1 . While temperatures continue to climb, visitors are still coming to see Death Valley National Park on the California-Nevada border. The park is known as the hottest place on Earth. This past weekend, the temperatures climbed to 53.33℃. Most visitors at this time of year make it only a short distance to any area in the park before returning to the cool air in their vehicles.
Early information from the park service shows that across the nation’s 424 national parks, at least four people have died this year from heat-related causes. That includes a 65-year-old man from San Diego who was found dead at Death Valley earlier this month.
Death Valley National Park suggests visitors be careful and not have expectations of rescue. While park rangers (护林员) drive on park roads and can aid tourists in need, it is unsure that lost visitors will get help in time.
Physical activity can make the heat feel even worse and leave people exhausted. Alessia Dempster, who was visiting from Edinburgh, Scotland, said, “It’s very hot especially when there’s a gentle wind. You would think maybe that would give you some slight relief from the heat, but it just really does feel like an air blow dryer just going back in your face.”
Death Valley is a narrow area that is below sea level and surrounded by high mountains, the park service’s website says. The dry air and small plant coverage let sunlight heat up the park surface. The heat then becomes trapped in the valley.
Still, several areas in Death Valley continue to draw tourists. Badwater Basin, made up of salt flats, is considered the lowest point in all of North America. The 183-meter Ubehebe Crater dates back over 2,000 years. And Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise viewing spot.
Josh Miller, a visitor from Indianapolis who has been to 20 national parks so far, shared that feeling. “It’s hot, but the scenery is awesome,” he said.
1. What do most visitors do in Death Valley?| A．Cool themselves in time. | B．Do lots of physical exercises. |
| C．Stay away from park rangers. | D．Carry dryers with themselves. |
| A．To encourage the elderly to travel more. |
| B．To express admiration for mountain climbers. |
| C．To advise people to tour Death Valley more often. |
| D．To show the danger of traveling in Death Valley. |
| A．Its covering area. | B．Its attractive spots. |
| C．The reason why it is so hot. | D．The service of its park’s website. |
| A．It has a short history. | B．It is worth visiting. |
| C．It draws fewer and fewer tourists. | D．It is unsuitable for viewing sunrise. |
2 . I. M. Pei, one of the world’s most famous building designers, died at age 102. Mr. Pei created buildings which are known and appreciated around the world. Mr. Pei’s style of architecture is called “modern” or “modernist”. This style of architecture makes use of newer building materials, such as concrete(混凝土), glass and metal. Modernist buildings are often designed with straight lines, without a lot of decorations. Modern architecture appeared at the end of the 19th century from changes in technology, engineering and building materials, and from a wish to break away from historical architectural styles and to invent something that was totally functional and new.
Mr. Pei designed many different kinds of buildings, including libraries, concert halls, office buildings, hotels, hospitals and skyscrapers. But he’s probably famous for some of his museums, like the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. Perhaps Mr. Pei’s best-known building is the Pyramid he created as a new entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Like many of Mr. Pei’s designs, it wasn’t all that popular at first, but over time, people came to love it. Now it is one of the main reasons why people visit the museum. Another famous building of his is the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, China. Mr. Pei said he wanted it to look a bit like bamboo.
Mr. Pei put a lot of thoughts into his designs. He studied carefully before he designed each building. For example, he didn’t like rock and roll music, but he went to rock concerts before he designed the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. He read books, studied music and visited many musicians. He preferred his students or teammates who came from different cultural backgrounds.
Not all of Mr. Pei’s buildings were triumphant. The Hancock Tower in Boston is one example. The huge glass-covered skyscraper was nearly finished when the bad thing happened. Some glass began falling out of the building. They had to be replaced with plywood(胶合板) until a solution could be found. The problem was a headache and took years to fix.
1. What does Mr. Pei’s architecture look like?| A．Simple. | B．Strange. | C．Traditional. | D．Classical. |
| A．The East Building of the National Gallery of Art. |
| B．The new entrance to the Louvre Museum. |
| C．The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. |
| D．The Bank of China Tower. |
| A．To enjoy the music. | B．To meet the singers. |
| C．To ask for advice on his design. | D．To prepare himself for a design. |
| A．Unique. | B．Successful. | C．Completed. | D．Famous. |
3 . Cheapest Islands in the World to Visit
Grand Bahama Island, The Bahamas
As the northernmost of the 700 islands of the Bahamas, Grand Bahama dishes up plenty of cheap activities alongside its white-sand beaches. Visiting Lucayan National Park, which is home to both beloved Gold Rock Beach and one of the largest underwater cave (洞穴) systems in the world, is an affordable trip. There are hotel rooms at $80 a night.
Madeira, Portugal
Though closer to mainland Africa, Madeira is a part of Portugal known for its breathtaking natural beauty. Visitors can find hotels starting at $85 a night, and enjoy plenty of low-cost activities, like rowing a boat around the volcanic Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and admiring the never-ending views around the island. No wonder it’s been called the “Hawaii of Europe”.
Dominican Republic
Looking for one of the least expensive Caribbean islands? The Dominican Republic is full of affordable surprises. In Santo Domingo, walk around Zona Colonial, the historic heart of the country’s capital, you’ll find castles, cathedrals (教堂), cobblestone streets, and cafés around every corner. During the low season (summer), you can find hotel deals starting at $33 a night.
Sri Lanka
Do you want to spend just $25～50 a day? Then go to Sri Lanka. Since the South Asian island country is one of the largest tea producers in the world, start with a tea factory tour on a peaceful hike. Taking a train ride through the hills from Kandy to Badulla or from Colombo to Galle is an enjoyable and affordable way to see the countryside.
1. What can you do in Lucayan National Park?| A．Visit a huge castle. | B．Enjoy the beautiful beach. |
| C．Swim in Porto Moniz. | D．Go on a tea factory tour. |
| A．It requires booking. | B．It has historic sites. |
| C．It is famous for tea. | D．It is closed in summer. |
| A．Dominica. | B．The Bahamas. | C．Portugal. | D．Sri Lanka. |
4 . With the approaching of New Year, more and more visitors will come to China. Don’t know where you should go? Here are some places recommended for you.
Shanghai Expo Culture Park
The Shanghai Expo Culture Park will soon open its northern section to the public, in which the major attractions include a traditional garden that is similar in design to Shanghai’s famous Yuyuan Garden and a 400-meter avenue exhibiting the history of the area, while in the southern section lies a grand theater.
Macao Tower AJ Hackett Bungee Jump
The Macao Tower, 338 meters tall, is the world’s 10th highest tower, with a variety of activities, such as eating and entertainment. One of the activities which enjoy good fame is the bungee jump. The AJ Hackett Macao Tower Bungee Jump is 233 meters high, making it a Guinness World Record as the highest commercial (商业的) bungee jump in the world. Raise your arms and off you go!
Harbin’s Frozen World
For those who have never been to Harbin, there is an almost endless list of things to do. At Harbin Ice—Snow World, you can not only see the world—famous ice architecture, but also have great fun! You can have hotpot at the restaurants which are made of ice, enjoying the product of both ice and fire, go down the world’s longest ice slide (滑梯) and join in the popular Ice and Snow Electronic Music Festival to welcome 2024.
The winter is cold and the night is long, so why not go to the theatre? Harbin was listed by the United Nations as a “music city” in 2010. Harbin Grand Theater is where artistic souls defrost (化霜) a little to share their love of art.
1. Where should visitors go if they want to do extreme sports?| A．Shanghai Expo Culture Park. | B．The Macao Tower. |
| C．Shangha’s Yuyuan Garden. | D．Harbin Ice—Snow World. |
| A．Attend a famous music festival. | B．Play with both ice and fire. |
| C．Turn water into instant ice. | D．Learn to make ice architecture. |
| A．They have a high tower. | B．They have a long ice slide. |
| C．They have a grand theater. | D．They have traditional architecture. |
5 . Museums become the next stop many students want to visit at their leisure.
Have you ever started your visit by waiting in line in front of the museum for a few hours just to get in? And that’s the sad reality when visiting many of those world-famous museums. Thus, be smart to browse the instructions for visiting and book in advance online.
What if you don’t like some museums? Then don’t visit them! I’m not a massive fan of parks, so I would hardly ever end up in any park while travelling.
There is nothing worse than impolite manners while visiting. We’ve all witnessed that guy being yelled at by the security for touching or taking flash photos.
All of these ground rules are often neglected by us. Bear them in mind before setting off, and you will enjoy your museum tour!
| A．It’s the same with the museums |
| B．But most of them do it all wrong |
| C．If you haven’t, don’t let it be you |
| D．That way you can have an easy access |
| E．The first step is to research how to enjoy everything |
| F．Sometimes you have to admit museum tiredness is a real thing |
| G．Generally, there is no right or wrong way to visit a museum |
Departs：May-October 2007
Includes：
●Return flights from 6 China’s airports to Naples
●Return airport to hotel transport
●Seven nights’ accommodation at the 3-star Hotel Nice
●Breakfast
●The service of guides
●Government taxes
Join us for a wonderful holiday in one of the Europe’s most wonderful corners-Naples in Italy if you want to have a nice time in a beautiful small quiet place. The ancient Romans called the city “happy land” with attractive coastline, colorful towns, splendid views and the warm Mediterranean Sea. Your best choice for a truly memorable holiday!
Choose between the peaceful traditional villages of Sant’ Agata, set on a hillside six miles away from Sorrento, or the more lively and well-known international resort town of Sorrento, with wonderful views over the Bay of Naples.
Breathtaking scenery, famous sights and European restaurants everywhere. From the mysterious Isle of Capri to the hunting ruins of Pompeii, and from the unforgettable “Amalfi Drive” to the delightful resorts of Positano, Sorrento and Ravello, the area is a feast for the eyes! Join us, and you won’t be disappointed!
Price based on two tourists sharing a double room at the Hotel Nice. A single room, another ￥2,000. A group of ten college students , ￥10,000 for each .
Like to know more? Telephone Newmarket Air Holidays Ltd on : 0845—226—7788(All calls charged at local rates).
1. Who is the advertisement intended for?| A．Potential tourists. | B．College students. |
| C．Quiet people. | D．Old people. |
| A．transport between the airport and the hotel |
| B．telephone calls made by tourists |
| C．the service of guides to tourists |
| D．double rooms for every two tourists |
| A．￥12,000 | B．￥10,000 |
| C．￥2,000 | D．￥14,000 |
7 . China has a lot to offer. Do you want to take a China tour? Here are some of our best sellers.
Tour 1 Wonders of China ( Price: $2,699 )
Beijing—Xi’an—Guilin—Yangshuo—Yangtze River—Shanghai
Suitable for those who love splendid Chinese culture, unique natural scenery and more leisure holiday. Visit Forbidden City, walk up to Great Wall, see amazing Terracotta Warriors, take cruise along Yangtze River and ride bikes along Yangshuo country.
Tour 2 Water Town and Yellow Mountains Tour ( Price: $1,409 )
Shanghai—Suzhou—Huangshan—Hangzhou—Shanghai
Suitable for those who like interesting water town traditions and amazing scenery. See gorgeous Yellow Mountains scenery and the prosperous Shanghai, visit a famous water town - Tongli, explore the classical beauty of Hangzhou and Suzhou.
Tour 3 Authentic Yunnan Discovery ( Price: $1,629 )
Kunming—Dali—Lijiang—Shangri-La
Suitable for those who are interested in minority (少数民族) culture and snow mountain. The Stone Forest, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge show you the creativity of the nature and the Lijiang Ancient Townand Shangri-La show you the colorful culture of the minorities there.
Tour 4 Golden Silk Road ( Price: $1,749 )
Xi’an—Dunhuang—Turpan—Urumqi
Suitable for those who are eager to uncover the secret of the Silk Road. Listen to the stories about the ancient Silk Road and see the relics on the channel which connected the eastern and western world.
Tour 5 In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour ( Price:$1,509 )
Shanghai—Xi’an—Luoyang—Dengfeng—Beijing
Suitable for Kungfu fans who want to learn Kungfu in Shaolin Temple. Lighten your trip by learning the most authentic Chinese Kungfu at Shaolin Temple, and the Longmen Grottoesc石窟) in Luoyang help you understand the spirit of Kungfu.
1. If the tourists want to explore the beauty of the snow mountain, they would probably choose ________.| A．In Pursuit of Kungfu Tour | B．Golden Silk Road |
| C．Authentic Yunnan Discovery | D．Wonders of China |
| A．Tongli is famous for the interesting water town traditions. |
| B．Beijing and Shanghai are the two common cities in Tour 1 and Tour 2. |
| C．Tourists can experience the culture of the minorities on the Silk Road. |
| D．Kungfu fans can learn Kungfu in the Longmen Grottoes. |
| A．show visitors the importance of some cities |
| B．supply visitors with the information of some China tours |
| C．offer visitors some trip tips |
| D．tell visitors the splendid Chinese culture |
8 . These days a green building means more than just the color of the paint. Green building can also refer to environmentally friendly houses, factories, and offices.
Green building means “reducing the impact (影响) of the building on the land”, Taryn Holowka of the U.S. Green Building Council in Washington, D.C., said.
According to Holowka, building accounts for (占了) 65 percent of total U.S. electricity use.
But green building can reduce energy and water use. Also, the building are often located near public transportation such as buses and subways, so that people can drive their cars less. That could be good for the environment, because cars use lots of gas and give off pollution. Green building are often built on developed land, so that the buildings don’t destroy forests.
Marty Dettling is project manger for a building that put these ideas into action . The Solaire has been called the country’s first green high-rise building. According to Dettling, “We’ve reduced our energy use by one-third and our water by 50 percent,”
The Solaire cuts energy in past by using solar power. “ On the face of the building we have solar panels which change the sun’s energy into electricity,” Dettling explained.
The Solaire also has lights that automatically turn off when people leave the room. In addition, the building has lots of windows, allowing people to use the sun for light during the day. The Solaire cuts water reusing it.
Not everyone is eager to move into a green building, however. Some people think that things like solar panels cost more money than more traditional energy sources. Anyhow, Holowka said, “It’s going to be big.”
1. In the second paragraph, the underlined words “the building” most probably refer to ____.| A．an ordinary building | B．an energy-saving building |
| C．a green-colored building | D．a building in Washington D.C. |
| A．which has thick forests around |
| B．which has already been for buildings |
| C．where people of high income live |
| D．where traveling around by car is most convenient |
| A．will be more comfortable |
| B．will become popular in future |
| C．will be more environmentally friend |
| D．will take the place of traditional building |
| A．Dettling designed the first green building in the U.S. |
| B．Energy shortage calls for buildings of new design. |
| C．Green building help save environment. |
| D．The Solaire serves as a model of high building. |
9 . The Huaqing Palace Heritage Site
Star Pool
It was built in 644 AD for Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty (朝代). It is said that at first there was no cover for the pool so that he could enjoy the shining stars of the night while taking a bath.
Huaqing Hot Springs
They were named "The First Hot Springs in the World" in the Tang dynasty by Emperor Xuanzong. The water temperature stays at 43°C all year round. It was first used as an imperial pool during the Zhou dynasty (1046 BC-256 BC)
Tang Well
It has a long history of over 1,300 years and measures 1.9 metres long, 1.26 metres wide and 8. 3 metres deep. It was used just by Yang Yuhuan for drinking water.
Imperial Concubine Pool (贵妃池)
It was built in 747 AD for the famous beauty Yang Yuhuan. It takes the shape of a Chinese crab apple (海棠) flower, and is where Emperor Xuanzong and Yang Yuhuan took baths every winter.
Address: At the foot of Lishan Mountain in Litong, 30 kilometres east of Xi'an.
Opening hours: From March to November: 7:00 - 18:00
From December to February: 7:30 - 18:30
Bus routes: 914, 915, U5, and 306
1. Which of the following has the longest history?
| A．Star Pool. | B．Huaqing Hot Springs. |
| C．Tang Well. | D．Imperial Concubine Pool. |
| A．It is half-divided. | B．It is flower-shaped. | C．It is for drinking. | D．It has no cover. |
| A．It is on the mountain top. | B．It is 30 kilometres west of Xi'an. |
| C．It has five bus routes travelling along. | D．It stays open for eleven hours a day. |
10 . The Four Most Exotic Black Sand Beaches in the World
Papenoo Beach: Tahiti, French Polynesia
Popular with surfers, this remote black beach on Tahiti’s northern coast boasts some of the most impressive waves in the world. Here you will discover more breathtaking natural beauty of the island, with its green mountains and picturesque scenery. Not- to-be- missed sights include the spectacular waterfalls: Topatari, Puraha and Vaiharuru falls.
Lovina Beach: Indonesia
A highlight of this beach destination is visiting Kalibukbuk, one of the coastal villages along Lovina Beach, and the Kalibukbuk Buddhist temple on the beach. There is also an abundance of incredible marine and underwater life, so diving is a popular relaxation, but the main draw for beachgoers is spotting the playful bottle nosed dolphins.
Stokksnes Beach: Iceland
One of Iceland’s most dramatic landscapes is the mountain Vestrahorn on the Stokksnes peninsula in southeast Iceland. The magical setting here was featured in the Bollywood movie Dilwale. It’s a popular destination for photographers but surprisingly not a big tourist spot; this privately owned land charges a small fee to visit. You can visit the Stokksnes beach on a group Ring Road tour or a self-driving circuit of the country.
Perissa Beach: Santorini, Greece
Situated in southeastern Santorini, this unique black beach boasts crystal clear waters and the rocky Mesa Vouno mountain. For more active pursuits beyond sunbathing and swimming, visitors can rent water sports equipment for other fun activities like diving. You can also hike to the top of Mesa Vouno to visit the ancient ruins of the city of Thera.
1. Which of the following landscapes is a must for tourists in Papenoo Beach?| A．Waves. | B．Valleys. | C．Mountains. | D．Waterfalls. |
| A．Papenoo Beach. | B．Lovina Beach. |
| C．Stokksnes Beach. | D．Perissa Beach. |
| A．They are good places to hike. |
| B．Visitors can go diving for relaxation. |
| C．Both are rich in underwater life. |
| D．Tourists can visit ancient coastal villages. |
