1 . Saving Money on Holiday Travel

The holiday season isn’t just about shopping and gifts.     1     However, holiday travel can get very expensive. Fortunately, the following tips will help you keep your travelling expense under control.

Plan ahead. The earlier you book your travel, from tickets to hotels, the easier it is to find good deals.     2     In fact, you should book travel one to three months in advance so that you have more opportunities to find the best deals.

Book your air travel on cheaper days. Travelling by air on Tuesdays and Wednesdays often costs less than travelling on Fridays and Sundays. During the holidays, though, it’s not just about a specific day of the week.     3     Days right before and after a holiday can be more expensive. If you don’t travel on Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day, you might be able to find an even better deal.

Consider travelling overnight. Early-morning flights often cost less than those at more convenient time.     4     Depending on where you are going, and the ways of getting there, overnight travel can help you avoid a night in the hotel, as well as save you money on travel to your destination.

    5     You can’t bring water or drink with you on the plane, but you can bring sandwiches and other food. When you’re on the road, you can buy food at local food stores to make your own meals.

A．Bring your own food.

B．Consider cheap hotels that provide food.

C．Besides, booking earlier can save you money.

D．If you are flying, consider airports that are farther away.

E．You also need to consider the days before and after the holiday.

F．A great deal of travel also takes place during this time of year.

G．Other choices include night trains and ships.

2 . As winter sets in, it’s the perfect time to get out of town and escape the seasonal mood disorder. Here are vacation ideas to adopt now.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica, located in the Valle del General, is an off-the-radar agriculture town that’s not overrun with tourists. The area is known for its coffee, pineapples and sugar cane plantations, as well as its rich forests. What’s more, you can enjoy horseback riding, spend afternoons at the spa or tour a nearby wildlife shelter to look out for colorful birds, sloths and other animals.

Los Cabos, Mexico

If you love wine, travel to Los Cabos, a beautiful vacation destination at the southern edge of the Baja Peninsula. During your getaway(短假), you can enjoy special wine tastings and dinner cooked by Los Cabos’s Michelin-starred chef. There are wildlife-viewing opportunities, too. From December through May, you can spot whales, manta rays and more wildlife.

Petit St Vincent, the Grenadines

This private Caribbean island was free of the anger of hurricanes Irma and Maria. What’s more, the whole island is only 115 acres and has 22 cottages. Each cottage is located in a quiet place, and you can expect to unplug and recharge phones with no wireless connections, televisions or telephones in the cottages. Even better, you can spend your days admiring fascinating marine life at the Jean-Michel Cousteau Diving Caribbean center.

The Exumas, Bahamas

On Fowl Cay’s 50-acre private island, you can enjoy a carefree escape. Days can be spent fishing, boating and diving before wandering along white sands. The resort(度假村) features large one-, two- and three-bedroom houses. Best of all, if you’re planning a group getaway or multigenerational trip, you rent the entire island for a one-of-a-kind island escape.

1. Why does the author recommend these placed to readers?

A．To experience out-of-town sights.

B．To beat winter blues.

C．To escape from extreme weather.

D．To treat mental disease.

2. What do we know about Petit St Vincent?

A．It survived hurricanes Irma and Maria.	B．It’s a huge and quiet island.
C．People can admire fish off shore.	D．People can charge phones using wireless connections.

3. Where can Tom best go with his grandparents and parents?

A．Los Cabos, Mexico.

B．Petit St Vincent, the Grenadines.

C．Costa Rica.

D．The Exumas, Bahamas.

3 . Philadelphia Zoo: Hours, Directions Daily Schedule

●Hours

Philadelphia Zoo is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve,Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.Members enjoy free admission on Halloween.

●Directions

From the east

Access Interstate-76 by exiting PA.Turnpike at Neshaminy.Take US RTI-S to 76E.Take Interstate-76 to exit 342 Girard Avenue.Turn left at Girard Avenue for parking.

From the West

Access Interstate-76 by exiting PA.Turnpike at Valley Forge.Follow 76 to exit 342 Girard Avenue.Follow directional signs to turn left or right on Girard Avenue for available parking.

From City Center

Take West River Road to Sweetbriar Road and turn left.At South Concourse Road, turn left and go one block to Girard Avenue.

●Daily Schedule

Get the most out of your visit! Check out your favorite animals and enjoy a special keeper presentation at the times listed below.

Lions at KeyBank Big Cat Falls                                               10:30 a.m.

Pigeon Loft for a Flight Show in KidZooU                                  11:00 a.m.

Giant Tortoise in Reptile and Amphibian House                           11:15 a.m.

Vampire Bats in Small Mammal House                                        11:30 a.m.

Bears at Bear Fountain at bear Country                                        11:45 a.m.

Wildlife Workshop for an Animal Encounter in KidZooU               12: 30 p.m.

Hippo, giraffe or rhino at African Plains                                  1:30 p.m.

Animal Training Shows in KidZooU                                        2:00 p.m.

Giant river otters or Red Pandas at Water is Life                           3:15 p.m.

Penguins at Penguin Point                                                      3:45 p.m.

1. When is Philadelphia Zoo open?

A．On Halloween.	B．On Thanksgiving Day.
C．On Christmas Eve.	D．On New Year's Day.

2. Which of the following probably lies downtown?

A．PA.Turnpike.	B．Girard Avenue
C．West River road.	D．South Concourse Road.

3. At what time do the animal training shows start?

A．9:30 a.m.	B．11:45 a.m.
C．12:30 p.m.	D．2:00 p.m.

4 . Prague is cracking! My sister was right. It really is one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions, which has beautiful old buildings. So far, my favorite place is Prague Castle. I think it is the largest ancient castle in the world. Prague also has a lot of cultural events, like the World Dance Festival. I went to a ballet (芭蕾舞剧) just last night.

----------- Lily

I’ve come to Shanghai at the right time. Summer has begun, but it is not too hot yet. Yesterday was the Dragon Boat Festival. It was exciting! If you come to Shanghai, you should see the Bund---a street with very nice shops, nightclubs, and hotels. There are many tourists there. It has some wonderful buildings from the 1930s.

I went on a night cruise(乘船游览) of the Huangpu River last night. I met some great people on the boat, mostly foreigners, like me.

------------Stan

Buenos Aires is a fun city, but six days is not enough time for a visit! I’m staying near the mile-long shopping street called Calle Florida. It is a great place to meet people and watch dancers perform that tango. Buenos Aires is the birthplace of the tango.

I also spent a day in the suburb of Tigre. It’s about 30 km from the capital, and you can get there quickly by train. However, I chose to take a boat on the canals(运河) of the Paraná Delta.

-----------Melinda

1. What can be learned according to Lily?

A．Prague is a modern city.

B．Prague Castle has beautiful scenery.

C．Prague is most famous for its ballet.

D．Prague is worth visiting.

2. Both Stan and Melinda ___________.

A．took a boat trip.	B．saw a lot of old buildings.
C．went to a festival.	D．travelled by train.

3. The passage is probably taken out of _________.

A．a history book.	B．a news report.
C．a travel website.	D．a personal diary.

5 . When you’re sitting in class or behind your desk waiting for the clock to strike a time when you can go home, it is natural that your mind should wander (走神) a bit. It is common for your mind to wander to a vacation and even travel around the world. What if there is a way that you can travel around the world without having to pay any money?

A person that managed to make it around the world without spending much was Shantanu Starick. How did he trade off his service? Starick realized that as a photographer he had a service that people would usually be willing to pay money for, but he would instead offer his photography service to anyone who could provide him with food, shelter (住处) and transportation. Starick has been traveling for a surprising 30 months and has visited countries ranging from the United States to Ecuador.

In English-speaking countries, trading off services and communicating aren’t difficult for Starick. However, in farther areas where there isn’t an English- speaking person in sight it can be quite difficult. More than anything, the locals appreciate (欣赏) the effort behind trying to speak their language, even if you don’t exactly sound like a native speaker.

You can do it too!

Honestly, with a bit of confidence, drive and a skill you can trade, you’ll be able to do exactly the same as Starick.

Start thinking about what you can do to get around the world without paying money. With our social networks and the connectivity our world has, you can easily connect with and market yourself to people across the world without any effort.

1. What is the author’s purpose in writing the first paragraph?

A．To introduce the topic.

B．To describe students in class.

C．To give an example for the text.

D．To show people’s state of mind.

2. What does the underlined phrase “trade off” in Paragraph 2 mean?

A．Join.	B．Exchange.
C．Stop.	D．Improve.

3. In the locals’ opinion, what is the key to travelers in non-English-speaking countries?

A．The skills.

B．The confidence to succeed.

C．The bravery to travel.

D．The effort to speak the local language.

4. What do we know about Shantanu Starick?

A．His job is only traveling around the world.

B．He is too poor to afford the travels.

C．He has a skill to travel without paying much money.

D．He doesn’t hear of other languages except English.

6 . I used to live in Southern Africa and recently went back to Botswana to visit the Central Kalahari Game Reserve with my friend Oscar． Why? Because there's nothing quite like the vast African wilderness...

Our jeep moved slowly along the too-hot-to-touch sand． With no air conditioner and an engine which might break down at any time， it was tough work． The dry heat was fierce and the only break came from using our precious water for brief bucket showers．

With no supplies available within the park—it was a sort of no man's land which was inhabited by the occasional cow — it is necessary to bring all your fuel， food and water with you．

We camped in a small place in the center of the woods． At the height of the dry season， leaves in the trees had all fallen down， shade was in scant supply， so we placed ourselves near a leaf less tree． As the sun set， we drove towards the watering hole a few miles away， and were reminded just why we'd chosen to spend weeks suffering this exercise on ourselves． A lone lion paused his lapping to acknowledge our arrival． He yawned， and then carried on drinking．

That night， sleeping on the roof of the jeep， we felt his shouting as much as heard it ． Those vast African skies offered the only indication that the outside world hadn't come to a state of quietness， as bright satellite whipped across the blackness．

In the morning we saw that the lion had walked in the road overnight， his paw prints pressed into yesterday's tyre tracks．

We set off for another morning inching through the sand; another day of changing landscapes and raw， wild beauty; another night lit by shooting stars．

1. What can we learn about the author?

A．He slept in a hotel at night．	B．He is now living in Botswana．
C．He enjoys the wildness of nature．	D．He didn't take enough food and water．

2. What did they think of their journey?

A．Amazing and hard．	B．Terrible and annoying．
C．Comfortable and safe．	D．Pleasant and easy．

3. What does the underlined word “scant” in paragraph 4 mean?

A．Inadequate．	B．unbending．
C．Abundant．	D．Ready．

4. What can be a suitable title for the text?

A．Shining Stars and A Lone Lion	B．Travelling in the Southern Africa
C．My Great Escape into the Wild	D．Camping in Too-Hot-to-Touch Sand

7 . The cost of traveling to and from your destination can be the most expensive part of the trip.    1     However, you also don't want to empty your bank account! Now, we are going to share some ways with you to get more for your vacation budget.

•Book accommodations with valuable“freebies(免费品).We love finding a place to stay that offers free breakfast.Not only does it save some cash, but it is hugely convenient!    2    .Pick a hotel that is convenient to where you will be spending the most time.Not only will it save you huge amounts of time, but it will save you money on local transportation!

•Be creative    3    .When we went to the Eiffel Tower, the lines for the elevator were super long.We noticed a different line that was shorter as we stood waiting.We learned that we could take the stairs without waiting in hardly any line, and it was much cheaper than taking the elevator!

•    4    .We are always looking for something free when we buy tickets to visit museums or book day trips.Whenever you can combine different activities into one price, and especially if there is a meal involved.it can be worth it.

•Consider" City Passes".You may have seen them advertised all over tourism websites."City passes"will get you all sorts of free admission, transportation and discounts.    5    

A．Don't go with the crowd

B．Also, location is a major factor

C．You are lucky to have free meals

D．Combine activities when possible

E．Research“Must-See” attraction websites

F．You don't want to spend less time on your trip

G．It's a convenient offer for tourists who care about their budget

8 . San Francisco，known as “The City by the Bay"，packs a lot of fun.

View of Golden Gate Bridge from Baker Beach

As one of the most famous sights in all of San Francisco，the Golden Gate Bridge is an absolute must-see. There are a few good spots to view it from，but my personal favorite is Baker Beach. This is also a particularly good spot to buy a meal from a local market，lay down a blanket and enjoy a picnic in the view of the famous bridge.

Visit the Musee Mecanique

Fisherman's Wharf（码头）is one of the most touristy areas of San Francisco and the overpriced，crowded sights can be tiring. But on Wharf 41，there's a unique attraction: the Musee Mechanique. This museum has one of the largest collections of old indoors game machines in the world，which offers great amusements. Entry is free and it's only a couple of quarters to play the games.

Eat at Spark Social Food Trucks

With such a various population，it can be difficult to decide what cuisine to enjoy for dinner. Luckily at Spark Social Food Trucks in the Mission Bay，you can try a little bit of everything！Not only is the food delicious，but the food truck has a community feel with weekly events and free desserts.

Have Tea at the Japanese Tea Garden

If you desire for some calm on the somewhat noisy streets of San Francisco，the Japanese Tea Garden is perfect. Located in Golden Gate Park，the garden looks exactly like Japan. And you can enjoy tea in the traditional tea house overlooking a lake.

1. What does the Musee Mechanique offer？

A．Peace.	B．Picnic spot.
C．Amusements.	D．Delicious foods.

2. Which spot treats tourists to free desserts？

A．Wharf 41.	B．The Mission Bay.
C．The Baker Beach.	D．Golden Gate Bridge.

3. What can we infer about the Japanese Tea Garden？

A．Its tea is from Japan.	B．It is a quiet place.
C．It is the best tea house.	D．It was built by Japanese.

9 . Listed here are four of the thousands of impressive museums around the world.

The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Bilbao，Spain

Built in 1997，the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is one of the newest in the world.It has transformed the industrial city of Bilbao into a travelers' desired destination.The beautiful architecture of the museum has provided a dramatic background for movies and commercials.

The Louvre in Paris，France

Probably the most famous Louvre also holds the most famous painting in the world，the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci.Crowds can be found any day surrounding the small，but mysterious painting of the smiling woman.But，the Louvre is much more than a home to the “Mona Lisa”．The Louvre is visited by more people each year than any other museum in the world.

The Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia，America

Just opened in its new downtown location in 2012，the Barnes Foundation is “unique”in that it is a completely reproduced display from one man's private collection.Dr.Albert C．Barnes started collecting art in the early 20th century and collected，among others，the largest number of original Renoir paintings in the world.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence，Italy

Walking on the marbled floors feels like stepping back in time.The building itself is a beautiful palace—like structure with frescoes(湿壁画) decorating the ceilings and walls.Viewers are bowled over(印象深刻) by the works by Botticelli，such as “The Birth of Venus”．Classic artworks from nearly 1，000 years ago describe religious events of the time.

1. Which of the following is the most popular?

A．The Louvre.

B．The Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

C．The Barnes Foundation.

D．The Uffizi Gallery.

2. What makes the Barnes Foundation particular?

A．Its structure.	B．Its collection.
C．Its location.	D．Its history.

3. What type of writing is this text?

A．An activity poster.

B．An exhibition announcement.

C．An art show review.

D．A travel guide.

10 . For years, decades in fact, I've puzzled over the response most people have when I tell them I mostly travel alone.

"You're so brave!"

Why is it that a woman travelling alone, as I have often done for months at a time, is perceived to be "brave", whereas men who travel alone are entirely unremarkable?

You are only brave when you are afraid of something but still do it anyway. I have never been afraid of travelling alone.

The first time I travelled alone was when I was 19. I was due to travel in Europe with a friend at the end of the summer. She announced by letter two days before our departure that she would be leaving me halfway at Vienna. It was too late by then to rope in another friend, so it was either to go home after Vienna, or keep going by myself. I kept going. I got on trains by myself, checked into hostels by myself and found my way around by myself. It was weird at first, but later I stopped worrying about it.

When I got back to Ireland after that trip, I felt proud of myself. I had done something I had assumed would be hard, and it had turned out to be not hard at all.

That was three decades ago, and since then I have travelled all over the world, usually on my own. I still do what I did then, which is to keep a diary. The greatest gift of solo travel has been those I've met along the way. I may have set off alone each time but I've encountered many people who became important to me. I met my husband in Kathmandu, Nepal. I met lifelong friends in Australia, Poland, Hungary, Turkey, India, Indonesia and many other places.

1. What makes the author puzzled when she tells people of her experience?

A．People's disbelief.	B．People's response.
C．People's approval.	D．People's criticism.

2. What does the author say about her first time to travel alone?

A．It was a trip by design.

B．She had to choose to go by herself.

C．It was harder than expected.

D．She set off all alone.

3. What do the underlined words "solo travel" in the last paragraph mean?

A．Group Travel.	B．Travelling with friends.
C．Travelling alone.	D．Travelling with music.

4. How has the author benefited from her travel?

A．She has overcome her fear of travelling alone.

B．She has written a couple of books.

C．She has received a great many gifts.

D．She has met many people all the way.