1 . 4 Popular Places to Go This Winter

Harbin, China

China Harbin’s winter is for the brave ones—the average temperature is 1.8°F- but those who brave the cold will be rewarded with experiencing one of the world’s largest winter festivals. 2021 marks the 37th Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival (January-March), when massive frozen structures rise and are lit up, transforming the city into a winter wonderland.

Lyon, France

Paris may be called The City of Light,but every December, light takes center stage in Lyon, France’s third-largest city. That’s when the annual Festival of Lights (around December 8) takes over, with light installations (装置)that transform the city’s streetscapes into modern works of art. The city is also home to two Christmas markets (one in La Croix-Rousse; the other at the Place Carnot; through December 25).

Lima, Peru

Peru’s capital Lima is home to the world’s highest number of cooking schools per person. Aside from its delicate dining, the city also has great cocktail bars where you can taste classic or contemporary takes on the Pisco Sour.Combine that with the oceanfront setting and temperatures in the 80s, and you’ll understand why Lima should no longer be ignored this winter.

Vermont, US

Winter in Vermont means skiing and snowboarding, Many resorts (度假胜地)have greatly upgraded their snowmaking abilities as part of a $15 million statewide program that replaced many outdated snow guns with new, low-energy models.These new machines will also improve the quality of snow surfaces and lengthen the season, meaning this will be one of the best winters for skiing and riding in Vermont in recent memory.

1. What similarities do the first two places have?

A．They are decorated with lights.	B．They offer snow sculptures.
C．They have three-day festivals.	D．They are extremely cold.

2. Which provides a good chance to buy a Christmas gift?

A．Harbin.

B．Lyon.

C．Lima.

D．Vermont.

3. What’s new to the resorts in Vermont?

A．Skiing and snowboarding.	B．A longer winter.
C．Cooking schools.	D．Updated equipment.

2 . Planning a visit to the UK? Here we help with ways to cut your costs.

AVOID BIG EVENTS Big sporting events, concerts and exhibitions can increase the cost of accommodation and make it harder to find a room. A standard double room at the Thistle Brighton on the final Friday of the Brighton Comedy Festival (19 Oct.) cost £ 169. 15 at Booking.com. A week later, the same room cost £ 118.15.

If you can be flexible and want to know dates to avoid--- or you're looking for a big event to pass your time--- check out sites such as Whatsonwhen.com, which allow you to search for events in the UK by city, date and category.

STAYAWAY FROM THE STATION If traveling to your destination by train, you may want to find a good base close to the station, but you could end up paying more for the sake of convenience at the start of your holiday.

Don't be too choosy about the part of town you stay in. Booking two months in advance, the cheapest room at Travelodge's Central Euston hotel in London for Saturday 22 September was £ 95.95 . A room just a tube journey away at its Covent Garden hotel was £ 75.75 . And at Farringdon, a double room cost just £ 62.95 .

LOOK AFTER YOURSELF Really central hotels in cities such as London. Edinburgh and Cardiff can cost a fortune, especially at weekends and during big events. As a choice consider checking into a self-catering flat with its own kitchen, where you can cook. Often these flats are hidden away on the top floors of city centre buildings. A great example is the historic O'Neill Flat on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, available for £ 420 for five days in late September, with room for four adults.

GET ON A BIKE London’s "Boris bikes' have attracted the most attention, but other cities also have similar programs that let you rent a bicycle and explore at your own pace, saving you on public transport or car parking costs.

Among the smaller cities with their own programs are Newcastle (casual members pay around £ 1.50 for two hours) and Cardiff (free for up to 30 minutes, or £5 per day).

1. The Brighton Comedy Festival is mentioned mainly to show big events may ________.

A．help travelers pass time

B．attract lots of travelers to the UK

C．allow travelers to make flexible plans

D．cause travelers to pay more for accommodation

2. "Farringdon" in Paragraph 5 is most probably ________.

A．a hotel away from the train station	B．the tube line to Covent Garden
C．an ideal holiday destination	D．the name of a travel agency

3. The passage shows that the O'Neill Flat ________.

A．lies on the ground floor

B．is located in central London

C．provides cooking facilities for tourists

D．costs over £100 on average per day in late September

4. Cardiff’s program allows a free bike for a maximum period of ________.

A．half an hour	B．one hour
C．one hour and a half	D．two hours

5. The main purpose of the passage is ________.

A．to tell visitors how to book in advance

B．to supply visitors with hotel information

C．to show visitors the importance of self-help

D．to offer visitors some money-saving tips

5 . There are many heritage sites in the world. The following are four sites in the UNESCO's World Heritage List.

Easter Island, Chile

This place is famous for its huge stone statues. The first European visitors, the Dutch, named it Easter Island in memory of their day of arrival. The small and hilly island was formed by volcanoes. Easter Island was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1995.

Dinosaur Provincial Park, Canada

The park is best known for its extensive fossil (化石) beds, within which 35 species of dinosaurs from about 100 to 65 million years ago have been identified. There are also fossilized remains of fish, reptiles, and amphibians. The area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979.

Hadrian's Wall, England

This is a Roman barrier that guarded the border of Britain. Hadrian (ruled 117—138 CE) went to Britain in 122 and was the first to build a wall, 80 miles long, to separate the Romans from the barbarians. There was no intention of fighting from the wall top; the soldiers there were trained to encounter the enemy in the open. In 1987, Hadrian's Wall was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site.

Salonga National Park, Congo

This is the largest reserve in Congo, covering more than 14,000 square miles. The park was established in 1970. The thick forest provides habitats for various animals like parrots, elephants and monkeys. Park visitors observe the animals from motorized river boats. The park was entered into the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.

1. When was Easter Island listed as a UNESCO World Heritage?

A．In 1979.	B．In 1984.
C．In 1987.	D．In 1995.

2. What was the original purpose of building the Hadrian's Wall?

A．To defend against the Romans.	B．To honor the British soldiers.
C．To protect the Romans from attack.	D．To keep watch on the wall top.

3. Which site would you like to visit if you want to see wild animals?

A．Easter Island.	B．Dinosaur Provincial Park.
C．Hadrian's Wall.	D．Salonga National Park.

6 . World’s best beaches:2020 Trip Advisor award winners

No.1 Clearwater Beach It lies in America,about a forty minute drive west of Tampa.It impresses travelers with two and a half miles of sugar white sand,crystal clear water and gentle Gulf wind.The beach offers calm,shallow water,making it an ideal playground for tourists. *Bargain hotel nearby:Pier House 60 Marina Hotel,from $293 per night *Airfare:As low as $71 round trip from ORD (Chicago) to TPA (Tampa)

No.2 Siesta Beach Just south of Sarasota,Siesta Beach on Siesta Key is known for its eight-mile stretch of sugar fine,quartz white sand.It’s also a great spot for kids to collect seashells and sand dollars. *Bargain hotel nearby:Tropical Beach Resorts,from $295 per night *Airfare:As low as $238 round trip from EWR(Newark) to SRQ (Sarasota)

No.3 Ka’anapali Beach Among the most visited beach in West Maui,this area is a popular spot for quiet relaxation or water sports.It’s also famous for the daily cliff diving ceremony off of the beach’s northernmost cliffs known as Black Rock. *Bargain hotel nearby:Lahaina Shores Beach Resort,from $289 per night *Airfare:As low as $382 round-trip from SFO (San Francisco) to OGG (Kahului)

No.4 South Beach People watching is a great pastime in Miami’s South Beach,which draws celebrities and models.Travelers love the wide,fine,white sand-covered beaches as well as the surrounding area,known for wild nightlife and excellent restaurants. *Bargain hotel nearby:Room Mate Lord Balfour,from $264 per night *Great airfare:As low as$107 round-trip from LGA (New York) to MIA (Miami)

1. Siesta Beach is different from other three beaches in that 　　　.

A．tourists enjoy an exciting sport

B．fine sugar white sand covers it

C．many famous persons visit it

D．children have more great fun

2. How much may they pay at least if Mr and Mrs Smith from Chicago visit a beach?

A．$364.	B．$435.
C．$579.	D．$657.

3. Charlie is eager to meet his favourite movie star,which beach would you recommend?

A．Clearwater Beach.

B．Siesta Beach.

C．Ka’anapali Beach.

D．South Beach.

7 . 4 World Heritage (遗产)Sites in China

The Temple of Heaven

Located in the southern part of Beijing, the Temple of Heaven is a magnificent complex (综合建筑群) of fine cultural buildings set in gardens. The sacred   (神圣的) place served as a complex of sacrificial (献祭的) buildings for the Ming and Qing emperors, and is the largest one in Beijing among several royal altars (神坛) to Heaven, Earth, the Sun , the Moon and other symbolic forces of nature. It symbolizes the relationship between earth and heaven --- the human world and God’s world --- which stands at the heart of Chinese cosmogony (宇宙进化论).

Mogao Caves

Located on south-east of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu province, the Mogao caves, also known as the Thousand-Buddha Caves, are the world’s largest and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art. According to historical records, the carving of the caves started in 366 AD and continued for about 1000 years. The 492 well-preserved cells and cave sanctuaries (内殿)in Mogao, housing about 45000 square meters of murals (壁画)and more than 2000 painted sculptures (雕塑), are well-known for their statues (雕像)and wall paintings.

Fujian tulou

Fujian tulou consists of (is made up of) 46 buildings constructed (built) between the 15^th and 20^th centuries. Several stories high, the earthen houses were built along an inward-looking , circular(圆形的) or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each. They were built for defense(防御) purposes around a central open courtyard (庭院)with only one entrance and windows to the outside only above the first floor. Housing a whole clan (家族), the houses functioned as village units and were known as “ a little kingdom for the family”.

The Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha is said to be the biggest Buddha statue in the world. The way in which the cultural features (特色) have been integrated (成为一体)with the natural scenery is considered to be a precious legacy (遗产).The Giant Buddha statue, carved on the mountain, stands 71m high, with its back against Mount Jiuding. There are more than 90 stone carvings and Buddha shrines (神坛)on both sides of the Giant Buddha.

1. Which of the following served as a sacrificial place in the past ?

A．Fujian tulou.	B．Mogao.
C．The Temple of Heaven.	D．The Leshan Giant Buddha.

2. What feature of Fujian tulou shows its defensive function ?

A．They are several stories high.

B．They can hold hundreds of people.

C．They have windows on the first floor.

D．They have only one access to the outside.

3. What do Mogao Caves and The Leshan Giant Buddha have in common ?

A．They were both royal places.	B．They were both found in caves.
C．They are both religious resorts (名胜).	D．They both have historic murals.

8 . Seal Island is a 200-meter-long island in South Africa, which is surrounded by 55 to 57 degrees Fahrenheit waters and covered with over 60,000 seals and some birds. This island has been home to many birds and seals. You may think this island is a paradise. In fact, the island is not famous for the seals or birds. However, the real stars are the great white sharks that leap out of the water to catch the seals they are hunting.

You may think that there is no way for a 15-foot long, 3,000-pound shark to hurl its body out of the water and catch a seal in midair. Actually, these sharks are called “Air Jaws”.

Over the years, the seals have gotten smarter. Now, they go out in groups of seven and eight to feed. They swim down on the sea floor, which gives them extra camouflage (掩饰). When they have to swim near the water surface, they swim in a zigzag (之字形的) pattern. But with all these tricks, they can still be outwitted (以智取胜) by the sharks. Usually, the sharks will take one seal away from its group and force it to swim on the surface, where it is easy to hunt. Sometimes, the seal is lucky and gets away, but most of them die in the process of trying to survive.

Every year, tourists go to see these amazing animals leap out of the water, sometimes flinging (抛) their whole bodies into the air when they want to catch the seals. Some people even want to go into shark cages to see the action from below! This is the reason why this island attracts thousands of tourists around the world every year.

1. What probably makes Seal Island famous?

A．The large number of seals in the water.

B．The way the great white sharks hunt.

C．The beautiful scenery of the island.

D．The special position of the island.

2. Why do the seals swim in a zigzag pattern?

A．To save energy.

B．To warm themselves.

C．To look for food.

D．To avoid the white sharks.

3. What can we infer from the third paragraph?

A．White sharks are dangerous animals.

B．The seals are cleverer than the white sharks.

C．The sharks are successful in hunting the seals.

D．It is easier for the sharks to hunt the seals on the sea floor.

4. What is the author’s purpose in writing the passage?

A．To explain why Seal Island is famous.

B．To show how white sharks hunt seals.

C．To advise us to visit Seal Island.

D．To ask us to protect animals.

9 . I love to travel alone for one reason: the strangers. Talking to strangers along your travels can change your trip into an adventure.    1    .

Don’t ignore your fellow tourists. On a casual road trip, I went into a local shop. Waiting in a line to pay, I asked the woman ahead of me if she was from the area. “Nope. Oklahoma,” she told me. “Why?”    2    .The man behind me jumped in and recommended some places worth visiting.

Stop using your phone. You need to be an open person, with open body language and open eyes and without a shield(盾). But my phone often gets between me and the surroundings. It ruins my chances to make eye contact with the people I see.    3    , take a dep breath and make a sacred deal with yourself not to touch it. Put it in a different pocket than you usually do every time you reach for it.

    4    .I’ll start by choosing a place to have morning coffee or breakfast. After that, I’ll let a local suggest what to do. I’ve found that the easiest way to do this is to talk to people who are in open roles, such as people who work in restaurants, stores, or museums or ask someone seated near you on a bench or in a cafe. Ask where the person’s favorite street is.

Don’t be afraid of getting lost. On a visit to London a few years ago, I got out from the Tube and got hopelessly lost.    5    . So I stepped into a pub to dry myself and ended up listening to a woman telling me about her years as a spy.

A．It began to rain

B．Let strangers make all your plans

C．When you’ re watching somebody

D．I will share with you my experience

E．If stopping using it feels unsafe to you

F．Never feel afraid of the strangers you meet

G．I replied I was on a trip, looking for scenic spots

10 . Have you ever thought of taking a train and having an adventure? Riding the train can be a real adventure. That is how I feel every time I take Amtrak. I often take a four-hour trip to visit my children. Every time I take this trip I never know what will happen.

Last week when I was on the train and over an hour into the train ride, there was a man sitting by himself in the back of the train carrying on a mobile phone conversation — in another language. It was loud and disturbed most of the people on the train. I think it was annoying.

Fortunately I sat next to a wonderful old lady who was taking a two-day trip by train. She said her two daughters were distraught at the thought of her driving for three days to reach her home, although she had no trouble driving. The train ride was the only choice for her. She loved to look out of the window and watch the world go by on the train.

She was fun to talk to and asked me when my children started being parents. That is a very good question. Both of us are old and have children. She asked that same question from time to time.

There are always many people on the train from all walks of life, different countries, and many languages. Riding the train is a great way to increase your knowledge and take in all kinds of cultures. If you get hungry, you can buy food in the food car at any time. If you need to use the restroom there is always one available.

It sure beats driving the car, which has to stop for food and restrooms. And it is better than taking the bus.

1. According to the passage, the purpose of the author's train ride was      .

A．to do business

B．to see her children

C．to visit places of interest

D．to see her old friends

2. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “distraught” in Paragraph 3?

A．Disappointed.

B．Satisfied.

C．Worried.

D．Pleased.

3. In the author's opinion, on the train Amtrak     .

A．the services are quite good

B．the food is terribly expensive

C．all the passengers are polite

D．all the passengers are American

4. What is the best title for this passage?

A．A wonderful lady

B．The history of Amtrak

C．A painful experience on the train

D．Train ride—a cultural experience