1 . Over the past decade, more and more travelers have been embracing the idea of slow travel. One of the most popular methods of slow travel, if you have the time, is by rail. Here are our picks for some of the best train rides in the world.
The Glacier Express
The Glacier Express takes more than eight hours to cross the 180-mile journey between Zermatt and St. Moritz in Switzerland at an average of 18 mph. The classic red train journey brings you to Europe’s mountains at their very best — with views of snow-covered forests and peaks included!
The Nilgiri Mountain Railway
Running through Tamil Nadu State, the train is the slowest in India due to an extremely steep gradient on the route. It takes nearly five hours to cover a distance of 46 km. Clearly nobody uses the NMR to get from A to B, but for the sheer joy of riding in a train that passes through 16 tunnels, 250 bridges and 208 steep curves on the richly biodiverse Western Ghats mountain range.
No. 6063/6064
With a length of 257 kilometers, the highly popular “small-and-slow train” route winds through the Qinling Mountains, linking 13 stations at the highest cost of 39.5 yuan. Villagers take the train to sell their vegetables in nearby counties to add to their families’ income. Helping poverty alleviation and carrying students to schools, the rail line, running for over 60 years, is a guarantee of and witness to the wish for a better life of the people along its route.
Royal Scotsman
With the full length of 1930 kilometers, the Royal Scotsman marries Edwardian elegance with the comforts of a five-star country house. The train includes elegant lounges, comfortable suites, and an open observation deck. The 9-coach train carries a just 36 passengers maximum with a passenger to staff ratio of 1:3. One of the coaches is the amazing Bamford Spa offering something of a palace on wheels.
1. Why do people choose the Nilgiri Mountain Railway?A.To view the snow-covered forests. |
B.To travel from one place to another. |
C.To experience the amusement of riding. |
D.To study the geography of the Western Ghats. |
A.The Glacier Express. | B.No. 6063/6064. |
C.The Nilgiri Mountain Railway. | D.Royal Scotsman. |
A.Its luxury. | B.Its route. | C.Its history. | D.Its convenience. |
2 . Here are four cities that are great for winter travel.
Quebec City, Canada
Quebec City is one of the oldest cities in North America. In the winter, it is covered in a thick blanket of snow, creating beautiful winter scenery. Visitors can explore the Quebec City castle, the streets of the old town, and ancient churches. You can also try winter activities such as skiing, ice-skating, and dog-sledding.
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, turns into a fairy tale-like city in the winter. You can take a walk along the frozen coast of the Baltic Sea, visit St. Nicholas’ Anglican Church and the National Museum of Finland, and indulge in the pleasure of tasting candy and hot chocolate in warm cafes. Additionally, you can experience the wonders of the Arctic Circle nearby in Lapland, including chasing the northern lights, reindeer sledding, and visiting Santa Claus Village.
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck is situated in the Alps and is a winter sports destination. The city is famous for its magnificent mountain scenery and world-class ski resorts. Visitors can enjoy the medieval architecture in the city center, ski at the Olympic ski resort, or watch ski jumping competitions at the ski jumping venue.
Lausanne, Switzerland
Lausanne is a city in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, located on the shores of Lake Geneva. The city boasts charming lake views and snow-capped mountain backgrounds, making it an ideal winter vacation destination. You can take a stroll along the lakeside promenade, visit the Olympic Museum, or sample Swiss cuisine such as chocolate and cheese fondue. Additionally, Lausanne has some famous ski resorts, such as Les Diablerets and Villars.
1. What can visitors do in Quebec City during the winter?A.Visit the famous chocolate factory. |
B.Explore Santa Claus Village. |
C.Appreciate the old buildings. |
D.Walking along the beautiful beach. |
A.Quebec City. | B.Helsinki. | C.Innsbruck. | D.Lausanne. |
A.They have famous ski resorts. |
B.They have world-famous museums. |
C.They are located on the shores of lakes. |
D.They are famous for the Olympic Games. |
3 . The Seychelles — that remote island chain off the coast of northern Africa is heaven for scuba divers (水肺潜水). With more than 100 islands, most of which are uninhabited, and a relatively small amount of tourists impacting the oceans and beaches, the Seychelles has some truly best scuba diving.
Fisherman’s Cove Reef
If you’re a beginner diver who loves gentle drop-offs and sea turtles, make sure Fisherman’s Cove Reef is on your scuba diving radar. The site is very popular as there’s rarely a current, it’s very shallow, and has a colorful reef with everything from eagle rays to small leaf fish, which can be very difficult to find against the seagrass and coral.
Ennerdale Wreck
If you love wreck diving, head right for the Ennerdale, a British oil tanker that accidentally sunk in 1970. Because of the medium-to-strong current and depth, it’s for divers with advanced open water cert. They’ll be able to swim around the wreck’s propellers, penetrate the frame, and likely see reef sharks and the occasional bull shark.
Baie Ternay Marine Park
The shallow, protected area of ocean has healthy and varied coral, and a lively reef. Both snorkelers and beginner divers are likely to see sea turtles grazing on the seagrass, coaching reef fish, and small eels poking out of the sandy ocean floor.
Aldabra Atoll
It doesn’t get much more remote than the Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO site. The coral reef continues underwater, which makes all the island’s dive sites stunning. Advanced divers can do drift dives in a channel with a chance of seeing sharks, while beginners can stay closer to the reefs, checking the various species of marine life in the Indian Ocean off their must-see list. The island is home to nearly 100,000 giant tortoises, as well as several other rare species
1. Why is the Seychelles known as heaven for scuba divers?A.Its close distance to northern Africa. | B.The high chance to spot the fish in the region. |
C.Its relatively small number of inhabited islands. | D.The effect of the oceans and beaches on tourism. |
A.The chance to see a sunken ship under the ocean. | B.The numerous sharks and large marine creatures. |
C.Its remote location away from the main islands. | D.Its attraction to both snorkelers and divers. |
A.Aldabra Atoll. | B.Ennerdale Wreck. |
C.Fisherman’s Cove Reef. | D.Baie Ternay Marine Park. |
4 . Japan’s biggest airline is betting that the future of travel isn’t traveling at all. For the last month, a married couple has been interacting with a robot—called an Avatar—that’s controlled by their daughter hundreds of miles away. Made by ANA Holdings Inc., it looks like a vacuum cleaner with an iPad attached. But the screen displays the daughter’s face as they chat, and its wheels let her move about the house as though she’s really there.
“Virtual travel” is nothing new, of course. Storytellers, travel writers and artists have been stimulating the senses of armchair tourists for centuries. It’s only in recent decades that frequent, safe travel has become available to the non- wealthy.
Yet even as the world’s middle classes climb out of the armchair and into economy-class seat, there are signs of a post-travel society emerging. Concerns about environmental sustainability cause loss to airlines which release much carbon. And the aging of abundant societies is both restricting physical travel and creating demand for alternative ways to experience the world. For the travel industry, virtual reality offers an attractive response to these trends.
Of course, new technologies encourage far-out claims. ANA doesn’t plan to start selling Avatars until next year. Profits, too, will probably be difficult to make: By one estimate, the global market for this kind of technology will be worth only about $300 million by 2023. By contrast, ANA’s traditional travel business brought in more than $19 billion last year.
But if the business value for virtual vacations is still weak, the market for technologies that bridge physical distances between families and coworkers seems likely to only expand. ANA’s robots may not replace its airplanes any time soon, but they’ll almost certainly be a part of travel’s high-tech future.
1. Why does the author use the example of a couple interacting with a robot?A.To show the Japanese are crazy about travel. |
B.To indicate virtual travel begins to enter people’s real life. |
C.To show the couple are very enthusiastic over robots. |
D.To express the close relationship between the couple and their daughter. |
A.Storytellers, travel writers and artists have been using it for centuries. |
B.Frequent and safe travel has become available to the ordinary people. |
C.People are worried about the air pollution caused by airlines. |
D.More and more people lose interest in travel. |
A.Visibility. | B.Availability. |
C.insignificance. | D.Continuousness |
A.Your Next Travel May Be Virtual. |
B.Easy Travel in the Future. |
C.Virtual Travel Benefits. |
D.Air Travel Disappearing. |
5 . Weald & Downland Living Museum
Fun fact
Over 50 historic buildings from across the Weald and Downland area have been dismantled (拆除) and then reconstructed across a lovely 40-acre site in the South Downs national park. The collection of buildings represents almost a thousand years of rural life in south-east England: furnished just as they would have been in the past — complete with the homes, farms and public buildings. There’s a sense of exploring a real village as you wander between them along green paths, stopping to climb the stairs of a 17th-century craftsman’s (工匠) cottage to lie on the straw bed or sheltering from a shower in a smoky, 14th-century hall.
Getting there
The Stagecoach 60 bus service from Chichester to Midhurst stops just five minutes away at Grooms Yard, Singleton. The nearest railway stations are Chichester (2 miles) and Haslemere (7 miles). The museum is on Town Lane in Singleton, reached via the A286 from Chichester to Midhurst. Parking is free and there are disabled parking spaces opposite the museum shop.
Value for money?
Yes. It’s not cheap but it’s a special experience that easily fills a day. Plus, it’s a valuable cause worth supporting. Adults £14, children 5-17 and students £6.50, under-4s free, family £38 (two adults and two children) or £25 (one adult and three children).
Opening hours
Daily 10am-5pm (last entry 4pm).
1. What can visitors do in Weald & Downland Living Museum?A.Take a shower in the hall. |
B.Stay overnight at a cottage. |
C.Learn construction techniques. |
D.Explore rural life centuries ago. |
A.£25. | B.£34.5. | C.£38. | D.£41. |
A.It charges parking fees. |
B.It has varied opening hours. |
C.It is inconveniently located for bus riders. |
D.It offers the disabled thoughtful service. |
6 . Standing Indian Campground
For those who want world-class whitewater rafting(漂流)
·Location: Located inside the Nantahala National Forest
·Campground Contact: (828)524-6441
·Park Hours: Open 24 hours
·Campground Website
Standing Indian Campground is one of several campgrounds located inside the Nantahala National Forest. Established in 1920, the Nantahala National Forest got its name from the Cherokee word meaning “Land of the Noonday Sun”. The half-a-million-acre forest is also one of four managed by the United States Forest Service and is settled deep within the mountains.
The National Forest is also home to three appointed Wilderness Areas and two Wild and Scenic Rivers. These famed rivers also offer world-class kayaking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, boating, water-skiing, fishing, and swimming. For hikers, the famous Appalachian Trail runs directly through the forest, so don’t be alarmed if you see a hiker walking on the trail. In addition, like many national forests in North Carolina, camping is free of charge at several spots in Nantahala National Forest. At this campground, you can also camp at a height of 3,880 feet under evergreens near the Nantahala River.
The campground also features several loops (环形) that are perfect for tent camping and large enough for RVs. In addition, Standing Indian is a convenient spot for travellers passing through, yet ideal enough for those who want to stay longer.
Campground Breakdown:
·88 Sites in Total
·Standard Nonelectric Premium Site: $20 per night
·Standard Site: $20 per night
·Group Standard Nonelectric: $75 per night, accommodates up to 25 people
·Double Site: $40 per night
Standing Indian Facilities: Picnic tables, fire rings, toilets, showers
1. What is the name “Nantahala National Forest” related to?A.A service. | B.An Indian. | C.A word. | D.A mountain. |
A.Skiing. | B.Rowing. | C.Hunting. | D.Surfing. |
A.Double Site. | B.Standard Site. |
C.Standard Nonelectric Premium Site. | D.Group Standard Nonelectric. |
7 . I’m a hiker — “born to hike”. It does my heart and soul good to take a pack and head out on a trail (小路), especially when I’m alone and can let my mind wander where it will.
Hiking keeps your brain sharper than many other forms of exercise. As a professional writer, although I am busy with my work, I often spare some time to hike.
Hiking can increase our creativity. I’m sure I’m not alone in finding that walks in nature let my mind wander freely in creative directions.
Hiking helps strengthen a positive relationship with the natural world. Besides being good for us, hiking may also help the world around us. After all, if we stick to walking and covering longer distances, we could use cars less and reduce our carbon footprint.
So, grab a water bottle, a backpack... and head out on the trail.You won’t be sorry you did.
A.Hiking helps to keep you calm and happy |
B.Beyond that, hiking benefits our planet indirectly |
C.Following are the benefits you can get from hiking |
D.In fact, I’ve written many of my songs while hiking on a trail |
E.It’s easy for me to come up with creative ideas while sitting alone |
F.It not just makes me feel good, but also helps me keep the brain in top shape |
G.This all goes to show that hiking maybe one of the best ways to move your body |
8 . Still waiting for your letter to arrive by owl (猫头鹰)? Don’t worry. You can still lose yourself in the magical world of Harry Potter, just by following this four-day route.
Day 1 Overview Edinburgh
It was in Scotland’s capital city that J.K. Rowling started to plot the adventures of Harry and his fellows. With stoned streets, winding alleys(小巷) and medieval(中世纪的) architecture, the city certainly has a few things in common with the settings from the books and films. She wrote the early chapters in various cafes around the city’s Old Towns.
Day 2 Overview travel to Fort William
Travel by train from Edinburgh to Glasgow and from there, and you can take the West Highland Line to Fort William. This is a great way to see some famous spots from the window, including the mysterious Rannoch Moor, the place where Death Eaters board the train in the movie Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.
Day 3 Overview all aboard the Hogwarts express
Witness the sweeping cinematic scenery straight out of the eight successful films by booking a seat on the Jacobite Steam Train, which travels from Fort William to Mallaig along the West Highland Line. Stop for lunch in Mallaig and then make the return journey to Fort William. Please be sure to book the steam train in advance, as it is a very popular experience. It opens for the season in April.
Day 4 Overview lakes and valleys
In the films, mysterious, misty landscapes frame(衬托) the background of Harry’s tale, so it’s no surprise that the producers chose the Highlands for many scenes. Spend a day wandering through some of these beautiful spots and feel the magical atmosphere.
1. Where did J.K.Rowling first start to create Harry Potter?A.In Mallaig. | B.In Edinburgh. |
C.In Glasgow. | D.In Fort William. |
A.Have lunch earlier than usual. | B.Learn about the return ticket. |
C.Make a reservation beforehand. | D.Take a training course in April |
A.Day 1. | B.Day 2. | C.Day 3. | D.Day 4. |
9 . One night in March, five years ago, during happy hour at a bar in my hometown, I made a surprise announcement to my friends: I was going to shut down my law practice and attempt to travel around the globe in a year. What’s more, I would do it without taking any flights or making a single advance reservation of any kind. My announcement drew mixed reactions from my friends. Some offered support and encouragement, while others were more doubtful.
Once I’d said the words, there was no turning back. It took months to shut down my law practice and get things in order. Once I set off on my adventure in October 2016, I found that travelling without using planes was not easy. Trying to circle the globe in 16 months (it took me a bit longer than the initial 12 months I planned) made it even tougher. Even so, travelling overland was the most awe-inspiring way to truly understand the immensity of our wonderful planet.
I took three consecutive overnight buses to travel 3,000 km through Argentina, from Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, to the capital Buenos Aires. I would look out the windows for hours on end at the completely unspoiled plains, as if humans had never touched it.
It took seven consecutive days and nights on trains to get from Moscow to Beijing, each day spent gazing out the windows for hours as the West Siberian Plain swept by. Sometimes, I wouldn’t see a village or a human being for 10 hours. Later in my journey, it took 22 days on a cargo freighter to get from New Zealand through the Panama Canal and back to Philadelphia, to finish my round-the-world adventure.
It turned out that travelling with no reservations was far less difficult than I had imagined. Pulling into a city on a bus with a backpack, looking in a guidebook for a few suggestions of accommodations, and then finding an empty room was never much of a problem anywhere. It also kept me flexible and open about all my travel plans, which is advice I give everyone who asks—plan far less than you think you should.
1. The author’s trip was special in that .A.he made it at the expense of giving up his job | B.it hardly cost him anything |
C.he did not make advance booking or travel by air | D.it was a global trip |
A.June 2017 | B.December 2018 |
C.October 2017 | D.February 2018 |
①Moscow ②Philadelphia ③New Zealand ④Ushuaia ⑤Beijing ⑥Buenos
A.⑤④①⑥③② | B.④⑥①⑤③② |
C.④⑤①⑥③② | D.⑤①⑥④③② |
A.challenging but pleasing | B.dangerous but wonderful |
C.boring and disappointing | D.costly and painful |