1 . National Parks, Wyoming
A bike tour is a great way to access busy national parks. This six-day trip is a big loop out of Jackson 5s Rustic Inn Creekside Resort and Spa, with stops along the way to check out hot springs, moose (驼鹿) and the grizzly bear. Available June to September 2022; $3,095, vbt.com
Death Valley, California
This three-day trip starts with a meet and greet in Las Vegas before exploring a ghost town, on foot. Then the biking starts through the desert, heading to a hotel in time to catch a Death Valley sunset. The next day ifs a nearly 50-mile ride to the edge of a crater (火山口). Available October 2021 through December 2022; $1,649, rei.com
Finger Lakes, New York
This 121-mile bike tour snakes its way around Canandaigua lakes and rolling hills over five days. It starts with a wine tasting, then lunch and a ride through farmland. With only about 30 miles a day of riding, there’s plenty of time to try local wines and have a spa. Available June to July 2022;$5,499, trek travel. com
Florida Keys
Unless you book a custom trip, tours that include teens and kids can be difficult to find. Keep younger travelers engaged by mixing bike rides with other activities, like kayaking (独木舟), snorkeling, hiking and stand-up paddle boarding. This five-day trip heads south from Miami, through the Everglades National Park, and out to Key West. Along the way kids can learn to fish like the locals while parents can relax in excellent accommodations. Available December 2021 and December 2022;from $3,999, backroads. com
1. Which tour is the most suitable for families?A.National Parks, Wyoming | B.Death Valley, California |
C.Finger Lakes, New York | D.Florida Keys |
A.Learning to fish. | B.Seeing wild animals. |
C.Appreciating the sunset. | D.Trying local wines. |
A.Seeing the world from a bike seat. | B.Having a taste of farm life. |
C.Exploring local food on a bike trip. | D.Getting the most out of national parks. |
2 . Inakadate, a Japanese village of around 7, 000 people, is considered the home of a rice field art form. In the early 1990s, local authorities realized that youths were moving to big urban centers in large numbers, and started brainstorming for ways of breathing new life into the village. One of the proposed ideas was an art form inspired by the local’s traditional rice planting, done by hand for hundreds of years. Called Tanbo Art, it involved the use of different rice varieties to turn local rice fields into giant canvases (画布).
The first rice field artwork was displayed in 1993, when purple and yellow rice plants were used to create a detailed picture of Mt. Iwaki. The project was such a huge success that Inakadate authorities decided to turn it into a yearly event. Nowadays, a viewing platform is often set up somewhere above the rice field, from which people can admire the unique artwork.
To create the impressively massive field artworks, the locals use a technique unique to Japan, which involves surveying the rice fields, perspective drawing, and the planting of various types of rice plants to create the desired visual effect. Tanbo Art has come a long way in the last three decades, with designs gradually becoming larger and more complex.
Some of the most elaborate (精心制作的) rice field artworks created in Inakadate have required the use of no less than 10 rice plants in color. The process starts in the spring months, and by early summer, the fruits of this labor become clearly visible. July and August are the best months to visit this famous Japanese village.
There are many locals who say that rice field art has saved Inakadate, bringing in impressive numbers of tourists from all over the world every year, and boosting the local economy. The success of Inakadate inspired other rice cultivating communities to borrow the Tanbo Art concept, and today you can find this sort of impressive rice field artworks all across Japan.
1. The rice field art was originally built to ______.A.promote its traditional rice planting | B.turn local rice fields into giant canvases |
C.promote the tourist industry of the village | D.make the village more lively and energetic |
A.farming | B.population | C.tourist industry | D.rice consumption |
A.early spring is the best months to visit Inakadate |
B.many countries also follow the example of Inakadate |
C.a viewing platform can help tourists enjoy the rice field artworks |
D.no less than 10 rice plants were used to create the first rice field artwork |
A.Travel. | B.Economy. | C.Technology. | D.Local news. |
3 . 4 places in the Midwest that look like they could be in Europe
If an expensive overseas trip isn’t in the cards for you right now, don’t worry. Take a road trip from Chicago and check out these Mid-western tourist spots that look like they’re straight out of a European postcard.
★Niles, Illinois
If you visit a square at 6300 W. Touhy Avenue, you’ll find a pleasantly European surprise — a half-sized copy of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Constructed in1934 to hide a water tower, the Leaning Tower of Niles stands 94 feet tall with a 7. 4-foot tilt which looks like the Italian one.
★Lindsborg, Kansas
Originally settled by Swedish immigrants, Lindsborg’s Scandinavian culture remains clear through public art and Swedish specialty shops, so prepare to collect Scandinavia n clothes, cookies, and wine. Best of all are the town’s yearly Scandinavian celebrations, where you’ll find various Swedish traditions.
★Frankenmuth, Michigan
Lovingly called “Little Bavaria”, this central Michigan town look like they’ve been transported straight out of a Franconian village. For the full Bavarian experience, you can stop by one of its restaurants for traditional German food. You can also learn a little more about the town’s Franconian origins.
★New Glarus, Wisconsin
Many people in Chicago know New Glarus for its brewery. Take a walk there and you’ll soon realize why it’s called “Little Switzerland”. Named after the big city of Glarus in Switzerland, New Glarus’ wooden houses, Swiss restaurants and museums, and gently hilled landscapes make for an almost Alpine(阿尔卑斯山的)experience.
1. What is the best part of a trip to Lindsborg, Kansas?A.The local natural scenery. |
B.The Scandinavian celebrations. |
C.The Scandinavian dressing culture. |
D.The traditional Scandinavia n foods. |
A.Niles, Illinois. | B.Lindsborg, Kansas. |
C.Frankenmuth, Michigan. | D.New Glarus, Wisconsin. |
A.For its famous brewery. | B.For its Alpine-style design. |
C.For its main Swiss population. | D.For the same city name of Glarus. |
4 . Chongming Island, located at the mouth of the Yangtze River in China, is a beautiful and scenic destination that offers a unique blend (融合) of natural beauty and cultural heritage. Here are a few attractions you can not miss.
Forest Park
Chongming Forest Park is a perfect place for nature enthusiasts and treats visitors to the purest of air, a welcome escape from city living. You’ll be greeted by a kaleidoscope (万花筒) of ever-changing flowers, each season offering its own unique display of color and fragrance. It’s a visual feast for the senses. In the heart of the park lies an orchid greenhouse that will simply take your breath away.
Mingzhu Lake Park
This park is famous for its picturesque lake, which is surrounded by plenty of greenery and dotted with attractive buildings. Visitors can take a pleasant walk along the lakeside or rent a boat to explore the lake. The park also hosts various cultural events and performances, providing visitors with a glimpse into the local culture.
Sanmin Cultural Village
The Sanmin Cultural Village acts as a bridge between the past and the present, creating a lasting connection to Chongming’s cultural identity. Here you can discover the homespun textile technique. It’s really an efficient way of making clothes. At Sanmin park, you can discover the Poetic Root Art Museum. The museum is all about nature and art. Root art takes old tree roots and turns them into beautiful artworks. It’s like a special kind of painting but made from nature’s own materials.
Oxygen Land
Farming in China, celebrated through the ancient farming calendar, reflects a deep connection to nature. At Oxygen Land, you witness the union of ancient wisdom and modern responsibility. It’s a beautiful blend of tradition and ecological awareness as well as a connection that bridges the past and present, emphasizing the harmony of humanity with the land.
1. Who may be interested in Forest Park?A.Mountain climbers. | B.Busy farmers. |
C.Village teachers. | D.City residents. |
A.Forest Park. | B.Mingzhu Lake Park. |
C.Oxygen Land. | D.Sanmin Cultural Village. |
A.They display different techniques of making clothes. |
B.They show advanced development of ancient farming. |
C.They own some special museums with beautiful artworks. |
D.They function as a connection between the past and the present. |
5 . 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. 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, 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 goes 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 get free pizza. | B.The chance to get trained in a large company. |
C.The chance to get a good knowledge of Walmart. | D.The chance to join interesting festivals. |
A.Play games with students of Yale. | B.Shake hands with famous people. |
C.Admire old buildings. | D.Attend some free parties. |
A.Bentonville. | B.Western Kansas. | C.Anchorage. | D.New Haven. |
6 . DiscoverCars. com has listed the best scenic spots in Europe for an autumn getaway. Here are the top four:
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona takes first place, with the highest number of cheap restaurants and budget (经济型) hotels. There are many hidden treasures in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter, so it’s a great city for explorers.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is listed in second place –also moving up one position from last year’s results. Lisbon has the highest average temperature from September to November out of all cities. The city is famous for its artists and its Fado music, so there’s plenty for people looking for culture.
Berlin, Germany
In third place is Berlin, offering a range of different experiences. If you are travelling to party, then the world famous clubs that call Berlin home could be for you. If you are looking for history, then few cities have been at the heart of world politics (政治) in the same way that Berlin has.
Budapest, Hungary
In fourth place is Budapest. Budapest has an average of 56mm of rainfall during the Autumn months, the second lowest out of all cities. Buda, famous for being quiet and beautiful and Pest, for its nightlife and tourist attractions, form two halves of Budapest and are separated by the Danube River.
1. Which city has the lowest cost of food and hotel stay?A.Barcelona, Spain. | B.Lisbon, Portugal. |
C.Berlin, Germany. | D.Budapest, Hungary. |
A.Barcelona and Lisbon. | B.Lisbon and Berlin. |
C.Berlin and Budapest. | D.Budapest and Barcelona. |
A.Music. | B.Business. | C.Technology. | D.Tourism. |
7 . The driving routes on this list are open to the public and don’t require any special skills. Go out, explore and enjoy!
The Atlantic Road
NORWAY
The 5-mile road runs through an archipelago (群岛) of the Norwegian Sea, having eight impressive bridges on the way. It’s a popular place for car companies to film advertisements (广告).
Ring of Kerry
IRELAND
This 111-mile roadway offers up scenery and history in equal parts, on landscapes ranging from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to deep forests. Parts of the road date back 10,000 years and roadway stops include the island monastery (修道院) of Skellig Michael and the Iron-Age Staigue stone fort (要塞).
Million Dollar Highway
COLORADO
The impressive views along this 25-mile highway are reason enough to make a point of taking the route. Colorado provides plenty of opportunities along the way like hiking, camping, rock climbing, snowshoeing and whitewater rafting. Stop in Durango or Telluride to enjoy Western U. S. shopping.
National Route A006
LAS CUEVAS,ARGENTINA
If carving curves is your thing, National Route A006 is the place to be. The curviest part of the road—with over 60 turns—runs from Las Cuevas to La Cumbre Pass. The roadway only opens in the summer, connecting the scenic (风景优美的) wine-growing area of Argentina with Chile’s capital, Santiago.
1. What is special about Ring of Kerry?A.It is 25 miles long. | B.It provides rock climbing opportunities. |
C.It offers ancient attractions. | D.It only opens in summer and autumn. |
A.The Atlantic Road. | B.Ring of Kerry. |
C.Million Dollar Highway. | D.National Route A006. |
A.They are in Asia. | B.They are scenic places to drive. |
C.They are forest road routes. | D.They are popular movie filming locations. |
8 . The Ardennes, Belgium
A slow tour of beautiful Ardennes, Belgium. Enjoy the fine food, excellent produce, and unexpected scenes of Ardennes on this self-guided tour. This area was the scene of the Battle of the Bulge, one of the deciding battles as American and British forces freed Belgium in the early months of 1945. You’ll see the museum in La Roche in memory of the Battle of the Bulge.
This walk introduces you to a beautiful unspoiled (未受破坏的) part of Belgium. With its woodlands, rivers and rolling hills the walk is sure to be interesting. The area is also well known worldwide for its cooking.
The tour takes you 160 kms across the valleys of the Ourthe, the Lhomme, the Lesse and the Semois. You walk along the long-distance footpath — The Transardennaise — which is very well waymarked on farm and forest tracks. The walks can be adapted to meet each person’s wishes.
Price:
This holiday can be adapted so that you stay for as many nights as you wish — anything from 2 to 8 nights. Price per person is based on 2 people sharing:
·3 days / 2 nights: £310
·4 days / 3 nights: £425
·5 days / 4 nights: £565
·6 days / 5 nights: £675
·7 days / 6 nights: £795
·8 days / 7 nights: £925
·9 days / 8 nights: £1,050
Included:
·Accommodation (膳宿) on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis each night in family-run hotels
·Luggage transportation (1 bag per person weighing no more than 15kg — extra bags can be paid for locally at 10 euro per day)
·Route notes and maps
·Discount (折扣) card for the area
For more information, please contact (44) (0) 1242254353.
1. Which of the following provides different routes to meet tourists’ tastes?A.The Transardennaise. | B.The local food streets. |
C.The unspoiled woodlands. | D.The museum in La Roche. |
A.The types of rooms. | B.The locations of the hotels. |
C.The tourist routes each day. | D.The number of travel days. |
A.Breakfast. | B.Guide service. |
C.Bag transportation. | D.Entrance to tourist attractions. |
9 . Summer is always a busy travel season, but even at peak times like July, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll see lots of hotels with No Vacancy (空房) signs. More and more travelers are choosing instead to stay in vacation rentals: decorated private houses, rooms, or apartments that only you and your party share for the period of your stay. Or you can get adventurous and book a cabin, a tree house, a houseboat, or even a castle.
The idea appeared in 2007, when Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, the owners of a hotel, realizing that a San Francisco tech meeting would make hotel rooms in the area harder to come by, let travelers sleep on air mattresses (充气床垫) in their apartment for a fee. They called it Air Bed and Breakfast, and the company—now known as Airbnb—is worth almost $100 billion today and has six million listings worldwide.
More space is a major attraction of this accommodation (住宿): the average hotel room measures just 330 square feet, while the average vacation rental room tops 1,300. And in 20 of the largest U. S. cities, average daily rates are comparable to (or slightly lower than) those of hotels.
If you’re willing to share your own digs while you’re away, Love Home Swap pairs you with like-minded travelers for stays in each other’s homes for a membership fee as low as $ 11 per month. If you’d like to list your home, check your local zoning laws, as some areas have strict rules on short-term rentals. In parts of Honolulu, a new law taking effect in October will up the minimum stay to 90 days.
1. What can we learn from Paragraph 1?A.Vacation rentals have replaced hotels nowadays. |
B.Travelers have more options of where to live now. |
C.Hotels have no empty rooms during travel seasons. |
D.Instead of staying in rentals, travelers choose private rooms. |
A.The presence of the Airbnb. | B.The requirement of travelers. |
C.The shortage of hotel rooms. | D.The popularity of air mattresses. |
A.become its member first. | B.rent your house for free. |
C.list your house for at least 90 days. | D.find partners with the similar ideas. |
A.To list the various rentals for travelers. |
B.To urge hotels to take on more vacation rentals. |
C.To compare two different ways to spend vacation. |
D.To introduce a new trend on vacation accommodation. |
10 . Mammoth Cave National Park, in the state of Kentucky, is a unique and historical natural wonder. It has the world’s longest cave system. There may be another 600 miles of cave passageways that have yet to be explored. In addition, more than 200 caves that are disconnected from the larger system can be found in the park.
The underground caves were created naturally by the process of limestone (石灰岩) erosion. Rain and rivers slowly dissolve (溶解) and shape soft limestone. The system is still being shaped today. Not only are they an amazing destination to visit, but the system also provides drinking water for about 40% of the US population.
The caves’ first explorers were Native Americans, who mined (采矿) the upper levels of Mammoth Cave. Later, the sites were left in great shape and began to draw public interest.
Mammoth Cave was made into a national park thanks to strong support. Back in the 1920s, the Southern Appalachian National Park Commission was set up in 1925. After years of work, as well as building roads and public facilities, the park was completed on July 1, 1941.
The park now receives around 2 million visitors a year, with about a quarter taking a tour of the caves—everything from a cultural tour to the more adventurous tours on offer. The cave supports more than 130 wildlife species (物种). The park is also much more than just a cave; the forest around has a diverse (多种多样的) range of species. There are miles of trails open for horseback riding, with canoe trails and great fishing spots. There are also more than 1,300 flowering species in the forest, and animals like wood warblers, thrushes, and bald eagles can regularly be seen.
1. What can we learn about Mammoth Cave from the first two paragraphs?A.It was made by ancient people. | B.It has the length of 600 miles. |
C.It is made up of 200 connected caves. | D.It has a large underground system. |
A.Explorers mine the upper levels. | B.The government searches for drinkable water. |
C.Water dissolves limestone. | D.People build roads and public facilities. |
A.More than 1,300 flowers grow in the caves. |
B.The park offers visitors diverse experiences. |
C.Most visitors come to the park just for caves. |
D.Two million people have visited the park till now. |
A.Planning cave tours around the world |
B.Exploring the world’s longest cave system |
C.Learning about the explorers of Mammoth Cave |
D.Predicting the future of Mammoth Cave National Park |