1 . Friends always ask why I, a middle-aged woman with no athletic (运动) talent (天赋), travel to perilous places — the jungles (丛林) of Thailand or Borneo, for example, where the water is often unsafe and the food risky; places with infectious diseases, poisonous snakes and the wildest animals.
I never know how to answer. Nine years ago I suffered a stroke (中风). To prevent another stroke, my doctors told me, I’d have to take dangerously high levels of blood thinner (血液稀释剂) for the rest of my life and any travel would be risky (冒险的).
I had to think about what was important to me: family, of course, and friends. But then what? No matter how many times I thought about it, I could not be happy without travel. Then I had to decide how I might manage the risk.
The first real test of my travel courage came nine months after my stroke when I joined my husband, Jack, on a business trip to China. After we’d toured the remains of a Tang dynasty temple on a high mountain, Jack wanted to ride down on a toboggan (长雪橇).
Before the stroke it would’ve seemed like fun. But now? I hesitated. My mental klaxon (高音喇叭) screamed warnings about the consequences of a cut, a fall, and a crash. Then, gaining confidence from who knew where, I lowered myself carefully into the toboggan, which marked my adventure (冒险) travel come back.
In the years since then, I’ve traveled about twenty-five percent of the time. Through it all, my lucks held out — no deadly falls, no car accidents or serious infections. For me, adventure travel is a risk worth taking. Travel broadens my world and keeps me connected to nature. What’s more, saying “yes” to travel keeps me connected to myself.
1. What does the underlined word “perilous” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?| A．Energetic. | B．Dangerous. | C．Romantic | D．Famous. |
| A．Do proper exercise. | B．Enjoy the rest of her life. |
| C．Spend more time with her family | D．Keep away (远离) from traveling |
| A．It was her last adventure. | B．She recovered (恢复) her courage (勇气) through it. |
| C．She liked the beautiful scenery in China. | D．It was the most dangerous experience in her life. |
| A．A business trip to China | B．Stroke, a dangerous disease |
| C．How I overcame the fear of disease | D．Why I still travel to the wild |
2 . Some people love travelling while some prefer to stay at home. If you don’t love travelling, you can make a change now. Why?
Travelling takes you out of your comfort zone. Your comfort zone is comforting.
Travelling is a good way to expand your mind. It gets you out of a routine and makes you use your brain, your ears and your eyes. While travelling, there are a lot of things that have to be taken in: new sights, new flavours, new noises, etc.
Have you ever thought about travelling abroad as a volunteer? You can benefit a lot from this kind of trip.
| A．Because you can really benefit a lot from travelling. |
| B．All of them require your complete attention. |
| C．It is not as expensive as you might expect. |
| D．This kind of trip is really popular with people. |
| E．Travelling can help you remove your fears. |
| F．You are exposed to many new things. |
| G．But it doesn’t always give you the opportunity to grow. |
3 . Since the modern Olympics began in 1896, it has been held in more than 40 different cities. That gives Olympic fans quite a few possible travel destinations to choose from!
Beijing, China
Olympic fans should consider visiting the Beijing Olympic Park to check out the special buildings of the so—called “Bird’s Nest” and “Water Cube”—the national stadium and aquatics center built for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Popular historic places in Beijing include the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Tian’anmen Square.
Innsbruck, Austria
Located in the heart of the Alps, Innsbruck is known as a great winter destination—which explains why it has hosted not one but two Winter Olympics. Known for its mountainous views, Innsbruck is the perfect stop for outdoor adventurers.
Mexico City, Mexico
This wonderful travel destination offers a wide number of popular museums, historic buildings, and public parks. People will love shopping for fresh meat and produce at the markets, taking a cooking class, and generally eating their way through Mexico City, which is especially known for its culinary(烹饪的)experiences that include both globally well—known restaurants and locally favored street carts.
Melbourne, Australia
Nearly half a century before Sydney hosted the 2000 Summer Olympics, Melbourne became the first Australian host city in 1956. Head to the “cultural capital of Australia”, located in Victoria on the southeastern coast, for an energetic cafe culture and art scene. Melbourne offers something for every type of traveler and everyone can enjoy an evening at one of the city’s many rooftop bars or a day of wine tasting.
1. Where will you go if you are fond of adventure?| A．Beijing, China. | B．Mexico City, Mexico. |
| C．Innsbruck, Austria. | D．Melbourne, Australia. |
| A．Enjoy wonderful culinary classes. |
| B．Get profit from making delicious food. |
| C．Admire beautiful mountainous views. |
| D．Visit special stadiums for the Olympics. |
| A．It is famous for all kinds of wine. |
| B．It has many world—famous hotels. |
| C．It hosted the Summer Olympics twice. |
| D．It can satisfy different travelers’ needs. |
4 . You may have your favorite family spots on Long Island where you frequently take the kids. But there may be unexpected places you haven't explored yet.
Animal Exhibit
Not only will you see fish, reptiles and amphibians here, but you'll also see baby alligators and other rescued animals. Kids can also learn about science and participate in programs and workshops throughout the year. The Animal Exhibit is also a hotspot for science-themed birthday parties.
The Mattituck Strawberry Festival
The Mattituck Strawberry Festival kicks off the summer season with sweet treats and more. Long Island is known for numerous and extremely popular fairs and festivals that take place throughout the year. Other summer festivals include the Sayville SummerFest, St. Rocco's Feast, Brookhaven Fair and more. The fall season offers the largest abundance of fairs and festivals, such as the Pickle Festival, Oyster Festival, Long Island Fall Festival and many Hallo ween-themed festivals in Nassau and Suffolk.
Home Depot Kids Workshop
Does your kid enjoy making things by hand? You may want to take a trip to Home Depot Kids Workshop. Offered on the first Saturday morning of each month, workshops allow little ones to build and craft items, such as a skateboard pencil box that they can decorate and keep.
Chuck E. Cheesed
As soon as you. walk through the doors you're instantly greeted by the sounds of other kids laughing as they play arcade games to win prizes and enjoy an animatronic show. After hours of play, check out their restaurant with kid-friendly options.
1. Who is the text specially targeted at?| A．Children. | B．Tour guides. | C．Parents. | D．Students. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
| A．At Animal Exhibit. | B．At The Mattituck Strawberry Festival. |
| C．At Home Depot Kids Workshop. | D．At Chuck E. Cheese's. |
5 . The Best Free Tourist Places in America
Alaska: Anchorage Market and Festival
Although Anchorage isn’t the capital of Alaska, it is the state’s largest city with the largest population. The Anchorage Market and Festival is open and free of charge on weekends. Anchorage is at the beginning of the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail, where walks can last between two hours and a half day.
It’s free, of course.
Arkansas : Walmart Museum
Lying in the northwest corner of Arkansas is Bentonville, which gave birth to a little mall you may have heard of. It’s Walmart, one of the biggest companies in the world at present. It is free to visit the Walmart Museum, which attracts thousands of visitors every year. And just outside the town is the well-known Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, which is also free.
Connecticut: Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut was the first place in the U.S. to offer pizza to the hungry and the homeless, including students of Yale University. While in New Haven you can go on a tour of the campus (校园), where many beautiful buildings have existed for a long time. It’s the university where President Bushes, Bill and Hillary Clinton, journalist Bob Woodward, and Samuel F. B. Morse studied.
Kansas: Santa Fe Trail
Western Kansas has very little light pollution. So as you travel along, stop once in a while and stare at the night sky. The Santa Fe Trail went through Kansas and you can still walk the longest remaining distance of the road just outside Dodge City.
1. What may especially attract visitors to Bentonville?| A．The chance to find many interesting goods. |
| B．The chance to get trained in a large company. |
| C．The chance to get something free in Walmart. |
| D．The chance to get a good knowledge of Walmart. |
| A．Make pizza with students of Yale. |
| B．Appreciate old buildings. |
| C．Meet famous people. |
| D．Attend some free classes. |
| A．Kansas. | B．Bentonville. | C．Anchorage. | D．New Haven. |
6 . In Singapore, art is more than what meets the eye. Galleries and museums here are not just places to be inspired, but also homes to distinctive souvenirs. Take home well-designed pieces that reflect your personality.
Singapore Tyler Print Institute (STPI)
41 Robertson Quay, Singapore 238236. ＋65 6336 3663.
Mon.－Fri. 10 am－7 pm; Sat. 9 am－6 pm
STPI is a space for experimentation of print and paper. Walk through the gallery and join other art lovers in developing an appreciation of print and paper art practice. STPI allows you to own a piece of the work produced by artists at the gallery workshops.
Red Dot Design Museum (RDDM)
11 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018940. ＋65 6514 0111.
Mon.－Thur. 10 am－8 pm; Fri.－Sun. 10 am－11 pm
From lighting to parasol (阳伞), the Red Dot Design Museum presents awardwinning products and design concepts from over 30 countries. Head to the Design Museum Shop, there are many interesting design objects and collections sourced from all over the world.
National Gallery Singapore (NGS)
1 St. Andrew's Rd, Singapore 178957. ＋65 6271 7000.
Mon.－Thur., Sat.－Sun. 10 am－7 pm; Fri. 10 am－9 pm
NGS occupies two major landmarks — the former Supreme Court and City Hall — and features over 8,000 artworks, which is the largest public display of modern Southeast Asian art and culture. It is also a home to a host of international exhibitions that have inspired the world and will be remembered for years to come.
Singapore Philatelic Museum (SPM)
23B Coleman Street, Singapore 179807. ＋65 6337 3888.
Daily 10 am－7 pm
Fascinated by stamps? SPM features postage stamps dating all the way back from the 1830s. Enjoy this vibrant museum's indepth presentation of local and international postal history. Send Singaporeinspired postcards or collect miniature postboxes from Singapore and around the world. Charming souvenirs at the museum store will make creative decorations for your home or office.
1. Which number is available if you have any question on Red Dot Design Museum?| A．＋65 6336 3663. | B．＋65 6514 0111. |
| C．＋65 6271 7000. | D．＋65 6337 3888. |
| A．Singapore Tyler Print Institute. | B．Red Dot Design Museum. |
| C．National Gallery Singapore. | D．Singapore Philatelic Museum. |
| A．In a travel brochure. | B．In a report. |
| C．In a textbook. | D．In a novel. |
7 . The Best Sillk Road Tour
Silk Road, a business and trade route, originates from the ancient China and connects with the Asian. African and European countries. Our well-designed Silk Road tour package will never let you down.
Departure City: Shanghai
Guide & Driver: English-speaking guide, experienced driver with an air-conditioned vehicle
Meals: 12 western buffet breakfasts, 6 lunches with some being a la carte (点菜)style
Tour Highlights:
·Must-see sights in China-Terracotta Warriors, Famen Temple, Dunhuang Mogao Caves, Maiji Caves, Jiayuguan Pass and Mutianyu Great Wall
·Trace back to the Silk Road of 2, 000 years ago & learn about the culture and history Marvel at the art treasure-Mogao Caves & enjoy an exciting camel riding in the Gobi Desert We Guarantee 100% No Shopping Stops!
Tour Prices
| Tour Prices with Luxury Hotels | ||
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
| $3749 | $3299 | $2939 |
| Tour Prices with Standard Hotels | ||
| 2-3 travelers | 4-5 travelers | 6-9 travelers |
| $3479 | $3029 | $2669 |
·Prices are per person in US Dollars
·Any parts of the tour length, activities or hotels can be tailored to your individual interests Are you ready to follow the footsteps of the ancients to explore this mysterious land now?
1. What will people do on the tour?| A．Appreciate the ancient heritage. | B．Ride on camels all the way. |
| C．Stay a few nights in caves. | D．Do a lot of shopping. |
| A．A Beijing businessman good at golf | B．A Japanese model loving fashion. |
| C．A Yunnan biologist interested in birds. | D．An American student learning history. |
| A．$3479 | B．$3749. |
| C．$7498. | D．$11247. |
8 . When leaving school, I was pleased that my exam results meant that I could study engineering at university. But I also wanted to travel before starting my course. A friend of mine told me about the Schools Exploring Society, an organization which helps students take a gap year （a year between leaving school and going to college）. It has three foreign journeys a year, taking 16-20-year-olds on science and nature trips. I love being outdoors, and a mountaineering trip to Alaska was on offer. So I signed up immediately.
There was one problem, though. I had to raise a large amount of money for the trip. It was a big task, but I managed to make it. I washed cars, worked in a cafe and also sold off some of my old books, clothes and CDs. Then, just before starting out, I started worrying. Can I do this? Am I fit enough? What if I see a bear?
Seventy of us traveled to Alaska. The first two days after arrival were spent in a school hall preparing our equipment and five tons of food. Then we left for the beautiful Talkeetna Mountain. On the trip we dug paths and recognized plant species. Then we climbed a mountain that was over 6,000 feet high. It was tiring but exciting.
Looking back, a gap year was so right for me. I learned a lot about accepting other people for what they are. We had to help each other and it made me less selfish. My gap year has also made me more able to concentrate. Now, whenever Tm worried about anything, I think I did Alaska-I can do this!
1. We can learn from Paragraph 1 that the author .| A．hadn’t taken foreign trips before |
| B．made the trip together with his friends |
| C．was not satisfied with his exam results |
| D．was going to study engineering at a college |
| A．His body was not strong. |
| B．He couldn’t afford the trip. |
| C．He had no outdoor experience. |
| D．He had little time to prepare for the trip. |
| A．was well worth it |
| B．got him interested in plants |
| C．made him fall behind others in study |
| D．helped him know more about himself |
| A．To explain how to prepare for trips. |
| B．To advise on how to spend a gap year. |
| C．To describe his experience in his gap year. |
| D．To encourage students to do part-time work. |
9 . The holiday season is upon us. These are a few places you can visit without breaking the bank while having a fun and relaxing experience.
Lakowe Lakes
Lakowe Lakes is a beautiful golf resort 45 minutes away from the city of Lagos. You can rent an apartment for a couple of days.
A trip to Lakowe Lakes will involve activities like fishing at the lake, pedal boat rides,golfing on an 18-championship golf course, bike riding, movies under the stars, outdoor barbeques and spa treatments.
Inagbe Resorts
Inagbe Resorts is an excellent choice for whoever wants a getaway from the city especially families. Individuals or families looking for a quiet place with a beach would love Inagbe.
There are facilities like swimming pools, basketball courts and children playing grounds. It offers different kinds of activities such as watersports, horse rides and quad biking.
Calabar Carnival(狂欢节)
Calabar Carnival is still one of the best carnivals out of Nigeria. This week-long event, held every December, is filled with fun moments, parades and display of culture. It is also known as Africu's biggest street party.
This will be an opportunity to explore Calabar, the national museums, Tortuga island, Mary Slessor house, Drill Ranchm Tinapa resort and the national park.
The Gambia
The smiling coast of Africa will make you live more happily than you have ever been.There is an experience for everyone based on your how much money you spend.
Explore the city of Banjul, go birdwatching,attend a cooking class, watch crocodiles at the crocodile pool, discover the slave roots of Kunta Kinte, go fishing, lake a hike and visit a village market.
1. What common fun do both Lakowe Lakes and The Gambia provide?| A．Bike riding. | B．Watching birds. |
| C．Going fishing. | D．Outdoor barbeques. |
| A．Lakowe Lakes. | B．Inagbe Resorts. |
| C．Calabar Camival. | D．The Gambia. |
| A．Rent a house. | B．Attend a cooking class. |
| C．Watch movies under the sky. | D．Learn about the national park. |
10 . Mother Nature is a cruel mistress. Why? Read on to find the answer.
Venice
This iconic city is sinking rapidly. The canals that make up the streets of Venice rise 2mm every year, making relics of history go under the surface of water and destroying architecture. Experts warn that without intervention (干预) , this city will disappear back into the water at an even faster rate, consumed by rising sea level from melting polar ice caps.
Machu Picchu
These iconic ruins have drawn adventurous tourists into the mountains of South America. The forces of natural erosion (侵蚀) have been accelerated by tourism and this landmark faces severe influence from increasing foot traffic. The Peruviar government recently suggested a cable car that would cut out the intense hike up to the ruins, making the site instantly accessible to millions, but the future of Machu Picchu remains uncertain.
Glacier National Park
Perhaps you’ve heard that the ice caps are melting. But nowhere is more apparent in the United States than in Glacier National Park. Estimates indicate that the glaciers that are part of the beauty of this national landmark will disappear entirely in the next two decades.
The Great Barrier Reef
Hidden from view beneath the waves, the Great Barrier Reef has been rapidly dying off. Nearly fifty percent of coral which once occupied a large area is gone, destroyed by pollution and disease.
1. What can we learn about Machu Picchu?| A．It’s famous for cable cars. | B．It will soon turn away all visitors. |
| C．It bears a heavy burden of tourism. | D．It’s well preserved by the locals. |
| A．The Great Barrier Reef. | B．Machu Picchu. |
| C．Glacier National Park. | D．Venice. |
| A．They all have a long history. | B．They’re all threatened by climate. |
| C．They’re all in danger of disappearing. | D．They’re all well-known for natural scenery. |
