 to $1,650, including accommodations, meals and ground transportation. The plan includes at least three excursions (远足) and two social events, with an emphasis on unique experiences over bucket-list sightseeing. The tour also includes surfing lessons, yoga on the beach, a day of sailing and dinner with a local family.
“When you’re somewhere new, there’s a lot to see and a lot of cool and interesting people to meet,” Beattie said. “Your phone can distract (使分心) you.” The phone ban won’t be enforced quite as strictly as it seems at first glance. “We want it to be voluntary,” he said. “We’re not collecting phones and throwing them in a locked trunk. It’s held by you, but put in your pocket, and you state your intentions for the week, whether that’s checking your social media once or twice a day or a total blackout.”
Tour-goers also get a “dumbphone” without Internet access that’s loaded with numbers for group leaders and other participants, both for emergencies and to promote socializing. Participants may bring regular cameras, but Beattie is hiring a photographer for each tour so there will be plenty of photos to remember the trip. Once the trip is over, participants will have access to those photos for use in social media posts.
1. What can be learned about Zach Beattie?| A．He set up his business at his own expense. |
| B．He is always guiding every trip personally. |
| C．He forbids tourists to take along cellphones. |
| D．He used to earn his living in a tour company. |
| A．The trip features sightseeing. |
| B．Participants live in homestays. |
| C．Air ticket is covered in the cost. |
| D．Tourists experience water sports. |
| A．Lock their phones in a trunk. |
| B．Post their photos on social media. |
| C．Free themselves from their phones. |
| D．Shift their focus onto dumbphones. |
| A．Take photos. | B．Access the Internet. |
| C．Record the trip. | D．Contact group members. |
3 . Popular destinations boosted by films, TV dramas
Over the past year, several films and TV dramas have put their shooting locations into the public spotlight.
Dali in Yunnan provinceWith the premiere of the TV drama Meet Yourself earlier last year, the Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Southwest China’s Yunnan province emerged as a highly sought-after tourism destination.
The drama was filmed in Dali, showcasing main locations such as Erhai Lake, Dali Ancient Town, Fengyangyi village, Shaxi Ancient Town and Xizhou Town. The idyllic scenery and relaxing pace of life depicted in the drama proved to be a soothing balm for many, leading to a tourism boom in Dali during the Spring Festival holidays.
Jiangmen in Guangdong provinceThanks to the success of the hit show The Knockout, Jiangmen in Guangdong province soared as a prominent tourism destination last year, where the drama was filmed.
As a prominent hometown for many overseas Chinese, the city boasts historical cultural street scenes, exotic South Asian-style architecture, and a díverse array of flavorful snacks, attracting a throng of tourists and TV fans.
Taiyuan Ancient County in Shanxi provinceFull River Red, the highest-grossing blockbuster during last year’s Spring Festival, has set the TaiyuanAncient County in Shanxi on fire with excitement. The film was directed by iconic director Zhang Yimou and draws inspiration from a famous poem by the patriotic general Yue Fei of the Southern Song Dynasty.
Filmed within a residential compound made up of five enclosed courtyards in an ancient town relic site in Jinyuan district, Taiyuan city, Shanxi province, the movie captures the essence of the country’s intricate, winding alleyways and distinctive ancient courtyards, leaving a lasting impression on the audience.
ShanghaiShanghai has once again captured the public’s attention with the recent popularity of the TVseries Blossoms Shanghai. Key filming locations such as Huanghe Road, Peace Hotel, and Tai Sheng Yuan restaurant have emerged as highly sought-after tourist destinations. Dishes featured in the show, such as Spare Ribs with Rice Cakes and Stir-fried Rice Noodles with Beef, have become culinary favorites among tourists exploring Shanghai.
The iconic No. 27 on the Bund, where Miss Wang worked in the TV series, has transformed into JiushiArt Museum, while the Pujiang Hotel has found new life as the location of the China Securities Museum.
1. Why did the TV drama Meet Yourself make Dali in Yunnan province popular among tourists?| A．Because it showcased the beauty of Erhai Lake. |
| B．Because it provided a relaxing escape from daily life. |
| C．Because it was filmed in many ancient towns. |
| D．Because it featured the local culture and snacks. |
| A．A poem by a patriotic general. | B．An ancient town in Taiyuan. |
| C．The director Zhang Yimou. | D．The intricate alleyways of Shanxi. |
| A．A personal travel blog. | B．A tourism promotion website. |
| C．A film press release. | D．A cultural journal. |
4 . Spain is a country that continues to surprise and let us tell you it’s not all sunbathing and shopping! We’re outlining our top 3 reasons to discover Spain along with our holiday suggestions to help you make up your mind.
Stunning sceneryFrom the dramatic, imposing mountains to the countless glistening beaches that dot its coastlines, Spain is a country full of natural beauty and inspiring landscapes. If breath-taking views and unique scenery captures your attention then our top suggestion is to experience a holiday to Tenerife where you can enjoy the inspiring its volcanic views and panoramic scenery. The largest of the Canary Islands, just south of Spain, Tenerife has a rugged, volcanic landscape as well as over 200 miles of coastline boasting a huge variety of flora and fauna.
Beautiful beachesDid you know that Spain has over 5,000 miles of coastline and thousands of beaches? Wherever you go, you are never far from a beach. From undiscovered, hidden alcoves to popular tourist resorts, there’s a beach for everyone and with over 300 days of sunshine each year you’re guaranteed the weather to enjoy them! This beautiful country also has the most blue flag beaches in the world so now you’ve no excuse! With thousands of beaches to choose from, where will you go?
Fabulous foodFor many people, one of the highlights of Spain is, of course, the amazing food on offer. The country’s vibrant cities offer up Michelin-starred restaurants and lively tapas bars, while small-town cafés and restaurants offer up traditional dishes such as paella, seafood stew, and chorizo, made with love from family recipes.
Spanish cuisine is known for being delicious, healthy, and full of flavour, so there are many unique dishes available that will tempt your taste buds. If we’ve made you hungry, then you should take a holiday to Costa Brava, a Spanish foodie destination that should not be missed!
1. What is the top suggestion for experiencing stunning scenery in Spain?| A．The beaches of Costa Brava. |
| B．The mountains in the northern region. |
| C．A holiday to Tenerife. |
| D．The hidden alcoves along the coastline. |
| A．Conventional cuisines and trendy bars. |
| B．Volcanic views and countless coastlines. |
| C．Sufficient sunshine and striking beaches. |
| D．Marine creatures and mouthwatering seafood. |
| A．To inform. | B．To report. | C．To review. | D．To entertain. |
5 . 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.
• CarhengeCarhenge 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 GenéricaFloralis 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 TreeThe 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. |
| A．Carhenge. | B．Floralis Genérica. |
| C．Traffic Light Tree. | D．Mano del Desierto. |
| A．A guide book. | B．A news report. |
| C．A science magazine. | D．An architecture advertisement. |
6 . 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. |
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. |
| A．It is a rock tunnel. | B．It is out of use. |
| C．It is partially open. | D．It is a 10-minute trip. |
| 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. |
| A．bodyguard | B．companion | C．coach | D．official |
| 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. |
| A．A novel. | B．A travel guide. | C．A newspaper. | D． An advertisement. |
9 . Rich in culture and rooted in tradition, winter in Budapest here not only feels like a fairytale, it looks like one, too. Here are four top things to do in Budapest during the winter.
● City Park Ice Rink (滑冰场)Budapest’s City Park Ice Rink is by far the most famous skating destination in the region. Skaters flooded to the rink each winter between late November and mid February. First opened in 1870, this ice rink is one of the oldest and largest in Europe. It’s filled up with water during the summer months. It serves as a boating lake for tourists looking to bike around while bathing in the sun.
● Spas and thermal bathsBudapest is quite rightly nicknamed the “City of Spas”. The baths of here are astonishingly beautiful, which are famous for their relaxing and medicinal benefits Taking a dip in the famous baths during winter is an experience like no other. Jumping from one indoor pool to the outside bathing area is a memorable and pleasurable experience.
● Hungarian State Opera HouseThe Hungarian State Opera House is closed for renovations (翻新). However, visitors can still see parts of it via (通过) guided tours. The Hungarian State Opera House, which was completed in 1884, remains exactly the same as that when it was constructed. Each year thousands of visitors arrived in Budapest to take in the sheer (十足的) beauty of the opera house, while the lucky ones are able to secure a ticket for a show.
● Andrassy Avenue and Fashion StreetShopping in Budapest during winter is a magical experience. Andrassy Avenue and Fashion Street are two of its most popular tourist destinations at any time of year. Covered with thousands of lights, the tree-lined avenue comes to life during the winter months, offering up many attractions. The shops here are usually open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the winter months.
1. What does City Park Ice Rink act as in summer?| A．A relaxing pool. | B．A boating lake. |
| C．A thermal bath. | D．A fashion street. |
| A．Enjoy a show. | B．Take a swim. |
| C．Have a guided tour. | D．Perform an opera. |
| A．Tourist center. | B．Opera house. | C．Lights. | D．Shops. |
10 . From coast to coast, Canada is a beautiful country filled with an endless variety of landscapes and many well-known jewels to explore, which offers a perfect getaway option sure to suit everyone.
VANCOUVER ISLAND, BCVancouver Island is the largest island on the Pacific Coast of North America. This spectacular island offers some awesome adventures, including hiking, diving, surfing and camping. Your weekend getaway to Vancouver Island kicks off with a beautiful ferry ride. The Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay ferry passes close to the beautiful Gulf Islands and rocky coves, so keep an eye out for seals and whales! The trip by car and ferry, or bus and ferry, takes about four hours from downtown Vancouver.
WHISTLER, BCWhistler, one of the largest ski resorts in North America, is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts all year round. From powder hounds (粉雪滑雪) in winter to water sports, biking, and hiking during the summer, there is plenty to explore. In addition, Whistler was a major part of the 2010 Winter Olympics.
KELOWNA, BCKelowna is popular with tourists as it is the premier wine destination in British Columbia. Spending the day tasting the local wines and eating at some of the winery restaurants is a perfect way to enjoy a summer’s day here. Golf, hiking, biking, and boating on the lake are all popular summer activities here as well.
1. What do we know about VANCOUVER ISLAND, BC?| A．It is the largest island of North America. | B．It can be reached by train. |
| C．It is a good place for visitors to camp. | D．It was a major part of the 2010 Winter Olympics. |
| A．Hiking. | B．Biking. | C．Diving. | D．Skiing. |
| A．Research paper. | B．Travel brochure. | C．Geography textbook. | D．Travel journal. |
