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 . Hidden London--The City’s Lesser Known Delights
Dulwich Picture Gallery
As much an excuse to enjoy the village charms of Dulwich Village as to admire some delicate (精致的) Europe masterworks, this gallery is a southeast London fascination, which was founded in 1811. Join a free guided tour to the permanent (永久的) collection(3p.m. Saturday and Sunday),catch the latest temporary (临时的) exhibition and admire the lovely garden (open 1: 30 p. m. to 3: 30 p. m. Tuesdays)
Where: Gallery RD SE21 7AD
Train: West Dulwich
Temple Church
Featuring in the novel The Da Vinci Code and dating back to the late 12th century, it is one of the London’s oldest an holiest medieval (中世纪的) treasures. Built by the Knights Templar, the church is divided into the Round--which contains the statues of crusading (圣战的) knights, who tried to recover the Holy Land from the Muslims in the Middle Ages and the Chancel, where the priests and singers performing in church services sit.
Where: Temple EC4Y 7DE
Underground: Temple or Blackfriars
Chelsea Physic Garden
Endlessly satisfying the green-fingered, the plain curious or those eager to discover botanical (植物学的) interests in central London, this delightful walled garden was founded by the Apothecaries’ Society in the 17th century and is one of the oldest botanical gardens in London.
Where: 66 Royal Hospital Rd SW3 4HS
Underground: Sloane Square
Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art
Built between 1953 and 1958, the Estorick is the Britains only gallery devoted to Italian art. It draws together a fascinating collection of Futurist masterpieces from Umberto Boccioni, Giacomo Balla, Carlo Carra and others, who emphasised the importance of modern things, especially technology machines.
Where: 39a Canonbury Sq NI 2AN
Underground: Highbury Islington
1. When can you follow a free guide to visit Dulwich Picture Gallery?| A．3: 30 p.m. on Tuesday. | B．3 p.m. on Sunday. |
| C．1: 30 p.m. on Tuesday. | D．1: 30 p. m. on Saturday. |
| A．Dulwich Picture Gallery. | B．Temple Church |
| C．Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art | D．Chelsea Physic Garden |
| A．Highbury& Islington | B．Blackfriars |
| C．Sloane Square | D．West Dulwich |
4 . They say that“travel is the best teacher” and there is no better example of this idea than the Ming dynasty travel writer and geographer Xu Xiake(1587﹣1641). His book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake,not only encouraged a love of travelling among Chinese people but provided important scientific information about the country’s land and geography.
Born into a wealthy Jiangyin family,Xu became interested in books about different places at an early age and wanted to travel. When he was 18,however. Xu’s father died and so,it seemed,did his travelling dreams. He now was responsible for the family farm and taking care of his 60﹣year﹣old mother as tradition required.
But his mother had different ideas. Understanding her son’s love of travel and valuing the knowledge he could get from such experiences,this modern-thinking woman refused to keep her son at home. She agreed that Xu could travel for three months every year,when there was less farm work.
So at the age of twenty and with his mother’s support,Xu set off for the first time,leaving behind not only his mother but his new wife as well. He would repeat this goodbye each year for most of the next 30 years. During this time,he travelled throughout the Ming kingdom,carefully studying the lands he passed through and recording his experiences and many discoveries in a diary This diary,which once had over 500,000 words, would eventually become The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake.
Although rich,Xu avoided comfortable travel,preferring to go almost everywhere on foot. This way he could research the environment in detail and get a true picture of the natural world. Many of his trips were to hard-to-reach mountain areas,and through wild forests where few people lived. His willingness to face hardships came at a cost however. Progress was slow and tiring and he was frequently sick,robbed and beaten during his journeys.
Sadly Xu became seriously ill during his last and longest journey,a 4﹣year trip through the Southwest of China. He died in 1641,soon after returning to his hometown for the last time. When his diary was finally printed years after his death,much of it had been destroyed or lost. Although incomplete,it still made Xu a travelling legend around the world.
1. What is the passage mainly about?| A．The general details of Xu Xiake’s life story. |
| B．The difficulties Xu Xiake faced in his travels. |
| C．The important discoveries made by Xu Xiake. |
| D．The influence of Xu’s book The Travel Notes of Xu Xiake. |
| A．Strict but interesting. |
| B．Kind but uneducated. |
| C．Helpful and hardworking. |
| D．Supportive and open-minded. |
| A．It gave him the chance to meet different kinds of people. |
| B．It helped him to save money and travel for a longer time. |
| C．It allowed him to see and study the environment in detail. |
| D．It was the only way to reach the places he was interested in. |
| A．It was only made public after Xu died. |
| B．It made Xu very famous during his lifetime. |
| C．It was the first travel book ever written in China. |
| D．It was mainly about the different people of China. |
a. He went on his first journey.
b. His book was finally printed.
c. He returned to his hometown for the last time.
d. He developed an interest in books about other places.
e. He started managing the family farm after his father died.
| A．a﹣e﹣d﹣c﹣b |
| B．d﹣e﹣a﹣c﹣b |
| C．d﹣e﹣a﹣b﹣c |
| D．e﹣d﹣a﹣b﹣c |
5 . At 12, my father decided to take me on a trip to France. I had never been out of the country before, so I was very excited. My aunt, my father and I went around with my father showing us all the unbelievable sites in Paris. None of us spoke much French but we loved the city.
We had taken the subway all over the city and were congratulating ourselves on our mastering what is honestly an excellent subway design that is pretty easy to follow. We decided to visit Versailles by train. We chatted happily along the way until my father realized we were far into the French countryside and no one around spoke English.
We reached the end of the line and felt afraid when everyone finally left the train. An old man and his grandchild noticed us and came to help. He spoke no English, so in broken French we tried to explain. When he finally understood, this great man settled his grandson and showed us to the correct train and then boarded with us.
Later we knew the truth that there was a train transfer (转乘) and he didn’t want us to miss it. This kind man rode a train for an hour and a half out of his way to make sure that three Americans got where they wanted to be. He refused to let us pay for his ticket. He did it all with a gentle smile and patted our hands gently at the stop. Then in his quiet way, he boarded the train to return the way he had come.
What impressed me most was the man and his kindness during the amazing trip. Some Americans think the French are rude for some reason, but I always try to persuade them to change their minds with this very story.
1. What happened to the author and his family on the train?| A．They couldn’t understand the signs of the train. |
| B．They failed to get off the train at the right time. |
| C．They had different opinions about where to go first. |
| D．They found it hard to communicate with the French. |
| A．He paid for their train tickets. | B．He showed them the returning way. |
| C．He invited them to travel together. | D．He led them to their place. |
| A．Seeing is believing. | B．Being kind is a good manner. |
| C．Travelling enriches one’s life. | D．Helping others brings great pleasure. |
| A．To explain an unexpected problem. |
| B．To list the unbelievable sites in Paris. |
| C．To share an unforgettable foreign experience. |
| D．To show the importance of mastering a foreign language. |
6 . With the summer holiday just around the corner, it seems like everybody is busy planning their vacations.
Travel off-season.
Go to your desired destination (目的地) while the demand is low and make use of huge discounts (折扣). During the peak season, the hotel and flight prices increase quickly.
Save on hotels.
Look for places that do not charge (收费) extra for children if they use the existing (现有的) bedding.
Planning your meals is another way to reduce your travel costs. During your family trip, try new food the locals eat, which will save money.
Don’t hesitate (犹豫) to bargain (讲价).
Tourist-heavy places are known for overcharging for just about everything. Clothes, travel goodies, souvenirs, etc., are very expensive at these places.
Choose local transportation.
| A．Eat like a local. |
| B．Stay with the locals. |
| C．Surf the Internet while traveling. |
| D．Therefore, avoid buying anything there. |
| E．So it’s best to find out when the off-season starts. |
| F．For this reason, you shouldn’t feel ashamed to ask for bargains. |
| G．As a tourist, avoid taking taxis whenever possible, since they are expensive. |
7 . Philadelphia is a city known for many things. It is where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, and it was also the first capital of the United States.
More than 20 years ago, a New Jersey artist named Jane Golden started a program pairing troubled youth with artists to paint murals on a few buildings around the city.
Take a walk around some of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia and you will find beautiful works of art on the sides and fronts of buildings. Of course the murals are not just in poor neighborhoods, but richer ones as well. Special buses take tourists to different parts of the city to see the various murals, which show the diverse ethnic groups that call Philadelphia home.
| A．How did this come to be? |
| B．What happened to the murals on Earth? |
| C．They also learned to take pride in their community. |
| D．But one fact about Philadelphia is not so well-known. |
| E．From this small project, something magical happened. |
| F．The program encouraged troubled youth to paint together with their teachers. |
| G．As a result of its success, the murals program has now become the nation’s largest public art program. |
8 . 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. |
9 . Amsterdam is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, famous for its beautiful canals, top art museums, cycling culture and so on. It is the capital city of the Netherlands and often referred to as the “Venice of the North” because of its expansive system of bridges and canals. Here are some of the key points to remember as you plan your trip to Amsterdam.
Must-See Attractions
Most visitors begin their Amsterdam adventure in the Old Centre, which is full of traditional architecture, shopping centers, and coffee shops. You’ll also want to check out Amsterdam’s Museum Quarter in the South District, which is great for shopping at the Albert Cuyp Market and having a picnic in the Vondelpark. The top museums to visit there are the Rijksmusuem, the Ann Frank House, and the Van Gogh Museum.
If You Have Time
There are several other unique districts in Amsterdam, and you should try to explore as many of them as time allows. The Canal Ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally built to attract wealthy home owners and is a center for celebrity spotting and nightlife today. The Plantage area has most of the city’s museums and the botanical gardens.
Money Saving Tips
●Unless you really want to see the tulips(郁金香) blooming, avoid booking between mid-March and mid-May. This is when hotel and flight prices rise.
●Look for accommodations in Amsterdam’s South District, where rates are generally cheaper than in the city center.
●Buy train tickets at the machine instead of the counter to save a bit of money.
●Instead of hiring a tour guide, hop on a canal boat. They’re inexpensive and will give you a unique point of view of the city.
Check out our homepage to view price comparisons for flights, hotels, and rental cars before you book.
1. What can be learned about Amsterdam from this passage?| A．The Van Gogh Museum lies in the South District. |
| B．The Canal Ring is a place to attract garden lovers. |
| C．The Old Centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
| D．Amsterdam is called the “Venice of the North” because of its location. |
| A．arrange a guided tour | B．buy train tickets at the counter |
| C．reserve a hotel in the South District | D．book flights between mid-March and mid-May |
| A．A magazine. | B．An essay. | C．A report. | D．A website. |
10 . The official operation of Universal Beijing Resort (UBR) made Beijing the hottest tourist destination recently. After about 20 years’ preparation, China’s first Universal Studios theme park, and also the biggest Universal Studios theme park in the world, has attracted great attention. It marks the entry of another international chain into China’s thriving theme park industry.
China has become the largest market for theme parks across the world. Today there are nearly 3,000 theme parks in China and over 400 among them are large-scale.
The popularity of theme parks partly comes from the intellectual property they have acquired over the years, which can include characters and stories. Take the Shanghai Disney Resort as an example. From Mickey Mouse to Snow White, Disney had a lot of elements to draw from in designing the theme park. A fan of Disney’s animations Mr. Wu said that he had visited the resort so many times because of his love of the characters and themes throughout the park.
Theme parks have played a leading role in promoting tourism and other relative kinds of consumption (消费). For the past five years, the Shanghai Disney Resort has welcomed 83 million visitors, earning over 40 billion yuan in total. Disney’s impressive performance was carefully viewed by other international firms eager to take part in China’s theme park economy, Steinbock pointed out. According to Steinbock, capital investment in China’s theme park projects in the first half of the 2020s could reach $20 billion. “These huge investments show foreign investors’ rising confidence in China’s business environment.”
“Although the COVID-19 pandemic has created a huge impact on the global tourism market, we are still very positive on the business environment of the Chinese market,” said Tom Mehrmann, president and general manager of UBR.
1. What can we learn about the UBR according to the passage?| A．It has been prepared for a decade. |
| B．It is the biggest them park in China. |
| C．It contributes to the popularity of Beijing. |
| D．It marks the theme park industry entered China. |
| A．increasing | B．rewarding | C．entertaining | D．decreasing. |
| A．The pandemic has no impact on Chinese tourism market. |
| B．More international investment will enter Chinese theme park industry. |
| C．Theme park is the one and only way to promote Chinese consumption. |
| D．Shanghai Disney Resort has received more than $20 billion investment so far. |
| A．To advertise the UBR to attract more tourists. |
| B．To praise China’s ability to control the pandemic. |
| C．To explain why theme park is so popular in China. |
| D．To introduce the development of China’s theme park industry. |
