1 . 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.

2. What do we know about the Lisbon trip?

A．The trip features sightseeing.

B．Participants live in homestays.

C．Air ticket is covered in the cost.

D．Tourists experience water sports.

3. What does Zach Beattie expect the participants to do?

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.

4. What can tour-goers do with the dumbphone?

A．Take photos.	B．Access the Internet.
C．Record the trip.	D．Contact group members.

2 . It’s not like anywhere else I’ve been to: readers’ favourite cities.

Bologna, Italy

When I picture Bologna, it’s always bathed in golden-hour light that makes its rust-red walls glow. But what lies beneath the surface bewitches (迷人) just as much. Exploring the small and distinctive museums of the university reveals ancient courtyards. Diving into hidden doors and arches leads to secrets-or food. Music and debate liven evenings in the main square. On my last trip I watched locals in impassioned discussion, taking turns on stools (凳子) in Piazza Maggiore. Not trusting my Italian, I declined an invitation to contribute, but gladly accepted the cherries shared among the crowd.

Siobhan Maher

Melilla, Spain/North Africa

Melilla, on Morocco’s northern coast, is a relic of Spain’s colonial past with a character determined by its geography. Facing the Mediterranean on one side and the Rif mountains on the other, and surrounded by a terrifying border fence, it is definitively multicultural, with Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Hindu communities living side by side with a large force of Spanish soldiers. The cityscape is equally diverse: streets of small Moroccan houses give way to wide avenues lined with “art deco” marvels; it’s even home to Africa’s only genuine Gothic church.

Digby Warde-Aldam

Padua, Italy

Padua is full of fascinating places to see. Saint Anthony’s Basilica, with a magnificent silver sarcophagus (石棺) housing the saint’s body, easily rivals (媲美) Saint Peter’s in Rome. The nearby botanical gardens, filled with plants and flowers, are a delightful way to pass a few hours. In the morning, hit Piazza della Frutta and Piazza delle Erbe, for buzzy markets selling everything from strawberries to sneakers, or pop into the Palazzo della Ragione with its impressive frescoes (壁画). At night, both squares become open-air bars and restaurants for sampling local cuisine. If you have time for a day trip, Verona and Venice are less than an hour away by train.

Berni G

1. What did Siobhan Maher do in Bologna?

A．She drew landscape paintings.	B．She wandered in old courtyards.
C．She participated in heated debate.	D．She bought hand-picked cherries.

2. What do we know about Melilla according to Digby?

A．It boasts the largest Gothic church.	B．It is the center of Moroccan culture.
C．It is bordered by the Mediterranean.	D．It is a historical city in European continent.

3. What do Bologna and Padua have in common according to the text?

A．Lively night life.	B．Splendid gardens.
C．Open-air music concerts.	D．Convenient transportation.

3 . 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.     1     The best purchase we made was for a bus tour that would take us around the capital and point out all the main sites. That allowed us the next day to travel on foot to the ones we especially wanted to see.

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.     2     Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39 are good examples. Just by walking a few blocks, you can tour Aquarium of the Bay and the Riptide Arcade on Pier 39.

    3     If you go to Alcatraz Island, you have a choice of going alone, having a live tour guide or being guided by earphones. I would recommend the live tour guides. I went all three ways, and I received more enjoyment by someone telling me items interest I know I had missed on previous tours.     4     It gives you a behind-the-scenes look of colorful Chinatown. The tour covers history, traditions of the local people and culture that you probably wouldn’t know or see by travelling alone.

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.     5    

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.

4 . 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.

2. The underlined word escort can be replaced by ________.

A．bodyguard

B．companion

C．coach

D．official

3. The purpose of Li’s second visit to Shaoshan was to ________.

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.

4. Where does the text probably come from?

A．A novel.

B．A travel guide.

C．A newspaper.

D． An advertisement.

6 . 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 baths

Budapest 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 House

The 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 Street

Shopping 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.

2. What can visitors do in Hungarian State Opera House if they have a ticket?

A．Enjoy a show.	B．Take a swim.
C．Have a guided tour.	D．Perform an opera.

3. What brings life to the tree-lined avenue during the winter months?

A．Tourist center.

B．Opera house.

C．Lights.

D．Shops.

7 . 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, BC

Vancouver 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, BC

Whistler, 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, BC

Kelowna 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.

2. Which of the following activities is mentioned most frequently?

A．Hiking.

B．Biking.

C．Diving.

D．Skiing.

3. From which is the text probably taken?

A．Research paper.

B．Travel brochure.

C．Geography textbook.

D．Travel journal.

8 . We The Curious

Formerly known as At-Bristol, this harbourside science museum relaunched in 2017 as We The Curious to better reflect its mission to get kids to ask questions and engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem subjects) in creative ways.

Best things about it

My kids don’t shy away from telling me if they think a museum is boring but here they were too busy rushing from one hands-on exhibit to the next to have any such complaint. They dressed up as bees to catch pollen (花粉) made cheese, watched ice form, weighed human brains and stretched out strips of DNA to compare the genetic sequence (基因序列) of a monkey and an armadillo.

Value for money?

Given that the science museums in London, Manchester and Newcastle are free, it does jar (不一致) having to pay £14.50 for adults and £9.50 for kids (aged 3—15) to get in. Kids under 3 are free. I did have to push them out the door at the end of the day. Weeks on, they still refer back to things they learnt there.

Getting there

We The Curious is near the National Cycle Network (routes 3, 4, and 33). The museum has lots of bicycle parking. Alternatively, it’s a 10-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads railway station or a five-minute taxi ride or 17-minute ferry ride. If driving, follow the We The Curious brown signs and park at the Millennium Square car park for free.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday 10 am—5 pm, 10 am-6 pm at weekends and Bristol school holidays; closed 24—26 December.

1. What highlights We The Curious?

A．A long and splendid history.	B．Mental health support for children.
C．Educational and fun activities.	D．A hands-on products exhibition.

2. How much would a couple with their 5-year-old twin sons pay for admission?

A．£29.

B．£33.5.

C．£38.5.

D．£48.

3. What do we learn from the passage?

A．It charges parking fees.	B．It opens all year round.
C．It is conveniently located.	D．It offers many types of bikes.

9 . Immersive cultural tourism has recently gained immense popularity, riding on the wave of consumer demand for interactive and engaging experiences.

“Immersive” has become a buzzword in recent years. It involves deep absorption in an environment or activity. It takes two primary forms: one constructs real or virtual worlds, transporting individuals into new worlds; while the other employs online platforms like livestreaming, videos, and augmented reality to immerse people in specific events.

Immersive cultural tourism is reshaping travel by offering deeper, more meaningful experiences that go beyond the conventional aspects of “travel, shopping, and entertainment”. It encourages in-depth exploration and interactive leisure, as demonstrated by various attractions.

In Xi’an, the Tang Dynasty Everbright City transports visitors to the magnificence of the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty Treasure Box interactive game has gained popularity. In Yangzhou, the China Grand Canal Museum digitally showcases the Grand Canal’s history and culture, offering a comprehensive exploration experience. In Dunhuang, the Ancient Sound of Dunhuang allows visitors to explore mural paintings in an immersive manner.

These attractions breathe new life into traditional culture and present it in a fresh light. From a content perspective, immersive cultural tourism covers various cultural themes, including historical, revolutionary, and ecological aspects. These experiences immerse tourists in the past, present, and even the world of imagination. From a technological perspective, it makes use of innovations like 5G, high-quality screens, virtual reality and artificial intelligence, enabling visitors to engage in a storyline.

Immersive cultural tourism is transforming the way people travel by offering in-depth exploration, interactive experiences and meaningful learning opportunities. It promotes tourism from the shallow focus on sightseeing to a complete engagement with culture and history. Additionally, it plays an irreplaceable role in promoting cultural heritage, sharing China’s stories, enhancing cultural confidence, and fostering cultural development, making it a vital part of the travel industry.

1. What are the two basic forms of immersive cultural tourism?

A．Traditional and modern activities.	B．Real-world and digital exploration.
C．Real or virtual worlds and online platforms.	D．Livestreaming and augmented reality.

2. How does the Tang Dynasty Treasure Box reshape travelling?

A．By showcasing ancient mural paintings.	B．By promoting modern shopping technology.
C．By offering a digital exploration experience.	D．By immersing visitors with interactive game.

3. What technologies are used by immersive cultural tourism from a technological perspective?

A．Various cultural themes.	B．Ineffective storytelling techniques.
C．Basic Internet and high-quality screens.	D．Virtual reality and artificial intelligence.

4. What is the main idea of the last paragraph?

A．The impact of immersive cultural tourism.

B．The decline of traditional travel practices.

C．The significance of budget-friendly travel options.

D．The rise of advanced technology in the tourism industry.