1 . “Is this making us old or keeping us young?” my husband asked as he lifted the three heavy backpacks from the canoe.

“I don’t know,” I replied. The heat and mosquitoes were getting to me, and I was wondering whether we were crazy to have started a canoe trip during the hottest week of the summer. But even in fall, our canoe trips—while certainly cooler—are no easier.

I’ve always loved getting away from civilization to enjoy the peace of nature, to be on a news blackout (封锁) and to reflect on the past year and the year to come, which is why we’ve been doing this regularly for most of the 38 years we’ve been together.

Now as we’re getting older, it’s getting harder—aching knees, aching feet and aching backs. So, we’re changing our habits. Instead of extreme white-water trips in the far north, we’re going on lake trips closer by. Instead of pulling on the heavy pack myself and rising from a sitting position, my husband lifts it up while I thread my arms through the belts. Along the way, I might stop to admire the green plants beside the path or feel the soft surfaces of the moss, and my husband is usually waiting at the other end, wondering why it’s taken me so long. During the night, we no longer stay up late to see the stars. Instead, we now get into the tent by 9 p.m.—exhausted after one day’s hard work—and drift into sleep listening to birds’ sorrowful call.

Over the years, my canoe-tripping experience has evolved to focus less on the physical and more on the abstract things. Like a solar battery, I store up the energy I absorb from the forest, rocks and waters to help me through the rest of the year. The rhythm of paddling becomes a process of deep thinking rather than an endurance test.

“How long can we continue doing this?” asked my husband at the end of the last trip.

“I don’t know,” I answered, but inside, I thought, “As long as our bodies and minds hold out, I hope forever.”

1. According to the passage, the author and her husband’s canoe trips ______.

A．were difficult to complete

B．made the couple crazy

C．made the couple look younger than their age

D．became dangerous because of the summer heat

2. By writing “we no longer stay up late to see the stars” in Paragraph 4, the author wishes to show that ______.

A．the stars are not beautiful any more

B．birds’ night call is more attractive now

C．their habits have changed over the years

D．they are too tired to do the same things

3. What habit do the couple now have?

A．Do extreme white-water trips.	B．Go on a trip to a nearby lake.
C．Bring the heavy pack themselves.	D．Catch birds in the darkness.

4. What can be the best title for the text?

A．An Unforgettable Trip	B．My Trip with My Husband
C．Life Is a Hard Trip	D．Love for Canoe Trips

2 . In a recent email to an old friend, I mentioned that our family planned on taking our four-week road trip in our motor home. My friend emailed back and said he thought I was very “brave” to set out on such an adventure with two young children (aged two and five). I laughed when I read his email and wondered if he knew how much he was missing out on by giving up the idea of such a fun RV (旅行房车) trip with one5s family.

My husband and I have been “RVing” for over ten years. When we first started traveling, we certainly had some troubles that were not so funny at the time but seem to be funny now. We forgot our pillows and failed to cook dinner on an outdoor grill for lack of a flashlight. Then we decided to make our dinner in the motor home but could not get the oven lit! So we went to bed a little hungrier than we had planned!

However, that’s nothing compared with the amazing natural wonders we experienced during our RV trips. In addition, we have discovered a new world of family fun and family bonding. We saw the Grand Canyon when our son was only six months old. We play games inside and : out, walk together, talk together, read, solve puzzles, and enjoy music and movies. We have got used to doing things with one another. Our kids love to pick out good, old-fashioned postcards to send off via snail mail to different family members on every trip.

As our world gets more and more overloaded with cell phones, texting, emails and video games, our family sticks more and more tightly to the wonderfully simple idea of unplugging electronic devices for a while and jumping into the seat to take a trip in our motor home. Then we come home with fun pictures of our wandering, and we’re able to build special memories for our kids. Now we want to spread the word and tell families of all kinds what enjoyment can be had from packing up for a trip in the RV.

1. What did the author’s old friend think of her travel plan?

A．A family trip should not last for too long.

B．A family RV trip might bring unexpected troubles.

C．It was wise of her to let children experience RV trips.

D．It was a good opportunity to teach children to be brave.

2. What can we learn about the first author’s family?

A．It was a pleasant experience.	B．It was ruined by bad weather.
C．They didn’t prepare well for it.	D．They lost many things during it.

3. How did the authors family benefit from RV trips according to Paragraph 3?

A．They learnt how to solve problems.	B．They built a closer family relationship.
C．They developed a great love for nature.	D．They fell in love with adventure travels.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To show how to make RV trips interesting.

B．To encourage kids to take part in RV trips.

C．To advise families to take RV trips together.

D．To share an unforgettable traveling experience.

6 . WELCOME TO CHINATOWN!

The Chinatown in San Francisco is the biggest in America, and also the oldest. It is a very popular tourist draw that receives more visitors each year than even the Golden Gate Bridge. The climate is mild all year round, meaning it is always a good time to visit .

Historically, Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the railroad construction and gold rush period. What started as a residential area for Chinese immigrants then turned into a centre for Chinese culture. The majority of residents in Chinatown are still ethnic Chinese, many of whom do not speak English fluently. This allows visitors to experience a real taste of China.

Most of Chinatown was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, but the city and residents rebuilt it, taking care to include lots of Chinese architecture. Traditionally, visitors enter Chinatown through the legendary Dragon Gate, which was built using materials donated from China. Other famous sites include the Tin How Temple and Bank of Canton, to name but a few. Visitors can also spend hours just exploring the interesting sights, smells, and sounds of China. Portsmouth Square is also a key site, being the centre of Chinatown. It has a long and famous history, with the author Robert Louis Stevenson having spent much time writing there. These days, the square is a great place to see traditional Chinese culture in real life, such as games of Chinese chess, and people practising tai chi.

The stores in the Chinatown offer a unique range of souvenirs, goods, and clothing. All kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be found, too, and there are Chinese tea stores, where visitors can taste and buy varieties of Chinese tea .

But perhaps what many tourists and San Franciscans treasure most about Chinatown is its food. There is Chinese food to suit everyone’s taste, with traditional dishes from all over China.

Chinatowns are an important part of the diverse culture of the USA. They allow visitors who have never been to China to experience traditional Chinese culture first hand.

1. Read the passage and fill in the blanks.

①________
②________
③________
2. 熟记下列用来描写地点的句子
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________

7 . Wednesday, 21 June

Today was my first day back in San Francisco after camping in the Redwood Forest and visiting the wine country of Napa Valley. I have to admit that it definitely feels good to be back in the city again. And what a city—a city that was able to rebuild itself after the earthquake that   occurred in 1906. There are so many beautiful old buildings—many sitting on top of big hills, offering great views of the city, the ocean, and the Golden Gate Bridge.

My hotel is near downtown, in the Mission District, one of the oldest parts of the city. Many of the people living here are from Mexico or Central America. This district used to be a poor area of town, but is now a centre for art, music, and food. In fact, an art movement called the “Mission School” started here. It’s influenced by graffiti art and comic art. I walked around looking at the street art for a few hours. It was quite modern and lively. Afterwards, I ate some delicious Mexican­Chinese noodles from a food truck. A real mix of cultures here!

In the afternoon, I headed to a local museum that showed the historical changes in California. I learnt that America got California from Mexico in 1848. In the same year, gold was discovered near San Francisco, which started a gold rush. Over 300, 000 people came from all over the world to seek their fortune, and San Francisco quickly became a big city. Many Chinese arrived during this period. To earn a living, some opened up shops and restaurants in Chinatown. Many others found jobs on farms, joined the gold rush, or went to build the railway that joined California to the eastern region of the country. The museum did a really good job of showing how America was built by immigrants from different countries and cultures. When these immigrants left their countries, they carried a bit of home in their hearts, and built a new home here.

This evening, I went to Chinatown. There were so many good cafés and restaurants to choose from. I selected a Cantonese restaurant that served its food on beautiful china plates. What great food!

That’s enough for today. Tomorrow evening, I’m going to a jazz bar in the Richmond District. Can’t wait!

1. Read the passage quickly and match the main idea with each paragraph.

A. The author was back in San Francisco again and felt very good. B. The author would go to a jazz bar. C. The author chose a Cantonese restaurant to have a meal in China town. D. The author visited a local museum which showed the historical changes in California.        E. The author introduced the Mission District and told us what she had done there.

Para.1 ________
Para.2 ________
Para.3 ________
Para.4 ________
Para.5 ________
2. What does the word “definitely” in the first paragraph mean?

A．Doubtfully.	B．Only.
C．Certainly.	D．Finally.

3. Where would the author go tomorrow evening?

A．A café in Chinatown.

B．The Golden Gate Bridge.

C．Napa Valley.

D．A jazz bar in the Richmond District.

4. How does the author feel to be back in San Francisco?

A．Wonderful.	B．Tired.
C．Disappointed.	D．Excited.

5. What is the type of the text?

A．History novel.	B．A home letter.
C．Travel journal.	D．A book review.

8 . WELCOMETO CHINATOWN!

The Chinatown in San Francisco is the biggest in America, and also the oldest. It is a  very popular tourist draw that receives more visitors each year than even the Golden  Gate Bridge. The climate is mild all year round, meaning it is always a good time to visit.

Historically, Chinese immigrants settled in the area during the railroad construction and  gold rush period. What started as a residential area for Chinese immigrants then turned  into a centre for Chinese culture. The majority of residents in Chinatown are still ethnic  Chinese, many of whom do not speak English fluently. This allows visitors to experience  a real taste of China.

Most of Chinatown was destroyed in  the 1906 earthquake, but the city and  residents rebuilt it, taking care to include  lots of Chinese architecture. Traditionally,  visitors enter Chinatown through the  legendary Dragon Gate, which was built  using materials donated from China. Other  famous sites include the Tin How Temple  and Bank of Canton, to name but a few.  Visitors can also spend hours just exploring the interesting sights, smells, and sounds  of China. Portsmouth Square is also a key site, being the centre of Chinatown. It has a  long and famous history, with the author Robert Louis Stevenson having spent much  time writing there. These days, the square is a great place to see traditional Chinese  culture in real life, such as games of Chinese chess, and people practising tai chi.

The stores in the Chinatown offer a unique range of souvenirs, goods, and clothing. All  kinds of traditional Chinese herbal medicine can be found, too, and there are Chinese  tea stores, where visitors can taste and buy varieties of Chinese tea.

But perhaps what many tourists and San Franciscans treasure most about Chinatown  is its food. There is Chinese food to suit everyone's taste, with traditional dishes from all  over China.

Chinatowns are an important part of the diverse culture of the USA. They allow visitors  who have never been to China to experience traditional Chinese culture first hand.

1. Activity 1：Prediction
(1)”Look at the title and picture and predict what kind of article is this?
___________________________________________________________________________________
(2)”Who are the target readers?
___________________________________________________________________________________
(3)”What is the writer’s purpose of writing this text?
___________________________________________________________________________________
2. Activity 2： Reading for main idea
Read the text quickly and match the main idea of the passage.

A.The characteristic of Chinatown. B.The history of Chinatown. C.The introduction of Chinatown’s shops and products. D.The origin of Chinatown. E.The existence value of Chinatown. F.The famous food and drinks of Chinatown.

Para.1_________________
Para.2_________________
Para.3_________________
Para.4_________________
Para.5_________________
Para.6_________________
3. Activity 3 :Reading for details
Read the passage again and answer the questions.
(1)”What are the famous tourist sites in the Chinatown of San Francisco?
___________________________________________________________________________________
(2)”Which is the best season to visit the Chinatown in San Francisco?
___________________________________________________________________________________
(3)”What else can you do there?
___________________________________________________________________________________

9 . Liam Gamer was just 17 years old when he started out on his big adventure — a 32,000-­kilometer bike trip from Alaska to Argentina. In early January, 2023, he finally finished his trip, 17 months after he started.

Liam, an experienced cyclist, had previously ridden from Los Angeles to San Francisco. He made short videos of that trip, and shared them on the social media app TikTok, some of which became quite popular. After reading a book by adventurer Jedidiah Jenkins, who biked from Oregon to Argentina, Liam decided to cycle from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, the northernmost point in the United States accessible by road, to Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost point of South America.

Liam set out on August 1, 2021. At first Liam’s parents weren’t too happy about him taking such a long bike trip by himself though it wouldn’t take that much money. But as he carried on, his parents became his strongest supporters.

After about three months, Liam had crossed the US, going south along the West Coast. By early December, he had reached Mexico, from which his parents came to the US many years ago. “So crossing the entire country on a bike and reconnecting with my culture and learning the language in the place my family is from is so deeply important to me,” Liam explained emotionally. But Liam also faced challenges in Mexico.

He was robbed in Mexico, and at one point, he considered quitting because the incredible heat made biking extremely difficult. In all, he was robbed five times on the trip. He got very sick more than once. In Colombia, he had a bike accident that left him injured and required surgery. In spite of it all, he kept going through rain, sun, heat, cold, deserts and mountains.

Liam finally arrived in his destination on January 10, 2023 — 527 days after he started. He had travelled through 14 countries along the way.

1. What contributed to Liam’s decision to bike through 14 countries?

A．His previous related experiences.

B．His parents’ encouragement.

C．A desire to shoot short videos.

D．A book by Jedidiah Jenkins.

2. Why did Liam feel special in Mexico?

A．He went there for the first time.

B．He found his family tree’s roots.

C．He biked there as scheduled.

D．He had to speak another language.

3. What is the author’s purpose in writing the text?

A．To inspire our love for nature.

B．To promote low­-carbon travel.

C．To encourage us to see our strengths.

D．To call on us to learn a kind of spirit.

10 . Should we allow modern buildings to be built next to older buildings in a historic area of a city? In order to answer this question, we must first examine whether people really want to preserve the historic feel of an area. Not all historical buildings are attractive. However, there may be other reasons—for example, economic reasons—why they should be preserved. So, let us assume(假设)that historical buildings are both attractive and important to the majority of people. What should we do then if a new building is needed?

In my view, new architectural styles can exist perfectly well alongside an older style. Indeed, there are many examples in my own hometown of Tours where modern designs have been placed very successfully next to old buildings. As long as the building in question is pleasing and does not affect its surroundings too much, it often improves the attractiveness of the area.

It is true that there are examples of new buildings which have spoilt the area they are in, but the same can be said of some old buildings too. Yet people still speak against new buildings in historic areas. I think this is simply because people are naturally conservative and do not like change.

Although we have to respect people’s feelings as fellow users of the buildings, I believe that it is the duty of the architect and planner to move things forward. If we always reproduced what was there before, we would all still be living in caves. Thus, I would argue against copying previous architectural styles and choose something fresh and different, even though that might be the more risky choice.

1. What does the author say about historical buildings in Paragraph 1?

A．Some of them are not attractive.

B．Most of them are too expensive to preserve.

C．They are more pleasing than modern buildings.

D．They have nothing to do with the historic feel of an area.

2. Which of the following is true according to the author?

A．We should reproduce the same old buildings.

B．In no way should buildings affect the surroundings.

C．Some old buildings have ruined the area they are in.

D．Nobody knows why people speak against new buildings.

3. By “move things forward” in the last paragraph, the author probably means ________.

A．destroy old buildings

B．put things in a different place

C．choose new architectural styles

D．respect people’s feelings for historical buildings

4. What is the main purpose of the passage?

A．To explain why people dislike change.

B．To warn that we could end up living in caves.

C．To admit how new buildings have ruined their surroundings.

D．To argue that modern buildings can be built in historic areas.