1 . Journey Back in Time with Scholars
Classical Provence(13days)Journey through the beautiful countryside of Provence，France，with Prof. Ori Z. Soltes. We will visit some of the best-preserved Roman monuments in the world. Our tour also includes a chance to walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh and Gauguin. Fields of flowers, tile-roofed(瓦屋顶)villages and tasty meals enrich this wonderful experience.
Southern Spain(15days)
Spain has lovely white towns and the scent(芳香)of oranges，but it is also a treasury of ancient remains including the cities left by the Greeks，Romans and Arabs. As we travel south from Madrid with Prof. Ronald Messier to historic Toledo，Roman Merida and into Andalucia, we explore historical monuments and architecture.
China’s Sacred Landscapes(21days)
Discover the China of “past ages,” its walled cities，temples and mountain scenery with Prof. Robert Thorp. Highlights(精彩之处)include China’s most sacred peaks at Mount Tai and Hangzbou’s rolling hills，waterways and peaceful temples. We will wander in traditional small towns and end our tour with an exceptional museum in Shanghai.
Tunisia(17days)
Join Prof. Pedar Foss on our in-depth Tunisian tour. Tour highlights include the Roman city of Dougga，the underground Numidian capital at Bulla Regia, Roman Sbeitla and the remote areas around Tataouine and Matmata，uique for underground cities. Our journey takes us to picturesque Berber villages and lovely beaches.
1. What can visitors see in both Classical Provence and Southern Spain？
| A．Historical monuments. | B．Fields of flowers. |
| C．Van Gogh’s paintings. | D．Greek buildings. |
| A．France. | B．Spain. | C．China. | D．Tunisia. |
| A．White towns. | B．Underground cities. | C．Tile-roofed villages. | D．Rolling hills. |
2 . Welcome to Holker Hall & Gardens
Visitor InformationHow to Get to Holker
By Car: Follow brown signs an A590 from JB6, M6. Approximate travel times: Windermere-20 minutes, Kendal-25 minutes, Lancaster-45 minutes, Manchester-1 hour 30 minutes.
By Rail: The nearest station is Cark-in-Cartmel with trains to Carnforth, Lancaster Preston for connections to major cities & airports.
Opening TimesSunday-Friday (closed on Saturday)11:00 am-4:00pm,30 March-2nd November.
Admission Charges| Hall & Gardens | Gardens | |
| Adults: | £12.00 | £8.00 |
| Groups | £9 | £5.5 |
Producers: Market 13th April
Join us to taste a variety of fresh local food and drinks. Meet the producers and get some excellent recipe ideas.
Holker Garden Festival 30th May
The event celebrate its 22nd anniversary with a great show of the very best of gardening, making it one of the most popular events in gardening.
National Garden Day 28th August
Holker once again opens is gardens in aid of the disadvantaged. For just a small donation you can take a tour with our garden guide.
Winter Market 8th November
This is an event for all the family. Wander among a variety of shops selling gifs while enjoying a live music show and nice street entertainment.
1. How long does it probably take a tourist to drive to Holker from Manchester?| A．20 minutes. | B．25 minutes. |
| C．45 minutes. | D．90 minutes. |
| A．£12.00. | B．£9.00. |
| C．£8.0 | D．£5.50 |
| A．Producers’ Market. | B．Holker Garden Festival. |
| C．National Garden Day. | D．Winter Market. |
3 . Choose Your One-Day-Tours!
Tour A - Bath &Stonehenge including entrance fees to the ancient Roman bathrooms and Stonehenge -￡37 until 26 March and ￡39 thereafter. Visit the city with over 2,000 years of history and Bath Abbey, the Royal Crescent and the Costume Museum, Stonehenge is one of the world’s most famous prehistoric monuments dating back over 5,000 years.
Tour B - Oxford & Stratford including entrance fees to the University St Mary’s Church Tower and Anne Hathaway’s -￡32 until 12 March and ￡36 thereafter. Oxford: Includes a guided tour of England’s oldest university city and colleges. Look over the “city of dreaming spires(尖顶）” from St Mary‘s Church Tower. Stratford: Includes a guided tour exploring much of the Shakespeare wonder.
Tour C - Windsor Castle &Hampton Court: including entrance fees to Hampton Court Palace -￡34 until 11 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Windsor and Hampton Court, Henry VILL’s favorite palace. Free time to visit Windsor Castle(entrance fees not included).With 500 years of history, Hampton Court was once the home of four Kings and one Queen. Now this former royal palace is open to the public as a major tourist attraction. Visit the palace and its various historic gardens, which include the famous maze(迷宫) where it is easy to get lost!
Tour D –Cambridge including entrance fees to the Tower of Saint Mary the Great -￡33 until 18 March and ￡37 thereafter. Includes a guided tour of Cambridge, the famous university town, and the gardens of the 18th century.
1. Which tour will you choose if you want to see England’s oldest university city?| A．Tour A | B．Tour B |
| C．Tour C | D．Tour D |
| A．Windsor Castle & Hampton Court | B．Oxford & Stratford |
| C．Bath & Stonehenge | D．Cambridge |
| A．It used to be the home of royal families | B．It used to be a well-known maze |
| C．It is the oldest palace in Britain | D．It is a world-famous castle |
4 . Why do people travel? There are many reasons one can think of when asked questions like this.
To travel far enough to meet yourself
Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere.
If you look back at all the amazing memories of your life, you will realize that most of them were out of your comfort zone. Travelling is dangerous, full of life threatening possibilities and will not always be comfortable, but at the same time, it gives irreplaceable memories.
To slow down and relax
A wise man once said that never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life. Money is worth nothing if you cannot spend it on a little adventure. While we are deeply involved in making money, we forget that time is going through our fingers.
To celebrate life
Life is short and the world is wide. One day you might wake up and realize that you don’t have time to do everything that you have always wanted to do, anymore. Once in a while, make time to appreciate the fact that you are alive, young, free and healthy.
| A．To become a storyteller. |
| B．Travelling lets you discover yourself. |
| C．To break through your comfort zone. |
| D．So, go travelling to celebrate life itself. |
| E．You can relate to the world and connect to others. |
| F．And the feeling of being away from your boss for a few days is pure pleasure. |
| G．Escape life for a little while because experience is far more valuable than money. |
5 . Travelling with friends can be an amazing experience where you could make lifelong memories or it could ruin your friendship.
Communicate and respect each other. Everyone has personal preferences when travelling— from getting the bed closest to the bathroom or sitting in the airplane’s window seat. But sometimes things don’t go as you like. In this case, share your requirements directly with your travel companions.
Don’t disappear. When travelling with a group — or even just one other person — you may want some alone time. That’s completely fine, but make sure your friends know where you are and have a way of contacting you.
Get off your phone. Of course, your friends will understand if you need to take a call from a family member, or in the event of a work emergency, but other than that, try to stay off your phone.
| A．Give each other some space. |
| B．Include at least one activity for everyone. |
| C．So it’s important to make sure you and your friend(s) are on the same page. |
| D．At the same time, listen to their concerns and be respectful of them. |
| E．Don’t respond to less important work contact or send messages frequently. |
| F．It’s especially true of travelling in foreign countries or unfamiliar places. |
| G．And remember that consideration and respect go a long way. |
6 . National parks like Yellowstone are popular destinations for both family vacations and adventure trips alike. But there are some places that simply don’t get the love that they deserve despite the fact that they are truly impressive.
Isle Royale National ParkLocated in the heart of Lake Superior, Isle Royale requires a bit of work to reach, but it is well worth the effort. Access is permitted only via daily ferries, which is why larger parks like Yellowstone see more visitors in a day than Isle Royale sees in a year. Wildlife like wolves are frequently spotted by hikers along the park’s scenic trails.
Dry Tortugas National ParkAnother island park, the Dry Tortugas can be found 68 miles to the southwest of the Florida Keys. Accessible only by boat or plane, this park is actually quite small, but it’s packed with history, abundant sea life, and amazing coral reefs. At the center of the park is Fort Jefferson, the largest masonry(砖石)structure in the Western Hemisphere.
Wrangell-St. Elias National ParkCovering more than 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St Elias National Park is the largest in the entire U.S. system. Remote and mostly undeveloped, this is a park that demands more from its visitors, after all there are just two roads that lead into it. But in return, it gives them a special connection with nature that simply isn’t found anywhere else.
Big Bend National ParkTravelers looking for a truly wild experience should have Big Bend National Park on their bucket lists. Big Bend is well known for its whitewater rafting camping, and hiking although during the summer months it can be intensely warm, keeping many visitors away.
1. What is the main reason for fewer visitors to Isle Royale National Park?| A．The terrible work. | B．The dangerous wolves. |
| C．The remote location. | D．The inconvenient transport. |
| A．Big Bend National Park. | B．Isle Royale National Park. |
| C．Dry Tortugas National Park. | D．Wrangell St. Elias National Park. |
| A．With its wide roads. | B．With its large area. |
| C．With its beautiful scenery. | D．With its special visitors |
For beach vacations that get you out of town and invite you and your family to dive into culture, consider a trip to Panama City. Here, you will enjoy beaches and city exploring. Book your stay at the Westin Playa Bonita, where you can book a room starting at $222 a night. There are various programs, including beach Olympics, star observation and Spanish lessons.
Jupiter, Florida
This place offers you quality time you can spend with your loved ones. Book your stay at Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa, with rates for a family of four starting at $207 a night. Here, you can shoot baskets at the basketball courts, take a dip in the pool or teach your children beach yoga.
San Diego, California
The West Coast is a great spot for cheap beach vacations, so tell your family to pack their bags for a visit to San Diego. A cheap $10 Uber ride from the airport will have you pull up at the Kona Kai Resort & Spa. Here, a family of four can stay in a Deluxe Guest Room starting at $159 per night. Your kids can practice cannonballs at the pool after a visit to the world-famous San Diego Zoo.
Kihei, Hawaii
For west coasters who are growing bored with their background, fly to the islands of Hawaii. Stay at the Aston at the Maui Banyan, with a charge of $179 a night for a family of four. Here, you’ll see some of the best sunsets of your life while your kids play in the Pacific. And if you set about cooking a fancy meal, you’ll enjoy suites that come with a full kitchen.
1. Which of the following charges you least a night?| A．The Westin Playa Bonita. |
| B．The Kona Kai Resort & Spa. |
| C．Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa. |
| D．The Aston at the Maui Banyan. |
| A．Observe fantastic stars. |
| B．Visit a world-famous zoo. |
| C．Admire beautiful sunsets. |
| D．Play some beach sports. |
| A．They are all intended for family trips. |
| B．They all offer rooms with a full kitchen. |
| C．They all pick up visitors from the airport. |
| D．They all provide basketball courts on the beach. |
8 . Extremely low temperature, strong winds and endless white snow are just a few of the challenges explorers must face in the Polar areas. But a 16-year-old British girl didn't let these worry her. On April 15 Alicia Adams became the youngest person to walk to the North Pole.
She completed the adventure with her geology teacher and two other companions. Each of them carried 30 kilograms of supplies. At times temperatures fell to -45C during the 320-kilometre trip. But they made it in ten days, two days less than her famous father, David Adams' time record for the same walk.
“It is a really good feeling, more of an achievement,” said Alicia Adams after coming to the end of her adventure. “The winds were like angry beasts roaring behind us. The trip seemed endless and there was nothing in sight: no buildings, no people, and no animals. Sometimes we had to walk across lakes covered with thin ice, which is the deadliest threat.”
David Adams is a top British explorer, who reached both the South and North poles on foot. He also set a series of hot air-balloon records and climbed the highest mountain on every continent. “I take pride in what she has achieved but a bit annoyed that she has beaten my time,” her father said playfully.
Asked if there would be any future joint adventures, the dad joked, “I think I would be struggling to keep up with her now.”
Alicia returned to Britain last week where she faces a more normal task of going to school. And she said her achievement would not necessarily mark the start of a life-long exploration. “Going to school is on top of my list,” she said.
1. How long did it take David Adams to complete the same adventure?| A．6 days. | B．8 days. | C．10 days. | D．12 days. |
| A．The lack of equipment and supplies. |
| B．The angry wild animals in the polar areas. |
| C．The strong icy winds and endless white snow. |
| D．The need to cross the lakes covered with thin ice. |
| A．Angry. | B．Proud. | C．Worried. | D．Sad. |
| A．To go back to school to study. | B．To start more explorations by herself. |
| C．To challenge more of her father's records. | D．To have an adventure together with her dad. |
9 . If you could travel in time, where would you go? Perhaps you would watch an original performance of a Shakespeare’s play in Elizabethan England? What about hanging out with Laozi in the Spring and Autumn Period? Or maybe you’d voyage far ahead of the present day to see what the future holds.
The possibility of time travel is indeed appealing. Stories exploring the subject have been around for hundreds of years. Perhaps the best known example is the science fiction novel The Time Machine, which was written by H. G. Wells and published in 1895 for the first time. It was adapted into at least two feature films of the same name, as well as two television versions, and a large number of comic book adaptations. It is generally credited with the popularization of the concept of time travel using a vehicle that allows an operator to travel purposefully and selectively. The term “time machine”, coined by Wells, is now universally used to refer to a vehicle transporting people into the far future.
But could time travel actually be possible? Some scientists say yes, in theory. They propose using cracks in time and space called “wormholes”, which could be used as shortcuts to other periods. Einstein’s theory of relativity allows time travel in extreme circumstances. And British physicist Stephen Hawking said you could travel into the future with a really fast spaceship—going at nearly the speed of light. Though building such a spaceship would of course be no simple task.
Even if you could travel into the past, there is something called the “grandfather paradox”. It asks what would happen if a time traveller were to go back in time and have his own grandfather killed for some reason, and therefore prevent himself from being born. If the time traveller wasn’t born, how would he travel back in time?
And would you really like to visit the future? In H. G. Wells’ book, the main character travels into distant time where he arrives at a beach and is attacked by giant crabs. He then voyages 30 million years into the future where the only living thing is a black object with tentacles (触角). If that’s what’s in store, maybe we are better just living in the present day after all.
1. The novel The Time Machine mentioned in Paragraph 2 aims to show .| A．people’s interest in time travel |
| B．the special features of the book |
| C．the long history of time travel |
| D．the contribution of H. G. Wells |
| A．have similarities in many ways |
| B．push the invention of the first spaceship |
| C．have proved wrong by some time travellers |
| D．suggest the possibility to invent the time machine |
| A．the traveller is prevented from meeting his grandfather |
| B．the traveller goes back in time to seek for his grandfather |
| C．the grandfather’s death makes the traveller’s birth impossible |
| D．The reunion of the traveller and his grandfather brings happiness |
| A．Unclear. | B．Skeptical. |
| C．Supportive. | D．Unconcerned. |
10 . At 12, 139 feet above sea level, Potala is the highest palace in the world. The 1, 300-year-old palace was originally built by Tibetan king Songtsen Gambo for Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. Eventually it was expanded and changed into the house for the Dalai Lama. Since 1959, it has been turned into a museum of Buddhism. In 1994, Potala Palace was named a World Heritage by UNESCO.
The building is divided into two parts—the Red Palace and the White Palace. They are really colored red and white. A fresh coat of paint made up of milk, honey, and sugar is applied every autumn.
The neighboring Jokhang Temple and Norbulingka Temple were rebuilt in 2000 and 2001. The Jokhang Temple is considered the most sacred (神圣的) temple in Tibet and thousands of Buddhism believers travel thousands of miles by foot just to pay their respects to it all year around. In addition to the two temples, many other temples, including the Ramoche Temple and Palkhor Temple, are symbols of Tibetan culture.
HOW TO VISIT
All foreign visitors must visit the Potala Palace with a tour group. Groups are allowed an hour inside the palace and photos are not permitted. While the palace and its nearby temples are very much tourist attractions, many of the guests are Tibetan people who come to pray.
WHEN TO VISIT
As one of the highest cities in the world, Lhasa can get quite cold during the winter. Summer is the best time to visit. June to August is the busiest tourist season.
1. What was Potala first built for?| A．A museum of Buddhism. |
| B．A home for the Dalai Lama. |
| C．A burying place for Songtsen Gambo. |
| D．A palace for Princess Wencheng. |
| A．The Jokhang Temple. | B．The Palkhor Temple. |
| C．The Norbulingka Temple. | D．The Ramoche Temple. |
| A．Spring. | B．Summer. | C．Autumn. | D．Winter. |
