1 . Take A Scenic Ride On The World’s Steepest Railway For Passengers—If You Dare!

Originally built for mining in 1878, the Scenic Railway is now a tourist ride that can take your breath away! In the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia, the former mining railway became a tourist attraction in 1945. It currently holds the Guinness World Records as the steepest passenger train with the steepest railway gradient (坡度).

The gradient of 52 degrees is comfortably viewed from inside an 84-seat, glass-enclosed carriage car. The passenger car travels along on a cable-driven system of rails as it navigates the steep terrain. During the tour, passengers will see the train travel through sandstone cliffs and a rock tunnel next to Orphan Rock.

Orphan Rock was once available for trail climbing. Following rock slides in the 1950s, the trail was partially closed. The trail access was completely closed in 1974 and never reopened due to potential risks.

On the Scenic Railway, you will see stunning views from a slightly different angle than Orphan Rock. The railway is open every day of the year, making the trip along the rails every ten minutes.

Sight-seeing passengers can ride the steepest railway up from the Jamison Valley or travel on the cable car. Either option affords incredible scenic views of the Blue Mountains. The glass roof in the passenger cars allows for a fantastic view from every seat on the train.

Just take a look for yourself!

1. Where might the Scenic Railway originally lead to?

A．A mine.

B．A village.

C．A mountain.

D．A valley.

2. What can be known about the trail access to Orphan Rock?

A．It is a rock tunnel.	B．It is out of use.
C．It is partially open.	D．It is a 10-minute trip.

3. What might be the Scenic Railway trip like?

A．Eco-friendly.

B．Absurd.

C．Demanding.

D．Adventurous.

2 . Gabon, on the west coast of Africa, has numerous rainforests, open grasslands, white sand beaches and rushing rivers. Here are four adventures that can let you have unforgettable experiences.

The Wild Species Adventure

The site of this adventure is close to a national park, which has elephants, monkeys, leopards, red river hogs and so on. Visitors can go on a journey by jeep and have a chance to see the country’s natural beauty and different birds in a nearby reserve.

The Fishing Adventure

Gabon has some really big fish and miles of untouched coastlines, and the fishing spots are not packed, because they are wide apart. When fishing, visitors can find themselves in pleasant places, surrounded by palm trees during the adventure. Gabon’s unique lagoon (环礁湖) system provides visitors with a range of fish, all ready for you to join in the fishing contest.

The Private Island Adventure

It is difficult for visitors to find this private island on the sea on booking or a trip advisor, but it is known by locals. It offers small but comfortable rooms to rest. Visitors can try fun activities like wakeboarding and boating. During the whale season, visitors can also rent boats to take a close look at whales by following responsible viewing guidelines.

The Whale Watching Adventure

There is a great diversity of marine mammals to see in this adventure, especially whales.   Some of the whales can be found at all time, while others, for example, the humpback whales, only spend a few months from July to September. In this trip, visitors can take splendid pictures of these whales playing around and jumping above the surface of the sea under safety guidance.

1. Which adventure attracts a lover of land animals most?

A．The wild species adventure.	B．The fishing adventure.
C．The private island adventure.	D．The whale watching adventure.

2. What are the spots of the fishing adventure like?

A．Noisy.	B．Narrow.
C．Uncrowded.	D．Unpleasant.

3. What do the last two adventures offer?

A．Whale watching.	B．Private trip advisors.
C．Cost-free water sports.	D．A photo-taking service.

5 . As Alexandria Country Day School’s sixth-graders created miniature 3D printed villages to address homelessness, they learned lessons far beyond technology.

“It Takes a Village” began as a project for a science class, inspired by life-size 3D-printed homes built by Austin, Texas-based technology company Icon.

No strangers to classroom 3D projects, the students were fascinated by Icon’s use of a similar process to create homes made of inexpensive concrete-like material. Unlike standard construction methods, the process of building these durable homes takes just a few days.

While creating their mini 3D buildings, the students explored how such technology allows design freedom and quick changes. Mathematical conversions helped get the relations right. For example, a real 25-foot-by-20-foot one-bedroom house would be printed as 40-millimeter-by-32-millimeter (about 1 1/2 inch by 1 1/4 inch) for their mini village. Salwa Seman, 11, said that getting the dimensions and settings correct before construction began was challenging as she created a curved-wall amphitheater (圆形剧场).

The tech-focused project quickly evolved into “an exercise in empathy (共情), innovation and cooperation designed to bring about lasting change”. “When most people think of helping the homeless, they think of food and clothing drives,” said Juliet Galicia, 11. “While necessary, those are temporary fixes. Even housing by itself is not a complete solution.”

In designing their leave-homelessness-behind neighborhoods, priorities were shelter, food stores, schools, and health centers. But to build a sense of belonging and purpose, the miniature communities also emphasized areas for frequent interaction among residents. “We wanted to make it feel more like a real community,” said Luke Wazorko, 11. A community garden, a place to raise chickens, an amphitheater for shared events, bus stops for access to jobs, and infrastructure for Wi-Fi and cellphones to help in job searches were important features to offer formerly unhoused residents.

Amber Fogarty, president of a nonprofit organization tackling homelessness in Austin, said, “Housing alone will never solve homelessness, but community will. People need a place where they are known, cared for and loved.”

1. Which can be used to describe homes created by Icon?

A．Hard-sided.

B．Long-lasting.

C．Rough-edged.

D．Strong-minded.

2. What conclusion can we draw from Galicia’ words?

A．Juliet Galicia has participated in food and clothing drives in the past.

B．Temporary solutions have proved to be of little help to unhoused people.

C．Providing unhoused people with a place to live will solve all of their problems.

D．A comprehensive approach is required to fully address the issue of homelessness.

3. The author may agree to the ideas EXCEPT that________.

A．a team of people can use 3D printing to build homes

B．builders can adapt a 3D-printed design to fit a person’s preferences

C．the students faced challenges in building their miniature communities

D．places for personal interactions are an important aspect of a community

4. What is the purpose of the sixth paragraph?

A．To emphasize community gardens as the most important part of neighborhoods.

B．To illustrate technology has nothing to do with helping unhoused people.

C．To show specific ways the students focused on more than just housing.

D．To promote the project as a profitable design to Austin.

7 . Mount Storm King Hike
Distance: 8.5km; Time: 3—4.5h
When to do: April—October

Mount Storm King is a hard hike in Olympic National Park. This hike is the site where you can overlook lake Crescent, making it a popular destination for views. Mount Storm King has a rope climbing section to aid in getting up the steep summit. This hike isn't one to do in poor weather since the path can get too slippery to safely climb. If you're feeling adventurous, you'll love the summit!

Hurricane Ridge Hike
Distance: 5.5km; Time: 1.5—2.5h
When to do: May—October

Hurricane Ridge is a perfect hike for beginners, families with kids, and hikers using wheelchairs. This 5.5km route is paved and extremely easy to follow. With lots of beautiful views stretched out before you, you'll see why this hike is used by so many tourists every year. The hike is subject to seasonal closures, so make sure to check before planning a winter trip.

Ruby Beach Hike
Distance: 1.6km; Time: 0.5h
When to do: Year-round

Washington has no shortage of incredible beaches, and the endless coastline is always a treat to explore. Ruby Beach is an example of the scenery that makes the Pacific Northwest a dramatic sea. This beach walk is a go-to for locals and is often frequented by visitors as well. It's only 1.6 km in length and involves almost no elevation gain, making it a nice pick for tourists of all levels. Ruby Beach tends to be somewhat busy, so try visiting in the mornings or midweek if possible.

Hoh Rainforest Hike
Distance: 1.8km; Time: 0.5h
When to do: Year-round

Hoh Rainforest is one of the most-visited hikes in Olympic National Park. You'll wander through the rainforest on an easy, family-friendly path, appreciating massive species of plants and animals on the way. As this path gets busy, you are recommended to make the trip on a weekday, which offers the best chance of a quieter hike.

1. Which hike do adventure lovers prefer to go?

A．Mount Storm King Hike.	B．Hurricane Ridge Hike.
C．Ruby Beach Hike.	D．Hoh Rainforest Hike.

2. What should visitors know about Hurricane Ridge Hike?

A．It's usually closed in winter.	B．There are often hurricanes here.
C．The trip is to be booked in advance.	D．It's dangerous to hike in poor weather.

3. What do the last two hikes have in common?

A．They are usually busy on weekdays.	B．They are open to visitors all the time.
C．They both present species of wildlife.	D．They are specially intended for locals.

8 . When Barcelona’s citizens emerged from a six-week lockdown at the end of April last year, they found that while the city had lain inactive, nature had been busy transforming the streets and parks into a wilderness. “The parks were shut, so no gardening was carried out,” says Margarita Pares, who heads the city’s biodiversity programme. “It was spring and it rained a lot more than usual. The result was an explosion in plant growth. And there were many more butterflies, as they are a species that reacts very quickly to changes in the environment.”

Once the gardeners went back to work, the question was whether to return everything to its neat and tidy state, or let nature take its course？The answer is neither. Pares says the council spent the previous two years working on plans to “naturalise” or “rewild” the city—and was about to announce this change of policy when the pandemic struck. By the time the lockdown ended, it was a lot easier to sell rewilding to the public desiring fresh air and open space. When it comes to embracing nature in its cities, Spain falls behind many countries. But it is hoped that Barcelona’s new policy will go some way to correcting that.

“In a city like Barcelona, it’s a case of replacing what exists with green infrastructure(基础建设),” says Lorena Escuer who has worked in Barcelona on a pilot scheme called Alcorques Vivos, which plants wildflowers at the base of trees in the streets rather than surrounding them with pavement. “It’s not having a park surrounded by asphalt(沥青)but introducing nature into the city,” she says. “People need re-educating. Their idea of a clean space is where there’s no life and the ecosystem is dead. There’s this idea that nature is something outside and that what’s natural for the city is for there to be nothing.”

“Rewilding has made us look at how we live and how we want to live. There’s no going back from here. The lockdown gave us a glimpse of nature in the city and it surprised us,” says Margarita Pares.

1. What happened to Barcelona after a six-week lockdown last year？

A．The environment became wild.	B．Plants stopped growing.
C．Gardening was abolished.	D．Fewer butterflies emerged.

2. What does the underlined phrase “new policy” in paragraph 2 refer to？

A．Returning Barcelona to neatness and tidiness.

B．Filling open space with fitness facilities.

C．“Naturalising” or “rewilding” Barcelona.

D．Developing economy to shake off backwardness.

3. Which of the following will Lorena Escuer probably support？

A．Surrounding trees with pavement.	B．Promoting green infrastructure.
C．Building park roads with asphalt.	D．Keeping the city empty and clean.

4. What is Margarita Pares’s attitude to “rewilding”？

A．Doubtful.

B．Intolerant.

C．Unclear.

D．Favorable.

9 . Set at the entrance to beautiful bays and natural harbors, lighthouses have prevented ships from touching the ground in shallow water for hundreds of years. Sadly, however, many of them are not needed because of effective onboard navigational (导航的) systems. As they were designed to be visible, lighthouses often become very distinctive landmarks: their shapes and colors stand out against the surrounding landscapes. Consequently, they make for some fantastic photo opportunities and are usually set in impressive spots along rocky coastlines or wild seas.

Galle Lighthouse

Located within the ancient walls of Galle Fort, the lighthouse of the same name has protected the surrounding waters ever since it was first built in 1848. While it is the oldest lighthouse in the whole of Sri Lanka, the current lighthouse’s blindingly bright white walls only date back to 1939, when it was rebuilt after a devastating fire.

Hercules Tower Lighthouse

Ever since the second century AD, Hercules Tower Lighthouse has watched out over Spain’s North Atlantic coastline. This remarkably makes it one of the very few oldest lighthouses still in operation today. Such is its age that it is believed to have been modeled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Big Red Lighthouse

Standing proudly at the south side of the Holland Channel, Big Red Lighthouse presents a striking red appearance to increase its visibility in the daytime. Another unusual quality of Big Red is that the rare lighthouse watches over two bodies of water—Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.

1. Who are probably the fans of lighthouses nowadays?

A．Photographers.	B．Historians.
C．Sailors.	D．Scientists.

2. Which of the following is currently used for navigation?

A．Galle Lighthouse.	B．The Lighthouse of Alexandria.
C．Big Red Lighthouse.	D．Hercules Tower Lighthouse.

3. What is special about Big Red Lighthouse?

A．It has the same name as the ancient walls.

B．It borders Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan.

C．It gives off red light to increase its visibility.

D．It is modeled after the ancient wonder.

10 . Summer is the best season to experience the world's beauty. Here are some of the best destinations that you can't afford to miss in the world.

Maui , Hawaii

Maui is a volcanic island. If you love snorkelling, you must see the rainbow of coral and tropical fishes. Stay the day in the park and witness its wonderful sunsets. The island consists of a few micro-climates and weather varies drastically depending on where you are. The tropical weather can even vary day-to-day with extremes such as sunshine and thunderstorms, so pack accordingly.

Corsica t France

This small island, also called the “isle of beauty”, displays astonishing natural landscapes. Shocking cliffs drop sharply down to clear waters which elsewhere are fringed（带边饰的）with sandy beaches. Plan at least a week in Corsica to discover its secrets!

Bora Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is popular with tourists for its luxurious resorts（度假胜地）. One of the best hotels is the five star Four Seasons hotel. Surrounded by beaches of white sand and blue water protected by a coral reef, it is a really nice place to snorkel and dive. The most impressive sight of the island is in the center of Mount Otemanu where there is a sleeping volcano.

Saint John Island, Caribbean

Life moves at a slower pace on Saint John Island. The National Park covers more than half of the island. With countless bird, dolphin and turtle species to spot, it's no surprise that this is a destination that draws nature lovers. Peace and quietness are abundant, making this an island where relaxation is always on the agenda（议题）.

1. What can visitors experience at Maui?

A．Sharp cliffs.	B．Tropical weather change day-to-day.
C．The five star Four Seasons hotel.	D．Countless bird, dolphin and turtle species.

2. Where can visitors see a sleeping volcano?

A．Corsica.

B．Maui.

C．Bora Bora.

D．Saint John Island.

3. What makes Saint John Island a good place for relaxation?

A．Good weather.	B．Peace and quietness.
C．Luxurious resorts.	D．Clear waters and sandy beaches.