1 . Travelling with friends can be an amazing experience where you could make lifelong memories or it could ruin your friendship.     1     Here are some rules you should follow to make sure your next trip with friends goes as smoothly as possible.

    2     Sure, you and your friends probably have some similar interests, but that’s not always the case. In an effort to keep everyone happy, go over travel plans and expectations ahead of time. Have each person categorize activities or sights into “must-see”, “want to see” and “would go if we have time”. Plan accordingly and make sure everyone can see some of their top attractions.

Communicate and respect each other. Everyone has personal preferences when travelling— from getting the bed closest to the bathroom or sitting in the airplane’s window seat. But sometimes things don’t go as you like. In this case, share your requirements directly with your travel companions.     3     Have a conversation when problems arise, for communication is the key.

Don’t disappear. When travelling with a group — or even just one other person — you may want some alone time. That’s completely fine, but make sure your friends know where you are and have a way of contacting you.     4    

Get off your phone. Of course, your friends will understand if you need to take a call from a family member, or in the event of a work emergency, but other than that, try to stay off your phone.     5     After all, the appeal of this type of trip is to spend time with friends. Just enjoy it!

A．Give each other some space.

B．Include at least one activity for everyone.

C．So it’s important to make sure you and your friend(s) are on the same page.

D．At the same time, listen to their concerns and be respectful of them.

E．Don’t respond to less important work contact or send messages frequently.

F．It’s especially true of travelling in foreign countries or unfamiliar places.

G．And remember that consideration and respect go a long way.

2 . 72 hours in Beijing

Traveling to China is no longer a luxury for many foreign passport holders. The Chinese government has permitted a 72-hour visa free policy that offers access to visitors from 53 countries including the US, France and Austria. Let’s start with the capital of China, Beijing. Here’s a pick of the best in Beijing.

Mutianyu Great Wall

Your trip to Beijing isn’t really complete without seeing one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World” — the Great Wall of China. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is by far the most well-preserved of all. Taking a one-hour bus ride, Mutianyu would be your ideal location for a half-day of hiking away from the large crowds in the city. Also, the authorities have allowed tourists to paint graffiti on a specific section of the Great Wall since 2014. The Great Wall was designated (把……定名为) a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.

Summer Palace

Located in northwestern Beijing, the Summer Palace is by far the city’s most well-preserved royal park. With its huge lake and hilltop views, the palace offers you a pastoral escape into the landscape of traditional Chinese paintings. The Summer Palace was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.

798 Art Zone

This would be on the top of my list! Named after the 798 factory that was built in the 1950s, the art zone is home to various galleries, design studios, art exhibition spaces, fashionable shops and bars. You could easily spend half your day wandering around the complex, feeling the contrast of the present and the past.

Sichuan Provincial Restaurant

While in Beijing, apart from trying the city’s best-known Peking duck, the Sichuan provincial restaurant is one of places where you can enjoy regional delicious food. It offers one of China’s eight great cuisines, Sichuan Cuisine, which ranges from Mapo tofu to spicy chicken.

1. When was the Summer Palace added to the UNESCO World Heritage List?

A．In 1950.	B．In 1987.
C．In 1998.	D．In 2014.

2. Which place is the author’s first choice when visiting Beijing?

A．Mutianyu Great Wall.	B．798 Art Zone.
C．Summer Palace.	D．Sichuan Provincial Restaurant.

3. Who is the passage intended for?

A．The tourists who prefer to travel for free.

B．The foreigners to stay in Beijing for 4 days.

C．The visitors coming from every corner of China.

D．The foreigners coming to Beijing for the first time.

3 . 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.

2. Which of the following best describes Xu’s mother?

A．Strict but interesting.

B．Kind but uneducated.

C．Helpful and hardworking.

D．Supportive and open-minded.

3. Why did Xu prefer walking during his travels?

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.

4. What is true about Xu’s book The Travel Notes of Xu xiake?

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.

5. What is the correct order for the following events from Xu’s life?
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

4 . 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.

2. What can visitors do in Mexico City?

A．Enjoy wonderful culinary classes.

B．Get profit from making delicious food.

C．Admire beautiful mountainous views.

D．Visit special stadiums for the Olympics.

3. What can we know about Melbourne?

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.

5 . 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.

2. In order to save money in Amsterdam, you can ________.

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

3. Where is the passage most probably taken from?

A．A magazine.

B．An essay.

C．A report.

D．A website.

7 . 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.

2. Which sees the most fairs and festivals on Long Island?

A．Spring.

B．Summer

C．Autumn.

D．Winter.

3. Where will science fans prefer to celebrate their birthday?

A．At Animal Exhibit.	B．At The Mattituck Strawberry Festival.
C．At Home Depot Kids Workshop.	D．At Chuck E. Cheese's.

8 . 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.

2. What can people do in New Haven?

A．Make pizza with students of Yale.

B．Appreciate old buildings.

C．Meet famous people.

D．Attend some free classes.

3. Which place is more attractive to those who enjoy the peaceful night sky?

A．Kansas.

B．Bentonville.

C．Anchorage.

D．New Haven.

9 . A Journey to the Yosemite Firefall

Each year, thousands of people are attracted to the Yosemite National Park in California for a chance of seeing —and photographing ——the unique “firefall”. The amazing “firefall” comes to life only when there is enough water from the melting（融化）snow to keep the Horsetail Fall flowing and when the light of the setting sun hits the waterfall at the right angle. It can only be seen for a short time in February on clear sunny days.

This year, the weather isn’t stopping the “firefall” from happening, but it is making the journey to see it more difficult.

“What would have been a 10-minute walk turned into a two-hour hike through deep snow,” photographer Ryan Fitzsimons said about his recent trip to see the phenomenon. “Our clothes were all wet by the time we got to a viewing site. But the heavy snow made the sight much more beautiful since the waterfall is much bigger this year.”

Another photographer Andy Heitz was making his first trip to see the “firefall”. He had to wait five hours in the extreme cold for his turn to take a picture.

“I got to the site at about 12:00 at noon. The place was already filled with hundreds of people waiting to see and photograph the ‘firefall’. I was so lucky that I shot a really wonderful burner! I was completely amazed with what I saw,” he said. “You know, only on a couple days of the year in February and when the sun sets down at the perfect angle to shine on Yosemite’s Horsetail Fall can we see the ‘Fire Fall’. I’ll never forget what I have seen.’’

The “firefall” should continue to be there from 20 to 24 February. But park officials said that there’s no guarantee（保证）that visitors will see it on any given day.

1. When might be the best time to take pictures of the “firefall”?

A．Early in the morning.	B．At noon.
C．Late in the afternoon.	D．At night.

2. Why might the “firefall” disappear between 20 to 24 February this year?

A．There wouldn’t be enough snow.	B．It might be too cloudy.
C．The waterfall might not freeze.	D．The snow might melt too fast.

3. What does the underlined word “burner” in paragraph 5 refer to?

A．A worker in the kitchen.

B．The fire in the Yosemite National Park.

C．A part of a cooker or stove.

D．The unique Horsetail Fall in the setting sun.

4. What is the main purpose of this text?

A．To introduce an attraction.	B．To give suggestions for a trip.
C．To advertise a park in the US.	D．To explain what is a “firefall”.

10 . Holidays

Holiday News Vacancies(空位) now and in the school holidays at a country hotel in Devon. This comfortable, friendly home-from-home lies near the beautiful quiet countryside, but just a drive away from the sea. The food is simple but good. Children and pets are welcome. Reduced prices for low season.

The Snowdonia Centre The Snowdonia Centre for young mountain climbers has a mountain climbing lesson. The beginners’ costs are ￡57 for a week, including food and rooms. Equipment is included except walking shoes, which can be hired at a low cost. You must be in good health and prepared to go through a period of body exercises. This could be the beginning of a lifetime of mountain climbing adventure.

The World Sea Trip of a Lifetime Our World Sea Trip of 2008 will be unlike any holiday you have ever been on before. Instead of one hotel after another, with all its packing and unpacking, waiting and traveling, you just go to bed in one country and wake up in another. On board the ship, you will be well taken care of. Every meal will be first-class and every cabin like your home. During the trip, you can rest on deck(甲板), enjoy yourself in the games rooms and in the evening dance to our musical team and watch our wonderful play. You will visit all the places most people only dream about — from Acapulco and Hawaii to Tokoy and Hong Kong. For a few thousand pounds, all you’ve ever hoped for can be yours.

1. What can you do if you like to go on holidays with pets?

A．Choose the holiday in Devon.	B．Go to the Snowdonia Centre.
C．Join the World Sea Trip of 2008.	D．Visit Acapulco and Hawaii.

2. In what way is the Snowdonia Centre different from the other two holidays?

A．It provides chances of family gatherings.	B．It provides customers with good food.
C．It offers a sports lesson.	D．It offers comfortable rooms.

3. What is special about the World Sea Trip of 2008?

A．You can have free meals on deck every day.

B．You can sleep on a ship and tour many places.

C．You will have chances to watch and act in a play.

D．You have to do your own packing and unpacking.